Devblog #4 Trade, economy & goods

Today’s devblog focuses on the everyday foundations of life at sea – economy, goods, and ships. As it turns out, it’s the choices about barrels of water and a few extra kilos of cargo that often decide whether a voyage ends in profit... or stranded on a sandbank with a hungry crew.

Economy, Caribbean-style

The economy in Caribbean Tide behaves much like Caribbean weather – it has its rules, but also its moods. Every coin, item, and trade matters, and it doesn’t take long to realize that what’s worth a fortune today might only fetch a smile and a handful of dry biscuits tomorrow.

Types of goods

Goods fall into two categories – those carried personally by the player, and those stored in the ship’s cargo hold. Both categories share three simple attributes: weight, maximum stack, and price.

Inventory – personal equipment

Everything the player can carry – weapons, food, treasures, expedition trinkets. Weight matters: an overloaded inventory slows movement on land or may even prevent movement altogether, and some items take up a lot of space. The better the balance, the less complaining during a walk across a sun-baked beach.

Cargo – ship’s hold

This is where the real game for gold begins. Trade goods, supplies, and – for the daring – contraband. Each item has weight, stack, and price, while a ship’s cargo capacity has clear limits. Overloading means slower speed, worse handling, and higher risk in a storm. The Caribbean version of “too much luggage for the holiday.”

Two goods that decide survival

There are two resources the player will always worry about – no matter the ship’s size or cargo space. Those are fresh water and provisions for the crew. The captain doesn’t need to eat or drink, but the crew certainly does. Without them, even the most heavily armed vessel quickly turns into a drifting coffin.

Fresh water

It can be refilled easily in ports, but not every port is within reach. When supplies run low, the risk of mutiny rises, and desperation can turn sailors into something far more dangerous than a storm.

Provisions

Food can be purchased in settlements – provided there’s money to pay for it. If gold runs out or the nearest port is too far, the player can try to gather supplies manually: finding fresh water on islands, hunting, or foraging. Sometimes that leads to a lucky find... and sometimes to more trouble than hunger itself.

Prices, legality, and reputation

Prices in the game world don’t follow any economic formulas – here it’s all about people, their opinions, and the law. The value of goods depends only on three factors:

• Faction attitude - friends trade cheaper, enemies charge more – or refuse entirely.

• Special events - wars and random world events can temporarily change prices or even remove certain goods from circulation. A golden opportunity for speculators!

• Legality - some goods are contraband. Trading them risks prison time, but the profits can be enormous. The decision rests with the captain.

Ways to make money

The road to fortune can be long or surprisingly short – depending on how much risk the player is willing to take.

• Legal trade - buy low, sell high. A stable income without much headache, at least until someone decides your cargo looks better on their deck.

• Selling found items - everything recovered during expeditions: weapons, food, treasures, jewelry. Not always legal, but always valuable.

• Contraband - high risk, high reward. Sell it and earn a fortune. Get caught – end up in jail. Pure Caribbean roulette.

• Privateering and piracy - the most profitable yet most dangerous path. Early on, a worn-out ship won’t accomplish much, but once it gains proper armament and crew... well, a hundred cannons can convince even the most stubborn merchant to cooperate.

Cargo capacity and armament

No two ships are alike. Each differs in cargo capacity – both in maximum weight and the number of cargo slots. The rule is simple: more space for goods means fewer guns, and vice versa. A merchant ship can haul half the Caribbean but can’t defend itself from a single frigate. A warship, on the other hand, might barely carry enough supplies for a few days – but nobody argues with it.

The choice lies with the captain: more gold in the hold, or more firepower on deck? And if someone still insists on keeping their cargo... well, a hundred cannons usually change their mind.

Summary

The economy in Caribbean Tide isn’t about spreadsheets or exchange rates. It’s a living system where every item, decision, and barrel of rum matters. The player constantly balances safety and risk – whether to sell contraband before the port patrol arrives or wait for a cleaner deal. In this world, fortune favors the bold... or at least those with the faster ship.