The Who's the Best Pirate? game

[Kalel21]

This one is open to 5 players. It might be too complex for a play-by-post game, so we'll do a short game first to see if anyone has fun. If so, I'll start fresh with a longer version with more players.

Each player will loot and pillage for 4 rounds. At the end of those rounds, whoever has the most money will win. Game play will start this coming Monday and go one round every weekday through Friday.

The idea here is for each player to loot and pillage for the set number of rounds. Whoever has the most money in the end will win.

You start with a crew of 100, though you are bound to lose men along the way.

Each player must first create his pirate persona. To do so, divide 30 points among the following three atrribute:

Cleverness
Seamanship
Combat

Each round, you will have a choice of missions. Each mission will have the percentage chance of success. Each mission will allow you to add a specific attribute to this, increasing your chances of success.

Each mission will also list the amount of money you get if successful and the number of crewmen you are likely to lose.

Your chance of success goes down 1% for every crewman you have lost.

Example:

Blackbeard's attributes are:

Cleverness--6
Seamanship--12
Combat--12

Crewman: 94

His mission choices are:

Attack merchant shipping:
base chance of success: 80% + Seamanship
Expected losses if successful: 2 crew
Expected losses if unsuccessful: 3-10 crew
Expected loot if successful: 100-1000 pieces of eight.

Loot the port of Tortuga:
base chance of success: 75% + Combat
Expected losses if successful: 3 crew
Expected losses if unsuccssful: 5-15 crew
Expected loot if successful: 500-5000 pieces of eight

Con governor of Port Royale out of gold:
base chance of success: 75% + Cleverness
Expected losses if succesful: 1 crew
Expected loses if unsuccessful 1-6 crew
Expected loot if successful: 200-800 pieces of eight

Blackbeard could also skip a turn to return to his secret pirate haven and recruit fresh crew, thus returning his crew number to 100.

But he chooses to raid Tortuga. His Combat rating is 12, so that raises his chance of success to 87%. But he is down 6 crew, so it drops back to 81%.

Dice are rolled and Blackbeard is successful. More dice are rolled and he finds out he has taken 3000 pieces of 8 from the port. He loses 3 more crew doing so, though, so he's now down to 91.

So that's how it works. There will be more mission choices in the real game. More than one of you are allowed to try the same mission at the same time. At the end of the game, whoever has the most piecies of eight wins.

ARRRRR!!!! Who wants to try? Remember, fo this initial playtest, there will only be five players. First come, first serve.

[Manchine]

I will join ARRRR!

[theanalogkid]

Redbeard the Pirate:

Cleverness: 10
Seamanship: 10
Combat: 10

Now walk the plank, ye seadog!!!

[Manchine]

Oh yeah I forgot about that part.

Ghost Pirate

Cleverness--6
Seamanship--10
Combat--14


Some Great Pirate quotes

Dying's the easy way out. You won't catch me dying. They'll have to kill me before I die!


[Recreating the path to where the treasure is burried] Stagger, stagger, crawl, crawl, jump...

[Grinner]

I'm in.

The Dread Pirate Cummerbund

Cleverness - 13
Seamanship - 8
Combat - 9

[Kalel21]

Still room for two more players.

[Space Jawa]

Arrrrrrrrrr!!! I'll be makin' sure ye won't be soon forgettin' the name of...

Swift-Mouth Lee!

Cleverness 14
Seamanship 5
Combat 11

[Antipathy]

I'm Redheart.

Cleverness--10
Seamanship--13
Combat--7

[Kalel21]

The pirates/players:

theanalogkid:

Redbeard the Pirate:

Cleverness: 10
Seamanship: 10
Combat: 10

crew: 100

manchine:

Ghost Pirate

Cleverness--6
Seamanship--10
Combat--14

crew: 100

Grinner:

The Dread Pirate Cummerbund

Cleverness - 13
Seamanship - 8
Combat - 9

crew:100

Space Jawa:

Swift-Mouth Lee!

Cleverness 14
Seamanship 5
Combat 11

crew: 100

Antipathy:

Redheart.

