Does anybody...

[kingmak]

make like cemetaries for fallen soldiers (loyal) from coups and rebel attacks? give bribes (as in retribution) to wives of the soldiers that have young kids as a way of "helping" them out? Name palace guards with titles such as Min. of Defence...Field Marshall [name]?

For the cemetaries, I set aside some land, put like a statue and some fountains as the center, and use landscaping things like the tall hedge or rocks to mark graves which I count after battles of how many I need to place.I like to keep close tabs on my people, so I do the naming thing sometimes, until it gets hard. I like to track dynasties of families. When I start an island, I start with the smallest population, and I pause the game at the start, and change all the males last names to names of common american last names like Kennedy, Bush, Washington, Johnson...stuff like that, and one family of my last name. Then I like to see how those families expand.

[Caribbean King]

It may sound cheesy but I pretend that I'm a king instead of a president, and I make a huge "Royal garden" in front of the Palace.  I do also bribe, but I do it to anyone just for the fun of it.  I like the cemetery idea but my island kingdom is so peaceful, with no war.  I also change names of the males,but to people that I know.  For some reason I'm starting to make harbors and can't seem to stop.  I'm also thinking about making lakes now.

[Coconut Kid]

...  I'm also thinking about making lakes now.

You'll have fun making the water level if you want the lake higher than sea level. A swamp is more fun.

Also, don't be surprised if freighters sail right through land to use your lakes, and some people walk on water or try to.

 

[TeamStar]

I saw people walking on water, but never saw ships crossing land!

[Caribbean King]

  If you put a beach around it that should stop them from walking on it.

[El-Bueno]

I hand out bribes to soldiers who perform well in battle, and have given bribes to widows too, but if a soldier is very cowardly I may throw him in teh slammer. (like if its 20 soliders versus 2 rebels and he runs away).

I do create some new surnames of my own and some people I know and see how those ffamily trees develope, quite a lottery it seems, some will die out and a some will spread a lot.

I never did the cemetry thing, I think mine would fill up too quickly. I do always give my palace a little garden though.