       =================================================================
       Pirate! Documentation: "Action and Adventure on the Spanish Main"
       =================================================================

[ Pirate!'s features include ]:

Action................Ship battles, land conquests, fencing and sailing
Strategy..............Plundering, trading, negotiating and forging alliances
Goals.................Treasures, romance, status, power and prestige
New Experiences.......Explore across a map of the entire Caribbean
Extensive Graphics....Over 70 different scenes and pictures
Excitement............Triumphs and tragedies, victories and defeats!

[ Pirates! by      ]: Microprose
[ Documentation by ]: The Perplexer
[ Edited highly by ]: Rambo


Saving the Game:
----------------
You will need an extra, blank disk to save Pirates! during play. To save the
game, enter any town and check information. The last information option will be
save game. Select this option and follow the instructions. Pirates! save-game
diskettes use a special format. You must use the format option offered in save
game: A normally formatted disk will not suffice. Note that formatting a disk
prepares it for saving games, but doesn't save anything. Having a formatted
disk is also necessary to record your final score in the Hall of Fame, if you
wish to.


Starting the Game:
------------------
[ This is a quick start ]:
If you wish to learn to play the game from experimentation

Note: If you wish to understand what is going on better, continue to read docs!


Starting Options:
-----------------
Begin your 1st game with the following selections:

1] Welcome: Start a new career
2] Special Historical Period?: No
3] What Nationality are You?: English
4] Type Your Name (maximum 9 characters) and Press 'Return'
5] You Are An: Apprentice
6] Special Ability: Skill at fencing

(If confused read on for more details)

Important!!!: You must know when the treasure fleet or silver train arrives!
              (so read on until you find out)!

[ In Port               ]:
Explore the port & options available there before leaving for your first
cruise. Don't, however, divide up the plunder yet!!

[ Cruising the Seas     ]:
See the control summary for more information (lurking near sea ports often
leads to a promising encounter, friend or foe)

[ Finishing Your Voyage ]:
Return to port and select 'divide the plunder'. After that, select retirement.
This ends the game and shows your score. Don't worry you can come back from
retirement (health permitting).

Note: You can still divide up plunder without retiring: Do this when your men
      start to get angry but only if it has been close to a year! They get
      angry sometimes but you can get more gold to cause them to become
      happier. Read on further for more information!


Control Summary: (very abbreviated)
===================================

Controlling Menus:
------------------
[ Move Cursor               ]: Push joystick in direction desired
[ Select Highlighted Option ]: Press joystick trigger.

Trading & Moving Goods:
-----------------------
[ Select Trade Line  ]: Push joystick to point to line on screen
[ Buy (Take) Goods   ]: Flick joystick to left to move goods to your party
[ Sell (Leave) Goods ]: Flick joystick to right to move goods away from your
                        party

Fencing & Swordplay:
--------------------
[ Fast Attack              ]: Joystick to left (high, middle or low)
[ Powerful Slashing Attack ]: Hold trigger & joystick left (high, middle or
                              low)
[ Parry (Block Attack)     ]: Joystick at center (high, middle or low)
[ Retreat With Parry       ]: Joystick to right (high, middle or low)

Note: Joystick height (up, level or down) determines height of attack or parry


Travelling Across the Caribbean:
--------------------------------
[ Leave Port         ]: Flick joystick in the directon you'll set sail
[ Sailing            ]: Joystick left turns ship left, joystick right turns
                        ship right
[ Marching Over Land ]: Push joystick in direction you wish to march

Note: You can anchor safely anywhere on the coast and disembark automatically. However, any travel over shoals (reefs) may be fatal, if water is shallow.


Sea Battles:
------------
[ Sailing              ]: Joystick left turns ship left, joystick right turns
                          ship right
[ Sails Up/Down        ]: Joystick straight up raises all sails, joystick down
                          reduces sails (down is battlesails)
[ Cannon Fire          ]: Press trigger to fire broadside
[ Boarding Enemy Ships ]: Move your ship into the enemy ship, a fencing battle
                          ensues

Note: If attacking a fort, beach your ship near the fort to storm it.


