The luxury markets

[GePap]

This is a report from 380 ad, though some of the information will remain valid for some time.

Luxuries are an important asset of both our economy and foreign relations. In the following Post, I annalyse the possible markets of each of the luxuries.

First of all, We do not know of any sources of Silks, furs, or Gems. We must assume they are the perview of the civs we have yet to meet, or possible sources may be elsewhere. It should be an imperative to find and gain direct control of these goods- to avoid having to pay great prices for them, and to sell at high prices to others.

The Wine Market: There are 15 sources of wine known- Rome is the biggest producer, with 4, The Aztecs have 3 Apolyton,England, and the Iriquois have 2, Germany and Greeks each have 1. Possible importers overall: Russia, france, persia, Americans, Babylonians.
Market Annalysis: This is a weak market. The Aztecs, Iriquios, Americans, and Persians are not connected to any trade routes. So, while one possible large exporter is out, 2 of the possible importers are also. In short, the market faces a glut, and unless civs. accross the sea lack wine, the market for this good is limited. We sell to france,and England may possibly sell to Russia.

The Dye Market: there are 13 known sources, with Apolyton, Russia and Iriqouis the only producers. All other civs possible importers. We have one competitor, Russia, with only one source to trade- perhas trading as is to England for Wine. We are currently exporting 4 units, have 2 left internally, and have yet to connect 4 other units. Unless a major source is found elsewhere, we will hold a near monopoly on this luxury.

The Ivory Market: There are 11 known sources of ivory, The greeks hold 7, Rome 2, the Aztecs and England 1. So, there are two possible exporters, and 8 possible importers. Of these, 3, Persia, America, and The Iriquios are not connected. This leaves babylon, ourselves, Russians, and the Germans. As is greece may be exporting to Germany. We import from Rome, using up all their excess capacity. Thus, Greece may have makets in babylon and Russia open to them. Their problem is that much of this capacity has yet to be connected at all. Once it is, this might be a significant source of income, but a much weaker monopoly than the dye one.

Incense Market: Currently there are 11 sources. The Americans lead with 5, three for the Persians, Rome, babylon, and Russia all either have, or may soon have 1 source. Since neither of the two main producers is currently connected to the trade routes- the market for Incense does not exist. Possible buyers include the Aztecs, Iriqouis (themselves not connected), Germany, Greece, England and ourselves. Obviously we plan to conquer the two production centers. Once we do, we will have a total monopoly on the export market of incense, again, barring any major sources elsewhere.

Spice market: There are 11 known sources: 5 Aztec, 3 Persian, Rome and the Iriqouis both have 1 in their territory, and one source between Aztec and Persian sources. Again, the main producers are not connected, so there is no market to speak of. America (not connected), greece, germany, England, France, Russia, are all possible importers. If we take the Persia center of production, we would become the sole possible exporter, though once the Aztecs connected all their sources (almost all their spice is unconnected) and linked thier capitol by road, they will become the cnetral merchants in this luxury.

Also look for the new Foreign civs report, in the Foreign Office thread, to be updated tonight (from zero currently).

[GhengisFarb™]

You missed a dye. The Iroquois city St Regis is ON a dye resource.

[Duddha]

We could capture the insense market with our war with Persia and a future war with America.

[GePap]

Originally posted by GhengisFarb
You missed a dye. The Iroquois city St Regis is ON a dye resource.

thnaks for the correction.

[Shiber]

Very good analysis GePap!
I would like to point out that the Iroquois have built a harbor in Grand River and will be connected to the trade network as soon as that city is connected to their capital (requires them to dig 3 road tiles). Once they are connected we'll be able to sell them dyes and wines unless they connect their own tiles (which I suppose would take them a while). We might also consider selling them any spare iron that we come by so we can strengthen them against the Romans.

[joncnunn]

There won't be a major source of Wines in the lost contientant with 15 sources here. In fact, the only form of alcoholic consumption over there is probably beer from wheat, which doesn't seem to make citizens as happy as wine does.

Still, until Navigation is discovered, it's going to be very weak here.

The major sources of the "lost luxaries" is the lost contientant, and can't be traded for until Navigation.

(Edit for new source of wine found.)

[BigFurryMonster]

We need to build a city on the Incense resource near the American city of Chicago. This way, we will have Incense much sooner than after a war with the Americans. If, in the time between Persian war and the American war some Civ tries to attack us, we won't have to wage war on two fronts.

[=OttomusCeasar=]

Originally posted by BigFurryMonster
We need to build a city on the Incense resource near the American city of Chicago. This way, we will have Incense much sooner than after a war with the Americans. If, in the time between Persian war and the American war some Civ tries to attack us, we won't have to wage war on two fronts.

We're like ADJACENT to Persia's incense. We'll have incense from Persia long before a settler would ever come close to America

[Aggie]

I anticupate taking bactra and the incense no later than 410(probably 400).
Aggie

[GePap]

The original post has been edited to tak into account Ghengis correction, and a finding on my own that the Iriqouis have 2 wine sources, not one. joncnunn's point is probaby even more valid now.

[joncnunn]

Hum, 13 Dye, room for 1 major source over on the lost contienant, but doughtful.

Almost everybody that wants Dye will have to talk to us.

Some, but not all, of the 11 known luxaries will have a major concentrated source (3+ within a City Radius) somewhere else on the map.

I suspect that the lost contienant is probaly close to one of the poles and contains a lot of tundra (and forest overlay) given the patern of "lost luxaries".

[=OttomusCeasar=]

Originally posted by joncnunn
I suspect that the lost contienant is probaly close to one of the poles and contains a lot of tundra (and forest overlay) given the patern of "lost luxaries".

I seriously doubt that, it would go against most of the maps I've seen Civ3 generate. There should be at least one civ on a large island all by itself and the others will be on a continent about 1/8 to 1/2 the size of ours.

[joncnunn]

Hum, the Large map I saw Civ 3 generate had 9 civs on the largest contientant, and the other 3 civs on a smaller contient. There were a few other tiny islands that no one started on.

I have also been placed on Australia on the earth map that came from the game and reached for the restart button quickly. On the restart, nobody was unforunate to be there with 3 civs starting in the Americas and 5 on the Europe - Asia - Africa landmass.