Cleverness--10
Seamanship--13
Combat--7

crew: 100

I'll go ahead and post the first round choices tomorrow, unless any of you object to the early start before then. You'd all have until Monday to post your decisions.

[Manchine]

I object!



I want it even Earlier. :)

[Kalel21]

Okay, here we go. Remember, for this play-test game, there will be 5 rounds.

ROUND 1:


Attack merchant shipping:
base chance of success: 80% + Seamanship
expected loss if successful: 2 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 1-6 crew
expected loot if successful: 200-2000 pieces of 8 (p8)

Loot the port of Port Royale:
base chance of success: 65% + combat
expected loss if successful: 5 Crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 6-33 crew
expected loot if successful: 2000-20,000 p8

Kidnap and ranson daughter of rich merchant:
base chance of success: 75% + cleverness
expected loss if successful: 2 crew
expected loss if unsucessful: 1-10 crew
expected loot if successful: 5000-10,000 p8

Search cannibal-inhabited swamp for lost Aztec treasure:
base chance of success: 70% chance + cleverness
expected loss if successful: 3 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 3-18 crew
expected loot if successful: 3000-18,000 p8

Attack the Spanish treasure galleon:
base chance of success: 65% + seamanship
expected loss if successful: 3 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 2-12 crew
expected loot if successful: 3000-11,000 p8

Fight giant squid to obtain priceless diamond:
base chance of success: 35% + combat
expected loss if successful 2-8 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful:3-30 crew
expected loot if successful: 50,000 p8

There you all go. Each pirate must now post which mission you are undertaking. More than one of you may undertake the same mission. (Results for each attempt are resolved seperately.) The deadline for posting is Noon Eastern time on Monday. I'll post results early if you all make your decisions early.

[Manchine]

I will go for port royale but I really wanted to go after the diamond but thats pretty much a 50/50 shot.



ROUND 1:

Loot the port of Port Royale:
base chance of success: 65% + combat
expected loss if successful: 5 Crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 6-33 crew
expected loot if successful: 2000-20,000 p8

[theanalogkid]

I will kidnap and ransom off a daughter of a rich merchant. You would think they would have more sons.

[Antipathy]

I will search cannibal-inhabited swamp for lost Aztec treasure.

[Manchine]

I will kidnap and ransom off a daughter of a rich merchant. You would think they would have more sons.

You sure she would want to go back?

[Space Jawa]

I be gamblin' fer da big one! Hit me with that giant squid! Yaaaaarrrr!

Fight giant squid to obtain priceless diamond:
base chance of success: 35% + combat (11 - 46% total)
expected loss if successful 2-8 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful:3-30 crew
expected loot if successful: 50,000 p8

[Kalel21]

I know we only started play-testing this thing, but I'm already thinking that when I'm running a full-scale version, there should be some sort of "attack another pirate" option. But I'm not sure how to work the mechanics of it.

[Space Jawa]

I know we only started play-testing this thing, but I'm already thinking that when I'm running a full-scale version, there should be some sort of "attack another pirate" option. But I'm not sure how to work the mechanics of it.

I actually wondered about that yesterday. Whether there'd be a possibility to try to con another pirate out of their gold with my advanced cleverness. :grin:

Might want to make some system for pirates to defend themselves, too, if/when you implement something of that nature.

[Kalel21]

Maybe there would just be a pirate vs. pirate round at 2 or 3 points during the game, matching Combat or Cleverness skills against one another. The winner gets, say, 25% of the loser's gold.

[JackAssterson]

/preemptively signs up for the next game, to appease the pirating gods, who were this close of avenging the travesty of me not being in this by blasting the entire forum to ribbons :eek:

[Kalel21]

/preemptively signs up for the next game, to appease the pirating gods, who were this close of avenging the travesty of me not being in this by blasting the entire forum to ribbons :eek:


Don't worry--I will run a full scale version of this. Be as patient as Captain Kidd as he slowly went mad in the furnace heat of his cabin while vainly waiting for prey at the mouth of the Red Sea.

