Where do you actually find officers?

[FlyingWalnuts]

All of the guides say that hiring new officers is essential. As far as I'm aware, there supposed to be in taverns, but I made a save and spent 2 IRL hours (actually 1h 35, but let me exaggerate a little) sailing around and going to taverns, and not a single one was there.

I've completed the tutorial, and done Fadey's job, delivered the cannons etc etc. The only quest I have active is 'The Burden of the Gascon', which is telling me to go and see Fadey (which I've already done). Is my save bugged?

[Balhatain]

For the hiring issue... just save outside of the tavern and then go in. If there isn't any there, or you don't like the ones available simply load and repeat. Save scummy, I know... but it saves time and hasn't changed as far as I know.

[Ciecieji]

You can also recruit them from captured prisoners in your ships hold.

[FlyingWalnuts]

Thanks, the save and wait with the tavern cuts down the time a lot... still takes a while but much better. And I also realised that some officers wear wildly different clothes; they don't even all have hats! But they do have swords and actually wear clothes, unlike the smugglers

Also the trustworthy perk makes a huge difference, so that's one to pick up earlier than I did