====== Trade ======
{{navigation>trade}}

Trade represent the flow of goods between different [[system|systems]]. Since not everyone can be the best at producing everything, trade is a good way to get rid of your excess goods, earn more tax and find what you need. Trade is done through the [[rules:Trade Fleets]], the [[rules:Holonet Relay Stations]] and the [[rules:Open Market]].

===== Trading with Trade Fleets =====

The normal way of trading is by assigning a [[trade fleets|trade fleet]] to fly from your system to your trading partner.

To establish a trade, a the following steps are taken:

== Determine the route ==

First a route must be determined along which the trade will be conducted. This is a path of one or more sectors going from the start sector to the end sector, through which a [[trade fleets|Trade Fleet]] will travel. If the path goes through the territory of other factions, you might have to negotiate with them for right of passage.

A trade route with trade fleets is one-way, you can only ship goods from the origin to the destination. Next to that, you can only have trade routes coming from things that you own; for example a System, or an [[outpost]].

== Determine the Traded Goods ==

Any combinations of Goods may now be transferred, as long as you can provide sufficient capacity.

== Calculate the required Trade Fleet capacity ==

The trade capacity required is determined by the amount of goods transferred, the length of the route in sectors and the quality of any [[Hyperspace Lanes]] in those sectors. The necessary capacity can be calculated as follows:

  - For each sector in the route you add 1 or (1 / [[rules:hyperspace_lanes#lane_quality|hyperspace lane quality]]) to the route factor
  - The route factor can then be multiplied by the total number of goods to be transferred, which will give the total amount of capacity required to establish this trade route.


===== Trading through the Holonet =====

It is possible to trade some goods through the holonet. Only (:information) [[information]] and its products ( (:research) [[Research]], (:entertainment) [[Entertainment]] and (:ict-technology) [[ICT Technology]]) can be traded through the Holonet

Holonet trade is done by building a path through [[rules:holonet_relay_stations]]. Unlike trade fleets, [[rules:holonet_relay_stations]] are not limited in trading only with one partner. As long as both locations are connected through open [[rules:holonet_relay_stations]], they are able to trade without a need for fleets.

To establish a trade, a process of the following steps must be taken:

== Determining a route ==

First a route must be determined along which the trade will be conducted. This is a path through one or more sectors from the start sector to the end sector. Each sector in the path must have a holonet relay station, if another faction controls a holonet relay station you want to use, they may block access or ask for toll.

== Assigning Goods ==

Any combinations of (:information)-based goods (i.e. (:information) [[information]], (:research) [[Research]], (:entertainment) [[Entertainment]] and (:ict-technology) [[ICT Technology]]) may be transferred, as long as the relay stations can provide sufficient capacity.


== Determining available capacity ==

Every good that is transfered uses up 1 holonet trade capacity at each holonet relay station it passes through.


===== Trading with the Open Market =====

A third option to trade is with the [[Open Market]], and this follows a slightly different mechanic then trading with factions.

It is possible to buy from and sell to the open market. Doing so requires Open Market Capacity, produced by an [[Open Market Zone]]. For every 1 Open Market Capacity produced, one product can be purchased or sold. Note that this is different from regular trade: you pay capacity both for incoming and outgoing goods.