Reanimate the trading economy

[Anolytic]

Trading is not my thing in this game, but it is for many players in all nations, and with the harsh pre-patch economy I was compelled to do quite a bit of trading as my clan always has expensive operations going on.

Since the patch however, trading became very unprofitable overnight, or at least very much less profitable. The most profitable goods where the ones that was traded from capital to capital. And trading between capitals, taxes are always 20% now. That means that what used to be worth the risk and the time, is no longer. Most significantly because of PvE rewards skyrocketing. Trading can simply no longer compete with grinding, leaving anyone who likes trading gameplay at a disadvantage and with a diminished game experience. Profits have been buffed a bit since the patch, but not enough that I have been bothered to test the potential. I still sit on tens if millions worth of trade goods from before the patch that I haven't bothered to finish sailing or even selling to make back my money.

My gripe is however not with the high taxes put on trade between capitals. In fact I do not want to do anything about them. Make AI ports have 20% tax even. My gripe is with the trade routes and trade resources distribution being stuck like they were before the map wipe. The trading economy is geared towards trading in capitals. Even if you buy stuff in other ports, the best price you always get from bringing them to a capital to sell them. This is the problem. In this economy where ports earn tax income for clans, trade should be geared towards boosting that tax income, not lining the pockets of AI by forcing traders to sell and buy in ports where AI gets all the tax income.

Capital ports should not produce trade resources, and they should not offer the best prices on consuming trade resources. Where a profitable trade route before was Arctic Fox Pelt from Gustavia to Christiansted, Gustavia should no longer sell Arctic Fox Pelt, and Christiansted should not pay the best prices for it. Rather you should have to buy Arctic Fox Pelts in for instance Island Harbour, and sell them in Spanish Town, or maybe Vieques or Nassau similar to get the best profits. That way the trade route generates money for the clan that owns Harbour Island, and the clan that holds whichever port the trade good is consumed in. And clans and nation can stimulate trade and certain trade routes by changing their tax levels to encourage traders to sell or buy in their port.

As it is now, trade goods do not contribute to clan or port economies, only certain valuable upgrade resources and woods do.

Edited September 27, 2017 by Anolytic