Land Battles:
-------------
[ Move One Group      ]: Push joystick in direction you wish to march
[ Move All Groups     ]: Hold trigger while pushing joystick in desired
                         direction
[ Fire at Enemy       ]: Don't move men, they will fire automatically when in
                         range
[ Hand to Hand Combat ]: Move men directly into enemy (needed to storm fort)

Note: Joystick buttons does not fire a group. Groups fire automatically. The joystick button switches between groups, or to move all groups at once!


Your Goals:
-----------
You are seeking to make your fortune in the West Indies, so that you can retire
to a life of wealth, ease, and high status. The quality of your retirement is a
sum of your personal fortune, your rank, your lands, your reputation, the wife
you marry (if any), and whaterver especially pleasing events befall you during
the course of your adventures.


Initial Opportunities:
----------------------
A new player should start a new career!

[ Start a New Career    ]:
Begins a complete adventure, from your first arrival in the New World to your
well-earned retirement. This is the 'standard game' and you can continue for
quite some time.

[ Continue a Saved Game ]:
Allows you to resume any game in progress. You will need the disk upon which
you saved the game. Don't insert the save-game disk until instructed to!

[ Command a Famous Expo ]:
A short game where you command just one expedition. These expeditions are
usually large, but end whenever you divide up the plunder. Famous expeditions
are not for a novice--doing as well as the historical model can be a very
challenging task!


Famous Expeditions:
-------------------
You must re-enact the original skillful leaders expeditions!

[ John Hawkins, 1569     ]:
This is fairly difficult situation. You have a large powerful squadron but are
in totally Spanish Caribbean. The only friendly ports are tiny anchorages. In
reality, Hawkins tried to be a peaceful trader (sometimes at gunpoint--a most
peculiar combination), and failed.

[ Francis Drake, 1573    ]:
This is a very difficult situation. Like Hawkins, you are in totally Spanish
Caribbean, but now you have a small force. In reality, after a few false
starts, Drake's boldness & bravery made him sucessful.

[ Piet Heyn, 1628        ]:
This is a fairly easy situation. You have a balanced task force, and are
admirably positioned to intercept Spanish treasure galleons off the Havana or
in the Florida channel. Equalling Heyn's feat of ambushing the entire treasure
fleet will take a combination of good luck and persistance, along with being at
the right place and time.

[ L'Ollonais, 1666       ]:
This is an easy situation. You have many potentially friendly ports and
militarily weak Spaniards. However, duplicating L'Ollonais' achievement of
conquering and plundering the entire Maracaibo region may prove taxing.

[ Henry Morgan, 1671     ]:
This is a very easy situation. You have overwhelming forces, various friendly
bases, and an enemy already weakened by earlier raids. Morgan captured Puerto
Bello and sacked Panama.

[ Baron de Pointis, 1697 ]:
This is another extremely easy situation. You have powerful forces, while the
Spanish are at their lowest militarily. It doesn't take much boldness to
duplicate de Pointis' capture and sack of Cartagena.


Selection of a Historical Time Period:
--------------------------------------
(A novice player should answer 'no thanks'. This give you the easiest era)

[ The Silver Empire (1560)     ]:
In this era the Spanish empire is at its peak. All the colonies (except one)
are Spanish, all the major ports & trade are controlled by Spain! However,
Spain's gains have been so great other Europeans are attracted to steal and
plunder whatever Spain can't protect. Because of Spain's great power, this is
an extremely challenging era, and shouldn't be attempted by novices.

[ Merchants & Smugglers (1600) ]:
This era is very similar to the silver empire, but Spain is somewhat weaker. A
few abortive non-Spanish colonial ventures have begun, but the Caribbean
remains essentially Spanish. Another change is the predominance of the Dutch
smuggling trade. This shouldn't be tried by novices!

[ The New Colonists (1620)     ]:
This era sees the first successful colonies founded by the enemies of Spain,
while the Spanish power continues to decline. With the new colonies, prospects
for piracy and privateering are improved. Life is fairly challenging for
would-be pirates and privateers.

[ War for Profit (1640)        ]:
This era is the heyday for small, independent buccaneers. The Spanish military
and economy are at their nadir, while new European colonies are blooming
throughout the Antilles. This period is a Golden Age (literally!) for the
independent and resourceful man. It's an enjoyable era for players of all skill
levels.