[Manchine]

/preemptively signs up for the next game, to appease the pirating gods, who were this close of avenging the travesty of me not being in this by blasting the entire forum to ribbons :eek:


With only 5 rounds this should go by fast.

[Grinner]

Search cannibal-inhabited swamp for lost Aztec treasure:
base chance of success: 70% chance + cleverness
expected loss if successful: 3 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 3-18 crew
expected loot if successful: 3000-18,000 p8

I was originally going to go for the ransom, but then I saw this and I though about my old Tick shirt.

The Tick is standing there, holding a big gem or some such, with his other hand pointing over his shoulder. His word balloon: "That's sure a whole bunch of Aztecs!"

[theanalogkid]

You sure she would want to go back?


Who says I am giving her back after the ransom is back?

[theanalogkid]

Don't worry--I will run a full scale version of this. Be as patient as Captain Kidd as he slowly went mad in the furnace heat of his cabin while vainly waiting for prey at the mouth of the Red Sea.


I was surprised there was room when I saw the sign up. 5 hours is a long time for a Kal game to sit without filling up.

[Manchine]

Usually I don't play to many games like this but this sounds fun and interesting. :)

[Space Jawa]

Who says I am giving her back after the ransom is back?

Kalel21? :noid:

[Kalel21]

ROUND 1 RESULTS:

Ghost Pirate (manchine) successfully loots Port Royale, losing 5 crew but winning 8,000 p8

Redbeard (TAK) attempts to kidnap the governor's daughter, but fails. He loses 10 crew and gets no loot.

Redheart (Antipathy) plunges into the swamp, hacks his way through the cannibals and wins the Aztec gold. He loses 3 crew, but gains 6,000 p8.

The Dread Pirate Cumberbund (Grinner) also goes after the Aztec gold. But he fails, losing 18 crew and gaining no loot.

Swift Mouth Lee (Space Jawa) takes on the giant squid and WINS. He loses 15 crew, but gains 50,000 p8

theanalogkid:

Redbeard the Pirate:

Cleverness: 10
Seamanship: 10
Combat: 10

crew: 90
p8: 0

manchine:

Ghost Pirate

Cleverness--6
Seamanship--10
Combat--14

crew: 95
p8: 8,000

Grinner:

The Dread Pirate Cummerbund

Cleverness - 13
Seamanship - 8
Combat - 9

crew:82
p8:0

Space Jawa:

Swift-Mouth Lee!

Cleverness 14
Seamanship 5
Combat 11

crew: 94
p8: 50,000

Antipathy:

Redheart.

Cleverness--10
Seamanship--13
Combat--7

crew: 97
p8: 6,000


Stinky dice rolls (both in not being successful AND in coming up with the maximum number of lost crew) betray several of you, but Space Jawa's gamble pays off. He takes an early lead.

Round 2 missions will be posted on Monday. Sorry, I won't be near a computer often enough to get them posted before then.

[Manchine]

Wow Swift-Mouth Lee takes the lead!

[Space Jawa]

SCORE!

YO HO, YO HO! A happy pirate be me!

[Antipathy]

Fight giant squid to obtain priceless diamond:
base chance of success: 35% + combat
expected loss if successful 2-8 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful:3-30 crew
expected loot if successful: 50,000 p8

Since Space Jawa was successful, I don't think he could lose 15 crewmembers.

[Space Jawa]

Eh, that be expected losses. So I had a higher than expected losses. I also got 50 thousand pieces of eight.

Do ye really think I'm going to complain?

[theanalogkid]

Ouch. Guess I don't have to worry about giving the girl back as I never got her.

[Kalel21]

Actually, Antipathy is correct about Space Jawa's losses--I rolled the wrong die for that one. I've corrected the error--he only loses six guys.

