On the captains issue, I am not entirely convinced yet but I am surely shaken.
The main argument here, seem to be plundering proposed handicap. Plunderers however will:
1)Not be blocked from plundering excessive ships OR even buying them
2)Most probably sell the ships once they get them, not use them (no use of captains)
The cost of possessing a fleet needs an overhead price and officers are a good way. Perhaps an even better would be an upkeep cost but such would create more micromanagement than we want. This is why captains were added and I thought of reminding it here.
Captain Da Vinci wrote: My biggest concern, though, is that with the proposed change, a player who is understaffed will lose almost all control on configuring their fleets.
I can accept this. However, also consider this, from our point of view:
-There are currently 21 Billions of Gold sitting unused in Nation Treasuries, Bank Vaults, Earth holes and pockets. Not to mention the wealth hidden in resources and ships.
So, the players who are understaffed, will get an extra obstacle, agreed. The game however has its methods to provide the needed cash to these players in order to buy the extra captains they need. I am sure that there more than enough banks that can help with loans towards this direction.
In the same time, there are players who run with enough captains. These have already been there, done that. It only sounds fair for all to follow in what sounds nice.
Also, you solution to do the check on the shipwright creates an issue for those that want to buy and sell ships. Someone, should not be limited by captains if all he wants to do is to trade ships. This means that the current check in shipwright will be removed.
Black Sparrow, I admitted above that we were aware of the issue but we had no problem maintaining it. Perhaps you mistake this with my comments to the ships-fame issue.
The change is not as drastic as it will not affect plundering as much as you both think. Plundering practices are different from the ones described above.
Like I said in my first post, I am not convinced yet, but it was a good discussion so far and I am looking forward to more arguments.
As it seems, the more we discuss this, the more certain it becomes that credits are a highway in ship trading.
Regarding levels, I heard this from 2 more players already and I agree that a level restriction is needed.
Perhaps, we can allow banks to sell gold coins for credits at level 10 and then at level 15 also allow them to buy gold coins by spending credits. Let me know what you think of this.
The transactions will respect all current limits.