Arc Fatigue: There are shades of this in the Cool Ranch books. These were actually the first stories written when the writers thought that each world should have five books. The writers even realized that looking at the same landscape for that long would be boring so they helped mitigate the problem by adding another book that takes place elsewhere and giving the Haunted Skyway a major makeover to make it more of a ghost story.
Both major updates after the Books 13 and 14 updates have been somewhat polarizing.
For the Advanced Pets and Companions update, there's:
Those who worry Advanced Pets will wind up like Wizard101'spets over time and those who believe it can be prevented due to the way Pirate 101's battles work.
Those who hate that Life Fountains can no longer be used to revive KO'd Companions and instead you have to pay obscene amounts of money, wait hours for them to recover or use them with a lower max health handicap for the time it takes for them to heal (at higher levels, anyway) and those who say it benefits the game by making you not just look out for your own pirate's health but also for your companions' wellbeing and inspire you to use different Companions (which is much more feasible now that they can be sent to gather EXP and Training Tomes).
Those who think that Companions now being set to appear in the order you place them in (instead of having a higher chance of appearing the higher up they are) takes away part of the fun of battles and those who say it allows you to make specific sets of companions to revolve around a certain strategy and not have to make every single companion (that could learn it) learn Relentless/Burst Fire/Mojo Echo. Although later the option was given to have either fixed units, completely random companions or your firstmate plus 2 completely random companions join you, there's still those who claim the original chance-based system was best.
For the Moo Manchu update, there's:
Those who would rather see the effort that went into making the Tower of Moo Manchu go into making Book 15 and those who appreciate some endgame content to keep us busy while Book 15 is being made.
Those who think the Tower is too difficult and worry for future books' difficulty and those who accept it as a challenge and figure that it's just challenging because it's optional and drops great gear.
Those who think the Swashbuckler buffs introduced here drive them to overpowered (similarly to Buccaneer's buffs in the previous updates) and those who think they're well-deserved and finally take them out of the bottom of the PvP food chain and give some competition to Buccaneers.
Those who worry about a possible power creep with Criticals being more prominent among other game mechanics and those who say they're just another game mechanic and are pretty well balanced.
Ever since the announcement of the merge between Wizard101 and Pirate 101 teams, there's those that fear that Pirate 101 is on its last legs and it'll be made too much like Wizard 101 and those that maintain that this is just to get more manpower and ideas and that the things that made Pirate 101 great will not change.
Now that Book 15 is out on test, the community's reaction has been rather polarizing.
For one, the update is tiny (including only a single 2-chapter book, a single promotion quest, only one new companion, two more trainable epics/powers for each class and upgraded henchmen). Absolutely no bugfixes were included (aside from bugfixes for the new content added as they go along). The bugs were fairly minimal in the new content but the ending is cut out (the game prevents you from proceeding when you reach the climax). The community has been split between those appreciative of new story content after so long and those who decry a tiny update that took 3 years to make, citing KI's poor decisions when it came to balancing development between MMOs and mobile games (the latter of which were ultimately scrapped in favor of the MMOs) as the primary reason for such blatantly rushed content. After the final dungeon was released, the community was again split on whether it was a good ending. On one hand, the final battle is well-constructed. On the other hand, it makes Kane not seem nearly as tough as he was made out to be, the dungeon is very empty (with some pre-release screenshots showing an even larger dungeon, it may have been severely cut down) and the ending is anti-climactic. Opinion is rather split on whether The Stinger with Queen redeems it or not.
The fact that this is the ending of the first story arc. Blind Mew (the lead writer) had previously implied that the first arc would cover 20 books and conclude the Armada and El Dorado plotlines. Book 15 is being billed as the conclusion of the first arc, ending the Armada plot but not the El Dorado plot. The actual ending is yet to be seen as the final area is still being developed even though the rest of the book is on the Test Realm. There's those that are satisfied with the buildup we've had so far in Book 15 and eagerly anticipate fighting Kane and possibly redeeming him, and then there's those that see the story as having been severely rushed and altered to make Book 15 more exciting to compensate for the short length after such a long wait time. Blind Mew later revealed the original plans spanning all the way to Book 20, which only strengthened the pessimistic notion about how many good ideas were culled.
