Question about trading resources

[dec0y]

I read that you need to have a road from your own capital to their capital in order to trade resources, however I'm confused as to whether this means that I need a single DIRECT road from my capital to theirs, or can I simply connect to their capital by any of my cities?


In fact, do I even need to connect a road directly to their capital, or can I just connect to one of their cities (which is connected to their capital by their own road, not mine).

Hope this wasn't a confusing question.

 

[lymond]

Just connect to one of their cities. In fact, this can often connect you to other AIs on the other side of them if they are connected. Sailing is another way to get hooked up via coastal cities on your landmass.

edit: you need open borders too

 

[dec0y]

Thanks. Couple more questions though:

In my current game, I'm linked up to my neighbors capital. In the trade screen, I can see my resources but none of theirs.

Does the AI only trade their resources when they have more than one of them? Is this why I can't see anything on the trade screen, because they have no surplus?

 

[lymond]

It may be easier to check the "resources" tab in the diplo screen (F4 I think). This screen will show you if the trade network is in fact connected to that civ and what resources they are offering or what they might want from you.

 

[r_rolo1]

Thanks. Couple more questions though:

In my current game, I'm linked up to my neighbors capital. In the trade screen, I can see my resources but none of theirs.

Does the AI only trade their resources when they have more than one of them? Is this why I can't see anything on the trade screen, because they have no surplus?

First of all, the AI will only put in the screen the resouces it actually can sell ... and ,unless they are a vassal of yours, they will reserve to themselfes one source of the resource ( strangely the humans are not shielded like that, a thing that allows the AI to demand your only iron ) ... so, if they don't show resources in the trade screen might only mean they have nothing to sell

 

[dec0y]

First of all, the AI will only put in the screen the resouces it actually can sell ... and ,unless they are a vassal of yours, they will reserve to themselfes one source of the resource ( strangely the humans are not shielded like that, a thing that allows the AI to demand your only iron ) ... so, if they don't show resources in the trade screen might only mean they have nothing to sell

This is my question. What are the deciding factors to which resources show up on the trading screen? Do they only show the EXTRA resources that they have? Does the AI in this game NEVER trade (or even show) their resources on the trade screen unless they have a surplus of that resource (2 or more)?

I'm just trying to understand whats going on in this game, because I KNOW that my neighbor is hooked up to at least 5 resources, and yet, only one of them is showing up on his trade screen, and I cannot figure out why. Even if he may be unwilling to trade a specific resource, shouldn't it be showing up on the trade screen (but redded out if he doesn't want to trade it)?

 

[Codex]

This is my question. What are the deciding factors to which resources show up on the trading screen? Do they only show the EXTRA resources that they have? Does the AI in this game NEVER trade (or even show) their resources on the trade screen unless they have a surplus of that resource (2 or more)?

I'm just trying to understand whats going on in this game, because I KNOW that my neighbor is hooked up to at least 5 resources, and yet, only one of them is showing up on his trade screen, and I cannot figure out why. Even if he may be unwilling to trade a specific resource, shouldn't it be showing up on the trade screen (but redded out if he doesn't want to trade it)?

If you want to see the resources in a list, with the ones that won't be traded redded-out, talk to the leader directly. You'll see the full range of trade options, and if you mouse over something you might get useful information about why the leader won't trade that item.

 

[dec0y]

If you want to see the resources in a list, with the ones that won't be traded redded-out, talk to the leader directly. You'll see the full range of trade options, and if you mouse over something you might get useful information about why the leader won't trade that item.

You don't understand though, my problem is that when I talk to them, in the trade window, they only show one resource (and it also happens to be reddened out), when I KNOW that this neighbor has at least 5 other resources hooked up. My question is why are these other resources not being shown in the trade screen?

 

[iggymnrr]

They may not all be hooked up, already traded, or "may not like you enough."

 

[dec0y]

They may not all be hooked up, already traded, or "may not like you enough."

That's probably it.

Just to clarify though, so I DONT need to actually have a direct road from my capital to theirs in order to trade with them, right? It should be good enough to connect one of my non-capital cities to one of their non-capital cities, as long as these cities are both linked to their capitals... right?

And also, does the AI only trade surplus resources (when it has more than 1 of a resource), or are they actually willing to trade their single only resource if my offer is good enough?

 

[Fogia_fr]

edit: you need open borders too

Open borders is not needed for trading resources.

 

[Ataxerxes]

That's probably it.

Just to clarify though, so I DONT need to actually have a direct road from my capital to theirs in order to trade with them, right? It should be good enough to connect one of my non-capital cities to one of their non-capital cities, as long as these cities are both linked to their capitals... right?

And also, does the AI only trade surplus resources (when it has more than 1 of a resource), or are they actually willing to trade their single only resource if my offer is good enough?

Usually you don't need a direct road to capital. Sailing can make two coastal cities be part of the chain. Rivers can also give you trading opportunities. You should link your cities to your capital for this and several other reasons.

Regarding your last question: They will NOT trade their only resource unless they are your vassal. It doesn't matter how good an offer you give, the AI won't even consider it. Your vassals will trade anything, including their only resource.

 

[dec0y]

Usually you don't need a direct road to capital. Sailing can make two coastal cities be part of the chain. Rivers can also give you trading opportunities. You should link your cities to your capital for this and several other reasons.

Regarding your last question: They will NOT trade their only resource unless they are your vassal. It doesn't matter how good an offer you give, the AI won't even consider it. Your vassals will trade anything, including their only resource.

I'm just wondering though, even if the AI won't trade their only resource, should these single resources still be showing up on the trade screen (but reddened out)? Because for some reason, it's not showing up on my trade screen.

 

[z0wb13]

I'm just wondering though, even if the AI won't trade their only resource, should these single resources still be showing up on the trade screen (but reddened out)? Because for some reason, it's not showing up on my trade screen.

if the ai has 1 source of iron, it won't show up in the trade screen. if they have 2, it will show, but it might be redded out for various reasons. but if they then trade that second source away to another ai, i believe that it disappears from the trade screen until that deal ends or they find more resources.

wrt op, you need a direct route to their capital. so rivers and coasts (w/ sailing), or ocean (astro), or a direct road (wheel) will all work, as will combinations of all three. the ai will eventually connect all of its cities via road networks, so just connecting your capital to one of their boarder cities will in turn create a path to their capital, eventually. if you have open borders, you can even send in your own workers to build roads, but i think this would be a waste of your time in 99% of cases.

there is one weird exception to ocean trade routes pre-astronomy. if your culture goes out into the ocean, but borders the ai coastal tile (still water) you can trade resources and open trade routes even though technically you are crossing over a string of ocean tiles. it looks sort of like this:



LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
ccccccccccccccLcccccccccccccc
ooooooooooooocCcooooooooooooo
ooooooooooooocccooooooooooooo
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo <= not entirely impassable ocean tiles
ooooooooooooocccooooooooooooo (pre-astro)
ooooooooooooocCcooooooooooooo
ccccccccccccccLcccccccccccccc
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL



crude, yes, but i'm at work. anyways, the big C cities are located on the tips of two tile peninsulas. if your culture goes out over the ocean, you can benefit from foreign trade routes (w/ OB) but the ai does not. you can also send workboats to scout their territory early.