Duke and I are caravan addicts!! I will always push for more caravans. We should be totally camel-ridden! Then later infested with freight!
Nobody needs a lecture on caravan importance, but simply stated they will help all areas of our nation.
Our SSC is tradeless right now. This is just plain Kooky
The only arguments for a bank are increased cash and a boost to happiness (which THDP may be needing with our first revolter).
However, with the shields used for a bank, we could make caravans. The science and cash bonus when an SSC caravan is delivered will be nice indeed, and the added trade to the city itself will provide more than any bank will! The extra arrows will also help the happiness as well! Should we trade with our own cities, then that city will have a nice, lucrative trade route set up with THDP.
To sum up: Three SSC caravans can quickly produce SIX very nice trade routes to help our nation thrive!
Further, caravans can be easier to incrementally rush-build, and I would advocate rush building 2-3 caravans ASAP.
By the way: Duke, would you care to be appointed Deputy Minister of Interior. I may have some travel for buisness here and there, and I would feel very comfortable having you take the reigns if needed.