Pirates of the Caribbean Online

Pirates of the Caribbean Online, sometimes called Pirates Online or POTCO, is an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) based on the series of movies and the Disney theme park attraction of the same name.

Plot
"Legend has it that there's evil lurking in the Caribbean. A menace so vile it devours the souls of men... and he leads an army of the Undead, set to exact revenge on his old nemesis... Jack Sparrow."

The game takes place a few months after the events of Curse of the Black Pearl. The player first gets hands-on in a jail with the player and Jack Sparrow. Jack shows the player how to escape and tells them to meet Will Turner at an old warehouse. Will gives the player their sword and tells them to meet Bo Beck at the docks. The player and Bo Beck set sail, and the player is taught how to use a cannon to take out an enemy ship. As the player sinks the ship, Jolly Roger intercepts them. Jolly Roger confronts Bo Beck and demands to know why Jack has not been delivered to his custody. Bo Beck tells Jolly Roger that Jack Sparrow paid double and offers Jolly Roger's money back. Angered by Beck's disloyalty, Jolly Roger turns him undead and presses him into service. "Dead men tell no tales, so I'm forced to let ye live.", Jolly Roger tells the player, who is left alive to pass a message to Sparrow that Jolly Roger is coming for him.The player washes up at Port Royal. The player then meets Tia Dalma who tells them that both Lord Cutler Beckett and Jolly Roger are growing in power, but in the end only one can survive. She tells them that they must get the papers for the release of the Black Pearl. The player then heads to the Governor's mansion, where Elizabeth Swann has the papers. The player then heads back down to the dock where their very own light sloop is waiting.On the way to Tortuga, the player stops by Devil's Anvil where Barbossa is waiting for them. He gives the player a pistol and teaches them how to use it. He warns that guns can only be used on the undead or animals, and graphically demonstrates to the player the cursed coins that, by transforming their bearers into the undead, allow pirates to fight each other. Once at Tortuga, the player finds Jack at the Faithful Bride. Jack tells the player that he's going to go after the Black Pearl and then tells them to talk to Joshamee Gibbs. Joshamee Gibbs tells the player that he has to find a crew for the Black Pearl and gives the player a list with the names of 9 pirates that can be trusted. Finally, after Jack's crew is found and bribed into joining, Gibbs tells the player were the Black Pearl is located, and the player heads to the location. The player and others board the Pearl, and fight off the navy soldiers on the deck, then steer it through many obstacles, including navy Frigates, bridges, and the Goliath, and finally frees the Black Pearl from the Navy's clutches. For more info please visit : Pirates of the Caribbean Online Wiki

Gameplay
Pirates of the Caribbean Online has two modes: land and sea. While on land, players can talk with each other and non-playable characters. Non-player characters (NPCs) will give them Quests such as gathering a certain amount of an item, killing a certain amount of an enemy, or talking to a certain character. Other characters offer to sell players items or services. Both land and sea modes are viewed in the third person, that is, the camera angle is behind the player character; in sea mode, when piloting a ship, it is far enough behind so that the camera view sees the entire ship.

In battle, player's can choose between weapons. The left mouse button is always to attack. When using the sword, players can do more damage by timing their clicks correctly or by using a special ability. When shooting, the player must aim as well as shoot. thumb|350px|right|Pirates Online Trailer At sea, one player is put in charge of the wheel. That player steers the ship as well as controls all cannons below deck. Other players may take the on deck cannons. The on deck cannons reload faster and can be aimed more accurately. Shooting the sails and mast will make a ship lose speed while aiming at the hull will damage and eventually sink the ship.

After having been knocked unconscious, or caught cheating at cards, players awaken in jail, and must kick down the door to escape. Additionally there is a small penalty to health points and voodoo points, which remains for a set length of time, itself reducible by engaging in combat.

The Notoriety system is a combination of level-based and skill-based advancement. Notoriety is always added to the player's pool, with a certain amount required to reach the next player level. Additionally, notoriety obtained by the use of a skill, whether ship piloting or weapons, is applied to that skill's advancement. Notoriety not obtained by the use of a skill, for example that obtained by completing tasks or quests, does not add to skill advancement, but the player still benefits from the additional health and Voodoo points when they advance to the next player level.