[ The Bucaneer Heroes (1660)   ]:
These decades are the peak of swashbuckling adventure in the Caribbean. Spanish
wealth is reappearing, but imperial military power remains a joke. European
colonies and ports abound, fortune hunting sailors crowd the taverns, searching
for lucky captians. This is for all levels!

[ Pirate's Sunset (1680)       ]:
This era is the last for the Caribbean pirate adventuring. European nations now
take seriously events in the Caribbean. Navy warships are on patrol, letters of
marque are harder to find, governers are less tolerent. Enjoy this era while
you can, for it's the end of an age. This is tough for novices but challenging
for others.


Selecting Nationalities:
------------------------
(A new player should select English buccaneer..) The roles you choose
determines where you start, what ships you have, the size of your crew, your
initial wealth and reputation, etc... Your initial nationality doesn't require
you to support the nation (You can be Dutch, and attack Dutch ships...etc...)
Your acts speak for you!: If your deeds please a nation, a governer may reward
you. If you anger a nation, a governer can order his harbor forts to fire on
you!!!

[ English ]:
This nation supports privateers in the 16th century, and just as generously
supported private colonization ventures in the next century.

[ French  ]:
Is second for pirates, although this nation provides less support to its sons
overseas, it also gives them more independence, more freedom of action.
Furthermore, the growing 17th century French colonies on western Hispanola and
Tortuga are ideal pirate bases.

[ Dutch   ]:
Except in 1620's, the Dutch sailed as traders to the Caribbean, not as
warriors. Of courser, once in the Caribbean, more than a few supplemented their
trading with more violent and profitable pursuits. as a rule, Dutch traders
tried to stay on the good side of the french & english, although this wasn't
alwyas possible.

[ Spanish ]:
Is the most challenging. As a Spanish renegade you start in a weak position,
although in 1680 you can play the interesting role of a costa guarda -- the
Spanish Caribbean coast guard who often acted like pirates themselves! in
either event, Spanish origin is a pleasant change and a refreshing challenge.


Difficulty Level:
-----------------
(New players should be apprentices)

[ Apprentice   ]:
Gives player maximum "aid" from expert subordinate officers on board the ship.
This makes play easier, but whenever the party's loot is divided, all these
experts take rather large shares, leaving little for you!

[ Journeyman   ]:
Moderately easy, the player's subordinates are less expert (although still
quite good), but your share of the loot is larger!

[ Adventurer   ]:
Moderately difficult. Your subordinates are mediocre, but your share of the
loot is very good!

[ Swashbuckler ]:
Extremely difficult! Your subordinates are 'drunken gutter swine' of precious
little value. Of course, your share of the loot is the largest possible!


Special Abilities:
------------------

[ Skill at Fencing    ]: Gives you well-trained reflexes that make enemy
                         actions seem sluggish in comparison.
[ Skill at Navigation ]: Makes travel on the high seas,faster and easier!
[ Skill at Gunnery    ]: Aids you during naval battles, making your broadsides
                         more likely to land on-target. (useful for all levels)
[ Wit and Charm       ]: Is useful when dealing with governers and others of
                         high stations.
[ Skill at Medicine   ]: Helps you preserve your good health longer, and to
                         suffer less from injuries. As a result your career
                         lasts longer (great if you want to do more in your
                         normally short career).


When does the treasure fleet and silver train arrive, at certain times????
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Make sure you punch in the exact dates which are listed below when asked the
appropriate question)
Note: If you mess up on the date you will have an extremely tougher game, it
      would be better to turn everything off and start over!!!!

 The Treasure Fleet in 1560
 --------------------------
 Cumana............Early October
 Puerto Cabello....Late October
 Maracaibo.........Early November
 Rio de la Hacha...Late November
 Nombre de Dios....Early December
 Cartagena.........Late December
 Campeche..........Late January
 Vera Cruz.........Early February
 Havana............Early March
 Santiago..........Late March
 Florida Channel...Late April

 The Silver Train in 1560
 ------------------------
 Cumana.............Early April
 Borburata..........Late April
 Puerto Cabello.....Early May
 Coro...............Late May
 Gibraltar..........Early June
 Maracaibo..........Late June
 Rio de la Hacha....Early July
 Santa Marta........Late July
 Cartagena..........Early August
 Panama.............Late August
 Nombre de dios.....Early October

