The changes in 1.0.5 were intended to add more depth to the trade system, but the implementation led to some confusing and unbalanced economic outcomes for many players. By reverting this feature, the developers have opted for stability while they "continue to monitor feedback" for a potential future redesign. This is a solid move; a quick rollback is better than leaving a broken core mechanic in place while they re-evaluate.
What does this mean for my economy?
In short, your trade income is predictable again. The merchant maintenance costs and trade expenses that were behaving erratically in 1.0.5 are now calculated as they were in version 1.0.4. This allows for stable, long-term economic planning without worrying about sudden, unexplained hits to your treasury from the trade system.
Stability Patches and Crash Fixes
Beyond the economic rollback, this hotfix is critical for game stability. Several game-breaking crashes that cropped up recently have been addressed. If you've been plagued by random crashes, this patch should provide some much-needed relief.
- Bankruptcy Crash: A fix for crashes occurring when a nation goes bankrupt.
- Alerts Crash: Resolved crashes tied to alerts for Cassus Bellis and Lacking Food.
- Save File Crash: Patched an issue that could cause a crash during save file writing, preventing potential save corruption.
Additionally, a small but important simulation bug was fixed where food stockpiles weren't depleting correctly when food maintenance was set to zero. Your granaries will now empty as intended, so keep an eye on your supplies.
Overall, Hotfix 1.0.6 is a classic clean-up patch. It walks back a feature that wasn't quite ready and shores up the game's foundation by squashing some nasty bugs. It’s a welcome update for anyone seeking a more stable and predictable simulation.