Lilly-livered landlubbers! Keep away from me booty! Yaargh!

With a plot that takes place after that of the three movies, Pirates of the Caribbean Online (free, disney.go.com/pirates/online) has you jumping into the massively multiplayer high seas with occasional cameos by Elizabeth Swann and William Turner—you can even help Jack Sparrow battle against Jolly Roger. Become the most infamous pirate in the Caribbean with a little help from your cutthroat guildmates and your pistol loaded with these tips.

• The more you use a weapon or skill, the faster you level up. When you get a chance, take out that extra crab, skeleton, or guard.

• Some quests reward you with a new weapon skill, like grenades or Voodoo Dolls (in a quest given by Tia Dalma). Drop everything else and finish those quests right away.

• A fast way to level up your cannon skill is to go to Tortuga, then head toward Kingshead. Find a lone Warlord ship, set all your cannons for long range, and fire them all at the ship simultaneously. Sink it as it comes towards you. It’s worth 100 points.

• If you plan to go solo most of the time, the galleon may be your ship of choice. What you lose in broadsides and crew space, you make up for in cargo room. More cargo space, more gold.

• Get the Take Cover skill. Activate the skill when you see a volley of enemy incoming cannon fire to automatically avoid it, at least until they reload.

• Save those “up-your-sleeve” cards that you earn in certain quests for high stakes Poker games to win some major gold.