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Economy HOWTO

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Introduction

A UFP Andor-class freighter.

This mini-HOWTO is for new players who are looking for a quick get-started econ guide.

In order to trade, you need a PADD, a ship, a guild and some starting cash.

This guide assumes you have a ship and a guild, and you've set it up (using @epadd set ship=<ship> and @epadd set guild=<guild>). If you don't have a ship, contact a friendly administrator.

Setting up a PADD

The first thing to do is set up a @padd.Setting up a PADD

1) @create padd

2) @set padd=!NO_COMMAND

3) @set padd=TRUST

4) @parent padd=#313

$help padd will show you all the commands you will need to trade.

Making Latinum

There are basically two ways to make money:

Missions
Trading commodites

Getting Help

All these commands can be found by typing @padd help market and @padd help epadd

Missions

A Klingon freighter.

Missions are planet-specific. They involve ferrying cargo from point A to point B. A few points:

Expiration time

Missions have an expiration time, which you should pay attention to. Make sure there is enough time to deliver your mission. Use @padd eta <planet> to <planet> at <warp X> to know the ETA- Freighter V's usually cruise at Warp 13.

Cargo Space

You should also be attentive to the cargo size. Freighter V's (the most common type of freighter) can hold 10 unit of cargo, but there are some missions which involve transporting 20 units of cargo (and no, you can't deliver half now and half later). You would need a light D'Kora for these 20 units missions. D'Koras can be rented from the GFA.

Freighter I = 2
Freighter II = 4
Freighter III = 6
Freighter IV = 8
Freighter V = 10
D'Kora = 20

Market Status

Market status is very important. If a market is listed in red or yellow it is either closed or restricted. Stay away from these markets!! The only exception? Unless they are in your own empire, then you can trade at restricted planets.

@market free trade

Mission Availability

To see what missions are available: @mark mis list <planet name> For example, @mark mis list mars

Picking up and Delivering

To select a mission, you must be in a market - found on most planets.

@mark mis pick <mission number> For example, @mark mis pick #10374-03-4232.

To deliver a mission, simply fly to the destination planet, and in that planet's market:

@mark mis del <mission number>. The mission number can be found on your padd. Simply look padd. For example, @mark mis del 1.

Mission Notes

A mission already taken will appear in yellow. One not taken yet will be highlighted white. And one completed will appear in green. Those in red are expired. Once you have taken a mission, it is locked to you.

Commodity Trading

A Talarian freighter.

Trading commodities is just that, finding the most profitable runs between two markets. A few points:

Pay attention to @econcycle. It's best not to start a run when the cycle is about to tick, as commodity prices change when the cycle changes. @econ cycle lasts 8 hours, so there are three @cycles in a day. You can type @econcycle (or @finger Pryan), it shows the time left to the next @cycle. When this @cycle hits, all commodity price change, expired or completed missions are replaced by new ones. So beware.
Just like with missions, if a market is listed in red or yellow it is either closed or restricted. Stay away from these markets! To see a list of all markets and their status, simply type @mark free trade

Finding profitable runs

@mark comp top <market1>=<market2>. For example, @mark comp top Bajor=Jeraddo. This simply compares the top commodities between the two planets.
@mark pric list <commodity #>. For example, @mark pric list 48. Just look for planets which may be close to each other. Known good commodities are: 48, 47, 46, 41, 40, 38, 37, 29, 26, and 13.

Buying and selling

All these command are used at a planet market.

@mark trad buy <commodity>=<amount>. For example, @mark trad buy 48=10 would buy 10 units of commodity 48 (Audio Equipment).
@mark trad sell <commodity>=<amount>. For example, @mark trade sell 48=10 would sell 10 units of commodity 48.

Seeing your cargo

Seeing your current cargo manifest is as easy as @mark cargo mani or on the freighter, cargo manifest.

Banks

A freighter from the RSE.

Banks are good. You don't want to be carrying all your latinum - if you were ever captured, it is possible your money could be taken. All banks commands are only available when you are in a room with a bank.

You will want to find a bank with good interest rate. To find it, use @BAN*K ADV*ERTISING <INTEREST|TRANSFER|LOAN>.

HINT: At the Bank ATM, look at its current balance. If the bank holds 10M and you withdraw 12M, you won't be able to cash out all your gold pressed latinum!

That being said, I always carry enough latinum to:

pay any fines/trader's fees
pay for commodities and missions
buy a round of drinks for angry Klingons

I keep the rest in different bank accounts around the galaxy.

