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    Maelstrom New Horizons


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Getting started

v_Grimmelshausen

v_Grimmelshausen

Landlubber
So, I just got PoTC and Build 11 installed and it even runs without problems <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/william.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":will" border="0" alt="william.gif" />
Now, the technical side (almost - I´ll come to that) covered for the moment, I do need a lot of help regarding the gameplay. The manual isn´t too helpfull in a lot of ways.

First of all, fencing is really difficult, I do get killed within seconds (the first tries I made on a clean install, just to make sure it works). Part of that is down to the crazy default key mapping, but that´s something that can be changed easily.
Then, when I get into a storm, what am I supposed to do? My ship gets beaten up and sometimes it stays afloat just long enough and sometimes it does not. Is there anything I can do?

What skills should I invest into at start? And why can´t I choose the special skills (you know, improved defence and so on) since I installed the build? It worked fine with the clean install, and I do have two points to distribute on these. Do I need more or is that a bug?

So, I´d be glad indeed for answers, no doubt I´ll be coming up with more questions.
 
fencing: <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/duel_pa.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":ixi" border="0" alt="duel_pa.gif" />
Best is to block the entire fight and to start short impacts right after your enemy did an impact to you, and quickly block further.
Make sure, if possible, to select a location for that fight, where only one enemy can stand directly to you.
Look at the stats of your blade. If you can get a better one take it.
When you've got a gun, shot at that enemy from safe distance before the fencing begins.
Make sure that you've got enougth potions.
storms: <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/keith.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":keith" border="0" alt="keith.gif" />
Avoid storms until you or one of your officers got the ability "storm helmsman".
Lower all sails to avoid saildamage.
Hold out until you are allowed to switch back to the worldmap.
In no case make a battle in storm.

I think their should be left a little rest of fun to find out for yourself what abilitys you first choose. But think of the fact, that your officers can get abilitys too. These are useable for the entire party. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />
 
Grimm, best thing to do is get the best sword you can for blocking. The key to use for blocking is the "Ctrl" key. Hold that down until you hear a CLANK (the opponent has struck) and then release it and hit the spacebar a couple of times to hit back. Make sure you have plenty of health potions - to use them quickly, hit the "C" key, and keep holding down the "Ctrl" key.

Your skills still can be assigned - it's just a little different - use your mouse to highlight the skill (say Melee) and hit the spacebar to add points. Once you add them you cannot take them back, so be careful! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" />

Assigning skills is a personal choice; I tend to go for leadership, melee, sailing, and luck, first off. One of the things I like to do is practice fencing with Malcolm during the tutorial, so I can build up my level - takes some doing but you can get to level 4 easily enough (unless you choose to edit your starting stats in BuildSettings.h).

Couchcaptain Charles has created a really great mod that I have been testing - it's a "stormy start" mod where you dismiss Malcolm almost immediately instead of going through the tutorial. You're then placed in the middle of a storm, and you awaken on the beach of some island somewhere. You've got minimal money and weaponry, and need to go to town to find out if your ship and men are there...

It's an interesting and challenging way to start the game, IMHO much better than the French Occupation of Oxbay scenario - although that will kick in if you sail too close to Oxbay - so you can run the main quest if you wish.

This new mod is available now for B12 (not sure it will work in B11) and will be a part of a new update package for B12 very soon. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />
 
Thank you, first of all, for responding.
I´ve remapped the fencing keys and I did get a little better. What I did have problems with was the "Abilities", not the skills, but that´s solved: selecting them with the mouse didn´t work, doing so by space bar did.

Another question, however (they never end...) I can´t save while at sea. Is that normal, a bug of the build or a feature? And if it´s a feature, can it be removed? There is something like "nosave" in the buildsetting with a value of one, Another possible bug was, I managed to caputre a french lugger, took it as a prize, but when I took all the crew off when I was back in Redmond to sell it, the game crashed to desktop.

Is there, by the way, a map anywhere where I can see where the islands are and how I can get to the various locations on them?
 
