Avast, ye landlubbers and sea dogs! So ye wish to line yer pockets with ducats in these Uncharted Waters? Mark this well: the sea offers profit to any who sail her, but true fortune favors the cunning. I've plundered the seven seas and charted the fastest routes to gold. Here be the prime methods, from the simplest to the most legendary.
The Quickest Path: Premium Exchange
Listen close, for the swiftest wind fills this sail. The easiest way to a mountain o' coin is to trade yer real-world doubloons for UWC and sell what other captains crave. Watch the merchant chatter, learn their desires, and offer it on the spot. 'Tis a fair wind for the developers, too, keepin' our world afloat. But always check the goin' rate first, lest ye get sharked!
Rare Trade Goods
This be the first true test of a merchant's spirit, and a fine one at that! Use the rare trade goods mechanic to find goods sellin' for ten times their worth in distant ports. I've heard tales of 500 million ducats in half an hour! The catch? The sea grows weary of repetition. The beauty is, any fresh-faced sailor can start this right away—no special papers or skills required. A grand adventure with grand rewards!
The Timber Trade
Every shipwright and crafter from here to Cathay screams for lumber. The demand never ceases, and the markup is sweet—buy low from a friendly company colony and sell high in the bustling ports of Europe. A steady trade that can fill yer hold while ye attend to other business.
- Where to Sell: Seville or London's company shops.
- What Ye Need: A permit for the Caribbean and a company colony to call upon.
The Spice Run
For those with salt in their veins and a taste for long voyages! Sail to the Molucca Islands for nutmeg, mace, and cloves, then bring that fragrant treasure back to Europe. It sells for a pretty penny and turns to coin faster than timber. Just mind the fires in yer hold!
- What Ye Need: The Spice Trading skill and a permit for Southeast Asia.
Crafting Cannonballs (MCCT/LCCT)
Are ye a master caster? Then forge the tools of war! MCCTs and LCCTs are always in high demand by maritimers. Gather white ore in Newfoundland, then sail to specific company colonies in the Caribbean to get yer iron, steel, and lumber. A fine craft for a steady, hefty profit.
- What Ye Need: Casting, Mineral Trading, Wares Trading, and Collection skills, plus the proper books and permits.
The Nanban Trade
One word, mates: NANBAN. 'Tis designed to be the ultimate profit maker, but the voyage is long, the learning curve is steep, and ye'll need a mighty fleet. This is the final frontier for the master merchant. Do not attempt it without the sacred Nanban Purveyor Certificate.
- What Ye Need: An East Asia permit, trading skills, and that all-important Certificate.
Other Roads to Riches
The sea offers many paths! Shipbuilders can craft vessels of renown. Maritimers can plunder rare loot. Adventurers can hunt amulets and treasures. Crafters of all stripes—alchemists, cooks, handcrafters—can turn skill into silver. Keep a weather eye on short-lived events and the company contribution cycle for sudden waves of demand.
So there ye have it, me hearties—a chart to the richest ports I know. But these are but the shorelines! If ye hunger for the full map, every hidden cove, and every secret to seizin' this fortune proper, then set yer course for the complete guide below.
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