K
Keith
Guest
Keith - Originally posted by the mighty Degas ( we miss you) 
Trade missions are often `under-utilized` by most players. This is probably because we're all Pirates at heart, and shuttling condiments for some bloated clerk doesn't seem like the proper activity for a bunch of anarchists
However, there is no faster way to raise your reputation and gain experience for you and your officers. So, I thought I would post these Trade Mission tips. They should be helpful, especially to new players.
Trade Mission Tips
1. Always save your game prior to asking shopkeepers for a trade mission. Trade missions can become irretrievably bugged.
2. Pay strict attention to the dialog with the shopkeeper. There is a bug in the game wherein the quest log entry will sometimes give you the wrong destination for your goods. The shopkeeper will always give you the correct destination.
3. Check your cargo before sailing. Make a note of how much you have. The AI will always try to fill your ships to the max with whatever commodity the shopkeeper gives you for delivery. If your ship's hull or sails are not at 100%, and the shopkeeper gives you sailcloth or planks to deliver, some of those can be used up by your repair skill before you get to your destination. Likewise, if your ship/s are damaged during the journey, you might arrive with less than you were given. If so, just refill your hold with that good before following the completion dialog with the destination shopkeeper (you can do so by buying the required items directly from the destination shopkeeper). This should complete the mission successfully.
4. Once you have taken a mission, make it your only priority to deliver the goods on time. Trade missions are not only a great source of gold, but they are the best way to raise your reputation. Failing to fulfill the mission is also one of the fastest ways to worsen your reputation.
5. Never get involved in combat during a trade mission. Usually, but not always, this will bug the mission so that it can't be completed. Capturing another ship while on a trade mission will ALWAYS bug the mission so that it can't be completed.
6. Recruit additional officers as soon as possible. Assign them to your officer slots and keep them there during trade missions. Experience gain from trade missions is phenomenal (so large as to be unbalanced, IMO). But they have to be assigned as officers, and accompany you ashore (at least during delivery), in order to receive the XP from the mission.
7. The profit, experience, and reputation gain from trade missions are linked to the amount of cargo space you have. So either buy or capture additional ships as soon as possible. Even if you are starting a new game, another class 6 ship will usually double your profit. You will be amazed at how fast your gold and reputation will increase with just two or three little class 6 ships.
Please feel free to post additional Trade Mission pointers
Trade missions are often `under-utilized` by most players. This is probably because we're all Pirates at heart, and shuttling condiments for some bloated clerk doesn't seem like the proper activity for a bunch of anarchists
However, there is no faster way to raise your reputation and gain experience for you and your officers. So, I thought I would post these Trade Mission tips. They should be helpful, especially to new players.Trade Mission Tips
1. Always save your game prior to asking shopkeepers for a trade mission. Trade missions can become irretrievably bugged.
2. Pay strict attention to the dialog with the shopkeeper. There is a bug in the game wherein the quest log entry will sometimes give you the wrong destination for your goods. The shopkeeper will always give you the correct destination.
3. Check your cargo before sailing. Make a note of how much you have. The AI will always try to fill your ships to the max with whatever commodity the shopkeeper gives you for delivery. If your ship's hull or sails are not at 100%, and the shopkeeper gives you sailcloth or planks to deliver, some of those can be used up by your repair skill before you get to your destination. Likewise, if your ship/s are damaged during the journey, you might arrive with less than you were given. If so, just refill your hold with that good before following the completion dialog with the destination shopkeeper (you can do so by buying the required items directly from the destination shopkeeper). This should complete the mission successfully.
4. Once you have taken a mission, make it your only priority to deliver the goods on time. Trade missions are not only a great source of gold, but they are the best way to raise your reputation. Failing to fulfill the mission is also one of the fastest ways to worsen your reputation.
5. Never get involved in combat during a trade mission. Usually, but not always, this will bug the mission so that it can't be completed. Capturing another ship while on a trade mission will ALWAYS bug the mission so that it can't be completed.
6. Recruit additional officers as soon as possible. Assign them to your officer slots and keep them there during trade missions. Experience gain from trade missions is phenomenal (so large as to be unbalanced, IMO). But they have to be assigned as officers, and accompany you ashore (at least during delivery), in order to receive the XP from the mission.
7. The profit, experience, and reputation gain from trade missions are linked to the amount of cargo space you have. So either buy or capture additional ships as soon as possible. Even if you are starting a new game, another class 6 ship will usually double your profit. You will be amazed at how fast your gold and reputation will increase with just two or three little class 6 ships.
Please feel free to post additional Trade Mission pointers
And that's a bit scary when you are only lookin' to buy a bit o' bread and a little rum to feed yer poor starvin' crew o' cut throats! 
They don't start speakin' to you again until you reach "Rascal" Reputation! 
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2" border="0" alt="pirate3.gif" />: 
:" border="0" alt="icon_eek.gif" /> And that's a bit scary when you are only lookin' to buy a bit o' bread and a little rum to feed yer poor starvin' crew o' cut throats! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ib012.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cry" border="0" alt="ib012.gif" />: 
