We're working on a way to enable players to use the special skills of donated pirates - at the moment, donated pirates will have their special ability activated when the player uses the special ability of their own recruited pirate of the same type, ie the player has their own gunners and donated gunners deployed - all of them including the donated gunners will perform 'Stay on Target' when it's activated. However, we do want people to be able to use the skills of donated pirates that they don't have in their army, so it's on its way!
I'm not sure if you've misread my reply (or I've worded it badly), but we do want players to be able to use the skills of the donated pirates independently of their own pirates! (Ie if you've been donated a priestess you can use her Nighty Night skill even if you havent recruited a priestess of your own).
Yes, that was what @Lynsey [Midoki] was saying. Lynsey, get off your iPad and go to the adult pool!!!! Tell them I sent you
The way I read Lynsey's reply is "Yes.." (or I've worded it badly), but we do want players to be able to use the skills of the donated pirates independently of their own pirates!) a great way to encourage lower grade captains to upgrade, by giving them a taste of what upgraded troops can really do.