First of all the artifacts markets should be supplied by players not like the way resources are supplied to ports. Otherwise flying around looking for artifacts will become like killing aliens for resources, pointless.
I suggest that there are 8-12 markets per galaxy. They should be located in un-space near the spaceports. (2-3 by each or something like that)
The following equations could be used to determined the prices at which the artifacts are bought and sold.
S = M(1-(.8T)/N)
B = .8(S)
S = sell price (in millions)
B = buy price (in millions)
M = max value (in millions)
T = total artifacts (of given type) in stock
N = max amount of artifacts (of given type) the market can hold
*note that if N = T the market will still purchase artifacts but N will not increase accordingly. When N = 0 there are no artifacts in stock so none will be sold
These equations work on basic supply principals. The more of any artifact in stock the cheaper it will be to buy and vice versa. They also establish a max and min price for both buying and selling the artifacts. Further more they create a 20% profit margin for the market. (which isn’t necessary for the market) However it generates a price range where a buyer and seller can both get a better deal buy trading directly. This is good because it maintains the importance of player interaction that the market system would otherwise threaten
Example:
Superconductor
M = 20mil
T = 10 units in stock
N = 40 unit max
S = 20mil*(1-(.8(10)/40)
S = 20mil*(1-(8/40))
S = 20mil*(1-.2)
S = 20mil*(.
S = 16mil
B = .8*16mil
B = 12.8mil
The difference between B and S is the profit margin that player to player trading can exploit. For instance say player 1 has the superconductor which he can sell to the market for 12.8 mil. Player 2 needs a superconductor but doesn’t want to pay the market 16mil for it, so s/he hails player 1 and offers to pay 14mil for the one they are selling. So they both get a better deal, and might not even have to travel as far either. This margin also allows for haggling (if toonces plans on including it) which goes up to 15% off, which is not enough to be able to cheat the system by buying and selling artifacts to and from the same market (which is yet another reason for the margin). . The size of the margin is entirely up to toonces but I suggest something between 15%-40%. The larger the margin the more incentive players have for trading with each other.
Over all the market system is a good establishment especially since artifacts will soon have lifespans. It keeps artifacts available even when there isn’t a seller online and vice versa. If the supply is player bases (which I insist it should be) then there is another way to make money other than trading resources. It would also be a quick way of getting cash on rebangs which would help lean the games back toward building because the players could get them money to rush buildings and buy defenses more easily.
