Introduction

Developer: Akella
Publisher: Bethesda
Sea Dogs official page: http://seadogs.bethsoft.com/
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The Inspiration

Moscow-based Akella is taking a different approach to RPGs with its pirate-themed PC game Sea Dogs. There's no mana to manage, no spells to concoct, and the setting is not in some medieval time period with wizards, elves and orcs lurking at every corner.

Inspired by Sid Meier's Pirates!, Sea Dogs is looking to set the standard for RPGs at sea, says Todd Vaughn, director of new business development at Bethesda Softworks, the game's publisher. "A lot of games have come out since [Pirates!], but they really haven't been successful," Vaughn tells Gamers.com, referring to games such as Cutthroats and Buccaneer.

Taste my fire!

Hey, stop that!

The Story

Set in the 17th century, the story revolves around your character, Nicolas Sharp, a young corsair with an ambiguous past. The game begins with your mother giving you a medallion that has a portrait of your father. It's almost a tease, since your mother won't tell you anything about your father, who is presumed dead. Once you receive this medallion, you take to the sea, but are captured by the Spaniards. Eventually, you manage to escape and set off to wreak a horrible revenge on anyone sailing with a Spanish flag.

Initially aligned with an English colony, you can branch out and go in any direction you please, whether it be sailing to a French island and receiving a letter of mark from its governor, or becoming an outright pirate and attacking, capturing, plundering and/or pillaging any ship or town that is in your path - not a wise move early in the game since your ship is relatively low on firepower and your crew is small. Additionally, if you attempt to board an enemy ship, you must out duel its captain in a swordfight.

Still afloat

What'd you say about my mother?

Gameplay

Since Sea Dogs is an RPG, a lot of interaction will take place on the game's 21 islands. Many townspeople will have something useful to say, others will not. Visit the tavern to recruit crew and learn about who you should and should not help. Some towns will have shipyards where you can repair your ship, or buy new ones. The availability of ships depends on your rank, which is elevated as you gain more experience. Any goods looted can be traded at the local store for something you may need more. In addition to capturing ships, you and your crew can capture forts on certain islands.

I'm a cynic swindler!

Please don't touch the model ship.

Sailing at sea in real time is not necessary, since it would take a painfully long time to go from one island to the next. Instead, gamers can bring up a map screen and using their mice, guide the ship from island to island. Running into other ships, including some enemies, occurs frequently. Ships can be ignored, as well as islands.