Trading Tips for the Noobies

[Reverend Del]

I concur with the thought about picking your route by story, rather than profit, of course the route should still make you wealthy. My route takes me quite far, and passes through a couple of hotspots, but I run it because I've got a simple RP reason for running it.. I have to. I'm a contracted employee, I do as I am told. It means I can complain every now and again I can really get my trader character down, figure out what I want from him as a character, he's not just a faceless piggy bank for my other characters, in fact I don't use him to fund certain characters because he just wouldn't.

The suggestion I'd make is figure out what motivates him, why does he (or she) trade, this will help you respond to pirates better, for example is (s)he a political dissident, which group(s) does the trader feel most in sync with. Thusly when the pirate/terrorist group you like is politely requesting a donation from you, you may feel happy to support their cause, but when their enemies try to steal your money you'll feel annoyed and angry and will not want to part with your cash unless your life becomes threatened.

Oh and remember, nobody would rather be blown up than surrender between 10 and 20 percent of their cargo. Even if the NPCs are stupid and do it.

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Saint Del is considered a holy healer of diseases of children, but also as a protector of cattle.