Trade

[Gray Fox]

A given trade item can be produced in as much quantity as needed. However, a given region does not get an unlimited number of trade transactions in a turn. I don't think that needs to be substantiated. So, If a region only gets a finite number of trade imports and exports, how is this determined? No doubt, the level of roads and harbors would factor in and the type of civilization and level perhaps as well. Structures can increase commerce and trade range, so may add to the number of transactions. In my Rhodus game, Rhodus at turn 100 basically had as many exports and imports (total of 7) as on turn 1. By the end, Rhodus had over 50 export transactions alone.

I noticed that at one point Rhodus needed wine, which was available at Chios. Chios was one of my regions and was exporting wine to 4 regions, but not Rhodus, even though the capital was well within range. Logically, the trade algorithm would rate all possible trades and only do the most profitable ones automatically. Either Rhodus could not import any more items or Chios could not export any more, otherwise, the trade should have happened.

So, trying to produce a lot of trade items, many of which may not ever be exported for use, may not be as worthwhile as building extensive roads, harbors and Stoas (+5% increase faction wide to commerce) with a Trade Port (region trade range +2) and Trade Center (region trade acumen +5). In the RW, Hong Kong and Singapore don't produce a lot, but they do a lot of trading.

Of course, I may be wrong.