The fact that multiple companions (including story companions like Gracie Conrad and Catbeard) promote for gold this update instead of getting promotion quests has scared a good portion of the players into thinking that these companions are doomed to not have promotion quests ever (and the implication that not all story companions will have promotion quests) but others say this might be temporary for Test Realm and on Live Realm (or later on Test) they might add promotion quests for them. Blind Mew clarified that they had to sacrifice the quests due to time constraints, and indeed confirming that not all storyline companions will get promotion quests. Some didn't care, some didn't take kindly to the news.
The general rushed feeling of the update after such a long wait time has split the players between those who are just happy that the game didn't die without ever seeing the end of the first arc and those that say that if the quality storytelling is being compromised and the content is rushed then it's pointless. The update notes being riddled with factual errors and omissions does not help ease confusion or inspire trust in the P101 team. As of the time of writing, it has been 6 months since the update and KI made it clear they aren't sure what they're doing next. Only a minor side update has come out since then.
The most desired robe for PvP as of the Ranked PvP update is the Imperial Robes of Moo Manchu, for its Terra-cotta Troupe card that summons nine Terra-cotta Warriors that can spam the enemy with Vicious Charge, thus crippling their accuracy. Even after a nerf it is still the most sought out item.
Relentless (and its shooty and spooky equivalents Burst Fire and Mojo Echo) have been the epic to have on all Companions that could learn them since the beginning of the game. As of the Moo Manchu update, Blade Storm/Double Tap/Mojo Rising have risen in prominence due to their major buff. Vengeance Strike/True Grit 3 and Repel Boarders/Overwatch/Readied Spell 3 have seen much more use recently for their very handy side effects of stunning/reducing accuracy respectively.
First Strike 3 and Quick Draw 3 have been picking up steam ever since the Ranked PvP update due to the fact that they remove Hidden from their targets. This is very important due to Swashbucklers being at the top of the PvP food chain thanks to Black Fog.
The Ghost Ships are infamous for their unusually high dodge rate, meaning that anyone who prefers sinking ships are in for a challenge against these guys.
Mooshu gets even worse.
There's Tengu Sorcerers. They can hit multiple targets at once with Improved Mojo Blast, then spam the primary target with a string of Mojo Echo.
Marleybone has some particularly brutal ones.
Armada Dragoons. They love spamming The Big Guns half to death so you and a few companions are at about half health when you're playing with a 4-player group and you're focused down.
Radical Dogs. A minor one, but can beat you down by getting a relentless string. Especially problematic when they start beating down your musketeers.
Sky Gars have some really high damage output, as well as having both Vengeance Strike and Blade Storm. Expect a companion with low life to go down in the first round.
Aquila has the most out of all of them.
Manticores. They can lock you in a relentless string just like radical dogs, but they are quite dodgy and can riposte attacks for bonus damage.
Eagle Shades. The first time you fight them, they are particularly overwhelming as they can heal themselves to almost full health when they're low. They can do it up to three times in one battle.
In the same vein as Armada Dragoons and Tengu Sorcerers are Saytrs and Ophidian Flame Dancers. They may cause some trouble when there's only one pirate, but a four player group is going to result in a bloodbath. This is especially true with Ophidian bosses like Mari and Chryssida.
Ensemble Dark Horse: The members of the Armada's Inner Circle actually don’t appear a lot in the game, but have plenty of fans.
Evil Is Cool: One of the things most, if not all, fans can agree on is that the Armada ships look really, really cool. Requests for players to be able to have their own Armada ships have been around since the beginning of the game
As mentioned below, a lot of people think Queen is Kane's wife, as in the Armada Puppet Show, she is the only one sitting in a chair, aside from Kane himself.
