Non-symmetric trade

[morchuflex]

Hello.

I don't know wether this has already been reported, but I've noticed Civ4 allows for what I'll call non-symmetric trade. In plain words, it is possible for you to get trade routes from another empire, while they don't get any from you, and conversely.

This happens when you can reach them but they can't reach you, which is quite common, especially on water maps (pre-Astronomy).

For instance, let's say you have open borders with the Greeks, which live on a nearby island, that is only 3 tiles away from yours to the East. You cultural borders have expanded over one coastal tile and one ocean tile in their direction, so your ships can reach the Greek island. But even with open borders, the Greeks aren't allowed to navigate the ocean tile that is within your cultural borders. Hence, they can't reach you.

Therefore, if you sign OB with them, you will get trade routes from them, and they won't get any from you.
Works the other way around, of course. So, better not sign OB if you can't actually reach their land.

Note: I'm not sure about the difference between symmetric and symmetrical. Feel free to correct me.

 

[Refar]

It's working as intended.

Leveraging it is a good idea if you have the oportunity - like beeing the first to Astronomy. It's not decisiv however.

 

[morchuflex]

It's working as intended.

Do you really think this was intended?

Note that it wasn't the case with every previous version. In some of them (Warlords?) your galleys COULD navigate ocean tiles when they were within a friendly Civ's borders (provided you had OB with them).

 

[r_rolo1]

It can be almost game breaking if you manage to get it soon and have the great Lighthouse..... 3 * 5/6 coins in a city ( before Currency , else change 3 for 4 ) from trade routes vs nothing..... It can really project you far up

OTOH it can be pretty bad if a AI can do it and you don't... I remember a LHC where Shaka could do it , but I couldn't because of a stupid mountain

 

[morchuflex]

It can be almost game breaking if you manage to get it soon and have the great Lighthouse....

Indeed.
(In fact, on most archipelago maps, I would almost consider the Great Lighthouse as game-breaking in itself, but that's another story ).