Age of Pirates

4.1.5 Abilities
Abilities are additional aspects of your character
that allow you to specialise in certain areas. You
can become a master duellist by improving your
fencing ability, operate ships more effectively with
abilities like “Windcatcher” and “Sail Master”, or
learn how to spiel the spielers with the alwayshandy
“Merchant” ability. At the start of the game,
you have enough smarts to learn one additional
ability. With every three experience levels gained
thereafter, you can learn another ability. The list of
abilities known to your character appears in the
top right corner of the character interface screen.
To see a description of each ability, right-click it.
To actually learn an ability, click the “Add” button
at the bottom of the list. In the screen that
appears, choose the ability you want to learn. To see a description of it, again,
right-click it. Some abilities are not available straight away, as they require you
to have already learnt another ability. For example, you can only learn “Sail
Master” after first having learned the “Windcatcher” ability.
4.1.6 Reputation
Reputation is an important factor for your character. The loyalty of the officers
that you can hire in taverns depends greatly on your reputation with this or that
nation. If an officer's loyalty is low, he will be quite happy to jump ship at a
moment's notice. Officers - like dogs. Treat them well, and you'll be rewarded
beyond all expectation.
The simplest way of increasing your reputation is by carrying out missions
given to you by the peoples of the archipelago. For governor- granted missions,
your reputation will grow even quicker. It you fail a mission, it will lower your
reputation a little. Attacking another nation's ships or assaulting its colonies
and forts will see your reputation dropping faster than a drunken sailor, ear-lye
in the morn-in'. If your reputation with a nation falls below neutral, they will
declare war on you.
Military ships will aspire to catch you at sea and forts will attack you as soon
as you appear within range of their cannons.
The prices you buy goods for in the shops and stores also depends on your
reputation among the merchants and traders. To increase your reputation with
the buy-and-sell crowd, consider running a few errands for them. Finally, the
price you get for your contraband and other less than kosher cargo, depends
on your reputation amongst smugglers. Reputation here depends on how often
you do business with them.
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