The next thing is the Loot system. Loot drops are found after killing enemies, which may be weapons, charms or clothing. This update came by March of 2010, and made a drastic overhaul to the game play. Loot drops may be Loot pouches, Loot chests or Loot skull chests. Also amongst the rare, common or crude weapons, certain of the Lost Relics' weapons (as part of additional storylines involving a conquistador name El Patron) can also be found. These are very affective in the perspective of damage, as well as providing rare Break Attacks or Defense Attacks

Another part of the game play is Invasions and Expedition Fleets. Invasions are the attacks of the undead army of Jolly Roger upon the main cities of the game, which players will have to ward off, eventually ending with Jolly Roger himself coming into the forefront. Expedition Fleets are gigantic fleets of ships led by the deadly Ships of the line. Both these important elements of the new gameplay developed by the POTCO team have their own storylines (view POTCO Wiki)

Weapons
Obtained near the start of the game, from Will Turner Found throughout the game Found throughout the game Obtained early in the game, from Barbossa on Devil's Anvil Collected throughout the game from enemies Collected from enemy drops as well Found throughout the game, from enemies Obtained after character level 5 is reached, from Tia Dalma in Cuba Obtained after character level 10 is reached, Elizabeth Swann in Port Royal Obtained after character level 20 is reached, from Captain Jack Sparrow in Tortuga Obtained after character level 30 is reached, from Tia Dalma
 * Cutlass
 * Sabre
 * Broadsword
 * Pistol
 * Bayonet
 * Musket
 * Blunderbuss
 * Voodoo Doll
 * Dagger
 * Grenade
 * Voodoo Staff

Quests and Missions
Pirates Online provides a great quantity of quest content when compared with other MMORPGs. The quest for "Jobe Armor" in Anarchy Online, for example, a popular quest which provides a penultimate set of equipment, that is to say, a huge reward for a player nearing the apex of their power in the game, has but three steps. In contrast, "The Black Pearl" quest has eight primary parts, the first of which is composed of 14 tasks, including one to kill a total of 9 creatures of three different types. The quest information in the link below is by no means a "walkthrough".
 * Pirates Online Wiki

History
The game is being developed by the VR Studio, a group of technologists and artists that are part of the Walt Disney Internet Group. It will be the second MMORPG developed by the VR Studio, the first being Toontown Online, which was launched in 2003.

The game was first announced by The Walt Disney Company on April 26, 2005. It was originally scheduled to be released in summer 2006 to coincide with the release of the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. But in April 2006, the company announced that the release date would be pushed back. Disney's Mike Goslin said the game would be available well before the third &quot;Pirates&quot; movie was released in May 2007. News about the game has been released via a couple of email newsletter updates from Disney.

An early demo of the game was shown at the E3 trade show in May 2006. The game's official website was also redesigned at that time to include a trailer, some screenshots and some concept art.

On January 8, 2007, Paul Yanover of Disney Online showed video footage of the upcoming game during Disney CEO Robert Iger's keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show. He also announced that "we’re going to let you play this massively multiplayer online game for free for as long as you want." Also, several press accounts of the event state that the game will debut during the second quarter of 2007.

On July 8, 2007, Disney Online announced that they are pushing the game back to Fall 2008. He cited the need to incorporate user feedback from the beta test as the reason for the delayed launch.

On October 18, 2007, Disney Online gave players the option to preorder Unlimited Access. Those who preorder are given 50% off their first month, a limited edition certified cloth map, and an exclusive founder title for each pirate on that account.

The game was finally released on October 31, 2007. To celebrate, a special event was held in California. Among the events were a costume contest, trick-or-treating, the Black Pearl, and a chance to get autographs.

Account Types

 * Basic Access - It's free to play with Basic Access. Players, however, are limited to three of the six available weapon types, which they can raise to skill level seven out of a possible 30. As raising weapon skills and performing tasks in quests are the only way of obtaining Notoriety and therefore character levels, free players are limited in their maximum character level. Because of the weapon skill cap, and the fact that they cannot proceed past recruitment of the first Black Pearl crew member in that quest line, the maximum possible level for a free player is limited to level 14 out of a maximum of 50. They are limited to Light Sloop, Light Galleon,light frigate and light brig. ships out of the range of nine ship types. They can't start a guild, are unable to do certain quests. These limitations are also imposed upon characters of accounts that were previously paid but have lapsed. Character level is retained.


