Structures
A structure is a building that serves a specific purpose in the economy. For example, a Logging Camp structure is used to harvest wood. A Textile Mill can be used to create rope, hemp canvas, sails, and other goods.
Like your Warehouses, structures are safe, meaning other players may not capture, pillage, or loot them. You can still use your structures even if the port they are in is captured by another nation, but you will be subject to a higher tax rate if you use the structures during a period of occupation.
Each player's account is allowed up to ten structure slots. Most structures occupy one structure slot; however, some structures may use two or more slots. For example a Large Shipyard uses three slots.
Keep in mind that the limit of ten structure slots is per account, not per character. Therefore, although you can have up to six characters per account, you cannot use more than ten structure slots total. Also, while materials may be passed from one character to another within an account (via the Shop or another player), your structures are not shared and are unique to just one character.
Getting a Structure Deed
Structure Deeds may be obtained in several ways:
- Shop—you may buy them in the Shop.
- Trade—you may trade for them with another player.
- Missions—you will get the Deed for a Logging Camp (Oak), a Lumber Mill (Basic), and more when you complete the economy tutorials beginning with the mission The Economy: Starting Out (which you can pick up at the Dock in your starting town).
- Make them—you may make your own. Both a Master Draughtsman's Office and a Draughtsman Office have the ability to manufacture Deeds for other structures. You can get Deeds for these structures the same way you can get any other Deed.
Building a Structure
Before building a structure you must meet several requirements:
- Own the Deed—you must own a Deed to the structure you intend to build. A Structure Deed not only entitles you to build a structure, the Deed lists the items required for construction.
- Own the materials—you must own the materials required to build the structure (and these materials must be located in the port in which you intend to build).
- Free structure slots—you must have the required number of free structure slots.
- Doubloons—you must have sufficient doubloons to build the structure.
- Warehouse—you must have a Warehouse in the port in which you intend to build.
- High reputation—if you are building a structure in a port that is owned by a different nation, your reputation with that nation must be at least Indifferent. (To view your reputation status with another nation, on the Toolbar click the Character & Ship button. Next, click on the Reputation tab.)
- Know resources (optional)—we recommend that you study the resources of each port when planning your structures and their locations. For instance, you wouldn't want to build a Warehouse and then try to open a gold mine in a port where there is no gold ore.
To build a structure, follow these steps:
- On the Toolbar click on the Economy button
to open the Economy window. - On the Economy window click the New button
to see what Deeds you have available. - To begin construction, on the Economy window click the Build It! button next to the Structure you want to build.
Once a structure is built, you will have to maintain (pay the upkeep) the structure for it to remain open. The upkeep costs are listed on the structure Deed and on the Economy window. If a structure is closed (shuttered) because of lack of upkeep, you will be notified in the Chat window.
A structure cannot be used while it is shuttered from lack of upkeep. Upkeep costs apply for a one week period and may be paid in advance. These charges are paid through the Economy window, or, more specifically, to pay the Upkeep costs follow these steps:
- On the Toolbar click on the Economy button to open the Economy window.
- On the Economy window click on the Structure you wish to pay upkeep on.
- In the upper right-hand corner of the Economy window click on the Maintenance button
to toggle on the Maintenance view. - While in the Maintenance view click on the Pay Upkeep button to pay one duration worth of Upkeep.
Resources
Most ports have natural resources available. Resources can be anything from fertile soil to deep natural harbors. The correct resources are required to build a structure. For example, if you want to build a Logging Camp (Fir) you need to find a port with Forest (Fir) listed under the resources.
The World Map will show you the resources available in any given port. Hover over any port to see a tooltip with information about that port, including the available resources. Keep in mind that not every port has resources.
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| Here is an example of the world map with the tooltip about Carlos Harbour displayed. Notice the resources that are available. |
Taxes
To maintain the port and pay the auctioneer's salary, a tax is levied on all goods manufactured in that port. The amount of the tax will vary from port to port and with your nationality and career.
If your structures are in a port owned by your nation, the standard tax rate is 5%. The tax rate in foreign ports is 60 – 80%; although, this rate can be reduced by a skill available only to Freetraders, Buccaneers, and Cutthroats.
If your structures are in a port that was owned by your nation, but then captured by another nation (in a port battle), you will be subject to foreign tax rates during the period of occupation.
Taxes are paid at the time of manufacture. The World Map will show you your tax rate in any given port. When you hover over any port on the map, a tooltip appears that provides information on that port, including your tax rate.
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