Merchant Marine
Merchant Marine is a Japanese Commerce Age technology researched at the Consulate in Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties and Definitive Edition. It halves Home City shipment arrival time, changing when a chosen card reaches play rather than changing what the shipment contains.
Research profile
- Age
- Commerce Age
- Civilization
- Japanese
- Research location
- Consulate
- Research time
- 30 seconds
- Export cost
- 125
- Effect
- Home City shipment arrive time -50%
Effect & research conditions
Research takes 30 seconds. The listed effect reduces Home City shipment arrival time by 50% for the Japanese. It does not create an extra shipment, reduce the Experience needed to earn one or increase the resources delivered. The Consulate and the Japanese diplomatic rules determine access.
Research condition
Japanese Consulate option in the Commerce Age; research time: 30 seconds.
When to research
Research it before a shipment timing that can change a defense, army composition or economic transition. Faster arrival is most useful when the card’s units or resources can affect an approaching fight; researching it with no useful shipment close delays direct economic or military options. Coordinate the technology with the Home City card you intend to send.
A timing upgrade rather than a shipment upgrade
Merchant Marine changes the interval between sending a card and receiving it. The card’s effect remains the same, so choose the shipment for its actual units or resources and treat this research as a way to bring that value forward. If the shipment is already on its way, check the game’s timing rules before assuming research will alter an in-flight delivery. Its impact depends on when the player invests and which card is planned.