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Trader Mercenaries - Protect Traders Policy Card

Great! It works beautifully.
I keep it All The Time.

Thank you.

Ah I'm not sure if Conscription would reduce the cost of civilian units either, I just assumed it reduced it for all units. In any case it's a pretty interesting policy mod, and thanks for the effort!

> -3 for each era (Assuming it's modable?).
> Would it be possible to instead increase the trader's unit maintenance cost to 2GPT?

It's yes for both. I would say the latter is easier to implement (because it is simply setting a value), but I am not sure if that policy card would work for civilian unit (I have never seen civilian unit with maintenance). About more gold penalty per era, please check the previous discussion I had, it would take quite some effort to cost, and the Military Card slot is already very "costly" itself.

Instead of reducing the trade route income by -2GPT, would it be possible to instead increase the trader's unit maintenance cost to 2GPT?
This allows for another military policy to mitigate the cost a bit and also makes a bit more thematic sense.

There are a couple of city states that have the "unplunderable" effect. One for water tiles, and another for land tiles (can't remember which one for each, and neither appeared in the map I'm playing right now). Certainly, you have to be suzerain of those city states (and they need to be in your game), so this is a nice and balanced (at least at the earlier stages of the game) way to do that. :)
I agree that a static -2 isn't that much, and you already have the first trading civic card as +2 so... -3 for each era?
Assuming it's modable. :D

I'd like to add in some ideas. maybe like "Traders are immune to plunder if near a land unit (or land unit type) of a certain era for a number a tiles away" tho still forces you to get more units and put them to a location. but hopefully lowers the odd of losing them. also can add unit combat buffs if near trader units if thats okay. thus you can remove the negative gold for something more specific.

This is great!

Omg yes please, thank you for making this.

Sorry but in my ability from what I see the code, Trader is a beast of hidden code not exposed to modders. I attempted to change the movement speed and couldn't even do that. So I don't think a custom Trader unit is possible (someone corrects me if I am wrong please)

Now that is a nice idea. A different, protected trader unit. Defense values only, different units types for land - representing the mercenary guards and sea - 'cos we gotta' convoy. Have be a scaling defense value to match with your current tech level though.