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STO Economics 101 (or) Manipulating the Exhcange for Fun and Profit

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
edited February 2010 in The Academy
First, I want to explain this thread. Due to the number of people selling "Energy Credit Making Guides" in places such as E-Bay, I think it is warranted to share this information with everyone. STO is a market economy and as such more people "Playing the STO Stock Market" will simply bring the prices in line with the amount of money in the game. Besides, why not make a few extra E-Creduts.

I will say that I cleared 3 Million in 5 days by playing the market! So, when you speak of me... Speak well.

First, you will find that there are certain items in the game that appear to receive constant random drops. A good example a "Phaser Beam Array Mk IV", where a number of 3000 and 5000 enteries will appear on a regular basis. Buying these and 'flipping' them back into the market for 10,000 will easily net several hundred thousand in a given evening. BTW it seems that a few people have gotten into the act, relisting for a much as 20K each. If you buy at this price, I'd like to sell you some tribbles for a few million each!

NOTE: IF YOU BUY MK IV or MK VI arrays for more than 5,000, or MK VIII Phaser Arrays for more than 8,000 your only giving money to someone else. Wait for the drop to come arround, and you will save $$$.

Second, if you have the cash, buy in bulk and manipulate the market. There are few commodities where you can get a large number and either raise or lower the mean price. I did a 2-day test with Romulan Ale. I bought over 150 bottles of the stuff, and then proceeded to flood the market. First, I brght the mean price below 20K per bottle, then the next day I raised to above 30K. While I still have perhaps 40% of my stock, I have more than made back my investment.

Moral: Unless you are dying to get something, wait. if you want lots of money, pick a market and shift it.

WHy do I tell you this? The more people who do this, the lower the prices will get and the economy will balance. If everyone else ignores this you will be in the Money.

Please, add comments as you choose!
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    I am getting the mental image that you're a short guy wearing a loud suit with money signs all over it....who knew Crezlo C. Dollar played the game? <LOL>

    I'm not much of an accountant, so I haven't done much of what you're talking about. I'd rather play the game then be filthy rich anyways. But it seems like good, solid advice to me.

    So, how do you do with the REAL stock market? Wanna take over my 401K? At the rate it's going I'll be working until we have REAL starships....
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    [QUOTE= Wait for the drop to come arround, and you will save $$$.[/QUOTE]

    This all sounds like good advice, but I have one problem with it... I'm currently a LC5 and it suddenly dawned on me the other day that I still have MK II beam weapons on my ship, a carryover from my light cruiser! I've been playing the Laurentian System fleet actions, and I do ok, but it seems all I ever get is stupid consoles... At this rate, if I wait for the drops to finally come, I'll be a commander still with MK II weapons!

    Now, that being said, I think I'll probably just be a little more patient and see what happens since I've been handicapped this long, but my advice to anyone else would be: If you reach LC3 and you haven't come across any MK IV weapons... Just go out and buy a couple with the money you make from all those TRIBBLE consoles you get... Don't be stupid like me and keep using your MK II weapons for nostalgia's sake (or stupidity's sake, whichever you prefer ;)).
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    [QUOTE= Wait for the drop to come arround, and you will save $$$.[/QUOTE]

    This all sounds like good advice, but I have one problem with it... I'm currently a LC5 and it suddenly dawned on me the other day that I still have MK II beam weapons on my ship, a carryover from my light cruiser! I've been playing the Laurentian System fleet actions, and I do ok, but it seems all I ever get is stupid consoles... At this rate, if I wait for the drops to finally come, I'll be a commander still with MK II weapons!

    Now, that being said, I think I'll probably just be a little more patient and see what happens since I've been handicapped this long, but my advice to anyone else would be: If you reach LC3 and you haven't come across any MK IV weapons... Just go out and buy a couple with the money you make from all those TRIBBLE consoles you get... Don't be stupid like me and keep using your MK II weapons for nostalgia's sake (or stupidity's sake, whichever you prefer ;)).
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    [QUOTE= Wait for the drop to come arround, and you will save $$$.[/QUOTE]

    This all sounds like good advice, but I have one problem with it... I'm currently a LC5 and it suddenly dawned on me the other day that I still have MK II beam weapons on my ship, a carryover from my light cruiser! I've been playing the Laurentian System fleet actions, and I do ok, but it seems all I ever get is stupid consoles... At this rate, if I wait for the drops to finally come, I'll be a commander still with MK II weapons!