Opening Accounts

@BAN*K OPE*N <latinum>

It's best to keep track of your accounts. Keep in mind: when you add an account, you need to then add that account to your PADD. To do so, simply use the command:

@PAD*D BAN*K ADD <Account #>[=<note>]

Checking your balance

The easiest way to do this is to look padd. Keep in mind you can't use your padd to see your bank information unless you add it, as noted above. You can alos use the following commands:

@BAN*K ACC*OUNTS
@BAN*K BAL*ANCE <account>

Depositing latinum

@BAN*K DEP*OSIT <account>=<latinum>
@BAN*K DEP*OSIT <account>=+/-<player name>

Withdrawing latinum

@BAN*K WIT*HDRAW <account>=<latinum>
@BAN*K WIT*HDRAW <account>=+/-<player name>

Closing an account

@BAN*K CLO*SE <account>

Guilds

In order to be able to trade, you NEED to be in a guild. There are currently 9 guilds. To see the list, @guild list (once you have a padd). Certain guilds are allowed to trade at certain markets. Other guilds are prohibited from trading at certain markets.

As you will see, some are restricted to the empire's traders: this is the case for Cardassians, these traders cannot trade under any other guild (for IC reasons). So check with your empire what are the rules for you, regarding the guild you will want to use.

To be added to a guild, you will contact the Managers, whose names are listed using @guild info <guild acronym> (ex.: @guild info fca). Once you are added.... you can trade!

NEW INFORMATION

As of June 26 2007, markets now have access control lists. This means only certain guilds have permission to trade at certain markets.

To see what guilds you belong to, simply look padd.

There are 2 new commands which make changing your "active" guild much easier:

@EPADD CYC*LE - Switches to the next guild in line for the list.

@EPADD GUI*LD <+|-><guild> - Adds or Removes the guild from your rapid switch list.

Taxes

You will pay taxes when you buy and sell a mission or commodities. The market will show you its current taxes level: @mark miss list <planet> shows it. You will either pay the taxes on missions, or the one on commodities, depending on what you take at the market. Taxes are already calculated in the profit showed on missions as they appear when checking them for planets.

Market taxes will raise with each transaction, upping at 10 percent. They lower slightly when @econcycle hits.

Important note: If you haul commodities, make sure to check the current profit for the run: it will changes due to taxes raise. Also, the @econ is set, that after 3-4 runs between the same two planets (like Pryan-Kaigun), the profit will disappear totally: this was implemented in order to avoid seeing traders do the same quick run for hours and build up little fortunes. (No, Joruk never did that! *winks*)

The Guilds also have taxes as shown with @guild info <guild acronym>. Depending on the guild you use, these taxes will vary. These taxes are set by the guild administrators and do not change with each transaction.

Miscellaneous

The following are ideas, strategies, and suggestions for new players.

Beware of pirates

When I'm flying, I always:

Look for the nearest planet (plan near). This way I know where I'll run to in the event of an attack.
Look for the nearest nebula (neb rep) - many times nebulas are closer than planets - and nebulas are great hiding places.
Ask your government if any pirate ships have been seen in the area.
If attacked, I crank up ecm and run like hell!
As if it needs to be said, always run with shields up.

Borders

Announce your inbounds and outbounds
Pay attention to space regulations (you can find them on @PADD REG):

- RSE: @fing rsespace
- UFP: @fing fedspace
- KE: @fing kespace
- CU: @fing cuspace
- BFN: @fing bfn
- GFA: @fing gfaspace

Hazards

Read Breen regulations. Read them and learn them. Portos and Dozaria have fighter bots, and they will kill you without a word. (Breen space is now closed to everyone)
Avoid Rigels and Gamora: fighter bots there too. They'll kill you on sight.
LMC is a part of space in the Delta Quadrant, accessible by using the Stargate over Sherman's planet. Huge storms are there constantly. Lightning bolts can destroy your freighter and help is hard to get there. @finger unity to see the lightning rate, for it constantly changes. Boost your shields and... good luck! 1 bolt every 60 seconds is the best rate you can get.
Ion Storms randomly appear around star systems. They're sort of like the LMC.

Suggestions

Commodity trading is best when the other planet is close by
When the econcycle ticks, look for nearby missions (@mark mis top).
FTG is a private guild that has some low lowest tax rates (@ft/fees). Getting into that might not hurt.
The FCA has the current lowest tax price.
Make IC connections with other traders as soon as you can.
Make sure to refuel your freighter (@mark ref <ANT*IMATER|DEU*TERIUM>=<tons> - from a market).
If you take a mission which only has 8 units of cargo, buy 2 of something else. No use flying around with a partly-empty ship!
To use the Wormhole near Bajor, @finger DS9 for instruction.
To use the Unity Stargates, find the location by @finger unity.
s2s to the nearest planet of the empire you are going to enter/exit to announce border crossing. Of course, you can use the Quadrant channels... and everyone, friend AND foe, will also know where you are and where you are going.
Always reply to hails.
Don't idle while trading, especially with pirates around.

Good luck, and good flying!

Credits

This guide was written by Boris Enichov and Joruk Lekar

Economy HOWTO - ATS Wiki