Defensive merchants

[unmerged(1390)]

I noticed some of the other countries tend to try and knock down my monopolies in the first week of December. As it takes a month for a merchant to have an effect, that would mean I wouldn't have the monopolies when the new year started.

I have since developed the habit of sending a merchant to each CoT I have a monopoly at in the last week of November. They then have effect the last week in December and either clean up after someone elses's attempt to knock off my monopoly in that CoT or they evict someone else leaving more ducats for me.

An incidental question: does it matter to have the monopoly at the beginning of the year?

 

[State Machine]

I haven't noticed this phenomenon.

I know there have been extensive posts on how trading income is collected (monthly vs. yearly), and I believe that it was proven that trade income comes monthly - seems that way to me.

So, it shouldn't make any difference. I've changed the message settings so that loss of merchants and monopolies is a pop up - I react as I can to those events. There is an old (month ago?) thread someplace on trading strategies that is quite good.

 

[unmerged(3097)]

Do you know what the thread was called?

 

[unmerged(1255)]

Originally posted by Boracks
An incidental question: does it matter to have the monopoly at the beginning of the year?

It shouldn't matter, as the only yearly income is census tax (the manual is incorrect on this matter).

 

[unmerged(1390)]

But maybe the beginning of the year is when it counts monopolies for purposes of determining how many merchants you get for the year (as you get +1 per monopoly)?

 

[State Machine]

It was two threads, neither as interesting as I remembered:

http://www.europa-universalis.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=5491

http://www.europa-universalis.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=7019

 

[unmerged(2528)]

Someone in some thread told me (how's that for specifics ) that although trade revenue is collected monthly, it is in fact a yearly total divided by twelve. The year total is set on Jan. 1.

So if your total trade on Jan 1 is 144, you'll receive 12/month. So Jan 1 is a very important date for trade. Send those merchants.

 

[unmerged(1104)]

Your trading income is monthly...send two merchants to a CoT
bump up a level, and at the first of the next month watch your trade income increase (or decrease if you suffer a loss of level in a CoT.)

I have noticed getting bumped out of monopolies the first week in December more often than other months. I also send one merchant to a monopoly the first week in November.

 

[unmerged(548)]

Originally posted by Mr. Green
Someone in some thread told me (how's that for specifics ) that although trade revenue is collected monthly, it is in fact a yearly total divided by twelve. The year total is set on Jan. 1.

So if your total trade on Jan 1 is 144, you'll receive 12/month. So Jan 1 is a very important date for trade. Send those merchants.

Well that is total bogus, since sometimes COTs are not even there 1st of january, but you still get income from them during the rest of the months for their first year =)

 

[WhiteHojo]

It's amazing how these theories once started become gospel.


I'm just as guilty (if not more so) on the end of the year merchant placement theory as anyone - I tend to do it religiously - don't even mess w/merch during the year, only in Nov... sad, I'm so embarressed - I'm even slightly educated at that.

 

[unmerged(2073)]

Let me add my voice to those who say that trade money is a monthly thing. I'm also fairly certain that it is calculated on the 1st of the month. The AI is a little stupid in this respect since, AFAIK, it always gets its money on the 1st of each month and then sends its merchants out. However, if trade is calculated on the turn of each month, you need your merchants there on the 30th of the previous month.

Equally, don't necessarily fight for monopoly status at the start of the year when other countries have money and merchants to defend them with. Perhaps wait until late February and March and then send one merchant to break the monopoly and one to gain it yourself before the turn of the month. It seems to work for me.