...and by "hiring" I don't exactly mean "work in exchange for pay". HiaG was a nice, pseudo-solitary run, as a personal Crypt should be, but I want to try something different here at tSC. A proper ship needs a Crew. Funny thing is, in nautical history there were what were know as "Press-Gangs" Many a sailor was Shanghaied into service, (Never fall asleep at a Tavern, be Ye Warned!).
Join The tSC Press Gang! (volunteer submissions)
Joining is easy! Don't be shy!
But of course, here at The Siren's Call, we'd *never* resort to such tactics, Oh-ho-ho, No!
Now understand first, and foremost, you'll get full credit for your work, (and help, where required). What this is for is a chance for aspiring bloggers to get some exposure, and for Veteran Bloggers who may not have chosen to run a separate blog for Pirate101. There's planned to be a routine "Sound Off" from around the Spir@l, and I'll be threatening, coercing, asking politely for submissions from some of our existing bloggers. and Community Leaders. Let's just see how *that* works out, shall we?
So, in essence, I'm putting my faith in the KingsIsle Fan Community, of whom I've constantly endorsed, "to the test". Submissions can be editorial, fan art, fan fiction, Journalistic reports from the field, strategy guides, what-have-you. The content (so long as it adheres to KI's Code of Conduct), it up to you. As is whether or not you want to take me up, on this opportunity. Donate 'yer compass to the cause, and get a full share!
Well, we can expect a leisurely wait between Official word from KingsIsle Fleet Command, so a lot of us can only dissect the minutiae and detail any/all data found at the Official Pirate101 Website.
*sigh* Waiting is the hardest part. Funny thing is, with every "Age of Sail" Pirate game, (Like Pirates of the Burning Sea, of Pirates of the Caribbean Online), the one thing that was always *first* to rub a digital callus in my gaming brain is the actual *sailing* itself. Getting from "Point A" to "Point B". I'm certainly curious to see how P101's Skyways tackle the dilemma of "distance vs time traveled". Pirate Sailing involves countless hours of monotonous bobbing, broken up by minutes of sheer combat anxiety.
But if Wizard101 is any guidepost, I expect it won't be so bad. With Fast Currents, and Sailing maps that are separate from Land Maps, I expect a small transition when going ashore, and that's to be expected. And what about the ships, themselves? Will there be "stitching" of custom ship components, or will it be "choose function over form"? I believe ship customization will be an art unto itself, and I can't wait for my first Boarding Party. Is it all cannonballs, or is the grapeshot, and chain-shot? Will be able to *name* our ships? Piratey-type minds want to know!
But, as to the ship-to-ship battles, I'm curious as to just how involved it's going to be. Will there be a "wind direction"?. I'm going to guess "probably not". (If you want to experience the *joy* of being enslaved to wind direction (which all ships of sail are), might I recommend this free online simulator from The Pirate King. While you're there, please do take some time to browse the entire, (and impressively comprehensive) site on "All thing Pirate", including a list of "every pirate movie ever made", (to which I challenge Cap'n Heather Raven to match lists) . Honestly, (and without fingers crossed behind me' back), I can say that The Pirate King is guaranteed to teach you something you didn't know before.
It is a well known axiom that a boat is "a hole in the water that one constantly throws money into", but unless you're a well versed reader of Chapman's Piloting, some of the shipboard terminology may be a *bit* obscure. For example:
There *will* be a test..maybe.
Really, all you need to know is this, (in this *lavish* illustration):
See? So much easier on the eyes. You're welcome.
Now *Sails*, on the other hand, for Tall Ships, is *much* easier:
*Definitely* gonna be a test. Do your Homework, (*giggle*)
Okay, so we know that Pirate101's ships will be *slightly* less complicated, but I thought "in the spirit of things", we'd take a quick peek at "what has gone before". Admittedly, I am a bit of a maritime Geek, (especially relating to all things Pirate).
In the Boston-ish Area, we have our own Pirate "Heroes", like "Black" Sam Bellamy, and we have Pirate Museums, (in Salem, no less!). Who's your "favorite" Notorious Scallywag? (Jack Sparrow doesn't count, Ashley, we're talking *historical* pirates).
Today's Naughty-Call video selection shall be "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", ( The Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem as read by Orson Welles, not sung by Bruce Dickinson, -Sorry 'Maiden Fans. ;) )
