No walls of text today, there will be plenty of them tomorrow. ːseawolvesː Just enjoy how Caribbean Legend sounds like.
https://youtu.be/rlLM3qG28bY
And pay attention to the Main Menu. Yesterday we had discussion on Discord about the abundance of small and super fun features, that make this game a must-buy. The lantern is a good example of such a feature.
Don't mind these cyrillic words on screen - all they tell is how awesome you are.
This dynamic Main Menu that tracks your in-game path to power is one of such features, and it has surprises of its own.
Discord Server
Must Read
Ahoy!
Caribbean Legend is the unique game you've been longing for.
Now, that must have gotten your attention! But first things first. We'll be summarizing the Steam page release and launching the next big thing this Sunday. After that, it's crunch time until February 15th, 2024.
The theme of today's episode is to tell you why you need Caribbean Legend.
When the trailer launched, it became apparent that everyone had different expectations for the game. Some thought it was merely a significant paid patch for To Each His Own, and we exceeded their expectations. Others expected an entirely new game on a different engine and were left disappointed. It's our fault; we should have explained things better and shown you more.
Our to-do list before the release includes:
Sharing the full changelog this Sunday.
Launching a free demo in February.
Creating another trailer.
Allowing unlimited streaming.
All of this means that you'll have all the information you need to make your own decision about purchasing the game.
But regardless of the decision you make, this release won't go unnoticed by you because we all share the same pain: there are not many games like this on the market.
A long time ago, my mom bought me Sea Dogs. "Oh, it looks cool, give it a try," she said. I wasn't entirely convinced, as Cossacks was the other option, and I was always a fan of the RTS genre. In the end, she bought me both games, but it was Sea Dogs that left a lasting mark on me.
During the first 20 hours, I struggled desperately and remained on the starting ship, a Pinc, I think. But at one point, something miraculous happened: I leveled up when I accidentally won my first boarding and the game allowed me to change my ship to a Lugger. I believe it was not far from Shark Island.
That dose of dopamine changed me, and since then, I've always had this Sea Dogs fever:
I spent days downloading endless mods for PoTC and bragged to other school kids that I was a programmer.
I frequented Seaward, PA! and other Sea Dogs websites that were popping up like mushrooms back then. I got trolled super hard there for asking dumb questions. Nevertheless, I kept coming back for more.
On New Year's Eve, when a girl visited me from another city, I had her play CoAS all night.
And then, I met this guy, made a career in gamedev, released or published dozens of games, and well, here we are.
I'm sharing this because I want you to see why I've longed so much to understand why the *Sea Dogs series* left such a mark on us. I've had long conversations with fans and industry veterans, and I think I've finally figured it out. It wasn't the series that drove us crazy; it was the genre.
Not the brilliant music, not the modding scene or childhood nostalgia. Not even the Caribbean setting.
It was a unique genre that got us. There are almost no games in the world with so many working game systems:
Combat at sea.
Land combat.
Exploration on land.
Global map.
RPG system.
Dialogues.
Companions and love interests.
Linear and generated quests.
A deep narrative with choices and consequences.
Loot, collectibles, and crafting.
Building and management.
Take any modern open-world Action/RPG, and it may excel in some aspects from that list, but it will never have everything. Even if it does, it won't work seamlessly.
And that's what pains us. These are the types of games we want to play, but all we have are the *Sea Dogs series* and global mods for other games. Mount & Blade. Kenshi, maybe? And now, Caribbean Legend is about to join the ranks.
Let me reiterate - there are almost no games like that on the market. Games that we desire. Games that provide the true freedom of choice that game marketers have been promising for the past 25 years.
Sure, there are mods. Not just Sea Dogs mods, but mods in general. Some of the global ones offer more content and mechanics than *Caribbean Legend* and most open-world RPGs out there. However, they can't reach a wide audience for various reasons and thus remain niche. We play them, but we can't simply go to Steam, press the purchase button, and immediately get a polished product.
The original Sea Dogs: TEHO, which forms the core of Caribbean Legend, is exactly the same. Bugs, lack of localizations, unnecessary hardcore elements, a steep difficulty curve, and a lack of promotion prevented it from reaching a wide audience. It's a great game but a poor product.
We want to fix that. Bring TEHO to the peak of its potential. Keep the series' veterans happy and open the game to a new audience. For the former, we have new content and plenty of reasons to replay; for the latter, we have polishing, a proper difficulty curve, translations, tweaked visuals, and marketing.
Regardless of which group you belong to, every release like this is a significant event that should not be ignored. Caribbean Legend's success or failure will be observed by the market, and it's up to you to ensure we have more games like this in the future.
I have 2000 hours in TEHO and another couple of thousand in other Sea Dogs games. And still, the first thing I'll do on February 15th is start a new playthrough as a gamer, not a developer. Because there are very few games like this out there. And that pains me.
