Who is a good partner?

[Kathos]

If you can pick up Jimmy Kraud early and find the blood of the goddess, he will definitely take you pretty far with that +700 leadership on top of the ability to upgrade pirates to sea dogs. Take a look at the info post from DGDobrev though he has all of the partners listed and make sure you find out what each of them does when you toss them back on the street! In regards to Jimmy Kraud if you're lucky you can get the blood of the goddess from the second viking ship shop on Bolo island (not from the bigamist with the quest). Otherwise its guaranteed on one of the other islands I forget which.