Roland Johansen
Deity
What if Rambo just happens to hitch-hike and join the caravan bacause he's going in the same direction and he wants to go undercover. Your tank is doomed 

Originally posted by Gengis Khan
However this(for me at least) would severly limit trading in the ancient times. When I start 9/10 games I focus almost solely on pumpin out settlers as quick as possible. I don't even have enough units to protect my cities much less protect trade routes. Factor in that I normally am trading with 3-6 civs(standard/8 civs) within the first 20 turns.
These trades wouldn't be possible if I was having to protect all those routes, knowing full well that the computer wouldn't protect them seeing as you take the blame regardless who's caravan got attacted(something else that would have to be addressed if this was added)!
Originally posted by Benderino
I hope this hasn't been mentioned, but I've have this interesting idea for some time now. What if, when a trade agreement was brokered, ships (of caravans, if the two civs are on the same land together) move from your capital, or the largest port city, and a new one is created each turn (so that there will be twenty sent in all, one for each turn), and they each automatically head for the recipient of the goods. They have a movement of 3 or four or so. Maybe that can be increased as time passes and technology improves. The caravans and ships can change over time, from being mere triremes to cargo ships and steamers, or freights.
Oh, and in the modern age, it could be sent by planes. That way, people would have to protect their trade routes (very realistic, that's why I like it) and it would make navies more valued. If a cargo boat was attacked, the recipient might get angry that he's losing his resources.
The boat/caravans would have no attack, and a weak defense. Privateers would become much more significant. There could be highwaymen or merauders (landlubbing pirates) that can attack the land caravans.
And you wouldn't have to move these boats/caravans, they would go automatically (since they are private companies of course, you authoritarian you).
And the GPT or lump sum must also be sent by boat or whatever, so if an enemy ship attacks it and wins, that country gets the gold from that particular boat. So, if the GPT is 20, then each boat will cary 20 gold on it and there will be 20 cargo boats.
I think that will add a great dimension to diplomacy and trade. Any ideas?