Merchant "out of range" from city trying to start a trade route with.

[Willie5000]

I'm trying to start a trade route to Athens, and they have "open markets" with me. So why can't I use my merchant there? The gamer is telling me "out of range" and I can't for the life of me figure out what this arbitrary range is. So I'm just sitting there wondering why the fudge I can't start this trade route!

 

[Isengardtom]

Yes, this is one of the elements in the game that’s confusing. It took me a while to figure out how to make a trade route

 

[Smegger213]

I managed to make 1 trade route. When I built another merchant. All the other civs cities etc all say out of range? What gives?

 

[stealth_nsk]

I managed to make 1 trade route. When I built another merchant. All the other civs cities etc all say out of range? What gives?

In addition to range, there's also limit to number of trade routes per target civs. You could improve this number through diplomatic endeavors.

I don't know the exact range, I believe it's calculated by roads and is very counterintuitive.

 

[Smegger213]

In addition to range, there's also limit to number of trade routes per target civs. You could improve this number through diplomatic endeavors.

I don't know the exact range, I believe it's calculated by roads and is very counterintuitive.

I had to send a settler to build a new city closer to the other civs.

 

[Brutus2]

First, the open markets thing has nothing to do with trade routes. You can make one trade route to each civ who has a settlement within range of any of your cities. If you want more than one route to the same civ, then you need to create a diplomatic endeavor where you establish additional trade routes.

 

[C.J. Katz]

First, the open markets thing has nothing to do with trade routes. You can make one trade route to each civ who has a settlement within range of any of your cities. If you want more than one route to the same civ, then you need to create a diplomatic endeavor where you establish additional trade routes.

Yes, but what is that range? Where is it calculated from? Do you need to have a certain relationship level?

I have a town settled in distant lands that is touching borders with another Leader's only city. Both also have water access but I can't send them a trade route. Is it because my town is out of range of my Capital? Is it because I am unfriendly with the other Leader? Does my new settlement need to be a City to extend the trade range? Do I need Shipbuilding? Is it a bug?

It is frustrating that there is no specific description of what is required for a trade route to be created.

 

[Brutus2]

Yes, but what is that range? Where is it calculated from? Do you need to have a certain relationship level?

I have a town settled in distant lands that is touching borders with another Leader's only city. Both also have water access but I can't send them a trade route. Is it because my town is out of range of my Capital? Is it because I am unfriendly with the other Leader? Does my new settlement need to be a City to extend the trade range? Do I need Shipbuilding? Is it a bug?

It is frustrating that there is no specific description of what is required for a trade route to be created.

You don't need shipbuilding. As soon as you unlock the merchant you should be able to establish trade routes, even over water without Shipbuilding. In most cases you can not establish or maintain trade routes with civs you are at war with but I think unfriendly is ok (not 100% sure on that). I don't think distance from capital or being connected to capital matters either. I think you just need to have a city center within X tiles of the destination city center (touching borders doesn't matter, it's distance between the two city centers). I am not able get in the game and check right not but I'm pretty sure I saw info in the civliopedia that says what the range is. If I get a chance to check later, I will get back to you.

 

[Smegger213]

You don't need shipbuilding. As soon as you unlock the merchant you should be able to establish trade routes, even over water without Shipbuilding. In most cases you can not establish or maintain trade routes with civs you are at war with but I think unfriendly is ok (not 100% sure on that). I don't think distance from capital or being connected to capital matters either. I think you just need to have a city center within X tiles of the destination city center (touching borders doesn't matter, it's distance between the two city centers). I am not able get in the game and check right not but I'm pretty sure I saw info in the civliopedia that says what the range is. If I get a chance to check later, I will get back to you.

What everybody wants to know is. What is the distance that 2 cities need to be to each other for a trade route to work?

 

[Brutus2]

Sorry it took me so long to get back with the answer but here it is...

Land Trade Routes:
Antiquity = 10
Exploration = 15
Modern = 20

Sea Trade Routes:
Antiquity = 30
Exploration = 45
Modern = 60

This is the number of tiles between city centers.

 

[Vincent_lacruz]

Sorry it took me so long to get back with the answer but here it is...

Land Trade Routes:
Antiquity = 10
Exploration = 15
Modern = 20

Sea Trade Routes:
Antiquity = 30
Exploration = 45
Modern = 60

This is the number of tiles between city centers.

This can be boosted, mainly by specialised towns, and by suzerainty of economic city state.

 

[Noble Zarkon]

Land Trade Routes:
Antiquity = 10
Exploration = 15
Modern = 20

Note it's actual routes not as the crow flies so you need to account for mountains etc.

 

[Big J Money]

One very simple fix for this will be when you click on a merchant, it should display at a minimum

1. The maximum range you can trade with that merchant (ex. 10)
2. The actual range of each option (numbers that are over 10 should be red font or something, in addition to the option being grayed out like it is now)

 

[raider980]

Does it have anything to do with how close your merchant is to the city? Because when my merchant was in my city, it had only one trade route available. But as I moved the merchant closer to that city, other trade routes became available that were further away.

 

[Brutus2]

Does it have anything to do with how close your merchant is to the city? Because when my merchant was in my city, it had only one trade route available. But as I moved the merchant closer to that city, other trade routes became available that were further away.

That shouldn’t be the case unless something else happened during that time you were moving. When you select a merchant the list shows every possible trade route from every one of your settlements to every settlement within range of any of your settlements. The route doesn’t necessarily have to start in the settlement where the merchant is currently located.

 

[Melkus]

But as I moved the merchant closer to that city, other trade routes became available that were further away.

Yes, that should not happen (as cause and effect), must be a coincidence. Either your trade range got bigger while you moved or you founded a new settlement.

When you click on the city button in the trading screen, it also shows you the shortest route to the city (from your closest settlement, not the merchant's location). Unfortunately it only does that if it's a possible route.

Buying or building your merchants at these closest settlements helps to have the shortest way possible (for the initial journey, the actual route always takes the short way). It takes a while to get used to it, but it's not that complicated (only the UI is, but it's not incorrect, just weirdly presented).

 

[Smegger213]

Does it have anything to do with how close your merchant is to the city? Because when my merchant was in my city, it had only one trade route available. But as I moved the merchant closer to that city, other trade routes became available that were further away.

When I created a Merchant there were no other Civ's cities in range. So I couldn't do anything with him.
But then a few turns later, one of the Civ's founded a town not far from one of mine.
Then I was able to send the Merchant to the new town to create the trade route.

Why you can't just pick the trade route you want to do, right from the trade route list, is beyond me.
That's how you did it with Civ 5 and 6. Build a caravan or trade ship, and pick the route from the list. Job done.
Why they removed that from Civ 7 is just dumb.

 

[CliffCo]

Sorry it took me so long to get back with the answer but here it is...

Land Trade Routes:
Antiquity = 10
Exploration = 15
Modern = 20

Sea Trade Routes:
Antiquity = 30
Exploration = 45
Modern = 60

This is the number of tiles between city centers.

How are these distances calculated if a route uses both land and sea tiles, is it determined by whether it shows as a land or sea route when you select a destination.

 

[Krikkit1]

How are these distances calculated if a route uses both land and sea tiles, is it determined by whether it shows as a land or sea route when you select a destination.

I think a route can only use one.

 

[CliffCo]

I think a route can only use one.

That doesn’t make any sense to me if so, but it would explain some things.