 * Unlimited Access - Unlimited Access lets the player experience everything that the game has to offer. The price is $9.95 for a month. Game cards (which can be redeemed online) have recently been issued in specific Target stores, where a card for a thirty-day period is $9.95, and a card for a ninety-day period is $24.95.But if you pay online its $9.95 a month,Semi-Annual is $49.95 and Annualy is $79.97.

Non-Player Characters
Hector Barbossa, Tia Dalma, Elizabeth Swann, and Will Turner are "persistent" in the game world; they are always present in set locations.

Jack Sparrow and Jolly Roger are inserted into the game world infrequently; they appear primarily as participants in quests. Lord Cutler Beckett serves as an antagonist though he doesn't actually appear in the game.But Jolly Roger can be found at the near ending of an invasion and in Murky Hollow on Port Royal.

There are also several characters played by Game Masters (developers of the game) which bring about the continuity in story lines and events: There are the "good" pirates of the Marceline guild who were led by the honorable Captain Walter, the leaders of the East India Co.'s Black Guard, the undead Casa de Muertos guild who serve under Jolly Roger, ghosts of war and many others.

Merchants
Overview
 * Blacksmith: Sells swords
 * Gypsy: Sells Voodoo Dolls, Staves, and potions
 * Jeweler: Sells and equips player jewelery
 * Shipwright: Sells, repairs (even sunken ships) and customizes ships.
 * Tailor: Sells and equips player clothing
 * Gunsmith: Sells gun &amp; ship ammunition, guns, and grenades

Outdoor Merchants
-Indoors vendors selling guns, swords, clothing, jewelery, and ammunition are listed under Indoor Zones &gt; Merchants' Buildings

Cuba
 * Gypsy Macomo
 * Shipwright Carlos Cienfuegos
 * Peddler Monger Morton

Ile D'Etable De Porc
 * Gunpowder Sam
 * Shipwright Veronique Roux
 * PvP Infamy Rewards Basil Calledougal

Isla De La Avaricia
 * Gunpowder Stan
 * Shipwright Gabriel De Martillo
 * PvP Infamy Rewards Bartholomew Pugfury

Padres Del Fuego
 * Gypsy Romany Bev
 * Gypsy Valentina
 * Shipwright Balthasar Bollard
 * Peddler Phillip
 * Fishmaster Sven Hooksilver

Port Royal
 * Gypsy Angel O'bonney
 * Gypsy Grace
 * Gypsy Lucinda
 * Shipwright Darby Drydock
 * Peddler Bargain Billy
 * Fishmaster Old Greg

Tortuga
 * Gypsy Fabiola
 * Shipwright O'Malley
 * Peddler Davy Doubloon
 * Fishmaster Ray Fishlander

Others
(Alphabetical by assumed last name/nickname/profession)
 * Cutler Beckett
 * Karbay Benedek
 * Bingham
 * Black Mack
 * Blackbeard
 * Bo Beck
 * Lieutenant Peter Blakeley
 * Balthasar Bollard
 * Tattoo Bonita
 * Bronze John
 * Angelica
 * Andrew Bowdash
 * Carver
 * Cassandra
 * Le Cerdo
 * Peter Chipparr
 * Bastien Craven
 * Hendry Cutts
 * Daisy
 * Doc Grog
 * Doggerel Dan
 * Ammo Dorsi
 * Duchamps
 * Darby Drydock
 * Joshamee Gibbs
 * Gravedigger Gilbert
 * Gordon Greer
 * Jack the monkey
 * Davy Jones
 * Koleniko
 * Orinda LeJeune
 * Andros Mallet
 * Josie McReedy
 * Palifico
 * El Patron a.k.a Humberto Diaz
 * Scarlett
 * Sam Seabones
 * Seamstress Annie
 * Thomas Stareastern
 * Edward Stormhawk
 * Alexander Thayer
 * Tomas
 * William Turk
 * Valentina
 * Bartholomew Watkins
 * Woodruff
 * Yellow Dan

For a complete list of Pirates Online characters, click here.

