Looking back upon the debates about Trade Balance and whatnot, If you want my advice, coming from my GM standpoint, the system I have now... really doesn't work that well. However, I feel that the system I am about to implement into World in Revolution over in the other forum, is just a tad to complicated to just thrust into this game.
However, what I am thinking of is that trade in this game can be expressed by two ways, Nation Trading and Colonial Trading. This would settle the differences between the colonies gaining/giving wealth and from trading with other nations. Colonial Trading would represent the balance of trade that the homeland has (British Isles v India) versus the colony. If you have a really bad colony, (Yes, I am talking about you Algeria) then you'd have to suffer for that. However, if you get a good colony it raises the amount of money you get.
Anywho. That's what my rambling has to offer. If you trade with another nation, you'd have to deal with Imports and Exports. I think it would be up to the GM to say who's is negative and positive. Case in point, the Confederacy exporting Cotton and Importing Manufactured Goods. Cotton is worth less as a raw material, so the trade balance is negative.
Ah. That's my two cents.
EDIT: The Confederacy should not have control of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas. These states seceded after Ft. Sumter was attacked. This was a mistake in the other WiR, as a history professor, I'd much appreciate it if this was fixed inthis one.
