The last month has seen me slipping into something of a ritual, driven by the evil, time-sucking game that is Trade Nations.
My morning sit on the bog would be extended as I made a couple of hundred trades. During the day there would be regular checks on status, and my pre-bed shower would be delayed by end of day trading.
A stupid waste of time; but still rather fun as I developed my little village into what I decided would be a monster wool-making enterprise.
The game has the usual levelling-up mechanics that are a feature of so many games; and by the time I reached level 40 (out of 60) there was not much left to do apart from making more money and trading endlessly to eventually reach the highest level.
So this morning I thought a mental “sod it” and deleted the game from my iPad and iPhone (although it will fester on the game servers forever). Before I said goodbye I captured my magnificent sheep farm.
Another obsession beaten; I wonder what will be next….
Comments 🔗
2011-08-31| MeMock saysNoooo you can’t do that! You are the one who got me hooked! I am now at level 21 and my wife has run out of hiding spots for the ipad - she hates it! You are like a drug dealer who is clean! The least you can do is give me some tips on how best approach levels 20 through to 40. I notice you had a few libraries - Are they the best money earners?
2011-08-31| Spike saysGet loads of neigbours (add your name to Trade Nations site and the Facebook page). Add other names you see there. I was up to 200+.
Never trade anything through your own shops or mills. Put all your production out as trades to your neighbours, you get the same materials back as you would have got had you done it yourself; plus XP.
Use this to track commodity prices: http://trade-nations.orbsis.nl/market-predictions.php
Sink all your cash at the end of the day into stuff that is going to increase in price, and then sell the next day (keep some back for trading while still making a profit). You will need to add storage for this to work quickly. Beans will buy you warehouses if you are prepared to use beans.
Always have the maximum number of shops allowable. Remember, never use them yourself; let your neighbours use them and you still get the gold and XP. Consider getting rid of the baker and flower shops and put in higher level shops to get more XP from them.
Accept every trade and check your neigbours list 2-3 times a day and place trades whenever you can.
Your production is essentially irrelevant. I only produced wool because I liked the look. You don’t actually need to produce anything at level 20, and you certainly shouldn’t mill/loom anything (everything out on a trade remember). Just play the market to make cash and build up stockpiles of goods to trade. I had 1.3 million gold and piles of goods when I stopped this morning.
That’s it! Good luck.
2011-08-31| MeMock saysWow - some good tips there many thanks! I like the commodity prices link. Your suggestions are totally opposite to what I was doing so I will start to change tack now.
2011-08-31| Wally saysSounds like this game is more challenging than Hearts and Solitaire !!
2011-08-31| Spike saysNot much. It’s actually too easy, once you work out how to progress.
2011-08-31| biggrtiggr saysAs a Welshman, I cannot comprehend why anyone would want to be rid of such a wonderful sheep farm. Surely the weren’t ALL ugly?
2011-08-31| Spike saysNo more virgins. A man must have standards.