Discord Server
First Stream is starting soon!
Ahoy!
Starting in a an hour! Follow this link and hit the notification bell, so you won’t miss it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXV5TA78fdQ
… and a reminder that we released a powerful announcement trailer yesterday. Enjoy and check out the description for the new Steam Page and more!
We're excited to reveal the trailer, release date, and our Steam page – it's a big day for us, and we hope it's just as thrilling for all the genre fans out there.
Use the link below to check out the trailer, make sure to follow and wishlist the game, and add the game to your wishlists. Take a moment to read the official FAQ on the new Steam page. If you have any remaining questions, don't hesitate to visit our Discord server and ask us directly!
We have another development update for you today, and if you are a fan of the series, tomorrow is your day. At 1 PM PST we will reveal:
ːjollyrːAnnouncement Trailer; ːjollyrːRelease Date; ːjollyrːSteam Page of Caribbean Legend - more than a new edition, and a bit less than a remake of POTEHO; ːjollyrːFAQ - to cover all your questions and concerns.
We have arranged a special early premier for our patrons earlier today. The feedback was ːburning_flamesː ːbombingː, everybody is totally hyped now! You can visit our Discord and ask them themselves if you are eager to learn more.
Our Discord Server:
Don't hesitate to drop in and say hello. It's the ideal place to be if you're keen on staying in the loop about the game. Here's a spare link if the banner above doesn't work for you: https://discord.gg/CaribbeanLegend
Announcement Trailer Premiere:
https://youtu.be/DX7L13FN18M. Remember to go directly to Youtube via this link and hit the notification bell to receive updates about the big reveal.
Now back to…
Gorgeous and dangerous Helen
…happily ever after indeed
Has this piece of dialogue ever felt satisfying for you?
H: Ah, there you are, my captain! I am so glad, "+pchar.name+", that you have finally decided to visit me. I have got a lot to discuss you. PC: (Option A) We will delay this conversation a bit. I need to get some more information before I'll be able to answer your questions. And now I'm asking you to not show yourself on the streets. I hope that your waiting will not last long. Trust me and wait.
Right?! The lady is clearly giving you signs and you are like:
Wait.ːseawolvesː
This is Helen’s peak of interactive content. No wonder she feels totally inferior to Mary. Just think of it:
ːjollyrːA unique Vanguard is much more valuable than a unique Companion; ːjollyrːNo personal quest and no proper love story; ːjollyrːDoesn’t take the bedroom initiatives in her hands, so to speak. Although, for some, it is a plus. ːjollyrːZombie Jessica doesn’t approve of her. Must be personal.
Caribbean Legend will change that.Helen will get her own quest and one more ending. The quest will be happening during the Pirate Saga, allowing Charles and Helen to learn more about each other and to spend some time together. The best part is that you will be able to build Helen differently, depending on the choices you make. You can make her a perfect Vanguard, strengthen her naval skills even further or make her stats more balanced. There is also another new major feature, but that would be a spoiler. Don’t want to ruin the moment for you when and if you get to it. ːbombingː
PC: ( Option B) You told me you wouldn't forgive me if I didn't visit you and Gladys. Well, here I am. H: Nice that you remember that. I wanted to say that I am truly grateful. It's not every day you get saved from, you know, that kind of situation. H: Let's just go and get a drink, my treat.
Getting better, right? Behind that simple dialogue option, a couple of hours of additional gameplay is hiding. Looking forward to hearing your feedback once you complete the quest in the game.
…And that’s all for today, folks, see you soon at the big event tomorrow!
Good hunting. ːjollyrː
Notes from Discord: Part 2
Ahoy!
We have another development update for you today, and the trailer reveal is just in two days. This Saturday at 1 p.m. PST.
Today’s item is…
Isla Mona, your very own colony
…and a sneak peek of the new UI
-"By the holy Santiago, that would be swell! Problem is, our women would set it on fire. With us in it. No, Captain, I meant a church."
-"True, we have decent dwelling and pay, sea and leisures, families and friends. But something is still amiss, you know?"
It took a couple of months to write this quest, and another two to code it - a total of three years. I think we have done it right: several hours of solid gameplay, choices and consequences, lots of new content and events. It’s a great side activity for the mid game, don’t rush it and you will have yourself a proper colony built in two in-game years. No timers except for building ones.
Once the colony is built, it will remain useful until the end of the game:
ːjollyrːInfinite goods storage. ːjollyrːAbility to put a few hundreds of sailors in reserve. ːjollyrːShipkeeping, you can keep up to three smaller vessels or one warship. ːjollyrːLots of cheap ironwood; ːjollyrːSpecial events, items, companion interactions and Steam achievements.
