Plunder Royale

Unique to Winds of Fortune, Plunder Royale is a game mode in which you, as a player, make a fortune from:


 * plundering as a pirate or privateer from other pirates, other merchant, and other navy vessels,
 * raiding towns,
 * providing service as a merchant vessel, and
 * acquiring natural resources

—all while trying to defend yourselves, your crew, and your treasure in a capable vessel that is best suited towards your individual or company's goals.

The Game World (Setting)
The game world is:


 * set in a sea that is in and around an archipelago; and
 * dominated by a country through its navy (the dominant navy).

During the game: safety zones and danger zones effect the behavior of the dominant navy:


 * In safety zones, the dominant navy will not be primarily guarding the area: vessels can navigate freely without being pursued for defeat by the dominant navy unless the vessel travels near the dominant navy.
 * In danger zones, the dominant navy will be guarding the area: vessels within the danger zone risk being defeated by the dominant navy who will pursue any foreign vessels within this zone.

Entering and Exiting the Game World
Entering

At the start of the game: players automatically sail into the game on their own vessel or their company's vessel; at the same time behind the players, a dominant naval fleet sails into the game world from all angles then remains near the border of the game world marking the boarder of the first danger zone.

Exiting

Players can sail out of the game world through the escape zone at any time to leave the game. The escape zone is a an open section of the boarder of the game world. Sailing out of the game through the escape zone allows players to escape with their treasure rather then get lost at sea.

Gameplay
Within the game world, players are free to travel anywhere and engage in a wide variety of activities to acquire resources including:


 * Plundering as a pirate by independently looting any other vessels and independently raiding any towns as a (crew) member in a company or on your own.
 * Plundering as a privateer by entering yourselves, on behalf of your temporary company, or by entering your flag company into an agreement with a country, documented on a letter of marque, to attack its enemies' navies and towns for a share in any loot and peaceful relations between the privateer(s) and the agreeing country. Note: Privateers, as a company, cannot serve more than one country at once. An established privateer can only serve another country by voiding their current letter of marque. You can only technically be serving as a privateer for two different countries if you are a member in a flag company that is a privateer and, separately, you designate yourself as privateer with a different country, which by extension applies to your own temporary company.
 * Serving in a country's navy for pay by joining and following the orders of the navy based on the duties assigned to your human character's rank and position as directed by your commanding officer. Naval duties are primarily served onboard the navy's vessels and include vessel operation and participation in naval combat. When joining the navy your first rank is based on your status with the the country. New recruits start off as at the lowest rank: Seaman. If you are honorable with a country, you may receive a higher rank at first. Performing well on duties will lead to a promotion to the next rank. (See Naval Rankings/Positions.)
 * Providing service as a merchant ship for a country for pay by securely transporting the hiring country's cargo through a specified trade route. Upon entering the game as a merchant ship, much of the available space on your or your company's vessel is loaded with cargo that is owned by the hiring country and you will be provided with a trade route to follow that exits the game world. Your mission as a merchant ship will be to transport all of the hiring country's cargo to through the exit point of the trade route. Any missing or damaged cargo belonging to the hiring country will significantly effect your or your company's pay and/or reputation.
 * Providing service as a merchant ship for a country for pay by securely transporting the hiring country's cargo through a specified trade route. Upon entering the game as a merchant ship, much of the available space on your or your company's vessel is loaded with cargo that is owned by the hiring country and you will be provided with a trade route to follow that exits the game world. Your mission as a merchant ship will be to transport all of the hiring country's cargo to through the exit point of the trade route. Any missing or damaged cargo belonging to the hiring country will significantly effect your or your company's pay and/or reputation.