[Kalel21]

ROUND 2 MISSIONS:

Attack merchant shipping:
base chance of success: 80% + Seamanship
expected loss if successful: 2 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 1-6 crew
expected loot if successful: 200-2000 pieces of 8 (p8)

Loot the port of Tortuga:
base chance of success: 65% + combat
expected loss if successful: 5 Crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 6-33 crew
expected loot if successful: 2000-20,000 p8

Kidnap and ranson the rich merchant himself:
base chance of success: 70% + cleverness
expected loss if successful: 4 crew
expected loss if unsucessful: 2-20 crew
expected loot if successful: 11,000-20,000 p8

Con Royal Navy officer out of the treasure he's guarding:
base chance of success: 70% chance + cleverness
expected loss if successful: 3 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 3-18 crew
expected loot if successful: 4,000-12,000 p8

Attack the Spanish treasure galleon:
base chance of success: 65% + seamanship
expected loss if successful: 3 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 2-12 crew
expected loot if successful: 3000-11,000 p8

Fight re-animated skeletons to obtain priceless ruby:
base chance of success: 35% + combat
expected loss if successful 2-8 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful:3-30 crew
expected loot if successful: 50,000 p8


Remember--you may also spend the round returning to your secret pirate haven to recruit replacement crew. There is a 1% penalty for every crewman you have lost so far.

theanalogkid:

Redbeard the Pirate

Cleverness: 10
Seamanship: 10
Combat: 10

crew: 90
p8: 0

manchine:

Ghost Pirate

Cleverness--6
Seamanship--10
Combat--14

crew: 95
p8: 8,000

Grinner:

The Dread Pirate Cummerbund

Cleverness - 13
Seamanship - 8
Combat - 9

crew:82
p8:0

Space Jawa:

Swift-Mouth Lee!

Cleverness 14
Seamanship 5
Combat 11

crew: 94
p8: 50,000

Antipathy:

Redheart.

Cleverness--10
Seamanship--13
Combat--7

crew: 97
p8: 6,000

[Antipathy]

Kidnap and ranson the rich merchant himself:
base chance of success: 70% + cleverness
expected loss if successful: 4 crew
expected loss if unsucessful: 2-20 crew
expected loot if successful: 11,000-20,000 p8

I'm doing this mission.

[Kalel21]

I forgot to add:

Deadline for posting is Noon Easter tomorrow.

[Space Jawa]

Yar! I be prepared to push my luck on thees one. I be feelin' lucky!

Fight re-animated skeletons to obtain priceless ruby:
base chance of success: 35% + 11 combat - 6 missing crew = 40% total
expected loss if successful 2-8 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful:3-30 crew
expected loot if successful: 50,000 p8

Hit me with those skeletons! Yo Ho! Yo Ho!

[Manchine]

I need some LUCK!

ROUND 2 MISSIONS:

Fight re-animated skeletons to obtain priceless ruby:
base chance of success: 35% + combat
expected loss if successful 2-8 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful:3-30 crew
expected loot if successful: 50,000 p8



Swift-Mouth Lee, I will beat you there you SCALLIWAG!

[Grinner]

Con Royal Navy officer out of the treasure he's guarding:
base chance of success: 70% chance + cleverness
expected loss if successful: 3 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 3-18 crew
expected loot if successful: 4,000-12,000 p8

Yeah, I could use some more crew, but really, what kind of crew am I going to be able to recruit coming back short-handed and broke? :laugh:

Let's swindle the sap before we go home :grin:

[theanalogkid]

All or nothing with the re-animated skeletons. Luckily, Jason of Argonaut fame taught me how to take them.

[Space Jawa]

Wow, one guy tries to push his luck by going for the big prize twice, and suddenly the most difficult task is all the sudden the most popular.

I feel like such a trendsetter now. I'm so proud of myself. ^_^

[Kalel21]

ROUND 2 RESULTS:

Redheart (Antipathy) is successful in his attempt to kidnap and ransom the rich merchant. He loses 4 more crew, but nets 13,000 p8.

Swift Mouth Lee's (Space Jawa) incredible luck continues, as he hacks through the re-animated skeletons at the cost of 6 men, but comes away with the ruby!!! He gains another 50,000 p8.

