Pirates!

[Phil Walker]

NO problem Redbirdy! After you've been so helpful, thought it only fair to give you something for a change !!! Need to keep it fair afterall.

Just beware though... As I said you have to find them and on THAT game I was fortunate enough that they were ALL close if you can believe it !!! The one I'm working on now, they're all over the place !!!


Sincerely,
Phil

[Phil Walker]

Well... Although I have now beat my latest (although by only ONE point), it wasn't the easiest. Same breakdown as before save for 13 now in wealth. So, not TOO bad, but get rough to get better than 12 and get everything else done.

I do have 4 over 100 incidentally (115, 114, 109, and 101 respectively). Three at Apprentice and one at Journeyman. As to Adventurer we won't EVEN dicuss that one is not even over 50 !!! Here's the breakdown by the format Redbirdy used:

Apprentice score of 115 (Rank; Governor):
Wealth - 13
Promotions - 32
Pirates Retired - 9
Treasures - 9
Romance - 10

Journeyman score 101 (Rank; Bishop):
Wealth - 12
Promotions - 32
Pirates - 9
Treausres - 9
Romance - 8


So, there you be ;D!!! While my Journeyman isn't the best at least my Apprentices are improving .

Another tip for ALL:
When loading the game, hit your caps lock. Reason being; if you decide to pause to go somewhere while something is going on, won't need to reload. You just hit the "P" key. If you don't use the caps lock, you need to hit "shift+P". I just found it easier to use the caps lock instead, but you do have to either disengage it or hit the "shift+R" to return to your ship when on land. I also find it helpful when dancing as I STILL can't get the knack of it. So, something to think about and good luck !!!


Sincerely,
Phil

[Redbirdy]

Well Phil I did manage to get a new Pirates game going and played it out over the weekend.

New top score: 119 (Journeyman Level).

All maxed out except wealth, same as you. I got it 17 but could get it no higher. I even sacked Panama (something I'd never did before) in an attempt to improve the wealth number but it didn't make that much of an impact. On checking my old scores I noticed that my top wealth figure is 22...at Rogue Level. Next highest was 20 at Adventurer. Hmmm. Perhaps the wealth rating is tied to difficulty level, with it being harder to raise the wealth score at the easier settings. (i.e. The game may assign a penalty to wealth based on difficulty.) Ah well...who knows.

-J

[Phil Walker]

Hmmm... Me thinks you could be onto something Redbirdy! I too did another over the weekend. Only apprentice, but mine is now 121. Save as before save for wealth. Did manage 19 there but was FORCED to retire due to age. I never managed to go after a city save in rage, but didn't take it !!! Anyway, thanks for your input.

One thing; if you manage to save your games before retiring. take a look at not just your overall, but the other stats as well. (Either by pausing or going into a city). I had 16,550 acres and about 40,000 in money. So see how that compares. Also, I sank right at 200 ships (check the top ten pirates for that).


Sincerely,
Phil

[Phil Walker]

Special note to Redbirdy (and all who read this as well).

I tied your best at Journeyman. Can't seem to beat my 121 as hard as I try, but will due until somebody can beat it. Been awhile since I played but moving up in difficulty doesn't always pay !!!


Sincerely,
Phil

[Redbirdy]

Thanks for that update Phil. I have to get back into Pirates...I've been wanting to for a while now but have so many other games I've been into that I've had to put it on the back shelf for a bit.

Redbirdy

[Phil Walker]

Nice to hear from you Redbirdy!!!

Yes, I agree. You've seen my list, and making time for some is a bit hard. Not only that but I just recently got back from my first ever vacation overseas. So, I know just what you mean about making time.

Anyway, will be waiting to hear your newest. Someday one of us has to beat my 121, so best of luck ;D!!!


Sincerely,
Phil

[Phil Walker]

New idea here!

Got my bro-in-law turned on to Pirates and he found something interesting for me to try out. Won't devulge it now as I want to test it first. So, back to apprentice and see if it works. Be watching as if this does work, I MAY get higher than I had hoped! ;D


Sincerely,
Phil

[Phil Walker]

Time for one of my favorite expressions now! YEE-HAW!!! Yes, a new high score, and almost to where it won't be beaten unless somebody gets lucky ;D !!! New score is now 124 out of 126 possible. My best to whoever can beat it.

Now for the details of how, and for you Redbirdy! I only sunk 140 ships this time, but "sacked" several cities. Not just one but ended up doing 28 of them. All Spanish ports as well and all accessible by water, not dry land like Panama or Grand Granada. I only had 4 accessible by water that I didn't do. Those being Campache, Cartegena, Santiago, and Puerto Bello. The English sacked Santa Catalina and Puerto Cabeelo or would have done those as well, but stayed with Spanish ports as England and the Dutch were at war with Spain at the time. So, that is how I did it. Started with the Northern cities so it can be done and a perfect score is possible as I can see how as I only did it on the apprentice level. So, there all or you go, and good luck to you Redbirdy as now you have a score to beat ;D !!!


Sincerely,
Phil

[Redbirdy]

Congrats Phil!!!

Sheesh, 124 out of 126?! And as for having a new score to beat, as I recall I never did beat your LAST high score; though I gave it more than a few trys. Well you know I'll have to dust off Pirates again to try this new strategy...I've sacked cities before (including Panama, which is a pain) but never very many and only near the end-game when I was trying to boost a sagging score.

Redbirdy

[Phil Walker]

An additional little tip as well for all...

When you sack cities do it until you can change the ownership by country. Since I got to Durch Duke first, I was a Dutch captain. So, I kept sacking the cities until I could change them to a Dutch city. Then you get bonuses for whichever city you change them to from those who are at least somewhat allied with you. Had good responses from England as they too were at war with Spain at the time, but not much from the French. So, you have to "pick and choose" as well.

BTW Redbirdy, I had all except my wealth maxed and was at age 43 when I tried this. So, my thinking is to max all else out THEN try it.

As one can also tell, I need a life as I have TOO much time to play. ;D


Sincerely,
Phil

[Redbirdy]

Hmmm, yes I suppose timing would be important in that to get the most "bang for the buck" you'd like all the powers at war with Spain at the time you sack a Spanish port. So you waited until the "end game" phase to start sacking...makes sense I suppose, since you'd want a decent reputation in order to get a good-sized crew together so you could change Governors. From what I've noticed the more you outnumber the defenders, the better chance you have of ousting the old Governor. Probably won't get a chance to play before the weekend but I'll get around to it eventually

Redbirdy

[Phil Walker]

Indeed Redbirdy!

Not just for reputation's sake though. I had to do a few extra dances with Spanish Beauties in order to get to Duke before I started my sacking. Took a year or 2 to do that and hunt down the villains and bring them back. I had all except Spain and England to Duke so had to get Spain to Duke first, THEN started sacking. Elsewise, I wouldn't have had the chance to get to Duke with Spain. Could have started earlier if it wouldn't have been for that, but you do have it right otherwise. ;D

Sincerely,
Phil