question about trade routes...

[charon2112]

I'm a little confused how connecting cities for trade (foreign and domestic) works. Do I physically have to build a road between the cities, or does there need to be a river or a coast connecting them? Because it seems a few turns after building my second city, a window pops up that says they are now connected even though there is no physical connection.

Also, if I refuse an open border agreement with an AI, does that mean I can't trade with them? And if I do have open borders, do I need a physical connection via a road, river or a coast to trade?

Thanks.

 

[Shurdus]

Trade routes is a term commonly used to refer to the routes that grant commerce. The trade network is the connection between different cities.

Your trade network consists of those cities that are connected to each other. This connection can be realised by building a road in between two cities. Once you get sailing you can also use rivers and coasts to connect two cities. So if your capital and second city are on the same coast they will be connected without the need of a road.

When astronomy is available the cities that are across the ocean will also be connected with your trade network.

Foreign cities can also be connected to your trade network. In order to connect them you need to connect them in the very same way that your cities can be connected with each other too. You do need open borders with that neighbor though.

To sum it up, rivers, coasts and roads are ways to connect cities to the trade network. Later you can also connect cities across oceans. Cities that are connected will get trade routes with each other. These trade routed generate In order for cities to be connected they can use any combinations of the mentioned meanss. So a city with a road leading up to a river that leads down the other side of the continent and then there is a road leading from the other side of the river to a city is a way of making these two cities connected!

 

[charon2112]

Well that's strange, because my first two cities always connect themselves well before I get any roads.

Also, in my current game, I can trade with England, but England is no where near me, definitely NOT physically connected in any way, but I can trade resources and techs, all kinds of stuff.

Trade routes is a term commonly used to refer to the routes that grant commerce. The trade network is the connection between different cities.

Your trade network consists of those cities that are connected to each other. This connection can be realised by building a road in between two cities. Once you get sailing you can also use rivers and coasts to connect two cities. So if your capital and second city are on the same coast they will be connected without the need of a road.

When astronomy is available the cities that are across the ocean will also be connected with your trade network.

Foreign cities can also be connected to your trade network. In order to connect them you need to connect them in the very same way that your cities can be connected with each other too. You do need open borders with that neighbor though.

To sum it up, rivers, coasts and roads are ways to connect cities to the trade network. Later you can also connect cities across oceans. Cities that are connected will get trade routes with each other. These trade routed generate In order for cities to be connected they can use any combinations of the mentioned meanss. So a city with a road leading up to a river that leads down the other side of the continent and then there is a road leading from the other side of the river to a city is a way of making these two cities connected!

 

[Stolen Rutters]

I noticed that too. When my first city and second city culture overlaps, i get a trade route. The farther you go, you do need a road or coast.

...and for a foreign trade route connection, all you need is the edge of your culture to reach the coast, and the coast to be unbroken (fully explored) to their cultural border and you can get a trade route. Are you sure they haven't placed a city where you already explored but you haven't updated the map by sending another unit that way yet?

 

[charon2112]

You know, there is a place where our cultural borders touch...Is that enough of a connection?

I noticed that too. When my first city and second city culture overlaps, i get a trade route. The farther you go, you do need a road or coast.

...and for a foreign trade route connection, all you need is the edge of your culture to reach the coast, and the coast to be unbroken (fully explored) to their cultural border and you can get a trade route. Are you sure they haven't placed a city where you already explored but you haven't updated the map by sending another unit that way yet?

 

[Stolen Rutters]

You know, there is a place where our cultural borders touch...Is that enough of a connection?

As long as the cultural chain reaches the capital it should be enough. I haven't tested it with a city near the enemy (touching the cultural borders of an isolated city for instance).

The way I found out that culture works to give trade routes was building a second city and seeing the trade route show up the very turn the border expansion connected the second city to the culture of the capital (I had not researched wheel or sailing yet). I guess it would work for foreign cities too.

I never tested to see if I could chain it through a third city but I don't see why not. I get some strange connections at a distance that don't seem to be connected by roads or open coast so I figured it was due to cultural links.

 

[Ghpstage]

What your experiencing is a special exception to the trade across water and rivers rules. If your culture links 2 or more cities together AND they can connect via coast or river that does not pass outside your culture, a network is formed even if you do not have sailing.

This also applies to ocean tiles pre astronomy, but only 1 tile into the ocean as thats as far as borders can reach. You can also cross those ocean tiles with galleys, triremes and fishing boats

The first doesn't apply to international trade though, but the second *can* provided it is your culture that is controlling the centre ocean tile (coast-ocean-coast). It allows you to gain trade routes while the other civ can't. It also allows you to invade while the other civ can't get you back.

 

[Stolen Rutters]

What your experiencing is a special exception to the trade across water and rivers rules. If your culture links 2 or more cities together AND they can connect via coast or river that does not pass outside your culture, a network is formed even if you do not have sailing.

And of course my test was on the coast. Doh. You may be right. I will have to repeat it inland to verify it was your coastal exception and not a general exception to cultural borders like I initially thought.

 

[DanF5771]

Going to the Globe View (F11) and toggling the display of different trade groups can help to clarify network connections. You may also want to check out Krikkitone's strategy article about trade route mechanics -- I posted some descriptive examples in there on page#4.

 

[guenzak]

Well that's strange, because my first two cities always connect themselves well before I get any roads.

Also, in my current game, I can trade with England, but England is no where near me, definitely NOT physically connected in any way, but I can trade resources and techs, all kinds of stuff.

If i'm not mistaken the trading of resources and tech is strictly through diplomacy and has nothing to do with trade routes. Trade routes are for . Can someone verify my thoughts?..I dont want ot give incorrect feedback

 

[Willem]

Once you get sailing you can also use rivers and coasts to connect two cities. So if your capital and second city are on the same coast they will be connected without the need of a road.

You don't need Sailing if both cities and the route are within your cultural border.

 

[Willem]

You know, there is a place where our cultural borders touch...Is that enough of a connection?

As long as there's a city there that is either on the coast or on a river that you both use.

 

[Willem]

If i'm not mistaken the trading of resources and tech is strictly through diplomacy and has nothing to do with trade routes. Trade routes are for . Can someone verify my thoughts?..I dont want ot give incorrect feedback

Techs yes, but resources need some sort of trade connection. That's why you can't trade with any overseas civ until you get Astronomy.