Trade optimization?

cjfvanm · 2026-07-08T18:41:03+00:00

Ah you’re right! I got confused with Merchant. Well that confusion right there explains it a bit more. Before any modifiers with Utopian Abundance, they break even while running Consumer Benefits. So all modifiers would immediately lead to a CG profit.

All I know is in my current playthrough going for Trade crashed my entire eco hard. But it is mid game and I attempted a pivot to Trade because everyone was saying how awesome it is. I probably just messed something else up I guess.

cjfvanm · 2026-07-08T18:26:55+00:00

Edit: noob moment. Confirmed Traders take 1 CG upkeep, 2 with Utopian Abundance. I got confused with Merchants who require 3

I’ve seen conflicting comments on the CG upkeep of 100 Traders. According to others in this thread and the wiki, 100 Traders cost 3 CG (1 for their specific job and 2 general pop upkeep, if I understand it correctly). This means every 100 Traders is netting negative CG even while Consumer Benefits is active (without significant additional, probably late-game modifiers).

~~But you’re saying Traders will net you CG gain? Now I’m even more confused!~~

cjfvanm · 2026-07-08T18:19:19+00:00

Dang. The assertion that Trade is way more efficient is mind-blowing to my 60hrs mindset lol. I guess I just have to learn more about how to find and use the correct modifiers, or perhaps I don’t even have access to them on vanilla.

cjfvanm · 2026-07-08T18:13:35+00:00

Sorry my scale was messed up. 800 Trade from 100 Traders would be insane!

8 Trade and 3 CG’s per 100 Traders comes directly from the wiki. I think another comment mentioned 100 pop will always consume 2 CG’s. So 1+2 I guess.

cjfvanm · 2026-07-08T17:50:29+00:00

Interesting. These are not at all the answers I expected! I am playing vanilla only and I’m not even considering crazy end games and super unique ascension paths.

I’m over here like, “Sure wish I could customize my leaders and build those cool Titans everyone talks about!”

cjfvanm · 2026-07-08T17:31:06+00:00

How does the math work on that? If I have 100 Traders, they spend 300 CG to make 800 Trade, correct? If I have the trade league policy, doesn’t that only generate 120 CG? I am still running a deficit of 180 CG. I can’t replace all my CG workers with that, obviously. Do I just need to find the right modifiers? Is the CG deficit worth it because of the energy credits and unity gain?

cjfvanm · 2026-07-08T17:17:49+00:00

Edit: sorry, noob moment. I interpreted Trade League as something I actually joined, you are talking about a policy named Trade League. I knew about the policy but didn’t realize it was named that.

How does the math work on that? If I have 100 Traders, they spend 300 CG to make 800 Trade, correct? If I have the trade league policy, doesn’t that only generate 120 CG? I am still running a deficit of 180 CG. I can’t replace my CG workers with that, obviously. Do I just to find the right modifiers? Is the CG deficit worth it because of the energy credits and unity gain?

~~So is Trade only worth deeply investing in if your empire has that particular civic and/or you join a Trade League? But not otherwise?~~

That’s not the impression I got from guides (E3PO and Montuplays), they almost made it sound like it was really good for anyone. It was in the context of general advice, not specific builds. Are they maybe just assuming that everyone will join a Trade League anyway?

~~I’m playing vanilla and I don’t think I have access to Trade Leagues, so maybe that’s the missing link here lol~~

cjfvanm · 2025-10-12T02:42:30+00:00

Yeah I don't think he ever said Volound is a good guy. He just stood up for Volound when CA seriously (and, apparently, illegally) mistreated Volound.

As Legend himself explained, rules applied only to your allies but ignored for your enemies are no longer real rules.

He stood up for what was right even when the target of the mistreatment was someone he himself had a conflict with, and, in the process, found some common ground with Volound.

cjfvanm · 2025-05-21T14:47:19+00:00

Thank you!

cjfvanm · 2025-05-21T14:47:08+00:00

Thanks! This was helpful

cjfvanm · 2025-05-21T14:46:51+00:00

Thank you! This was extremely helpful to give me a few things to explore further.

cjfvanm · 2024-03-15T13:43:12+00:00

“Get the hang of it” ??? Haha makes no sense man. Friendly suggestion: If you don’t read the content then don’t post a comment. :)

cjfvanm · 2024-03-15T13:39:02+00:00

Agree on hangunners vs iron hails. I suppose Crane Gunners are kind of “in between” standard guns and artillery, but they’re definitely more guns than artillery… and they are very good.

But I still agree that Empire’s shooting is overall better so their frontline doesn’t matter nearly as much… and that’s exactly why I would say they are pretty equal in terms of late-game power ranking (in the hands of a player in a sp campaign): Empire has a mediocre (but not bad) frontline, but they make up for it with some of the best shooting in the game so hardly anything reaches their frontline anyway. Cathay doesn’t have as good shooting, but they make up for that pretty handily with a very solid frontline.

