Hello merchants,
With the 0.2.7 update, danger zones and protective measures for intercity journeys have been completely reworked.
Pirates, bandits, war zones, epidemics, and severe weather no longer affect every type of cargo in the same way. Each danger now targets different goods according to its own rules, and encounters may result in either minor or major cargo losses.
To help players prepare for these risks before setting out, new security options and Famous Leaders specializing in different dangers have also been added.
Danger Zones
Danger zones found along routes now take the vehicle’s route security into account.
When a vehicle enters an active danger zone, the zone’s base risk, the route’s security level, and any additional precautions taken by the player are evaluated together to determine whether an encounter occurs.
Each danger zone can now produce a result only once during a journey. This prevents repeated cargo losses caused by multiple triggers or re-entering the same zone.
Minor/Major Cargo Losses
Danger encounters can lead to several different outcomes, but the two loss levels covered here are:
Minor Cargo Loss causes a smaller portion of the eligible cargo to be lost.
Major Cargo Loss affects a larger portion of the cargo. War zones, in particular, have a higher chance of causing major losses than other dangers.
The amount lost is calculated from the total cargo that can be affected by that specific danger. Quest cargo and goods in special categories are excluded from the standard loss pool.
Dangers Now Target Different Cargo
Each danger type now targets transported goods according to its own characteristics.
Pirates : Pirates primarily target valuable goods that can be sold easily.
An item’s category and sale value affect how likely it is to be targeted. Luxury goods, crafted products, and artifacts are more attractive to pirates, while low-value basic goods draw less attention.
This means the goods lost during pirate attacks are no longer selected completely at random.
Bandits : Bandits target transportable cargo on land routes.
Eligible goods currently have equal targeting weight during bandit encounters. However, the Secret Compartment and the relevant Famous Leader can alter how losses are distributed.
War Zones : All eligible cargo is at risk in war zones.
These areas have a higher chance of causing major cargo losses than other dangers. Armed Guards can reduce the chance of an encounter, while the Field Commander lowers the chance that an encounter will result in a major loss.
Epidemics : Epidemics only target goods that can be affected by disease.
Food and livestock are included in the epidemic loss pool, while textiles, natural resources, crafted goods, and luxury products cannot be lost to epidemics. Livestock also has a higher targeting weight than food.
Severe Weather : Heavy goods are more likely to be lost during severe weather.
The unit weight of each item is taken directly into account when targets are selected. As a result, heavier cargo is at greater risk during storms, difficult terrain, or transportation accidents.
Voyage Log (Travel Log)
A new Voyage Log panel has been added, allowing players to track important events experienced by their vehicles while travelling.
The following outcomes are recorded after danger encounters:
Prevented dangers
Minor cargo losses
Major cargo losses
Each entry displays the vehicle used, departure and destination cities, route, danger type, event date, and goods that were lost.
New entries can be tracked through the notification badge on the Voyage Log button. Safe passages are not added to the list.
Pre-Journey Security Options
You can now evaluate the dangers along a route and the goods being transported, then purchase different security options before beginning the journey.
Secret Compartment : The Secret Compartment protects part of the vehicle’s valuable cargo from losses caused by pirates, bandits, and war zones.
For now, the compartment has a fixed weight capacity. Goods are selected first by rarity, then by value per unit of weight, and finally by unit price.
However, the compartment may be discovered during a danger encounter. If discovered, the hidden goods become vulnerable to targeting again.
Armed Guards : Armed guards provide additional security against pirate and bandit encounters. They also grant a smaller security bonus in war zones.
Armed Guards do not reduce the amount of cargo lost. Instead, they lower the chance of a dangerous encounter occurring.
Quarantine Measures : Quarantine Measures reduce cargo losses caused by epidemic encounters by 50%.
This option does not change the chance of encountering an epidemic. Instead, it limits the damage dealt to food and livestock when an encounter occurs.
Reinforced Cargo : Reinforced Cargo reduces cargo losses caused by severe weather by 40%.
It does not change the chance of encountering a storm or difficult terrain, but the transported cargo becomes more resistant if an encounter occurs.
Famous Leaders : Before beginning a journey, you can assign a Famous Leader specializing in a particular field to your vehicle.
Each leader provides an advantage only against specific threats or cargo types. Choosing the right leader therefore depends on the dangers found along the selected route.
Rashid (Corsair Envoy) : Rashid has a 50% chance to reduce the severity of pirate encounters by one level.
He can turn a major cargo loss into a minor loss, or prevent a minor attack entirely. He is only effective against pirate threats.
Boran (Caravan Marshal) : Boran has a 55% chance to reduce the severity of bandit encounters by one level.
He can lessen major losses or completely prevent a minor bandit attack. He is only effective against bandit threats.
Leontios (Master Navigator) : Leontios reduces the risk of severe weather encounters
by 20%. This advantage applies to both land and sea routes.
Matteo (Master Merchant) : Matteo reduces the chance that valuable goods will be targeted during pirate, bandit, and war zone encounters based on their rarity:
Uncommon: 15%
Rare: 35%
Very Rare: 60%
Epic: 70%
Matteo does not make goods completely immune to loss. However, when used together with the Secret Compartment, he provides strong protection for valuable cargo.
Lucius (Field Commander) : Lucius reduces the chance of major cargo loss in war zones from 55% to 35%.
He does not change the chance of entering a war zone encounter, but lowers the likelihood that the encounter will have severe consequences.
Samira (Court Physician) : Samira reduces the risk of epidemic encounters by 20%.
She does not reduce cargo losses if an epidemic still occurs. Quarantine Measures must also be used to limit the resulting damage.
Famous Leader Information Cards
New information cards have been added to the Famous Leader selection screen.
Hovering over leaders in the dropdown list now displays their portraits, names, titles, mechanical advantages, and limitations. This allows you to compare leaders before beginning a route.
You can share your suggestions and feedback with me through social media or the Community Discussions