Thought's about using Slopeys

[Fly_Mario]

So, I have been using slopey's and I must admit I love it. My only issue with it is, I am a bit old skool and am used to traveling to stations, writing down the prices for things and building up a trade route. When I played EvE I did the same thing and did a lot of analysis on great trade routes. Even using C# and MSSQL to build up great spots to sell items to people going into Low Sec.

Now I do not want this game to be EvE so lets get that straight. And I am not so sure that I dissagree with Slopeys. Anyone cold argue... if you want to roleplay then don't use Slopeys.

But I wonder what you all think about having this information handed to you so easily and really ending any sense of building up a secret trade route.

Thanks.

 

[Seonid]

Use it or don't, most tools offer a "local" mode which may well be needed once the player universe gets bigger.

 

[Zvanya]

I doubt I will use it because I'm not in any particular hurry to get rich. But I have no issue with anyone else using it. In fact from what I understand of slopeys it just organizes info you have supplied it by playing the game and going to stations - right? Heck the game should give you that kind information without you having to write it down or use a 3rd party tool.

 

[Cody]

Heck the game should give you that kind information without you having to write it down or use a 3rd party tool.

I think the ship's log will do some or all of that - and more!

 

[HeavyGroovez]

The tool is awesome for mitigating risk. Which is what commodities software in the real world does.

I spent years working at the worlds leading interdealer brokerage house writing software to do exactly this.

If you want a real challenge then go with your instincts. If you want to make guaranteed money use a tool.

Ultimately its up to you.

 

[SAB380]

I doubt I will use it because I'm not in any particular hurry to get rich. But I have no issue with anyone else using it. In fact from what I understand of slopeys it just organizes info you have supplied it by playing the game and going to stations - right? Heck the game should give you that kind information without you having to write it down or use a 3rd party tool.

No, Slopey's tool takes the entire games trade prices and collates them.
Its not based on where you personally go in your game.


But yes, the tool should simply be part of the game and accessible in game, the same way your galaxy map is.

 

[Eirean]

Slopey's tool does have a local mode if you just want a handy way of collecting the info.

But otherwise, the tool pulls the commodity data when you visit the station's market and uploads it to Slopey's server.

 

[deMangler]

I have used Slopeys BPC, and Andrea's tool. No doubt at all, it changes the way I enjoy the game.
In Frontier I hand drew a huge map on pieces of wide-carriage paper sellotaped together and had linked notes on trades and other info from the game and my imagination. It was loads of fun, then a friend and I wrote some software in clipper to database it and also work out how to get anywhere in two jumps using the wormhole bug. It was still loads of fun but in a different way. But it was still fun, mainly because it was an accomplishment.
I think that I would like to go back to pen and paper for E:⁠D, or a journal updated from my own in-game travels - I think I prefer that kind of fun.
I have used the data aggregated from other players and it is definitely making it feel more grindy, which was unexpected, and less fun.

 

[Zvanya]

I think the ship's log will do some or all of that - and more!

Yeah I remember reading that now that you mention it. Probably where I got the idea it should be in game

 

[Gortron]

So, I have been using slopey's and I must admit I love it. My only issue with it is, I am a bit old skool and am used to traveling to stations, writing down the prices for things and building up a trade route. When I played EvE I did the same thing and did a lot of analysis on great trade routes. Even using C# and MSSQL to build up great spots to sell items to people going into Low Sec.

Now I do not want this game to be EvE so lets get that straight. And I am not so sure that I dissagree with Slopeys. Anyone cold argue... if you want to roleplay then don't use Slopeys.

But I wonder what you all think about having this information handed to you so easily and really ending any sense of building up a secret trade route.

Thanks.

I guess it's about will power and knowing when the easy option will actually spoil your own fun.

I used Slopeys tool to get enough Credits to be able to test the game beyond what I can do in a sidewinder and allow for getting blown up a lot. I don't use it now but probably will after the next reset. When the game goes proper I don't intend to use it at all.

I'm not against having the information handed to me but if it's ruining the game then I try to resist. A bit like if I get stuck on a game that has a walkthrough. I'll use the walkthrough if I get stuck and I'm not finding it fun. Once I'm not stuck I'll stop using it.

If you over use what is in effect a cheat, then the only person that suffers is the person using the cheat.

 

[DaveB]

I use Slopeys in local mode for two reasons..

In local mode, it's a faster way of taking notes about where *I* have been and what *I* have seen and nothing more.

