No Bartering?

[Volcanus]

Unless I missed it, you cannot barter goods in trade. Civ4 allows this, and historically this was most common way to trade, but Colonization doesn't? Why is it that all transactions are made with gold? Its just ironic that the cinematic introduction for this game shows colonists bartering with natives, yet in the game you cannot do this...

I want to be able to trade my rum for thier furs. I want to be able to buy some land with some horses or guns. Bartering would seem mandatory for a game that covers this period of history.

 

[Krupo]

I agree completely. I also tend to avoid trading with Indians unless I'm feeling "bored", but that doesn't excuse this omission.

 

[Lord Chambers]

From a gameplay standpoint using currency saves the player a step of converting goods into gold value for comparison sake, which unless you're a roleplayer, is what you're going to do. 25 Furs equals exactly how many tons of Rum?

 

[B.B.Shrooms]

From a gameplay standpoint using currency saves the player a step of converting goods into gold value for comparison sake, which unless you're a roleplayer, is what you're going to do. 25 Furs equals exactly how many tons of Rum?

I disagree. The thing is if barter would be allowed then for example you might actually make a profit by bartering goods that are not very valuable to you (e.g. because their price in your home country is low) against some that are more valuable to you but of lesser value to your trading partner. Then you could sell those bartered goods for even more money at your homeport. Not having the option to barter removes that option which is a bit disapointing IMO.

 

[Lord Chambers]

I disagree. The thing is if barter would be allowed then for example you might actually make a profit by bartering goods that are not very valuable to you (e.g. because their price in your home country is low) against some that are more valuable to you but of lesser value to your trading partner. Then you could sell those bartered goods for even more money at your homeport. Not having the option to barter removes that option which is a bit disapointing IMO.

What the . .. .. .. . are you talking about?
You bring goods to the village and exchange them for cash.
You buy goods from the village with cash.
There is nothing about using cash as a middleman that prevents you from selling stuff with a low Europe price and buying something with a high Europe price.

Natives do not use the same price tables as Europe. Only if they did would you be prohibited for trading at a profit--which is what you're talking about but calling it bartering.

 

[Colonel_Flagg]

Because gold is a common medium of exchange, and finding an exact coincidence of wants would be very difficult. And, what are you going to do to make sure you are not being ripped off? Hover over the 2 goods to see what they are selling for IN GOLD in Europe. And does anyone buy natural resources from Natives? Your main goal is to sell manufactured goods in Europe, not natural resources, because you won't get much return on those resources, and the King will increase your taxes because you're selling a large volume of resources in Europe.

 

[macmert]

But iron ore is more expensive than tools right? And thanks for the tax info...

 

[Krupo]

What the . .. .. .. . are you talking about?
You bring goods to the village and exchange them for cash.
You buy goods from the village with cash.
There is nothing about using cash as a middleman that prevents you from selling stuff with a low Europe price and buying something with a high Europe price.

Natives do not use the same price tables as Europe. Only if they did would you be prohibited for trading at a profit--which is what you're talking about but calling it bartering.

definition of barter = trade without cash

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barter
"In the past, goods were exchanged on a one-to-one basis with the intent that the value of the goods traded was of relatively equal value. Prior to the establishment of currencies, barter was the most accepted form of commerce. The equality of the value in a one-on-one barter is often an issue. In 1626 Peter Minuet traded $24 worth of beads, knives and kettles for Manhattan Island – clearly Minuet got the benefit of the bargain on that transaction."

 

[macmert]

so if there is no barter available, I cant trade 50 lumps of ore to get, say 20 lumps of cigars from natives?

Indeed the cash is used for middlemen but what happens if natives run out of gold but have plenty of goods to trade?

 

[Ethan211]

Then you have to buy their goods first so they have some gold, then sell them your goods. I agree it's a pain in the ass because if you're nearly out of gold you'll have to multiple transactions, but the system isn't entirely broken.
What really bothered me was how you are forced to trade all of what you've got in your ship of a particular good at once, and can't make them a deal for, say, 50 of the 200 guns you're transporting.

 

[dalgo]

Then you have to buy their goods first so they have some gold, then sell them your goods. I agree it's a pain in the ass because if you're nearly out of gold you'll have to multiple transactions, but the system isn't entirely broken.
What really bothered me was how you are forced to trade all of what you've got in your ship of a particular good at once, and can't make them a deal for, say, 50 of the 200 guns you're transporting.

That is a definite flaw in the game, let's hope it will be addressed at some stage. I'd be happy with being able sell an individual hold of goods. ie if I had 4 x 100 guns then just sell 100. As it is now you either sell 400 or none which is plainly wrong.

 

[tradewind]

I agree completely. I also tend to avoid trading with Indians unless I'm feeling "bored", but that doesn't excuse this omission.

OMG are you kidding me?!?!? Being an arms dealer is absolutely essential to a quick victory in the game. Unless you like to limit yourself ("OK, this game, I WON'T walk over my nearest european neighbor for the free settlement and pioneer") Indian trade is a cornerstone of the game.

This is one of the great things I love about Col2 > Col1. A pure trader (like the Dutch and Portuguese historically) actually does very well vs your conquerors (Spanish) or your settle and builders (English).

Cheers,
Tradewind.

 

[pajeg]

Unless I missed it, you cannot barter goods in trade. Civ4 allows this, and historically this was most common way to trade, but Colonization doesn't? Why is it that all transactions are made with gold? Its just ironic that the cinematic introduction for this game shows colonists bartering with natives, yet in the game you cannot do this...

I want to be able to trade my rum for thier furs. I want to be able to buy some land with some horses or guns. Bartering would seem mandatory for a game that covers this period of history.

the cinematic of col1 show a ship sailing to america, sould we get a cinematic each time we set sail from europe?

 

[HermannLombard]

Then you have to buy their goods first so they have some gold, then sell them your goods. I agree it's a pain in the ass because if you're nearly out of gold you'll have to multiple transactions, but the system isn't entirely broken.

Even more of a PITA in that situation is being unable to buy their goods first because you don't have an empty hold on the ship (or wagon).

What really bothered me was how you are forced to trade all of what you've got in your ship of a particular good at once, and can't make them a deal for, say, 50 of the 200 guns you're transporting.

QFT