Canal tolls

[pahco]

Make any fleet passing through a canal pay a toll to the canals owner proportional to that fleets monthly maintenance cost.
Any ship that passed through it would get a temporary modifier that raises its maintenance by a certain percentage (to be determined) for that month. It should be a stackable modifier just in case they pass through the canal twice in a months time. This increased maintenance would be collected as income by the canals owner.
You could also make this percentage increase or decrease according to the relationship between the two countries.

 

[Delta21]

I think that I have seen something similar being suggested before. The problem with this is that the same concept should apply to straights, which would bring major complications.

 

[pahco]

How is that a problem? Just make the entering the strait trigger the same or similar modifier. Just make it contingent on the same country having control over all bordering provinces.

 

[Delta21]

Trade could become unprofitable for one. Fleets use patrol patterns when they trade, and light ships would inadvertently pass several times per month through straits and canals. For the other, who is the owner of a straiht or a canal? Who imposes the toll? There's no toll if the 2 (sometimes 3 or even 4) provinces are controlled by different countries?

Lastly, how would a country enforce a toll? Fleets and forts come to mind, but if the owner's fleet is too small or forts incapable to fend off a larger fleet, does the toll get cancelled for the owner of the larger fleet? I think that trade embargoes and trade-related casus bellis take care of the issue nicely. Canals and straights could perhaps add embargo bonuses in a particular trade node if the canal/straight is completely under control (all provinces next to it are controlled).

 

[pahco]

Yes a contested straight would mean there is no toll. You could argue that this is all you would need to enforce a toll against any number of ships since it is a choke point. Ship on trade missions could be an exception that incurs the toll only once so that it may take longer for trading in the region to be profitable but in the long run it still would be.

 

[Delta21]

Yes a contested straight would mean there is no toll. You could argue that this is all you would need to enforce a toll against any number of ships since it is a choke point. Ship on trade missions could be an exception that incurs the toll only once so that it may take longer for trading in the region to be profitable but in the long run it still would be.

As I said, "complications" Historically, nations controlling straits had solid forts with giant cannons on either side of the strait to make sure that they get payed. Some had underwater blockages that they could raise or lower at will and others simply resorted to military ships.
We'll have to see how this pans out with the new fort mechanic, but it's not a bad idea in general. It just has to be well thought-through so it doesn't end up being complicated to implement.

 

[Mattius]

I want the ability to not let people through >

 

[Delta21]

I want the ability to not let people through >

Or let people through but damage/sink some of the ships.

 

[Rabbit Burgher]

Perhaps it should instead take the form of a diplomatic option that can be done with the nations that control canals. You'd need to pay a monthly fee to the canal owner instead of a fee for every ship that goes through. If you're in a war on the same side as the owner, you'd get free access temporarily.