Aside from what?s scripted into the over-arching story, there is a random quest generator that opens up side quests to the player based on their skills, statistics and allegiances. A character skilled in combat will be more likely to get quests based around assassinations, where characters better trained in navigation will score more jobs running merchandise or smuggling. In addition, your allegiances will play into what quests you get - if you work with the Spanish often, opportunities to deliver French cargo won?t come along often. And on the main quest, having an allegiance with a certain nation may open up new difficulties that wouldn?t have been there. It?s clear that in order to succeed in this game, you?ll have to tread carefully and pick your fights.​