    Now, that being said, I think I'll probably just be a little more patient and see what happens since I've been handicapped this long, but my advice to anyone else would be: If you reach LC3 and you haven't come across any MK IV weapons... Just go out and buy a couple with the money you make from all those TRIBBLE consoles you get... Don't be stupid like me and keep using your MK II weapons for nostalgia's sake (or stupidity's sake, whichever you prefer ;)).
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Wow, sorry about the triple post, darn thing wouldn't submit... At least I thought it didn't...My bad! :o
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    "SIR! Distress call coming from Captain Rum0r! Apparently he is trapped in a temporal loop!"
    "Bah, I don't have time to go around in circles! Fire off a beacon to Starfleet and let's get some nachos"
    "Aye aye Captain!"

    Do other things then the Laurentian fleet mission and you'll get more equipment. Random space battles sometimes drop weapons and consoles, and you also sometimes get them for quest rewards.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Rum0r wrote: »
    This all sounds like good advice, but I have one problem with it... I'm currently a LC5 and it suddenly dawned on me the other day that I still have MK II beam weapons on my ship, a carryover from my light cruiser! I've been playing the Laurentian System fleet actions, and I do ok, but it seems all I ever get is stupid consoles... At this rate, if I wait for the drops to finally come, I'll be a commander still with MK II weapons!

    Now, that being said, I think I'll probably just be a little more patient and see what happens since I've been handicapped this long, but my advice to anyone else would be: If you reach LC3 and you haven't come across any MK IV weapons... Just go out and buy a couple with the money you make from all those TRIBBLE consoles you get... Don't be stupid like me and keep using your MK II weapons for nostalgia's sake (or stupidity's sake, whichever you prefer ;)).

    I've made all my money in the game off of trash loot while working on gathering badges for better weapons, consoles and gear for my crew. In the nebular area's where you are in a one block square is where you get the best loot to sell. I however have made my money selling it all off to the Vendor since it drops a lot faster in lower area's it is quite easy to make 500K in just a few hours of my play time. I have no money issues in this game.

    Because badge gear is so great, there's no reason for me to buy anything off the AH in STO. 2 to 3 hours a day working on badges gets you 500K a day. Easy.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    This post has been edited to remove content which violates the Cryptic Studios Forum Usage Guidelines ~Seadgir
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    kamui wrote: »
    "SIR! Distress call coming from Captain Rum0r! Apparently he is trapped in a temporal loop!"
    "Bah, I don't have time to go around in circles! Fire off a beacon to Starfleet and let's get some nachos"
    "Aye aye Captain!"

    Do other things then the Laurentian fleet mission and you'll get more equipment. Random space battles sometimes drop weapons and consoles, and you also sometimes get them for quest rewards.

    I was gonna point out doing Exploration missions will net you badges, which on Earth Stardock, you can turn'em in for weapons upgrades. >.>
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    heres how i see it.

    energy credits are useless.
    they arent real money
    they arent even used for anything good in sto
    anything you can buy with them i can get myself and probably get better

    honestly, the only thing ive ever bought with energy credits were white gear from klingon vendors i sent to my fed to craft into blue and purple gear in memory alpha.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    It is interesting you mention Romulan Ale, which brings me to a point about the Exchange I forgot to post.

    I trade mainly with food items, for roleplay purpose only. While some have obviously a very low value because you can buy them on the Replicator, others are of higher value because they are needed for high level tribbles. The tribble breeding guides are my only reference to see what food is really in demand.

    However, all food items are technically "common" and some can be bought from vendors (like on DS9).
    Some are "uncommon" or "rare" from the time it takes to find them or because they can not be bought anywhere. I kept a bit track by doing mainly ground exploration missions and that confirmed my first impression. I find way more Klingon Gagh (which sells well) than Klingon Octopus (which also sells well). In space combat, its even a bigger difference. I get 10 aux batteries in the time it takes to find a shield battery drop. So there is a difference for common items, and I'd like a guide or list or something. It would, so to speak, enhance my gameplay as a roleplayer. Might not really bring a change in the general Exchange business, but it would add to my fun.

    The tribble guides are somewhat helpful, but a real "common drops value" list - what food is needed for the popular tribbles, food selling vendor list, that sort of info - would make my day.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    http://www.wolfiesden.com/games/sto/tribblebreeding.asp

    Not sure if that's what you wanted.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Kind of, thanks.

