Ok, so my newest mission in pirate life is to overcome my ‘able’ in the duty puzzle: Bilging.  For some, this isn’t such a big deal.  For me, it seemed like I couldn’t squeak past a ‘fine’ at the league points.  So, I did what any self-respecting pirate would do:  Went to Youtube and watched the experts.

What is Bilging?

Bilging is a Bejeweled-like puzzle in which you try to align 3 or more of a similar block to remove them from the puzzle.  Scoring appears to be based upon larger combos done with the minimum moves possible.  Possible combos are:

GOOD:  4 in a row

GREAT: 5 in a row

ARR!: 3×3 or 3×4

HAR!: 4×4

YARRR!: Ax5

BINGO!: AxBxC

SEA DONKEY!: 3x3x3x3, 3x3x3x4, 3x3x4x4

VEGAS!: AxBxCx5

Tips & Tricks

Through my research, here are some tips that helped me go from doing poor/fine to consistently excellent, almost immediately:

1. If it takes more than one click to make a 3×3, its probably not worth it.

2. Only use the blowfish if you have no good moves available.

3. Only use the Jellyfish if you have no good moves available.

4. TAKE YOUR TIME!  Bilging does not require speed.  That will come with time.  You can take a second to scan the board between moves and not hurt your score.

5. Try for bingos.  They are your bread and butter.

6. Never jump into a puzzle if you’re more than halfway through to an LP.  Wait until you stop for duty report, and then hop in.  Jumping in right before an LP can cause a poor or a booch.

7. The higher the water, the larger the crab bonus.

You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.
Rabindranath Tagore

One of the Voyage types, Trade Runs, is severely overlooked as a method of making Pieces of Eight (hereafter referred to as PoE).  These are usually very easy, profitable runs in which the objective is to move the cargo stored in the ship’s hold from one island to another.

While not as glorious as a ‘kade (blockade), or as exciting as a Sea Monster Hunt or Pillage, the Trade Run is still a viable alternative when looking for a laid-back way to make money.  Here’s the pros and cons of the Trade Run:

THE GOODS

Commerce changes the fate and genius of nations.
Thomas Gray

1. Less intense than a pilly.  Since the goal is to EVADE combat at all costs, it is usually less intense for those not on sailing/rigging/navigation.  This allows you to work on those puzzles that you normally wouldn’t hop on during a pilly, for fear of booching.  Need to work on your carpentry, but don’t want the paltry sum offered by the Navy?  Seek out a Trade Run on the Notice Board!

2. Higher pay than the Navy.  As stated above, you’ll generally make more money doing a Trade Run, and much quicker, as well.  On my last trade run, I was making 1500/league.  On the 5-league trip (which lasted about 20 minutes), I netted 7500 PoE.  Not too shabby.

3. A great way to meet good folks.  As the run is more relaxed, but still has a very specific purpose, you have the opportunity to make some good contact for future runs.  Never underestimate the value of being added to a Trade Run Captain’s hearties list.

4.  An introduction into the game’s economy.  You are participating, first-hand, in the economy of your Ocean when you are on a Trade Run.  Transporting goods that will be used either for sale on the market or as material in a manufacturing operation, you are helping to keep the in-game economy moving.  Just like a trucker delivers goods from one city to another, a Trade Run is essential to making sure the goods are produced, delivered, and sold.

The Bads

Commerce flourishes by circumstances, precarious, transitory, contingent, almost as the winds and waves that bring it to our shores.
Charles Caleb Colton

1. Not as many listed as pillys.  Typically, there aren’t as many Trade Runs as other types of voyages.  They seldom, however, fill up.  So, your chances of jobbing are usually quite good.

2. Can be slightly boring.  Little, if any, combat means simply trudging away at your duty station for the entirety of the journey.  If you’re on the high seas for action, too many Trade Runs may become tiresome.

3. Incompetence still abounds.  Like any other trip, there’s still the possibility of incompetence.  If you have a poor Captain, and you keep getting overtaken by pillagers, you may find yourself fighting on deck more than you (or anyone on a Trade Run) would like.

Conclusion

Don’t overlook the benefits of a Trade Run.  If you’re saving up for your own ship (or anything else), focusing on runs that will net you more PoE is the way to go, and adding Trade Runs to your list of activities is a great way to round out your earnings and get you to your goal that much quicker.  Furthermore, its worth your while to for no other reason than to round out your Puzzle Pirates experience.  I think you’ll find it entertaining, as well as rewarding.

Last night, I took my first foray into Hearts.  ‘Twas an interesting adventure, I’ll give you that.

After some encouraging from Misschrome, I hopped into an open 4-top at the Inn, and tried my hand at Hearts.

Let me preface the rest of this dissertation by stating a simple fact:  I’ve never, EVER played Hearts before in my life.  Heck, I’ve only ever played Spades once before, in the Navy, about 10 years ago (even then I was kicked out of the game for lack of aptitude).

So, suffice it to say I was deftly beaten.  I just kept whipping cards out, and earned a hefty share of hearts and even the Queen of Spades (I’ll leave out her common moniker, as I am attempting to be a gentleman here).  I was soundly whooped, so I went off and found a book that I’d chucked into my garage many years ago; a book on card games.

After an hour of reading (and a few ‘practice’ hands), I was back at the table, and felt that I had a good enough understanding of the game not to embarrass myself.  Turns out, I’m not the one who should have thought about embarrassment.

I was holding my own, skillfully ridding myself of high cards and watching as the 3 other players acquired heart after heart.  Then, on the fourth hand, a crewmate advised me I should take a look at chat.  See, I have a fairly common ‘medical’ condition in Puzzle Pirates know as ‘puzzle vision’….when I play a game, I focus 100% on the game alone.  The house could be on fire, I’d have no clue until the game was over.  Yeah, I know, I need to grow up 😛

Anyway, the player to my left (who I shall not name for the sake of his integrity) had been ‘cursing’ me up and down for the previous 3 hands.  Apparently, I was ‘teaming up’ on him and was a moron because I didn’t hold onto a queen card (*shrug*).

Others at the various gaming tables were laughing at his sputtering and my apparent lack of caring.

The remainder of the game mattered not, as the gentleman to my right decided to Shoot the Moon, and we all apparently let him.  At this point, I’d heard about a Moon Shot, but didn’t really understand it, and thus didn’t see the ‘warning signs’ of what he was doing.  So, the game ended and we all went our separate ways.

That, apparently, wasn’t enough for the aggrieved gentleman.  He decided to follow me from game to game and toss out insults for the remainder of the night.

Honestly, I found nothing wrong with my play (or my winnings, which were about 50/50 for the night).  He, however, decided that it was more important to vent his anger at having a bad day at cards on me.

Never once did I respond to his rants.  I just ignored him.  Sometimes, that’s worse than actually confronting someone, but I’m too old to be baited into a ‘screaming match’ through a game.

So, here’s what I learned while playing Hearts:

1. If someone seems to be collecting hearts, they’re going for a Moon Shot.  Break the cycle, if you can.

2. Bring the jug of Sangria over to the computer desk.  Its much easier than sprinting to the kitchen in between books.

3. Pee before you get into a game.

4. Taunting your fellow players does nothing to increase the fun level of the game.

5. Parlour games can be just as fun as Pillages or other Puzzle Pirates games, if you can find a good group to play with.