Sword fight injuries?

[Beast]

Just getting back into the game after....years. When I get hit in a sword fight, are there consequences besides just backing up in that fight? I thought I recalled something about too many wounds lowering your retirement age or slowing you down or something, I can't recall though.

[Arturick1]

According to what I've read, the game slows you down as you get older. The more wounds you sustain, the earlier you hit the cap for age penalties. As far as I know, the actual age of retirement doesn't change, you just spend more of your career slower.

[realist1003]

As far as I can tell - from both observation and research - getting hit in a sword fight doesn't have any impact on aging.

The game definitely does slow you down as you get older. You can see that when you look at the status screen and you're described as being "in _____ health", with that changing from "Excellent" to "Fine", "Good", etc. You age 1 category every 3 years, which increases by 6 months with each of the two special items that benefit health (Medicinal Herbs and Incan Mystic Salve).

Sashanan's Strategy Guide for this game is a great reference on this subject, as well as many others - https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/915017-sid-meiers-pirates/faqs/34143

[El Rushbo]

You can always rake the enemy ship with grape shot so they strike their colors when you board. That way you avoid the fight altogether.

[MrPurple33]

Originally posted by realist1003:

As far as I can tell - from both observation and research - getting hit in a sword fight doesn't have any impact on aging.

The game definitely does slow you down as you get older. You can see that when you look at the status screen and you're described as being "in _____ health", with that changing from "Excellent" to "Fine", "Good", etc. You age 1 category every 3 years, which increases by 6 months with each of the two special items that benefit health (Medicinal Herbs and Incan Mystic Salve).

Sashanan's Strategy Guide for this game is a great reference on this subject, as well as many others - https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/915017-sid-meiers-pirates/faqs/34143

Good to know - been playing for years and never knew the exact aging rate - I just usually go as Long as I can before I get anew crew, which tends to bump the months/aging

I do always try to find both the Herbs and Mystic Salve, usually as early as I can- good to know I had the right idea there

Usually I just go with fencing as my ability, then when I see I get slower, blast a ship's crew down before I board it to Lessen the sword fight (1/2 the time they surrender before that)

the only fights you get handicapped bad in old age are Soldiers Duels in Taverns and Montcalm (who Let's face it always has a comp cheat code, no matter what age you are or difficulty setting)

[Beast]

Thanks all, never quite sure how it works. I usually take out the Marquis as fast as I can because he's such a tough fight. Later on I tend to have heftier ships and can bombard enemies without worrying about swordfighting.

I also basically never retire or split loot until I'm ready to finish a playthrough. As long as you have enough gold in your inventory per crew member you never have to worry about their happiness.