GS: What's a typical pirate island like, apart from the calming Caribbean seas and lots of palm trees?
BS: A well-designed pirate island offers pirates a place to blow off steam and waste their money after a difficult cruise, while providing the ship- and weapon-related industries that make pirate life a success with much-needed income.

After a cruise, pirates have critical needs like wenching or feasting, and it is up to the player to construct structures near the docks for pirates to meet these needs. Of course, these sorts of buildings provide more satisfaction if rum or beer is being made on the island and carried to the bars or if the available wenches are highly skilled.

Meanwhile, the pirate ship has to be reequipped. Maybe some cannons were lost or some muskets expended. Certainly the pirates ate up a lot of supplies on the cruise. A well-developed pirate island can supply these items from its industrial output. Otherwise, the player has to purchase them from the black market at a high price.