Trade, who really understands it?

[Gryphon]

As we all know, building economic buildings brings in more trade money.

Trade plays a huge economic role in the game but I haven't seen any good posts on it.

What determines how many cities trade with a given one? By land? By sea?

Building ports and upgrades increases the number of cities you can trade with, but what determines which city?

trader/market upgrades give an "increase in tradeable goods." Does this increase the number of different commodities a city can export? Does in allow the export of the same commodities to more trading partners? Does it increase the trade value of already existing commodities?

When I'm trying to upgrade a city with economic buildings, I want to know what order to build them in, and what they're actually doing.

[Hader]

I dont really pay attention to that stuuf to much. Usually when I build economic buildings I build the one that will get me more denarii from the town once its complete. And because of this there really is no building order i use when building theses buildings, just the one that will benefit me the most once it is complete. Usually though, it is a port or farm that does good so i build them first, but sometimes Ports and farms can bring more corruption/devastation.

[Severous]

As we all know, building economic buildings brings in more trade money.

Trade plays a huge economic role in the game but I haven't seen any good posts on it.

[a]What determines how many cities trade with a given one? By land? By sea?

[b]Building ports and upgrades increases the number of cities you can trade with, but what determines which city?

[c]trader/market upgrades give an "increase in tradeable goods." Does this increase the number of different commodities a city can export? Does in allow the export of the same commodities to more trading partners? Does it increase the trade value of already existing commodities?

[d]When I'm trying to upgrade a city with economic buildings, I want to know what order to build them in, and what they're actually doing.

a)
-Land trade occurs with all regions you are adjacent to and have trade rights with, and could have a road connection. Cant trade through an impassable mountain range for instance. Road doesnt have to be built but may boost income when it is.
-Sea trade is more complex. It wont occur if there is a land route..even if the land route pays less. A basic level 1 port will allow you to export using one sea trade route and import along that same route. You might also find another city will use its sea trading capacity to export to you...in which case you export back along that incoming trade route.

b) Choice of sea trade routes is automatic by the game. It picks the most profitable route. This could change due to many reasons. For instance another factions city is exporting to you...but suddenly it finds a new city to trade with. Its trade (both ways) with your city stops. Another reason is that a city might gain or loose population making the value of trade change dramatically. Another might be the slave resource appears or runs out. Note..a region that has say timber wont trade it with another region that also has timber even if there is a trade route in operation between those two cities.

c) It increases the value of existing commodities.

d) Do as Hader does. Check to see what each one does before committing to building it. Add one building to the build queue and watch what changes (greyed out or flashing icons on the detail settlement screen). A mine for instace might say is adds 200 in its description. But on the detail settlement screen the greyed out income icons that appear might show +300 income (and flashing -50 corruption)..making a net 250 increase.

Hope that helps.

[Eird-Way]

After playing the game for over a year, I was honestly quite shocked at how detailed the trade information is. Does anyone play with great attention to this screen? It's pretty fascinating, actually. Reminds me of the days of Settlers II. I can go for friendly simulation.

Anyone who accuses CA of being lazy and slapdash must be on shrooms. RTW is a hell of a game.

[Kaidonni]

Flashing icons are what you will lose in a certain form. It could be trade if you declared war. It could be corruption if you added a building that provides a law bonus to the construction queue.

[Gryphon]

Thanks so much for your replies guys.

Expanding trade is one of my favorite parts of the game. I definitely check the trade screen for most of my settlements.
Previously I had only been picking economic buildings based on their secondary benefits: Ports to also get ships, roads to also aid transport, markets to slightly improve growth and train agents.

Thanks again for your help.