Well trading posts might be stuff for the future, but "realisticly" (A word that have little to do with a game like this) if I have a trading post, wouldn't they trade all my good equipment around to all my cities to be more easily available.
Another thing you might consider: I don't have to be in a city ATM. to purchase items, I purchase items when I am within my own City Borders, the one clotting up the landscape that you might remember from civ 5.
Also I think that Gildar (Gold) is the current restriction to your access of items, that is why I said you should play the game, since Gildar is "heavily" restricting access, in case you want to, like me, optimize research time from your cities, and build stuff as fast as possible.
so further "nerfing" item gain by also further hitting production in cities by having to build tons of buildings... (ok tons and tons, but a couple) sounds redundant). I just think it gets to be a real hazzle to get some loot for your heroes suddenly... It might be a good thing for the game, very good, but should be implemented carefully.
The reason I don't think its good in the current system is all the items I get from quests, this system would make me either ignore trading posts entirely and build stuff that have a proper chance of upgrading my power, instead of having more items available to heroes that also receives items from quests and monsters. Or it makes me only use heroes due to the investment already put into giving them top of the line equipment, so I cant afford to sustain an army in the game...
Right now weapons are available depending on your current research, and if you don't like it, go into a friends border and buy all they're awesome items (there is no tradeoff for that ATM... That should probably be changed
)
I feel like I want the game to reward a little bit more to players having armies than it does right now
.
Alot of the time my Sovereign is walking around alone, being a 1-man (or 1-lady) army, bashing stuff to the right, and bashing stuff to the left, and I rarely purchase items for my heroes, the most well-bought items are "Wooden Shield", and mounts. (Wooden shields are really really cheap shields that still provide a dodge bonus and some armor).
So sorry for not explaining properly the first time
(and putting up stupid comments).
Sincerely
~ Kongdej