- vor 7 Wochen
Erik Schultz
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00:02Hello there, I'm Erik from Black Duke Games and today I'll be showing you Round and Rise of the Merchants,
00:09an economic, political and trading simulation set in medieval Europe, which you might have guessed by the looks already.
00:17You start off as a merchant in a run-down settlement, which you can tell by the ruins scattered all
00:23over the place. I already gave my merchant a face, a name and with some starting conditions. My starting settlement
00:31is Frankenhof, so let's help it thrive.
00:35Now, my aim is to turn this little settlement into a bustling trading hub and eventually become influential governor. For
00:43that, we need to boost our reputation with the settlers by fulfilling their demands.
00:48At the produce exchange, we can see the goods that are needed here. Since we got only about 20 settlers
00:55living here, three units will suffice to fulfill a demand.
00:58But as the town grows, the demand will grow as well. And for starters, we already have a quest, which
01:07tells us to hire someone and purchase stone from Silvertal.
01:12Potential workers are found in the guild house, so let's pay the visit.
01:17Here we have our potential workers, with all different age, skills and abilities. I want to hire three of them,
01:25two carriers and a guard.
01:26I'll pick Friedberg, because he's the strongest of the bunch, although not that strong.
01:32Carrier two will be Loray, because she's just younger than 90.
01:40And for the guard, Valtrude is a good fit, because she has the most combat experience and can hear the
01:46bandits from a mile away.
01:52So, let's create our first convoy. I'm picking a symbol first, so I can distinguish it. That'll come in handy
02:00when we have a whole fleet of them.
02:03Convoys can consist of carriers, pack animals, hauling teams with carts and wagons and guards, of course.
02:13So, we're gonna pick the settlers we just hired and assign them.
02:19Our newly assembled convoy has a range of 40 fields, a capacity of 8, is fully rested and is sufficiently
02:27protected against bandits, I hope.
02:29But Valtrude will do a good job, I think.
02:32Let's go to the trading menu to get our folks on the way.
02:36Here, you have all the settlements you can trade with, the goods they offer and how far away they are.
02:43Our aim is to get stone from Silberthal, so let's go there first.
02:48Now, we entered the route planner and we can see the path our convoy is about to take.
02:54We're crossing 8 fields and various types of terrain, all having an impact on the journey.
03:00So, for example, mountainous fields take a bigger toll on vehicles, while wooded fields have a higher chance of an
03:06ambush.
03:07But it's only one field and our convoy is well guarded.
03:11And the way is relatively short, so I'm not making too much fuss about it.
03:15Let's go.
03:18While the convoy is on its way, I'll show you around in the Shire.
03:22You're one of 15 settlements, all played by other merchants and all separated by different distances and types of terrain.
03:30The center of the Shire is the Earl's Court.
03:33You can do quite a few interesting things here, but we'll get to that.
03:38Later on in the game you'll be trading settlements outside your Shire as well, but for now let's focus on
03:44ours.
03:45Our convoy has made its way to Silbertal, so let's start trading.
03:50First things first, we're getting the stone required for the quest.
03:54I'm buying 4 units to split the capacity evenly.
03:58I'm getting some iron ore as well to fulfill another demand.
04:02Alright.
04:03The convoy is fully loaded, so let's send it home.
04:07See you back in Frankenhof.
04:09We're back at home and I'm selling the purchased goods right away.
04:12You'll achieve the best price by fulfilling that initial demand.
04:16After that it goes down a bit.
04:18But for now I'm okay with that.
04:20And as you can see we reached a point from where the satisfaction goes up.
04:25It's easy in the beginning, but it gets tougher later on as more people enter your settlement.
04:30I'll send out my convoy again off screen to make some more coin and increase that reputation even further.
04:37Alright, let's finish the quest.
04:40We got a blueprint for a tavern as a reward.
04:43Nice.
04:43But I'll get to that later.
04:45Because now that we made our first trades, let's focus on production.
04:49Which is part of the next quest as well.
04:52Luckily we already have our first temporary production buildings.
04:56The ruins I mentioned earlier will provide some resources until they're dismantled.
05:01We can deploy workers in the ruins to get clay, wood and stone.
05:05The strength of a worker increases the speed of production and the dexterity will increase quality of the resources.
05:11So let's check the guild house again.
05:14There's only Nante left.
05:16She's not that strong but dexterous.
05:19But let's give it a shot.
05:27Now that we put a worker in, you might wonder why the gear isn't turning.
05:31In order for things to progress, we have to complete the payroll period and enter the next one.
05:37So let's check it out.
05:38As you do so, you get a summary of the goods you provided, how many people you still can employ
05:44or if you have workers assigned to your production buildings.
05:48After entering the next payroll, settlers and convoys will be fully rested.
