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Pirates has changed. No doubt.
4 years ago, I first started playing. Rambleshack wasn't Rambleshack. It was Bilge Water. After you left the jail, you visited the local tavern. Inside, you met Doggerl Dan and his wife, and you learned all about your little inventory. Will Turner? Didn't come 'til later in the tutorial. You had to actually visit Port Royal, and his little warehouse.
Upon exit, you went down to visit Bo Beck. Board the ship, fire a few cannons, and then suddenly, Jolly Roger shows up.
I had never heard of this guy. For me, the biggest enemy to pirate kind always seemed to be either Davy Jones, or Cutler Beckett. To meet this new antagonist, this man with a face of bones, a cannon for an arm, and a hat that I envied, it was rather disconcerting. It wasn't until later that I realized he served little purpose in the storyline. (This was pre-invasions, mind you.)
Then you head out into the world. Start out on Port Royal, head to Tortuga, and listen to that old soundtrack. Always the soundtrack. But I still prefer the old music to the new versions.
Then your sent into the caverns. All identical. Filled with enemies of varying size, difficulty, and the like. You went to Cutthroat Isle, you found every type of skeleton. Not just the Spanish ones.
I never ventured to Padres Del Fuego, Isla Tormenta, Outcast Isle. Those places were areas of death, the baddest of the bad, and only true pirates ventured there. My lowly level 26 pirate wouldn't be deemed worthy to venture to any of these place. Nobody would give me a ride, and they were too far to sail with my lowly light sloop.
I recall when the best gun you could have was a tri-barreled pistol.
I remember the dread I felt if I got close to death, for your first k.o. was your last.
I saw voodoo staffs, and thought that those who obtained them deserved high praise.
I drank potions that healed, and only healed.
I felt the joy of mastering my sword at 25.
I swung cutlasses, for they were the only sword to swing.
I caught the coin as it tumbled to the ground.
I thought the cap of 60,000 gold was unreachable.
I jumped for joy at the thought of doing the Black Pearl Boss Battle.
Some people don't remember that Pirates Online used to be a lot simpler. I miss those days.
Then I look to the future. I see the updates of the past two years.
The thrill of my first invasion.
Picking up a loot skull chest.
Using my famed blunderbuss.
Fishing for those legendaries.
Privateering for the french.
Cannon defense.
Improved cave systems.
Considering the updates that have happened in the last 2 years alone, I say the future of Pirates looks bright.
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