Trade

Overview

Cities in Foundation can trade with neighbouring settlements. When a trade route is opened by paying a certain amount of resources or Influence, Tradersfrom that settlement will start to visit the player's city roughly every two weeks. The resources that the town offers for trade will also become available for marking for import or export in the Resources page of the Royal Book.

If no tradeable resources of that trade route have been marked for import or export, the trader will simply walk across the map from entry to exit. If a resource has been marked for trade, the trader will attempt to visit Warehouses or Granaries that have slots for that resource, and buy or sell up to their limit.

Traders can only buy or sell resources from a Granary or Warehouse that has been assigned to store the resource in question; any goods in the Village Center, a production building, a Market, or in transit are considered unavailable for trade.

Import/Export and Limits

Players can control which resources they import and export in the Resources page of the Royal Book, by toggling the up (import) and down (export) arrows on each resource row. The number bar next to the import and export arrows controls the amount of resources that are traded.

If the resource is set to import, traders will attempt to sell resources until the player's total stock of that resource reaches the stated number. However, if the player runs out of gold or the trader reaches his maximum tradeable volume before that, he will stop trading that resource until his next visit.

If the resource is set to export, traders will attempt to buy resources in the player's stock that are surplus to the stated number. Again however, the trader will stop trading for that resource when he reaches his maximum tradeable volume, until his next visit.

Information Panels

Each trade route panel shows information on the city and its allegiance, the resources available for purchase and sale from that city, and the prices. At the bottom of each panel is a bar showing information about that trade route's level, tradeable volume per resource type, and the required volume of trade before the next level becomes available.

Allegiances

Each trade route is allied with one of the Estates; Labour, Clergy or Kingdom. Some factors in the game, such as Quests, can result in bonuses or penalties to all trade routes with a given Allegiance.

Resources and Prices

The resources offered for purchase or sale in each trade route are the same in every game. The prices may change depending on the game Rules that the player has chosen. Additionally, actual profit and loss can be affected by trade bonuses or penalties as a result of Quests or Bailiff/Emissary/Courtier effects, but these effects will not change the visible prices on the trade route panels.

Volumes and Level Upgrades

At the bottom of each panel is a bar showing information about (from left to right) that trade route's level, tradeable volume per resource type, and the required volume of trade before the next level becomes available.

The tradeable volume per resource type (middle of the information bar) is the amount of each resource that can be traded each time the trader visits. For example, if a player wishes to sell Planks to Northbury and the tradeable volume number is 25, the trader will only buy 25 planks even if the player has more available to sell. Similarly, the trader will only sell 25 tools, even if the player has set the import level at a higher number.

All trade routes start at Level 1, and can only be upgraded once the player has reached a given volume of monthly trade with that city, indicated by the number on the right of the information bar. This volume can consist of any combination of imports and exports in any resources. For example, if the number shows 50, the player can buy 25 tools and sell 25 planks within a month in order to meet this requirement.

Once this volume has been reached, after some time a messenger will visit the city and invite the player to upgrade the trade route, which increases the tradeable volume of that route. Level upgrades must be paid for with a certain amount of resources or Influence, depending on the trade route allegiance and level. Upgrades are completed through tasks in the Mandates page, which must be assigned to the Bailiff, Monastic Emissary or Royal Courtier, depending on the trade route.

Trade Routes

Northbury

"	Established deep within a thick forest, Northbury welcomes all with a warm heart.	"

Northbury costs 20 Planks to unlock and is allied with the Labour Estate.

Items and Prices

Buy from them		Sell to them
Item	Price each	Item	Price each
Tools	6	Cheese	4
Cloth	4	Polished Stone	3
Berries	2	Planks	1
Berry Brew	3	Wine	5
Honey	10	Herbs	3
Wax	2	Gold Ore	4
Candle	10	Gold	7
Barrel	6	Meat	3

Myddle

"	The golden hills of Myddle are home to the prettiest sunsets.	"

Myddle costs 20 Common Clothes to unlock, and is allied with the Clergy Estate.

Items and Prices

Buy from them		Sell to them
Item	Price each	Item	Price each
Coal	2	Glass	3
Iron	5	Barrel	3
Wheat	3	Common Clothes	2
Bread	4	Tools	3
Grapes	4	Fish	1
Wine	10	Marble	5
Hops	2	Jewelry	10
Beer	5	Berry Brew	1

Davenport

"	First renowned for its elegant ships, Davenport's bay has since become a fruitful trade centre.	"

Davenport costs 20 Bread to unlock, and is allied with the Kingdom Estate.

Items and Prices

Buy from them		Sell to them
Item	Price each	Item	Price each
Fish	2	Boar	2
Herbs	6	Honey	5
Common Wares	8	Wax	1
Gold Ore	8	Candle	5
Gold	15	Bread	2
Quartz	2	Hops	1
Glass	7	Beer	2
Marble	10	Gems	7

Trotbury

"	Full of artisans, the bustling town of Trotbury is the definition of opulence.	"

Trotbury costs 15 Icon does not exist to unlock, and is allied with the Labour Estate.

Items and Prices

Buy from them		Sell to them
Item	Price each	Item	Price each
Logs	2	Common Clothes	2
Stone	3	Common Wares	4
Boar	4	Glass	3
Meat	6	Barrel	3
Iron Ore	3	Polished Stone	3
Coal	2	Gold	7
Gems	15	Bread	2
Jewelry	20	Fish	1

Kinstone Abbey

"	The thriving Abbey of Kinstone seeks the betterment of all followers of the Faith.	"

Kinstone Abbey costs 15 Clergy Influence to unlock and is allied with the Clergy Estate.

Items and Prices

Buy from them		Sell to them
Item	Price each	Item	Price each
Barrel	6	Herbs	3
Common Clothes	5	Honey	5
Stone	3	Wax	1
Polished Stone	6	Grapes	2
Meat	6	Wine	5
Gems	15	Berries	1
Iron	5	Vegetables	1
Cheese	8	Hops	1

Castle Harbour

"	The fortified haven of Castle Harbour trades in wonders of distant realms.	"

Castle Harbour costs 15 Kingdom Influence to unlock and is allied with the Kingdom Estate.

Items and Prices

Buy from them		Sell to them
Item	Price each	Item	Price each
Steel	16	Coal	1
Jewelry	20	Iron Sword	5
Herbs	6	Shortbow	5
Tools	6	Spear	5
Polished Stone	6	Marble	5
Cloth	4	Quartz	1
Iron	5	Gold Ore	4
Fish	2	Planks	1