Oolite Trading - Revision history

Cholmondely: /* The Law */ Updated link

2026-05-02T23:25:08Z

‎The Law: Updated link

Cholmondely: /* The Law */ Added link to Contra's Art (thanks to Wildeblood)

2026-05-01T04:38:44Z

‎The Law: Added link to Contra's Art (thanks to Wildeblood)

Cholmondely: Added the 5 Ton Rule

2025-12-09T17:14:33Z

Added the 5 Ton Rule

Cholmondely: /* Links */ Added another

2025-08-11T14:49:39Z

‎Links: Added another

Cholmondely: /* "Too much money!" problems */ Added Witch Bank & Feudal States - Tibecea

2025-06-09T13:58:02Z

‎"Too much money!" problems: Added Witch Bank & Feudal States - Tibecea

Cholmondely: Minor tweaks, added Reval's Elite Trader

2025-05-02T11:21:26Z

Minor tweaks, added Reval's Elite Trader

Cholmondely: /* Changing the markets */ Added More Moolah

2024-07-05T08:28:29Z

‎Changing the markets: Added More Moolah

Cholmondely: /* OXP's to help with or enhance trading */ Added OoliteRS (Reference Sheets) and the Oolite_bot

2024-06-29T23:24:20Z

‎OXP's to help with or enhance trading: Added OoliteRS (Reference Sheets) and the Oolite_bot

Cholmondely: /* "Too much money" problems */ Added link and OXPs

2024-05-20T08:07:44Z

‎"Too much money" problems: Added link and OXPs

Phkb: Updating BB links

2024-02-29T02:20:45Z

Updating BB links

@@ Line 205: / Line 205: @@
 * [[Smugglers]] - by [[User:Phkb|Phkb]] (2019): embargoes, black markets, bribes & smuggling compartments!
 * [[Illegal Goods Tweak OXP]] - you are now interrogated on arrival at a GalCop station with slaves ''etc'' in your cargo
-* [https://app.box.com/s/k516volu5d0ovs63w522 Contrabandista's Art] a selection of notes and quotes transcribed from posts on our BB (2012 - before Oolite v.1.80/1.82 and the rejigging of markets and rock hermits).
+* [[Contrabandista's Art]] a selection of notes and quotes transcribed from posts on our BB (2012 - before Oolite v.1.80/1.82 and the rejigging of markets and rock hermits).
 === Time ===

@@ Line 205: / Line 205: @@
 * [[Smugglers]] - by [[User:Phkb|Phkb]] (2019): embargoes, black markets, bribes & smuggling compartments!
 * [[Illegal Goods Tweak OXP]] - you are now interrogated on arrival at a GalCop station with slaves ''etc'' in your cargo
 === Time ===

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:14, 9 December 2025
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	''And older'': [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5672 Rookie Help - Missions and Money] (2009)		''And older'': [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5672 Rookie Help - Missions and Money] (2009)
		+
		+	5 Ton Rule: Rather than taking on full loads and intended to sell them, always leave 5 tons of cargo area open. Because space is a big and unpredictable place and you never know what you are going to find. Sure, there are some great deals such as the narcotics you got for 4.0₢/TC might give you 90₢/TC in another system, but not all deals are that good - while the escape capsule you scooped of the unfortunate guy whose aid you came to, will give you 250₢ because of his insurance (and 28₢ for the guy shooting at him). And you will need the 5 free tons in your hold for his capsule. [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?t=7280 Chrisfs (2009)]

	[https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3531 Profitability (Career Opportunities)] (2007) has some tips for trading with massive ships like Boas/Pythons.		[https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3531 Profitability (Career Opportunities)] (2007) has some tips for trading with massive ships like Boas/Pythons.

@@ Line 153: / Line 153: @@
 *[https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4902 Trading Aids] (2008)
 *[https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7584 The trading game] (2010): critique of Elite/Oolite trading system - the 3rd page has an alternative suggestion by Cmdr Trigg
 *[https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11102 What ''is'' 1 TC?] Weight? Volume? Description of Cannister? (2011)
 *[https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?p=79950#p79950 Would a combine harvester be sold in 18 separate Tonne Cannisters with a set of IKEA instructions?] (2009)

@@ Line 116: / Line 116: @@
 == "Too much money!" problems ==
-A nice problem to have!
+''A nice problem to have!''
 *See [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4016 Too much money] (2007-8) for advice!
 *[https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?p=233310#p233310 Astrobe's 2015 suggestions] in a relevant thread (Bling!)
 === OXPs ===
 *[[Diplomancy]] introduces taxation!
 *[[Galactic Navy OXP]] allows purchase of Navy Bonds.
-*[[Hermitage]] adds in buying your own Rock Hermit (and paying for upgrades).
+*[[Hermitage]] adds in buying your own Rock Hermit (and investing in upgrades).
 == Advanced Trading: Changing the Markets ==

