Trade effectiveness

**zohon** · July 03, 2007, 12:31 PM

Hi to all here!
I've been trying TLR now for a couple of hours and I really don't understand something. Do trade related buildings enhance trade at all? The description only says they give you an annual plus sum. Doesn't make sense for me. Let's take the merchant's wharf as an example:
You build that thing for 8100fl, it takes 8 turns to build and then gives you additional 200fl per turn. That means it takes 49 turns until you start earning money with it.
Additionally it would eliminate the strategical value of important Trading cities.

Perhaps I got it all wrong, I hope so. Please somebody explain.

**Moobke** · July 03, 2007, 12:42 PM

Good question, i would like to know this as wel. I have just been building these structures without really knowing what they do.

**ivar** · July 03, 2007, 12:56 PM

I believe that they do not increase trade, but simply give the flat bonus. Trade is determined by other buildings and the starting trade resources for the city I believe.

49 turns isn't so much in an 800 turn game.

**zohon** · July 03, 2007, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by ivar

I believe that they do not increase trade, but simply give the flat bonus. Trade is determined by other buildings and the starting trade resources for the city I believe.

49 turns isn't so much in an 800 turn game.

Ok, but it then it still takes out an important strategic factor in the game. Historically it makes even less sense to me. I don't believe that wealth was only determined by the fertility of the soil, even in the dark age. Anyway...

Thanks for the quick reply though.

**steelbound** · July 03, 2007, 05:15 PM

I think those building do increase trade above the base amount but it's very small so that the economy aspect of the game stays challenging. I've noticed that the second level road really increase trade income.

I still find certain cities important for economic reasons. The best example that comes to mind is Constaniople. In the last game I played I was making 2500/turn with several more hundred lost to corruption since my capital was lubeck. There are also a couple of cities in central europe that I always make loads of trade money from.

**TWoxy** · July 03, 2007, 12:58 PM

Mmm, I think trade has always been nerfed since RTW anyway.

**Freedom** · July 03, 2007, 11:10 PM

Money powerhouses like Leon and Fez would be even more ridicilously valuable if the trade didn't work the way it does right now.

**infernocanuck** · July 04, 2007, 02:21 AM

Trade buildings increase trade and offer a flat bonus as well. However, the increase in trade is not easily seen off the bat. Trade, like taxes, increases with the population. That means, as a city gets larger, and the more upgrades it receives, the more trade income you will get. it will increase exponentially every turn.

Get about 200 turns into a campaign, and compared to "standard" cities, your economic powerhouses really shine on their own and give you the trade income you are looking for!