    Guess I'll make my own list with food vendors. I run into Romulan Ale (listed as one of the "rare" 72 % foods) as much as most of the 64 %, while I barely find any other than Targ Milk from the 56 %. At least the list helps to see what should be "uncommon" or "rare" and how to price it.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    ArievDhien wrote:
    I trade mainly with food items, for roleplay purpose only. While some have obviously a very low value because you can buy them on the Replicator, others are of higher value because they are needed for high level tribbles. The tribble breeding guides are my only reference to see what food is really in demand.

    Ariev, you'd appreciate that one of my characters is a 100% Ferengi ship, named "RulesOfAquisition."

    Food Items: This is how any starting player can make good money to get a good set of starting equipment. You fly to DS9, and go to Quarks, and you will find that many 64% food items (which are NOT in the replicator) are sold there. you can (or could?) buy food for 20 each, and relist for 100-200, in stacks of 10, and make Thousands. I codsider this the "Starter" level to playing the auction, because it only takes (or took) perhaps 4K to make 100K in a few days.

    "Wild" food, or the ones you cannot buy at Quarks, and that are used in Tribble Breeding, are the ones that go for money on the exchange.

    Romulan Ale
    Tulaberry Wine
    Tranya

    Heart of Targ
    Romulan Mollusk
    Cardoasian Tasper Egg

    Klingon Octopus
    Klingon Gladst
    Klingon Grapok Sauce

    As you will see, these are the items that are already bid over-value. Since the only buyers are the ones buying tribble you might have "Missed the wave". Demand for tribbles (Especially 'high-end ) has wained recently. Expect values to drop, but there will still be a demand.

    "Weapons Sales" are always good, and you CAN find about ANYTHING for a price, in deference to the post that said E-Credits are worthless..... he might even be a salesman with the constant posts, I don't know. Due to my playing the market I have every character with a larder of the "Best" equipment, most of it rare and/or obscure. While it does appear MK IV /MK VI Phaser Beam Arrays are dropping in value (Due to this thread.....ha ha), there are still other weapons where you can a profit "Like a Ferengi"

    last note, for the man with Mk II equipment. the "Drops" I was referring to occur in the EXCHANGE. It seems that periodically there are STO generated entries in the exchange to balance trading on certain key items. Just keep watching the exchange and you will snag those Mk IV arrays for 5000, 3000, or perhaps even 1000 each. you will be pleased.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Thanks for posting this. Cryptic needs to be aware (if they aren't already) that people can and do manipulate the market. If you tried it in real life and were caught you'd be spending some time in jail, but in a game you can get away with it.

    I get a lot of my gear off the Exchange but I price shop and will refuse to buy something if I can't find it at a reasonable price. It's handy because you can usually get quickly exactly what you want. If you price shop you can usually get it at a reasonable price. If not right away then come back later. Although I rarely have to come back later.

    NEVER EVER stop your search at the first page unless there's only one page.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    The only real problem with the Exchange is that it can be abused by people that want to horde material, they can fill up their Bank and then get 20 more spaces by over pricing things to the point no one will buy it. Personally I think that the maybe Cryptic can figure out a solution like clearing the market every 30 days, and if you have stuff for sale and have room in your inventory and/or bank it goes back there, if not you can only get its "Value" in return if you have no space in your inventory and/or bank.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    I have no problem buying and re-selling in the market, I like to draw the line at price manipulation.

    In three days I made 5 million credits, mostly buying stupidly low priced items and either putting pack up for just slightly under going price or selling to vendor. I've lost track of how many engines I bought for 1K that sold to vendor for 10K+. Even bought some Regen+Damage tribbles for 100 and sold them for 10K (actually 9800).

    Before you list an item for sale, check the going price, if there are over 100 of them for sale, check the second or third pages. What you are seeing is the oldest ones not sold, translate (overpriced). Remember that odd level items sell for much less than even level items.

    Also don't forget a vendor will pay half price for an items, and the ships replicator will pay 40%, so for big $ items like engines dump them there before listing them for a token amount. From my experience anything listed for far below resell price will be snapped up in less than a minute. You will NOT be selling to a worth person, just the fastest reseller.

    And in a weird effect I am seeing is that common odd tier items sell for more than uncommon and rares of same level. where even the uncommons and rares sell for more than commons.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Update: Market prices are rising on basic weapons.

    Looks like people are reading. All this will do is cause a lot of people to hold lots of equipment. Remember: SHOP.... Be paitent, and wait for the deal. The more slots the overpricers fill and that many fewer people selling at compeditive prices.

    Gaud this is fun!
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