Quote Originally Posted by mmk View Post
Trade is still a feature that causes me to wonder...

I was playing Britain on M/M and by 1746 the situation was as this:
This time I followed the advice of several fellow posters on here and concentrated on the North American continet right from the start. This meant, after destroying the Carribean pirates, I took on the Cherokee nation (destroyed) and the just emerging US (detroyed). 13 colonies were still my protectorate (13 colonies at that point consisting of New England, New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland + Kaintuk Territory and Cherokee Territory (which I gave to them hoping that this would boost their income). The 13Cs had one trading port in New York.
I was owning Lower+ Upper Lousiana, Michigan Territory, Algonquian Territory, Carolinas, Virgina and Florida.
I had Commercial ports in Lower Lousinana and Georgia
In addition I had Bahamas, Jamaica, Windward+Leeward Islands + Trinidad&Tobago withwith commercial ports in the first 4.
In Europe I had England (with commercial ports in Newcastle, Bristol, Liverpool and Greenwich), Scotland (cp in Glasgow) and Ireland also with one commercial port.
I had farms, plantations and trade fleets aplenty + some long time trading partners.

Now the following happened - France declared war on the 13Cs - to "protect my protectorate" I joined in the war. A French fleet was blockading New York port, which resulted in ZERO trade between me (Britain) and the 13Cs - strange thing, since we were sharing at least 8 land borders. So, I came to the conclusion that the game recognises only sea trade as trade if the 13Cs are your trading partner, meaning no matter how many land borders you share in North America, trade between Britain and the 13Cs is only taking place between the 13Cs ports and Britains ports. Well, I thought this a strange thing, since the 13Cs could transfer their goods via land to my ports in North America (which were not blockaded by the French) and from there to Britain. Maybe a bit too complicated I thought.
So as not being in danger of bancruptcy, I requested peace with the French (successfully) - which of course did not stop my protectorate and the French from continuing their war. (sighs at the fact that you cannot have any influence on the policies of your protactorate).
Since I didn´t want to lose more money, I cancelled my trade agreement with the 13Cs (New York was still blockaded by the French and I wasn´t making any money from trading anyways).
Next turn I still needed money, but could not finde a trade partner to replace the 13Cs. So I declared war on the French, trying to get rid of their fleet that was blockading NewYork.
No something really ridiculous happened: I French fleet was blockading Bristol - and BINGO I was bancrupt - as having Bristol blockaded ALL my trade was cut of - meaning ZERO income from trade.
Meaning all my other commercial ports had zero value, all my trade cut of just because one port being blockaded????????????????????????????
I checked, double checked and triple checked - NO other sea trade routes were raided, none of my trading partners ports were raided or blocked.
I think it is a bit strong if ONE of your ports being blocked results in bancruptcy.
Whats the use in having more then one port then if - following the games (il)logic - all your trade is going via one port anyways.
I also have a big heartburn with the way trade works.

No matter how many ports a home region has, having one blockaded cuts all trade.

There are some other oddities with the system, like the Danes blocking all American trade via Iceland without putting fleet on the route.

Even a simpleton can see that there are other ways into a country than the one port.

Trade will not reroute to a different port however.

The fact that any Power has loads of ports and trade partners should get goods with out them being transshipped.

It is made to fail and made to keep you broke. Every change makes trade more of a problem.

I often find it tedious and frustrating. At other times infuriating. Some say they find it merely a challenge.

The trouble is that most factions can’t do without it. One turn bankrupt and the next turn all your troops are cut in half. I have no idea if that goes on until you have no units or not…

I do know that there seem to be triggers in the game to challenge any gains with some sort of counter measure.

Sorry that is not much help! I don’t find it fun. Fighting an enemy is fun but being beaten up when you are broke is not. I feel for you.