[TheFool]

I just had to post this, I was so excited.

In the last 3 years I have played Sid Meier's Pirates on and off in a semi religious experience of 4am sittings, swash buckling my way through every which scenario I can think of.

1. Jump to every ship I capture/find. (This one has some tough times when you are groaning around in Spanish territory)
2. Destroy the Spanish Empire (I like to set each City in a sequence such as Dutch / French / English, it keeps their defense low, but always allows economic growth)
3. Pure Pirate (Never take a commission of papers from any warring nation)
4. Pure Dutch/French/English (Pure spanish would never be fun)

So...

In the WHOLE time of experiencing the beautiful world of Sid Meier's Pirates, I have to say, today was one of the most awesome experiences.

Santiago turned it French, 1600's

I see a new warship come out at the age of 22, SOTL, I have a sloop (a normal damn sloop) with the only upgrade of copper (still good) and 49 men. Now, I am a rogue captain (I can't handle anything higher)

So, after the usual high tension battle, I manage to take the SOTL and cheer for a considerable amount of time, then, to my complete amazement, another SOTL just waltz past.

TWO SOTL.

I had to post this.

Has anyone ever found something like this happen?

These were respectively my 5th and 6th SOTL's in over 3 years of this damn game.

The saddest part was giving one up when I had to divide the plunder.

[TheFool]

TheFool, on Oct 23 2008, 01:16 AM, said:

I just had to post this, I was so excited.

In the last 3 years I have played Sid Meier's Pirates on and off in a semi religious experience of 4am sittings, swash buckling my way through every which scenario I can think of.

1. Jump to every ship I capture/find. (This one has some tough times when you are groaning around in Spanish territory)
2. Destroy the Spanish Empire (I like to set each City in a sequence such as Dutch / French / English, it keeps their defense low, but always allows economic growth)
3. Pure Pirate (Never take a commission of papers from any warring nation)
4. Pure Dutch/French/English (Pure spanish would never be fun)

So...

In the WHOLE time of experiencing the beautiful world of Sid Meier's Pirates, I have to say, today was one of the most awesome experiences.

Santiago turned it French, 1600's

I see a new warship come out at the age of 22, SOTL, I have a sloop (a normal damn sloop) with the only upgrade of copper (still good) and 49 men. Now, I am a rogue captain (I can't handle anything higher)

So, after the usual high tension battle, I manage to take the SOTL and cheer for a considerable amount of time, then, to my complete amazement, another SOTL just waltz past.

TWO SOTL.

I had to post this.

Has anyone ever found something like this happen?

These were respectively my 5th and 6th SOTL's in over 3 years of this damn game.

The saddest part was giving one up when I had to divide the plunder.

This is rediculous!

Rogue captain once again,

AGE 18!

SOTL comes out of an english base as a new warship!

[Arrgh]

Amazing! I've never seen two SOTLs in a game, let alone one right after the other. I can't even imagine how awesome that must have been for you.

BTW, I totally hear you about the 4am sittings. I lose track of time whenever I play the game...

[whizzo]

dude, i've literally had fleets of SOtLs... eight of 'em, a virtual armada. i think i was carrying close to 3000 men at one time. mind you, feeding the scallywags was a b*tch though :D

[Taffer_de_Vries]

Arrgh, on Oct 22 2008, 03:33 PM, said:

BTW, I totally hear you about the 4am sittings. I lose track of time whenever I play the game...

Errr, who does NOT? :devil:

[von Luckner]

Arrgh, on Oct 22 2008, 10:33 AM, said:

...BTW, I totally hear you about the 4am sittings. I lose track of time whenever I play the game...

X 3. It makes that 0600 wakeup call a tough one!

[crusty old salt]

I have to ask what might be a stupid question, but first the explanation for it:
I just got this game for Christmas, the last time that I played it was on the Commodore 64. I was going through the forums for general info and to find out how to go about attacking a city. In the Commodore version, if I remember correctly, it was always an option whenever you sailed in. Now it sounds like I have to march in?
Anyway, I'm sure I'll have lots more questions but first,

What is SOTL?

[CaptainPatch]

crusty old salt, on 13 February 2010 - 05:05 PM, said:

I have to ask what might be a stupid question, but first the explanation for it:
I just got this game for Christmas, the last time that I played it was on the Commodore 64. I was going through the forums for general info and to find out how to go about attacking a city. In the Commodore version, if I remember correctly, it was always an option whenever you sailed in. Now it sounds like I have to march in?
Anyway, I'm sure I'll have lots more questions but first,

What is SOTL?

