Bad return of investments

[LadyAnn]

If you play Poland, you must have noticed that it is tempting to build a trading post and upgrade the province further to get merchant, etc.

But I found money could be used better elsewhere than, says, build a merchant in Silesia. Here is the reason why:

trading post costs 800 bucks to build. It will give you ... 20$ (governor of 4 accumen) a year. Note that Silesia is landlocked, so there is no way to use the cheesy tactics.

The time-to-break-even on investment is:
2 year to build the trading post,
800/20 = 40 years.
TOTAL: 42 years before you could see a red cent from your 800 bucks investment. Even without inflation, it doesn't really pay to build a trading post in Silesia. Use your 800 bucks and hire some units to go conquer Lithuania. You would have much better payback there... Providing you could hold Lithuania...

Annie

[el_slapper]

mmmh, that is much, but when preparing 300/400yrs long campaigns, It may be worth it in the beginning. Though avoid upgrading it. It costs even more(like 1000), and brings 24/yr instead of 20 No worth at all.

[econ21]

Yes, I don't bother with trading posts in landlocked areas. May also have to look at the economics of sea-born trade if we stick to the trade house rule.

Poland is interesting to play, as the economy seems really tight. I started a game on early and although I took 3 rebel provinces, I still could only afford a pitiful army - was living in fear of the Hungarians, of all factions. I confess, I let my trade route start snaking off to Spain...

[powdermonkey]

Yep, them Polish are a real challenge. Surrounded by enemies, and with very little cash to be made form their key provinces in the early stages of the game.
The only time I've ever had a good run with the Polish is when I managed to take Denmark and Sweden early, then built them up for trade and farming.
IMO, trade empires are not a cheesy tactic - they are necessary for some of the smaller factions to give them a chance against the European superpowers of the time http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif

[econ21]

Thanks, PowerMonkey - I guess I should stick with that Poland game then. I am eyeing Sweden but I know that the Danes will go for me the second I take it, so I need enough spears to hold them off. They have 6 units of royal knights; one spear + one Viking - post patch, I am quite afraid of all those royal knights. Pre-patch, they were pathetically easy to kill off. CA has done a good job with the AI for the knights; they dance around you like wolves, looking for a flank or advantage, charging, withdrawing and charging again.

[MizuKokami]

building buildings like tradeing posts help in other ways besides the small amount of income they generate, tho i couldn't begin to tell you "exactly" what it is. they do help, i think, increase loyalty and happiness. and i have often thought that units built in territories with tradeing posts have a higher average acumen rateing overall.