The Merit System

Ahoy all!


     We're hard at work on the Airbags project, things are progressing smoothly. The sword-fighting puzzle is entering the stage where we`re testing for multi-player functionality (no betas yet!). The best news is that a lot of the sword-fighting puzzle will be able to be reused for sailing. i.e; Two connected pieces drop from the top, rotate around each other, and you lose if you block the top spot.



    Carpentry has been a slough, personnel issues have slowed down its progress, but it's still well within our estimations for completion. Bilging is progressing well and I hope to complete it and add it to the ship by the end of October. 




    The main subject of this is a new system we are hoping to develop for the game, and maybe for every MMORPG. 


The Merit system!

(*trumpet doots*)

    What is the merit system? Well it's a representation of your characters reputation, accolades, experience and skill in the game. It allows you to interact with each other, groups and NPCs in a meaningful way.


 You earn these by:

  • Increasing your rank in any puzzle
  • Increasing your experience in any puzzle
  • Being promoted in the Navy
  • Being promoted in your crew (first time only)
  • Defeat a superior opponent in a puzzle
  • Receive a trophy
  • When gifted by other pirates
  • Accomplishing daily/weekly goals
  • Recruit new pirates (after they play for a bit)
  • Lead pirate training pillies
  • Participate in events
  • Defeating a vastly superior opponent. 

    In general, the harder the merit is to get, the more valuable the merit will be. Getting a broad experience rank would receive less than a master skill rank. Your first kraken trophy will be worth less than one for your 100th.

    There will be an option to buy some merits with real world money, but there will be a strict limit on how many within a given time frame. Because I hate money apparently.


Pirates lose merits when:

  • They are kicked out of a crew, not when they leave normally
  • When they are planked
  • When they abuse other players or the game, in addition to other penalties depending upon circumstances
  • Are caught selling merits for in-game or real life money. Nobody gets to do that but me!

    It will not be a common occurrence to lose merits. But it is part of an in-game penalty players can impose upon trolls, tools, and troublemakers.



Players can spend these merits to:

  • Have a higher listing on a job board
  • Vote in local elections
  • Support other players, give as gifts (a limit per player per day perhaps?)
  • Enter tournaments (maybe only if underqualified?)
  • Give a 'black mark' to a player. 
  • Gain special rewards from the game; signature moves, portraits, titles, etc.
  • May be used to boost a ships crew, debuffing some negative effects like a lack of food or water
  • Can be gifted to a crew or flag to increase their rep and unlock some rewards (still working on that bit)
  • To issue 'shouts' in game chat, exponentially increasing as you shout more and more. Please shut it for a bit.
  • To issue a challenge for leadership of a crew, island, or flag


    Merits are designed to reward active participation and community involvement. I would also like to allow merits to be donated to their crew and or flag. Though how exactly crews and flags would be able to use these and on what would need careful fine tuning.

    All of these options for gaining, losing or spending merits are currently in the development stage and will be refined before they are implemented. 


    Please let us know your thoughts, concerns, and excitement! And also, what you'd like for me to cover next: Either a bit of world lore or how we imagine a pirate's career may progress.




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