Spice Road features trading as a game mechanic. The desert wilderness is surrounded by fertile and industrious nations who want to share their varied goods with each other. You can make money by trading goods from producing nations where the price is low to consuming nations where the prices are higher. You can also trade in-between making the most of local price gradients and fluctuations in the desert and mountain outposts.
As well as goods like silk and spice, you can also take people into your caravan – pilgrims, travellers and slaves all can make goods returns for safe passage.
Once you have picked a profitable item to trade you should examine your route carefully. If the destination is a long way away it is a good idea to find a oasis or tradepost along the way to restock on water and supplies. Your party design depends on your route – a long desert travel will benefit from hardy camels, while a run through northern foothills would need some soldiers in your caravan to ward off bandits. The further you have to travel, and the more support people are in the caravan the more supplies you will need to take – reducing your capacity for profitable goods.
Finally you can stock up on the goods themselves – and hopefully a few months later… Profit! Unfortunately there are many dangers on your way so you better look sharp and think fast to adapt to whatever circumstances are thrown at you.
Once you have become a skilled trader you can train others to run caravans between Trade Houses you build in different towns. This also has the effect of improving your relationships with the towns and expanding your network of information. Complete networks of trade routes from production to the final consumer are a fine accomplishment that earn you respect and great wealth.
On the shady side of trading – some goods are frowned upon by respectable authorities. If you want to sneak opium or weapons through a controlled land you will have to be fast and inconspicuous. A small mounted party is fastest, but avoiding guard posts will lead you into hostile bandit lands.
Trading in desert lands with bandits and caravans has never been so much fun.