Patrician IV: Conquest by Trade is a managerial simulation set in the Hanse
region. During the late middle ages the player has the goal to build up a
trading empire. In the campaign the home port is always L ubeck; in the free
playing mode every of the 32 included hanse towns can be chosen.

The player’s most important role is to have an overview about the production
and needs of every town – to make money it is obviously needed to buy cheap
and to sell expensive. Supply and demand of every town dynamically changes
with the own trading activities and special happenings, e.g. a hard winter.
Trading routes can be automated.

The own reputation also changes depending on the trading activities – if the
player ships all meat away during a starvation, the people won’t be too
pleased… The home town can be expanded and improved by constructing
additional buildings and businesses – which depends on the player’s success
and influence. Full production cycles result in more goods to ship. He even
can become mayor which comes with political influence and power about the city
infrastructure, e.g. defenses.

Other aspects of a trader’s life are competing traders, Mediterranean
expeditions to get valuable spices, research to acquire better ships, and sea
fights. Just like in Patrician II: Quest for Power these are can be calculated
or played manually. The player needs to circle around the other ships and can
change the ammo; shooting is automated. The player also can actively become a
pirate and raid other ships.

Patrician IV: Conquest by Trade