Well, pretty self-explanatory...

just tell us why perhaps. :)

Medicine! This is probably the best in my opinion.

Sure, you can fight better when you choose fencing, but medicina actually allows you to be in better health for much, much longer. Also, if you combine some special items (like mediacal herbs), you really live a good, healthy life.

Navigation.

You will sail very often against the wind. If you choose Navigation you will be much quicker and therefore don´t waste time sailing. At the end you save more time than using medicine I guess. (but I have to check it out sometimes).

2nd best ist medicine.

I find fencing to be easiest in the short run. Sure, you won't live as long, but winning most every sword fight sure helps you rack in the dough. If only I wasn't rhythmically challenged...

I choose fencing as well. Figured I need all the help I can get with hand eye coordination. :D

Yeah, I got the same impression.

Perhaps does Fencing also help at dancing? :)

What does fencing do actually - I got the impression, that I simply swing and react faster, that I have a slight advantage to react later and still be victorious than without.

Are your observations in accord to this?

Well since I haven't played a character yet without the fencing attribute it is difficult to tell however here are some of my observations.

I play on journeyman level and have only lost one fencing duel in my 15 year career so far. I usually choose the rapier sword prior to the duel. If I time my click correctly I usually get the firts thrust or overhead chop in. Sometimes when I attempt to parry or duck my character does it too fast and he gets hit anyway because by the time my parry or duck is executed the opponent is only beginning his strike.

Further testing is required using different swords and a character without the fencing trait.

I chose fencing first. On a second game the wit and charm to set off my pitiful dancing abilities (as in real life, heh, some joke).

Yea, I agree on the Rapier strategy.

But I am even quicker than another opponent with Longsword vs Longsword.

When we start the same move-animation at the same time, I am always faster in the end.

Maybe that difficulty also plays a role.


But what about "Cutlass": Better defence.

I do not get it, in the old Pirates you needed only a few whacks and the enemy was finished, the Rapier needed more.

But now? The Cutlass swings slower, but how does it defend better? Does the parry-animation stay longer in place or ... ?

Hi All

I just started playing this game last night. Started a career and watched my family get enslaved. I picked a country and flag, but did not get to pick a skill. Have i missed something?

hi valamas.

The first time you play, you start as apprentice:

the lowest difficulty, you may not chose swordtype (rapier, cutlass, longsword), everything is supereasy and you get fencing as skill - you are given no choice.

I suggest learning the game a bit on Apprentice and then start over or promote to journeyman on the next divide.

I recommend Adventurer difficulty, the third, even and especially for starters. Seasoned Pirates players can even pick Swashbuckler, then it gets a bit more challenging.

But now? The Cutlass swings slower, but how does it defend better? Does the parry-animation stay longer in place or ... ?

I'm not sure But I believe it allows you to parry (jump,duck) quicker while it seems a rapier takes a little longer to parry.

Navigation: it the most important to me since it take less time traveling one place to another , it's like adding lenght to my life and keeping the same crew longer.

One thing I've noticed about the Cutlass is that it takes forever to execute a thrust or chop.

When it comes to fencing I'm more of the "the best defense is a good offense" school. ;)

Navigation, it saves time (medicine prolongs your life, navigation allows you to accomplish more in the normal time).

i think navigation will be the way to go for me. gots to get to the next treasure before the ship mutinies. arrrrgh!

The question is, what does Navigation do?

Do you only sail faster against the wind or with the wind on the campaign map?
Do you sail faster (against) the wind in sea battles?


Before you say YES, please try to quantify the advantage of the Navigation-trait about someone without.

Medicine. All the others you don't need if you get better at it. You can win every fencing fight if you are good enough. You can't live longer if you are good enough.
Compare if with wonders in Civ. Some wonders are just helping, like putting a barrack everywhere. You can do that anyway, except more work and expensive. Some wonders give you an advantage you can never achieve otherwise.

Dancing was too difficult I can't did that prefect even only once!!!All girls disappointed.
And i think gunney was useless,if i choose fencing i can win close combet easily.

Woohoo I just retired my first pirate. Fencing is my trait. But since I'm getting so good in it I might try another one. I considered gunnery as useless but if it helps with reloading, range and accuracy it could help fighting larger ships. Might make it easier to cut the enemy crew to more manageable level with grapes before boarding.

Well. .I've already beaten the game three times on Rogue.. I took Navigation once, Medicine Once, Fencing Once, Gunnery Once...

I was thinking of taking wit and charm but then I got good at dancing.