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This article is about the trade unit in Age of Mythology. For the technology in Age of Empires II, see Caravan (Age of Empires II). |
The Caravan is a type of economic unit in Age of Mythology available to all civilizations that is used for trading and can be trained at the Market once the Heroic Age is reached. Caravan units travel back and forth between a player's Market and Town Center or an ally's Town Center, generating gold for the player.
The name of the Caravan varies between civilizations based on the animal used:
Greeks - Donkey Caravan- Egyptians - Camel Caravan
- Norse - Ox Caravan
- Atlanteans - Llama Caravan
- Chinese - Yak Caravan
Trade mechanic[]
Caravans are used to trade between the Market and a selected friendly Town Center.
The Town Center 'gives' gold to the Caravan, which is added to the player's stockpile when the Caravan returns to the Market. The amount of gold generated by a single run of a Caravan is (approximately) directly proportional to the square of euclidean distance between the Market and the Town Center. Therefore, the total gold production of a straight line trade route is directly proportional to its length.
Although it is possible for players to trade with their own Town Centers, trading with that of an ally will provide +50% gold.
Tactics[]
Players should build the Market in a safe corner of the map from where the Caravans will travel to a Town Center of choice. The greater the distance of the trade route, the more gold will be generated. This is especially valuable later in the game when safe Gold Mines run out. Caravans may replace workers if too many are found idle once gold runs out but they cannot defend themselves from attackers and must be protect from raids.
Further statistics[]
| Technologies | |
|---|---|
| Hit points |  Bacchanalia (+5%,  Dionysus only)
|
| Line of Sight |  Oracle (+6,  Apollo only)
|
| Movement speed |  Coinage (+20%) Channels (+20%,  Gaia only)
|
| God bonuses | |
|---|---|
| Hit points | Gaia (+25%)
|
| Resource cost | Gaia (-20%)
|
| Other |  Nü Wa (available in the Classical Age)
|
Changelog[]
Tale of the Dragon[]
- Initially, Coinage did not affect Yak Caravans (Chinese). With patch 2.4, this was fixed.
- Initially, Channels did not affect Caravans. With patch 2.7, they were included too.
History[]
| “ | Trade was critical for any ancient empire to survive. Certain geographic areas had certain resources in abundance, while others were sorely lacking. The Greek city states exported resources such as silver, obsidian and seashells, and also crafts such as pottery and metal vases. However, they imported other resources such as copper, tin, gold and amber, and other products, such as glass beads and seals. Cities along trade routes, such as Alexandria in Egypt and Byblos in the Middle East, became wealthy and powerful. | ” |
Trivia[]
- Yak Caravans are the only Caravan to have a herdable counterpart, the Yak.
- The Egyptian (Camel) and Norse (Ox) Caravans were planned to have wild huntable counterparts, but it was cut before release. The Camel was a prey unit planned for the base game, whilst the Musk Ox was planned as the Tundra equivalent of the Aurochs in The Titans.
- The idea of Llamas being the Atlantean Caravan is most likely a reference to popular media to having their empire spread from the Americas to Egypt and Turkey, and that they were the descendants of Native Americans (such as the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas).[Citation needed] Additionally, the Inca Empire extensively used Llamas as beasts of burden.
- Norse, Greek and Egyptian Caravans originally pushed carts, but this was later changed, making them pack animals.
- The Norse originally used either a Mule, or most likely, a Horse as their original pack animal, before it was changed to a Musk Ox.
Gallery[]
