City trade network strangeness

[mrmistophelees]

I was playing with FF .51 with iceciro's combined modules. I am the Lauan (the pirates), not sure of the spelling there. Playing Epic on the Erabus large map. I have never had problems with connecting my cities to the trade network because they always have access to river or sea. But I recently conquered a barbarian city on the coast, took over the city, and it was connected to the trade network. It developed normally for something like 30-40 turns I guess, enough to get 5 population and build a harbor which took around that long. Sometime in the last 10 turns or so, the AC hit 40 and the first horseman appeared (Stephanos). Of course all cities got +5 unrest because of their fear of him. Around the same time, the Clan of Embers declared war on me because they wanted this city. It was on their continent (not mine) and it was sitting next to the Pyre of something, giving a fire node (which is of course why I took it). Now, a few turns ago, they just hit population 5, and I noticed they had 1 angry citizen. I go in to find out what I can do about it, and I notice that they are NO LONGER connected to my trade network. And my other cities NO LONGER have access to that fire mana, whereas they did before. I'm not sure the exact turn that it occured. I have used the floating eye to make sure nothing was hidden around the city, and I'm not being blockaded. No civilization apart from me has even progressed beyond building workboats. I on the other hand have researched optics and have access to ships that can cruise the oceans.

I can't figure out what is stopping my city from communicating resources to and from the rest of the network. Any ideas?

 

[WarKirby]

Possibly, your trade route depended on a coastal route, and someone built s coastal city, causing their territory to expand and block your trade

 

[mrmistophelees]

But it seems there is lots and lots of ocean around the city.. and I can move over ocean squares, so wouldn't trade take a route that wasn't blocked?

Or are you saying that trade can only happen along coastal squares? So my cities must find a clear coastal path, not relying on ocean squares at all, in order to trade? If that's the case, then I must have open borders with every civ between that city and my home?

Does that also mean that a city founded on a small island with no coastal square path between it and me would never be able to trade until...?

 

[WarKirby]

Trade is completely impossible by sea until you get sailing. Then, it's only possible along coasts, until you get astronomy.

After astronomy, trade routes should be happening over open ocean. before that, not.

 

[westamastaflash]

Another possibility is you got the trade route through open borders with another civ who had a route to your city.

 

[mrmistophelees]

Yep, you guys were right. Because I was at war with another nation, they had my coastal route blocked. I opened up a new coastal route by exploring more of the map and it brought my city back into the network.

I thought I could trade as soon as I could sail on the ocean, in other words at Optics, but as you said, apparently that feature activates at Astronomy. Why so late? Thats kind of strange..

Thanks!

 

[Valkrionn]

Because Optics represents the ability to cross oceans... Astronomy is the ability to cross Oceans RELIABLY.