How to Play: Creating a Casual Game
Index -> Interface -> Casual Games Lobby -> Creating a Casual Game
To create a game, click the Create Game button in the upper-left corner of the screen. This opens a window where you can set up the game of your choosing. Unless the Advanced Mode button at the upper right corner of the window is selected, you will only be able to create a Practice Game. A Practice Game uses only two ships per side, and is a good start for your first full game of Pirates after the tutorials.
When youre ready for more options in game setup, click the Advanced Mode button to the upper right of the Create Game screen and youll get lots of possibilities.
Game Title: If you wish to name your game, simply enter one in this field. Your username is used as the default title.
Game Type: The default here is for Constructed games, where each player brings a pre-made fleet. Presently, all Casual Games are Constructed.
Play Format: This lets you select the format for your game, with Standard (all cards permitted) being the default.
Number of Players: Casual games are for two players by default, but you may choose to create three- or four-player games.
Match Structure: The default setting is for a single game. Other structures may become available in the future.
Fleet Selection: Here you select which fleet you'd like to use for the game. If you click the Browse Fleets button, you can choose any fleet file saved on your computer. If you use the dropdown button, you can quickly select one of your most recently used fleets. If you have any Online Fleets saved, these are also accessed by the dropdown button. The Fleet Selection defaults to the last fleet you used.
Time Limit: Casual Games default to having no time limit. You may choose to enforce one using this dropdown button. Your options include "chess clocks" of varying duration. The total time allotted for a game is divided in half between the two players. When it is your turn (or whenever the game is waiting on you to make a decision), your portion of time counts down, while your opponents does not. If your total time runs out, you forfeit the game.
Password: You may enter a password in this field. Players must provide this password to join your game. Passwords are case-sensitive.
Allow Observers: By default, Casual Games are open for other players to observe. If you'd like your game to be private, uncheck this box.
Buddy List Only: Checking this box will prevent anyone not on your Buddy List from joining your game.
Random Island Layout: Checking this box will automatically place all islands at random at the start of the game.
Treasure Total: This is the value of the gold on the treasure coins selected by both players. The standard game uses 30 as its treasure total.
Use Terrain: If this button is selected, both players will be able to place terrain (types of their choosing) during setup. The default selection for this button is off.
Point Value: This is the maximum allowed point total for the fleet of a single player. The default for the standard game is 40.
Coins/Player: This is the required number of treasure coins that a single player must select. The default for the standard game is 8.
# Terrain/Player: When the "Use Terrain" option is on, this field determines how many terrains each player will place during set-up. The default is 3.
When you are done adjusting the settings of your game, click the Create Game button in the lower-right corner of the window. This creates a Game Medallion in the Casual Games Lobby, indicating the game's statistics.
At the center is the avatar of the player who created the game. The medallion also has several icons, indicating Observers Allowed (Watch), Match Info (Info), Join Game (Play), password-only (the lock), and buddy list-only (the B). Below the player avatar is a number showing "players ready/players wanted." Finally, at the top is the name of the game as it was created.
