Post by Phil Walker on Jan 9, 2006 19:54:03 GMT -5
For those of you who have been playing the game, Sid Meier's Pirates there are some things I found helpful. Allow me to list them now to help all of you build the best scores possible.
Firstly, when starting the game you need to pick the skill to best suit your needs. So, what is most important to you? Fencing is good, but not a necessity. Of course it depends on your difficulty level as well. I found it best to choose Medicine as your life is longer and healthier during the late stages of the game. Gunnery and Navigation are nice but I found not to be a necessity as well. Wit and Charm is a waste as all it help with is getting dances with the more comely governor's daughters earlier. So, no matter the difficulty I choose Medicine as it helps in any level in the game.
Next is to find your first target (ship) to encounter after leaving port. In most of the difficulties your first ship to ship combat your ship is indestructible. It may get damaged, but not destroyed. So, what would be the best target? My option is to take out one of the name Pirate ships. As to which it depends on your own needs. I myself am partial to the "Brigs" meaning the 3 types of such. Brig of War, Brig, or Brigantine. Captain Kidd has a Brig of War, Jean Lefiette a Brig and the next two lesser pirates have Brigantines. For those of you who want more guns go for the Brig of War. Speed go for a Brigantine. For Both a Brig is good. Those are my first choices of targets.
What I do when I start after choosing my skill is pick to be a Spanish starter. Reason being you have the best chance of being close to one of those pirates in the beginning of the game. When I pull into Port, I head straight to the tavern. First thing is talk to the barmaid. She is the one who will tell you what ships or pirates are closest. If I get one the name pirates I desire, I then suit up my ship and exit the port and save my game right then. There are other little tidbits like checking the exact location of the pirate haven of your pirate's location, but I seldom do that now as I know the map very well.
As to the actual "face off" I steer my ship right at his and take him on in hand to hand combat so I don't have much damage to his ship to repair. After taking him I then click the "Status" box at the bottom right and switch to his ship as primary. I also like to rename it but that is just me. I like the Brig of War and for a reason, so I usually hope to find Captain Kidd first. If not, I start over until I get one of the 4 preferably him.
Now you are set to really start into the game after you take your first ship. So, what's next?! I'll now give my order of things I do.
1. Try to locate the name pirates (but don't take any of them yet save for Jack Rackburn). The better the pirate the better chance of being promoted, but less money if you take the better pirates first.
2. Search for the lost relatives. You find this out by checking with the mysterious traveler in the tavern. Once you find the Baron who has hid them, you then check with the bartender at each town/city/pirate haven for updates until you find him. Depending on your difficulty you have to get him at least 8 times as that is what it takes to get all the relatives.
3. During your search for relatives you go after the great villain as well. The Marquis. You have to fight him twice (at least) in his ship or in the tavern but the last time at his hideout. Big points for that as much money for getting him at his hideout.
4. Between your hunt for the Baron and Marquis, try to find special people to add to your crew. Most important in each difficulty is the Navigator, Gunner, Quartermaster, and the Surgeon. The others have their uses but these are the most important. The barmaid at a given town will give you information of what ship they are on when you are close to them.
5. Along with this knock off the name pirates now and then but not the top pirates. Go from the least important to the most as the big pirates earn more money quicker than the lessers do.. Besides my first ship I usually only do the bottom 3 before doing the Marquis at his hideout to give you an example.
6. Something to keep in mind now. Promotions. It always seems hardest to get yourself promoted by the Spanish (at least for me). However, they should not be the first to get to any promotion. Second, third, or fourth is fine, but not fist. It seems the Dutch and English are easiest so I usually go to a Dutch port first to talk to the governor as that is where you get your promotions. Do get the Spanish up quickly though as I will explain why in a bit.
7. (My least favorite), Dancing with the daughters. Don't mess with the plain or attractive daughters. The Beautiful daughters not only are the only way to get 10 of 10 in Romance, but they help in other ways. But don't start dancing until after you have found all the lost relatives. Reason being once you start dancing you either get info about the relatives OR a part of a map to one of the lost cities. This is why I save dancing for after finding all the relatives. Four lost cities also yield 50,000 gold for each one you find, so this helps with your wealth. Your hopeful wife (and yes you have to get married to get 10 romance) will also be kidnapped by a Colonel Mendoza so you have to find her during your hunt for the cities. After him and your marriage, then comes the fun.
8. By now you should be almost maxed out on your promotions and hope you have found all the pirate treasures. Now, it's time to search and destroy. Hopefully you get your Spanish Duke title before you start this though. If not, do some dances with Spanish beauties and capture the villains they tell you about. Once to Spanish Duke you then can now take out all those big Spanish ships. Most certainly you want to find Ocan Barques, Fast Galleons, and Treasure Galleons as they have the most loot. Once you are a Spanish Duke you do want the Spanish to get angry with you. You may ask why. Well, quite simply you are getting ready to assault them at their cities. There is a catch here now.
9. By now, you should be down to your last name pirates. Hopefully you haven't taken Henry Morgan yet. When it comes his turn by all means keep his ship. Speed is now less important as you need a ship that can carry as many crew as possible. The 2 best ships to do this are the Large Frigate (as Henry Morgan has), or the Flag Galleon (as the Maruqis has). They can carry the most crew and have 40 guns maximum. So, you'll need one of these to conquer the cities. Many of the Spanish cities can have over 400 men, so you need all the crew you can recruit. Thus Morgan's ship is best suited for this. After taking him, do all the updates to his ship not done already and have fun! Take out every Spanish ship in sight and then conquer the cities. This will get you to the best score you can get. My current best is 124 our of the highest of 126, so I found this to be the best way.
Also to note, while they may not be that important, get the special items as quick as you can. Most importantly is the swords, pistols, fencing shirts, "vests" and the medicinal products (herbs and salve). The ring and necklace and "hats" help with daughters and the boots and slippers with your dancing but none of the rest are that important. This is a game where you grab what you can, when and as fast as you can to be the best scores. Hope this helps and feel free to ask if I didn't cover something well enough.
Sincerely,
Phil
!!!
! I usually have mine outfitted early as I strive for that even more than getting the special items.
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