@@ Line 103: / Line 103: @@
   [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3531 Profitability (Career Opportunities)] (2007) has some tips for trading with massive ships like Boas/Pythons.
-== "No Money" problems ==
+== "No money!" problems ==
 There are a number of options.
 *Shooting asteroids at 1₢/asteroid until you have enough money to do something!
@@ Line 115: / Line 115: @@
 *[https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4251 Making cash] (2008): includes tips on saving money
-== "Too much money" problems ==
+== "Too much money!" problems ==
 A nice problem to have!
@@ Line 183: / Line 183: @@
 * See the '''OoliteRS''' (Reference Sheets) and '''AdviceforNewCommanders''' which came as .pdfs in your original game download. ''Probably worth printing out!''
 * [https://github.com/jmcaffee/oolite_bot Oolite_bot] is a bot to run a trading route in Oolite. It is written in bash, using xwd, ImageMagick, and sha256sum. By J McAfee (GitHub, 2015)
 === Tweaking the markets ===

@@ Line 192: / Line 192: @@
 === Changing the markets ===
 * [[SW Economy‎]]: Realism! 3 new commodities, a trading triad (agricultural-mining-industrial) & factors such as atmosphere, TL & GDP are now relevant.
 * [[New Cargoes]] - by [[User:Cim|Cim]] 2014. Introduces 100 sub-variants of the regular commodities. Profits only at one or two planets!
 * [[New Cargoes Trading Advice]] - transcript of the Advanced Trading course at [[Lave Academy]].

@@ Line 179: / Line 179: @@
 * [[Elite Trader OXZ]] rejig of Oolite, emphasising trade (see above).
 * There are plenty of OXP ships that have increased cargo capacity. Check out the [[Largest_Ships_(Oolite)|Largest Ships]] list for some examples.
 === Tweaking the markets ===

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:07, 20 May 2024
Line 119:		Line 119:

	*See [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4016 Too much money] (2007-8) for advice!		*See [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4016 Too much money] (2007-8) for advice!
		+
		+	*[https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?p=233310#p233310 Astrobe's 2015 suggestions] in a relevant thread (Bling!)
		+
		+	=== OXPs ===
		+	*[[Diplomancy]] introduces taxation!
		+	*[[Galactic Navy OXP]] allows purchase of Navy Bonds.
		+	*[[Hermitage]] adds in buying your own Rock Hermit (and paying for upgrades).

	== Advanced Trading: Changing the Markets ==		== Advanced Trading: Changing the Markets ==

