Why does the game become impossible after a while?

[Bob]

I do realize NOW that your pirate's age makes him slow and useless in a duel. But he's only 38!
It has gotten to the point now where I can't win any duels, and so I can't make money to buy things that make me better at duelling. And I have pretty much all of the duelling gear already, yet my captain still swings like a diseased donkey and gets dizzy as soon as he misses.
Sooo... just start over, then? Not very fun...

[CHE]

Originally posted by bobdramo:

I do realize NOW that your pirate's age makes him slow and useless in a duel. But he's only 38!
It has gotten to the point now where I can't win any duels, and so I can't make money to buy things that make me better at duelling. And I have pretty much all of the duelling gear already, yet my captain still swings like a diseased donkey and gets dizzy as soon as he misses.
Sooo... just start over, then? Not very fun...

When your captain swings like a diseased donkey, you need the "Veterinary Medicine" item.

You can get money by trading.

If you have a strong enough ship &/or crew, you can fight enemy ships at a distance and get enemies to surrender without fighting on the deck (when the strength difference is big enough - e.g. after destroying their sails - then when you close to board, they will surrender instead of a swordfight).

If you have a big enough crew (on 1 or multiple ships), you can attack a city and fight a land battle instead of a duel and capture a city and get money that way.

[Rabbit CoCo]

Try to finish all the main objectives before 31
Try to avoid duel after 35
After 35, set the difficulty level to the highest after you've finish all the main objectives. You'll have 50% of the share after retired at highest difficulty level.
After 35 just as what ""CHE"" said, fight enemy ships at a distance and get enemies to surrender without fighting on the deck.
And get money from attacking cities.
Or.....if you really feel it is too hard.......
Set the difficulty level to the second lowest.
Hope you'll enjoy this game.
I also give you this in case you feel off from you ship.

[Rozly]

This whole "system" ruined my whole game experience, why it's in the game

[madgamer2]

I love the game but as you know I'm just to old and, slow so I have to play on the lowest level but its still fun. BTW its good to be back after moving into a senior living apartment it took a long time to get me back onto steam.

[mike9_the_snake]

Originally posted by Rozly:

This whole "system" ruined my whole game experience, why it's in the game

I never liked the age concept either but the reason is the game is programmed using historic data of colonisation and conquest, the ports get taken over and change throughout history to various nations they did, along with goods. Naturally data runs out after X years so they made age a thing,

Though personally I think it was more likely a clever plan by the studio to make sure you bought the next game sadly they never did get there. i blame the dancing.