>>95881724
A key thing is defining how the prisons are administrated.
>Is it a system where a power leases the islands to a shareholder trust in exchange for a cut of tariffs / taxes / sales? (Genoese style)
>A big Joint-Stock Company like the Dutch or Brits?
>Crown Colonies like Spain & Portugal?
Feudal Fiefs like Greece after the 4th >Crusade or the Baltimores in Maryland?
Further,
>Are the islands all governed by one administration or are there multiple?
>Are there motives other than profit?
And finally, most importantly,
>For your players' environment, who are the most powerful and / or load-bearing people and what do they care about?
These are all very important to deciding the general background noise and operation of the world. Do you have answers to any of these yet?