Most Lee Harmless wrote:There is a confusing of the desire by some to be able to target specific individuals who do not run large fleets in support of their plantations with some generalised notion that therefore nobody needs to run ships. It is not so. The player markets just mean someone elses ships carried the goods to the port.
The same number of ships carrying the same amount of cargo is still required.
OK so where is the risk to the plantation owner? I run 17 only 4 have any ships associated for any reason. yes those supplying resources do bear a bit of risk, but they mitigate that by being able to set the price of the goods they sell.
As far as my thoughts go..... I would rather pay a bit more for the resources I need in order to eliminate that risk entirely. A matter of priority and preference in my mind.
Therein lies the imbalance. I know I have made back my investment into plantations several times over in the short time, relatively speaking, that plantations have been operational. The only risk I have going forward is if the resource markets dry up. Then and only then will I need to sail ship in support. I can supply most of the resources needed for most of my plantations with a few hawkers...... excluding food. Once your plantation reaches a certain point, wokers aren't a worry either. No need to replenish workers.... or very few needed to maintain.
I am far from being the largest plantation owner and easily make 30-40 mill a day even after buying the resources needed. Going forward,,,, that 30-40 mill a day will not vary much at all.
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As far as cost of a plantation, figure 200 mill to max out a 500 acre plantation to 5 stars(which you do not need to do). In a port like St Martins, you make that initial investment back in around 428 days. Other ports it takes longer, as Dez said once a port becomes oversupplied, the price the port pays goes down..... Caspian is a good example.It pays 2 GC for every crate it buys.
I supply my plantations for 3-4 days at a time from players market. Larger plantation for around 300-450 each time or 100-150k gc a day . average about 100k per day for each. Times 17 for 1.7 mill a day in supplies total. not bad for 30-40 mill a day in revenue.
My ships are almost all dedicated to other ventures now. I have very little need for them from plantations.