But poor Manchine loses 18 men trying to hack through those darn skeletons, only to fail.

The Dread Pirate Cumberbund (Grinner) swindles a navy officer out of some loot, losing 3 crew but gaining 11,000 p8

Finally, Redbeard the Pirate (TAK) also makes a go for a priceless ruby. He fails, losing another 15 men.


theanalogkid:

Redbeard the Pirate

Cleverness: 10
Seamanship: 10
Combat: 10

crew: 75
p8: 0

manchine:

Ghost Pirate

Cleverness--6
Seamanship--10
Combat--14

crew: 78
p8: 8,000

Grinner:

The Dread Pirate Cummerbund

Cleverness - 13
Seamanship - 8
Combat - 9

crew:79
p8:11,000

Space Jawa:

Swift-Mouth Lee!

Cleverness 14
Seamanship 5
Combat 11

crew: 88
p8: 100,000

Antipathy:

Redheart.

Cleverness--10
Seamanship--13
Combat--7

crew: 93
p8: 19,000


Round 3 missions to be posted in a few minutes.

[Kalel21]

ROUND 3 missions:

Attack merchant shipping:
base chance of success: 80% + Seamanship
expected loss if successful: 2 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 1-6 crew
expected loot if successful: 200-2000 pieces of 8 (p8)


Loot the port of Tortuga:
base chance of success: 65% + combat
expected loss if successful: 5 Crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 6-33 crew
expected loot if successful: 2000-20,000 p8

Attack the Spanish treasure galleon:
base chance of success: 65% + seamanship
expected loss if successful: 3 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 2-12 crew
expected loot if successful: 3000-11,000 p8

Fight giant snake to obtain priceless emerald:
base chance of success: 35% + combat
expected loss if successful 2-8 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful:3-30 crew
expected loot if successful: 50,000 p8

Visit the gambling den on Nassau:
base chance of success: 50% (no attributes or crew losses apply)
expected loot if succesful: DOUBLE your current p8
expected loss if unsuccessful: LOSE all your current p8

[Space Jawa]

I AM IN-VEENCE-EBLE!

Arrrrrr, I'd be sayin' I've lost plenty o' men by thees point (and with a lead like that...).

Let us head back to 'r secret base and refill that crew roster. ARRR!

[Manchine]

Head back to base to refill on men.

[theanalogkid]

I will also head home to recriut some more men.

[Grinner]

Following the trend - let's bolster the crew :grin:

[Kalel21]

Still have one player to hear from, I believe.

[Antipathy]

I'll head back to refresh the crew as well.

[Kalel21]

Well that makes things easy to moderate:

Round 3 results--

Everyone returns home and refills their rosters.

theanalogkid:

Redbeard the Pirate

Cleverness: 10
Seamanship: 10
Combat: 10

crew: 100
p8: 0

manchine:

Ghost Pirate

Cleverness--6
Seamanship--10
Combat--14

crew: 100
p8: 8,000

Grinner:

The Dread Pirate Cummerbund

Cleverness - 13
Seamanship - 8
Combat - 9

crew:100
p8:11,000

Space Jawa:

Swift-Mouth Lee!

Cleverness 14
Seamanship 5
Combat 11

crew: 100
p8: 100,000

Antipathy:

Redheart.

Cleverness--10
Seamanship--13
Combat--7

crew: 100
p8: 19,000


ROUND 4 missions:


Attack merchant shipping:
base chance of success: 80% + Seamanship
expected loss if successful: 2 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 1-6 crew
expected loot if successful: 200-2000 pieces of 8 (p8)


Loot the port of Tortuga:
base chance of success: 65% + combat
expected loss if successful: 5 Crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 6-33 crew
expected loot if successful: 2000-20,000 p8

Attack the Spanish treasure galleon:
base chance of success: 65% + seamanship
expected loss if successful: 3 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 2-12 crew
expected loot if successful: 3000-11,000 p8

Fight 2 giant snakes to obtain a pair of priceless emeralds:
base chance of success: 25% + combat
expected loss if successful 3-18 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful:5-50 crew
expected loot if successful: 150,000 p8

Visit the gambling den on Nassau:
base chance of success: 50% (no attributes or crew losses apply)
expected loot if succesful: DOUBLE your current p8
expected loss if unsuccessful: LOSE all your current p8

[theanalogkid]

Fighting the 2 giant snakes to make up for lost time.