Ye can save at sea if ye go to yer cabin
Not sure why it crashes at shipyard interface,could be a corrupt save
Here is a map done by Catalina
<a href="http://www.piratesahoy.net/components/com_akogallery/img_pictures/PA_wallpapr_catjsj_1024.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.piratesahoy.net/components/com_...catjsj_1024.jpg</a>
 
That "No Save" feature in BuildSettings.h has to do with whether you are willing to go through the entire game without making any saves - it's the mod with the `brown-robed` monks and their mysterious artifacts.

And Grimm, if you wish a printable map, here are some new maps of the archipelago (the blue ones on the walls from the Build extra textures package that replaced the old maps of the Caribbean). I made up these maps to look like an old style Mercator map (hand colored and full of neat little illustrations of ships and sea monsters) with correct positioning of the islands and other important info (that was left off of the Bethsoft map) provided by JackSparrowJr:

<a href="ftp://ftp.ganotherapyusa.com/pub/new_col_g" target="_blank">ftp://ftp.ganotherapyusa.com/pub/new_col_g</a> - the pix on the map are hardly salacious, but the "naughty bits" are discretely covered here just in case you have prying eyes that you do not wish to view these things. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="icon_wink.gif" />

<a href="ftp://ftp.ganotherapyusa.com/pub/new_col_x" target="_blank">ftp://ftp.ganotherapyusa.com/pub/new_col_x</a> - and the unexpurgated edition... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="icon_wink.gif" /> Again, hardly a sexy pic, but I figured that some people might want a choice... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />

Different resolutions are included (up to 1600), and they print out nicely. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/onya.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":onya" border="0" alt="onya.gif" />

Have fun! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/danse1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":dance" border="0" alt="danse1.gif" />
 
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Another possible bug was, I managed to caputre a french lugger, took it as a prize, but when I took all the crew off when I was back in Redmond to sell it, the game crashed to desktop.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->I don't remember if in build11 the same is caused, but if you take all sailors from a ship that simply means that you give up that vessel (YOU SINK IT).
Therefore one sailor and the capt'n have to be left on board until the ship is sold. Your officer is, after selling that ship, removeable by a menu that is opening by a click on the portrait of the capt'n, which is showing after ship is sold. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bookish.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":mm" border="0" alt="bookish.gif" />
 
Remember to take any EXTRA officers you might have placed on that ship OFF, before selling - or you will lose those officers. The only one who remains behind after you sell a prize ship is the captain to whom you assigned the vessel. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />
 
@Emrep: I know that now, I captured a ship on high sea and then took off all the crew, then it sank. Just don´t have to do it in harbour.

@Cat: Thanks for the maps, I´m really getting confused. That monk I met in Oxbay. So, if I take an artifact, i can´t save anymore right? That explains that.
Why would i put additional officers on a captured ship? I need them with me, as I need most of my men. Prizes just get minimum crew and a captain.

Talking about prizes, here comes my next question (yeah, I know, I get on your nerves, I´m terribly sorry for that): What are all the gray ships around the islands about (on the minimap they appear gray)? I can´t attack them in 3rd person, they don´t attack me (the ones hostile to my nation or pirates), so, are they just for the looks?
And then something else, after I left Falaise de Fleur I captured the barque (now that´s a neat boat, err ship <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> ) transporting the ammo and then I captured a spanish caravel on my way to Redmond. And when I arrived the shipyard and the local merchant wouldn´t trade with me. Looking for my statistics I found out I´m "Horror of the High Seas", why´s that? I mean, the Spaniard was grey and I had to blow some salvoes into him to get him active, but Spain´s at war with England, and I´ve got an English Letter of Marque, so it´s all legal, way of. Do I have to sign articels first before starting to privateer or may I just not attack gray ships? How´s privateering supposed to work, then?
 
