Basics to Puzzle Pirates Online Game?

I am new to Puzzle Pirates. Can you give me the basics of starting out? I made my pirate and I've done a couple missions which were games, but is that just what I keep doing is just missions, or something else? I'm so new I'm not sure I'm doing all I can. Also, I bookmarked the game but when I go online and go to that site it always tried to download it when it's already downloaded - if I keep trying, eventually it logs me in. Is there a better bookmark? Any basics you can give me to playing would be much appreciated. Should I click on something else other than missions? or does that come later in the game? Thanks!!!!!Basics to Puzzle Pirates Online Game?
Aye, I can help (scuse the pirate talk, maybe I play too much :P)



But, to answer the loading issue, if you click on the "play it now" button, it will always redownload the java application. If you want it saved to your computer, download to desktop and it will install the client software just like any other computer game and you just have to click the desktop shortcut to play the game. Also, don't worry about updating, the game will automatically update (if there is a patch) when you log on.



As far as are there more than missions, yes there is! Missions you can use just to practice the main puzzles, the ones that you use on pillages (more on that in a bit). You do get paid a little bit of PoE(Pieces of Eight) each league sailed with the ship on the mission, based on how well you did. But, you can also do what called jobbing with a crew to make more PoE than missions.



If you look at the notice board (the screen when you first log on, or go to a notice board near any dock), next to the missions tab there should be a tab labeled "voyages", If you click there, a list of several notices will be shown of crews that are currently pillaging and looking for jobbers. If you find one that interests you, click on the "apply" button and wait for a response. If I am looking to get hired quickly, I usually apply to several at once and simply decline any extra invitations once I've begun jobbing with a crew. Once on board, usually the person running the pillage will tell you to go to a certain station (sailing, carpenting, bilging, gunning) as soon as you get on. All you need to do is find an available station for the duty that is being requested of you. This can be done easier if you hold down ALT while you look around on the ship. This will highlight any stations near you so you can see if it is being occupied or not. You can usually tell because a pirate will be sitting next to it with an icon on their head if it is taken. Then, just puzzle away until the ship enters a battle and one of the two ships are grappled and boarded which starts either a group sword fight or rumble against the other ship. If your ship wins, you get an initial cut of the booty brought aboard and you will get a final cut of the booty when it is divided when the ship goes to port. Your final cut of the booty is based on how many battles you were there for (not how long you were there) and you will get paid your share of the booty even if you are not on the ship for the whole voyage (do not have to be with the ship at port when it divides, either).



There are many other ways to make Pieces of Eight in the game, (carousing/gambling, trading, tournaments, etc) and it can be overwhelming once you start to see how wide that little puzzle universe can be. But, many of the more experienced pirates can help you if you ask (in general, marked by a yellow name). Even better is someone in a pink name, these are greeters and they are volunteers that are there to answer questions and help new people learn about the game :)



I'd go into detail on the other aspects of the game, but my answer would be much, much longer. :P



Hopefully, this will at least get you started and in touch with other pirates that can also give you guidance. I play on the subscriber ocean, Midnight, under the pirate Arubared. If you're there, I'd be glad to answer any question ye had as best as I could. I certainly am not the best pirate out there, but I can at least shed some light on many of the particulars of the game.



*note: Some crews out there are not as patient as others and will plank new people if they take too long to move about the ship. If this happens, do not get discouraged! Just find another crew, you probably don't want to pillage with impatient types, anyways! :)