Tips for fencing?

[WoundedRonin]

I've played Pirates on and off for a long time and it's one of my favorite games.

Lots of people complain about the dancing, but for me, the most annoying part of the game is fencing once your character gets old and decrepit. Some of the duels like the suitor duels, and presumably the boss character duels, become pretty difficult.

Actually, I find that I can usually dodge or parry the really fast incoming attacks, but the problem is that when I counter attack I usually miss and sometimes get countered, and taunt spamming doesn't seem to be a solution either because even tapping the taunt button after a parry or dodge seems to carry a certain risk of getting hit while taunting. Again, this is when you're a 43 year old pirate in "failing" health. So much for the sterotype of the aged master swordsman.

Does anyone have any tips on winning difficult fencing battles with a "failing health" character? Is it possible to win consistiently against everyone using such a character or is it pretty much impossible?

I'm considering maybe I should just always pick Cutlass with an old character and only parry and dodge, hoping to get the counters, since actually attacking seems to be risky. Any tips on consistently getting counters?

[CHE]

Originally posted by WoundedRonin:

I've played Pirates on and off for a long time and it's one of my favorite games.

Lots of people complain about the dancing, but for me, the most annoying part of the game is fencing once your character gets old and decrepit. Some of the duels like the suitor duels, and presumably the boss character duels, become pretty difficult.

Actually, I find that I can usually dodge or parry the really fast incoming attacks, but the problem is that when I counter attack I usually miss and sometimes get countered, and taunt spamming doesn't seem to be a solution either because even tapping the taunt button after a parry or dodge seems to carry a certain risk of getting hit while taunting. Again, this is when you're a 43 year old pirate in "failing" health. So much for the sterotype of the aged master swordsman.

Does anyone have any tips on winning difficult fencing battles with a "failing health" character? Is it possible to win consistiently against everyone using such a character or is it pretty much impossible?

I'm considering maybe I should just always pick Cutlass with an old character and only parry and dodge, hoping to get the counters, since actually attacking seems to be risky. Any tips on consistently getting counters?

Well, I guess you already know that there are special items that you can get to help you in swordfights... e.g. pistols, special swords, special clothes and armour, as well as 2 special items to help you stay young longer? And I guess you already know that you can choose a specialty to help you in this area when you start the game (a fencing skill to help your swordfighting for the entire game, or the doctor skill so you stay young longer)?

[chrisben1]

Once you reach the age of 45-48(depending on skill, extras etc), you never age anymore. The only fencing problem at that age would be Monty and the English Captain of the Guard. Hopefully you've dispatched Monty in your late 20s early 30s so that only leaves the English guy. I just sack all the English cities and replace them with the Nation of my choice.

[WoundedRonin]

Wait, the English Captain of the Guard is harder than the ones for the other nations? I never noticed that!

[chrisben1]

Yea, all the others are a piece of cake even when you're at an advanced age, but the English guard is the toughest opponent next to Monty. Mendoza and Raymondo are just as easy as any ships captain as well.

[WoundedRonin]

Hmm, thanks for that. I'll have to go look for the English Captain of the Guard now to try him out.

[去死吧]

Try Viagra too.

[Tom]

The reason the English captain of the guard is the hardest is that he uses a rapier, which is the fastest weapon, particularly with the thrust. I use only the rapier for all my fencing and when I fight him I use the thrust very aggressively. It works well for me even when my character starts getting old.