                               Command : MARKET

 SYNTAX:
   [##:##] Command: market

(There are two market systems available in Empire.  A  compile  option  deter-
mines  which  particular  system a game will use.  Both the TELEPORT and TRADE
CENTER markets are detailed here.)

THE TELEPORT MARKET

The market report displays the lowest-priced commodity of each  item  type  on
the  market  which  is  not  on sale by you, the selling nation, the number of
units on sale, and the price per unit.

If a product argument is given, then a list of the prices of that  product  is
printed in the same way as buy.

Note that this takes into account the multiplier from the  selling  nation  to
your country, so the market price may vary from country to country.

   [##:##] Command: market

                               Command : MARKET

         -= World Commodity Market Report =-
               Mon Oct  6 10:22:09 1986
    item        cnum      country    qty     $/unit
   shells       (# 3)           Oz     219  500.00
   iron ore     (#12)       Idiots     696    5.00
   dust (gold)  (#14)          Zyf      20  120.00
   food         (# 7)        Vixen     500    0.15
   light produc (# 3)           Oz     175  200.00

See also : buy, sell, mult

THE TRADE CENTER MARKET

The trade center market adds more realism to  the  marketplace  by  making  it
necessary  for  you  to  physically  transport goods.  Each country can create
trade centers (sector type x), which  can  then  be  individually  opened  and
closed  at discretion to any number of specific countries, and which can indi-
vidually deal in  any  number  of  specific  commodities.  The  market  report

                               Command : MARKET

displays all trade centers that are open to do business with you, which commo-
dities they are interested in buying and selling, and, for each commodity, the
quantity they want to sell or buy, and the per-unit sale price (ask) or buying
price (bid).

The syntax for market is:
   [##:##] Command: market <SECT|NAT|*|.> [COMMLIST]

The first argument to the market command can be a country name  or  number,  a
realm,  sector  range or coordinate, a '*' indicating all trade centers every-
where, or a '.' indicating just your  own  trade  centers.   In  the  optional
second  argument  you  can  string together a list of commodity designators to
indicate the specific commodities that you're interested in seeing.

In order to do business with a trade center, you must physically move  a  ship
or other vehicle into the trade center.  For this reason, trade center coordi-
nates are provided (using your own coordinate system) for each center that  is
open  to you.  Actual buying and selling is then performed by simply using the
load and unload commands; money will be automatically  exchanged.   The  trade
center  owner  is notified by telegram of all transactions, and there is never

                               Command : MARKET

any tax or commission paid to POGO.

Note that the asking prices take into account country price  multipliers;  the
asking  prices  may  be  different  for  sales to another country.  Each trade
center has a unique set of price multipliers, as set  by  the  center's  owner
using the open command.

For trade centers that you own, the market report also includes for each  com-
modity  the  center's  current "have" quantity, as well as the "min" threshold
(below which it will refuse to sell) and "max" threshold (above which it  will
refuse to buy).

   [##:##] Command: [40:247] Command : mar * ifl

                               Command : MARKET

              -= World Commodity Market Report =-
                    Mon Apr  1 09:29:25 1991
   item          x,y     country   sell     ask   buy     bid    min have max
   iron ore     -8,-20  Samarkand
   iron ore     17,-9   Krev          0     2.10  500     2.00    20    0 500
   food         -8,-20  Samarkand   400     1.00
   food         17,-9   Krev        350     0.95  200     1.29    50  400 600
   food         62,2    Krev                      550     1.29     0   50 600
   light prod   -8,-20  Samarkand                 500     5.00
   light prod  -60,-56  UUCP2                     300     5.00

See also : open, close, ask, bid, load, unload

