Planet M.U.L.E.

Currently the store doesn't fully participate in auctions.  It sets a static price and can always be counted on to buy and, if it has product, to sell.

How about adding an NPC to represent the store in auctions?  This would make it hard to starve the store since it could race for goods the same as players.  I could see the NPC being used in two ways.  It could replace the current buy/sell mechanic for the store entirely.  Alternatively the NPC may only come out when the store is out of a given product and thus it is willing to compete with players for limited resources.

Ooooo

Very interesting idea!  ;D

I like!

What you're asking is for the Store price to constantly update with each unit that is traded. If you want this, then prepare for each successive unit you buy from the Store to go up in price, and similarly, each unit you sell to the Store to go down in price - you end up with a partial disregard for the advantages of "buying in bulk".

This is something that's sort of necessary and implied in the RTS version, btw.

I'm with Zack on this.  I think this is a fun killer...
-S

I don't think it would have to react to every single purchase (I think that's crazy talk).

But the more I think about it having it be a constant is helpful to players so maybe it's not a good idea...

Hum let me think more on this...

Here's my idea on how the NPC Store Buyer might play the auctions if it comes in as a seller.  This could be shown better in a flow chart but I'm not able to make one at the moment, so I'll try and type it out :)

- Establish a base price for each commodity, 75% of stock is sold at this price.

- If more than 75% of that rounds stock is purchased then the store bumps up to tier 2 pricing.

- If more than 85% of that rounds stock is purchased then the store bumps up to tier 3 pricing.

- If more than 95% of that rounds stock is purchased then the store might holds its remaining stock for the
next round if demand for the product is likely to be greater the next round.

- If no sales are made when 75% of the time has expired the store will cut its price in half and sell 25% of its stock at a discount.  It will then start to step up the price again.

- Base price is adjusted for the next round after production occurs and demand is estimated.

Buying would be a similar process where it is willing to buy a certain amount at a premium price however as its stock fills up it would adjust its buying price downward until it hits a base price at which it will buy any amount.  This limitless buying at a base price is justified because it can be assumed in a galactic market that it can always sell anything if it is able to buy cheap enough.

I don't think an "NPC Buyer" makes sense. Just make it so anytime the sell line sweeps to the left, any turds it sweeps will be eaten by the store automatically for cash.