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[Shrek]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(blazer-glory @ Jul 18 2006, 05:54 PM) [snapback]243793[/snapback]</div>

Thats seems alot of money for not much in return
[/b]

Depends on your point of view... 5 ingots per month in 2 or 3 investments (a total of 15 ingots) may sound too much, but remember: if you can make 200 ingots per trip, like ShadowBlade said (or even only 50 ingots) your investment will be quickly refunded. After you get some money, don't be afraid to invest it, as you can gain much more than you invested - but invest it wisely.

as an added bonus, investment in a port increases your country's relationship with the particular port. If your country's investments are high enough, the port may even decide to ally itself to your country, making good use of those tax free permits for pirates, investing in a port reduces the port's loyalty to every country. You can use this to create a safe haven for your pirating activities by "buying off" some key ports.

Do remember, though that investing in a port that is allied with another country would result in a negative effect in your relationship with that country. (and investing enough to "buy off" a port usually nets a good increase in your fame in trading, so you'll probably want to do this often when playing Ali)

[blazer-glory]

But do you get anything cash back for your investments and what are the best ports to invest in? What factors should you take into consideration when choosing a port to invest in?

nope, you don't get any raw cash from your investment. As Shrek had said, the advantage is that you'll have access to better trade goods and having the privilege to buy them at lower prices if the port becomes allied with your country and you got a tax free permit. Those, in turn, would give you a good return for the investment, but not immediately.

Mostly, you'll only want to invest in ports that will provide better trade goods as the economy rating becomes higher. This is usually true with ports in africa and south america, such as Madeira and Rio de Janeiro. Higher economy in a city also means that they don't run out goods easily, so you can carry a larger load with you, especially true for spice ports like Bankao, Sunda, or Amboa which have great cheap goods but doesn't have much stock because of their low starting economy.

Another reason to invest is to get more ships and weaponry by investing in the shipyard and increasing the town's industrial rating. Keep in mind that the industrial and economic rating are entirely separate and an investment in one would not affect the other's rating. For industrial investments, you'll want to do this on ports that provide powerful late-game ships when their industrial rating becomes higher, such as Bristol, dublin, lubeck, antwerp, sakai, and nagasaki.

The last reason is to ally yourself witht he port, especially true for pirate of privateer players which will be chased out from the enemy ports too often to run their businesses there.

In summary, the factors you should consider in investing is :

a) the economic potential of the city (e.g. the future trade goods made available by investment)

b) the advanced ships the port provides

c) the location of the port in regards to your trading route plans and/or pirating needs.

[blazer-glory]

Wow thanks for the reply. I really didnt know this game was soo deep. The more you play it the more you seem to have to do!

[Shrek]

Oh, it is.... and if you pay attention, you'll notice your character path will cross the other characters path as the game progresses...

[laiocfar]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(blazer-glory @ Jul 18 2006, 07:16 PM) [snapback]243841[/snapback]</div>

But do you get anything cash back for your investments and what are the best ports to invest in? What factors should you take into consideration when choosing a port to invest in?
[/b]

Industry:
BRISTOL

Nagasaki an Sakai.

Economy:
only for alliance according to trade.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(blazer-glory @ Jul 18 2006, 10:16 PM) [snapback]243841[/snapback]</div>

But do you get anything cash back for your investments and what are the best ports to invest in? What factors should you take into consideration when choosing a port to invest in?
[/b]

Note that the aggregate economy and industry #'s of a port are the points that your trader fames increases by.

So, 90E + 90I= 180 fame points for a small African port

[another_guest]

In addition, it's often useful to invest in Bordeaux and/or Zeiton: if you keep these ports as ally you'll always be able to buy a new supply of balm. It's always annoying having to risk 3/4 of your cash on hand just to get hold of some balm.

[laiocfar]

you can dock in enemy port at night... you can be robbed but it isnt so common.