Trade route distance... should I make them shorter or longer?

[SheckyS]

Hi all,

Haven't had a huge amount of time to play BNW, yet, but I have a question maybe someone can help me with.

I'm trying to figure out if I should make my trade routes be longer or shorter (in terms of distance).

It seems to me that when I create a trade route, I get a certain amount of gold, science, etc. every turn and that the caravan makes the trade run a fixed number of times (looks like 3, but I could be wrong).

Since the gold and science benefit accrue each turn, then it seems to me that it makes sense to make your trade routes as short as possible so that the fixed number of runs elapses as soon as possible and you can re-create a new trade route, which might have higher yields, since your city and the destination city may have improved in the interim.

There was mention (by one of my advisers, I think) that trade caravans can make use of roads. This further reinforces my theory that you want your caravans to complete the trade route as fast as possible.

Shorter trade routes are also easier to defend, so that seems to be another reason to keep them short.

Does this seem right? Or do trade routes further away grant higher yields so they make up for the longer distance/time and increased risk?

 

[Calouste]

Trade routes last for a fixed number of turns, 30 on Standard. The length of the trade route doesn't have any influence on the yield (or the duration).

The only difference there is is that shorter trade routes are easier to defend against barbarians.

Extending the length of your trade routes with roads, Caravansarays and Harbors though, gives potential access to cities that might have a higher yield than the ones that are currently within distance.

 

[SheckyS]

Oh, I see.

So I guess the on-screen location of the caravan or cargo ship is irrelevant and the route itself can be attacked anywhere along it's length?

 

[Calouste]

Oh, I see.

So I guess the on-screen location of the caravan or cargo ship is irrelevant and the route itself can be attacked anywhere along it's length?

The on-screen location of the trade unit is not completely irrelevant. The route can be plundered at any point along its length, but if the trade unit itself can be attacked and destroyed as well.