How “fluid” do you like the rules to be?

[Ben]

While searching for an unrelated email from a while back, I found an email I sent to Xerecs in 2017 about an idea for the Caribbean game.

I had another idea.  Factions might be so desperate for a wartime ally that they are willing to pay or bribe other factions.  Say two factions are at war and one wants to bring a third into the conflict.  They could offer a gold payment, or perhaps a payment plan.  XD  They could make a deal or something, such as the new faction gets all captured ships when the war ends or something.  Could be an interesting way for things to develop.  In addition, yet more opportunities for complications and betrayals – the original faction could refuse to honor their deal, angering the new faction.  If this happened after the war, it could lead to a second war between the former allies.  If during the war, it could lead to a break in the alliance and a 3 (or more) way free for all!  XD

My question is this: Do you prefer “fluidity” of rules in your games, especially in groups or multiplayer games?

Have you allowed a player to pay another player during a game in a deal of some kind?  (ex: 5 gold for a UT, paying for an alliance, etc)

[Woelf]

Deal making is a big part of many different games, and some highly encourage it. Pirates never really included that as part of the game, but it doesn’t do anything specific to prevent or forbid it either.

I think as long as everyone in the game is okay with the possibility, deals between players that don’t break any of the normal rules should be perfectly fine.

[Xerecs]

Things like the mentioned scenario happen fairly frequently in my Summer games, although it’s usually about rights to dock and trade with another faction at a trading port. A few times military help is offered, most recently in 2019 the Americans attempted to recruit the French and English to work together to take on the Spanish (eventual second place finish). The French refused, since they had a lucrative trade agreement with the Spanish; the English agreed, on the condition that the pirates be eliminated first. The Americans agreed, although they didn’t really want to fight the pirates, and didn’t fight them much. The English did, and as a result of the Americans not honoring their word, didn’t fight with them against the Spanish. The Spanish and Pirates eventually eliminated the Americans.

 

I haven’t tried or had experience with what you’re describing in smaller games, but I’d probably be okay with it.

[Ben]

Things like the mentioned scenario happen fairly frequently in my Summer games, although it’s usually about rights to dock and trade with another faction at a trading port. A few times military help is offered, most recently in 2019 the Americans attempted to recruit the French and English to work together to take on the Spanish (eventual second place finish). The French refused, since they had a lucrative trade agreement with the Spanish; the English agreed, on the condition that the pirates be eliminated first. The Americans agreed, although they didn’t really want to fight the pirates, and didn’t fight them much. The English did, and as a result of the Americans not honoring their word, didn’t fight with them against the Spanish. The Spanish and Pirates eventually eliminated the Americans.

This is what I LOVE so much about Pirates campaign games – the grand scope makes the game way more epic and rewarding!!  The back and forth can get intense, especially with a lot of factions involved.  Each one can consider the pros and cons of even reaching out to another faction (and debate whether to do it publicly or privately), let alone actually offering help or negotiating some kind of deal.  I actually like how I had to read your paragraph 2-3 times to understand (/remember) it.  🙂   I love the complexity so much that it has made me less interested in smaller/simpler games.  XD  Especially given my time constraints going forward, I might be “campaign game or bust” with hopefully some exceptions.

[Author]

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