Trade Broker Company [ALPHA: OFFLINE]

[pietrko]

Howdy Salemites,

ALPHA READY

STATUS: OFFLINE
Click spoiler to acces the app. First test was done thanks to Vexus.

Trader accounts (for our clients) logins.
client1
client2

Partner accounts (for partners) login
partner1

And here is the url:
https://salem-trading.herokuapp.com

Offers are matched every 10 minutes so in-between nothing really happens.
Post your impressions and bug reports in this thread or talk me on irc.
I will check this channel if you want to report: http://client02.chat.mibbit.com/?channel=%23salem&server=irc.synirc.net
channel: #trade-app
App can work only 18h/24 so if it doesn't work its probably due to the time limit.

The Trade Broker Company

Idea
It would an player institution that will mediate trade between major traders (buy from one town and sell to the another) on the large scale. Obviously it will have its own silver to make it possible.
The point is to change one-to-many transactions to one-to-one transaction with trade broker who is always "online".
To City Mayors
Dear Mr Mayor! I could use a storage space in your city in exchange for a fast access to goods, selling & buying opportunities and silver.
Also if you have some citizen that wants to be with me in that business that would make a things much easier.


Implementation
The idea would be implemented using web application. The app will allow for placing sell & buy offers, simply by clicking good's type, amount & price.
When the offer would be realized the trade broker would change the trader stockpile.
We will use trading algorithm that matches the sell offers to the given buy offers till the buy offer is fullfilled.
Each trader using the system will have its own stockpile of goods, the info about it would be written into app database. The trader can request delivery of his goods from his stockpile to his claim, whenever he wants.
The system will allow for speculation (buying and selling of goods from one's stockpile without actual delivery).
Trade would be anonymous. Your will just place offers and issue the delivery action.
There would be forum link to app, you will be informed about realization of your offer (time of delivery etc) via forum PM (the app bot will send you PM).
For people who sell goods, in case they will want to sell more than they have in stockpile (i.e they never bought anything and they are just selling) we would take precautions in case they don't realize their part of deal (giving goods to trade broker).
This is system is meant handle the flow of goods that have balanced supply/demand ratio and are reasonably fluid - like glass panels, leather, iron etc. At least we would start with that goods.
For super extra rare items costing 10000s per item, you should still use forum.



Offers Matching
Simple as hell: whenever there is an offer that matches your maximal/minimal price, we buy/sell goods in your name and put them in your stockpile.
You have an access to real-time price data so you can set the reasonable price.

Advantages
Beyond the obvious advantages, like more secure, smooth and easier trade (and with one subject) the clients (and only them) will have an access to online supply demand charts and price charts generated using the information from realized offers.

How to join:
We will provide trade licenses (in-game items) that will have username & password to the web application.
The trade license would be totally free for towns that are eager to give us storage house (we can pay for rented space, we would like to make one of your citizens your representative and our partner).
It will cost some amount of silver (depends on player choice 100s-5000s) which would be added to the trader's stockpile at start.
To be clear you WONT LOSE this silver it wil be used to realize your trade offers. The trader can later resupply his account with silver in-game (just contact the trade broker) or just pay with each realized transaction.

Profit Generation
This could interest partners.
For each transaction some small percent of its value would be given to trade broker, + % of the traders paid-in capital will cover some administration costs.

RECRUITMENT: HOW TO HELP
I'm looking for following people:

• solid & honest traders with capital (1500+ silver) to join this initiative as in-game partners (you will be moving the goods)
• towns and major traders interested in using this system (PM me with your questions, constructive critique etc), first major 5 clients will get the free trade license.
• web developers (javascript, node.js, some frontend stuff) to help in coding the app.
• PR guy: requirements: Able to write & read in proper salemite's english.

Progress
In Overall (to beta): |+++++++---| 7/10
Features atm:

ALPHA

• Logging into app, filling out trader's profile with data
• Adding/removing reading available goods (on market)
• Placing sell/buy offers and canceling them
• Issuing delivery requests/canceling them
• For workers: signing up for delivery, viewing the clients delivery requests.
• Trading algorithm working.

Graph system and minor stuff till the beta is ready.
Then I can start bugfixing etc.

Comments responses (only relevant ones)
Take a look If you don't wan't to read whole thread.

not sure JC would allow this. it boycotts stalls lol

This is not meant to replace game mechanics and won't touch client code or anything like this. The web app is a supporting tool, for me and for you that will allow bookkeeping of the transactions instead PM all the time.
It will still require in-game people and action to make it work. It won't "boycott stalls" even if - this would be done with help of market rules not against them.
BTW: Dammit dis cat is hilarious

Interesting idea, but why could we not do this without the middle man? Seems this is a great idea/tool to do what is being done in trade-winds already without me having to post/PM everyone asking if they have stock or are willing to negotiate prices. While I could use a broker, I suspect I would be more inclined to be my own broker. The idea of an auction house has always been rejected due to the desire for more interaction between players, but more automation of trade-winds is progress if you ask me.

I will think about it, It would be easy to transform the app into no-middle man version - that only matches the trade buy offers. But this way the players could still scam each other (instead of the broker). You would still have to pay with in-game silver for trading license (maybe just one side of transaction). I'm open, we will see.

Nice. Seems amazing. I think the taxes will have to be pretty low (5%?) to people use this though

Yes, I've planned it to be below 5%, as low as possible in fact.
But big enough to pay the tradesman handling the delivery their cut.

Regards,
Pietrko

[Heffernan]

not sure JC would allow this. it boycotts stalls lol

[Kreek]

This sounds super cool. I'm a programmer and I'd love to take a look at the implementation, and possibly contribute. You can find a sample of my work in the stickied thread at the top of City Upon A Hill.

[matan002]

Nice

[Flink]

this sounds like a way to completely control the trade market in salem, hmmmm

[Otis]

Interesting idea, but why could we not do this without the middle man? Seems this is a great idea/tool to do what is being done in trade-winds already without me having to post/PM everyone asking if they have stock or are willing to negotiate prices. While I could use a broker, I suspect I would be more inclined to be my own broker. The idea of an auction house has always been rejected due to the desire for more interaction between players, but more automation of trade-winds is progress if you ask me.

Looking forward to your updates on the progress of this site.

[Darwoth]

less than nobody would use this just like the other dozen games something similar has been done in, you are all retarded.

[loleznub]

less than nobody would use this just like the other dozen games something similar has been done in, you are all retarded.

I agree. Well said

[TotalyMeow]

Well, I find the idea of this awesome. I would love to see a group try to establish themselves as the go-to people for major trade. Connecting it all to an app is an interesting concept which I look forward to seeing play out.

[Claeyt]

less than nobody would use this just like the other dozen games something similar has been done in, you are all retarded.

As always, Mr. Positive.