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Sad about duels, won't buy Pirates! after all...

E

eobet

Landlubber
Hello!

I remember writing here about how important the sword duels where in the original Pirates! game (and how they weren't as good in Gold either, as in the original), and many people agreed with me.

Due to me disliking the graphics in the game (too childish) I stalled in buying it, but I have now finally tried it at a friend's house.

After seeing the graphics in motion, they didn't actually bother me. In fact, I found them to be quite faithful actually. What did bother me, however, where the animations. I mean, Matrix moves in every bloody sword duel? Come on, what is that?

I also felt that the duels where overly simplified, and not at all the important and captivating `mini-game` it once was (which I feel were good enough to be a stand alone game, back in those days, when compared to IK+).

Thus, I feel that one of the most important part of Pirates! (to me, at least) has failed in being updated (for a mature audience; I bet kids love it), so I will not buy the game.

I still have the original for Atari ST, which I play from time to time, so I don't feel that I'm missing much.

I guess this wasn't a very well written post, but the gist of it is that I think I've outgrown many of todays games. It's sad that this one wasn't made with adults in mind (anyone remember when pretty much any game that Microprose used to produce came with keyboard overlays and 300 page manuals?).

Anyway, I'll go back to getting my behind kicked by quick Warhammer: Dawn of War players now. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />
 
You are missing several things about swordfights. First, they are way different now. You either get faster, or slower depending on your Advantage. That spinning halo above your head, indicates that you are slower than your opponent. If you make the correct moves you get faster the halo goes away, and combination strokes can be applied faster. Depending again on your advantage. This also makes it that even if you have less men, you can still win a battle, fighting way more crew in the game.

Taunting is a move that is suppose to help with you to get an advantage.

It is no more simple moves, and you win the swordfight. Your opponent can gain the advantage, be faster than you, and win the swordfight, and at harder levels, you will need every bit of help you can get, like the special items to help you move faster, opponents are harder to duel, and there is no backing away from them.
Also if there is a bucket in sight you are near, you will even pick up the bucket and swing it at your opponent if you make the correct move at that time.

So the swordfights, will speed up or slow down according to you making the moves in the game and gaining the advantage.
 
Plus when you get the special items of pistol or pistols, your starting position changes when the duel starts, and you either get a step forward or a couple of steps forward before starting the duel, which is another advantage, against such a level as playing on Swashbuckler, which is one hard level.
 
eobet and Raion;

It is my understanding the spinning halo indicates you are dizzy and need a moment to recover, that is why your reaction time is momentarily slower. Your opponent will get dizzy at time also. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> I do not think making a certain combination of moves actually increases your speed. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />


Concerning a taunt, again, my understanding is that a taunt, when used will decrease the morale of your opponent, moving the advantage in your favor.

Special items will also help as Raion has pointed out.. pistols can be a life saver. Some good info here concerning how pistols help as well as other items.

<a href="http://forum.piratesahoy.net/ftopic3779.php" target="_blank">http://forum.piratesahoy.net/ftopic3779.php</a>

When I first played I also missed the days of old when I could, whenever I choose to simply give ground before the opponent and I would loose men. It was a handy way to ensure a good return when you divided the plunder. But after playing for awhile I realised this way is actually better and has so many more variables. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

Do I like the riduculous moves the opponents make while fencing, hell no. I absolutely hate when the pirate dives/jumps back, catches his self with one hand and springs back to attack again.. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dp_nogd.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":ng" border="0" alt="dp_nogd.gif" />


The one move in the game that has almost made me hit the monitor when dueling is: when fighting a suitor for the Gov's daughter. Here we are outside in a GARDEN and out of nowhere A rope swings by and he grabs it and swings out of my reach only to come back and bash me.. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dp_nogd.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":ng" border="0" alt="dp_nogd.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dp_nogd.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":ng" border="0" alt="dp_nogd.gif" /> <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dp_nogd.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":ng" border="0" alt="dp_nogd.gif" />


Well, at any rate, the point is the fencing is very much more complicated, although yes, stuff was added for the twitch/younger generation.


EDIT: Raion posted the pistol info while I was typing this, the thread I included above had that info in it. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />
 
My problem with fencing is that it's waay too easy in rouge difficulty, and almost impossible to win in swashbuckler for me. This kind of breaks the game as in rouge I can easily take every ship, but in swashbuckler I can't take any.
 
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