Swashbuckler Level

Salty Dog · Sailing Master Posts: 10060 **191991 Gold** -

Well, I finally made it to Swash level and gave it a try. Everything is harder here than in Rogue level and that is both good and bad. Yes, it is challenging but for me it proved a bit too hard. The good thing is I made it to Governor and scored 105, of which I'm faily proud. How have others done at Swash level? There are probley some out there who have scored 126 but I'm not so sure I could ever score that high at this level. I've reached 126 at Rogue and Adventurer. Here's a shore recap:

Got all nine named pirates. This was not much harder than the other levels. You MUST attack from upwind and have a good sized crew, also hit them with a full load of grapeshot just before boarding and you should do fine. I did not have to re-load the game with named pirates.

Found all 9 treasures, no change from Rogue level.

Found Raymondo and Montabaln on the high seas and defeated them. They are tougher than at the lower levels. Montalbaln is very tough. His 40 guns rain death if you do not dodge them. I got sunk by both of these guys and had t re-load the game twice to beat them.

I found Montalbaln's hideout and beat his army of Indians with no problem.

I did reasonably well with the dancing, about 50 percent success with the beautiful girls and higher than that with the other girls.

The problems I had were 1) after defeating Montalbaln's army of Indians I could not out-fence him. Tried 4 times and he is just too fast, and 2) could not out-fence the jealous suitors of the beautiful girls. Again, they are too fast for me. So, I could not get the 2 points for defeating Montalbaln and since I did not get him, it became very difficult to get the Indian Cities. Did not get any of the Lost cities. Also, married an attractive girl instead of a beauty. Also, I missed out on 3 wealth points because I did not get the 100,000 from Montalbaln or 200,000 from the Lost Cities.

I think I'll stay at Rogue level. You have to be just too fast at fencing for me!!! Glad to make Governor but Swash is just too intense!!! Do others feel this way too?
Thanks for the feedback........Salty Rolling Eyes

Captain Squid · Seaman Posts: 191 **4360 Gold** -

Am I wrong or are there harder dances that only show up at Swash? I had trouble with the fencing at first but (thanks to this forum) learned what it took to beat even Montalban at that level. The dancing, though...that was tough. I play at Swash sometimes, just to prove to myself I can do it, but most of the time I play at Rogue. It's a good challenge without making me work too hard.
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Mr. Matt · Powder Monkey Posts: 30 **60 Gold** -

To be honest I don't think it's that big of a jump to Swashbuckler level. It's not easy, sure, but the jump itself doesn't seem all that high to me. I mean, the jump from apprentice to Journeyman is very big, and can catch you out in your first sword fight at that level. But I found that because of the gradual nature of the increase in difficulty from then on I didn't really have too many problems. Except for if you reach Swashbuckler level when you're an old guy, in which case fencing becomes frickin' tough...
I try to start out at Swashbuckler level so you can get a large share of the loot from the beginning Very Happy

. Much easier to amass a small fortune that way...

So far as the Flag Galleons/War Galleons hitting me with a full broadside goes... they have to aim at me first Very Happy

. It's not all that easy to get a determined sloop in your weapons arc before it gets within boarding range...

Salty Dog · Sailing Master Posts: 10060 **191991 Gold** -

Mr. Matt,
You scored a 10 on that response! I think you are right, by the time I reached Monty's hideout and fought for my wife I was too old and had slowed down! I'll try again. This time really try to speed things up for those two specifice events, get Monty and a beautiful daughter as soon as possible. That may be the secret at Swash level!
Thanks again for the excellent answer!
Salty Cool

rupertlittlebear · Helmsman Posts: 4545 **10381 Gold** -

headrock · Rigger Posts: 1567 **354 Gold** -

Yeah Rupert, this forum practically mass-produces them, dunnit?
I can't say I wouldn't have eventually tried it if I hadn't come here, but the posts about war canoes here have surely boosted my interest Very Happy

(And thankfully so, that little darty zippy thing is soooo sweeeeet)
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Blondebeard: "Madre de Dios! Es el Pollo Diablo!!"
<Spanish Guitar Riff>
Guybrush: "Si! He dejado en libertad los prisioneros, y ahora vengo por TE!"

rupertlittlebear · Helmsman Posts: 4545 **10381 Gold** -

headrock · Rigger Posts: 1567 **354 Gold** -

You have no idea how great it is to drive a bulldozer around though, especially when you actually get to bulldoze something Smile

_________________
Blondebeard: "Madre de Dios! Es el Pollo Diablo!!"
<Spanish Guitar Riff>
Guybrush: "Si! He dejado en libertad los prisioneros, y ahora vengo por TE!"

