<p>A maritime trade is one with the bank. The bank will NEVER trade with you at favorable terms, because it doesn't need to. The bank is only in the business of trading to "make money" (favorable terms for the bank, bad terms for you). The special harbor doesn't change this (although it will reduce the terms against you from 4- to -1 or 3- to -1 or 2- to -1, for that commodity).</p>

<p>The only time you can get favorable terms is in domestic trade (with another player). And that happens only when the other player needs the trade more than you, and is hoping that you will give him better terms than 4- to -1 (against him).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-14T21:10:40.127Z
2013-09-15T18:17:34.477Z
2013-09-15T18:17:34.477Z
Tom Au
<p>This is covered in the <a href="http://www.catan.com/faq/2-catan-boardgame/943-trade-what-is-the-meaning-of-the-resource-symbols-on-some-harbor-hexes.html">Catan FAQ</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Trade - What is the meaning of the resource symbols on some harbor
  hexes?</p>
  
  <p><strong>Answer</strong> The special harbor hexes always show the resource type of which
  you have to discard 2 units in order to receive one different resource
  or one commodity.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In other words, it only works one way - the way you expected.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-04T03:35:28.490Z
2012-01-04T03:35:28.490Z
ire_and_curses
<p>I recently played with a friend who said you can use the maritime harbor to trade 2:1 in both directions. I said this wasn't true, but couldn't disprove him in the rule book. The rules say:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The exchange rate of 2:1 only applies to the resource shown on the harbor location.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Suppose you're on a 2:1 wood trade. </p>

<p>(1) You can trade 2 wood cards for 1 grain/ore/sheep/brick card. </p>

<p>(2) You can trade 2 cards for 1 wood card. (2 grain for 1 wood. 2 brick for 1 wood etc.)</p>

<p>Can you only do (1), (2), or both. <strong>Which is correct?</strong></p>

<catan>
Maritime Trading both ways?
jb.
# Maritime Trading both ways?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-01-04)

I recently played with a friend who said you can use the maritime harbor to trade 2:1 in both directions. I said this wasn't true, but couldn't disprove him in the rule book. The rules say:

> The exchange rate of 2:1 only applies to the resource shown on the harbor location.

Suppose you're on a 2:1 wood trade.

(1) You can trade 2 wood cards for 1 grain/ore/sheep/brick card.

(2) You can trade 2 cards for 1 wood card. (2 grain for 1 wood. 2 brick for 1 wood etc.)

Can you only do (1), (2), or both. **Which is correct?**

**Tags:** catan


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-01-04. Score: 16 | Accepted answer

This is covered in the [Catan FAQ](http://www.catan.com/faq/2-catan-boardgame/943-trade-what-is-the-meaning-of-the-resource-symbols-on-some-harbor-hexes.html):

> Trade - What is the meaning of the resource symbols on some harbor
> hexes?
>
> **Answer** The special harbor hexes always show the resource type of which
> you have to discard 2 units in order to receive one different resource
> or one commodity.

In other words, it only works one way - the way you expected.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2013-09-14. Score: 1

A maritime trade is one with the bank. The bank will NEVER trade with you at favorable terms, because it doesn't need to. The bank is only in the business of trading to "make money" (favorable terms for the bank, bad terms for you). The special harbor doesn't change this (although it will reduce the terms against you from 4- to -1 or 3- to -1 or 2- to -1, for that commodity).

The only time you can get favorable terms is in domestic trade (with another player). And that happens only when the other player needs the trade more than you, and is hoping that you will give him better terms than 4- to -1 (against him).


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