Trading
This page gives an overview of the current idea space for the trading playstyle in Living Universe Online.
It does not describe final game behavior. It captures the broad direction and links to the more focused idea pages.
Goal
The goal is to make trading a genuine MMO playstyle rather than a minor economic side activity.
A trading-focused player should have a full gameplay loop built around:
- accepting and fulfilling logistics contracts
- planning efficient and survivable routes
- negotiating diplomatic access and toll exemptions
- managing fleet capacity and cargo risk
- reacting to changing danger conditions in the galaxy
Core Problem
A classic regional market system creates a permanent advantage for players who happen to spawn near or control the most productive markets.
That is not acceptable in a shared multiplayer galaxy where players start at different positions.
The trading system should deliver meaningful logistics gameplay without relying on fixed static markets that favor spawn location.
Location should still matter, but through:
- route length and safety
- territorial tolls
- diplomatic agreements
- distance and travel cost
- strategic positioning
Not through permanent market privilege.
Core Direction
Trading should feel like contract logistics, not market arbitrage.
The core fantasy is:
Build, negotiate, and execute profitable logistics under political and military risk.
Not:
Click market prices better than others.
This means the defining activity is taking on real delivery requests from other players, planning how to fulfill them safely and profitably, and executing the delivery against a world that can push back.
Main Topics
The current idea space breaks into four focused questions.
Logistics contracts
This topic covers how player-created delivery requests work:
- how contracts are posted, accepted, and completed
- payment and escrow models
- contract variants including one-time, recurring, and alliance contracts
- abuse prevention
See Logistics Contracts.
Territorial tolls
This topic covers how system owners extract value from traversal:
- how tolls are set and enforced
- what diplomacy can override or modify
- whether passage can be blocked entirely
- how toll-heavy chokepoints create strategic geography
See Territorial Tolls.
Route danger and safety
This topic covers how risk and safety emerge from the world:
- what kinds of events or hazards affect travel
- how world conditions determine danger levels
- what players can do to assess or reduce risk
- how routes become safer or more dangerous over time
Trade and diplomacy
This topic covers how diplomatic agreements shape trade:
- transit treaties and toll exemptions
- protected convoy agreements
- alliance-level trade rights
- embargoes and sanctions
See Trade and Diplomacy.