User Manual

Expeditions will raise your standing – the Hanseatic League respects venturesome traders.
However, promising discoveries won’t remain a secret for long. They will be announced in the
Guild (see chapter 10).
Trade: your daily Business
This chapter will give you some hints on trade between cities, which not only includes the buying
and selling of merchandise at good prices, but also production, storage, and transportation.
Trade between Cities
As a trader of the Hanseatic League, you concentrate on trade between its cities. Trade is based
upon the fact that each city’s production is limited to certain commodities, while the population
demands that the entire line of goods be available. As you know, the population is made up of
poor, well-to-do, and rich citizens plus a number of beggars, who are particularly attracted to
flourishing cities.
Always pay attention to the happiness of the citizens! Click on the citizen icon in the caption bar
to view their statistics. This includes the number of beggars, which rises and falls with the
happiness of the poor. If the poor aren’t satisfied, homeless people won’t dare to come into town.
A city needs beggars as workers for newly established businesses. You will learn more about the
different social classes in the next chapter, so we will now concentrate on the goods that
determine their happiness.
All goods can be grouped into foodstuffs, luxury goods, and consumer goods that are needed in
different proportions by the three groups. The well-to-do are at an intermediate level. They
require everything, but in small amounts.
Foodstuffs
Corn, fish and beer are most important for the lower segment of the population. Since that part
of the population is a majority, you will quickly earn a reputation if you supply these goods. In
contrast, meat and wine are consumed primarily by the rich and the well-to-do.
Consumer Goods
Consumer goods include wool, skins and timber for the poor, as well as cloth, train oil and furs
for the richer citizens. Hemp, salt and iron goods are not needed as much, but the basic demand
must still be met.
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