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Bounties & Rewards: A Guide for Merchants and Marauders
Ahoy there, fellow adventurers! Gather ’round and let me spin you a tale about bounties and rewards on the high seas. It’s a thrilling and perilous world we sail, where fortunes are won and lost, and where danger lurks at every corner. But fear not, my friend, for I’m here to show you the way to fame and fortune!
Now, you might be wondering, “What are bounties anyway?” Well, my curious comrade, bounties are rewards offered for the capture or elimination of notorious pirates and other wrongdoers. These bounties are like grand treasures, enticing brave souls like us to venture into the unknown and bring justice to the lawless.
Picture this, if you will: you’re sailing on your mighty vessel, the wind in your hair and the salty ocean breeze filling your lungs. Then, you hear a tale of a fearsome pirate crew wreaking havoc on innocent merchants. Their reputation precedes them, and a hefty bounty hangs over their heads. This is where you and I come in, my friend. We chase the thrill and the reward, for we are the seekers of justice!
Amongst these bounties lie great opportunities. The larger the bounty, the more fame and wealth it brings to the lucky soul who captures it. But beware, adventurous one, for the path toward these riches is treacherous. Many dangers await, and one must be cunning and resourceful to succeed.
Now, I see you questioning, “How can I navigate this perilous sea of bounties?” Fear not, for I’m about to spill the secret to you. The key lies in information – knowing where to look, who to trust, and how to outsmart those who stand in your way.
First and foremost, you must keep your ear to the ground. Rumors, whispers, and hearsay can lead you to the most coveted bounties. Tales of stolen treasures, mysterious locations, or notorious pirates can provide you with the lead you seek. So, listen closely, my friend, and keep your wits about you.
Next, you must gather a crew of trusty companions. The high seas are no place for a lone wolf. You’ll need a skilled navigator to guide your ship, a sharp-eyed lookout to spot the enemy from afar, and a fearless swordsman to strike fear into their hearts. Together, you’ll form an unstoppable force, ready to face any challenge that comes your way.
But be warned – bounties often draw others seeking glory and fortune. Competing against rival bounty hunters adds another layer of complexity to your journey. Trust no one, my friend, for they may very well be after the same prize as you. Keep a keen eye and be ready to outwit and outmaneuver your rivals.
And when you finally discover the bounty you’ve been seeking, prepare yourself for the ultimate test. Battles will be fought, risks will be taken, and sacrifices will be made. Are you ready to face the challenges head-on, knowing that the sweet taste of victory and reward awaits those who persevere?
Remember, brave adventurer, the world of bounties and rewards is not for the faint-hearted. But if you have the courage, the cunning, and the will to succeed, the spoils will be yours for the taking. So, set sail, my friend, and embark on a journey that will define your legacy in the annals of maritime history. May the winds guide you, and may your bounties be plentiful!
When you encounter a Spanish Merchant, you will receive a Spanish Bounty Token. This token represents that you have violated the Spanish nation in some way. To keep track of these bounties, you place the Spanish Bounty Token on your Player Board on the “Bounty Track” at the “1” position. The same goes for engaging a French Player Captain who is not a pirate – you will receive a French Bounty Token and place it on the “1” space of the “Bounty Track”.
So, here’s the deal. When you score an extra Bounty from a country, you move that country’s token up on the track. Let’s say you already have one Spanish Bounty and you score another one. That means you’ll move the Spanish token from “1” to “2” on the track. But hold on, the French Bounty Token doesn’t budge – it stays right where it is.
Now, this “Bounty Track” has a limit – it goes up to “5”. Yep, that’s the most Bounties you can have from one nation. So keep that in mind.
Let me give you an example to put things into perspective. You’re a pirate player, and you decide to scout and go for a Merchant Raid. You flip the Merchant Token and, what do you know, it’s a Spanish merchant. You’re all in for this raid, so guess what? You instantly score a Spanish bounty. Woohoo!
When I make a daring move and engage a Dutch Naval ship, I’m taking a risk. But it’s a risk worth taking because it gets me a Dutch Bounty. The Naval ship is considered a “non-pirate,” so defeating it gives me yet another Dutch Bounty. Gaining these Bounties comes with consequences, though.
The Consequences of Bounties
Normally, if you have Bounties, you can’t enter ports owned by the nations that want you. However, you can always enter your home-port. And there’s one pirate-infested port, Port Royale, where you can enter for a small fee or by pulling off an Influence roll (as explained in the Sea-Zone info on the board).
Wanted by the Authorities: If you have Bounties, Naval Ships will attack you.
Pirate Truce: If you have Bounties, NPC Pirate ships will no longer attack you.
Like a Treasure: The number of Bounties you have from one country shows how much Gold that country is willing to give to capture you – 5 Gold for each bounty. So, the more Bounties you have, the more tempting it is for other players to pursue you.
Getting Rid of Bounties
In general, once you receive a Bounty, your Captain is stuck with it. However, a few Glory Cards and Event Cards allow you to pay Gold to be pardoned. Similarly, some rumors or missions grant you some kind of forgiveness.
When you reduce a country’s Bounty to zero, you can remove that country’s Bounty Token from your Player Board. This means that you are completely forgiven by that country and can act as if you never had a Bounty from them.
Rewards
Hey, did you know that taking down a player pirate can actually be quite a lucrative gig? Each nation offers a whopping 5 Gold for every bounty on a pirate captain’s head. So, when you defeat a pirate player, you can immediately collect your reward by claiming 5 Gold for each bounty from one of the nations. But here’s the catch – you can’t receive a reward from a nation that has a bounty on your own head or if your nation is at war with them.
Let’s break it down with an example: Imagine you just took down a player pirate who had 3 Bounties from Spain and 1 from England. Naturally, you’d want to claim the 15 Gold reward from Spain, right? Well, hold on! Since you have a Bounty from Spain yourself, you can only choose to claim the 5 Gold reward from England.