The Hourglass of Fate is an artefact that was fitted to all ships as of the Season Nine update. The Hourglass offers on-demand Player vs Player, Ship Combat through an emergent encounter system where players expect to fight their opponents surfacing into their server to face them.
Gameplay[]
The Hourglass is available on all ship types, on the Captain's Table, where players can represent either of the two factions: Guardians of Fortune or the Servants of the Flame. It is available wether or not any of the crewmembers are Pirate Legends and can freely represent the factions without restrictions.
Once the hourglass has been successfuly voted on, it will activate and a War Map will appear on the table, intially furled. Players can either continue playing on their current server regardless or unfurl and vote on the War Map to search for an opponent; Effectively being Defense and Offense.
Defending[]
In Defense, players can sail the Sea of Thieves as normal but any treasure they bring on board increases the Hourglass' value through Stages of their Treasure Hoard. Players can continue to increase their Hoard Grade by stashing more Treasure items on board. The more they carry, the higher the Hourglass' value and amount of reputation towards their respective faction for every rival ship sunk. It is highly encouraged to only carry as much as you'd feel confident at doing so as a loss will contribute a signficantly higher value to the victors' faction reputation.
Attacking[]
In Attack, the Crew dives into the Open Sea and begins the searching process, visually represented them sailing underwater, where they can view various inhabitants of the water as well as prepare themselves for battle. When an opponent is found, the crew's screen fades and are merged with the server. Emerging from the opposite side of the area in their enemy's heading.
Battle[]
A battle commences with a calling card, showing the opponent's ship name and allegiance. Ships were originally matched in opposing factions but future updates have changed this to be regardless of factions. Once the two ships are matched, the area around them is restricted. Straying out from the border causes a message to warn the crew that should they stray too far, the hourglass will explode and automatically scuttle the ship with their opponent declared the winner. The battle's outcome is determined by engaging the enemy in ship combat, only winning once one Crew is sunk.
Once a battle is fought and won, the victors are awarded reputation towards their faction, their hourglass' potential value increases as well as going on a streak. The losing crew will earn a smaller amount of reputation but lose their Hourglass and are merged into another server. They will also embrace a small grace period of peace to gather more supplies, and add more treasure to their stash, before their next opponent is matched.
Champions[]
Successfully winning four battles in a row bestows the crew the 'Champion' status. This marks them on the map and their bow's figurehead's flames will grow its strongest. Champions of a smaller ship size may then be able to dive and fight another Ship of a larger Size. Their value is also significant where another Rival ship would earn a much bigger bonus to their reputation and Hourglass value when they successfully defeat a Champion.
Leaving the Battle[]
Once the Hourglass is voted on, players will be unable to downvote it on board. The only way to leave the PvP system is by going to the representative factions' tables. For the Guardians, it is the Athena's Table by the Stranger, and the Reapers' Flame Table by the Caged Skeleton. Once successful, the crew's accumulated wealth from combat and their stash is calculated and then awarded, followed by a varied amount of reputation depending on their performance. They may then continue their session without attacks.
Rewards[]
Players who reach level 100 with their representing Faction may be able to access exclusive areas in either the Athena's Fortune Hideout or the Reaper's Lair, under the Reaper's Hideout. Speaking to Ramsey, or the Servant, will grant them access to the new areas respectively and may then be freely openable at their own wishes via instrument. Here, they may earn the right to be granted Ramsey's Blessing or Skeleton Curse by conversing with Belle or the Voice of the Glame in their respective Areas.