Some questions regarding prestige

[panchoamd]

Hi!
Iam playing a UP prestige campaign, and im not sure how to build my prestige level up. How prestige works? For example, im having 100k earnings each turn, (im playing VH/VH), but my money prestige is around 200... I have 135 points on Enlightment, and im not sure if technologies i've bought have the same value for prestige that the ones i've developed. I have 55 points in naval, despites the fact that i have lots of merchantmen, and 3 strong fleets with 3rd Rates and Second rates, (not many, about 3 of each on each fleet).
Loosing battles reduces your prestige rank?
Now a couple of questions about Trade.
I own all the trade posts in Madagascar and Java/Sumatra, and two on Brazil and 3 on Ivory Coast, all of them with full stacks of Indiamen, i have Commercial Basins on all my trade ports, and i have several states on Europe, but only Dutch Guyana, Curaçao, Trinidad & Tobago in America, and Ceylan in India. I have 2 drydocks only, the rest are all Commercial Basins. I have 7 Trade partners, each of them giving me about 10k per turn, (France, GB, Westphalia, Wurtenberg, Turkey, Sweden and Hannover). Im trading over land with France, Westphalia, Würtenberg and Hannover, and by sea with GB, Ottoman Empire. Why when i want to trade with someone else, the diplomatic menu tells me that my ports are at full capacity? I think that since several of my partners are being connected by land, i have more trade slots available in my main port, but it seems these is not what is happening.
Placing a fluyt, indiamen or captured dhows in a trade spot gives you the same amount of money? Or the bigger the better?

Ok, i thinks is all for now... Thankyou very much for answering my questions.

S!

[anweRU]

1. Losing battles will lose prestige. Researching technology, winning battles, building prestige buildings and some minister / ruler traits increase prestige.

2. The type of merchant ship doesn't matter. They all deliver the exact same amount. Fluyts & galleons are much more expensive to maintain (~300 - 350) vs Indiamen (50) and dhows, so I would recommend you use IM as your trade ships and fluyts & galleons as warships. Otherwise, you need to park them on ivory or spice to make a profit with those ships.

[Prussian to the Iron]

1. researching techs gives more prestige i think. and faction leader + head of government give/take prestige.

2. like he said, the type doesnt matter. however, fluyts are worth the extra 250 upkeep; they can basically take on anything short of a 3rd rate. in fact, ive defeated galleons with fluyts!!