User Guide

Flank Attacks
When a unit is attacked from the rear or side, the attacker receives a
“flank-attack” bonus. This applies in both close and ranged combat.
Panic
As a unit takes damage, its morale deteriorates. If the unit’s morale
reaches “panic”, it “breaks” and flees from the battle the very next
time it takes casualties.
Victory
If your men reach the city walls, the defenders scatter and run, and
the local citizens pay you a ransom to vacate the premise (the ransom
can be quite large, depending upon the city’s wealth and how badly
beaten the defenders). It is possible to use feints and sneak units
close to the city for an easier victory but your plunder will be less than
that of a complete victory. An overwhelming victory could also give
you the opportunity to place a new governor’s country very happy and
the old governor’s country rather upset with you.
Capturing a City
If your attack is enormously successful, the local people may revolt
against their current inept rulers, allowing you to determine their
future national allegiance!
Defeat
If you are defeated in battle, one of two fates awaits you. If you are
not captured, you return to your ships to lick your wounds and plot
your next move. If captured, however, you spend the next six months
or so in the local jail.

Book Three Sid Meier’s Pirates!
®
Terrain
There are four basic types of terrain in Pirates!
Clear Terrain: Open country. Units attacked while in clear terrain get
no defensive bonus. Cavalry units get an attack bonus when attacking
enemy units in clear terrain.
Trees: Units in trees are invisible until an enemy unit moves adjacent
to them. Trees provide a defensive bonus. Cavalry units are penalized
when attacking units in trees.
Hills: Units on hills (elevated terrain) gain a bonus when engaged in
close combat against units who are lower than they.
Impassable Terrain: This rocky terrain is impassable for units but
ranged units can fire through it.
Hidden Units
Units in trees or behind hills remain invisible until an enemy unit
“sees” them by climbing the hill or moving next to the unit in the
trees.
Combat
Close Combat
Close combat occurs when one unit attempts to enter a space occu-
pied by an enemy unit. The attacker’s close combat strength is used
against the defender’s defensive strength (modified by the terrain,
each unit’s morale, and whether it is a “flank” attack) and a result is
determined. Each unit may take casualties and lose morale. If the
defender wins the combat, he holds the position; if the attacker wins,
he takes the position and sends the defender fleeing.
Ranged Combat
Only buccaneers, infantry, artillery and native bowmen may engage in
ranged combat. In ranged combat the attacker fires his weapons at an
enemy unit in sight and within his ranged attack range. Effects of the
fire are determined as in close combat, but only the defender’s terrain
is considered important. The defender may lose men and/or morale
from the attack. The attacker doesn’t suffer any ill effects from mak-
ing a ranged combat attack.

Sid Meier’s Pirates!
®
Book Three
PiratesPC_ManInner_GB+Q 27/10/04 17:53 Page 62