User Guide

Jump vs. a Slash: When you successfully jump over your opponent’s
slash, your opponent is momentarily disoriented, possibly allowing
you to get in a quick attack before he recovers.
Jump vs. a Thrust or Chop: The enemy hits you.
Taunt
When you taunt your opponent you’re trying to demoralize him with
a cunning verbal attack. A successful taunt moves the Advantage bar
in your favour. There is no specific counter to a taunt; however, your
enemy can shut you up by hitting you with a pointy object while
you’re talking. To taunt your opponent push the Taunt key (number
pad 6).
Effects of Morale on Battle
Your crew’s morale at the time they entered the battle affects their
performance in combat. If they are happy they fight like lions and can
defeat an enemy much bigger than they; if unhappy they fight much
less successfully.
The enemy forces also have a morale rating. In general, crewmen
aboard warships or pirate vessels have higher morale, while the crew
from merchant vessels have lower.
Effects of Your Duel on the Crew Battle
The crew’s morale is heavily dependent upon your success in your
fight against the enemy captain. If you are doing well and have
pushed your opponent back, your crew’s morale is raised. If you are
being pushed back by your enemy, your crew’s morale is lowered.
The importance of this cannot be overstated. If you are winning, your
crew can take on and defeat an enemy force far greater than they;
however, if you are losing the duel, an inferior force can cut them to
pieces.
How the Crew’s Battle Affects Your Duel
When the enemy crew loses men, the advantage bar moves in your
favour. When your crew loses men, the bar moves in your opponent’s
favour.
The End of the Crew Battle
The crew battle continues until somebody wins the duel or until one
side or the other has been reduced to one man.
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Book Three Sid Meier’s Pirates!
®
Thrust
The thrust is a quick, straight attack, aimed at your opponent’s torso.
This attack takes little time to develop, but does less damage than
the chop or slash. To execute a thrust attack push the Thrust key
(number pad 4).
Hit Result: Opponent is driven back 1 paces.
Counter: Parry
Slash
This is a low attack, aimed at your opponent’s legs. The slash takes
some time to develop, but is quite deadly when it lands. To execute
a slash attack push the Slash key (number pad 1).
Hit Result: Opponent is driven back 2 paces.
Counter: Jump
Defensive Maneuvers
You also have three defensive manoeuvres available to you: duck,
parry, and jump.
Duck
In this manoeuvre you duck underneath your opponent’s chop attack.
To duck push the Duck key (number pad 2).
Duck vs. a Chop: When you successfully duck under an enemy’s
chop, your enemy is momentarily disoriented, possibly allowing you
to get in a quick attack before he recovers.
Duck vs. a Thrust or Slash: The enemy hits you.
Parry
In this manoeuvre you block your enemy’s attack with your sword.
This defensive manoeuvre is somewhat successful against any attack.
To parry push the Parry key (number pad 5).
Parry vs. a Thrust: Your enemy’s blow is completely blocked.
Parry vs. a Chop or Slash: You manage to partially intercept the
attack: you are pushed back 1 pace instead of 2.
Jump
In this manoeuvre you jump over your opponent’s slash attack. To
jump push the Jump key (number pad 8).
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Sid Meier’s Pirates!
®
Book Three
PiratesPC_ManInner_GB+Q 27/10/04 17:53 Page 44