I can't waituntil we can actually play 1Z so we can know firsthand what we're talking about when debating this shit.

Agreed. So, perhaps, that is how it should be written as well.

I have been enjoying the discussion so far and that took me aback. If I misread the intent, then apology extended and I will keep the Trade route for further discourse open. LOL

All of the reply's..

*Heart warms* I'm glad to see so many people taking an interest in the game and helping it shape up lol.

But seriously it's nice to have more people to discuss these things with. And to see those that are here participating more.

I would even settle, or hope it remains in place, for the need for the infrastructure required to build "stuff" need be in place, with Caravans being abstracted to be the delivery method if one is to be sacrificed.

Caravan pilfering does sounds oh so FUN though, but I can see it having negative FUN aspects for someone who wishes to create trade but has a neighbor bent on preventing it, even at the expense of his/her own empire, just to piss someone off. What is the word for that type of neighbor?

I don't know if I can handle another "Not this Week" post really. Pretty sad, I know, but 1Z has so many of the answers or at least a caravan full of fodder for further debate. LOL

@Seth:  I doubt, as I'm sure everyone here does, that the dev's would just completely ignore one side.  Even if it wasn't vocalized, (written, I guess...) I'm sure the Dev's would have at least considered all their options, and taken our ideas into their world and made as much use of them as they could, and if they work, great, if not, bummer.

@Tridus:  By that same token, shouldn't the army/group that plundered the caravan also need some way to cart the plundered resources back to their empire?  Another Caravan would be the most obvious solution, but that doesn't seem like a smart idea, taking a Caravan with you into enemy territory...  Unfortunately, I'm too tired to think of anything even resembling a solution...

@John:  Agreed, and fair enough.  And I've never played before at all, so you, probably having been in my position at one point, can probably imagine how it'd suck for them to tell me "Not This Week," again. 

@Seth again:  Yes, people can get overly heated about what should be a civilized debate towards a mutual goal...  Like how I'll probably get if I don't get some sleep soon.......  But damnit, I wanna play Elemental!

Indeed, I would like to test the eco changes as soon as possible. Either way...what the hell? They gonna postpone the 1Z release again?

your compromise is actually kinda worse than either option.  if the game goes full micro, then at least you gain some advantage by micro-ing (though lord knows I hate it).  If you can click a button to abstract the micro away, then what the hell are you doing all that micro for?  Why did the developers spend countless hours implementing, debugging, testing, and documenting that feature?  And then spend countless more hours implementing, debugging, and testing the abstraction setting?

please keep in mind the following:

A. player time is zero-sum.  Time spent micro-ing caravans is time taken away from playing other aspects of the game.

B. developer time is zero-sum.  Time spent developing a feature that most players are going to choose to abstract is time taken away from developing new features that will make the game distinctive.

C. the mechanic you suggest can be abstracted to formulas saving player time and dev time.

from what I've seen posted in the forums here, you're not getting micro caravans.  I'm sad for you.

honestly, I feel like you are spitting in the wind a little bit here.  you want a lot of micro.  I think Frogboy and Stardock are trying to take out a lot of the "needless" micro, so that player time is focused on higher level (read "fun") things like building, exploring, questing and fighting.

oh, and here's a forum pro-tip for you: if you want anyone to take you seriously, it's probably best not to threaten to cancel your pre-order.

They gonna postpone the 1Z release again? "

No No. No word yet so I guess that is a good thing.

Don't forget. This pass they also have to process all the newest Pre-Orders before releasing the new build.

So that means they have to do Pre-orders, while compiling, confirm the Pre's are completed with , email keys sent, then Stage the Impulse Server for deployment then, hopefully, BOOM! we get to download 1HaaaZ.

Personally I see caravans as a horrendous bit of micromanagement - if I'm a king while would I be dealing with horse and carts - that's what peasants and underlings are for.

A nice system for dealing with trade routes that I've seen recently was in the Total War series - where by you could block off trade along road or sea lane by parking a unit upon said road.  This effectively represents you robbing every caravan coming along, without the caravans themselves having to be dealt with.

and can be escorted/defended, based on there content wealth, as well right?

The movement of 3 stupid asses, although neede desperately, does not garner the protection level like the weekly Gold shipment to the SOV's city, right?.