<!--`QuoteBegin-v_Grimmelshausen`+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(v_Grimmelshausen)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Why would i put additional officers on a captured ship? I need them with me, as I need most of my men. Prizes just get minimum crew and a captain.[/quote]

Later in the game as you get the opportunity to hire more officers, you might want to "staff" a second ship.
You could pick officers that have skills that make up for deficiencies in the captain you assign to that ship.
This works the same as what you do assigning officers to balance your own deficiencies.

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->What are all the gray ships around the islands about (on the minimap they appear gray)? I can´t attack them in 3rd person, they don´t attack me (the ones hostile to my nation or pirates), so, are they just for the looks?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I think you figured out that they can be interacted with. The are grey because they are neutral towards you.
 
I should have read the build readme and FAQ more thouroughly, then I´d known that to attack these ships I have to hoist the Jolly Roger near them. Or is there any other interaction but attacking?

There´s something else, every time I get into a house, the inhabitant attacks me, even if I didn´t touch his chest. How comes? Are they all villains or is it down to my reputation?
 
Normaly you can make conversation with the real owner of a house.
But maybe your reputation is in arse or their is simply a robber in that house. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dunno.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":shrug" border="0" alt="dunno.gif" />
 
Aye,that'd be CCC Vice city mod,ye can change settings in yer POTC directory/Programs,Build settings_h folder an scroll down tillye see this

//All houses have permanent residents now. The friendly ones have lots of options
#define HOUSE_ENC_CHANCE 0.9 //chance to find someone(s) in the house
#define HOUSE_BANDIT_CHANCE 0.4
//chance for that to be bandit(s)
#define HOUSE_FIGHTDISABLE_ALL 0 //change to 1 to disable ALL encounters in houses with fight disabled; 0 leaves vags gen'd there.
#define HOUSE_DISFIGHT_SCL 0.5 //scalar to chance of encounter if fight is disabled. Only used if disableall is false.
#define HOUSE_OLDPEOPLE_REAPPEAR 0.75 //chance for the owner(s) to be in the house. Note that we must have passed enc_chance itself first.
#define HOUSE_OLDPEOPLE_BANDIT 0.35 //if above false, will check for bandit; if OK will spawn bandit.
 
Yeah, I know about that. I DO want this VC Mod working, and getting attacked inside the houses happened mostly at night. but maybe that reputation bug had taken effect already, as I´ve taken a loan in Oxbay.

One thing I was wondering about and couldn´t find an anwer: What does the second (inner) ring around the compass in sailing mode mean?
 
Outer ring - compass
middle ring - load indicator for front-, back and sideguns
inner ring - wind speed - and vessel speed indicator

<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/keith.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":keith" border="0" alt="keith.gif" />
 
So, back I am with a new question: How does that ship berthing work? The button´s always dark, in ports as well as on other locations I can sail to on any island.
 
The F2 button should not be dark if you have more than one ship - you should be able to click on it and berth a ship on the island you are alredy on. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":?" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" /> Not sure why yours isn't working... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":?" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" /> Mine does... But only if I have an extra ship. You can't berth the ship you are commanding if it's the only ship you have. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="icon_wink.gif" />
 
Oh, I do have extra ships, plenty of´em. That´s the problem, all the nice ships, AND the nice cargo, I have to send to the bottom of the sea because I just can take three extra ships. ´tis really a pity. And a waste of money.
Maybe it´s because at the moment I use build 11?
But do I have to be on a location where I can drop anchor, or do I just have to be in the "land ho!" area? I always tried to berth a ship on mooring locations.
 
Ah... B11, the Ship Berthing was not enabled yet. That's why. In B12 it works - and you can either be on land, or in port (where you drop anchor, so not necessarily THE port) where you wish to berth a ship.

It is a nice feature of B12 - you can lay up a ship and grab it later if you wish to use it for battles or whatever. I recently took a MOW and laid it up at Douwesen for later when I need it to assault the fort at Greenford. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" /> In the meantime, I sail about harassing the French in my Xebec CT. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />

I hate to sink a ship, too... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/urgh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":urgh" border="0" alt="urgh.gif" /> I try to do it only to the little ones. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":yes" border="0" alt="yes.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />
 
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