Episode

"Episode" is the name used in Trade Empires for scenarios. There are nineteen different episodes, some paired with others differentiated largely by level of difficulty. Episode headings below link to detailed articles where they have been written.

Easy

These all have just a single family with no competition and the target being the highest score.

Shang Dynasty China

Uses the one-nation map that will be familiar to players who have been through the Tutorial. Initial foods millet and rice, with silk cloth from weavers to make life comfortable.

First Civilizations I

Choose the Nippur family based in Assyria (for the most resources), the Ur family of (lower) Mesopotamia, the Mohenjo-daro family of the Indus Valley, or the Badakshan family of Afghanistan; build your markets at home and in the central Zagros Mountains or any of the other three territories. Dwellings initially need barley and either furniture or linen cloth, but you can earn also by taking carnelian to a temple. Each family area has a river or two or three for later transport options, and Indus Valley and Mesopotamia also have seacoast for helping transport.

Trade on the Nile I

You can choose one of two families, one in Lower Egypt (which has all of the papyrus but no wood), one in Upper Egypt. The Eastern Mediterranean and Kush are other territories to exploit. Initial foods barley and fish, with other resources flax and papyrus reeds.

The Mycenaean Age I

You can choose one of three families in parts of Greece with some resources in "Ionia" (modern eastern Turkey) and some scattered food on Greek islands.

Medium

These have one family alone or from two to four competing.

First Civilizations II

Four families compete over five territories. Choose the Nippur family based in Assyria, the Ur family of (lower) Mesopotamia, the Mohenjo-daro family of the Indus Valley, or the Badakshan family of Afghanistan; build your markets at home and in the central Zagros Mountains or any of the other three rivals' territories. You start with 5,000 coins.

Dwellings initially need barley and either furniture or linen cloth, but you can earn also by taking carnelian to a temple. Each family area has a river or two or three for later transport options, and Indus Valley and Mesopotamia also have seacoast for later helping transport.

No matter which family you choose, the number of specific demand buildings, production buildings, resources, and depots for each territory is fixed and varies from one to another. Each family has between 25 and 40 dwellings, one or two temples, two or four carpenters (with two also in Zagros), from three to six weavers, from 15 to 30 barley fields (with 15 also in Zagros), from two to four carnelian camps, from 12 to 16 flax farms, from 8 to 12 timber camps (with eight also in Zagros), one headquarters, and occasionally (probably not in your region) a market or trading post.

Trails are the only pathways initially available.

Transporters are the donkey (costing 50 coins and carrying two bundles very slowly) and mule (costing 100 coins and carrying three bundles slowly).

Trade on the Nile II

Two families compete. Map is basically the same as for Trade on the Nile I but weavers are immediately available for turning flax into linen cloth. Your score includes the number of dwellings in your home province.

The Mycenaean Age II

Three families compete. You can choose one of three families in parts of Greece (Attica, Peloponnenses, or Crete) with some resources in "Ionia" (modern eastern Turkey) and some scattered food on Greek islands. Part of your score includes points for anything you have sold in a territory other than where it was produced.

Seafarers of Phoenicia

Two families share the Eastern Mediterranean homeland but earn points for overseas colonies too.

The Persian Wars

Four families compete.

The Silk Road I

Four families compete.

Islam & Byzantium

Three families compete.

British Industrialization

Just one family.

German Industrialization

Just one family.

Difficult

Tang & Song Era China

Three families compete for wealth, with bonus points for the size of the biggest city in each home region.

European High Middle Ages

Three families compete over six regions, with bonus points for the eventual highest seller in each region.

The Silk Road II

Four families compete.

Indian Ocean Trade

Four families compete.

Atlantic Ocean Trade

Three families compete.

Very difficult

Roman Empire

Four families compete.