Its cartography functions are not as buggy as the galaxy map and don't tell me I can make jumps that my current loadout cannot accomplish

 

[Schlack]

Used slopeys collated data during beta to grind credits to the Annie. Tried out local mode today and actually enjoyed it far more. There was a sense of achievement in finding the prices, and i can well image starting off in the sidey taking courier and light transport missions and building up the commodity pattern then swithching to trade.

Collated data is, I feel, immersion (game?) breaking. Only the large political/economic entities would have the clout, numbers and credits to have a full overview of trade even within their respective areas. Will reputation allow access to, say, the empire's trade data?

Hoping there will be some kind of personal trading software available in game similar to "local mode" (along with andreas's economic reports in the news channels!). This would allow for trading of trade/price info with other cmdrs. The captains log does not seem to have that level of functionality planned.

Also the jump route helper tool was helpful, but would easily be superceded by additional galaxy map functionality. just too many damn jump lines in a lakon 6 to make sense of the 2nd/3rd/4th jump.

 

[Comrade Napoleon]

Ahh come on now

Slopey has made an excellent tool. Use it if you want and if you dont like it dont use it. It is really simple. So stop althis babble whether this or that, remember YOU dont decide how another person plays this game.
So play your game and dont worry , what other people do, try and contain your nosiness, please.

Slopey for president!

Cheers Cmdr's

 

[flexy123]

What we need is an INTERNAL "trading computer" which works in local mode, that is it picks up prices from systems you visit and can then advice on routes and profitable trades.

(Guys, seriously admit it...Excel sheets are SILLY...we don't want a nerd festival like EvE where people manually write down prices on paper)

With a local trading computer that picks up data from systems you visit, the silly requirement to land for prices will be gone...the incentive to visit other systems is still there (to discover markets and prices)...and it's useful and great without the "semi cheating" like having data from ALL systems like Slopey's tool does at the moment.

(While I use and like Slopey's tool..the result is that people find "the most profitable route" and then grind this one route up and down for days [admit it, you did this too!]...but THIS cannot be the goal of this game!)

Add: FD should release an API so people can write plugins like such a trading computer etc.

 

[Stoo]

I wouldn't be surprised to see FD build their own version of the trade tool. I believe they've asked Slopey to not release his Android app as well, which points to that FD are doing their own (we know they are, but not sure if it'll just list prices where you're docked or more helpful).

I think there needs to be a balanced version in game, in that using the Galaxy map trade routes view should give in depth info of what is being traded from X to Y, so that pilots get a clearer idea of what to trade, but not as "definite" as Slopey's (which though good, does make it a bit of a soulless experience).

 

[Hooplah]

Using Slopey's Tool is great but I still create my own text files for personal trade routes. Thus with the next Beta reset occurs I don't have to figure them out again. One could also argue that all the data available on the Commodities page and the colored trade routes in the Galaxy Map is also a tool which makes the game easier.

Besides we only have a handful of systems to play with. There will be plenty of hidden routes when the Universe comes online. I'm also sure that once found somebody will post them in the Forum for all to read!

 

[macneisd]

I suspect the final release will negate the need for external tools but for the moment local mode just saves scribbling.

Also, we're testing - there are some occasions (gimbal vs fixed request from the debs for example) where you need cash before you can make those tests. Tools like Slopey's make that more feasible.

As always, use it if you find it aids either your enjoyment of the game or your ability to beta test.

 

[MadDogMurdock]

It's really not that difficult to make a trading profit without tools or spreadsheets. The mechanics aren't that complicated.

Sure, the tool is great to find the absolute best profit but I actually like it more now that the web version of Slopey's has nerfed itself by removing the ANY option from the BPC.

I use it more as a reference to double-check my trading instinct now.

Took a courier mission from H Draconis to Asellus with my Type 9, which ended up being a 6 or 7 jump journey with full cargo.

The 1k for the mission was peanuts, but figuring out a route and profitable goods along the way was fun.

I could easily have made a lot more money in the time it took, but that's not really the game for me.

 

[psykokow]

I think the galactic map trafde routes is a nice and simple IN GAME Way to work out profitable routes (with obvious potentials for losses)

I think this makes it easier for players to make calls like..

Oh this is cheap, where's nearby that wants lots of this..

Oh 3 jumps away... Great...

And off you pop.


I know when I get back on beta I will be running using this in game feature more and trying without my 'Listeri69' advice ap (ie asking him) and work it out myself.

See how it goes!! and of course watching and reading the market news in the news letters!!

 

[Seonid]

It's really not that difficult to make a trading profit without tools or spreadsheets. The mechanics aren't that complicated.

The automated tools can also help new players generate a profit, it won't be the best or perhaps the most efficient or even react as quickly to dynamic events as a player, but a profit is better than a loss.