X3 TC - cls / cag trading combo?

[minderbinder77]

Hi, I'm returning to x3 TC after 5 years since I last played so I'm a bit rusty. Just running through the Terran plot.

I was thinking of setting up a big 1mj shield complex (maybe in Argon Prime - 20 plus factories), using CAGs to supply energy, ore and food. In theory, my complex would be a big store to capture all these resources in the surrounding sectors. I would then use CLS traders to sell the intermediate products to other stations, who will be low on these products (because they are all sitting in my complex) and pay high prices.

This is pure theorycrafting so before I spend ages setting it up I wanted to ask if anyone had done something similar and whether you had any success, or any tips. Also if you can point me to any advanced guides on CLS trading, that would be appeciated.

Thanks

[Timsup2nothin]

Link in sig.

[minderbinder77]

Wow - your guide is more than I could have hoped for - worthy of serious study. Very much appreciated.

[ancienthighway]

You can do most of what you want using CAGs. On the station change the setting to buy/sell intermediate products, then the shields, meatsteaks, and argnu beef can be sold by the CAG, while meatsteaks, argnu beef, ore, and energy cells will be bought by the CAG. You would only need the CLS2 to sell ore and e-cells if that's in your plan.

Having the complex in Argon prime with a trading range set to 6 or 7 will give you access to 5 Argon, 2 Boron, 1 Paranid and 1 Teladi equipment docks to sell shields and IREs if you build those also. There's also 3 military outposts nearby to dump excesses.

Ore in the AP area is plentiful and it is mined quickly once sold. I don't think you'd be able to build enough ore consumers for the station to lock it down, at least not at a price I'd be willing to pay.

With this complex as the base, you can add as many cattle ranches and bakeries as desire to monopolize the food in the area.

[Timsup2nothin]

You can do most of what you want using CAGs. On the station change the setting to buy/sell intermediate products, then the shields, meatsteaks, and argnu beef can be sold by the CAG, while meatsteaks, argnu beef, ore, and energy cells will be bought by the CAG. You would only need the CLS2 to sell ore and e-cells if that's in your plan.

Having the complex in Argon prime with a trading range set to 6 or 7 will give you access to 5 Argon, 2 Boron, 1 Paranid and 1 Teladi equipment docks to sell shields and IREs if you build those also. There's also 3 military outposts nearby to dump excesses.

Ore in the AP area is plentiful and it is mined quickly once sold. I don't think you'd be able to build enough ore consumers for the station to lock it down, at least not at a price I'd be willing to pay.

With this complex as the base, you can add as many cattle ranches and bakeries as desire to monopolize the food in the area.

CAGs doing the selling will drive the prices down. The problem I've had with CAG exclusive operations is that if CAGs are buying and selling you only get to set one price. If you could set intermediate products for "buy at this, sell at that" CAGs would be awesome.

[Timsup2nothin]

Wow - your guide is more than I could have hoped for - worthy of serious study. Very much appreciated.

Any time. Feel free to add your results and observations to it as your project progresses.

[ancienthighway]

With the plan being to monopolize the food trade, and being able to set stock levels at the complex, I think most of the CAG selling would be closer to max prices than average price. Using CLS2 will guarantee the price you want, but at the cost of micromanaging the set up process.

Either way could be used and still make a profit with the higher profit potentially from the CLS2 method.

[Timsup2nothin]

With the plan being to monopolize the food trade, and being able to set stock levels at the complex, I think most of the CAG selling would be closer to max prices than average price. Using CLS2 will guarantee the price you want, but at the cost of micromanaging the set up process.

Either way could be used and still make a profit with the higher profit potentially from the CLS2 method.

I am a max profit squeezer. Can't help myself.