Really need help with working out my own trade routes

[JebKerman]

I honestly have absolutely no idea what to do.

I am quite new to the game, having purchased the beta last weekend, and I immediately wanted to be a miner to trader. I tried mining, but it feels slow, arduous, and a tad under-implemented in its current state. So i started trading with the help of an online tool, and rather enjoyed it.

Now, however, the online tool I was using is now useless since it only has data on the systems around Eranin, So I'm completely stumped as to what I should trade in the area I spawned in order to profit.

I've been spending ages looking at the galaxy and system maps trying to find a local area where i could trade between Extraction > Refinery > High Tech and back, but there doesn't seem to be one.

I suppose I'm asking for tips on creating trade routes, such as which economy to buy what from, and sell where, and some general trading tips.


Thank you to anyone in advance, as I am finding myself unable to enjoy this game because I'm unable to bypass this first hurdle.

 

[TimYersidies]

The simple answer is to find a place where there are systems of each type within 6-9 ly jump range. Go to the stations and ... (I know I know) ... write down the prices. If writing down all the prices is too tedious then just right down the high demand, supply and galactic average.

You will now be armed with the information you need to start trading. You are ideally looking for items that return 500+ credits per ton. The spreadsheet will also show you that the inbuilt tools do not provide the best routes and can even be wrong

You should also mix in some missions to ensure your rep rises with the stations that provide your profit.

 

[jms]

I honestly have absolutely no idea what to do.

I am quite new to the game, having purchased the beta last weekend, and I immediately wanted to be a miner to trader. I tried mining, but it feels slow, arduous, and a tad under-implemented in its current state. So i started trading with the help of an online tool, and rather enjoyed it.

Now, however, the online tool I was using is now useless since it only has data on the systems around Eranin, So I'm completely stumped as to what I should trade in the area I spawned in order to profit.

I've been spending ages looking at the galaxy and system maps trying to find a local area where i could trade between Extraction > Refinery > High Tech and back, but there doesn't seem to be one.

I suppose I'm asking for tips on creating trade routes, such as which economy to buy what from, and sell where, and some general trading tips.


Thank you to anyone in advance, as I am finding myself unable to enjoy this game because I'm unable to bypass this first hurdle.

Go to the galaxy map and look for high tech and industry worlds with big populations. You can do that easily with the colour and size settings. Idealy the stations are close to the jump points (the supercruise travel often takes much longer than the jump).
Find 2 or 3 comodities to trade with. Allways buy things with high or medium supply and sell with high or medium demand. The more expensive a good is, the more you earn. So dont bother with scrap or grain, concentrate on gold, coffee and so on...
For example you can buy coffee on an agriculure world and sell it in a high tech world, were you buy medicine to sell on the agriculture world...

Also always look on the bulletin board! Look for missions on your trade route with a lot of time left 1 hour or more. You can make a lot of many by transporting or getting stuff. You can find out where to get things by going to the galaxy map and looking at the trade routes. Unmark everything exept the the single comodity you need.
If you know your neighborhood you know what goods are needed on the bulletin board! For example I had a trade root with semiconducters... Every 2-3 jumps they were needed on the bulletin board and i made huge profit, if not i sold them with profit anyway...

If you have a sidewinder get additional cargo space with a bigger cargorack... Get a hauler get more cargo space... You will get a cobra in a couple of hours...

 

[Bog]

Really big point that's easy to miss if you're not looking for it: In the Galaxy Map, you can bring up System Information - it shows a map of the stars and planets and stations in that system.

Critically, though, in the text box on the left, at the bottom it will show the primary imports and exports of that system, along with what's contraband there. So if you're at a Refinery system, and can get metals on the cheap (if they're Medium or High availability and a bucketload in stock), then find a system importing those metals, load up and fly with confidence. You don't have to jump blind, at all.

 

[adam]

Really big point that's easy to miss if you're not looking for it: In the Galaxy Map, you can bring up System Information - it shows a map of the stars and planets and stations in that system.

Critically, though, in the text box on the left, at the bottom it will show the primary imports and exports of that system, along with what's contraband there. So if you're at a Refinery system, and can get metals on the cheap (if they're Medium or High availability and a bucketload in stock), then find a system importing those metals, load up and fly with confidence. You don't have to jump blind, at all.

Yep looking at the imports/exports of the stations in the system map is essential now I think

 

[two quiet suns]

also once who have travelled between systems check the universal cartographics in station and see if you can sell your data, i made a few thousand this way yesterday!

 

[Bog]

also once who have travelled between systems check the universal cartographics in station and see if you can sell your data, i made a few thousand this way yesterday!

Yes! Your Galaxy Map will light up red with a "SYSTEM DATA NOT AVAILABLE" message, or somesuch, on uncharted systems. Get your D-Scanners going! That's just free money, that is.

 

[MASTER_DEATHDEALER]

Fly to all nearest stations that r rich/heavily populated and take pictures of trade screens with ur cell phone, i take 3, then refer to them when in other stations u not only have what they buy and sell but prices too.

 

[Gitface]

You have a mobile phone with camera and respectable display? Iphone5 here or iPad.

Personally, I fly about taking 4 pictures of each commodities list at any station I pass. When I find a good mix of industries and goods to trade between two or sometimes three or four. I stay until a price changes. I update the pictures, delete old ones. Just work out the route and the profit of one run and time it.

Work out a good income rate and abuse it. Evade any battles until ship upgraded for fights.

Good luck.

 

[Chek]

Really big point that's easy to miss if you're not looking for it: In the Galaxy Map, you can bring up System Information - it shows a map of the stars and planets and stations in that system.

Critically, though, in the text box on the left, at the bottom it will show the primary imports and exports of that system, along with what's contraband there. So if you're at a Refinery system, and can get metals on the cheap (if they're Medium or High availability and a bucketload in stock), then find a system importing those metals, load up and fly with confidence. You don't have to jump blind, at all.

Yep this is the way to do it. I also take notes on what each systems selling and try to match them up with another. YOu can stumble upon some very nice profits. Be patient it ain't a race

 

[Mr_Jim]

I sometimes write stuff down. But most importantly check if the supply/demand is "HIGH" in both stations. That is my own secret sauce since premium beta started ages ago. Once you get a hang of it you make a Cobra in a couple of hours (usually sidey->hauler->cobra) if your going for creds as main focus.

 

[Adnams Drinker]

Was going down the pen and paper route, but using my iPhone instead is genius ... why do we always miss the blindingly obvious?!