The Protagonist and the Companion - extracts from the Game Design Document

THE PROTAGONIST - THE DREAD PIRATE BOOTY

Despite the game’s body-swapping feature, the main character is that of the Dread Pirate Booty.

As a pirate the character has several core features, all of which are craftable with upgrade paths. They are:

• Pirate Hat
• Eye-patch
• Cutlass
• Musket-pistol
• Hook hand
• Peg-leg
• Gold-tooth (special)
• Neckerchief (special)
• Pretty Polly parrot

Any humanoid shape the player inhabits (soldiers, skeletons etc.) can equip these pirate parts.  Known as Pirate Gear. (So you can be a skeletal pirate! Very Pirates of the Caribbean!)

Booty also has a spectral chest which contains all the treasure he finds, so that even if he dies, he can access the items he has previously found.

PRETTY POLLY PARROT

Pretty Polly is Booty’s companion.  Just as he is the spirit of the Dread Pirate Roberts, Pretty Polly is the spirit of his wife, cursed and bound to the form of a parrot.

Pretty Polly also has an upgrade path and is computer controlled but performs many beneficial (and a few not so) actions:

• Attract Booty’s attention to interesting objects.
• Attack some enemies
• Defend Booty
• Pull switches
• Reveal secrets
• Spot hidden objects

All functions can be upgraded so the player can choose to mould their Polly into a desirable companion.