Why is Pirates cool to you?

In recent months, some of the regulars have gotten bored with the game and moved on. Yet, I still find the came very interesting and wonder what keeps you interested? Some think Barbary was not as competitive or challenging as prior sets. What do you think? Is the game evolving?

I have no idea why Pirates is cool or even if it is cool. I really liked it when it first came out because it was different, quick and compact. As time when on I couldn't stand the lack of logic in some of WK's rulings but I still kept collecting. I don't collect full sets anymore, just ships I'd play with. I think the game is okay not earth shatering fun or anything. Nowadays I think I like the ship models better than I like playing the game. There are a dozen other games I'd rather play than Pirates, but I can't seem to let it go. Most everyone I know does not think Pirates is worthwhile.

-Q

Pirates is cool for me because it is such a simple game. Simple and fun. And, it's the first game I can play with my nephews (we're working up to A&A).

Pirates is COOL! I'll swap blades wi' anny scurvy bilge rat that says otherwise! What's so great is that it is adaptable! Q's problem with WK's rulings is about tournament, or "Oficial rules. The great god Piranah has decreed that no one who doesn't want to play in the tourney scene has to use "Official" rules. "Make yer own" Just for fun. I'm sure that there are atleast 20 people who buy pirates for every one of us rules sticklers<I R one> who stick by the FAQ's etc. Pirates is cool because they're free and easy, cheap, neat, etc. Those Nimrods who don't think Pirates are worthwhile are the kind who give game stores a bad name anyway! Cut throat kill or be killed tourney players who thrive on the ruleslawyering, parsimonious, selfish drive to take the kink'o'the hill compitetion anyway. [Speaking only of those who have said the same thing to me] I love Pirates and always will. SO. Question answered? Good! :D Fair winds! :)

Yep. The only thing that keeps me in the game is house rules and the neat little ships. I'm one of those gamer types that doesn't need to be cutthroat and win all of the time to have fun.

Wizkids games usually aren't complex enough for me, but they tend to have good foundations to build on. IMHO the closest WK came to making a perfectly fine game so far was Mage Knight Dungeons and MageKnight 2.0.

I guess the Pirate game has to be "cool" to me in someway, since I keep an out for new ships to possibly play with. I also keep running my thoughts off on this site.

-Q

I like it now for the same reason I liked it when I started. The ships are great.

I rarely play, still don't understand the rules because I haven't taken the time to really sit down and learn them. I play with the kids, very simple beginner type games.

I am collecting complete sets. I only play with duplicates. I've opted to scan the crew pieces and print them out rather than punching them out of the cards.

I've always liked ships and have assembled a huge nautical library over the years. I fell for this game instantly.

Temple? Any thoughts? :D

I've found over time that the people in my area that were really into Pirates have gradually fallen away from it, mainly because of problems with the rules and repetative ships/crew (different in name, but basically the same abilities as another ship or crew)....

....I haven't personally played the game since Crimson Coast but I've been collecting at least the Common/Uncommon singles from every set so far - the little plastic ships are still cool, even if the game itself has lost its shine somewhat. :)

Cool ships and historical personalities, as well as vicious house rules. My group plays for keeps, so capturing opponent's ships and scuttling your own ships (revived for later games) to prevent capture are commonplace occurences. Upping the amount of treasure and playing with lots of terrain encourages more fort placements and is helpful for more realism, too. Fire and movement penalties due to rough seas or increment weather are additional elements for fun play. A roll of a 1 or 2 on d6 when ramming opponents can result in either ship becoming severely damaged or even wrecked, depending on how many masts she is rated. Playing with the gloves off really adds life to the game, me hardies.

Our group also utilizes the following house rules Event: "Becalmed". At the beginning of the game, a roll of 1d6 determines how many rounds between when all players have to make a Becalmed roll for each of thier ships, prior to any movement undertaken for that particular vessel. A result of 1 means that base movement for any rating of ship is reduced to 1/2S for that player's turn. In effect, the wind has gone out of her sails and she is merely moving along with the current. An Oarsman is handy here.
A new Event we have been experimenting with is Fog of War. In essence, smokeless power for naval warfare was not utilized until the early 20th century. In order to add a touch of realism, any battle lasting more than 3 rounds results in a Fog Bank being placed on the spot. Players within the Fog Bank can still fire, but at a penalty of -1. Movement undertaken will result in normal Fog Bank order per WK rules. The Fog Bank remains in play for the rest of the game. The Fog of War can touch but cannot overlap land formations.

Commodore Temple or the ship Grand Temple?
I don't have either, but the Commordore's ability is very powerful.
You own any derelict this ship explores; both ships become docked at your home island.
I have the Pirate's El Dorado, and American's USS Philadelphia which both have this ability. IMHO, this captures (pun intended) the essence of piratitical activity. To be able to capture an enemy's ship and then use it as your own, Brilliant!
In a similar vane, I would like to see more activity involving prisoners, ransom, and rescue attempts, not just of those special crew, but of standard crew too...

Matt, Thanks for your thoughts! Muchly appreciated, but I was asking AMD Temple if he had any opinion on the subject at hand. Please do not take htis as a rebuke I do enjoy reading everyone's thoughts.


Thanx Matt! :D

That's ADM Temple! @#$% edit feature. :mad:

pariah.file! [B]I LOVE IT!![/b] We used to have a thread that asked everyone to explain thier names! I'm gonna start a new one because there's so many new guys. I want to see yours there front and center young man! :D

Wasn't AMD a car company?

I do not think I could capture why Pirates is so cool. Part of it lies in the universal appeal. It is great fun to converse with people all over the globe! There is the thrill of ripping open a package and getting the one ship you were hoping for. It is a relatively simple game and still allows for complexity. Mostly it is cool 'cause I keep them in the fridge!