Matrix Games Forums

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???

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.

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?

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

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.
 
 

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

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.
 

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.

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