 The Treasure Fleet in 1600
 --------------------------
 Cumana.............Early October
 Caracas............Late October
 Maracaibo..........Early November
 Rio de la Hacha....Late November
 Santa Marta........Early December
 Puerto Bello.......Late December
 Cartagena..........Early January
 Campeche...........Early February
 Vera Cruz..........Late February
 Havana.............Late March
 Florida Channel....Late April

 The Silver Train in 1600
 ------------------------
 St. Thome..........Early April
 Cumana.............Late April
 Caracas............Early May
 Puerto Cabello.....Late May
 Coro...............Early June
 Gibraltar..........Late June
 Maracaibo..........Early June
 Rio de la Hacha....Late July
 Santa Marta........Early August
 Cartagena..........Late August
 Panama.............Early September
 Puerto Bello.......Late October

 The Treasure Fleet in 1620
 --------------------------
 Caracas............Early September
 Maracaibo..........Late September
 Rio de la Hacha....Early October
 Santa Marta........Late October
 Puerto Bello.......Early November
 Cartagena..........Early December
 Campeche...........Early December
 Vera Cruz..........Late January
 Havana.............Late February
 Florida Channel....Late March

 The Silver Train in 1620
 ------------------------
 St. Thome..........Early March
 Cumana.............Late March
 Caracas............Early April
 Puerto Cabello.....Late April
 Gibraltar..........Early May
 Maracaibo..........Late May
 Rio de la Hacha....Early June
 Santa Marta........Late June
 Cartagena..........Early July
 Panama.............Late July
 Puerto Bello.......Early September

 The Treasure Fleet in 1640
 --------------------------
 Caracas............Early October
 Maracaibo..........Late October
 Rio de la Hacha....Early November
 Santa Marta........Late November
 Puerto Bello.......Early December
 Cartagena..........Early January
 Campeche...........Early February
 Vera Cruz..........Late February
 Havana.............Late March
 Florida Channel....Late April

 The Silver Train in 1640
 ------------------------
 Cumana.............Early April
 Caracas............Late April
 Gibraltar..........Early May
 Maracaibo..........Late May
 Rio de la Hacha....Early June
 Santa Marta........Early June
 Cartagena..........Late July
 Panama.............Late August
 Puerto Bello.......Early October

 The Treasure Fleet in 1660
 --------------------------
 Caracas............Early September
 Maracaibo..........Late September
 Rio de la Hacha....Early October
 Santa Marta........Late October
 Puerto Bello.......Early November
 Cartagena..........Early December
 Campeche...........Early January
 Vera Cruz..........Late January
 Havana.............Late February
 Florida Channel....Late March

 The Silver Train in 1660
 ------------------------
 Cumana.............Early March
 Caracas............Late March
 Gibraltar..........Early April
 Maracaibo..........Late April
 Rio de la Hacha....Early May
 Santa Marta........Early June
 Cartagena..........Late June
 Panama.............Late July
 Puerto Bello.......Early September

 The Treasure Fleet in 1680
 --------------------------
 Caracas............Early October
 Rio de la Hacha....Late October
 Santa Marta........Early November
 Puerto Bello.......Late November
 Cartagena..........Late December
 Campeche...........Late January
 Vera Cruz..........Early February
 Havana.............Early March
 Florida Channel....Late April

 The Silver Train in 1680
 ------------------------
 Cumana.............Early April
 Caracas............Late April
 Maracaibo..........Late May
 Rio de la Hacha....Late June
 Santa Marta........Early June
 Cartagena..........Late July
 Panama.............Late August
 Puerto Bello.......Early October

Note: At times the treasure fleet isn't in the Caribbean but in Seville, Spain,
preparing for another journey. Similarly, at times the silver train is in Peru
loading silver and gold!!!! In both cases you can't get to them!! You will have
to wait until they reappear in the Caribbean to plunder them!!


Fencing & Swordplay:
====================

Basics of Control:
------------------
You are on the right side of the screen and your opponent is on the left!

[ To Attack  ]: Push joystick left,toward the enemy. Push high for a high
                attack, horizontal for a mid-level attack, low for a low
                attack. Hold down the trigger before and during the attack for
                a slower but more powerful slashing attack.
[ To Parry   ]: Don't push left or right. Just push up to parry high attacks,
                leave centered for mid-level parrys and push down to parry low
                attacks.
[ To Retreat ]: Push joystick right away from enemy. You parry while
                retreating, and like normal parries, these can be high, middle,
                or low, depending on joystick level (retreat completely to the
                right off the screen to escape a possible death.
[ To Pause   ]: Press Space bar/Press again to resume play (This applies
                everywhere).


