Why do the AI merchants make so much money ?

**Alexanderos** · September 22, 2012, 11:03 AM

In all of my campaigns , even on easy difficulty , my 10 star merchants , even far away from my capital were making maximum 350 florins per turn on the best resources.

However , the AI merchants (all factions) are not that great trades(maximum 5-6-7 finance , and even on lame resources , they make about 1000 florins or more

How can I lower it ? not too much , just that I equalize them to mine. I just think it's not fair!

**AGaming** · September 22, 2012, 11:07 AM

AI bonuses I guess, absolutely ridiculous.

**Alexanderos** · September 22, 2012, 12:08 PM

Indeed. But what can be done about it ?

**Strengelicher** · September 22, 2012, 01:51 PM

You may want to increase your merchants' income. Look here:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...6#post11568066

**Ichon** · September 22, 2012, 07:58 PM

What? Just read some of the guides- AI merchants have nothing extra in bonus other than starting at a higher skill. If you have 10 skill merchants and only 350 income you aren't using them correctly. There should be resources where they bring in 3,000+ with 10 skill. On average by late game merchants are bringing in extra 20,000 in my campaigns. Even in early campaign it should be a few thousand.

**Chazz1225** · September 22, 2012, 08:34 PM

One thing you need to remember is that certain factions have different requirements when it comes to trade resources, for example Western factions will find they have an abundant source of silver and wine but lack Eastern resources such as silk, the opposite can be said for Eastern factions near Outremer. Seeing as you'r playing as Denmark the resources near you are generally not tht valuable, try migrating your merchants far south, try Italy and go for some marble, perhaps go south west to Iberia and look for some gold or sugar, and don't forget silk from the Middle East

**Sanderlicious** · September 23, 2012, 12:25 AM

Originally Posted by Chazz1225

One thing you need to remember is that certain factions have different requirements when it comes to trade resources, for example Western factions will find they have an abundant source of silver and wine but lack Eastern resources such as silk, the opposite can be said for Eastern factions near Outremer. Seeing as you'r playing as Denmark the resources near you are generally not tht valuable, try migrating your merchants far south, try Italy and go for some marble, perhaps go south west to Iberia and look for some gold or sugar, and don't forget silk from the Middle East

This. Exactly this.

And remember, gold is literally pure gold.

I find that most factions I play can make the most from gold, silk, and slaves.

**╬Ritterbruder╬** · September 23, 2012, 05:51 AM

I noticed something odd on my english campaign, I tend to keep my merchants on the British isles so they can trade in peace, but last turn, I checked my merchants too see if I could do some re-positioning, and I found that all my merchants over 60 had 0 (yes, zero) finance trait, all of them had the 'self-serving' and 'inept merchant' trait.
Also, 2 independant (rebel) merchants have appeared and are taking them out, since they all suck now

can merchants rebel? become so self-serving that they become independant from the nation. my king was stuck in the holy land during his entire reign so it might have something to do with the 'leader pays no attention' trait
I have the merchant's guild hq and normal merchant guild in edinburgh and london, respectively. and I train all my merchants from those places.

**snuggans** · September 23, 2012, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by Ritterbruder44

I noticed something odd on my english campaign, I tend to keep my merchants on the British isles so they can trade in peace, but last turn, I checked my merchants too see if I could do some re-positioning, and I found that all my merchants over 60 had 0 (yes, zero) finance trait, all of them had the 'self-serving' and 'inept merchant' trait.
Also, 2 independant (rebel) merchants have appeared and are taking them out, since they all suck now

can merchants rebel? become so self-serving that they become independant from the nation. my king was stuck in the holy land during his entire reign so it might have something to do with the 'leader pays no attention' trait
I have the merchant's guild hq and normal merchant guild in edinburgh and london, respectively. and I train all my merchants from those places.

merchant traits are a bit odd.

i constantly get 'daft dealer' and the description says that my merchant attempted to take-over another merchant but failed. except, this NEVER happened. they just get that trait for no reason (or the description is wrong). they are all 'quite religious' too.

also, every single time the AI has attempted to take-over any of my merchants, it's succeeded. no failures whatsoever (or maybe the game doesn't show you the failures?)

also find it funny that the AI merchants are all 20 year olds with 4-5 finance already while all of my newly trained merchants are 35-45 with the above negative traits already and limited movement points because they're apparently so old. haha

**tudor93** · September 23, 2012, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by snuggans

i constantly get 'daft dealer' and the description says that my merchant attempted to take-over another merchant but failed. except, this NEVER happened. they just get that trait for no reason (or the description is wrong). they are all 'quite religious' too.

Had this dilema too and also posted it a while ago. The description has nothing to do with the trait (in this case) which is kinda randomly triggered.

**ScytheRayne** · September 28, 2012, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by snuggans

also find it funny that the AI merchants are all 20 year olds with 4-5 finance already while all of my newly trained merchants are 35-45 with the above negative traits already and limited movement points because they're apparently so old. haha

This right here is what rustles my jimmies the most, and it isn't restricted to merchants. Practically all of my agents start at age 30 and above, with negative traits, while AI factions tend to pump out young masters....

It gets pretty annoying, especially when your best merchants die off in droves and you can't raise the skill of your new ones because they get picked off either by assassins or other merchants.

**zcylen** · September 24, 2012, 01:15 PM

is there a way to mod the merchant cost? to make it cheaper?

**zcylen** · September 27, 2012, 01:16 PM

is there a tutorial or something? where can I make the merchants cheaper?

**Ichon** · September 27, 2012, 01:49 PM

Should be in EDB I think though I haven't tried to change merchants costs myself. There are guides around though- http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=1015

**zcylen** · September 27, 2012, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by Ichon

Should be in EDB I think though I haven't tried to change merchants costs myself. There are guides around though- http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=1015

thx a lot i checked the link and found very interesting info about moding some units
or remove unpkeep. I already tried it and worked fine

but what I didnt find is the folder where the merchants are. I thought the were in the units folder
but no, anyone knows in which folder the merchants are?
I just want to reduce their cost.