On the shimmering shores if Skyrim : V - Skyrim

» Thu Feb 10, 2011 3:10 pm

I think you're thinking of a "privateer" which is basically a non-military fighting ship. For instance, when Britain and Spain were at war, Sir Francis Drake was a privateer. Not a British naval officer, but he was "legal" in the eyes of the Crown and therefore could attack Spanish ships with impunity. Technically he was supposed to stop when the war was over (otherwise he would just be a pirate) but he had become so popular he kind of got away with it.

Anyways, I support this 100%. I really wish Bethesda had spent time on this, to prove they can still push the envelope rather than just release the same game with slightly better graphics and different gameplay. Not only
would it make sense (the Nords are sailors, and even if they only have one coast, it's huge, and longboats were specifically designed to navigate inland bodies of water) but nautical adventures are at the heart of the legends and stories which inspire all fantasy. Odysseus, Beowulf, Sinbad...

Privateering is basically just legal pirating. sorry for my mix-up.

one of my favorite pirates: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipope_John_XXIII <- i just found him when i was looking up things on wikipedia about pirates.

» Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:14 am

Remember people, just because i say pirates doesn't necessarily mean Black-beard type pirates with pegs for legs and parrots. It just means a group that hijacks, and sells ships and their belongings for money, or to add to their collection of ships.

I'm not sure if this would fit into Skyrim, but i would love to see it in TES. Maybe an expansion that is located nearby the Iliac Bay.

Personally i would love to at least see a personal sailboat to ride around in, using the wind and the realistic physics. I think it would be pretty fun.

There were Pirates in Oblivion, though all harboured, and the Nords are largely based on Vikings, who included many an archaic pirate in their ranks.

» Thu Feb 10, 2011 10:46 am

Yea, a "pirate" is anyone who commits crime via a ship, although generally theft, even smugglers (on the water) could be considered pirates. So vikings were pirates, even though they landed, robbed land targets, then fled back to their boats.

An interesting story about pirates involves Julius Caesar. Basically, he was captured by pirates, they offered to ransom him for so much money, and he told them he was insulted, and that he was worth much more. Eventually his family paid lots and lots of money to have him returned, and despite becoming friendly with the pirate captain, said that he would come back for his revenge. He later captured the same vessel, and had the whole crew crucified...walking the plank seems pleasant compared to being nailed to it.

Anyways...since there aren't cannons, I don't see why ballistas and such could not be used.