On Tumblr, due to his effeminate behavior and way of speaking, many people think Catbeard is gay. Similarly, Bonnie Anne is a lesbian when she's not being shipped with Ratbeard.
Oh, dear me! A pirate! Are you here to carry me off? Am I to be ransomed, or forced to join a villainous crew? It's all so...romantic! Very well, pirate! Steal me if you must - do it quickly, before I faint! Where will you take me? Mooshu? Darkmoor? What are you waiting for?
And when you return her:
Oh, gallant captain! I shall never forget your boldness - I shall write a gripping account in my diary. Please, tell me you'll return someday...
During the climax of Book 15, one of the reasons Phule lists for helping the Player Character is that he's "grown fond of you". (Again, regardless of the Player Character's gender)
After freeing Catbeard from Glass House Prison near the end of Marleybone, Catbeard tells the player that his old friend Argos the Cyclops has a missing piece, while also fawning over his muscles. He also gleefully asks soon after getting to Aquila, if they can throw a fabulous party where everyone wears togas.
The way Catbeard talks about his first Mate Mr. Norrington can be easily read as though the two are romantic partners. At one point he stops mid puppet show just to tell the player how he and Mr. Norrington have brunch together, specifically saying,
"Pickled herring... It's much tastier than it sounds, actually. I know, I know, it has a reputation for being salty and overpowering, but if you can find the right pairing flavors it can be an absolutely delightful foundation for morning brunch. Mr. Norrington and I swear by it."
Immediately after this he brings up a plan that, if goes smoothly, should end with him getting his hands on a large amount of money, which he will use to keep he and Mr. Norrington in pickled herring for the rest of their days.
Iron Woobie: Bonnie Anne; first, her brother tries to blackmail her into leaving Marleybone by tricking her into thinking his life depends on it. Then, when she attempts to mount a rescue instead of falling for the trick like he expected her to, he tries to have her imprisoned, then killed, when she continues to resist. Then she reluctantly admits that he's gone too far and makes the difficult choice to turn him over to Special Branch, effectively making his unfounded accusations about her a reality. And at the end of it all, she's faced with the Sadistic Choice of either catching him and knowing she sent him to hang, or letting him escape, making her indirectly responsible for whatever mayhem he might cause in the future. Unlike most companions, she sounds downright defeated when all is said and done. It would be hard not to blame her for simply giving up, but she soldiers on and even manages to bounce back fairly quickly.
Memetic Bystander: Downplayed with Queen, one of the members of Kane’s Court. She made an Early-Bird Cameo in Book 4, and was noticed by fans due to being the only female in Kane’s Court and also the only one sitting in a chair besides Kane himself. This lead to a lot of speculation, the most common theory being that she was Kane’s wife. She did appear in Book 15, but this was already planned for the game.
Memetic Mutation: "That would be telling." explanation On the Offical Pirate 101 forums, people can ask Blind Mew questions. If the answer is a spoiler, his reply usually is "That would be telling."
More Popular Spin-Off: Despite being less popular than Wizard101 (with many Wizard 101 players holding disdain towards it for some reason), Pirate 101 is often considered by both players and critics to be superior to Wizard 101 in terms of better graphics, a more intelligent combat system, a much better written story and overall better handling than Wizard 101 and better communication with the community.
Where to start? First and foremost, you're definitely gonna get used to the cheers of your companions when they win a battle (and make it out alive.) If you're the type that loves the smell of anguish and frustation of others in PvP, Troggy Chief Epp Opp Ork Ah-Ah, Lady Centaur Nausica, and Vampire Bat Masterson all have laughs that are just plain INSULTING to the enemy players when they win.
The music that plays when you or an ally preforms a critical is a more downplayed variant. Not so much if it's an enemy preforming it.
On another note, there is the fight with Count BrastilloDe Brass. The boss himself is just annoying to say the least with him casting Rain of mortarshells on you and dominating musketeers with Rank 2 Quick Draw and in the second fight, Rank 2 True grit. (Basically Musketeer Vengeance Strike) However, It's all worth it in the end when every time you hit him, he makes the most Over-exaggerated sound that is both hilarious and satisfying.
