All 620 port cities in Rulers of the Sea are administered by a Governor. The Governor is the official that manages the port, an influential position. A Governor is responsible for the prosperity and safety of a port.
Governors are appointed by the Home Secretary of their nation, who in turn is appointed by the Prime Minister. Governors need to be members of the nobility. It helps if they are well connected and loyal supporters of the government, which can appoint or dismiss them at any time. Governors will have a good understanding of politics to gain and keep their position.
A Governor can adjust local policies that are similar to those of the nation, such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and local taxes on trade, income and capital. Governors manage a treasury from which they can invest in the port, and the port is in turn taxed by the nation. The Home Secretary and the Chancellor of the Exchequer will decide how much freedom the Governor gets in setting local policies and will keep a close eye on the performance of the Governor. The government can also decide to invest in a port to help the Governor in making it grow.
The Governor resides at a port Governor’s Mansion. At the Mansion gamers can purchase land plots for their businesses. The Governor sets the conditions of the leasehold contracts for this land, manages the availability of the land and administers the contracts. The land plot sales are an important income for a port but businesses also generate trade, and trade can be taxed. The Governor has to create the most favourable business conditions to make the port grow.
The Governor also is responsible for the lease of the in-port businesses such as the Tailor and Jewellery shop, the Hospital, the Tavern, Inn and Hotel, the Club, Brothel, Printshop, Fishery, Shipping company, Gunsmith and Shipyard. It is in the interest of the port that these businesses flourish and reach their highest upgrades, attracting more gamers and citizens to the port and providing health and facilities.
To protect the port, the Governor can upgrade and maintain the port defences, such as the wall, fortress, a port squadron of ships and militia soldiers. In addition the Governor can convince the Army to station a Regiment and the Navy to station a Squadron in the port. The Governor can also negotiate with other ports to create convoys to ensure safer shipping.