05:52Goods will be produced for 20 minutes and new folks will show up in the guild house.
06:00And as you can see, the gear in the ruin is turning.
06:04I've put in another worker so we get things done faster.
06:07Still not that efficient but acceptable.
06:10In the future, I'll swap the workers so that goods of a higher quality will be possible.
06:16With these, much more coin can be made.
06:18But for starters, common goods work just fine.
06:22And we still have the tavern left to build.
06:24So off to the build menu.
06:26Here we have the administrative buildings, the production buildings and buildings that still can be unlocked.
06:34Let's go back to the top where the tavern is.
06:38Let's place it somewhere.
06:40Close to the residential buildings is just fine for me.
06:44Here we go.
06:51Now in the tavern, you can meet some of the folks of your town.
06:54Invite them for a drink and get to know them.
06:57They might reveal their true potential.
07:00Eventually all the guests here are inhabitants of the same settlement.
07:04So they might show up in the guild house where you can hire them.
07:07And you can make them a gift if you find a hint in the text.
07:10And that way you can gain a valuable favor and send settlers to special missions.
07:15I'll be visiting time and time again throughout the game.
07:17But don't overdo it, since the town folk might think you're a drunk if you do so.
07:24So just when I was about to resume trading, I stumbled onto an event in the marketplace.
07:29Let's see.
07:31A person in need.
07:32Seems like a beggar is smelling coin.
07:35Okay.
07:35Now I've got a few choices.
07:37If I give a generous donation, the risk of theft in the settlement will increase significantly.
07:43But reputation with the settler and the settlement will rise.
07:47Hmm.
07:49Bernal seems to be an intelligent fella.
07:51I think I'm on the middle ground here.
07:54Cause if I ignore him, he might get aggressive, I reckon.
07:57Now the risk of theft is slightly increased.
08:01Because people saw that I'm generous.
08:03On the other hand, my reputation with him increased.
08:06Maybe I'll see him in the guild house one day.
08:09It may be worth the coins I spent.
08:11Now we see the events effect pinned up here.
08:14Different events will happen from time to time.
08:17But now let me keep on grinding.
08:19So I've been trading, fulfilling another quest.
08:22And I was able to build a church.
08:24Which helps settlers overcome grief faster.
08:26Which happens if they lose someone.
08:29And I was able to build a stable.
08:31Since I chose livestock breeder as a starting condition, animals will be cheaper for me.
08:36I'll buy the donkey first.
08:38So I can haul in more goods and get more distance.
08:43And the new settlers in the ruins seem to put in a good shift.
08:46They produce fast and in high quality even.
08:49But my warehouse is almost full.
08:51So let's upgrade it.
08:53I'm going to reinforce the interior walls.
08:55That'll make room for more goods.
08:57I'll be doing that quite a few times.
08:59Once we really start producing.
09:02In the meantime, I've seen that there's a quest from the Earl's Court.
09:06They want me to deliver a treasure chest from Blauburg to Kaltenbach.
09:11I have already sent a well guarded convoy.
09:14But let's hope no bandits cross our path.
09:18So let's load that chest on our convoy and off we go.
09:24Phew.
09:25Lucky me.
09:26No ambush this time.
09:28So let's deliver that chest.
09:31Alright.
09:32We're getting reputation with the Earl, or Countess in this case.
09:35And a most valuable crown gilder.
09:37I'll show you how to make use of it later.
09:46Because more importantly, by completing that quest we fulfill chapter 1.
09:50And get the blueprint for the town hall.
09:52Where we can take part in elections and gain more influence.
09:56Hit it.
09:57Now, I could have done it the political way or even the sinister way.
10:02But I saw the quest and took my chance.
10:05Next up is the market concession.
10:06You know what?
10:08Since we gained reputation with the nobility, let's put it to good use.
10:12You remember the bandit camps I told you about?
10:15Their camps will appear at often used trading routes.
10:18And they'll grow if nothing is done about them.
10:20Before sending my convoy, I'll have this bandit camp cleared.
10:24And that's not just beneficial for me, but also for all the other merchants in the Shire.
10:28Now we have safe passage and on top, we're getting a wooden crate.
10:35Back in the settlement, all convoys returned safe and sound.
10:39Hence I made a pretty penny.
10:41And directly reinvested some of the coins to build another residential building.
10:45So, more people moved in, meaning we'll have more workforce available.
10:50Now I'll get the manalords privileges, meaning I can hire additional workers.
11:02And let's not forget about the crate we just got.
11:05Let's open it in the warehouse.
11:09We have some quality bread, simple jewelry and a bronze sewing needle set,
11:14which I can use as a gift.
11:16And some coins on top.
11:18Not too bad.
11:19But much more important than the chest is the fact that I built a town hall.
11:23Here you have an overview of your economic balances, like at the end of a payroll,
11:28and your political stats.
