User Guide

and once you’ve hired men from a tavern, it might take a while for more
jobless sailors to show up.)
The Merchant
Visit here to buy and sell goods and cannon. Use your mouse to make
selections, buy and sell cargo, and so on.
The Shipwright
Go to the shipwright’s establishment to have your ship repaired or
upgraded, and to sell any excess ships you might possess.
Divide the Plunder
Go here at the end of a long voyage to split the loot between you and
your anxious crew. See “Dividing the Plunder on pages 80-81” for
more details.
Check Status
Go here to examine your ships, cargo, crew, missions, and so forth.
You can also access all information screens from here.
Sail Away
Click here to leave town and return to the sea.
Other Settlement Types
Cities are not the only human habitations in the Caribbean. There are
other, smaller enclaves, as well. These smaller places change location
from game to game.
Settlement
These are smaller, newer towns, often with very few people in them,
often on the brink of extinction. Occasionally a settlement’s mayor
may have a job for you.
Settlements may have some or all of the same locations as are found
in cities - Tavern, Merchant, Shipwright, and so on. However, these
places are usually quite poor and primitive: don’t expect to find the
same quality of goods and services you find in the big cities.
Jesuit Mission
Missions are places where members of the Jesuit religious order try to
convert the natives to Christianity. Jesuit priests often have influence
with nearby cities: they may be willing to intercede with enemy gov-
ernors on your behalf.
Missions have merchants but they are usually poor and understocked.

Book Three Sid Meier’s Pirates!
®
your lost relatives. Further, they may have valuable special items or
maps to lost cities for you if they think you are worthy. If you persist
long enough, a governor’s daughter may agree to marry you - provid-
ing you with a great deal of prestige in Caribbean society.
You can impress a governor’s daughter by gaining high rank (but only
from her nationality; see “Ranks” below). You can also win her heart
by skilful dancing and by presenting her with jewellery she covets.
By the way, not all governors’ daughters are alike. Some are rather
plain in looks, some are attractive, and a few are quite beautiful. Not
surprisingly, the better-looking a daughter is, the harder she is to
impress.
The Tavern
Visit here to recruit men, pick up local gossip, purchase treasure
maps, and so forth.
The People: Your pirate appears in the centre of the room, surrounded
by a number of different characters. Each person may have something
to tell (or sell) you. Click on the person you wish to speak with.
The Bartender: The bartender usually knows where to find upgrades
for your vessel. Further, he often knows the movements of prominent
(or notorious) people in the Caribbean. Finally, he shows a disturbing-
ly thorough knowledge of the whereabouts of attractive women.
The Barmaid: The barmaid can tell you about pirates and villains in
the area. She often knows about fat prizes sailing nearby.
The Mysterious Traveller: This shady character can tell you about
cities he’s recently visited or heard about. He might also have treasure
map fragments or special items available - for the right price.
Crewmen: Unemployed sailors are often found hanging about in tav-
erns, looking for work. (Not all taverns have sailors looking for work,

Sid Meier’s Pirates!
®
Book Three
PiratesPC_ManInner_GB+Q 27/10/04 17:53 Page 50