Has anyone else tried this? In our experimental base game, our four players had this new option for ships which seemed to fit well wth the spirit of the game. We noticed two effects ie it seemed to cause more raids against adjacent sea areas where power might be consolidating, and it added quite usefully to the power tokens available to players.

Since you're in the water there isn't really anything to consolodate. There are no lords to woo, cities to control, property to be taxed, or influence of any kind to be gained. You can also make it near impossible for anyone to reach your money source by leaving one of your ships in one of the northren seas to make money and have three ships guard it. Seems to me it'd be more practical to have your navy ready to launch a surprise land attack (bridging) or support an attack/defense rather than spend their time picking on fishermen.

Also, if you can consolodate power somewhere you can leave a power token behind. And in the sea that just doesn't make sense.

While I do agree with Gatha .... it could simulate business done across the sea, but the ports option includes that to a certain extent. Not sure I'd use it because I like that those tokens are very valuable when there is a Clash, Wildling attack, etc. .... if they are too easily attained, I think it would take away from some of the drama surrounding those bidding events.

Thematically, answered above.

Mechanically, answered above.

hehe

One of my friend's said it best when we were reading out the rules the first time: Fish don't pay taxes.