Easy Merchant Build

[mrsnape]

So I see some ppl want to try and become accomplished 10M traders but are easily derailed by pirates and aliens. Well friends Mrsnape is here to help.

*I did this on the free version so all you paid guys might have a better upgrade choices*

Difficulty-I normally play crazy with this strategy to practice it

Starting Ship-Cali (the water-tank is a big help plus the 50 cargo hold and 21 sails are a major plus)

Starting Faction- Cadar (I choose them mainly because of area and economy)

Skills
Pilot- 9-12 (it doesn't need to be higher)
Negotiate- as high as possible
Stealth- high but not as high neg

Upgrades(remember I'm using free so it might vary)
This is for the cali

Prow superstructure 3 sail 8 cargo
Nano sail coating 6 sail
Null field
Escape shuttle (can never be to careful)
Cargo pod 10 cargo

this will give you a a 30 sail fast ship and 68 cargo space making it a perfect long distance hauler while being able to duck majority of the pirates

How to make money
Well this guys is the key
*Noobs to this strategy I highly advise you to do missions till you reach 30k so you have fall back money
Your going to be selling spice weapons artifacts electronics and records
Your going to buy spice and electronics from only planets with trade economies
You get artifacts from hive capitals
And weapons from military economies
Mining economies are good for buying small amounts of weapons artifacts and electronics
I'm not going to tell you we're to sell them because I have faith in you guys

Diplomat stuff
No matter what avoid selling to trade banned places
Take advantage of trade alliances
Get trade permits for every one
Surrender unless your in the red (have less then 10k) and charge it to the game
Don't be a hero merchants isn't supposed to be a combat class
Don't be a dumbass

Future ship
Thulon flag







****this is not complete I will be adding more to it so it might have holes but I'll correct them when I have more time on my hands****

[Cory Trese]

shared on FB

[mrsnape]

What do you mean by that?

[fallen]

mrsnape - that we thought your advice was good enough that we posted it to Facebook and Twitter

[mrsnape]

Hah cool

[tnighthawk]

That doesn't look quite right with the exception that hives do seem good places to sell electronics.

Weapons are not high margin outside surplus/shortage (although the reputation makes it with buying <650 and selling > 750) but they don't seem to be consistently lower at military economies. Looking at them at 785/762 on Steel Fortress (military) right now.

On the other hand, SF is a great place to sell artifacts and an OK place to buy electronics. Meanwhile Rychart Prime (trade) has weapons at 671/647 and also decent buying prices for artifacts and electronics (and spice). Syndicate Capital (hive) has OK seeking prices for electronics and weapons and buying prices for artifacts.

As far as build goes, I quickly take negotiate to 15 then forget it while I put huge points into strength and build up to a 200% pilot and near 100% tactics and warrior. I avoid most fights by having trade permits but stealth seems to get me killed as it levels the enemies more than it benefits me. (Suggestion for ST2: stop making enemy level dependent on player level and just go with time factors.)