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Playing the Game

The Spanish Main is a free web based Massive Multiplayer Online Game based on being a Pirate!

Arrg maties... if yur look'n ta seek your fortune on the high seas with a pistol and cutlass then ye be in the right place!

This game is completely browser based, you do not need to download or install anything. Just login, and start playing.

How to Play
In the world of The Spanish Main there are four basic locations... your plantation, your ship, the port, and the sea. The object of the game is to become the richest Pirate King in the Caribbean by any means necessary. Run your plantation, develop shipping routes, attack other ships, or plunder other pirates buried treasure. It's all up to you.

Ports
At the beginning of the game you'll select a port to start at. Ports are where you can 'recruit' crew, and buy every thing you need to restock, repair, and upgrade your ship. You can also purchase land near a port for a plantation. Make sure you buy enough supplies to keep your men happy while at sea, otherwise ya might find yourself marooned. Once you have purchased supplies, you can load them onto your ship by going to the Ship page. All ship upgrades must be done while in port, but minor repairs can be done with supplies stored in the hold of your ship.

Plantations
If you don't fear being tied to an island and you start a plantation you will need to purchase some workers as well. You can put 100 men to work on each unit of land that you own. You can set men to work on a plantation producing food, rum, cotton for sails, or harvesting wood for lumber to upgrade your ship. Any supplies you produce or manufacture can be used, or sold at the port. Certain crops like limes (to prevent scurvy), and sugar cane (to make rum) can only be produced in certain locations so you may need to set up plantations on more than one island. Be sure you leave some swabs and veterans to guard your workers and your plantation.

Ship
Your ship is your home away from home. You'll begin the game with a longboat and will need to use your wit to accumulate enough wealth to upgrade. You can add lumber and sail to increase the size, and increase your cargo capacity. A bigger ship will allow you to carry more cannon and cargo, but bigger is not always better. Not all ships sail at the same speed. Smaller ships may be quicker. Ship speed also depends on the condition of your ship and weight of cargo.

Sea
When you have recruited enough men to sail and supplied your ship, get brave and venture out to sea. At sea you will be able to attack other ships, sail to other ports to trade your cargo, find a good location to bury some of your treasure, or search for the buried treasure of another pirate. The coordinates to your buried treasure might come in handy if you ever need to buy your way out of trouble. Keep in mind that the more crew you have on your ship the stronger your defenses are, but more scrubs and veterans means more supplies are needed.

Ranking
Your ranking within the game will be based on the amount of cash and supplies on hand, the number of workers, the units of land, and the value of your ship. Because money stored as buried treasure is not on your person it will not count toward your net worth.

Rounds
At the beginning of each round players start out with a set number of turns () and money (£0). Turns are added at a rate of 30 every 5 minutes and need to be used before they build up to the maximum level (9000). Turns are used throughout the game for things like producing crops, manufacturing goods, recruiting men, upgrading your ship, attacking other ships, and finding/burying treasure.
Each game, or round, lasts for 10 days.

Prizes
At the end of each round, prizes will be awarded to free and supporting players (players who buy turns or subscriptions) for 1st through 15th places. Prizes will be issued in the form of additional turns to be used in the next round. Supporter prizes will be larger. Once we have enough supporters to cover operating costs, we will add cash prizes.

You can purchase additional turns and in game money, via PayPal, that will be credited to your account immediately. Donations are also welcome to help us support this game and make it bigger and better.

So, login and have fun!

TheSpanishMain.com