Number of ships in maritime trade boxes. Is it important?

[xamevou]

Please, does it matter the quantity and size of the commercial ships I have at the MTBs?

I do not remember reading anything about that in the manual, but my selling / buying % of success is being quite low and probably is related to that. I just have one ship unit in the MTBs and maybe I should send more there.

Thanks in advance,

[loki100]

you need at least 1 to create the possibility of trade. Remember that a minor nation (like China) can buy from you IF you have a fleet in a MTB they are connected to

More are good for two reasons. One is that you receive more in transport taxes (forget the exact name) - the one that charges people to use your fleets. The other, as you've noted, is if you have more ships then you have a higher chance to buy the goods for sale.

Bit of a trade off here, because it might be more efficient to simply pay the 50% premium (using the T screen) than build the number of ships needed to compete off say NW Europe

[xamevou]

Ok, thanks. Let's build some ships, then.
I usually forget about paying a premium for goods with the T screen. I should try that as well.

[jscott991]

The paying a premium almost seems like cheating, at least for richer nations like France. The AI doesn't ever seem to do it and it basically guarantees you can get the goods.

As France, I currently am able to buy 100% of the world's supply of gold, gems, and opium whenever it goes on sale. Given that I still have contentment problems, the AI is probably worse off.