User Guide

The Crew Battle
While you are dueling the enemy captain, your crew is fighting the
enemy crew. Every few moments, one side or the other loses some
men, depending upon the current state of the duel and the size, skill,
and morale of the opposing forces.
The Enemy Crew: How many enemy crewmen remain in the battle.
Your Crew: How many of your pirates remain in the battle.
The Keypad Control Diagram: This shows you how to control your
pirate by using the keys on the number pad.
An Overview of Dueling
In a duel, you are leading your men in a fight against the enemy forces
(sometimes you’re fighting alone; we’ll discuss that later). You engage
the enemy captain in a one-on-one swordfight while your crew fights
the enemy crew.
You attempt to hit your opponent with your sword while avoiding his
attacks. A successful hit drives the victim back one or two paces; the
battle is over when one dueller is pushed back into a wall, falls over-
board, or is otherwise dispatched.
While your individual duel is progressing, your crew is battling the
enemy forces. Every few moments, one side or the other loses some
men, depending upon the current state of the duel and the size, skill,
and morale of the opposing forces. If your crew is reduced to one and
you are hit again, you are forced to surrender; if your opponent’s crew
is reduced to one and you hit him again, your opponent surrenders.
Attacks
You have three attacks available to you: chop, thrust, and slash.
Chop
The chop is a high attack. You draw your sword back and up, and then
swing at the enemy’s head or neck. This attack takes a long time to
develop, but is quite deadly when it lands. To execute a chop attack
push the Chop key (number pad 7).
Hit Result: Opponent is driven back 2 paces.
Counter: Duck
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Book Three Sid Meier’s Pirates!
®
Fencing and Swordplay
Overview
The 17th century was a violent age. “Civilized” Europe was infested
by highwaymen, armed militia, and roving bands of hungry ex-sol-
diers. Most men carried swords and had at least rudimentary training
in how to use them.
As a pirate, you can expect to engage in a lot of swordplay. In ship
combat your objective is usually to capture ships without damaging or
sinking them. Thus you will board them and try to take them by
storm. You’ll meet the enemy captain in one-on-one combat.
To a large degree, your success or failure as a pirate will be deter-
mined by your handiness with a sword.
The Dueling Screen
The duelling screen shows a typical duel, taking place after you ram
an enemy vessel in a ship battle. The screen contains the following
elements:
You: Your character.
Your Opponent: The enemy captain.
The Advantage Bar: This shows which dueller has the advantage (or
“initiative”). When the bar is left of centre, you have the advantage.
When right of centre, your opponent has the advantage. The dueller
with the advantage moves faster than normal; the dueler without the
advantage moves slower. You can move the advantage bar away from
you by taunting your opponent, or by ducking a chop, parrying a
thrust, or jumping over a slash.
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Sid Meier’s Pirates!
®
Book Three
Enemy Crew
Advantage Bar
Your Crew
You
Your Opponent
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