TRADE - imports

[ShadesWolf]

This is a very strange option.

I dont understand how trade works

I have no problm getting income from trade. Local trade and exports.

But it also talks about imports. So how does this work, how do you create an import trade, is it linked to some building you need to build.

And to be honest WHATS IT FOR ?

What use are imports, it will just use up money, they cant be converted into anything. It isnt like you say

'In order to build English Longbows you have to import wood from Sweden.' etc

So whats the point in having Trade imports.....

[Spetulhu]

It shows what other factions are selling in your provinces, and the tax income you get for it. So of course it`s useful.

edit: you don`t need to build anything for imports. The AI should build merchants and trade routes in order to sell stuff in your lands.

[ShadesWolf]

Well this is very strange....

In all the games ive played, ive never had imports http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

[Kraxis]

That is because so few of the AI factions maintain a line of ships. But I have seen it a few times and actually made some good money in Constantinople for a few years (until war changed that). So it is possible and everytime we trade with other factions we add money to their coffers as well, so even if we don't get much taxes from imports we have to consider the other factions does.

[el_slapper]

Play as Italy's neighbour(France, Pope, Hungary, HRE) and you'll have some. Not much though, around 7/year/port in 2 or 3 ports... I guess it would be massive in a MP campaign, as everyone would trade everywhere. But as MP campaigns have been declared too long.....

[Edratman]

Kraellin made the suggestion that it would be interesting if you could trade for a valuable and useful asset. Of course the only resource that has game value, outside of monetary considerations, is iron and it is not a trade item. But I like the concept of importing iron and then making a province capable of metalsmith upgrades and there are many other possibilities that this could develop into. It would be like a real economy.

Too much to hope for.

Imports right now are an insignificent factor because the AI is inept at developing and sustaining trade.