medieval 2 pc game a question about merchant?

Question

I wanna know what a merchant does exactly?
I know that I should send them to a resource to earn money for me.
1.But whats the difference between near resources and far resources? which one is better? why?
2.Is there any difference between resources in my own land and resources in other lands? which one is better? why?
3.is this useful to keep my merchant in a settlement?is this have any income?
4.which kind of resources is better to send my merchant to? why?
5.is this useful to send my diplomat to an enemi's settlement and keep him behind that? like priests that chang them relegion?
THANK U A LOT.please help me i'm going confused

Answer 1

So many questions My Liege. Here's the long and the short of it. Your merchant is moved to any nearby resource on the map. If you scroll your mouse over the particular item (wheat, iron, wine, wool, dyes, etc) it should tell you what that item is worth per each turn.

There isn't any difference between resources close and those far away. Some may be worth more than others. For instance...if you play the English in the beginning campaign, you'll notice that one of the wine goblets is worth something like 13 florins versus any of the others that may be 7 or 8 florins per turn. So you just choose wisely. In any case its money each turn.

Your settlement will generate income if you build a trading post in it. Naturally it can be upgraded when you have the funds to do so. It also helps to build roads. Not only does it allow you to move troops faster it increases trade revenue with each turn. Dirt road give you a certain amount and paved roads increase that amount. If you right click on your town or castle you should be bale to bring up icons on the left of the portrait of the Governor of that town/castle. Click on "Settlement details" and you can click on the small wagon that will read "Trade" when you scroll over it. That tells you the trade income and what is being exported and imported.

Keep an eye out for foreign merchants. They can move on yours and overtake him in business...literally driving him out, taking his cash and business and eliminating him from the map. If you right click on your merchant's portrait you'll see his ranking. If you right click on the other merchants you can see theirs too (if you have a diplomat or spy nearby) and see what his standing is. You may be able to move your merchant towards the foreign merchants and click (as if you were moving him) onto the other merchant for a 'hostile' takeover of his assets.

Priests and Bishops have the same abilities as far as a 'standing' of their Piety goes. Right click on their portraits (same with diplomats) and you'll see their ratings. Priests/Bishops convert an areas population. You'll scroll over an area and it may say "68% Catholic". Move him to that area for one turn and afterwards you'll see the number increase to say "78%". Bishops and priests also condemn heretics and witches. careful though as some may be stronger than your priest and convert them instead. Your diplomats are just that...there to make trade agreements, alliances, etc.
Finally...if you're settlement hasn't a church or chapel...build one. Religion plays a MAJOR role in this game. Keeping the Pope happy with you will keep you in good setad with the church. To call for a Crusade remember...you have to have eight groups of soliders in your army in the field to join or start a Crusade. Crusade troops move much faster than normal troops. They'll be identified by a cross on their icon.