Increase Demand [1802]

Olympia: The Age of Gods PBEM (Oct 4 2000)

### E.9.5: Increase Demand [1802]

      Usage:  USE 1802 <good>
      Time to learn: 14 days.
      Time to use: 7 days.

By use of this skill, a canny merchant can increase the demand for a trade good in any market. By advertising, talking up a product in inns and bars, and similar means, the merchant will whip the buying public into frenzy, driving the price of the trade good up from 6 to 8 percent. The price increase persists until something changes it.

This skill must be used in the market where <good> is being traded. The price for a good cannot be driven higher than twice the base price of the good.

This skill can only be used on items sold or bought by the market itself, i.e., it cannot be used on nobles, and it only works if the good is currently being traded. For example, consider this interaction:

      8: > use 1802 94
      8: That good is not traded here.

[94] is the identifier for woven baskets. Why did this skill use fail? Although a city may be buying baskets on Day 1, by Day 8 someone may have sold the city all the baskets it requires. Consequently, the attempt to influence the market for baskets fails, because no baskets are being traded. (The city typically adds a new demand after the turn is over.)