Basic Trade Route Strategy

[Ferigno]

So it seems pretty clear to me that you can get way ahead of the curve by making commercial districts and harbor in order to get trade routes. And trade routes are awesome. However, I'm somewhat at a loss as to what a good general strategy should be regarding WHERE these routes should be coming from and going to?

Do you guys like the internal traffic to increase food and production?

Do you like to move things from your capital or only from places where there is a commercial district? (I think you get a bonus from that?)

Just curious what you think. I ended a game with something like 28 trade routes and it was overwhelming. I had no coherent strategy by the end.

 

[Frank327]

Usually I do internal to build roads and then switch to external.

I also have a though though, if you've settled your second city, do you start your first trade route in that new city too? I haven't been doing that (because I'm lazy) but now I think about it, that way the trade route would have the biggest effect. I'm just afraid it would take a long time for the trader to reach the new city without a road present.

 

[King Jason]

I do internal growth primarily for the first part of the game and then begin to switch everything to international trade from the mid-game and beyond except for a handful of trade routes that either make weaker cities retain their viability or are used to jump-start later settlements.

Internal trade is amazing but I think International trade is currently underrated. Eventually you can get 10gpt per trade in addition to science, culture, and faith. 10gpt equals production that can be spent anywhere. Once your cities are off the ground and your A.I. neighbors are also developed, I think international routes become superior.

In regards to the above question - I always start routes in newly settled cities.

 

[lordqarlyn]

I start off internal trade, and, if there is a newly settled city, I move the trader there and start the route so the new city can get a boost. If I am racing to build a wonder I will have that city be a source of multiple internal trade routes.
Later in the game, I'll divert some traders for international trade. But for me productivity is most important, particularly since the AI seems to still spam units while I have to construct mine.

 

[Seven05]

Do you guys like the internal traffic to increase food and production?

Do you like to move things from your capital or only from places where there is a commercial district? (I think you get a bonus from that?)

Just curious what you think. I ended a game with something like 28 trade routes and it was overwhelming. I had no coherent strategy by the end.

Internal routes are easier, safer and provide a solid boost to new cities when done correctly. But international trade routes can provide a ton of gold which can easily offset the bonus production from internal routes.

Internal trade routes should always go TO the more developed city since the destination determines the output of the route.

In my last game I had 60 trade routes. The trick to keeping them under control is to have a simple system. Always try to have two traders at every city (some may be stuck with one depending on wonders/GP bonuses) For internal routes the destination is always the one with the highest available production boost. For international routes it's always the closest target with the most gold adjusted for wars/barbarian areas as needed.

I also have a though though, if you've settled your second city, do you start your first trade route in that new city too? I haven't been doing that (because I'm lazy) but now I think about it, that way the trade route would have the biggest effect. I'm just afraid it would take a long time for the trader to reach the new city without a road present.

I have found it best to almost always run from the least developed city to the most developed city. As the game progresses I like to keep two unused trade routes "banked" for expansion so the first thing I do at a new city is buy two traders to get that city up and running as quickly as possible. Early in the game you can build the trader where it will be the fastest and then transfer it before starting the route.

 

[budweiser]

Usually 1st route to a CS and a trader is an early build as soon as I can protect the route. Then routes to my cities to make roads. Then big external routes. Eventually, I want to have a least one route in each city and that is a switch from Civ V which was 'mostly' capitol centric on trade.

 

[Ferigno]

Internal trade routes should always go TO the more developed city since the destination determines the output of the route.

I think this is great advice. This can be a solid strategy for me. Look to move around my trade to keep production going to the cities that need it the most.

 

[Kouvb593kdnuewnd]

Internal trade routes are really useful if you want to build wonders or help a newly founded city. Later in the game they can be used to support cities that otherwise would be weak such as thundra/desert cities.

International trade routes tend to give alot of gold and can also be a nice source of culture and science with cards. International trade routes also increase the amount of tourism you produce against the civ which make them useful for culture victories.