Ocean
An ocean is a piratey world. In mundane, non-piratey MMORPG language, an ocean would be called a "server". The oceans are distinct and separate, with each pirate only existing on one ocean. Each ocean has its own unique islands
In-game items, PoE and pirates cannot be traded between servers because of their database isolation; to simulate these trades is to violate the Terms of Service.
Each ocean maintains a separate Ultimate list, as well as independent sales taxes, islands, crews and flags.
Subscriber Oceans
Subscriber oceans allow unlimited free play, however non-subscribers are limited in what they can do. To unlock items and privileges, users can opt to pay a regular fee (payable monthly, quarterly, or yearly) to gain access to the premium elements.
- The Cerulean Ocean is the only subscriber ocean open for players. It was formed through a merger of the former Midnight and Cobalt Oceans on January 31, 2012.
Doubloon Oceans
Doubloon oceans do not require a subscription fee. Instead, they work on a "pay as you go" model. Pirates may play as much as they like, but advanced functions require doubloons, which can be purchased from Grey Havens. It is also possible to purchase doubloons with PoE, at the doubloon exchange.
- The Emerald Ocean is a doubloon ocean that was formed through a merger of the former Sage and Hunter Oceans on January 31, 2012.
- The Meridian Ocean is a doubloon ocean that was formed through a merger of the former Malachite and Viridian Oceans on January 31, 2012.
- The Opal Ocean was the fourth doubloon ocean and opened on December 8, 2006. Opal is a German language ocean.
- The Jade Ocean was the sixth doubloon ocean and opened on July 1, 2009.[1] Jade is a Spanish language ocean.
- The Obsidian Ocean is the first Dark Seas ocean and opened for testing on June 30, 2017. This ocean has a doubloon system which is isolated from other oceans, meaning doubloons purchased there are not available for use on other oceans, and vice versa. Also, the client is only available to players who have installed the Steam game network; there is no standalone client. There are also some distinct gameplay changes with the ocean compared to standard oceans.
- As of the release of the Obsidian Ocean, all other Oceans are now being described as "Classic Oceans".
Testing Oceans
- The Ice Ocean is a test ocean which requires a separate client to play (links to download the client can be found on the Ice Ocean page). The Ice Ocean was reset on February 16, 2005[2], but no further resets are planned. There is only a small community of dedicated Ice players despite the fact Ice receives new features before the other oceans. Ice is only open to those players who are subscribed or have purchased 24 or more doubloons from Grey Havens in the past month.
Former oceans
- The Azure Ocean was the first Puzzle Pirates ocean; it closed on October 27, 2003. Until the release of Ice, it was used sparingly to test major game updates.
- The Indigo Ocean is a German language ocean which was shut down on December 31, 2006. It was not maintained by Three Rings, but by Gamigo, a separate company. This ocean required a separate subscription, payable in Euros. Gamigo's German language wiki for MMOGs has since been taken offline.
- There were several Chinese oceans (East, West, and others), but they are no longer available after the shutdown of Three Rings's Chinese partner, Pulse Asia.
- There was a Japanese ocean called Caribe run by a partner of Three Rings, GungHo Online Entertainment Inc.. It had the general layout of the Hunter Ocean and was shut down on May 5, 2010.
- The Crimson Ocean was Three Rings' experiment with a family ocean. It was opened on July 1, 2009 and shut down on March 31, 2011 [3].
- The Midnight and Cobalt oceans were subscriber oceans. The Midnight Ocean opened during the beta development stage on October 27, 2003, while the Cobalt Ocean was opened on February 18, 2005. These two oceans were merged to form the new Cerulean Ocean during the ocean merge on January 31, 2012.
- The Viridian Ocean was the first doubloon ocean to be opened. It was geographically identical to the Cobalt Ocean. Viridian and Cobalt were opened to the public simultaneously on February 18, 2005.[4]. As of January 31, 2012, the Viridian Ocean was merged with the Malachite Ocean to form the new Meridian Ocean.
- The Sage Ocean was the second doubloon ocean and opened on August 19, 2005.[5]. As of January 31, 2012, the Sage Ocean was merged with the Hunter Ocean to form the new Emerald Ocean.
- The Hunter Ocean was the third doubloon ocean and opened on April 20, 2006. [6]. As of January 31, 2012, the Hunter Ocean was merged with the Sage Ocean to form the new Emerald Ocean.
- The Malachite Ocean was the fifth doubloon ocean and opened on May 6, 2008.[7]. As of January 31, 2012, the Malachite Ocean was merged with the Viridian Ocean to form the new Meridian Ocean.
External/other links
- Commonly discussed ideas from Game Design
- Longjohngrey's beginner's guide to choosing an ocean, and accompanying discussion.
- Printable maps
- Printable PDF map of the Cobalt/Crimson/Viridian Oceans
- Printable PDF map of the Hunter/Opal Oceans (the map of the Opal Ocean is identical, but with German island names)
- Printable PDF map of the Malachite Ocean
- Printable PDF map of the Midnight Ocean
- Printable PDF map of the Sage Ocean (the map of the Jade Ocean is identical, but with Spanish island names)