Ships and trade in M:TW

[Voigtkampf]

I've been reflecting upon the possibility that the ships have actual influence on the trade income, due to some other posts on the forums here. I haven't noticed any entry on that, so if anyone can say something more about it, please do so. I am undecided upon whether to believe they have any effect at all… After all, they are warships, not merchant ships, yet some people believe they do have influence on the trade income.

The emphasis is on the trade income, not expenses; it's obvious that they have their upkeep costs. I'm not talking about that.

And if someone can confirm this, please elaborate more precisely to which extent, or point me to the adequate file in M:TW.

[Quokka]

Warships do not affect trade within a region, except to the extent that they allow it if you have at least one in a sea region.

The merchants that do the actual trading are implied by the presence of warships to protect them in the same way that Agents can skip from Port to Port on implied ships rather than an actual physical chain.

All trade is dependent upon is a viable tradelink, tradegoods, merchant size and number of trading ports that can be reached.

[Voigtkampf]

Quote[/b] (Quokka @ Dec. 22 2003,04:50)]Warships do not affect trade within a region, except to the extent that they allow it if you have at least one in a sea region.
Now I'm somewhat confused; so the ships do not influence the trade income, but you must have warships in the belonging sea region to be able to trade at all? Right?

In other words, if I had no ships at all, I would have no trading income with other ports, even if was not in war with anyone and my seas were clear?

Hmmm… I'll go and check that out later. Thanks,
Quokka

[Voigtkampf]

I just went on and test the theory about ships. It's right. I played as Spanish, large fleets, around 22 000 income per year and 10 000 profit, no blocked sea regions. I dismantled my entire fleet and my income dropped down to some 8000 and profits to some 3000 florins.
I reloaded, dismantled all ships but one in every sea region, and my income and profits remained the same as with my entire fleet.
I have always missed to pay proper attention to trade regarding the part where the sea provinces play a part, and I wanted to find out the principles behind this.


Thank you for the tip, Quokka

[Quokka]

No Worries