Route Types in Faerûn: How the Waterdeep Trading Company Moves Goods Across Faerûn

Trade in Faerûn is governed by cost control, timing discipline, and careful handling of risk, both mundane and arcane. From the docks of Waterdeep to the long caravan roads leading to Baldur’s Gate and the portal halls of Silverymoon, the Waterdeep Trading Company succeeds because it plans routes with precision. Each route type reflects a specific trade pattern, chosen to balance distance, volume, urgency, and security.

This article explains the most common route types used by the Waterdeep Trading Company and provides worked examples for each. Each example breaks the route into legs, showing distance, pickup and drop-off quantities, and cost per leg. This level of detail supports both logistics planning and ledger review.

What Route Types Are

A route type defines the movement pattern used to transfer goods between locations. It determines whether a caravan travels directly to a single destination, visits several locations in sequence, loops back to its origin, or passes through a central hub. Selecting the correct route type reduces wasted travel, improves delivery timing, and protects valuable or sensitive goods.

Why Route Details Matter

Breaking routes down to the leg level enables the Waterdeep Trading Company to manage operations and finances in tandem. This structure enables caravan masters and Arcane Treasurers to calculate accurate cost-per-segment, track inventory movement by location, allocate expenses for profitability review, and improve loading and unloading control at intermediate stops.

Common Route Types in Faerûn

The table below lists the primary route types used by the Waterdeep Trading Company and the situations in which each is applied.

Worked Examples with Route Legs

Each example below begins with a short scenario, followed by a level-by-level table. Fixed fees are applied after travel costs to show the full route impact.

Direct Route Example

Enchanted swords are shipped from Waterdeep to Baldur’s Gate with no delay permitted.  The table below shows how travel costs accumulate along the route.

Additional costs include a guard fee of 50.00 FSD and a magical stabilizer cost of 25.00 FSD.

The total route cost is 150.00 FSD.

Milk Run Example

A single caravan departs Waterdeep, serves Amphail, Rassalantar, and Secomber, then returns.  This route combines delivery and pickup activity across several stops.

Fixed costs include a guard fee of 60.00 FSD and loading and unloading charges of 30.00 FSD per stop.

The total route cost is 120.00 FSD.

Circular Route Example

A regional loop runs from Waterdeep to Daggerford, onward to Baldur’s Gate, then back to Waterdeep.  This route supports steady regional demand.

Additional costs include guard fees of 100.00 FSD and lodging costs of 40.00 FSD.

The total route cost is 236.00 FSD.

Hub and Spoke Example

Goods move from Waterdeep to a hub in Daggerford, then outward to Amphail, Secomber, Rassalantar, and Goldenfields.

A hub handling fee of 50.00 FSD is applied.

The total route cost is 80.00 FSD.

Portal Route Example

Rare spell kits are transferred from Waterdeep to Silverymoon using an arcane portal.

A portal toll of 200.00 FSD and a magical stabilizer cost of 50.00 FSD are applied.

The total route cost is 250.00 FSD.

Route Comparison Summary

The table below provides a single view of all route options using total distance and total cost. This view is used during planning councils and budget reviews.

This summary highlights how different routing strategies trade distance for fixed fees, consolidation, or speed.

Final Thoughts

Detailed route planning gives the Waterdeep Trading Company complete visibility into how goods and coin move together. By tracking distance, quantities, and cost at the leg level, the company improves control, reduces waste, and supports reliable trade across Faerûn. Milk runs serve small settlements, hub routes scale distribution, direct routes protect valuable cargo, and portal routes support urgent needs. Each route type has a clear place when applied with discipline.

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