Ships give better gold?
 

I was on my little player with a Light Frigate just off the coast of Driftwood when I saw a Panther flagship. I boarded, beat the Sergeant and Guard, and went back to my ship. Plunder: 1 Royal Chest, 2 Cargo Crates!

My little player is only Notoriety 8 and Sailing 5. Are ships giving out better gold now?

Haven't noticed any improvement.

But the higher level ships give better loot, and the flagships give better loot too. It sounds like you just got a double whammy.

What thats not normal...I usually get atleast 1 royal chest from any ship I board. All together its ussually 3 things a get in plunder.

The best I've done is 3 royal chests from one ship, but I've got 4 pts into the treasure find skill and it was from sinking a Monarch.

Lately I prefer hunting Galleons/Pirate frigates. They can't shoot to the front so you can run/weave and broadside them to death.

Barracuda's are my preferred targets. They take less shots to kill and I can usually pull a Royal chest out of them. More money in less time.

Galleons go quick if you hit them in the front; armor is weaker there.

frigs can go down pretty fast if shot from the back they are weak there