I am not sure if this has been discussed before, if so I am wasting my time and really should look before I post it if not this is a suggestion.
When Merchants or Pirates travel from port to port which is known as a Voyage, there could be so much more going on then just A-B, in the golden days of Piracy sailors came across Rouge Waves, travel further expeditions to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

At the moment there is only one route but I would like there to be a few more options, so lets say I am taking my merchant fleet Pania - Gorum it has three options: Take the normal voyage and go around the island, passing Regis. Take a slightly longer expedition and go round the other side or take the shortest route - Which it would travel upstream ( Short Lakes and such ) to get there much more quickly.

Route A - The usual Voyage, takes the average amount of time and your name gets put down at dock list ( Port Gossip ), thus being more prone to being caught by pirates. It carries a normal risk of a natural disaster to happen, such as rouge waves but not known to be as damaging as Route C.

Route B - Longer Voyage, where the original route could take 55 Mins - This would take a hour and 20 mins and you would be marked as late in docking, therefore your fleet does not get marked. ( Not on port gossip so it avoids pirates attention, if your willing to risk a bit of trade income.) This would not be prone to natural disasters however - there is a chance for it to happen.

Route C - Short Voyage - Where the original route would take 55 Mins, this one would take around 35 Mins to reach the port however, it will get marked as "on time" and thus be marked in Port Gossip and only gain 1 danger point per hour. However, the waters that the voyage goes on be known for natural disasters to happen such as Rouge Waves killing crew ( Tidal Wave such ships ), Shallow waters with rocks in or narrow streams causing the fleet to in single file.

This would add a bit more strategy into the game for both Merchants and Pirates, and have a chance to include natural disasters.

Ideas/Opinions Welcome.
Thought of it on the way home from College
- John Avery

Not certain how many players would find this useful, however, I think its a good idea, I really like things that add realism and more strategic options. Personally I would like this feature.

Well merchants, if they want to be avoided in Port Gossip for T'zak Ryans port blockade in regis...

certainly a few merchants play defensively, however there are just as many who only think only of profit maximization and would not want the extra travel time, even though it lowers risk.

lot of strategic uses for both merchants and pirate types, cost vs benefit seems to be well thought out.

travel time reduction for reaching a port to attack someone without burning turns is also very beneficial, however if you forget to check your damage and crew you may be in bad shape when you attack.

I can think of a lot of different ways to use this.

sounds like a great idea, you think the devs would make the changes?

Please note to those who do not like the concept in terms of traveling times and all that, this is a rough copy. I am open to ideas/changes...

Just the idea of different voyages port to port is the major suggestion...

If I am not wrong, I remember Jack saying that killing crews are not a thing that should be allowed or something like that.

Grimrock Litless wrote:If I am not wrong, I remember Jack saying that killing crews are not a thing that should be allowed or something like that.

I think he only said that about voodoo.