Trade Mechanics

[Ebrim]

Having the trader come to town is always fun but feels a bit off. The low to high commission attribute misses the point of trade. This person presumably has stuff they're interested in and stuff they're not so interested in (this is already somewhat modeled by earlier tech stuff dropping in value). I feel like a trader who has interests (hey the next village over doesn't have much stone or flint) and not interests (they have tons of wool though) would feel better (I imagine this would be pretty random). There's no absolute value to any x good, value is dependent on need, and there being a set value to goods keeps the trader from being quite as cool as it could be.

So instead of this trader is bizarrely less efficient than other traders in its place maybe we could just have trader wants "x, y, z" for which "trade value" will be higher and other things less.

[buds]

I agree.
Trading imo needs major overhaul. Aside from above mentioned issue I hope they make it a bit more realistic.
If a single trader arrives he should have a maximum amount that he can carry but he can’t carry more heavier stuffs like logs in the beginning. Trading heavier stuffs need sledge at least. The quantity they bring must not exceed beyond their physical capabilities. If they want to bring more then they should come along in numbers too(2 or more traders).
New tools and weapons an era ahead must be traded like axes, knives, sickle and technology of this can only be acquired if they accumulated the quantity of such new tools. It doesn’t make sense that you kill lots of different animals or harvest plants using current tools/weapons and you acquire knowledge amount to be qualified getting a technology that’s outside its scope.
Acquiring technology must be specific. Like for example I got 3, 5 or 7 axes from trader then I must be able to qualify to have necessary knowledge points to acquire technology.
Assuming you want to get flint axe, knives and sickle and say you need 3 knowledge points for this each, then you must acquire say for example 3 or 5 pieces of each tool before you can get that knowledge to qualify for that technology. Or any mechanics like for example I have acquired 1 axe from trader, if I’m able to chop down 3 or 5 trees then you acquire knowledge points for that particular tool. Same as picks as well as knives. We can’t just acquire knowledge if we haven’t any idea about it.

[nicko2u]

needs to be more random but based on your needs?

[buds]

It should be random at first but the trader must have advance trade goods at least.
In the present mechanics the first trader brings 2 logs on normal or maybe hardcore difficulty because it’s designed to get the player leathers or tanning technology. This can be changed to an axe so the player can cut down a tree. Then in the later cycle the trader can do random but more on what the player needs that but he can gain profits. In this cycle he can introduce a pick because the flints to pick up are harder to get. And so on.

[nicko2u]

How often does the trader visit? seems like they arrive to often? maybe once a year would be good? thoughts?

[Maehlice]

Originally posted by nicko2u:

How often does the trader visit? seems like they arrive to often? maybe once a year would be good? thoughts?

At 962 Prestige (still working on 1000), they show up for me every season.

I like the simplicity of trade, but I wish there was a way to request certain items to ensure larger quantities of them.

[Gorby]

I like these ideas. Something as simple as specifying a "type" to different traders, such as a Weapons/Tools Trader who only brings those items, a Food Trader, a Materials Trader, etc.

I think the traders "trading" technology is dumb. Who needs knowledge points when you can always just keep an extra 50 supply of the latest bow on hand and get any tech the trader brings?