Captains,
The following changes were applied today, March 28, on the Test Server:
Battle Rating-Based Loot from NPCs in the Open World
NPC ship loot in the Open World is now based on Battle Rating (BR) instead of ship rank.
This update allows for more accurate loot distribution between ships with the same rank but significantly different BRs (e.g., Brig vs. Le Gros Ventre Refit, Surprise vs. Trincomalee, or Wasa vs. Implacable).
Previously, rank-based loot meant that Surprise and Trincomalee would carry identical loot.
With the new BR-based system, Surprise and Trincomalee will now carry loot more in line with ships of similar BR.
PVE looting is now the most profitable activity in the game on a per-hour basis.