When fighting against unbelievable odds don't panic. Choose the long sword. Keep using the slash-high attack to cause the most damage. You may get down to only one man left, but you can still defeat the enemy captain. After you win, select "Send A Prize Crew", so you will have enough people to sail your ship. Don't attack a nation that your home country is allied with as it will upset both of them. Your opportunities will be much better if you don't wed until you've got all your promotions. Engage in conversation with all the Governor's daughters as may gather important information for you from the Governors mansion.

Beginners may find it best to start their missions at the time of the buccaneer heroes, 1660. Spanish military power is very low while wealth is reappearing at an alarming rate. When selecting a skill you should tend to choose fencing. All the other skills are useful but because captains must lead from the front, fencing is generally the most important.

When starting a new career, most sailors seem a little green. Players are advised to amass a decent sized crew before setting off to attack large ships or towns. Check your personal status to see which nations are either wary of or hostile toward you, then avoid those nations' harbors. Beginners may like to try their hands at trading, intercepting small craft, and carrying out missions for various governors. It's best to capture small craft. Once you've a decent number of cannons and a crew of more than fifty men, you might like to take on medium size ships. Keep all ships won in battle, as even damaged ones can be sold to merchants. Ideally, privateers should try to keep a fleet of about three or four ships. Barques and slops will suffice, as captains become more proficient, either fast galleons or frigates are the best pirate craft.

Fencing is probably the most important skill a captain can learn. The outcome of a whole battle can often depend on it! As a rule, the cutlass is the best weapon to use, primarily because it inflicts the most damage. When facing the enemy captain, it's best to end the battle as quickly as possible. However, don't simply hack away at your opposite number. Carefully read the manual to learn how to successfully defend as well as attack.

Always make sure you have enough food on board. Checking with the "Party Status" option will give an estimation of how long your crew will last with your current food capacity. Don`t bother trading cargo to merchants who offer forty gold pieces or less per ton. Remember any ports where merchants are offering stupid rates of exchange (e.g. 100 marks). Always keep any cannon you plunder and always fill up with food before grabbing other cargo, as a general rule.

As you become well known, your daring deeds and escapades may be recognized by various governors. If you're offered a letter of marque by a governor, it's usually best to take it, especially if it cost less than 1,000 gold pieces. Try to ensure you`ve upset as many enemy ships and towns as possible before running for promotion. As a rule, the more you do to disrupt the enemy, the more land you'll be granted in recognition for your services. If you attack a fortress town and install your own nationality`s governor, it'll be profitable to again attack the town and install your own governor. Repeating this process ensures that you're granted sizable amounts of land for your deeds.

Encountering other pirates is not uncommon. A successful capture of a roguish pirate will yield great rewards. Many players may be tempted to hold him for ransom. While this can be profitable, it's usually best to question the sea dog about either the treasure fleet or the silver train before setting him adrift. Act on the information that you receive, it`ll make you rich.

Rescue all your family and one of them will give you a treasure map. Finding this booty is an easy way of accumulating money. Friendly liaisons with various governor`s daughters can provide valuable information. If you've excess baggage they won`t give you a second look. Buy a plot of land (about 5,000 acres) for best results. Lastly, you should have accumulated a huge pile of gold. Try a few trial retirements before finally laying down your cutlass.