auto trade routes

[Laffertytig]

anyone had any joy with these? i loaded a fleet at home port with coal then click auto trade and send it to bombay but how do i get it to just load spices?

it ends up buyin random stuff then sailin back again. is it not possible to have it load certain goods?

 

[unmerged(145711)]

As far as I understand, it will load whatever gives the best profit in your homeport.
If you can not afford a full load of the MTI, it will buy other stuff too, to avoid a half-empty ship.

 

[unmerged(137712)]

The availability of the specified MTI is also dependent on the trading post level. The way I believe it works is that the full amount of the MTI produced is divided among the ports slated for its availability. Ports with a higher trading post level get proportionately more. Also other companies will purchase MTI from open (unconquered) ports so as to deprive other companies from a source.

If you do not have enough money the auto trade ships will come into port and leave empty. As money becomes available when reaching other ports they will purchase whatever they can to make a profit. Worst case they will come back empty and you will have paid the commanders salary (which simulates upkeep, rations and crew costs) for the entire trip.

It is very important that you not over-spend in the early phases. You end up getting off to a slowwwweeeerrrrr start.

Greg.

 

[unmerged(146640)]

The availability of the specified MTI is also dependent on the trading post level. The way I believe it works is that the full amount of the MTI produced is divided among the ports slated for its availability. Ports with a higher trading post level get proportionately more. Also other companies will purchase MTI from open (unconquered) ports so as to deprive other companies from a source.

If you do not have enough money the auto trade ships will come into port and leave empty. As money becomes available when reaching other ports they will purchase whatever they can to make a profit. Worst case they will come back empty and you will have paid the commanders salary (which simulates upkeep, rations and crew costs) for the entire trip.

It is very important that you not over-spend in the early phases. You end up getting off to a slowwwweeeerrrrr start.

Greg.

So this would lead into a situation where you have to keep upgrading your port in order to get your share of the production of particular MTI in guestion? At least this is how I've understood it, sounds quite rational.

 

[unmerged(137712)]

To an extent that is correct. There are finite number of upgrades that can be preformed. I also remember from one of dev blogs that the value of an item can decrease as your import rate for the specific item increases. Simple laws of Supply & Demand.

Greg.