Airsaw · Rigger Posts: 1840 **3281 Gold** -

Hmmm...there's a fine line sometimes between fun and work. I find I have to work to play rogue, but not so tediously as to make it not much fun to do. Swash, I thought, just intensifies the requirements...as was mentioned largely in the area of speed. That just adds a frenetic edge to it that takes the fun away for me, at any rate.

Since I fancy myself to be fairly GOOD at video games, and most games as well, I thought it was imperative to play the highest level as a rule, but in this game that isn't so appealing because I "play" to have "fun".

I also view these sorts of programs as a sort of digital Rubic's cube written by a group of people as a challenge to gamers, and I've not let ONE of these programs whooop me yet, in all these years. And, I ain'ta gonna let this one whip me either. SO, I eventually plan to play each country, each starting time at swash, getting the 126 and there you go, guv.

However, it will be a major undertaking, and "when I have time to do it" looms large as a consideration. Because, as I said, it's not fun, it's more like work. The fun in this level is in having accomplished it, not necessarily in the accomplishing of it. But, I'll get it done eventually just to say I did it.

Yet, I think to enjoy myself throughout a game that isn't a cakewalk, I'll play rogue level...for fun. I'm a chess player, so what I call fun may not be fun for others. I judge video games on how close they come to the game of chess as far as moves, strategy, prizes, etc. This one, Pirates! may not be as intricate in the strategy department, but it is still challenging enough. I don't really think making things faster makes them more challenging, just more difficult, which isn't necessarily fun.

good college: What is the square root of pi?

difficult college: Stand on your head, balance this teacup on your nose, then tell me the square root of pi.

Sometimes making things harder doesn't necessarily make them better.
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VenusPrince · Powder Monkey Posts: 8 **125 Gold** -

im playing on swash level from the moment i got this game...today, i tried rogue level and it's way easier imo (especially sword duels)...i'll stick to highest level, since it's not that hard for me i think (i'm quite satisified with my results so far at least Wink

)...

rupertlittlebear · Helmsman Posts: 4545 **10381 Gold** -

Striker · Gunner Posts: 727 **680 Gold** -

Salty Dog · Sailing Master Posts: 10060 **191991 Gold** -

I tried Swash level again. This time in a war canoe. It's hard to start out that way. Before you get the good shirts and swords, you are not quick enough to finish off Raymondo or some of the named pirates. I went after Raymondo with 70 guys against his 170 and he stalled me enough so I ran out of sailors and had to surrender. Same thing happened when I took on Mayonasse, we went back-and-forth for 5 minutes and I ran out of men. Taunting was not enough! Looks to me like you have to get some special items before you can tangle with the tough guys with only a war canoe-sized crew! I had to revert back to Rogue level, which seems easy to me now but is much more enjoyable. At least I 'm now a happy war canoe Rogue! Thanks guys!
Salty (one of the old farts on this board) Rolling Eyes

Give em a Broadside!! · Powder Monkey Posts: 34 **753 Gold** -

I've found that at Swash level, I can't win a single swordfight, and the dances are extremely difficult....alot faster! As far as the fencing is concerned, I'm relatively new to this game, only had it a week, so I'm sure there is something I'm not doing right, or have yet to learn. I guess maybe I should stick to the lower levels longer to learn more. Everytime I divide the plunder, I went ahead and went up a level. Got up high pretty quickly, but again, have to reload the game many times when it comes to fencing. ALWAYS get my butt handed to me...literally!

Gar!!!
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Fortune Favors the Bold!

rupertlittlebear · Helmsman Posts: 4545 **10381 Gold** -