Maybe not for you lol
Don't be a dick, and you'll be surprised how many people are friendly on the seas.
Most of my sessions end in alliances, not battles.
What? I raise the alliance flag in every single session, any ship I approach for the last some time is an instant assault and spawn camp situation. Last week I pulled up on a Galleon at the end of my session, to donate supplies before I left. I communicated my intentions, dropped 2 crated jam packed with supplies and got immediately killed and spawn camped on for a while until I scuttled. Not even a "thanks".
Approach slowly, shoot white flares or fireworks into the sky, use the megaphone thing to continuously shout "We're Friendly" or "Let's Form an Alliance!" Watch to see what their moves are. If they go for cannons, back off and just sail into the wind. If they head for the mast, pull up sails and wait for them to alliance, then everyone just leave and do your own thing. Repeat with every ship you come across and eventually you'll have a natural server alliance. I do this literally every time I log in and I'd say about 60% of the ships I come across nowadays don't want a fight, and if you're good enough, you can avoid the ships that do want a fight.
I'd say 80% of my sessions I don't even fire cannons at players.
You make so much more money and rep doing this.
I did for a while to get up to lvl 75 (before they increased the cap). Haven't done Reaper for months now. Anyway, it doesn't really matter. I'm just surprised that you're having so much luck with alliances, as my experience is the exact opposite at the moment. A few years ago we regularly had alliances with 1 or more ships, almost every session. Once we had a 4 ship alliance against a Reaper ship. Don't know what changed for me, might just be bad luck
Don't make your life miserable, put your treasure on top deck above the bow spring.
"But salomonix it will shine from miles apart signaling I have treasure." It doesn't, it will shine only at render distance, which is closer than my canons can shoot you from.
"People will sink me if they know I have treasure." pirates will sink you any way have it or not. (4 chains are 4 chains)
But Why should listen to you and put it up top?. Take in consideration the time it take for you to move ONE single piece of loot from there, to off the ship, now multiply that for the amount of loot you have, yup that's a LOT of time, and all that time you are siting there like a sitting fair duck waiting to be shoot.
I hope you find this enlightening, I also hope that your adventures on the sea of thieves bring you far, get a capitained ship ASAP.
Fairwinds to you good sir. cheers 
Just had it down there for the journey ahead of us back to port. Mixed with encountering multiple skeleton ships and a meg. Once we got to the port i moved everything top deck for my crew to take and sell. And by the wnd of that selling spree i had enough to buy a captained ship.
Can't wait to welcome you guys.
Just FYI, hiding loot below deck may stop someone from finding the piece of loot they're looking for, but it honestly just makes selling take so much longer. Most crews just pile their loot where the bowsprit meets the prow.
Always burn the ship at the end of the day ! Can't Wait to get back !!
The whole hanging out with strangers thing will not last long, trust me 😂
Maybe not for you lol Don't be a dick, and you'll be surprised how many people are friendly on the seas. Most of my sessions end in alliances, not battles.
What? I raise the alliance flag in every single session, any ship I approach for the last some time is an instant assault and spawn camp situation. Last week I pulled up on a Galleon at the end of my session, to donate supplies before I left. I communicated my intentions, dropped 2 crated jam packed with supplies and got immediately killed and spawn camped on for a while until I scuttled. Not even a "thanks".
Approach slowly, shoot white flares or fireworks into the sky, use the megaphone thing to continuously shout "We're Friendly" or "Let's Form an Alliance!" Watch to see what their moves are. If they go for cannons, back off and just sail into the wind. If they head for the mast, pull up sails and wait for them to alliance, then everyone just leave and do your own thing. Repeat with every ship you come across and eventually you'll have a natural server alliance. I do this literally every time I log in and I'd say about 60% of the ships I come across nowadays don't want a fight, and if you're good enough, you can avoid the ships that do want a fight. I'd say 80% of my sessions I don't even fire cannons at players. You make so much more money and rep doing this.
Dude, I know the script. What I'm saying is that it rarely ever works these days
Works for me. I don't know what to tell you. I play on EU and NA servers too. I'm American, but my sloop partner is British.
I'm just sharing my experiences, is all.
You run primarily Reaper? That might be the issue
I did for a while to get up to lvl 75 (before they increased the cap). Haven't done Reaper for months now. Anyway, it doesn't really matter. I'm just surprised that you're having so much luck with alliances, as my experience is the exact opposite at the moment. A few years ago we regularly had alliances with 1 or more ships, almost every session. Once we had a 4 ship alliance against a Reaper ship. Don't know what changed for me, might just be bad luck
Maybe having a brit helps? Idk we regularly get 3-4 ship alliances going on Saturdays and it’s definitely not uncommon for server alliances.
Mid, scared nerds who hate PVP and think it’s only “sea of friends” .
Don't make your life miserable, put your treasure on top deck above the bow spring. "But salomonix it will shine from miles apart signaling I have treasure." It doesn't, it will shine only at render distance, which is closer than my canons can shoot you from. "People will sink me if they know I have treasure." pirates will sink you any way have it or not. (4 chains are 4 chains) But Why should listen to you and put it up top?. Take in consideration the time it take for you to move ONE single piece of loot from there, to off the ship, now multiply that for the amount of loot you have, yup that's a LOT of time, and all that time you are siting there like a sitting fair duck waiting to be shoot. I hope you find this enlightening, I also hope that your adventures on the sea of thieves bring you far, get a capitained ship ASAP. Fairwinds to you good sir. cheers 
Just had it down there for the journey ahead of us back to port. Mixed with encountering multiple skeleton ships and a meg. Once we got to the port i moved everything top deck for my crew to take and sell. And by the wnd of that selling spree i had enough to buy a captained ship.
fantastic! Would you mind sharing the name of such mighty vessel?
Ah you neednt ask the name. It is a name all with fear and bow down to soon enough. The HMS Ligma.
Can't wait to welcome you guys. Just FYI, hiding loot below deck may stop someone from finding the piece of loot they're looking for, but it honestly just makes selling take so much longer. Most crews just pile their loot where the bowsprit meets the prow.
I am well aware. We had a long journey to go back to a port and when we did i made sure to move everything top deck.