<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hi.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":gday" border="0" alt="hi.gif" />
as for different character looks, visit the tailor shop. You'll find a number of different looks there. Each island usually has a different variety so shop around.
You change your name by pressing f2 and then clicking on your character's name. You can increase your stats here too by clicking on the arrow next to the stat you want to increase (assuming you have points to distribute).
You can raise a new flag under the relations screen after you press f2. Find the nation that you want to raise the flag for and click raise flag.
<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bookish.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":mm" border="0" alt="bookish.gif" />
As for beating the bigger ships it really depends on what kind of ship you have right now and what kind of stronger ships you are talking about. It also depends on whether you have simulation mode on. I will discuss in terms of simulation mode, but it should also apply to arcade mode too. I am assuming you have a small for'n'aft rigged vessel like a sloop, cutter, or schooner (if not try to get one. The schooner is great. You may also try for a Xebec too.) I am also assuming that you want to beat those heavy brigs and galleons and such ships with fairly heavy broadsides. The first obvious thing is to try to keep away from the enemy broadside as much as possible, but this is easier said than done.
You may have heard of the weather gage. This means that you're enemy is to leeward (the direction that the wind blows accross your ship). If at all possible, try to get the weather gage. From there, you will be able to approach your enemy with the best manueverability while he has to sail into the wind to engage you. If you have the weather gage, you will have more angles of attack available and can always run away if you need to.
So the first thing is to try to keep your enemy from getting the weather gage if you don't have it yet. If he is going to get to your windward (opposite of leeward), don't try to engage him just yet. If you have a lighter ship, you probably have a faster ship. So if your enemy is getting the weather gage, start sailing perpindicular to the wind (beam reach) until you have enough distance the turn with the wind and engage where your enemy does not have the weather gage. You may also try to risk engaging broadside to broadside briefly to pass the enemy ship and gain the weather gage. Another option is always to run away, but then you don't really beat the bigger ship do you?
Another point you should consider is the fact that your only advantage may be your mobility. Don't try to beat a stronger ship by battering its hull. In that way, you'll be the first to go down. Always aim at the sails first probably using chain shot. If you can damage the sails good enough, you should be able to sail circles around the ship. Of course, you don't want to actually sail circles around the enemy ship. Sail circles behind him or just stop yourself with your broadside to his stern or bow and rain terror on the enemy's crew with grapeshot (don't actually stop like this until the sails virtually non existant. The enemy may strike his colors or he may choose to keep on fighting. If he keeps on fighting pound him with grape shot a little more and then board him and you should have a fairly easy fight. And it almost always better to board a ship and then sink it than to sink it without boarding it at all. Then you can replace damaged cannons, resupply, etc. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/keith.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="
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If your melee is really good and you have a good crew and good bosuns, just try to ram the other ship and board it before you sink. Then once you win, swap ships and now you are the one with the stronger ship <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbs1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":2up" border="0" alt="thumbs1.gif" />
Hope that was good enough and not too confusing. And don't forget that I'm not claiming this to be the only way to do it. Others here may have some good ideas too.
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