Creatures
As is common in computer and console games, creatures vary greatly in their attacking and defensive power, to offer a challenge and Notoriety reward to all levels of players. The same model, often resized, is reused with a different name for higher 'level' versions of the same creature, e.g. Dread Scorpion has a higher level range than Giant Scorpion. Note that this does not hold true of the humanoid adversaries such as the Undead and Soldiers, who are many and varied in their appearance and weaponry. Enemies such as Ghosts have silhouettes of bodies surrounded by a fog of red or orange fog

The only creatures that can not be found on the main islands of Cuba, Padres del Fuego, Port Royal, and Tortuga, are Terror Wasps found in the Queen's Nest on Isla Perdida, French and Spanish undead found on Isla Cangrejos and Cutthroat Isle respectively, Davy Jones's Crew on Isla Tormenta, El Patron's Ghost Crew on Raven's Cove, and Jumbees on the Queen Anne's Revenge.

Creature locations:. Undead levels :. Fly Trap:

Others
 * Kraken (Not in the game yet.)
 * Prison Dog

Outdoors Zones

 * Bilgewater Port_Royal_morning.jpg
 * Cuba
 * Cutthroat Isle
 * Devil's Anvil
 * Isla Cangrejos
 * Isla Perdida
 * Isla Tormenta
 * Kingshead
 * Outcast Isle
 * Padres Del Fuego
 * Port Royal
 * Rambleshack
 * Raven's Cove
 * Rumrunner's Isle
 * Tortuga

Taverns
Cuba
 * La Bodeguita

Ile D'Etable De Porc
 * Porc's Tavern

Isla De La Avaricia
 * Avaricia's Tavern

Padres Del Fuego
 * Ratskeller
 * Skull's Thunder

Port Royal
 * Rowdy Rooster
 * Royal Anchor

Tortuga Raven's Cove
 * Faithful Bride
 * King's Arm
 * Clubheart Tavern

Merchants' Buildings
Cuba
 * Daggerflint's Tattoo Shop
 * Pugpratt's Tailoring

Padres Del Fuego
 * Anton Levy Smithery
 * Cesar's Barbershop
 * Corazon Tattoos
 * Deaf Gunny's Weapons Shop
 * Ferera's Blacksmith Shop
 * Grimsditch Gunsmithing
 * Perla's Jewellery &amp; Gems

Port Royal
 * Basil's Barbershop
 * Fuller's Blacksmithing
 * R.Smith, Pewterer
 * Smitty's Jewelry Shop (irregular spelling)
 * Tattoo Parlor
 * Truehound's Tailor Shop
 * Turnbull's Weaponry

Tortuga
 * Bonita's Tattoo Parlor
 * Callecutter's Tailor Shoppe
 * Daniel Vallance Weaponry
 * Lockspinner's Barber &amp; Beauty Shop
 * Ming's Jewellery Shop
 * Seamstress Anne's Shop
 * Wright's Blacksmithing
 * Thayers Weapons Shop



Forts, Residences, Etc.
Cuba
 * Jail

Padres Del Fuego
 * Fort Dundee (as per Fort Charles)
 * Jail (Next to fort)

Port Royal
 * Fort Charles (no 'zoning' to enter; part of the same outdoor zone as Port Royal)
 * Graham Marsh Residence
 * Peter Blakeley Residence
 * June Greer Residence
 * Old Warehouse
 * Weatherby Swann's mansion
 * Jail (next to fort)

Tortuga Raven's Cove
 * Boatswain's house
 * Bowdash Mansion
 * Flatts & Flatts, Importers
 * Doc Grog's
 * Millie's Cottage
 * Orinda's Shack
 * Trading Co. Building
 * Unnamed Building
 * Unnamed Building (there may be a few more unnamed buildings)
 * Jail
 * Jail (No Navy Inhabiting it, It seems abandoned)
 * Threadbarren's Tailor Shop (No Items for Sale, ghost of Threadbarren haunts the building)
 * Fantifico's Manor
 * Clubheart Tavern (Abandoned, ghosts of the Clubheart couple haunt the building)
 * Thomas Fishmiester's Shack (Abandoned, ghost of Thomas Fishmiester haunts the building)
 * Zigana's Gypsy Shop (No Items for Sale, ghost of Madam Zigana haunts the building)

Caverns, Secret Valleys etc
Cavern zones are arranged by the island from which they must be accessed. In the case of multiple cavern zones on one island, the zones are numbered. Numbers in parentheses indicate links to the cavern zones corresponding to that number, names indicate they link directly to the main island zone. Generally speaking, the more zones away from the primary island zone, the higher level the enemies therein.

