Trade agreements, this is how it's done (I think)

**Emperor Arcturus Mengsk** · September 23, 2013, 12:47 AM

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So this is what I managed to do in my Athens campaign, Legendary difficulty, no mods.

What I did is offer a NaP along with the trade agreement, most factions that I was neutral or friendly with usually accept.

I guess that makes the CAI trust that you don't just want some extra cash for a few turns and then you will use that to crush them

That was convenient for me as I am going for the cultural victory on this campaign and if you see on the minimap I didn't touch anything near Athens, I started my campaigns in Provincia restoring the settlements of old!

**AngryTitusPullo** · September 23, 2013, 01:04 AM

Is this with beta patch 3 ? If it is then possibly there's changes that make AI accept trade agreement more easily.

For example I have started new Parthian campaign since release and every patch and have been unable to get TA with Parthava.

Finally with beta patch 3 then Parthava accepted TA, albeit I have to pay a small amount of money.

Never happened in previous games.

This is all on turn 0.

**Emperor Arcturus Mengsk** · September 23, 2013, 01:18 AM

I patched up to the b.patch3 after turn 20+ or so, and it probably helps a lot, but still most of the factions still needed the NaP to agree or more than 2.500 payment.

Before the patch it was so terrible that I was playing as Macedonia and couldn't even get my CLIENT STATE Athens to trade with me... lol

**AngryTitusPullo** · September 23, 2013, 01:42 AM

I guess it's something to do with the patch since I always try to get trade agreement with Parthava when starting the Parthian campaign. Never had any success beforehand whatever options I throw at them too, including NAP.

I'm about to try with Baktria (another faction which doesn't seems to want to trade with Parthia even on green status) but they declared war on my ally Dahae unfortunately. No chance to check since I need to crush them.

**rrgg** · September 23, 2013, 02:36 AM

what resources do you have?

**♠ Thomas Cochrane ♠** · September 23, 2013, 02:59 AM

I don't mind that it's hard to get a trade agreement. playing as rome VH 40 turns in (2tpy) and I only have about 4 trade agreements. keeps the world small.

**SamueleD** · September 23, 2013, 03:06 AM

As far as I know the AI accepts when you can sell it a resource that it wants or simply doesn't have. Wine and Olive Oil in particular seem to be appreciated. As soon as you control trade resources the AI will start accepting trade agreements. Also, as soon as you get stronger than most AIs they will start asking for NAP, particularly if they are small and at war with each other.

**rrgg** · September 23, 2013, 03:09 AM

What resources the AI wants or why they would want them never really gets explained though.

**SamueleD** · September 23, 2013, 04:13 AM

Originally Posted by rrgg

What resources the AI wants or why they would want them never really gets explained though.

Yep, as I said in another thread, we now know better why the AI hates us or likes us, but we have no idea why it likes or dislikes a certain diplomatic proposal.

**Slaists** · September 23, 2013, 10:22 AM

I think, in most cases, AI wants MORE gold from you for the trade agreement. Usually, at some point, they start coming to you themselves offering trade in exchange for huge chunks of money.

At about the same time, they start offering to become your client state (in exchange for exuberant amounts of cash too).

**Slaists** · September 23, 2013, 10:26 AM

I think, in most cases, AI wants MORE gold from you for the trade agreement. Usually, at some point, they start coming to you themselves offering trade in exchange for huge chunks of money.

At about the same time, they start offering to become your client state (in exchange for exuberant amounts of cash too).

**TotalWarker** · September 23, 2013, 10:31 AM

Thing is, these trade agreements are mutually beneficial. So even if it's only worth 83 gold or whatever, both sides should want it as they gain something. The tiny little state shouldn't be demanding 3000 gold for an agreement which will take 50 turns to make worthwhile. It's got nothing to do with having a resource or not.

Ive tried offering NAPs, nobody is interested (patch 2). Its not as if there is a wealth of diplomatic alternatives either.

Ridiculously narrow and shallow diplomacy system in R2. Considering the scale of the game, the lack of things that have been in previous TWs is glaringly obvious.

Trading regions, Marriage, Threatening etc all gone! Madness.

**Vasa** · September 23, 2013, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by TotalWarker

Thing is, these trade agreements are mutually beneficial. So even if it's only worth 83 gold or whatever, both sides should want it as they gain something.

This is 2000 years before Adam Smith.

**AusHaching** · September 23, 2013, 11:15 AM

My experiences, after campaigns with Suebi, Pontus, Sparta and Macedon are: You need to reach the second level of international prestige, you need 2-3 resources and yor need to know as many factions as possible (i.E. you should explore the map). I had 19 TA with Suebi once, and easily half a dozen in all other campaigns.

Resources are the single most important factor in trade, at least in my experience.