Choosing Your Weapon:
---------------------

[ The Rapier    ]:
Is a long, thin, flexible weapon with a sharp point. it can be maneuvered
easily and thrust into a target with accuracy.  It has a longer reach than any
of the other weapons but causes less damage.

[ The Cutlass   ]: Is a short, heavy, curved cleaver with a mean edge but short
reach. Cutlass hits can be devastating (twice as damaging as a rapier) making
it a popular weapon among untutored fighters.

[ The Longsword ]:
Is a classic weapon of medium length. Its attacks do more than a rapier but
less than a cutlass.


The Principles of Fencing:
--------------------------

[ A Hit     ]:
Occurs whenever an attack connects shown by a flash of blood (red) each hit
weakans your opponent and lowers his followers morals--eventually causing
victory when they all panic!

[ Retreat   ]:
Move off of the right of the screen, you're saved but lose your rep!

[ Surrender ]:
Whenever a leader in panic is hit this occurs, also in large battles when a
leader's forces are reduced to only one man, and then he's hit!


Leadership in Battle (causes outcome of battles):
-------------------------------------------------
Only a few of your battles are man to man duels. Most of the time you're
leading your stalwart crew against the enemy. As you duel the enemy leader,
your crewmen are also fighting.

[ Morale ]:
Your hits against the enemy leader, and his against you, change the morale of
each side in battle. Morale levels run from wild (the best) downward to strong,
firm, angry, shaken, and finally panic.


Information:
------------

[ Party Status    ]:
Shows men's morale (happy, pleased, unhappy, angry). When they are angry mutiny
can erupt. If you out of food expect defections.

[ Personal Status ]:
Shows your standing with each nation, and personal details about your age,
health, wealth and rep! If your health is poor you will be forced to retire
soon!

[ Ship's Log      ]:
Recaps your activities!

[ Maps            ]:
Is a file of your map fragments. To find buried treasure or your long lost
sister's whereabouts, you must find the remaining fragments to serch for the
desired goal. When you do find your sister you will start looking for the
infamous Inca treasure!!! You must duel certain Spanish swines to get the maps
needed, although you can buy for 500gp treasure maps and the remaining pieces
in different taverns at different ports. When you think you know exactly where
the treasure or sister is go to the abandoned island or whatever (there doesn't
have to be a town there) and go to information and search!

[ Cities          ]:
Provides necessary information on all the cities, sometimes you will need to
buy information about a particular city. If you have no information on file
from a traveller in the tavern, or you can personally travel there.

[ Sun Sight       ]:
Allows you to spend the day plotting your position with the astrolabe.

[ Search          ]:
For sister or treasure on specific island you are at.

[ Save Game       ]:
Only in towns to save game and conclude at a later time!


Getting Around Town:
--------------------

[ Visit Governer   ]:
He tells you his nations wars with and are allied with. You may meet his
daughter (pretty ones are hard to marry). I usually try to be Dutch and marry
an ugly girl who each time I visit tells me where the treasure fleet and silver
train are at. Curacao is close to where they usually are. Also, if you fight
some of that certain governer's enemies he will reward you money, land and
higher levels of rank.

[ Visit a Tavern   ]:
For latest news and information, also for more men or a treasure map!

[ Visit a Merchant ]:
For repairs,selling of ships or buying and selling of goods. (Note: Having
damaged ships slow you down. Also you can only carry up to 255 of goods and
sugar and around 170 food no matter how many ships you own!)

[ Divide Up Plunder ]:
To end game or start with a fresh and happy crew!


Taking Over Enemy Towns and Replacing Governers!
------------------------------------------------
Do this by having over 300 men and attack any enemy port by land. If you have
more men than they do, you automatically scale the walls and all you need tois kill the enemy leader then change governer to whatever nationality you want!


This took me over 3 hrs. straight to do, so enjoy!
Leave all information as found in this file!

[Written on  ]: 3/8/87
[ Written by ]: The Perplexer (Maryland #1)