Oh my it's been a while hasn't it?
Rest assured the game is still under development!
I thought I would run through some of the game's mechanics today.
Todays feature: The Contract System!
As a Captain you will have to agree with your crew beforehand the way your ship will operate as well as how much your crew will earn.
There are 2 types of contracts:
Privateer Contracts and Pirate Contracts
They are not available at the same time, at the start of the game you will be locked into a privateer contract until your pirate infamy increases at which point your crew will realize you are steering towards a life of a pirate and the rules will change.
Privateer Contracts
Above you can see the screen where you decide the privateer contract. It might be a lot to take in at first but it is quite simple. Under a privateer contract you pay your crew a fixed salary at the start of a voyage (a voyage is simply a period of days and at the end of this period a new contract must be decided). Next to your crew's image is a number which represents their mutiny score, a higher number means they are angrier. To counteract this you can provide them a higher salary, the effect of the salary is shown by the top number, more bags of money removes some of their mutiny score.
You can refer to your contract type in the Captain's Quarters. This shows you how long the contract is still active for. As well as the rules of the contract. Note that technically speaking you should not engage in piratical activities as your crew start off as an honest crew unwilling to participate in the risks of piracy. You will anger them as you switch to piracy but they will soon be convinced once the riches come in.
Pirate Contracts
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PIrate Contracts are slightly different. Instead of paying a fixed salary you will divide up 10 shares of treasure between your crew. Notice the ship icon? That is the share that you the captain will receive to upgrade the ship and to spend on other items. The same logic of mutiny score applies here. A higher share will make that crew member happier.
Here is the Pirate Contract inside your quarters. It will remind you of the shares you have allotted to yourself as well as the time left for the contract. Now what exactly is booty? Booty is any cargo looted off other ships, this means that anytime you sell your cargo at a port while under a pirate contract the profits will be divided. Additionally, at the end of the pirate contract the ship's hold will be emptied and the remaining cargo sold off, divided once again.
Phew... that was quite a lot of information. But hopefully this gives you an idea of the contract system in the game. Don't worry if this is too much, this will be explained in game as well.
Lemme know what you guys think!