@@ Line 83: / Line 83: @@
     The Rich/Poor overlay adjusts the buying and selling prices differently depending on whether the world in question is ''Agricultural'' or ''Industrial''. '''Rich Industrial''' worlds provide the cheapest finished goods: they have the most efficient industrial plants and can undercut their competitors. Their industries and populations are also hungry (not to say greedy) and will pay top whack for raw materials. '''Poor Agricultural''' worlds have the lowest standards of living and produce the cheapest raw materials. They're also the most desperate for finished goods, and pay the highest prices for them. Therefore, the best trade run is between a Rich Industrial and a Poor Agricultural. The least promising is between a Poor Mostly Industrial and a Rich Mostly Agricultural (I think). Well, unless you start trying to ship Industrial goods to Industrial planets, obviously (although even here you might make a bit of money, if you're buying from a Rich Industrial and selling to a Poor Industrial).
     The highest profit margins, on legitimate goods anyway, tend to be on Computers, Luxuries and Machinery on the Industrial side, and on Furs and Liquor & Wines on the Agricultural side. Running precious metals and gemstones is also worthwhile as a long-term investment. If you see them cheap anywhere (mid- to high teens per gram for gemstones, 36-38  ₢/kg for gold and anything under 70 ₢/kg for platinum) buy up what you can afford and hang onto it until you find a high selling price. It doesn't take up any cargo space as you keep it in a safe in the cabin. Agricultural planets usually sell precious stones and metals slightly cheaper than Industrial ones do, but a big money payoff can happen pretty much anywhere.
-    '''Government type''' and '''Tech Level''' don't make any difference to trade prices -- at least, not in the unmodified game. Some of the OXPs, such as Dictatorships and Your Ad here, add extra trading possibilities based on other factors, e.g. population size (which is linked to wealth), government type and so on. ''Government type does make a difference'' as to how much trouble you might run into on your way in, though, with Anarchies the worst, moving up through Feudal, Multi-Government, Dictatorship, Communist, Confederacy and Democracy, with Corporate State being the most peaceful (or cop-infested, depending on your point of view). [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?p=48929#p48929 Disembodied (2008)].
+    '''Government type''' and '''Tech Level''' don't make any difference to trade prices -- at least, not in the unmodified game. Some of the OXPs, such as Dictatorships and Your Ad here, add extra trading possibilities based on other factors, e.g. population size (which is linked to wealth), government type and so on. ''Government type does make a difference'' as to how much trouble you might run into on your way in, though, with Anarchies the worst, moving up through Feudal, Multi-Government, Dictatorship, Communist, Confederacy and Democracy, with Corporate State being the most peaceful (or cop-infested, depending on your point of view). [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?p=48929#p48929 Disembodied (2008)].
    '' More from the Bulletin Boards:''
@@ Line 95: / Line 95: @@
 Rich Agriculturals do indeed seem rather useless from a trading point of view.  They remind me of organic farms in that they can afford to sell their goods at elevated prices and aren't bothered about losing out to the lower end of the market.  At the same time, they seem less prepared to pay over the odds for industrial goods.  Conversely, Poor Agriculturals need all the money they can get, so will happily let their exports go at below-average prices, while they will pay handsomely for thinks like computers, luxuries and machinery.
-Piracy is always an option as a way to make some quick cash, but it's probably best to wait until your ship is kitted out a bit more before going down that route.|Source=([http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?p=21700#p21700 Ramirez (2006)])}}
+Piracy is always an option as a way to make some quick cash, but it's probably best to wait until your ship is kitted out a bit more before going down that route.|Source=([https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?p=21700#p21700 Ramirez (2006)])}}
-  ''Yet more from the Bulletin Boards'': [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20029 Core game money earning] (2019)
+  ''Yet more from the Bulletin Boards'': [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20029 Core game money earning] (2019)
-  ''And older'': [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5672 Rookie Help - Missions and Money] (2009)
+  ''And older'': [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5672 Rookie Help - Missions and Money] (2009)
-  [http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3531 Profitability (Career Opportunities)] (2007) has some tips for trading with massive ships like Boas/Pythons.
+  [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3531 Profitability (Career Opportunities)] (2007) has some tips for trading with massive ships like Boas/Pythons.
 == "No Money" problems ==
@@ Line 108: / Line 108: @@
 *Sell or downgrade your laser/missiles (but remember, your missiles can be used to stop other missiles!)
 *Sell your ship to buy a cheaper one (you will lose c. 2/3 of your current ship value).
-*See [http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15669 Financial Advice] (2013) for more advice
+*See [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15669 Financial Advice] (2013) for more advice
-*And see [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3550 Help...] (2007-12) for advice including cheats
+*And see [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3550 Help...] (2007-12) for advice including cheats
 === Other Links ===
-*[http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2924 Just not making enough cash] (2007): problems with downgrading your ship
+*[https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2924 Just not making enough cash] (2007): problems with downgrading your ship
-*[http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4251 Making cash] (2008): includes tips on saving money
+*[https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4251 Making cash] (2008): includes tips on saving money
 == "Too much money" problems ==
 A nice problem to have!
-*See [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4016 Too much money] (2007-8) for advice!
+*See [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4016 Too much money] (2007-8) for advice!
 == Advanced Trading: Changing the Markets ==
-{{QuoteText|Text=... Oolite is not "just a shooter" game. But it would be very interesting someday to see what it could be like if even half of the attention and effort that has gone into the combat related functions was expended on the economic and cultural possibilities|Source=([http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?p=152334#p152334 Ganelon (2011)])}}
+{{QuoteText|Text=... Oolite is not "just a shooter" game. But it would be very interesting someday to see what it could be like if even half of the attention and effort that has gone into the combat related functions was expended on the economic and cultural possibilities|Source=([https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?p=152334#p152334 Ganelon (2011)])}}
 Since Ganelon's comment in 2011, much has been done. While some OXPs such as [[BlOomberg Markets]], [[In_System_Trader|In-System trader]], [[Risk Based Economy OXP|Risk based economy]] & [[Risky Business]] make trading more realistic in various ways, several wonderful OXPs have been written which totally rejig aspects of the Trading system. They all make trading ''much'' more complicated!
@@ Line 143: / Line 143: @@
 *[[Economics]]
-*[http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4951 The role of player-traders] (2008)
+*[https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4951 The role of player-traders] (2008)
-*[http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4902 Trading Aids] (2008)
+*[https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4902 Trading Aids] (2008)
-*[http://aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7584 The trading game] (2010): critique of Elite/Oolite trading system - the 3rd page has an alternative suggestion by Cmdr Trigg
+*[https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7584 The trading game] (2010): critique of Elite/Oolite trading system - the 3rd page has an alternative suggestion by Cmdr Trigg
-*[http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11102 What ''is'' 1 TC?] Weight? Volume? Description of Cannister? (2011)
+*[https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11102 What ''is'' 1 TC?] Weight? Volume? Description of Cannister? (2011)
-*[http://aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?p=79950#p79950 Would a combine harvester be sold in 18 separate Tonne Cannisters with a set of IKEA instructions?] (2009)
+*[https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?p=79950#p79950 Would a combine harvester be sold in 18 separate Tonne Cannisters with a set of IKEA instructions?] (2009)
 *[[Trade (classic Elite)]]
@@ Line 160: / Line 160: @@
 * [[Useful MFDs]] provides a ''free'' MFD with a list of your cargo and its current value in the system's main station.
-* [http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?p=220113#p220113 Manifest MFD] lists your hold's contents.
+* [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?p=220113#p220113 Manifest MFD] lists your hold's contents.
 * Your Ship's Manual (comes with the [[Ship's Library OXP]]) has valuable information on trading and understanding the various economies