Trade value

**Davey** · September 01, 2006, 02:19 PM

Is there different values for the resources? It seems like all I do is ask for Trade rights, then I assume a route is set up. Is there a way to see which routes are more profitable? I know there's different resources, but is there a difference between owning a region with a mine compared to one with vineyard? If there is where would I see that reflected?

**Irishman3** · September 01, 2006, 02:26 PM

On the settlement detail scroll for a city, you'll see an icon in the lower left corner that you can click to open up the trade summary scroll. Here you can find out what your trading and importing and with who.

As for benifits of one resource over another, I'm not sure of any clear cut financial advantage of one over the other however in the instance of your wine versus mine example, there are some large differences. A minable resource will not gain you any trade income until you can build a mine, which requires growing the settlement first, where as resources like wine, marble etc. offer immediate income. Also, a region that has minable trading assets can upgrade the mine as the settlement grows, there by increasing the amount of any trade produced by those goods. The same is not true of things like wine, marble or furs.

**Davey** · September 01, 2006, 03:48 PM

Ok, thx for the info. I saw that list, but wasn't sure how the worth of anything was reflected,or if I could increase any 1 particular item.

**Irishman3** · September 01, 2006, 04:09 PM

Well you can increase the amount earned by trade by upgrading your roads to paved roads and then highways, but I believe that only really applies to Roman and a couple other factions. Also, upgrading your ports will increase the amount of money brought in by trade. Last but not least buildings that increase trade income %. Not sure if doing those things actually increases the amount brought in by each individual item or its reflected as a bonus just added somehow to your trade income. I've never really paid much attention to trade at a lower level than just making sure my infrastructure (roads/ports/trade % affecting facilities) got built out to its max for maximum income.

**13ig_VV** · September 01, 2006, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by Irishman3

Well you can increase the amount earned by trade by upgrading your roads to paved roads and then highways

That's what I've always done. I've found that, when playing as Julii or Scipii where you'll have a lot of factions spread far apart highways really make a difference not only in trade but in movement of armies (kinda like a two-for-one deal). If you're playing as a faction like Greece or Brutii that has a lot of settlements on the coast upgrade the ports first instead of the roads. I've found that the real value in trade comes from the trade rights themselves. I usually build up my trading ability (build paved roads and highways, ports, markets, etc that is necessary for beter trade) and that allows you to (usually) sell trade rights for a good deal of money. (The AI usually takes into account how many trade buildings you have which in turn will benefit them more if you have more and better trading facilities so if the AI sees the potential to make a good deal of denarii from trading they'll pay more for the trade rights).

**Irishman3** · September 01, 2006, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by 13ig_VV

highways really make a difference not only in trade but in movement of armies (kinda like a two-for-one deal).

Very true. In fact I myself will upgrade a road to paved road, or paved road to highway before any other settlement improvements are made when the chance presents itself. Because as you said, its a 2fer, you get more money per turn + your troops can move more freely.

Originally Posted by 13ig_VV

If you're playing as a faction like Greece or Brutii that has a lot of settlements on the coast upgrade the ports first instead of the roads.

Agreed again, and depending on how you expand as the Julii, it can be equally as important. For instance when I play Julii I try to take coastal provinces to my west first, not only for trade but because expanding westtward from the original provinces you can re-enforce from your original, more developed settlements quicker by ship than by land, then drive northward and inland form there. Probably true of Carthage and an early Egyptian campaign as well, or even Spain as most of their provinces are on the waterfront. Haven't played those factions yet, so can't say for sure, but it would seem to fit the same mold.