Ports upgrades and money

**Oaty** · 10-31-2004, 08:35

When you make a port it will show that there is a projected profit but any upgrade above a port shows a loss of income. Is there something hidden about this or is it better not to upgrade ports until a patch comes out

**andrewt** · 10-31-2004, 09:40

If it's the blinking you're talking about, it means that your merchants are looking for better trading partners and that income might change the next turn. You'll earn that income or more, if they find a better one. Port upgrades are the best economic buildings, right now, by far. I build them ASAP, unless I need a public order building first.

**Oaty** · 10-31-2004, 12:57

But Res romanae says that blinking income means a loss of income if I'm right. So that flashing actually means even more income. So many features in this game, no wonder it took 4 years to make........ and a year to figure out.

**andrewt** · 10-31-2004, 19:09

Well, technically, you might "lose" that income because it is going to be replaced by something higher.

**zhuge** · 10-31-2004, 19:56

Tried building a Shipwright at Tylis and took note of trade 1 turn before completion and on completion.

Tylis trade:
Campus Getae: 47 (Gold, Timber)
Bylazora: 42 (Gold)
Byzantium: 17 (Timber)

Campus Scythii: 52 (Iron as Sea Import)
Campus Scythii: 212 (Gold as Sea Export)

After completion of the Shipwright, I got another sea trade route to Sardis for another 92 denarii. The above preexisting trade routes and figures did not change at all. So instead of 370, I am now getting 462 from trade income for Tylis. The blinking figures appear to be a bit messed up but the breakdown looks consistent to me.

That extra 92 takes some time to pay back your 1600 denarii investment in building a Shipwright (0.0575 ratio) so it might be worth while getting some other buildings first. That being said, I've certainly seen some very profitable sea trade routes (>200 denarii). Not sure how these sea trade routes are being determined though. For land trade, you appear to get trade with every region you have a border with, provided you are not at war with them.

**Sleepy** · 10-31-2004, 20:51

Originally Posted by zhuge

That extra 92 takes some time to pay back your 1600 denarii investment in building a Shipwright (0.0575 ratio) so it might be worth while getting some other buildings first. That being said, I've certainly seen some very profitable sea trade routes (>200 denarii). Not sure how these sea trade routes are being determined though.

As your population increases so does the value of that trade route, shortening the payback side. also as your trade partner city increases/decrease in size that too will affect the value of the trade. Plus VnV may effect it as will temples of trade, retinue members and other trade associated buildings. So the time to recoup your investment isn't as simple as it may first appear.

Sea routes are chosen based on their value. The greatest in range being chosen first. It is an aknowleged bug that icons flash when ports+ are present.

**motorhead** · 11-01-2004, 00:05

Only the first level port (Port) displays correctly. Everything above (shipwright+) show constant blinking icons, even when absolutely nothing is threatening it. Good news is, it's a known bug and a dev over at .com said it will be fixed in the next patch. Also, despite the blinks, you do get the full trade values.

**andrewt** · 11-01-2004, 00:54

Trade can top 2000 on one route. Getting the Aegean and Eastern Mediterrenean cities will give you a lot of trade routes going over 1000. I have lots of cities doing around 3000+ on trade that way.