How do I make deals with the Free Trader?

[MarcelB]

Hi, I'm pretty new with 1701, played 1602 years ago but just on beginners level and then liked Ceasar better.
My question: How do I respond to the Free Trader's offers for certain business deals. I am clicking everywhere but no response. It's pretty unnverving seeing that the time for the deal runs out and I can't figure out how to respond to it. Thanks for any help!

[achkarou]

When the Free Trader offers you an assignment and you accept it a red circle will zoom in on some area of the map in a case where you ave to go and pik something up like floating cargo (in a case of treasure you have to go to the island indicated and set up a warehouse covering the area w the treasure in it and a worker will pik it up and take it to the warehouse for you to load onto the ship). Otherwise you just need to come up with the amount of goods he wants on your islands.

Once you successfully aquire the goods onto your ship... sail it bak to the Free Traders trading post (at his island)... The free trader will let you know when the ship arrives by saying that he sees you were able to complete the task and is ready to finish the transaction. Selec the ship and under the trade cargo tab reveal the upper portion of the trading screen by clicking on the green arrow pointing upwards. There you have to click on one of the goods he offers in return like for example 5000gold + tools or weapons: click on tools or weapons depending on wut you feel you need more. Then click the checkmark to complete the deal and you will have your money and goods given to you!

I'm not sure if that is clear enough.. If not i will include a screenshot when i get home to my game :P

[MarcelB]

achkarou, thanks so much for your time to explain it to me. I'm at work too (taking a break from work, hehe). I can't wait to get home and try out my new knowledge. I bought the game on ebay and it came without a manual, so I'm pretty much out of luck when I am stuck in the game. I have been looking around to buy a strategy guide but it does not seem to be on the market (yet?). But thanks to guys like you, I will have more fun with the game and can go on with it now!!! Thanks so much!

[achkarou]

there is a sort of manual in the game itself "annopedia" or something like that.... u can acess it when playing... i dont recall the direct way but if u click on a warehouse in the bottom right next to the warehouse name there is a question mark click on it and it will open the "manual" i think u can go through multiple topics alphabetically

[zippyriver]

You can access the in game Annopedia by using the F1 key.
You can pause the game using the "p" key (not the pause key).

When you access the in game Annopedia, the game does NOT pause on it's own. It is a good idea to pause the game before hand.

I am a big user of manuals, and although the (rather small) manual is fine, I rarely have to pick it up (checking F1 1st). Not having it is not crippling.