Sid Meier's Pirates!

[Samwise]

I've got my eye set on the chick from Port le Paix... thinking I might need to go off some Spaniards to impress her.

[Xuri]

Yay! Positive comments in every direction - this is looking good for my soon-to-be-revived pirate career. As soon as my pre-ordered box arrives in the mail, I'll be sailing the spanish main once again! Hurrah!

[SirBruce]

Each daughter has their own standard depending on their beauty.  I think the ranks are, lik, average, plain, attractive, and then beautiful.  The cuter they are, the higher your rank has to be before they invite you to the grand ball.  You can go ahead and court multiple women at once (in fact, it can be useful to do so), but you can only marry one of them.

The attraction goes through stages.  First they'll notice you, then they'll ask you to the grand ball.  If you do well, then they'll ask for a ring or a necklace.  After that, then they'll make you swordfight another suitor for her hand.  After that, she'll be kidnapped, and you'll have to rescue her.  Then you can ask for her hand in marriage.

As far as I know, plain women are actually worth just as many points as the beautiful ones (10) if you marry them, but you should never settle for second-best. :)  Courting multiple daughters can be quite lucrative; they will sometimes give you special item gifts, and clues, and your wife will give you pieces of the lost city maps later in the game.

Bruce

[WayAbvPar]

The attraction goes through stages. First they'll notice you, then they'll ask you to the grand ball. If you do well, then they'll ask for a ring or a necklace. After that, then they'll make you swordfight another suitor for her hand. After that, she'll be kidnapped, and you'll have to rescue her. Then you can ask for her hand in marriage

Ahh ok. That makes sense. I have only gotten as far as handing out baubles. I will trade a ruby ring for a set of balanced swords or a brace of pistols every time!

[Samwise]

Married my French sweetie last night.  Also made the Marquis eat sand.  Yay!

[personman]

(...) so once you get a piece just visit her over and over again until the map is complete.

We still talking Pirates?  Or crazy ex?!

[Joe]

I played a Spaniard through the first run, which opened up the difficulties and scenarios, which is completely awesome. I've started Joe on Adventurer in 1620. I want to play through each time period to see how things evolve. Completely great game.

I think my next characer will be named Roberts, since the first ship you sail upon is the Revenge. Dread Pirate Roberts sailing on the pirate ship Revenge! All I need is a massive turk and a swashbuckling Spaniard, and my courtship of a British hottie will become truly epic.

[Daydreamer]

Inconcievable! You forget the requist egomaniac Italian.  Better feed you to the shrieking eels.

[/campy Princess Bride fanboi]

EDIT: I before E except after C

[WayAbvPar]

I played a Spaniard through the first run, which opened up the difficulties and scenarios, which is completely awesome. I've started Joe on Adventurer in 1620. I want to play through each time period to see how things evolve. Completely great game.

I think my next characer will be named Roberts, since the first ship you sail upon is the Revenge. Dread Pirate Roberts sailing on the pirate ship Revenge! All I need is a massive turk and a swashbuckling Spaniard, and my courtship of a British hottie will become truly epic.

I thought I heard somewhere that Bart Roberts (one of the 9 real pirates in the game) says something about being the Dread Pirate Bart Roberts if you find him in game. I can't remember if I have captured him or not...they all blend together after awhile.