Trade Posts - Does opening a trade route benefit inter-region trading?

[Zarubine]

As the title says, does it pay to open a trade route for inter-region trading? I.e. will it speed up trade between the regions if having a dedicated trader that only trades that specific good? All my trade posts have horses but they still only trade 4-5 goods at a time.

[jhughes]

Have you tried Pack Stations? (Barting for inter-region trade). That is what I usually do to send barley to all my regions.

[Zarubine]

Yes, I used to use pack stations but they were doing my head in so I stopped.

The bartering system doesn't work for me as you can't specify limits so you end up with 200 shoes in one town and none in the other. I had to constantly micro manage the whole thing.

And worse, often I had simply nothing to barter. My fertile region had so many thing to send to the capital so to speak (barley, apples, linen, yarn, bread, etc.) but needed nothing in return. So I would send planks or roof tiles just for the sake of it. I found the entire thing too clunky. Especially since you would need a separate pack station for each item.

The trade post on the other hand works well except for the small quantities traded.

[drr1531]

I've traded goods that I have a trade route for but still see the small quantity trades. I think maybe one reason it because the regions are so close they just keep showing up before inventory builds up. Not sure. At any rate it doesn't appear that opening a trade route makes any difference.

[hanspni]

Originally posted by Zarubine:

Yes, I used to use pack stations but they were doing my head in so I stopped.

Especially since you would need a separate pack station for each item.

The trade post on the other hand works well except for the small quantities traded.

I agree the pack station need some changes. But u don`t need a pack station in both cities. Just one is needed to send, the other use the trading house. That u need!

[bugritall]

Inter-regional trading works well and you don't need to purchase any trade routes. Your exporting region will happily trade with foreign traders as well (if you leave the flag set) but so will your importing region! Be sure to kill international trade in your importing region so you can't get hit with tariffs by passing foreign traders.

[philmo]

This video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1kd9VGBzEM (which is food focussed) helped me, it nicely covers pack stations and inter region trading. Clear to me now. I have also read and experienced that have too many trade routes can be a hazard so I cam trying to chop and change to offer more focus to 4 to 6 trades.