[Manchine]

Going for the Port of Tortuga



Loot the port of Tortuga:
base chance of success: 65% + combat
expected loss if successful: 5 Crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 6-33 crew
expected loot if successful: 2000-20,000 p8

[Grinner]

Attack the Spanish treasure galleon:
base chance of success: 65% + seamanship
expected loss if successful: 3 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 2-12 crew
expected loot if successful: 3000-11,000 p8

Let's go after the Spanish (and lose less crew :grin:)

[Space Jawa]

Yar, I be feelin' fairly safe in me lead, even with Redbeard after the Emerald.

I'll be taking the following:

Loot the port of Tortuga:
base chance of success: 65% + 11 Combat = 76%
expected loss if successful: 5 Crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 6-33 crew
expected loot if successful: 2000-20,000 p8

[Manchine]

Yar, I be feelin' fairly safe in me lead, even with Redbeard after the Emerald.

I'll be taking the following:

Stop following me. You know the only reason you got that last gem was because I killed off all the guys. :)

[Space Jawa]

Eh, you followed me last time, if I'm not mistaken. :p

[Kalel21]

Still waiting for one pirate to post.

Only 30 minutes till the deadline. tick--tick--tick--tick.

[Kalel21]

ROUND 4 RESULTS:

Redbeard (TAK) tries to take on the giant snakes, but fails and loses 10 men.

The Ghost Pirate (manchine) successfully loots Tortuga, losing 5 men but netting 12,000 p8

The Dread Pirate Cumberbund (Grinner) is unsuccessful in his attempt to loot the Spanish treasure galleon. He loses 7 crew without gaining any profit.

Swift Mouth Lee (Space Jawa) also tries to take on the port of Tortuga, but fails and loses 29 guys.

Redheart (Antipathy) stays in port and gets drunk.

theanalogkid:

Redbeard the Pirate

Cleverness: 10
Seamanship: 10
Combat: 10

crew: 90
p8: 0

manchine:

Ghost Pirate

Cleverness--6
Seamanship--10
Combat--14

crew: 95
p8: 20,000

Grinner:

The Dread Pirate Cummerbund

Cleverness - 13
Seamanship - 8
Combat - 9

crew:93
p8:11,000

Space Jawa:

Swift-Mouth Lee!

Cleverness 14
Seamanship 5
Combat 11

crew: 71
p8: 100,000

Antipathy:

Redheart.

Cleverness--10
Seamanship--13
Combat--7

crew: 100
p8: 19,000

[theanalogkid]

This is the worst I have ever done in a Kal game. Next time I will be avenged!

[Kalel21]

There's still one round to go, but the game seems to need some work. The way I've got it set up now, one player can get an unbeatable lead with a few lucky dice rolls.

I think there needs to be a pirate vs. pirate mechanic to level the playing field. Since this is a play-test game, I'm going to be mean to Space Jawa and institute it now.

How about this?:

Every round, instead of a mission, you can choose to attack another pirate. This would be resolved by adding each pirate's Combat or Cleverness (whichever is higher) to a d10 roll. Crew losses are also subtracted from the roll. A tie goes to the defender.

The winner gets half the loser's total loot.

Pirate vs. pirate attacks would happen after regular missions, but BEFORE anyone returns to port for more crew.

WE ARE GOING TO INSTITUTE THIS FOR THE LAST ROUND--SO REMEMBER YOU HAVE THE CHOICE OF ATTACKING ANOTHER PIRATE.

