How to use merchants in 6.3

[charlesonmission]

I'm playing Denmark, I have a couple, but how do you use them other than sending them on missions against other merchants. Should I leave them in other countries?

Charles

[Ichon]

Different trade resources are more valuable than others. A high level merchant on a valuable resource far away from your capital can make 2,000+ per turn... as much as a city.

Train your merchant up to level 3 on your own lands and then send them to a valuable resource. Denmark can usually reach the glass and wine in Germany fairly easily though the most valuable resources are usually around the Mediterranean. The silver in Visby usually does ok for Denmark as well.

Stealing other merchants assets is possible but it takes about 3-4 levels higher than the target merchant to do that reliably and only gives 500 money... its more valuable to send the merchant to a good post and just leave him there.

Gold, Silk, Slaves, Ivory, Silver etc all valuable followed by certain other things worth more or less depending on your faction and where your capital is located.

[charlesonmission]

How do you train the merchants? I didn't remember seeing that.

Charles

[Ichon]

Build all merchants in a single city increases chances for Merchants Guild appearing which gives higher level merchants. Also higher level markets increase chances for a higher level merchants being recruited. Finally- just leaving Merchant on a resource trains them over time. They train more slowly in your own lands close to capitol but if you send them out too early enemy merchants will seize their assets and its a waste. Usually level 3 is enough for other merchants to leave them alone. Not 100% but it takes really high level merchant to seize their goods by that point.

[worldsdead]

here's a thread on new stuff for merch's in 6.3. especially useful to know they're scripted, ai merch's. somethings have changed.
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=379854

always build merchants in one city with highest level market. this will get you guild (if one not present already!) then keep going as you get the next highest guild your merchants get better. at first it's ok to get merchants killed because you can then build anthere one in guild city, increasing points towards next higher guild. city also needs to be appropriate size for guild, don't remember off top of head.

didn't mean to repeat some of yours ichon.

[Gorrrrrn]

early on in game when the AI spams merchants (due to campaign script) try and place your merchants (if you recruit any) some place the AI is unlikely to find them
(eg on islands) - or wait until you have upgraded trading buildings