Pirate Island Threshold

The idea of the Pirate Island Threshold (or P.I.T - the sort you might bury treasure in, haha), is that in the eternal duel between Ninjas and Pirates, that Pirates win in sea-based battles, whilst Ninjas win land-based battles.

However, it is clear that Pirates do control some land - island upon which their treasure is buried, or ports with appropriate taverns.

A matter of size

So which islands to the pirates control?

• Indonesian islands
• Caribbean islands

In addition, I think it's fair to consider the Malay peninsula to be pirate territory.

On the other hand, Ninjas obviously control the island of Japan.

So what is the threshold of island size beyond which it is too big for pirates to control as a 'treasure island'?

Consider that in Pompeius Magnus' Campaign against the pirates, he requested (and got) control of 50miles inland from the shore to ensure he could flush pirates out. If this his used as a basis, then any island smaller than, approximately, Ireland (approx 100miles across) is valid pirate land!

See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_by_size

Potential systems

Static Threshold?

There may be a simple island surface area beyond which pirate control is unsustainable, and ninja control is inevitable?

Variable Threshold (Tropical)

Pirates are able to control larger islands the closer they are to the equator. This is due to loose/open pirate garb being more suited to warmer climates than enclosed black ninja garb.

Variable Threshold (island topology)

Land area may not be as relevant as distance to shore... a long thin island (or peninsula - eg Malay) can be pirate controlled, whilst a smaller rounder island may still be viable Ninja land.

Other Pirate vs Ninja issues

Some points to ponder as to why are Pirates and Ninjas so evenly matched?

• Ninjas excel in stealth and infiltration - however this instinctual stealthiness works against them when infiltrating Pirates - as Pirates' zen raucus nature is naturally suspiscious of any stealth. Thus Ninjas-as-Pirates is never effective. Pirates never infiltrate as Ninjas as it is outside their code of honour.
• Pirates battle as groups all the time, and their while is greater than the sum of their parts (eg: a single pirate cannot man a ship, whilst a crew of pirates can). Conversely, Ninja's are stealthy, but a group of ninjas a less than the sum of their parts, for cumulative stealth failures work against a group. A ninja is at his most powerful when working alone
  • A Ninjas code of honour will require him to assist any nearby ninja under attack, this limiting the ability for a large group of ninjas to attack in sequence to enhance their solo power.
  • A pirate crew that is TOO large will split (mutiny?) and diverge into two smaller groups, thus limiting the effects of exponential pirates-in-groups power. Q: What is the optimal size of a pirate crew?