How many active Caravans should you run?

[Lampros]

Just one? Or multiple?

[Kapika96]

As many as possible! All going to different places of course.

[bischof11]

"As many as possible"

-Grimgor Ironhide

[Cuthalion]

Ofc as many as possible. There are no expenses (if not to count some resources you wanna exchange) and quite a few benefits. Occasionally, caravan armies are of real help to regular armies in fights. Artifacts, resources etc.

The only viable question I would ask: engaging "more caravans" always goes instead of something else (e.g., claiming "caravan" seats while you could claim other seats). Is it worth it? I would not call caravans a decisive game mechanics. Fun to have and useful? - yes.

[Lampros]

Originally posted by Cuthalion:

Ofc as many as possible. There are no expenses (if not to count some resources you wanna exchange) and quite a few benefits. Occasionally, caravan armies are of real help to regular armies in fights. Artifacts, resources etc.

Oh, there are no expenses? Hmm, but don't you need to commission a caravan army in the first place? And if they lose combat, then you get nothing. (Which leads to me the next question I was going to ask - how common is it to lose to a raiding army as a caravan army?)

Originally posted by Cuthalion:

The only viable question I would ask: engaging "more caravans" always goes instead of something else (e.g., claiming "caravan" seats while you could claim other seats). Is it worth it? I would not call caravans a decisive game mechanics. Fun to have and useful? - yes.

Huh? I am confused. What do you mean "claim... seats"?

[Cuthalion]

Yes, you risk your initial investment. I mentioned it. But it's not a stopper, I would say. Even when craр event happens, you may still pay a small portion for your caravan's life (unless it's an AI enemy faction. then it just attacks and destroys your caravan). Benefits are more and bigger.
Claim seats - Chaos Dwarf mechanic, Tower of Zharr. You claimg seats in the council or something. On the 2nd tier there are seats that grant an extra caravan. But there are seats that grant other benefits instead. So you decide what's better for you.

[zefyris]

the claiming seat part probably refer to the caravan number bonus in the tower mechanic. Saying is it worth it to ensure you have the +1 caravan bonus over taking somethign else, even if it means taking over a seat owned by someone else.
I wouldn't go as far as taking that in priority, no.

[Zeek]

Originally posted by bischof11:

"As many as possible"

-Grimgor Ironhide

Sage advice from a respectable tradesman.

[Lampros]

Originally posted by Cuthalion:

Claim seats - Chaos Dwarf mechanic, Tower of Zharr. You claimg seats in the council or something. On the 2nd tier there are seats that grant an extra caravan. But there are seats that grant other benefits instead. So you decide what's better for you.

Ah, I don't play Chaos Dwarfs; so I have no idea what their mechanics are like.

Originally posted by Hurricane:

You can't send them to the same place...

Chorfs can run up to 3 caravans and cathay 1 at a time.

Hmm, okay; I checked, and you are right. The extras seem to go into a "reserve" pool. So I guess it's not that over-powered economics-wise.

[Tommytools]

Originally posted by Cuthalion:

Claim seats - Chaos Dwarf mechanic, Tower of Zharr. You claimg seats in the council or something. On the 2nd tier there are seats that grant an extra caravan. But there are seats that grant other benefits instead. So you decide what's better for you.

The section bonuses in the Tower of Zharr apply to all CD factions (at least the playable ones) even if you do not hold any seats in those sections yourself. They're all global unlocks, its better to grab an empty seat to complete the section rather than contesting a seat already taken.

[Pieshaman]

I only played chaos dwarves that can use caravans.
I just send 1 to get as much slaves excuse me, labourers back to my empire.
Not really need more for anything else so far.

[kilen]

As long as you choose fairly safe caravans with Chorfs in early & mid game, they can have fairly good army protecting them with time.
Which gives even more slaves after each interception you have been into.
That can make mid to end game caravans fairly productive at that time with good armies, you can go for more traitorous destinations and seek 1or2 battles on the way.
Plus the battles can be very interesting with variety of troops from lots of factions.
I really like them.
So far (turn 66) not a single caravan failed since turn 1 (legendary/VH), and I have 2 simultaneous and 4 convoy overseers recruited that are just relaying each others to always have 2 active.
Will go for a 3rd caravan in parallel as soon as possible.
It’s not tremendous income but it’s always useful to maintain slave incomes that way.
Gold is never an issue, so I often go for best rate of slaves destinations for my gold in exchange (at less than 6 turns distance)… plus post battle loot that can be several hundreds slaves more, it’s not bad…
Definitely worth it, and fun to fight when needed.
It’s a great mechanic.
I can’t really compare since I don’t have played Cathay yet, although I know protecting armies from Cathay are much less stronger and no variety of units there so much less interesting than the Chorfs one, which ones are worthy and fun… love it !

[Amereth]

Originally posted by bischof11:

"As many as possible"

-Grimgor Ironhide

add a mod that give caravans to many factions and you are set.


Caravans everywhere !!!

[Lampros]

Originally posted by kilen:

So far (turn 66) not a single caravan failed since turn 1 (legendary/VH), and I have 2 simultaneous and 4 convoy overseers recruited that are just relaying each others to always have 2 active.

Ah, so you don't have to wait till the original caravan returns, if you have a "relay" caravan? Then I guess having one extra caravan is indeed useful!

Originally posted by Amereth:

add a mod that give caravans to many factions and you are set.

Caravans everywhere !!!

I was considering that mod, but couldn't that also cause a lag on the campaign map with that many caravans moving?

[Tommytools]

Originally posted by Lampros:

Ah, so you don't have to wait till the original caravan returns, if you have a "relay" caravan? Then I guess having one extra caravan is indeed useful!

Once the caravan (or convoy for CD) has traded at its destination you can send another one out. So its useful to have a few as backup.

[Amereth]

Originally posted by Lampros:

Originally posted by Amereth:

add a mod that give caravans to many factions and you are set.

Caravans everywhere !!!

I was considering that mod, but couldn't that also cause a lag on the campaign map with that many caravans moving?

Maybe late game. definitely need to test this .