- Basic Features
- Trade companies provide more trade power and goods but less tax and manpower
- Any nation can form trade companies in 63 regions across Old World
- Trade companies don't have armies or administration, remain under direct control
- Each region contains provinces from specific trade nodes
- Benefits and Modifiers
- Trade company provinces gain bonus goods production based on trade power share
- Companies can increase trade power by 50% at cost of inflation
- Control of 51% provincial trade power grants +1 merchant
- Removing provinces from trade company gives 5-year "Left Trade Company" modifier
- Investments and Strategy
- Trade companies can invest in various buildings for increased returns
- Companies can purchase provinces from other nations through diplomatic action
- Trade control through centers and estuaries provides significant bonuses
- Mercantilism points add 2% to provincial trade power
- Limitations
- Trade company provinces don't count towards religious unity
- Trade company provinces don't gain institution spread modifiers
- Lower governing capacity cost helps conquer large provinces
- Trade control penalties apply to investments and minimum autonomy