Puzzle Games--That's What Pirates Do.

If you like playing all kinds of puzzles in an online game that isn't about warlords, quests, magi and levels of power, you should try Puzzle Pirates. They have three oceans--Viridian, Sage, and Hunter--where you can play without paying any actual money--Well you can pay if you want to, but you can survive nicely just making 'poe'. (That's 'pieces of eight' for you land-lubbers). There are also adventures and crew chats and shops and houses and all the stuff that makes up another world, only this one is pretty innocuous. Anyway, here are thirteen of the puzzles you can play.

Treasure Drop-I've actually never played this one, but some people like it. There are even tournaments and stuff.














Apothecary--This is a shop job; if you are good at it, you can take a job here and raise poe even when you are not online. Can't beat that. It's a calm, un-timed game. Lots of fun.
















Battle Navigating--If you play enough to buy a ship and captain's badge, or if your crew deems you worthy, you will eventually get to navigate the ship in its struggle against other pirate ships, maybe even get shot, or shoot the other ship. Don't worry. You can't die in this game...or drown...well, if the ship sinks you might get an eye patch or peg leg, but those are all kinds of cool, and the ship won't sink unless you set it on "sinking" allowed. There are cures for all the lost limbs and eyes, but, like I said, who would ever want to lose their impressive battle scars? "These wounds had I on Good St. Crispin's Day" and all that!















Bilging-This is the easiest game, a great one to start with. You can play it in the Navy at no risk to anyone. They will even give you a little "poe" for it and a set of clothes if you keep playing...not to mention those golden and jeweled crab trophies. Oooh la la.















Navigating (by starlight)This one is simply maddening for those of us who like time to think. Needless to say, I'm terrible at it. But I think it's really fun to watch someone who is good at it.
It's a multiplier for ship efficiency, and it also is very handy for memorizing shipping routes.















Carpentry--This one is also a little hard for me, but then, I was never the best at jigsaw puzzles, particularly the kind that start shaking when they think it is their turn next. Ah well, I like the little hammer sound it makes.














Distilling--This is not my favorite puzzle, but the sound effects are also great.
It's another crafting puzzle. (i.e. poe-maker)














Gunning--This one is probably my least favorite. Ok, ok, so I confess: I hate it because I'm terrible at it. Notice how all the elements--shot, powder, wad--are all up in the corner and flying everywhere? They are supposed to be going into the canons. Um-hmmm. Precisely.















Rumbling
This one is lots of fun. You can challenge one on one, multi-player, or against a whole crew if you happen to find "barbarians" on a pillage. It's great.















Shipwright--This crafting puzzle is one of the best money-makers around. (Excuse me that's "one of the best poe-makers") Pirates are always buying ships, and someone has to build them. It might as well be my little pirate with his labor badge.















Swordfighting--If you liked Tetris, you'll like this one. No, I didn't say it was exactly like Tetris. It just has some similar elements. It can be played one on one, tournament style, or battling brigands or skellies. A wonderful game.















Blacksmithing-This looks a lot like chess, but it is nothing like it. It's much more exciting. Ok. So I exaggerate. But at least you have cool sound effects here and in chess you have to make your own. In my case they usually are a variation of "ouch" and "oooph"















Sailing--My Absolute Favorite. A game I'm actually good at, believe it or not. When you get 4 of the same stacked they crumble, and set off a chain reaction if you have them stacked right.
This one is going to be a Vegas!-That's seven in the chain.



So for all of you who wonder why I haven't been blogging for years. This is the answer. I was trapped forever in these puzzles. (It's an addictive game) Don't feel so smug. I have a sneaking suspicion that blogging is too. Come on. You know it is.