Arg! Swashbuckler Tips
Spending some time with Sid Meier's Pirates!® will undoubtedly bring a smile to your face as you enjoy its intuitive gameplay and wonderfully light-hearted presentation. It feels like pure adventure, but buried within it is some extremely rich and subtle strategy. You play Pirates! on your own terms, but if the goal is to retire a legend (and one atop the Xbox LIVE® leaderboards at that), you need to employ some pretty serious tactics. As a serious swashbuckler myself, I've compiled a list of tried and true tips to give you an edge over the other scurvy dogs. All hands on deck!
Pick your Friends
It's advantageous right off the bat to ally with the English. They have numerous ports and they always seem to have a grudge against someone, so you won't have to worry about a pirate's worst nightmare—peace breaking out all over the Caribbean. Build up some status quickly, which makes ship repairs and recruiting a much easier task.
Balance, young man, balance!
Bag a Buccaneer
Go after a notorious pirate as soon as possible. Not only does this give you instant fame points, but it gets you a good starting ship, as the notorious pirates usually sail about with some heavily upgraded sloops.
Go Easy on the Guns
Don't engage in yardarm-to-yardarm fire fights with opposing ships. You're a bloody pirate after all, and you don't want your prize to sink before you can seize her! Navigate close to your enemy while firing volleys of grape-shot to lower her crew size, then board her as quickly as possible. For faster ships that run away, use chain-shot (if you have it) or round-shot to slow them down.
Pick the Right Time to Pillage
Sack towns just after you see the "economy flourishes" message, and sink or disable a troop ship headed to the port before you invade. That way, you know there's plenty of gold to plunder and their defending garrison is not up to snuff.
Some pirates like to bust a move.
Don't Get Stabbed
Winning a duel is well and good, but winning without getting touched is far better. You may not realize it, but every time you get stabbed your life expectancy decreases. To avoid having to retire before your time, choose Fencing or Medicine as your main skill. Fencing helps in the fights, but if you think you're already a master swordsman, take Medicine which simply prolongs your career.
Keep the Crew Happy
Your crew morale is of the utmost importance during a long cruise, and it's not easy to keep your crew happy. Even after bringing in loads of gold (which helps immensely), you may end up with a rum crew. When you receive an item from the Governor's daughters, pick out a gift (like the fiddle) that increases crew morale.
One Heavy, One Light
On the whole, you only need two major fighting ships. One light and fast (such as the War Sloop) plus one heavier ship (Fast Galleon or Frigate are good choices) to battle the bigger opponents. Choose ships that are faster and more maneuverable than your enemies' vessels.
You killed my father … prepare to die!
Family Reunion
Finding your long-lost family members might be called the "main story" of the game, but pursuing your own goals doesn't always sit well with your crew. They want gold! Search for a family member's location only after a rush of loot and great prizes. This keeps the crew in good spirits for the potentially long journey and land-bound exploration ahead.
Moderate Cruises
You'll end up dividing the plunder a lot during your career as a pirate. Don't stick with the same crew for long stretches of time. Of course, you don't want to semi-retire after a short cruise for several months, but build wealth points and keep everyone happy by sitting down in a nice port and divvying up the loot amongst the hands. One- to two-year cruises seem to fit the bill nicely. Of course, there's no need to divide the plunder if you've got that smiley face next to your crew morale, but as soon as you see the frown after a rush of loot, it's time to kick back for a few months before setting off again.
These are a few tips for the burgeoning buccaneer, but there are many more facets to the game. Ground assaults, for instance, require a completely different style of strategic planning than sea battles. I've only skimmed the surface of Pirates! this time out, but it should be enough to help you get your sea legs. Hoist the Jolly Roger and head out to sea!
Article by Alex McLain