Nightmare Fuel: This bit from the Puppet Show that explains the history of the Armada, combined with the almost melancholic way Captain Avery says it.
Captain Avery: And they are puppets-the clockworks aren't alive like you and me: hollow men, run on gears and wires. Heartless, souless, and ruthless.
Miracle Mitch. In the recent update, now once your companions are defeated, They are put into bed rest for up to six hours at high levels. The only way to revive them early on with full health is through Miracle Mitch. The Scrappy part comes when he charges HUGE sums of gold, making dungeons much harder as you can't revive them immediately with mojo potions.
Tear Jerker: Bonnie Anne's third promotion, in which absolutely NOTHING gets resolved, and if anything, stuff gets WORSE. It tackles her family issues and immediately sends her into Woobie territory after what she had to do and what it cost her family. It doesn't help that it's really easy to get attached to her as a character due to being rather down to earth in terms of personality.
Musketeers have Tempest of Torpedoes which if you step on ONE, you will more often than not, get thrown around like a ragdoll.
Witchdoctors have an entire arsenal after being buffed with Old Scratch's mojo buffs. Just a single Flow Mojo, Flow! can boost Mojo Storm into the 1k damage territory, let alone a more powerful spell like Mojo Reaver or Mournsong.
Privateers have Valor's Armor. Using this in combination with Valor's Fortress can turn literally anything into a Tank. As for Book XV, Blast of Discord is also looking to be an annoying attack.
Buccaneers have their infamous Vicious Charge. It lets them move all the way across the map to deliver high damage to a target and absolutely destroy their Accuracy for a few turns. After, they get an additional attack to an enemy nearby which does half damage, But can't be dodged. Not to mention Reckless Frenzy, which repeatedly attacks the target and any adjacent units (though hurting the user a bit every time) until either the opponents die or the Buccaneer misses.
Swashbucklers have Black Fog, which protects the player and any adjacent units from being targeted and doubles their attack until they attack or after 5 turns. Due to a bug, if the target has Valor's Armor, the hide won't disappear until the absorb does.
The Wind's Whisper, where your objective is to sink a whopping 24 ships (12 Red Sash Ships and 12 Wild Bunch Ships).
Companion promotion quests (especially those later in the game) are hated by many due to how time consuming they are as well as their only reward being a companion's change in appearance and a few (if any) ability and attribute upgrades.
In her final promotion, Bonnie Anne's brother gets angry at her for taking a job with Special Branch (which you completed for her previous promotion). This is the same Special Branch that her brother says is enslaving their friends and family. Bonnie tells him she took that job to fight the Armada, but he doesn't listen. The kicker though is that after Guy Fox escapes, Bonnie explains that he's probably going to hang for his actions. Talk about family issues.
Subodai can also be perceived as such during his final promotion, in which, while seeking to win the title of Khan, he becomes the unwitting pawn of Qulpa, Batu, and Guyuk's plan to get rid of Hunan, Great Khan of the Amber Horde, and effectively finds out that these Khans he's been looking up to his whole life are good-for-nothing tyrannous scoundrels, rendering his entire life a lie. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a pretty big downer to me. Oh, and did I forget to mention, his FATHER AND GRANDFATHER were also Khans. Yippee.
They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot: Gazpaccio's original plan in Book 15 was to use the Heart of El Dorado to redeem Kane. While the plan was quickly scrapped when Kane destroyed the Heart and killed Gazpaccio, imagine what would've happened if Gazpaccio succeeded? Maybe Kane as a companion?
What Do You Mean, It's for Kids?: While the game is mostly targeted towards kids, there are a surprising number of moments that are not kid-friendly, with the most infamous one involving you kidnapping the Governor of Port Regal's daughter. Sure, it's somewhat mitigated by the fact that the daughter in question, Mabel, has a boring life and finds her kidnapping to be exciting, as well as the fact that she is not hurt in any way or form, but you're still kidnapping an innocent civilian.
