Patch status?

El Austriaco · Powder Monkey Posts: 24 **447 Gold** -

i enjoy the game pretty much as it is
because i just wanted an more updated version of the old pirates and thats what it is

there are only a few things that played out better in the old pirates:
- governors of hostile nations would imprison you if they had the power to do so, not give you land and titles although you just sacked their cities

-treasure fleet was around, same goes for silver train

- more villains, at least more different names

i would gladly pay for an expansion pack after seeing what potential this game has....no worries i wont post a list of personal features i would like to see...i leave that to sid Wink

i have no idea about programming, and what would be possible, however
i guess one or 2 expansion packs would sell quite well

maybe one general expansion and eventually an adult version where you can be hanged, drink rum, slap the barmaids butt, ...
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SAIL HO! Looks like a Merchantman, Captain...

Kin Corn Karn · Powder Monkey Posts: 30 **284 Gold** -

TheDS · Seaman Posts: 127 **2085 Gold** -

Well, that's because you have a force advantage, and the AI only goes melee against your weak troops.

Your Pirates and Officers are melee specialists; they have a strength of 4 or 5 respectively, and the enemy's units have only a 2 or 3 strength. Your bukaneers, however, are only strength of 1.

There are modifiers to melee strength. A unit that's been shot may give the other side as many as 3 bonus points, and the unit that is at higher elevation can get (near as I can tell) a maximum of 2. Plus, if you attack from the flank, you get to double your strength!

The AI rarely has a melee advantage, so it rarely attacks that way, but it does have Scouts and Cavalry, which are melee only, and they WILL kick your butt if you're not wary. Since it takes about 3-4 shots from shooters (or double that if you're in trees) to kill a unit, AI is not very effetive and you can win a 2:3 engagement without too much fuss. Be careful of 1:2 engagements, though; unless you understand the game reasonably well, and get the right set up, you will probably lose.

The odd thing about this game as compared to other wargames is that instead of a combat ratio making the odds, in this one, simple superiority seems to be the rule. Having an even force, it seems you have about an even chnce of winning. Having a 1 point advantage, you win about 90% of the time. Having a 2 point advantage, you seem to win about 99% of the time. 3 or more points seems undefeatable except under certain circumstances, like maybe morale has soemthing to do with it, as well as who attacked who.

If there's a strategy guide, it will probably tell you more.

All in all, I find this module to be one of the funnest, and that's good because I like sacking and converting cities for quick cash and promotions.
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And God said "Let there be light!"
and NIPSCO said "Charge em for it!"

Hey, if you live in the Daytona beach / St. Augustine area, and you are interested in playing games, send me a note. I need a new gamer group!

bryce777 · Gunner Posts: 632 **652 Gold** -

Yeah, i dont think the combat is too unrealistic. Your forces are simply superior especially in melee which sort of makes sense.

Their cavalry on the other hand can be pretty effective.

BlueDEvil · Seaman Posts: 206 **818 Gold** -

My pirates melee with the calvary unit and destroy it in one go. I don't think the calvary strength is high at all. Maybe it get bonus from attacking in the open, but I never allow myself to be caught in the open. But with 8 movement points, it would be difficult to avoid getting outflank.

Defenders should a get a bonus artillery fire from the fortification every few turns. Also why should the battle be in the open field when you sneak up on the town from the backdoor. It should be battle in the streets instead. All battles should start with a sneaking game. If successful, the battlefield is in the city, or else, you fight in the open field. While in the city, if you capture the govenror's house within certain number of turns, you get bonus ransom.

knowltok · Powder Monkey Posts: 46 **1038 Gold** -

Why is it that console games don't need a patch? I know you couldn't do it, but in theory, can't they be released with major problems too?

bryce777 · Gunner Posts: 632 **652 Gold** -

Microwavegerbil · Seaman Posts: 220 **3502 Gold** -

TheDS · Seaman Posts: 127 **2085 Gold** -

Cavalry attacks at an 8 and defends at a 4. If woods comes into it at all, the cav gets divided in 3, allowing your pirates to withstand charges, or your buccaneers to MAKE charges, if they hit from the flanks or otherwise have some advantage.

Flank attacks double your attack strength.

The AI is a bit simplistic. Units that can fire will get within range and do that. Since you can survive 2-6 hits (depending on luck, how much damage the shooter has sustained, and if you're in woods), an always-shoot policy is not terribly effective unless that fire is massed. The AI CAN murder a unit you leave in the open, but they don't usually choose targets effectively.

Units that can't fire must therefore charge, and they always use all their movement in that pursuit, so it is very easy to sit just beyond their charging range, then move to their flank and hit them there. Plus, the defenders usually don't have many melee units to take advantage of YOUR weakness when you move to the flank before charging, because you expose YOUR flank when you do it.

It would be nice if the AI was a bit smarter, but that would turn off the people who can't grasp the simple tactics needed to win this subgame. Maybe if it was dependent on difficulty level....
_________________
And God said "Let there be light!"
and NIPSCO said "Charge em for it!"

Hey, if you live in the Daytona beach / St. Augustine area, and you are interested in playing games, send me a note. I need a new gamer group!