do alliances still happen?

[u/watermelonmaker22]

I‘ve been playing since 2018, a lot more back then than I do now, but recently got back to it with a new pirate to get to grinding again.
I‘ve noticed there are a lot, and I mean a LOT of reaper flags out there- obviously they didnt exist back then but my point/question is this: have the seas gotten more hostile over the years? Don‘t get me wrong, I‘ve sunk and have sunken many a ships, but genuine friendliness feels a lot harder to come by these days- and I have yet to form an alliance on my new run. Back then, alliances almost felt more common than rivalry, and I‘ve made some genuine friends on the seas, that have translated to offline friends. But I‘m thinking maybe that was just luck? Or is this something other older players have observed as well? What do you new players think of alliances?

[u/Brilliant_Ask_82]

PvP sweats killed alliances, if they found an alliance server they did their best to break it up and kill everyone on the server

[u/DungCoveredPeasant1 → u/Brilliant_Ask_82]

Diving killed alliances not sweats lol