Yes, you have to be entering the town from land. PLUS it can't be a town that flies the flag of a nation that you're friendly with. PLUS it can't be a town with a Governor that you installed after sacking the town previously. (If the AI replaced that Governor in the meantime, that's a different story.)

SOTL = Ship Of The Line

[crusty old salt]

Thanks. it seems obvious now. having not seen one yet, what are the advantages, if any, of a SOTL? or is it just that they're rare? I've been sailing around in Queen Anne's Revenge and that seems to do eveything I need.

[CaptainPatch]

crusty old salt, on 20 February 2010 - 05:23 PM, said:

Thanks. it seems obvious now. having not seen one yet, what are the advantages, if any, of a SOTL? or is it just that they're rare? I've been sailing around in Queen Anne's Revenge and that seems to do eveything I need.

SOTLs aren't "stock" ships. First, the Spanish don't have them. Second, they usually have to be "provoked" into appearing. They turn up most often near towns where you've been seriously harassing the shipping for quite awhile. Plus it helps if that local ton was Prosperous or Wealthy. (The Governor can afford to outfit a pretty expensive vessel to chase you down.)

SOTLs usually appear as "New Warships".

The main feature about a SOTL is that it carries 48 cannons -- compared to the 40 cannons of a Large Frigate (Queen Anne's Revenge). The downside is that for having gained just 8 more cannons, the SOTL is noticeably not as nimble as the Large Frigate. Which means you'll be hit more often = paying for more repairs. Not to mention that the SOTL makes for a bigger target to be shot at.

[capt John]

crusty old salt, on 13 February 2010 - 05:05 PM, said:

I have to ask what might be a stupid question, but first the explanation for it:
I just got this game for Christmas, the last time that I played it was on the Commodore 64. I was going through the forums for general info and to find out how to go about attacking a city. In the Commodore version, if I remember correctly, it was always an option whenever you sailed in. Now it sounds like I have to march in?
Anyway, I'm sure I'll have lots more questions but first,

What is SOTL?

[capt John]

Like you, I started playing Pirates on a commodore 64. I was hooked on this game as was my young son and daughter. Between the three of us we actually wore out the disc and got a Pirates replacement disc from Microprose. Some years ago my wife and daughter were cleaning house and threw the microprose Pirates game disc away. To say I was mad would be an understatement, so I was very happy when I found out that there was a PC Pirates version available from Wal-Mart on-line. I bought it and have been playing Pirates! for quite some time (I'm retired). My way of getting a Ship of the Line (SOTL) is to capture as many English ships as possible in the Nevis and Antigua area. It's a good idea if you can have a rank of at least a French Count (this will allow you to get free repairs in a French Port or better still if you have a rank of Duke which will also give you free ship upgrades). Don't attack the towns because this will create a poor town, attack just the shipping. While you are doing this the Dutch will reward you with land and titles. Whenever I play, the SOTL usually comes out of Antigua and quickly goes to Nevis. It will be identified as a NEW WARSHIP and most of the time it has an escort. Best bet is to board the SOTL as fast as possible. The fully upgraded SOTL is a big ship and has a wide turn but the 48 guns make it a formidable ship, plus it has a 100 ton cargo capacity. I know that there are some who feel that a large frigate (like Henry Morgan's ship)or even a royal sloop are just as good, but for me I love the 48 guns.

[TheFool]

So I found my Pirates CD again and decided it was time to get addicted... again.

At work and killing time I subscribed to the RSS feed of this forum...

I read a post and thought to myself "This guy gets the game! I used to do exactly what he does!"


....

I read THIS POST WHICH I POSTED from 16 months ago.

Someone shoot me in the head or make more pirates add-ons and modifications.

I love this game.

[CaptainPatch]

The actual problem is that it is _Sid Meier's_ Pirates! Sid likes to create innovative stuff, rather then continually improving something that he has essentially gotten bored with. To update or expand the game would require him to be involved with the process, because _his_ name is attached to the game. About the _only_ way to get yet another version is to pound on 2K and prompt them to demand a new edition. But even then, you can see what Sid did to Railroad Tycoon when the publisher insists on a new-and-improved version: you get Sid Meier's Railroads!, which took a serious strategy game and transformed it into a 20-minute beer-and-pretzels jaunt.