Picaroon

Picaroon is a massively multiplayer online real-time pirate strategy game. Set in a watery world where the inhabitants fight for the land and resources that remain above sea-level. As well as exploring the world, building settlements and fleets, you can form alliances with other players (or just sink their ships and burn their settlements, of course, should diplomacy not be your thing!). Various third parties such as independent pirates, whirlpool wormholes and travelling salesman roam the open seas looking for victims or customers.

You enhance your game with specials. These are like a magic deck of cards, each of which has a feature such as forcing a volcano to erupt, laying a minefield or quadrupling construction speed for an hour on a settlement. By taxing your settlers, you can raise the in-game gold to purchase one of several random decks of cards.

Oh, and there is the unique end-game... a huge battle where the skies go darker, the roulette wheels spin and giant, mammoth ships appear out of nowhere alongside submarines launching ancient nuclear tipped missiles.