I'll admin I only log onto my OSI to fulfill OSI's role play. If I need some cash, I call a mining op within the GMS. That said, I enjoy my time on OSI 100%, because I play my OSI for the role play of it. I also enjoy my GMS time 100% because its easy cash and always full of lulz.
That said, I do think there needs to be an adjustment to balance things out. Finding new members for a trading faction and keeping them is extremely difficult. Once they find out they can make more mining they usually leave or just stop playing their trader. If the admins pulled the activity/membership count on many of the trading factions some of them would be screwed because of something they can't control.
That is good to hear, Dusty. I was gonna say that I support the buff, but I'll hold that until .86 I guess.
About activity. I've found that setting goals gets people moving. Trading is about making money, but once you get to a certain point where you are comfortable and don't need credits the motivation is gone.
A few months ago OSI was almost dead. All of us were rolling in credits and running the same route over and over was boring as hell. That's when I came up with the monthly contracts that we run now. At the time they were just so we would have a little ingame representation of us being the primary Freeport suppliers. But now they have expanded to many factions. The side effect was that, with set goals, activity skyrocketed.
Just a little something for the other trading factions to think about.
' Wrote:EDIT: And while we are at it, make Hegemons cost about 5 times more. That's a top-tier cash-cow what pays for itself after a single successful trip.
' Wrote:Lets not nerf money making even more.
Buff Trading!
Signed.
More activity to different sectors instead of "Player list: Name-- Group---Rank---System
Dublin--Dublin--Dublin--Dublin
Dublin--Dublin--Dublin--Dublin
Dublin--Dublin--Dublin--Dublin
Dublin--Dublin--Dublin--Dublin
I completely agree, not only that people choose mining over trading, but pirates target and chase miners mostly, since there is not much true trading traffic around.
Mining has a super high risc of being pirated, and well hauling gold ore to NY isnt that particilar safe either.
I dont get why you people want it nerfed:
Pirates camp at mining places, Usually H4. They pick up a full cargo, BMM miner, demand 5+ mil (if unlucky multiple times...)
A hauler comes, wants to buy a full load for 15 mil (or sdomthing among the lines), now, He will have to move though dangerous systems. he would get 15 mil profit, but bang, 2 times the hauler gets pirated for 3+ mil (minimal), suddenly, its not as much as a general trader would get.
If anything, there should be a rule on this:
Miners cannot haul ore's to NY..
Then you're not abel to complain about 'Oh look, Hes getting 30 mil just because he mined. Instead he would get 15 mil.
Or just buff trading.
Do know that pirates generally camp Dublin, which they then complain about boredom. Really silly, since they do not look for the variation.
this is not about trader roleplay. trader roleplay as it is - remains unchanged. you go and do a run. this is all fine, important is the effect on pirate rp. the situation now forces (yes, FORCES) pirates to enter a system that is already filled up. i dont like the developement at all. and i think its harming rpleplay. the pirate groups can sit 1-2 systems away from their bases, but nothing will pass by if you arent sitting on one of the mining routes. im speaking as the leader of the black sails here. if we are to keep up our faction activity, we are forced to pvp with hessians, outcasts, rm, baf ... anything. i dont like it. i dont complain about amount of pvp. some of you know i like shooting stuff. but the black sails are primarily a pirate faction - not a pvp one. sadly, we are forced to shoot others to keep activity up. alternatives are to pirate people in dublin - which leads to bretonian lawful factions entering the system and attempting to drive us out - more pvp. its a downward spiral keeping people in one place - i dont want disco to become 5 new york systems. call me an idealist - i like it too much to see it degrade to something like this.
' Wrote:The side effect was that, with set goals, activity skyrocketed.
Interesting, RepEx might have to try this. Of course, they'd have to get a competent leader first...
On topic, I don't think that trading is as non-profitable as people think it is. Mining makes all of your money in a lump payment, which is a good feeling, whereas trading gives it to you over 3 or 4 payments.
I think that adding trading missions would actually help traders.
This also gives a more dynamic environmental for the traders.
Now its Lowest buy price > Biggest sell price.
What if we could change that to things where the needs are.
Because the price on some bases is highest the other bases don't get the goods although they still wanna pay decent but not enough.
Although its just a random idea, I think it actually was already discussed.
Dun' know the result though.