All,
Just a short tip regarding diplomat services.
They can only be found in pirate villages and towns, and diplomats DO NOT appear in cities that were captured by a player and turned into "free" ports.
Diplomats can provide the following services:
1) Reconcile with a Nation
2) Reconcile with Smugglers
2) "Buy" a Letter of Marque
3) Obtain a Trade License
4) Stop sieges for captured cities and towns permanently
Costs for services are NOT fixed, but dependent on:
1) Inventory Gold
2) Reputation
3) Trade skills
Dependent on all three together determines the cost of the service, with additional costs added to reconciling with nations dependent on bounty wanted level.
Generally costs of service are between 15-50% of your gold on person based on the above three factors.
They can be excruciatingly high at the beginning of a new game.
The main point here is if you want to keep your costs DOWN, store your booty or give it to your officers at least temporarily BEFORE talking to a diplomat.
This way you get an "actual" cost, instead of the inflated "you have a lot of money" services.
Just a short tip regarding diplomat services.
They can only be found in pirate villages and towns, and diplomats DO NOT appear in cities that were captured by a player and turned into "free" ports.
Diplomats can provide the following services:
1) Reconcile with a Nation
2) Reconcile with Smugglers
2) "Buy" a Letter of Marque
3) Obtain a Trade License
4) Stop sieges for captured cities and towns permanently
Costs for services are NOT fixed, but dependent on:
1) Inventory Gold
2) Reputation
3) Trade skills
Dependent on all three together determines the cost of the service, with additional costs added to reconciling with nations dependent on bounty wanted level.
Generally costs of service are between 15-50% of your gold on person based on the above three factors.
They can be excruciatingly high at the beginning of a new game.
The main point here is if you want to keep your costs DOWN, store your booty or give it to your officers at least temporarily BEFORE talking to a diplomat.
This way you get an "actual" cost, instead of the inflated "you have a lot of money" services.