Trade bonuses

[duncan.gill]

Does anyone know what the trade bonuses are for the various stages of markets? Are they contingent upon the number of people in the city?

I always wonder whether it is worth upgrading them given that the description gives no indication as to the size of the increases.

[Yossarian]

I would like to know this as well. I guess it would depend on the types of trade goods available in the province, the number of neighbouring provinces with which you trade, the quality of the infrastructure, the population, whether you have access to a port or not, etc...

[bobbin]

Building bigger markets will give extra trade bonuses on their own, its not dependant on population.

If you look in th export_descr_buildings.txt file you can see what the bonuses are for each level (there call something like trade_bonus 1), you can thank CA for showing these in the game as just "increases trade"

[ziegenpeter]

Put the market in the building queue, then check your settlement details. The semi transparent trade symbol in the category "income" shows you how much it will add.

or i am a total dumbass

[Aemilius Paulus]

Put the market in the building queue, then check your settlement details. The semi transparent trade symbol in the category "income" shows you how much it will add.

Those do not reflect reality. Believe me. Just try it out yourself, by putting one in the queue, and then using the process_cq cheat to see the actual increase.


Each market level has a rather small effect even on large trading hubs. I have not seen any type of market increase my city income by more than 300 mnai. Now, if that city has the largest possible trading port, and the other cities also have large markets and ports, it may be possible, but in any case, there are too many expenditures of both time and money involved to attain such result.

Speaking of trade bonuses, those unique buildings usually have laughable trade bonuses. I have destroyed many of them in my previous Romani campaign and found that they raise the city income by usually no more than 100 mnai. The Herculean Pillars (aka Gibraltar) is the only exception. It is indestructible, but Gader in all of my campaigns has an obscene income, which never reflects its infrastructure and corruption levels. I know it has a gold mine, but still, its income is very high, and it is probably caused by that strait, which gives it a double trade bonus, or so its description says.

[DaciaJC]

Speaking of trade bonuses, those unique buildings usually have laughable trade bonuses. I have destroyed many of them in my previous Romani campaign and found that they raise the city income by usually no more than 100 mnai.

Huh... well, excuse me while I destroy those useless Makedonian Royal Tombs.

[Urg]

If its 300 mnai per turn, thats 12,000 mnai every 10 years.

Not bad for one building.

That means a level three building could give 36,000 every 10 yrs. Nice.

Definitely sounds worth the expense.

[Aemilius Paulus]

If its 300 mnai per turn, thats 12,000 mnai every 10 years.

Not bad for one building.

That means a level three building could give 36,000 every 10 yrs. Nice.

Definitely sounds worth the expense.

Using pure mathematics with no regard for logic is a road that leads to only failure, as witnessed thousands of times, most prominently in recent wars. First of all, a level three market is a must for all my settlements with ports.

Second, 300 mnai is the absolute maximum. The most I have ever seen was a 210 mnai bonus, and that from Athenai, the most productive city in EB. There are so many sea trade routes with Athenai that a single market, which ups your trade income through a percentage, will have a great effect.

Thirdly, in the beginning of the campaign money is very tight. Rushing is the largest money maker. For rushing, you need money to build happiness buildings and troops. Even if you are not rushing, level two market is the most the majority of players can afford. By two-three decades you will bathe in money, vainly attempting to find use for it. Better spend the market money on other things in the beginning of the game.