Paper Cartridge
Paper Cartridge is a Commerce Age Arsenal upgrade for gunpowder damage. It raises Gunpowder Trooper damage by 15%; Pirates with Letter of Marque instead receive 10% more ranged attack damage.
Research profile
- Age
- Commerce Age
- Civilization
- Europeans; Federal Americans; Japanese
- Research location
- Arsenal (Europeans and Federal Americans) ; Golden Pavilion (Japanese)
- Research time
- 30 seconds
- Wood cost
- 300
- Coin cost
- 300
- Effect
- Gunpowder trooper damage +15%; Pirate ranged attack damage +10% (with the "Letter of Marque" Home City Card)
Effect
The eligible-unit list matters because the effect differs for Pirates with Letter of Marque. This is a damage upgrade, not a change to firing range or training time.
Research condition
Available in the Commerce Age at Arsenal (Europeans and Federal Americans) , Golden Pavilion (Japanese). Research time: 30 seconds. Cost: 300 wood, 300 coin. Civilization-specific building access can vary.
Research decision
Research before a sustained fight using the affected gunpowder units. If relying on Pirates, confirm Letter of Marque is active; otherwise judge the upgrade against the cost of adding more units.
Check gunpowder eligibility
The Commerce Age Arsenal upgrade raises Gunpowder Trooper damage by 15%. Pirates with Letter of Marque instead receive 10% more ranged attack damage. It does not increase range or firing speed. Research when a substantial part of the army is eligible and will be fighting soon, and confirm the Pirate interaction before applying the standard bonus.
Damage bonus and eligible troops
Paper Cartridge adds 15% damage to eligible Gunpowder Troopers. Pirates receive a different 10% ranged attack damage bonus when the Letter of Marque Home City Card is active. The technology changes neither attack range nor firing speed, so its benefit is additional damage over continued volleys rather than a faster opening shot. Access is listed in the Commerce Age at the Arsenal for Europeans and Federal Americans and at the Golden Pavilion for Japanese; check the selected civilization's technology tree before planning around it.
Pay for the upgrade with a sustained fight
The research costs 300 Wood and 300 Coin and takes 30 seconds. It has the clearest return when a substantial group of eligible gunpowder units will remain in combat long enough to benefit. If the army is still small, adding more units may provide a stronger immediate result. Pirates should only be counted as beneficiaries when Letter of Marque is active, and the Pirate bonus should use its separate 10% ranged attack value rather than the standard Gunpowder Trooper figure.