One very big use for Forts. Putting Merchants in so you don't lose them. After turn after turn of this "Let the CPU take over another Merchant crap" I got fed up and built a fort on two of the main exports in Stolkholm. Now, I don't have to worry about losing merchants or AI leaving their area to attack mine via trade. ANother question, why the hell does the AI seek out my resources and leave theirs alone? Do you get better traits as a merchant taking over other merchants because I never try to put another merchant out and I never had a trait 10 merchant before. But, I always lose my merchants to others.