danx55
Consul
[ Star Traders 2 Supporter ]
Posts: 110
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Post by danx55 on Nov 20, 2011 15:08:14 GMT -5
hi all, just picked up this game on my desire last night and although it does look interesting, i cant figure out the trading :/ ive played Elite and Frontier etc in the past, so understand it in general - just not here. 1.every time i buy/sell goods i seem to upset a faction and hence im like number 1 criminal in the solar system!  2.i cant seem to actually find somewhere to sell goods at a profit I would expect them to be worth more to sell in some places and times - but they are always a lot less :/ thanks dan ...also would be cool if it told you the price you bought stuff for when selling elsewhere imo .....ah - from another thread it seem that doing contract is initially the best way to get going - will restart and try that |
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Fenikso
Templar
[ Star Traders 2 & Elite Supporter ]
Nobody expects the Rychart Inquisition!
Posts: 753
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Post by Fenikso on Nov 20, 2011 15:22:18 GMT -5
Hi and welcome to the forum!
1) Go to the Conflict screen (Bridge / Status / Cargo / Conflict is one of the ways how to get there). If there is "Trade Embargo" between two factions you will upset opposing faction when trading the other.
2) Unlike the games you have mentioned you will not make profit by just picking up some good and taking it somewhere else (or it is very unlikely). The best way how to make money by trade is to watch trade rumors. Watch for "Surplus" and "Shortage" rumors to make a good profit by trade.
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danx55
Consul
[ Star Traders 2 Supporter ]
Posts: 110
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Post by danx55 on Nov 20, 2011 16:24:05 GMT -5
hi Fenikso, thanks for the quick reply - ah, right that explains a lot then  ive been doing better with my 2nd game - im just doing contracts and then building my skill levels etc im enjoying it much more now - sort of a cross between elite and dope wars cheers dan |
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Post by slayernz on Nov 20, 2011 16:34:10 GMT -5
In this game, there are 6 factions, and their relationships go from love to hate and back again. If you focus on just a few of the factions, you can do a pretty good job trading, even if there are factional wars on. For example, if you wanted to focus on Cadar, De Valtos, and Javat, then avoid trading with DV or Javat if there is a Trade Embargo between the two factions, but go right ahead trading if there is a Trade Embargo between say Javat and Thulun.
Even better, Trade Alliances allow you to get positive RP in all Trade Allied factions if you trade restricted goods (Artifacts, Weapons, Electronics). To trade in those items, you will need a Trade Permit. It's great if you have one, because the ships of that faction generally leave you alone (including Faction Pirates). However, if you don't have one with, say Steel Song, then Steel Song will challenge you if they detect restricted goods in your hold. Avoid flying through enemy airspace if you are carrying restricted goods unless you are keen for a fight.
As Fenikso said, getting to the Conflict screen found the following ways
From Space:
Bridge --> Status --> Cargo --> Conflict
OR
"Phone Menu button", -->Rumors --> Conflict (lightning bolt icon top right-hand side).
From a planet:
Status --> Cargo --> Conflict
Profitable Trading
Depending on the planets you travel, you can make a profit, but once you take into account fuel costs and the fact that it chews up game time, the margins are so thin your first mate could shave with it. Eg, Buy at Javat Mining (-2,-5) and sell at De Valtos Prime (1,1). You will find things are definitely more expensive in De Valtos Prime.
However, Fenikso's right. if you want to try your hand at trading, constantly check rumors for surpluses or shortages. Surpluses mean prices are around 10% - 20% of normal, while shortages give you prices up to 500% higher. Look at distance as well ... If you have two shortage situations, but one is 5AU away and one is 27AU away, seriously consider the closer one. Also, pick a shortage over a surplus any day, unless there is a surplus of Metal on one planet, and a shortage on another. It then makes sense to go to the surplus planet, load yourself up until bursting, then get over to the shortage planet post haste.
It's certainly possible to play doing predominantly trading. You don't get as much XP as you do killing things, but you can get filthy rich. If you trade to the factional conflicts right, you can even have positive RP with all factions easily enough.
Next week, Trading 202 - Using Caches <grin>
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danx55
Consul
[ Star Traders 2 Supporter ]
Posts: 110
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Post by danx55 on Nov 20, 2011 16:38:50 GMT -5
hi slayernz,
cool many thanks - good info
cheers
dan
...btw: is it possible to get emial alerts for post updates on here?
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danx55
Consul
[ Star Traders 2 Supporter ]
Posts: 110
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Post by danx55 on Nov 20, 2011 17:12:08 GMT -5
how do you get a trade permit?
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Post by slayernz on Nov 20, 2011 17:33:50 GMT -5
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danx55
Consul
[ Star Traders 2 Supporter ]
Posts: 110
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Post by danx55 on Nov 20, 2011 19:26:03 GMT -5
awesome! thanks again |
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danx55
Consul
[ Star Traders 2 Supporter ]
Posts: 110
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Post by danx55 on Nov 20, 2011 20:45:08 GMT -5
found great explorer giude - now have trade pass and done my first successful planet explore - cool - thanks
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Post by rabidbite on Nov 20, 2011 23:05:39 GMT -5
Trading is fun, for as long as you last.
As I go farther up the ladder in difficulty I find that I run into pirates, hostile military ships, or bounty hunters every 4-5 spaces (and that's being generous).
Even when my trader had all reputations, the instant he crossed into Independent territories, pirates pirates and more pirates.
So, trading IMO has to become a SECONDARY action that must come under your PRIMARY action which is 'survival of the fittest'. Build an offensive killing machine pirate/bounty hunter/etc.
Why? Because you want to live. There are just way too many hostile ships to go out there with a captain half dedicated to explorer or some other non combat stat that doesn't help you survive.
Now that 4.0 has come about Stealth is a freaking must at higher difficulties. Which is why I play pirates at the moment.
Now things I do when trading (when not killing those weak Thulun and Javat)
1. Rumors: Rumors are your friends. Once you have enough funds BUY them. It cuts down on the 'erroneous' rumors.
2. As you've been told, try very hard to trade in "surplus" or "shortage" planets.
3. CONFLICT is super important. Always make sure that if you're going to trade you don't do so in a manner that hurts your reputation with the factions you want to keep high. The most dangerous CONFLICTS are "Trade Embargo" and Alliance. The first because if you trade to either of the factions 'embargoed' you will loose rep with the other. The second because if a faction that you like Allies with a faction you've been slaughtering, guess what, you'll have to stop killing those ships until the Alliance goes away or you loose faction with BOTH factions.
4. Records. I know records are a good way to build rep specially in CONFLICT: spy war. But Spy War is yet =another= freaking conflict message you have to pay attention to because if .. say... 2 of your "LIKE" factions have a spy war with each other, you loose rep with 1 while raising another. So it can be a double edged sword. Personally, I try to sell off Records at independent planets just so I don't have to worry about another CONFLICT flag.
Anyways these are my thoughts. I'm sure other people have their own theories.
Good luck dude! ;D
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danx55
Consul
[ Star Traders 2 Supporter ]
Posts: 110
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Post by danx55 on Nov 20, 2011 23:17:15 GMT -5
hi rabidbite - cool - thanks for the good intel cheers dan |
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