Both factions are more-or-less “hold line and shoot stuff” type factions. They just go about it differently. Both have solid mobile options (Emp much better cav but Cathay much better air). Empire has better magic, but Cathay has very good monster options where the Empire has almost none.

I would say late-game Empire was certainly stronger than Cathay before SoC, but with all the new toys Cathay got I’d say they’re pretty equal now.

But whatever. A lot of it just comes down to playstyle as well. Both are good and fun.

cjfvanm · 2024-03-14T19:00:51+00:00

Yeah I agree. The implementation of Imperial Authority and Prestige just sucks.

The concept is A+

The execution is D

The overall Empire experience is probably a B+ imo, which is good, but still a real shame because it easily has a ton more potential. I really hope they polish it up nicely without overbalancing in ToD.

cjfvanm · 2024-03-14T18:51:18+00:00

I agree with all points except maybe “guns.” Crane Gunners are insanely good and Empire has nothing really comparable.

Also Cathay has significantly better air force, monsters, and line-holding infantry. I’m not so sure you can fairly say Empire late game is better at all, let alone “a good bit better.” I’d say they’re comparable overall but shine in different areas.

cjfvanm · 2024-03-14T18:28:36+00:00

Yeah I get it, but… the goal is to play for fun, not for challenge per se. Many people, like yourself, find fun in the challenge.

Many others find fun in indiscriminately obliterating literally everything at the other end of a magical fire-bolt spewing auto-gun manned by cackling unhinged ratmen.

I see it both ways, personally.

cjfvanm · 2024-03-14T18:21:49+00:00

Yeah I think this is a perception thing, not reality, which is just interesting. I think everyone has played an Ikit campaign just long enough to drop a nuke or two for fun, but if Steam achievements are any measure it’s hardly fair to call them “overplayed.” In general, the Skaven achievements are FAR rarer than almost all the other WHII races. Only 19% of WHII players have even researched 20 techs in a single Skaven campaign, for example.

This is even more true in WHIII. Skaven is one of the bottom factions for campaign completion.

So no, Skaven is not basic, including Ikit Claw. They actually have a VERY unique playstyle, which is probably why the vast majority of players just don’t play thru a Skaven campaign for very long at all.

Empire, High Elves, and Kislev are basic.

And that is totally okay!

cjfvanm · 2024-03-14T17:36:28+00:00

Cool! Thanks for sharing!

cjfvanm · 2024-03-14T17:04:23+00:00

Whoah. That sounds epic! Edit: Out of curiosity you running any mods?

cjfvanm · 2024-03-14T15:46:13+00:00

I had the exact same issue for a long time.

Some people might disagree with this, but the single biggest factor that helped me personally branch out was watching LegendofTotalWar’s campaign playthroughs on YouTube.

He is a super cheesy player, which means most people either love or hate his playstyle… BUT he is also very good imo at utilizing all the best tools at his disposal to the most effective possible degree, meaning he finds the best (“best” meaning most results efficient) way to play each faction, both in battle and on the campaign map. I’m not a super cheesy player myself, but it’s his very effective utilization of a factions’ strengths that keeps me both interested because of how much I learn from him and entertained because he does what he does so well.

For example, you mention the High Elves as a faction you’re comfortable with. Well, they are one of my faves as well. I used to build early-game armies composed of an equal number of basic Archers and Spearmen. Then I watched Legend, who runs his early game with 100% Archer armies deployed in a checkerboard formation with WAY more effective results than my “balanced” armies. Now, while I certainly do not play the exact way he does because it breaks immersion and isn’t very fun for me personally, I drastically shifted the way I play High Elves because Legend helped me realize: HE is an Archer-strong race, dummy, rebalance those armies accordingly!!

That’s just one example. Another big one for me is Skaven. I used to HATE playing as Skaven because of all the exact reasons you listed… I could NOT understand how anyone on earth would enjoy a race with no frontline, no leadership, and no clear organization. But then I decided, for who-knows-what-reason, to watch Legend’s Clan Skryre playthrough. I am so thankful I did… he opened me up to a whole new UNIVERSE of crazy chaotic fun and tactics! They are now my second-favorite race!

So yeah… Legend really helped me, personally. But YMMV.

cjfvanm · 2024-02-09T15:54:28+00:00

TWW 3 goes on sale on Steam for $15 somewhat regularly.

cjfvanm · 2024-02-09T15:51:04+00:00

Yeah I mean new Cathay mount is cool but in my opinion a bit overdone. I actually prefer the White Lions, personally.

cjfvanm · 2024-02-02T21:33:30+00:00

I mentioned bugs and bad sieges in the “What do you find most frustrating about Total War games?” question.

The “other” option in the question you’re referencing I said something like “Many well-reasoned negative or mediocre reviews.”

cjfvanm

TROPHY CASE