Ships in Pirates and Traders II

Ship Attributes

 * Hull - How much damage the ship can take. When the hull attribute of a ship reaches 0, it will sink.
 * Rigging - How much damage your sails and rigging can take before the ship becomes crippled. As rigging is reduced, the speed and handling of the ship will start to drop, making it harder for the ship to maneuver and run away (or catch the enemy). A critical/lucky hit against a ship can also result in it losing a mast, which will result in a massive and immediate loss of rigging.
 * Handling - The maneuverability of the ship. This can be useful in certain events, but is most important in combat. Handling (combined with the sailing skill of the Captain) determine how effective the broadside of the ship is. Superior handling can allow a smaller ship to pummel a bigger ship with full broadsides, while preventing the bigger ship from returning the favor with all of its cannons. Handling also determines how easy it is for a ship to grapple an opponent.
 * Speed - How fast the ship moves. Speed determines how fast the ship travels on the main game map, as well as how effective the ship is at closing down (or running away) from enemy ships.
 * Crew - How much crew the ship can carry. All ships have a minimum crew required for effective operations; anytime crew management is lower than that number, speed and handling will suffer. In addition, cannons require crew to be able to fire - if there is insufficient crew to handle all of the cannons, that ordnance won't fire (loading is slowed down) in sea combat. Finally, crew are required to fight in a boarding action.
 * Cannon - How many cannons the ship can carry. This includes both chasers and broadside cannons. The type of cannons that can be carried by the ship depend on the number of decks that the ship has. One-decked ships can carry only light cannons. Ships with two decks can carry medium cannon on their lower deck (i.e., half their cannons) and three-deckers can carry heavy (or lighter) cannons on their lowest deck, medium cannon on their middle deck, and light cannon on their top deck.
 * Cargo - How much cargo the ship can carry. Obviously, the higher this rating, the more goods can be transported, and the higher the profits to be gained.

Flags
You can select what flag your force sails under. Generally speaking, there are three options.


 * Flag of Neutrality - This represents you flying the flag of a neutral nation. If you have a high level of notoriety, your ship/fleet may be recognized, but if it isn't, you will often be able to sail into ports and ships will respond to your hails. Of course, a flag of neutrality does not protect you from Pirates and Natives, who will merely see you as prey. If you make a hostile move toward a ship or port while flying the neutral flag, your men will automatically switch to the black flag.
 * Black Flag - This represents you flying the black flag of piracy when challenged by ships or a port - if hostilities are imminent. If you are entering a non-hostile port or encountering a non-hostile ship, this has no effect (it is equivalent to flying the neutral flag.) When encountering
 * British Flag - this represents you being a british privateer. You may attack any country that the Kingdom of Great Britain is at war with without consequence, if you do so while flying the flag you may ascend the ranks of the british navy. If you attack any neutral or allied nations while flying the british flag your letter of marque will be revoked. (You can buy the letter of marque back.)
 * French Flag - this represents you being a French privateer. You may attack any country that the Kingdom of France is at war with without consequence, if you do so while flying the flag you may ascend the ranks of the french navy. If you attack any neutral or allied nations while flying the French flag your letter of marque will be revoked. (You can buy the letter of marque back.)
 * Dutch Flag - this represents you being a Dutch privateer. You may attack any country that the Dutch Republic is at war with without consequence, if you do so while flying the flag you may ascend the ranks of the Dutch navy. If you attack any neutral or allied nations while flying the Dutch flag your letter of marque will be revoked. (You can buy the letter of marque back.)
 * Spanish Flag - this represents you being a Spanish privateer. You may attack any country that the Kingdom of Spain is at war with without consequence, if you do so while flying the flag you may ascend the ranks of the Spanish navy. If you attack any neutral or allied nations while flying the Spanish flag your letter of marque will be revoked. (You can buy the letter of marque back.)