Disappearing merchants?

[aprezto]

What causes merchant ships to disappear?

I was not at war with anyone and had been sitting in the Baltic earning merchant fees. I had saved and returned to the game and noted that I suddenly had no merchant?

Has something killed it?
Is this an anomaly with saving (I cannot be certain this was conincidental or not)?
I have not bothered with looking if the merchants get damaged through storms and whatnot - she was at sea through blizzard turns???

[Anthropoid]

Not sure; I have let my concentration lapse while playing the game a few times, and then noticed my merchants had gone missing. I tend to suspect they get attacked by pirates, though it could also be that I lost mine during warfare, or bad weather. I know bad weather can knock out supply depots, so why not merchants too eh?

ADDIT: I think what it means when the merchant icon is "at sea" in a particular sea box is that you have trade routes going back and forth between your closest ports and that sea area/adjoining ports. I think the idea that a "merchant" is ONE ship is probably not an entirely realistic generalization. I'd guess it is more accurately thought of a small fleet of merchants that are contracted/licensed whatever to engage in regular trade routes of a particular regional nature.

"Loss" of a merchant unit thus could be that there was sufficient damage to enough ships, or enough ships lost that the company or whatever decides it is not worth it and disbands.

[aprezto]

I think that you get that the expanded info box (sorry don't know the real name for it) below the main screen usually shows multiple ships in its inventory - well that's how I've taken it. When you escape combat but take damage I have noted these to reduce in number.
 
I would have thought there would be some evidence, a note in events say, that your merchant had atrophied to such an extent it had ceased to be a going concern.
 
However, considering it took me about 25 turns to accumulate enough textiles to buy another, it is of some importance that I look after the one I start the game with! (sorry as Prussia)
 
As to pirates, usually you get a combat if it is against Privateers??? Unless you mean pirates are acting much like wear and tear?

[Anthropoid]

Honestly I'm not sure. My guess is that the lose of it is being reported somewhere, but I can't say where. Maybe a more knowledgeable dude will come along and answer shortly.

[ericbabe]

Merchants shouldn't just disappear.  They may be destroyed in combat with privateers.  (I agree that merchants -- and privateers even frigates -- are meant to be sort of an abstraction in the game; the player would need to manage thousands of ships, most of them smaller than sloops, were we to have implemented merchantmen more concretely.)  Do you have a save file that should have a merchant in it but does not?

[Anthropoid]

I tend to forget about them and leave them alone for several turns in a row. Then I get into a war, and I think the AI goes and sinks them.

[aprezto]

Oh this has definately happened to me (loss at war). But I was not at war when this one disappeared.

[aprezto]

ORIGINAL: ericbabe

Merchants shouldn't just disappear.  They may be destroyed in combat with privateers.  (I agree that merchants -- and privateers even frigates -- are meant to be sort of an abstraction in the game; the player would need to manage thousands of ships, most of them smaller than sloops, were we to have implemented merchantmen more concretely.)  Do you have a save file that should have a merchant in it but does not?

No I had intentions to do just that but I was using the default 'Napolean' save game file and inadvertently used it on a following game. A pity. If I catch it again I'll get one to you.

[aprezto]

HI Eric;
 
This has happened again. This time as Portugal. I don't have a before and after save but I do have an after. This is the first turn, and I had moved my merchant into the area one north of Lisbon. When I go back to the save to continue doing the first turn (didn't have time originally) it is gone.
 
 

[ericbabe]

Do you have an autosave file from before?  A save file after doesn't help very much unfortunately.

[aprezto]

Hi Eric;
 
I think that's a mechanism question back at you. Would there be an autosave if I hadn't hit end turn yet? This is still the first turn's orders.
 

[Joram]

No, there wouldn't be. Is the merchant just being hidden 'behind' other ships in the zones you are moving it to? Never seen anything like that before.

[aprezto]

No it is gone and I am no longer receiving merchant income - somewhat important for the Portugese