Here's the missions for this round:

Attack merchant shipping:
base chance of success: 80% + Seamanship
expected loss if successful: 2 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 1-6 crew
expected loot if successful: 200-2000 pieces of 8 (p8)


Loot the port of Cartegena:
base chance of success: 60% + combat
expected loss if successful: 7 Crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 5-55 crew
expected loot if successful: 4000-40,000 p8

Attack the Dutch treasure galleon:
base chance of success: 65% + seamanship
expected loss if successful: 3 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful: 2-12 crew
expected loot if successful: 3000-11,000 p8

Fight 2 giant snakes to obtain a pair of priceless emeralds:
base chance of success: 25% + combat
expected loss if successful 3-18 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful:5-50 crew
expected loot if successful: 150,000 p8

Visit the gambling den on Nassau:
base chance of success: 50% (no attributes or crew losses apply)
expected loot if succesful: DOUBLE your current p8
expected loss if unsuccessful: LOSE all your current p8

[Manchine]

Fight 2 giant snakes to obtain a pair of priceless emeralds:
base chance of success: 25% + combat
expected loss if successful 3-18 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful:5-50 crew
expected loot if successful: 150,000 p8


Got to go for it. :)

[Kalel21]

ADDITION TO PIRATE vs. PIRATE RULE:

If more than one pirate attacks the same guy, the attacks are resolved in order of their Seamanship attribute (highest to lowest).

[Space Jawa]

Darn you, Kalel!

I'm going to sit this round out to save as much of my crew as possible.
:( :( :(

[Kalel21]

Darn you, Kalel!

I'm going to sit this round out to save as much of my crew as possible.
:( :( :(

Sorry about that. I need to see if the Pirate vs. Pirate mechanic works okay and you just happened to be a convenient victim.

Rest assured, when I'm running a full version of the game, I won't be tossing in new rules at random moments.

[theanalogkid]

I will attack Space Jawa if I can. If not, then I will atack Antipathy while he is drunk. If I can't do that, I will attack some merchant shipping to at least get something from this season of pirateing.

[theanalogkid]

There's still one round to go, but the game seems to need some work. The way I've got it set up now, one player can get an unbeatable lead with a few lucky dice rolls.

Maybe each pirate can only do this once? The big prize I mean?

[Kalel21]

There's still one round to go, but the game seems to need some work. The way I've got it set up now, one player can get an unbeatable lead with a few lucky dice rolls.

Maybe each pirate can only do this once? The big prize I mean?

I think that's a great idea. When I run the full version of this game: only one "win a priceless jewel" attempt may be made for each pirate during the game.

I just realized that poor Space Jawa really gets cheated this round, since I instituted the Pirate vs. Pirate rule when he's down 21 crew. I don't think he can win.

We'll go ahead and finish the last round, but I do appreciate my tinkering with the game mid-way has kind of spoiled it this time around.

SO HERE'S THE WAY I THINK THE FULL VERSION OF THE GAME WILL WORK:

The mechanics for completing missions can stay as they are, but each player is allowed to attempt to get a 100,000 p8 prize only once per game.

The Pirate vs. Pirate option will go into effect on the second round of the game. I'll have to also decide what sort of crew losses will be in effect for that.


Please let me know what you all think: Does the game sound balanced and fun if I run it this way?

[Space Jawa]

It's not that you're implementing the rule, it's that you're implementing it when it's pretty certain that anyone could pick me at this point. If I had been able to pick up some additional crew first, then it might not have been so bad...

But you might want to run another trial version or two with the newer rules before going into a full run.

[Kalel21]

I know--you are getting stomped on this turn because of the abrupt rule addition. That's the nature of play-testing, though. When I'm running a full version, I'll make sure everything goes more fairly.

[Grinner]

Fight 2 giant snakes to obtain a pair of priceless emeralds:
base chance of success: 25% + combat
expected loss if successful 3-18 crew
expected loss if unsuccessful:5-50 crew
expected loot if successful: 150,000 p8

Since the dice hate me anyway, let's give 'em a bigger chance to slaughter my crew :grin:

[theanalogkid]

I think that's a great idea. When I run the full version of this game: only one "win a priceless jewel" attempt may be made for each pirate during the game.

