Guide 12 of 20
Towns
Every town is a separate market. It has its own permit fee, supply, demand, wealth, buildings and road connections. A strategy that works in one town may fail in the next.
Demo towns
Appleford
Appleford is the starting town and tutorial market. Its early suppliers introduce ordinary stock buying and producer orders. Apples, Bread, Eggs and Cheese are available from the beginning.
The first market here guarantees Respect 1 and opens the road toward Brindleport.
Brindleport
Unlocked at Respect 1, Brindleport is the player's first required journey. The port introduces Salt and Fish as well as more varied ways to acquire goods. Its economy demonstrates why a cheap source is only useful when freshness, permits and the destination still leave room for profit.
Mosswick
Unlocked at Respect 2, Mosswick expands the route network and introduces opportunities involving Meat and Firewood. It is one of the two largest new exploration targets at this stage of the demo.
Sunmere
Also unlocked at Respect 2, Sunmere provides a contrasting market and route choice. Its suppliers and auction opportunities reward comparing several acquisition methods rather than relying on one familiar source.
Highbridge
Unlocked at Respect 3, Highbridge marks the demo's final progression milestone. Reaching this rank triggers Old Marlow's closing sequence and the full-game preview.
What to compare
When choosing a town, consider:
- Last recorded fair prices
- Newspaper shortages and surpluses
- Market permit fee
- Unique buildings you have discovered
- Connected route cost, duration and risk
- Current political restrictions
- The freshness of your cargo
- Recent rival activity
Permit fees
Permit fees differ by town and can change through political effects. The Merchant Notebook reflects each town's recorded fee where that information is available. Always include the permit in the expected margin.
Town wealth
Spending by the player and rivals can slowly make a town wealthier. Wealth also decays gradually when a town receives no spending. Because wealth is measured across the region, a town gains the strongest relative advantage when it attracts more commerce than its neighbors.
Visiting buildings
Open Explore Town to see currently available locations. Once you visit a producer, wholesaler or auction, the town's discovered unique-building information is updated.
Locked towns and locked goods are not selected for active demo opportunities, rumours or political targets.