How about the possibility to research Merchantmen and Fluyts in the same manner as Spanish Galeons.

How about going even further and add a possibility to research and upgrade each ship type.
Might be an idea for development of that specialized pirate ship.

+1 Discussion

Calculations based on 10 hammock 10 sail full crew and Tortuga tzogos route for all ship types.

Trade Galleon without Research Time till arrival: 1:18:40
With spanish galleon tech 20 Time till arrival: 1:00:30

Large Merchantman Time till arrival: 32:46

Large Fluyt Time till arrival: 56:11

For covering that speed difference and get benefit from a little bit additional cargo space. You need to spend;

Total Gold Bars Required for ALL levels: Gold Bars 67,134

Total Gold Coins Required for ALL levels: Gold Coins 99,197,852

You decide if we still need to fasten other traders with researchs or not.

And it takes a year and a half to get a profit on a trading fleet of 5 ships.
If you buy the officers.
Every little margin helps