But hey, you ask me how several months transformed into 3 years of development?! Simple, we have very little 3D modeling resources to cover all building stages of the colony. I think that is about 6 exterior locations total. But we are getting there and we like the result. The amount of effort put in this quest was colossal, but it was worth it and we hope you will feel the same!
That’s all for today, folks. Tomorrow we will talk about our dear Helen - a companion and a potential romantic interest.
Don’t forget to check out the two links below. This is vital not only because of the trailer, but also for the future updates to come: most of them will be Discord exclusive.
Our Discord Server:
Don't hesitate to drop in and say hello. It's the ideal place to be if you're keen on staying in the loop about the game. Here's a spare link if the banner above doesn't work for you: https://discord.gg/CaribbeanLegend
Announcement Trailer Premiere:
https://youtu.be/DX7L13FN18M. Remember to go directly to Youtube via this link and hit the notification bell to receive updates about the big reveal.
Good hunting! ːjollyrː
Notes from Discord: Part 1
The hero of the day
Ahoy!
It is a superb feeling to see all that hype building around the upcoming announcement trailer! As we count down the days to September 23rd at 1 p.m. PST, it’s time to kick off a series of posts from our Discord server. Over the past few weeks, we've been hard at work, sharing development updates and juicy insights, and we wouldn't want you to miss out on any of it.
But first, a reminder of two super important links that you'll find incredibly useful:
Our Discord Server:
Don't hesitate to drop in and say hello. It's the ideal place to be if you're keen on staying in the loop about the game. Here's a spare link if the banner above doesn't work for you: https://discord.gg/CaribbeanLegend
Announcement Trailer Premiere:
https://youtu.be/DX7L13FN18M. Remember to hit the notification bell to receive updates about the big reveal.
Thank you once again for your support, and we can't wait to share more exciting content with you in the days leading up to our big announcement!
Now let’s talk about…
El Cazador
The Cazador (The Hunter) is a ship with an intriguing history and has been my personal favorite since the days of developing the Flying the Jolly Roger DLC. I've always had a strong desire for a unique, proper mid-game galleon, bridging the gap between early-game quest ships and the Gryffondor. My aim was to terrorize everyone during the Saga quest and to beat the Caleuche with style.
However, we ended up with the Toreador, which I strongly dislike for several reasons:
You acquire her rather late in the mid-game;
She's the reward for a quest with the tightest timers in the game;
You have to abandon her during the infamous siege of Cartagena;
I probably just suck at playing this game.
The Cazador, on the other hand, is a different story. If you're a skilled seaman, she can survive in line combat and her 32-pound cannons can make life miserable for even a second-rate warship. My current thinking is to reduce her speed and allow her to carry more men. Voilà! A compelling alternative to the Toreador until the Gryffondor arrives, dozens of hours later in the game.
She's no easy prize. Remember the crazy battle of Isla de Coche? With the updated Cazador as the flagship of the Spanish flotilla, the fight will be even tougher. Even if you emerge victorious, I must caution you that she is the property of Casa de Contratación. The higher-ups may take offense, but there is a silver lining as they'll be displeased with Charlie Prince, not Charles de Maure.
That wraps it up for today! Tomorrow, we will talk a bit more about the progress we are making at the colony development department.
Good hunting. ːjollyrː
BUCCANEERS! Out Now!🏴☠️ Overwhelmingly Positive Reviews!
Fellow swashbucklers!
The time has come - Buccaneers! is available now!
After four years of development by a team of three, we’re so excited to finally let you play the full game. It’s been a long and difficult journey, but we’re proud of what we’ve managed to create, and we hope you enjoy it!
The prologue quest from the free demo is also included in the full game, but if you’ve already completed it, you can skip it when you start a new game. If not, we highly recommend keeping it enabled - the end of the prologue is an important moment that sets up the story for the rest of the game!
In the main quest, you get to choose which faction to join after a brief intro sequence, and the game opens up after that. You can follow the events of the story or explore the open world and do as you please - the choice is yours!
As always, we really appreciate your feedback! If you have any comments, questions or bugs to report, feel free to join our Discord and let us know.
We will be on the lookout for bug reports and will focus on fixing any serious bugs over the next few days, so please bear with us if you experience any issues.
Also, very important update! We postponed the release of the Legendary Edition till Q2 2022 due to big and sad events happening right now in the region where the most of our team is located. We will get through and will present you with a polished and fun game - of that we are sure! Thank you for udnerstanding and being there with us!
Happy pirating! 🏴☠️
Meet the Devs and ask us anything!
Ahoy!
This Sunday we will be running a voice chat in Discord. Everyone is welcome to join and ask us anything about the future of Sea Dogs and the upcoming Legendary Edition.
