Trader
The mysterious Trader and his black cloak always creates quite a buzz in the kingdom!
To qualify for a Trader appearance, you need to be at least Baron or Baroness in rank, meaning you have to have at least 25 total acres.
The trader is not cheap! His fee is about 2.5 times the value you pay for an acre. For example, if you pay 1000 gold for an acre, then the Trader will ask you to pay him about 2500 gold. So, you need to save up gold.
You should save up at least 5x times the current value of an acre, we recommend keeping 13x the amount of gold an acre costs in your reserves at all times. This will be enough to pay for the Trader's fee, and keep a reserve to buy acres during the bonus year, if you need to.
When the trader does make an appearance, a good place to meet is at the Kingdom. One of the Trader bonuses involves giving away land, and you need to be standing near someone to give away land (or receive it!)
Generally you are given 4 turns of advance notice. We try to send a notice in the Empire group with the date and time (to help us keep track of sightings) and to get your attention, as well shout it out in Tintagel Empire group chat.
The Trader makes his appearance every 30-40 hours. There is no set time for him to appear.
Mysterious Trader Bonuses
After taking your gold, the Trader will say something to you. This will indicate one of five different bonuses (seven for Federation HUD users), which are picked randomly. Most bonuses require you to do something for the next 12 turns involving acres (buying, selling or giving them away). So pay close attention to what the Trader says to you, and don't be idle.
Here are the possible Trader bonuses:
1 gold forever more
Do nothing!
This bonus permanently increases your land production rate by +1g.
Your generosity will be rewarded
GIVE AWAY land for the next 11 turns-- preferably to someone in your downline. That way the acres still count towards your total land.
This bonus is the reason that people gather when a trader alert goes out, in case someone needs to pass out acres. You will get a surprise in gold with each acre of land you give away.
Remember: you can give acres freely to equal or lower rank but only one rank up
Land will be at low cost to buy
BUY land for 12 turns
The price of buying an acre will be incredibly low.
Note: If you have the Federation HUD, embassies will be at a reduced price, as well as other things tied to your acre price!
Land that you buy is likely to contain surprises
BUY land for 12 turns
You will receive a surprise in gold which is close to the price of the acre you just bought. Basically you are getting land cheap for the next 11 TURNS!!
Land will be worth more than usual
BUY and SELL land for 12 turns.
Your land is worth a lot with this bonus, so you are buying and selling to make a profit, and building up your gold reserves. If you are patient, you can do better financially in the long run by selling 12 turns without buying, then buying back at lowered acre prices over time.
Golden Seeds
Do nothing..sit back and watch your gold flood in!
Federation HUD only. For one year, your land will produce spectacularly - hundreds of gold per acre per month. You'll get quite a gold boost from this with no action required.
Note: if you buy land during this Trader year the production decreases with each purchase.
The Book
Mount your horse, polish your armor and head for the Festival!
Federation HUD only. If you get the locked book from the trader, the Fortune Teller at a Festival will have the key. See the Federation page for more info.
To qualify for a Trader appearance, you need to be at least Baron or Baroness in rank, meaning you have to have at least 25 total acres.
The trader is not cheap! His fee is about 2.5 times the value you pay for an acre. For example, if you pay 1000 gold for an acre, then the Trader will ask you to pay him about 2500 gold. So, you need to save up gold.
You should save up at least 5x times the current value of an acre, we recommend keeping 13x the amount of gold an acre costs in your reserves at all times. This will be enough to pay for the Trader's fee, and keep a reserve to buy acres during the bonus year, if you need to.
When the trader does make an appearance, a good place to meet is at the Kingdom. One of the Trader bonuses involves giving away land, and you need to be standing near someone to give away land (or receive it!)
Generally you are given 4 turns of advance notice. We try to send a notice in the Empire group with the date and time (to help us keep track of sightings) and to get your attention, as well shout it out in Tintagel Empire group chat.
The Trader makes his appearance every 30-40 hours. There is no set time for him to appear.
Mysterious Trader Bonuses
After taking your gold, the Trader will say something to you. This will indicate one of five different bonuses (seven for Federation HUD users), which are picked randomly. Most bonuses require you to do something for the next 12 turns involving acres (buying, selling or giving them away). So pay close attention to what the Trader says to you, and don't be idle.
Here are the possible Trader bonuses:
1 gold forever more
Do nothing!
This bonus permanently increases your land production rate by +1g.
Your generosity will be rewarded
GIVE AWAY land for the next 11 turns-- preferably to someone in your downline. That way the acres still count towards your total land.
This bonus is the reason that people gather when a trader alert goes out, in case someone needs to pass out acres. You will get a surprise in gold with each acre of land you give away.
Remember: you can give acres freely to equal or lower rank but only one rank up
Land will be at low cost to buy
BUY land for 12 turns
The price of buying an acre will be incredibly low.
Note: If you have the Federation HUD, embassies will be at a reduced price, as well as other things tied to your acre price!
Land that you buy is likely to contain surprises
BUY land for 12 turns
You will receive a surprise in gold which is close to the price of the acre you just bought. Basically you are getting land cheap for the next 11 TURNS!!
Land will be worth more than usual
BUY and SELL land for 12 turns.
Your land is worth a lot with this bonus, so you are buying and selling to make a profit, and building up your gold reserves. If you are patient, you can do better financially in the long run by selling 12 turns without buying, then buying back at lowered acre prices over time.
Golden Seeds
Do nothing..sit back and watch your gold flood in!
Federation HUD only. For one year, your land will produce spectacularly - hundreds of gold per acre per month. You'll get quite a gold boost from this with no action required.
Note: if you buy land during this Trader year the production decreases with each purchase.
The Book
Mount your horse, polish your armor and head for the Festival!
Federation HUD only. If you get the locked book from the trader, the Fortune Teller at a Festival will have the key. See the Federation page for more info.