To Mercantalize or Not to Mercantalize?

[dstarsboy]

I've always just randomly picked whichever suited my mood when these popups come up but I'd like to know if there's a clear benefit one way or another as far as Mercantization is concerned. From what I'm guessing, if you mercantilize you get more trade income but you get Diplo power hits, but if you go the free trade route you... get less trade income but less diplo power penalties? I honestly have no idea, am I close? Which route do you usually take?

 

[calvinhobbeslik]

I've always just randomly picked whichever suited my mood when these popups come up but I'd like to know if there's a clear benefit one way or another as far as Mercantization is concerned. From what I'm guessing, if you mercantilize you get more trade income but you get Diplo power hits, but if you go the free trade route you... get less trade income but less diplo power penalties? I honestly have no idea, am I close? Which route do you usually take?

Mercantilism is permanent, while a DIP power hit is regained in a few months, so I always pick Mercantilism, unless I'm close to 30(since once you're above 30 you lose the East India Trade modifier)

 

[SerFishy]

Mercantilism does not have debuffs unlike in EU3 so it is always good to have some extra Mercantilism.

 

[Prince_Igor]

Mercantilism is permanent, while a DIP power hit is regained in a few months, so I always pick Mercantilism, unless I'm close to 30(since once you're above 30 you lose the East India Trade modifier)

can you show that event with east inda?

 

[Yoshijoe]

can you show that event with east inda?

It's not an event but a triggered modifier (such as conquest of Rome or imperial integrity).

You get a 20% trade income boost and you need:

1. Discovered Cape of Good Hope
2. Western tech
3. European
4. 4 ports
5. Have the idea 'Quest for the New World' (exploration idea)
6. Mercantilism under 30
7. Merchant active in either Ganges Delta, Straits of Johor, Sind or Comorin Cape.

 

[hauptman]

More mercantilsim is always good. The only time east india is better, is when you have 100% trade power where it counts. If you didnt kill off all competition, 50% mercantilism is worth more than the east india company.

 

[Novacat]

I always go high mercantilism because I do not care about east india triggered modifier.

 

[Atlanteax]

The trigger needs to be changed considering the no-brainer that higher mercantilism is.

 

[Jorlaan]

I also just tend to go for as high mercantilism as possible, anything that lowers it is bad and I avoid it.