11:30But the main thing is to take part in elections.
11:33I applied for the warden of works, because by choosing that,
11:36buildings are cheaper and production speed is increased.
11:40And I want to produce stuff.
11:42Now here we have the approval rates, which aren't in my favor right now to be honest.
11:46I still need 15 secured votes to get there at office.
11:50I can give a speech, addressing different topics to gain more votes in one go.
11:56Or I can talk directly to a settler and try different options.
12:04Like bribe, threaten, dismissal or persuade.
12:08Now I really gotta take care and make sure to pick the right thing.
12:12I'll be back after doing some convincing.
12:16The election is over, I did good work, and I am now warden of works.
12:21So let's make good use of it and start producing.
12:26Now I'm using the crown gilder I've earned before and spend it at the crowns market at the earl's court.
12:33Here I can get special production buildings as well as upgrades.
12:37I'm going for the smokehouse, since it's quite versatile.
12:40And I know that I can efficiently catch fish in my home settlement.
12:44So that's a good start for a production chain.
12:49So, after some trading I earned enough coin to build a fishing hut and the smokehouse.
12:55And with the help of some skilled workers, I was not just able to produce smoked fish, but the quality
13:01version of it.
13:01I'm a bit excited, cause as it happens, this ware is in high demand at the earl's court.
13:07And oh boy, we can kill two birds with one stone here.
13:10Because by that we can finish chapter 2, get the market concession and make a good profit.
13:16So let's pack the convoy and off we go.
13:20So let me load the quality smoked fish on my best convoy, plus a few units of the normal one
13:26for extra profit.
13:29This improved convoy can travel quite far, has good defense and features an ox and a cart, which increase distance
13:38and capacity.
13:39And let's hope the smell of the smoked fish doesn't attract any bandits.
13:43So let's get our convoy on its way, and see you at the earl's court.
13:49Ah, dammit. Apparently the smoked fish smelled too good, and of course the convoy gets ambushed close to the earl's
13:56court.
13:57Let's see.
13:59Ah, we're slightly superior.
14:01Come on, here goes nothing.
14:07Yes, well done lads.
14:09Now let's continue the travel and sell our goods.
14:12Alright, I sold the quality goods at the earl's court, so now it's time to get that market concession.
14:20Hello again. I've been a busy merchant, and as you can see, Frankenhof prospered and I expanded the settlement quite
14:29a bit.
14:29I established various production chains, for example growing grain, grinding it in the mill, and then turning that flour into
14:39bread at the bakery.
14:40I also built more residential buildings, allowing more people to move in, and thus increasing the number of workers.
14:47By doing that, I was able to really ramp up trade and production.
14:53On top of that, I now command a fleet of convoys with pack animals, wagons and guards that roam the
15:01shire to increase my wealth.
15:03And on the outskirts of the settlement, I built the den of thieves.
15:07Let me show you what's up with that.
15:09Now here, you'll find the most devious settlers of your town.
15:13And you can interact with them, just like in the tavern.
15:17But most importantly, it's the place where the player versus player aspects of our game is controlled.
15:23Available right now are arsenal tax, rat infestation and theft.
15:28I'm going with a good old rat infestation, but I'm choosing another settler who fits the job.
15:33Lambrecht is a good choice. And he owes me a favor, just like the others here.
15:38Turnhorns chances, I'm equipping him with an iron cauldron that I got in store, so he can carry more rats.
15:44Our targeted settlement has no night watch.
15:46So the odds of not getting caught or ending up in a duel with the guards are even more in
15:51our favor.
15:52Of course, I have a night watch myself, for a better protection against sabotage.
15:57And the neat thing is, as long as you don't have a den of thieves, you're not part of that
16:01whole intrigue.
16:02So it's fully optional, but I want some action.
16:05Now, if everything goes smoothly, we'll be rewarded with reputation, a most valuable crown gilder and points for upgrades.
16:12Let's start the mission, shall we?
16:14As you can see, our agent is on his way to do his dirty deeds, and I'll be back with
16:20the results after his arrival.
16:23So, Lambrecht released the rats. Let's hope it all goes well and he returns back home.
16:31Damnit, he got caught.
16:33So, I have to make a choice here. I mean, I have the money for the fine, but I don't
16:39want him in jail.
16:40But I have some reputation left, which I can use to back the nobility for mercy.
16:45I'll go with that, cause I need him. Better luck next time.
16:52And finally, I'd like to show you how it looks if you upgrade all of your buildings.
16:57Now, that once poor settlement has really grown into a city.
17:01And you'll be able to individualize it by choosing different kinds of roofings, walls, stone foundation and timber.
17:08Try building your own legacy and develop your bustling medieval trading hub and rise of the merchants.
17:15But how you get there is up to you. So long.