I just realized that poor Space Jawa really gets cheated this round, since I instituted the Pirate vs. Pirate rule when he's down 21 crew. I don't think he can win.

We'll go ahead and finish the last round, but I do appreciate my tinkering with the game mid-way has kind of spoiled it this time around.

SO HERE'S THE WAY I THINK THE FULL VERSION OF THE GAME WILL WORK:

The mechanics for completing missions can stay as they are, but each player is allowed to attempt to get a 100,000 p8 prize only once per game.

The Pirate vs. Pirate option will go into effect on the second round of the game. I'll have to also decide what sort of crew losses will be in effect for that.


Please let me know what you all think: Does the game sound balanced and fun if I run it this way?


I think this is fine. And Space Jawa I am only attacking you to help Kal playtest the mechanic. As far as I'm concerned, you handily won this game.

[Kalel21]

Ghost Pirate (machine) unsuccessfully tries to fight the giant snakes and loses 30 men.

Redbeard (TAK) attacks Swift Mouth Lee (Space Jawa) with a hefty advantage (TAK's stats work out to a straight d10 dice roll, whereas S.J. works out to d10 - 7) Redbeard wins, looting 50,000 p8 from Swift Mouth.

The Dread Pirate Cumberbund also tries for the giant snakes, but also fails, losing 25 men.

theanalogkid:

Redbeard the Pirate

Cleverness: 10
Seamanship: 10
Combat: 10

crew: 90
p8: 50,000

manchine:

Ghost Pirate

Cleverness--6
Seamanship--10
Combat--14

crew: 65
p8: 20,000

Grinner:

The Dread Pirate Cummerbund

Cleverness - 13
Seamanship - 8
Combat - 9

crew:68
p8:11,000

Space Jawa:

Swift-Mouth Lee!

Cleverness 14
Seamanship 5
Combat 11

crew: 71
p8: 50,000

Antipathy:

Redheart.

Cleverness--10
Seamanship--13
Combat--7

crew: 100
p8: 19,000


So Space Jawa and TAK are tied for first, with 50,000 p8 each. But, as TAK graciously admited, this result was mostly because I tossed in a new rule at the last moment. Space Jawa, with the stuffed giant squid and mounted skeletons on his deck, is the honorary Best Pirate ever for this initial play test.


I'm goin' on vacation next week, so I'll run a full version of this game starting in June. I appreciate those of you who played through this--I know play-testing isn't as fun as a real game and I appreciate everyone's suggestions and patience.

[theanalogkid]

Have fun on vacation. See you all next season.

[Space Jawa]

I'd give you rep, but it's not letting me. :(

[theanalogkid]

A question for next time. If the pirate vs. pirate conflicts are based on Combat and Cleverness and the big prize was always Combat related, why would we ever put anything in Seamanship? I spread my points out evenly, thinking I would have to use all 3, but it was never an issue.

[Manchine]

A question for next time. If the pirate vs. pirate conflicts are based on Combat and Cleverness and the big prize was always Combat related, why would we ever put anything in Seamanship? I spread my points out evenly, thinking I would have to use all 3, but it was never an issue.

Have to agree. Maybe have the bigger prizes be a combo of 2 abilities. MIght even want to do that for anything over 15k. :)

[Kalel21]

Those are good points. I need to make sure that some missions require the Seamanship skill, so that all three skills are equally useful.

I can also make the pirate vs. pirate fights use (Combat OR Cleverness) + Seamanship.

[Grinner]

Those are good points. I need to make sure that some missions require the Seamanship skill, so that all three skills are equally useful.

I can also make the pirate vs. pirate fights use (Combat OR Cleverness) + Seamanship.

Or maybe some sort of Seamanship roll to escape before the other pirates can attack.

[Kalel21]

Or maybe some sort of Seamanship roll to escape before the other pirates can attack.

That's a good thought as well. In fact, I like that a lot. It means a player is never forced into battle with an opponent without a chance to get away.

However I do it, I will make sure Seamanship is important. It just got lost in the shuffle this time around.