Part 10

Learn about Lumber, Ore, Production Hammers, Rum, Silver, Sugar, Tobacco, Tools, and Trade Goods in Civilization IV. Silver sells for about 19 per unit.

Lumber is one of the cheapest resources to sell back to Europe, but it is vital for producing Production Hammers. Carpenters require Lumber to create Hammers. Finding excess Lumber can be difficult as it is quite rare.

Ore is a strange commodity with a high trading price, often equal to more developed products. Tools and Guns sell for roughly the same price. If you lack the colonial power to manufacture Ore, ship it back. Otherwise, use Ore to make Tools, which are needed for Production Hammers and, more importantly, guns.

Production Hammers are produced directly from Lumber at a one-to-one ratio. Carpenter's Shops produce 3 Hammers per Citizen, while Lumber Mills produce 6 Hammers per Citizen. Hammers are essential for producing buildings, units, and Founding Father points. Ensuring colonies have a good source of Lumber is important for producing new buildings and becoming self-sufficient.

Rum is the second most stable manufactured good after Cigars. Rum Distiller's Houses produce 3 Rum per Citizen, Rum Distilleries produce 6 Rum per Citizen, and Rum Factories produce 6 Rum per Citizen with a +50% Rum Production bonus. Rum is a good seller due to the difficulty in finding the necessary Sugar.

Silver is the most valuable product, mined in Mountains at extremely low levels, yielding about 2 per turn, sometimes more if lucky. Silver sells for about 19 per unit but has a high dropping rate if sold in vast quantities. Selling large amounts can cause the price to drop significantly, potentially leveling out around 7-9.

Sugar is found in tropical areas and is quite useful. Rum is a good seller, and Sugar itself generally sells for more than other crops like Tobacco and Cotton. Sugar takes longer to generate than Tobacco and Cotton. If you have excess Sugar, sell it or use it to make more Rum.

Tobacco, despite being a cash crop, does not sell highly. It should almost always be used to make Cigars, which are a very stable manufactured product. Ensure you have enough cities to process all Tobacco.

Tools are the most important good after food. They are needed for clearing forests, crafting roads, and producing impressive buildings. Tools can also be produced into guns. Tools have the same selling price as Guns and Ore, so it is generally best to keep Tools and not send them back.

Blacksmith's Houses produce 3 Tools per Citizen, Blacksmith's Shops produce 6 Tools per Citizen, and Ironworks produce 6 Tools per Citizen with a +50% Tools Production bonus.

Trade Goods are bought from Europe and used to trade with natives. While cheap to purchase and convert into more valuable items, you do not need to rely on Trade Goods long-term, as selling Guns or Horses can also satisfy native trade needs.