Port Royal Access
 * 1) Wicked Thicket (Port Royal Southwest),(4)
 * 2) King's Run (Port Royal South),(6)
 * 3) Governor's Garden (Port Royal Southeast)
 * 4) Royal Grounds (1)
 * 5) Royal Caverns (3),(4)
 * 6) Murky Hollow (2),(3)

Tortuga Access
 * 1) Tortuga Graveyard (Tortuga),(2),(5)
 * 2) Thieves' Den (1),(3)
 * 3) Wildwoods (Tortuga), (2)
 * 4) Misty Mire (W. of Jail, westernmost along Tortuga shoreline)(5)
 * 5) Rat's Nest (4),(1)

Cuba Access
 * Pantano River (dual exits to Cuba)

Padres Del Fuego Raven's Cove
 * 1) Lava Gorge (Padres del Fuego),(2)
 * 2) Catacombs (1),(3)
 * 3) Beckett's Quarry (Padres del Fuego), (2),(4)
 * 4) El Sudoron (3),(5)
 * 5) Las Pulgas (Part of Padres del Fuego)(4)
 * 1) El Patron's Mine
 * 2) Cave of Lost Souls

Wild Islands
 * Barbossa's Grotto (Devil's Anvil)
 * Cutthroat Jungle (Cutthroat Isle)
 * Queen's Nest (dual exits to Isla Perdida)
 * Cursed Caverns (dual exits to Isla Tormenta)

Cavern locations:

Organizations

 * Brethren Court
 * Marceline Guild
 * Jolly Roger's Army
 * Casa de Muertos
 * British Empire
 * East India Trading Company
 * Black Guard
 * British Royal Navy
 * Spanish Empire
 * Kingdom of France
 * Davy Jones' Crew
 * El Patron's Ghost Crew
 * Abu Nar Clan
 * Spanish Inquisiton

Ships

 * Frigate
 * Galleon
 * Sloop
 * Brig
 * Carrack - inaccessible to players as of now.
 * Ship of the line - inaccessible to players as of now.

British Royal Navy Ships

 * Navy Ferret - Light Sloop
 * Navy Bulwark - Light Galleon
 * Navy Panther - Light Frigate
 * Navy Greyhound - Sloop
 * Navy Vanguard - Galleon
 * Navy Centurion - Frigate
 * Navy Kingfisher - War Sloop
 * Navy Predator - War Sloop
 * Navy Colossus - War Galleon
 * Navy Monarch - War Galleon
 * Navy Bastion - War Galleon
 * Navy Man-O-War - War Frigate
 * Navy Dreadnought -War Frigate
 * Navy Elite - War Frigate
 * The Goliath - Ship of the line
 * HMS Victory - Ship of the line
 * HMS Invincible - Ship of the line
 * HMS Newcastle - Ship of the line

East India Trading Company Ships

 * EITC Sea Viper - Light Sloop
 * EITC Sentinel - Light Galleon
 * EITC Corsair - War Sloop
 * EITC Corvette - Light Frigate
 * EITC Bloodhound - Sloop
 * EITC Ironwall - Galleon
 * EITC Marauder - Frigate
 * EITC Barracuda - War Sloop
 * EITC Ogre - War Galleon
 * EITC Behemoth - War Galleon
 * EITC Juggernaut - War Frigate
 * EITC Warlord - War Frigate
 * EITC Tyrant - War Frigate
 * EITC Conqueror - Ship of the line
 * EITC Intrepid - Ship of the line
 * EITC Leviathan - Ship of the line

Skeleton Ships

 * Death Omen - War Frigate
 * Phantom - War Frigate
 * Storm Reaper - War Frigate
 * Black Harbinger - War Frigate
 * Revenant - War Frigate

