Merchants: You CAN use many on one resource.

[General Zhukov]

It's a very creative idea. I also think it's one of those cases where player ingenuity runs ahead of dev foresight. It seems like an important part of the trade system is the idea that merchants have to place themselves in some kind of jeopardy, to ah, venture their capital so to speak in the course of their business. That idea is bolstered by the fact that they "make enemies" and become more prone to assassination.

Relatedly, is it possible to group a merchant with an army, station them both on a resource and gain trade income? If so, it might have a similar "protection" effect for the merchant(s), though presumably an army would irk rival factions more so than a fort. (are they irked by forts?)

[Musashi]

I dunno... I never put forts in enemy territory. To be honest I never send my merchants to other faction's territories except for Timbuktu, and even then I try to acquire Timbuktu for myself. I prefer to keep them in my own territory where I can shield them.

But yes, a merchant can join a military stack and still make money under their protection... And of course you can have more than one merchant attached to the stack.

I've actually found that there may not be any limit to the number of agents attached to a stack, considering that I can put more than 20 spies in an enemy city.

[todorp]

Sinan, Great discovery. To me it IS historically accurate. The Venetians, Genoese and the Baltic Hansa had fortified trading posts and trading colonies. One of the most famous ones was the Venetian and Genoese fortified trading post Pera (today Galata in Turkish) across Bosporus next to Constantinople.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galata_Tower

[Shahed]

Relatedly, is it possible to group a merchant with an army, station them both on a resource and gain trade income? If so, it might have a similar "protection" effect for the merchant(s), though presumably an army would irk rival factions more so than a fort. (are they irked by forts?)

Right now I'm using this idea.

Constantinople, which has been the front line for fighting off Crusades for about 60 years, has 4-5 forts surrounding it.

The Northwestern fort serves as a base for an Infantry army (the Sword of Hussein), which can deploy along the road, south towards Thessalonica, or north towards Sofia. This is mainly an army in training, but serves as the province garrison.

The fort also serves as a trading post, a diplomatic mission and as a secret service HQ.



The Southwestern fort is base to an all cavalry army (The Sword of Suleyman). This army is used for intercepting Crusades and other hostile forces as they are spotted by spies in neighbouring regions. This army is deployed beyond the empire's frontiers from this base, to hunt down hostiles. This army has successfully campaigned as far afield as Bern.

There are two "feeder" bases housing reserve troops for both armies. These reserves are deployed as and when the armies are in the field. The forts are then manned by fresh reserve troops coming from Izmir (Smyrna) and Malazgirt (Caesarea).

The cities have their own militia garrisons.

The same can also be done in hostile territory but since merchants (apparently) make more florins on their own territory, it may be best to do it on you own territory. You can also negotiate military access with an ally and establish this sort of HQ in their territory.

Of course as a superpower, you can also just walk in and push people around.

I've actually found that there may not be any limit to the number of agents attached to a stack, considering that I can put more than 20 spies in an enemy city.

That's great ! I have'nt tried that yet but sure will.

Sinan, Great discovery. To me it IS historically accurate. The Venetians, Genoese and the Baltic Hansa had fortified trading posts and trading colonies. One of the most famous ones was the Venetian and Genoese fortified trading post Pera (today Galata in Turkish) across Bosporus next to Constantinople.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galata_Tower

Thanks.

That's an excellent example you gave there. Bravo !
Anyway in game it's a lot of fun to do.