Trading sucks now...

[Baltar]

I disagree that mining should be more profitable than trading. I could settle with equal to, but some systems & houses do not have the option for mining & would cause an unfair balance for those wishing to play that character role. Having one better than the other would result in a drop in players from one character choice due to profits that could be made. Make it an equal balance & things should work out good.

How about this ... make mining competitive with trade. Since you cannot mine certain items such as human cargo, consumer goods, prisoners and such ... those trades would be unaffected. BUT ... when it comes to commodities that can be mined ... those items would bring in more profit if actually mined. This is going to happen either way since in trade you'd have to first purchase the cargo and resell it somewhere else ... whereas if you mine it it costs you nothing but your time. What I'd propose is raise the value of mined goods. Specifically ... the farther you have to ferry these mined elements the more you make. Since Gold is predominantly in Dublin and its surroundings ... moving Gold to the opposite corner of Sirius would net you 2000 creds per unit (5000 units x 2000 creds = 10 mil). And you'd have to contend with the Molly / BMM conflictr over the mineral rights ... which adds to the role play ... maybe you would have to pay a modest 500k for the right to mine Gold there. Same with gases, scrap metal, etc.