French Undead Ships

 * French Blood Scourge - War Sloop
 * French Cerberus - War Sloop
 * French Shadow Crow - War Sloop

Spanish Undead Ships

 * Spanish Blood Scourge - War Sloop
 * Spanish Cerberus - War Sloop
 * Spanish Shadow Crow - War Sloop

Bounty Hunter Ships

 * Battle-Royale - Ship of the Line
 * Century Hawk - War Galleon
 * Cutter Shark - War Sloop
 * En-Garde - War Frigate
 * Flying Storm - War Sloop
 * Killyaded - War Galleon
 * Red Dervish - War Frigate
 * Scorned Siren - War Frigate
 * Tally-ho - Ship of the Line
 * Vengeance - War Frigate

Other

 * Black Pearl
 * Queen Anne's Revenge
 * Harkaway
 * El Patron's Ship
 * HMS Interceptor
 * Flying Dutchman

Mini-Games

 * Tortuga Hold 'Em
 * Blackjack
 * Privateering
 * Potions
 * Cannon Defense
 * Fishing
 * Undead Poker
 * Ship Repairing

Miscellanea

 * Black Spot

System Requirements

 * Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
 * Pentium 3 800Mhz processor (P4 1Ghz rec.)
 * 256 MB RAM (512 recommended)
 * 400 MB disk space available
 * 32MB graphics card (64 MB recommended)
 * DirectX 9 or better
 * Broadband internet connection

Pirates of the Caribbean Online (UK version)
The UK version of POTCO was announced. It appears that the version of the game is completely different from the US version. No more information is known about this game, other than the idea was scrapped and US and UK players play in the same game.

Test server
The test server is part of Pirates of the Caribbean Online where players with access to it, can test new parts of the game, such as, new weapons, new quests, etc.

Timeline in relation with the films
The events of Pirates of the Caribbean Online which include the British Royal Navy stealing the Black Pearl, several pirates helping to bring it back, Jolly Roger searching for Jack Sparrow and his several invasions and raids on the many islands and settlements of the Caribbean seem to have occurred somewhere between The Curse of the Black Pearl and Dead Man's Chest.

Here are the reasons why this statement is verified :
 * Captain Jack Sparrow is alive and well, hiring pirates to do his deed of saving the Black Pearl and running away from the hands of Jolly Roger. Jack has also not yet gone to search for the drawing of the key of the Dead Man's Chest. He also wears his his piece of eight, which has not been burned in the release of Calypso.
 * Hector Barbossa has already been resurrected by voodoo mistress Tia Dalma, who sees the results of Jack Sparrow's search for the Dead Man's Chest, as she seeks to rally the Pirate Lords of the Caribbean.
 * Will Turner is alive, and has not yet gone in search of Captain Jack Sparrow in his deal with Lord Cutler Beckett. He has also not died and replaced as captain of the Flying Dutchman.
 * Davy Jones has not yet sought Jack Sparrow's payment of his debt, and his crew is still cursed and exists in the heart of Isla Tormenta.
 * Elizabeth Swann is not yet in captivity under Lord Beckett, and has not yet gone to look for Will Turner with the help of Jack Sparrow. She is also not yet the Pirate King and stays in her mansion wearing her normal British clothes.
 * Governor Swann has not surrendered to Lord Cutler Beckett and he has gone on a journey outside the Caribbean, and is yet to come back. He will be dissatisfied to hear the news of an undead Jolly Roger attacking his mansion.
 * Lord Cutler Beckett is alive, and has not gained control of the Dead Man's Chest. It can be assumed though that he has not yet landed on Port Royal, while the East India Trading Company is still active under his orders to destroy the pirates. Another fact is that islands of Port Royal and Tortuga could not have self-destructed under his watch as this does not happen yet during the movies.
 * Tia Dalma has not yet been freed as the goddess Calypso, and has also not gone in search of Jack Sparrow into Davy Jones' Locker.
 * The Queen Anne's Revenge is under control of Blackbeard and not Barbossa.
 * The Black Pearl is still in sailing condition, and has not yet been shrunken into a ship in a bottle.