When will the other countries fight?

[Prez]

No matter how long I play nobody every gets into a war and when I try to foster war it never works! It's starting to frustrate me. WHY WON'T THEY FIGHT EACHOTHER!?

[Rebel-Yell]

I think at the moment it only happens if it is scripted.The chance to foster them seems to be near zero.But I don't mind really...because: I don't see what the real advantage is.Sure, you can get a letter of marque.But this option is only available, if you have a harmonic relationship to a country, which is your patron too, and there must be a war beetwenn this country and one ofter the other two.The letter of marque allows to plunder ships of the enemy without worsening the relations.But: Why I should care about relations to a foreign country, if I have already a patron? And even if, most times, the letter is far too late, because the relations with the "enemy" nation are already down...

[Charlemagne]

Well, the worse the realtions, the stronger the invasion. Of course, this only matters if you cancel your patronage relationship for some reason.

[Prez]

I think that if two countries at war they will transport more cannons and recruits in the area and my ships will have more successful cruises.

[PaulNAdhe]

In the expansion pack (I know, I know, IF there is one) there should be a way to have a war in the sandbox games.  

Maybe an option to let you foster it, but a way to definitely have a war.  I've been sending out ships to foster war since I got the game and have never seen one.

I'd like to play with the letter of marque.

[Tappy Winchester]

Well, I'm glad to read a bit about "foster war" because I won't keep trying to do it if it has to be scripted.  But as it is, I had pretty much given up trying to foster war after trying a dozen or so times in one game and having no success.  

[Marlow]

I have succesfully fostered a war; it can take a good 15-20 missions to do.

It isn't easy, but that just adds to the game's realisticness.

[Clever duck]

  The first time I ever tried I was successful.   Now I find it takes many missions.

  The ship needs a target settlement or trade route,  and the dialog box mentions "firing upon" ships although the option of "board 'em" is permitted.

  Sending two schooners simultaneously seems to have little effect,  even sending them into a zone with a trade route and plenty of target ships.

  The manual mentions (p.56) that leadership has an effect on the success of missions for officers and captains.