Sir Francis Drake Adventure Game

(Instructions based on the BBC Micro version)

Francis Drake is an authentic, historical graphics adventure game. It is based on Drake's journey around the world in 1577. The player travels in Drake's buccaneering footsteps and by the time he has completed the journey he will have learnt more History and Geography than any "quiz-type" educational program and had fun at the same time.

Fight the Spanish......
	   Collect the Treasure

How to Play

On the map you will see your position marked by a sailing ship, docked near the port of Lima. After the map has been displayed, there is a short period before the "week, cargo" titles appear. When these titles appear the game starts.

Every time you play this game, the dangers and treasures will be located in different parts of the ocean, so do not think you can predict your moves too easily. However, the rocks and the reefs do not, of course, move during the game, and the Spanish galleons keep to a set route so try and remember their locations.

You must follow Drake's route by first travelling to the port known as New Albion and thence onward, past Java, to the bottom left hand corner of the map.

Your aim is to reach the bottom of the map with, at least, four times the amount of the cargo with which you began.

If you achieve this feat of daring then you will, naturally, be rewarded with the gift of a knighthood from your grateful, and avaricious, Queen. 

You move using the cursor keys.

At intervals you will be told the situation at sea and asked which action you would like to take from the choices shown (i.e. "overboard", "anchor", "attack", "ignore", "cannon", "set fire" and "sneak").

Remember to consider your options carefully as to the amount of cargo, food, cannon balls and crew conditions. If the program does not understand your response, you will hear a beep and you should try again.

Damage rating is based on a 1 to 10 scale. If you are damaged to the level of 10 then I'm afraid that it's into the sea with you, as the Golden Hind settles gently below your feet.

Do your best, as the present Government is emptying the coffers more quickly than you are filling them.