Dutch Traders

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The flag of the Spanish Netherlands.

The Dutch Traders are a fleet of Christian (Protestant) traders from the country of the the Netherlands in Shogun: Total War that will visit Japan periodically during the base game's campaign. They are one of two "factions", the other being the Portuguese Traders, that will visit Japan numerous times during the campaign to negotiate and trade with numerous factions, offering advantages in exchange for favors. Appearing after the Portuguese Traders, usually beginning to arrive in the late campaign from turn 50, the Dutch Traders are represented by a Spanish carrack that will be docked with the port of the faction it is trading with, changing this location various times over the campaign. Upon arriving, Upon arriving, they will request a presence with the faction's daimyo in the throne room much like another faction's emissary would. They will always be the last to open trade with the Japanese, with the Portuguese Traders coming first.

The Dutch Traders will offer to trade gunpowder weapons in exchange for a trade agreement, which will give the faction access to gunpowder units and access to build the Dutch Trading Post. Unlike their Portuguese counterparts, the Dutch Traders do not require the faction to convert to Christianity before they will trade with them, offering their trade free of that charge and giving them an advantage diplomatically that the Portuguese don't offer: however, the Portuguese coming much earlier in the campaign allows a faction access to gunpowder units earlier than the Dutch can provide. If the faction rejects their offer, the Dutch will return later to offer it again, and in the mean time will go to other factions to offer the same terms. Once the Dutch Traders arrive, Portuguese Traders will appear less frequently, and eventually will be replaced by the Dutch Traders entirely late in the campaign.

Despite technically being their own faction, the Dutch Traders hold no territory, cannot be engaged in diplomacy (outside of their visits and offers of trade), possess no forces, will not declare war and cannot be declared war upon, and overall do not behave like a conventional faction would. Their sole purpose in the campaign is to provide access to gunpowder units and the Dutch Trading Post building. The carrack representing them on the campaign map cannot be interacted with, as it is just a texture that will change position on the map. They do not appear in the Mongol Invasion expansion.

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