Trading System
Trade is an important avenue in Going Medieval for acquiring scarce resources and offloading surplus goods. Periodically visiting merchants carry various wares — you can trade with them using silver coins or via barter. Mastering trade techniques can be a lifeline when resources are scarce and a way to monetize surplus when you're flush. Data below is based on community compilation and is for reference only.
Merchant Types
Different merchant types carry different categories of goods. Understanding each type helps you target specific resources when needed.
| Merchant Type | Primary Goods | Buying Preferences |
|---|---|---|
| General Merchant | Food, tools, sundries | Various goods |
| Weaponsmith | Weapons, armor, ammunition | Ore, metal |
| Materials Trader | Wood, stone, cloth | Food, alcohol |
| Herbalist | Herbs, medicine, medical supplies | Precious metals, gems |
Data source: Community compilation
Trade Mechanics
Trade can use silver coins or barter. Silver is the universal currency, earned by selling goods. Barter means directly exchanging your goods for the merchant's wares — the deal goes through when both sides' items are of equal value. Settlers with high Speechcraft skill get better trade prices.
Trade Tip:Merchants buy at roughly 60-70% of an item's base value and sell at roughly 130-150% — meaning there's about a 50% spread. Therefore, self-sufficiency is always more cost-effective than trading. Use trade primarily to acquire goods you can't produce.
High-Value Trade Goods
To make money efficiently, focus on producing high value-density goods. The following items offer the best value and are ideal for mass production and sale:
Beer
Barley is easy to grow, and beer/ale sold for a high price — one of the most profitable commodities. Plant barley heavily in spring, brew in autumn, and sell in winter.
Smoked Meat
Raw meat has low value; processing it into smoked meat doubles its worth. Hunters provide a steady supply of raw meat, and the smokehouse processes it in batches.
Iron Weapons
High-tier weapons fetch very high prices. If you have ample iron ore and a skilled blacksmith, mass-producing iron swords for sale is highly profitable.
Cloth Clothing
Processing flax cloth into clothing multiplies its value. Settlers with high Tailoring skill can mass-produce items for a stable income stream.
Trading Strategy
The most efficient trade strategy is "specialized production, complementary trade." Pick 1-2 high-value goods for mass production, then trade for everything else you need. Example: focus on brewing and trade beer for weapons, medicine, and building materials.
Building a trade post attracts more merchant visits and improves trade efficiency. Place the trade post inside your walls but near the entrance — convenient for merchants while maintaining security. During each merchant visit, prioritize buying scarce goods you can't produce (e.g., medicine, special ores).
FAQ
How often do merchants visit?
Merchants visit roughly every 7-14 days (in-game), with random type each time. Building a trade post increases visit frequency. Autumn sees the most merchant visits — the best time for concentrated trading.
I'm short on silver coins. What can I do?
Use barter mode to directly trade your goods for needed items. Sell surplus food, alcohol, or weapons for silver. Beer is the most efficient money-maker — mass-produce it.
How do I get better trade prices?
Assign the settler with the highest Speechcraft skill to handle trading — higher skill means better discounts. Keeping the merchant happy (offering food and drink) can also slightly improve prices. Bulk trading often yields better unit prices.