The Trading Apprentice

The Trading Apprentice

Winterlin: The journey has taken you to the shore of the ocean. A busy Port gives you the opportunity to open up Winterlin’s world with profitable Trading Routes. The problem is that Raspun is already blocking passage to the Port.

Raspun may have lost the Ancient Library, but he definitely has the advantage in Winterlin. Princess Zoé is cut off from the Port, and must assemble an army capable of breaking through—and holding—Raspun’s fortified sector.

Enemy Forces

Raspun

Raspun begins the map with one General and 10 soldiers defending a fortified sector.
Starting Resources
Wood  25    Plank  20    Stone  15    Coal  15    Iron  5    Gold  15    Coin  10    Grain  10    Flour  25    Bread  25    Fish  25    Animal  5
Meat  5    Water  100    Book  5    Wool  5    Garment  1    Jewelry  5    Tool  100

Established Production Chains

Plank: Woodcutter  1, Sawmill  1
Bread: Grain Barn  3, Windmill  1, Bakery  1
Meat: Hunter  1, Butcher’s  1

The Mint provided at the start of play will only produce Coins for a short time. Additional sources of Gold and Coal must be established to keep this work yard operational.

Overview

Friendly Sectors: 1
Enemy Sectors: 3
Neutral Sectors: 2
This map introduces the Export Office and the role of traders. The Export Office is not available for immediate construction and must be unlocked through the Prestige Tree and objective completion. Stone is in particularly short supply, so all construction should be carefully planned. Note that a small amount of Stone is available in the nearby neutral sector, in addition to resources needed to sustain Coin production. Because a fairly strong army is provided at the start of play, this valuable sevctor should be conquered as soon as possible.
When evaluating established production chains, keep in mind that a fortified enemy sector must be conquered relatively early in the map, so a significant amount of Musketeers must be hired at the Tavern.
Satisfy objectives as they appear on the Quest Board to complete the map.

Objective: Drive Raspun off the Trading Route

With your Mint running through supplied Gold and Coal, conquering the neutral mining sector should be your highest priority.
While your starting army can easily overwhelm the three defending Pikemen, provided resources allow you to hire additional soldiers. Use available Coin and Meat to hire three additional Musketeers. Send your General to attack once the hired soldiers arrive.

Once your army is on the move, turn your attention to strengthening your economy. Increase Plank production by adding a Woodcutter and Sawmill to available work yard slots.
Because all established Bread production is needed to support the Mint, place the Butcher’s work yard on a Fancy Food boost and construct a Lodge with three Fishers near your town sector’s Fishing Grounds.
Prepare for cleric production by building an additional Grain Barn.

Beer production must be established before training clerics. Consider building at least one Residence near your Grain Barns to optimize Breweries or additional Bakeries.
Construct at least three Residences to accommodate new workers and Novices.
Remember to reassign Grain Barn work areas when building over established Grain Fields.
Once the mining sector has been conquered, construct a Mountain Shelter with a Gold Miner, Coal Miner, and Quarry. Be sure to build a new Storehouse to keep Coin production running smoothly.

To support Meat production, build a Lodge with at least one Hunter work yard. With Stone production temporarily established, consider building a separate Storehouse for collected Animal.
Additional Hunters quickly deplete Hunting Grounds, but are a good investment if living space is available.
You achieve Prestige Level 2 as soon as you conquer the mining sector, so unlock the Stronghold, Export Office, and Church Prestige Tree options. Construct a Church in your town sector.

Build at least one Brewery work yard to begin Beer production. Speed production by assigning a Food boost, or by building a second Brewery.
Breweries are only needed for a short time on this map, and can be knocked down once required Novices have been trained.
Begin training 10 Novices at the Church, and research all Technologies as they become available. Additional Novices may be used to enhance fortifications, so produce a few extra units of Beer to be used later. Once Beer production has finished, knock down any Breweries and build an additional Windmill and Bakery.

With Stone in short supply, excessive Residence and Storehouse construction is not recommended. Knock down unproductive or unnecessary work yards and Storehouses to reduce population and conserve living space.
You need at least 8 to 10 Musketeers to destroy Raspun’s defenses and establish trade with the Port. Additional units, however, will discourage immediate retaliation from routed armies. Ensure that Meat supplies are sufficient to satisfy the food requirement for new Musketeers, and assign a Fancy Food boost to the Mint when you can.

As long as Animal is available to the Butcher’s, the Mint’s Fancy Food boost is easily sustained.
Take a moment to check on Stone and Fish production. As the Stone Pile and Fishing Grounds deplete, reassign or knock down any idle work yards.

Because depleted Hunting Grounds will eventually replenish, leave idle Hunter work yards standing. Hunters are essential in maintaining Meat production, and will resume operations as wildlife returns to the designated areas.
Head to the Tavern and replace any Pikemen you lost while conquering the mining sector. Queue up 10 to 15 Musketeers, and ensure that living space will accommodate new recruits.

Once all Musketeers have made their way to your General, attack Raspun’s neighboring sector. Capture the enemy camp to complete this objective.
Raspun’s army will not attack until the sector’s fortifications have been destroyed. An overwhelming show of force leads to a quick retreat by the defending General.

Objective: Get Hands on Stone

As soon as Raspun’s sector is conquered, the Export Office is available to build. Establish a Stone production chain near recently acquired Stone Piles.
A Garment production chain must be established before any traders can be trained; consider constructing the Export Office and all supporting buildings in this sector. While this method increases initial construction time, it speeds up trader production and allows for much faster trades at the Port.
To develop a strong trading operation, use a road to cut through the sector, and place the base buildings for Garment production:
Farm  1
Residence  1
Noble Residence  1

As Stone becomes available, build a central Storehouse and Well. Attach a Shepherd, Weaving Mill, and Tailor to the appropriate buildings, and wait for Garment production to begin.

Place the Tailor on a Fancy Food boost to increase early Garment production.

As Stone becomes available, construct an Export Office near the Garment production chain. Once it’s available, select the Export Office and train at least three Hawkers.
Open the Trade menu and send two Hawkers to establish the Trading Outpost for Stone:
1  Garment =  5  Stone

Send additional Hawkers to trade for Stone to complete this objective.

Objective: Avert Raspun’s Revenge in Time

With Raspun’s forces on their way, time is of the essence. Select the camp, and immediately repair your sector’s damaged fortifications.
While Carriers deliver the required resources, use the Prestige slots on your Church or Export Office to unlock all remaining Prestige Tree options.
Continue trading Garments at the Port to replace Stone used to unlock Prestige Tree options, and build a new Constructor near the camp.
Complete the repairs before Raspun’s attack to keep his army at bay, and immediately begin upgrading the fortification. Finish construction of Stone Fortifications to complete the map.