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I can't even pay my dues every time I trade a contract. I am circle 2 and I am LOSING money, I won't even be able to trade anymore at this rate within a couple of more runs. I will have to go find skins and armor lying around in critters and sell them just so I can pay off my dues (but by the time I get there to pay them off, I probably lost it all anyhow).
What I am supposed to do? Hide and sneak the ENTIRE way between every single trade? I could have a few hundred coppers on me and they will ALL be gone by the time I get to my next outpost. sigh
I don't know what to do.
I've found a good solution to avoiding thieves on the roads...
First of all, check your money OFTEN. If you're being stolen from, hide, sneak out, get indoors or somewhere with people and ask for help.
Secondly, I ALWAYS (yes, even right now) carry at least two or three THOUSAND copper coins with me. Yes, it burdens me to all heck, but such is the price of protecting my plats (and golds, silvers, bronzes). When a thief comes after me, the chances they'll get anything besides a handful of coppers are slim to none. By the time they get any significant cash, i've noticed that i'm down some coppers and hide/refill my stash of coppers.
Hope this helps.
~ Ahkshan
First of all, check your money OFTEN. If you're being stolen from, hide, sneak out, get indoors or somewhere with people and ask for help.
Secondly, I ALWAYS (yes, even right now) carry at least two or three THOUSAND copper coins with me. Yes, it burdens me to all heck, but such is the price of protecting my plats (and golds, silvers, bronzes). When a thief comes after me, the chances they'll get anything besides a handful of coppers are slim to none. By the time they get any significant cash, i've noticed that i'm down some coppers and hide/refill my stash of coppers.
Hope this helps.
~ Ahkshan
You didn't mention where you are having these problems.. if you're in Crossing, consider traveling to Shard, as it is less populated (especially with younger thieves who are more likely to steal from PCs), plus it is designed to be a better place for young Traders to learn. Just be sure to keep your eyes open on the trade route, check your pockets often, and if you notice them getting lighter then stop and search (if you find the thief of course ask for your money back, you'd be surprised at how many will actually give it back if you ask), and then hide and stalk for a bit. You also have a few other options - like not trading with contracts for a while. Instead of trading contracts, you could try foraging and selling branches to Mags to learn some trading and also earn money (if you have not done this already, I STRONGLY suggest maxing it out, you'll get a few gold all told). And I do believe foraging teaches a bit of perception, which would help with the thief problem. Also try searching outside the NE gate, or in the Empath guild to learn perception to keep thieves away. Basically, get some perception first to keep thieves away. Not a ton, but enough so you're not walking around with a giant flashing billboard on your mule/caravan that says "TAKE MY COINS PLEASE." If you really really want to use contracts and are still getting stolen from, maybe try asking someone to teach you a class and walk with you, to guard you. You can learn something and trade safely at the same time. If that's not going to work, then yes, hide and sneak all the way. Hey, at least you'll learn hiding and stalking pretty darn well. :)
Oh, and part of the problem is that profit margins are TINY for young Traders, so don't use a caravan or you will lose money even without thieves. It takes a bit of an investment to become a successful Trader, but once you get a few circles under your belt, it becomes easier.
-player of Empath Raycha, but also many young Traders at various times
Oh, and part of the problem is that profit margins are TINY for young Traders, so don't use a caravan or you will lose money even without thieves. It takes a bit of an investment to become a successful Trader, but once you get a few circles under your belt, it becomes easier.
-player of Empath Raycha, but also many young Traders at various times
In addition to what Ahkshan has said, I found that it is best to keep the coppers in the currency of a province OTHER than the one you are trading in. For example, if you are trading in Zoluren, which uses Kronars, then take a bit of money with you to Haven, convert it to Lirums, deposit it all at the Haven bank, then withdraw 3000 copper Lirums. It's a little extra trouble, but whenever you see that you have less than those 3000 Lirums, you KNOW you've been stolen from; if you kept Kronars it wooldn't have been so easy, since your copper Kronars will fluctuate with turning in contracts, paying dues, etc.
Knowing you've been stolen from doesn't really help that much, though, other than you know you're not crazy. I like to know when I'm stolen from so this is what I do.
Then of course, there's always the issue of getting those 3000 copper to begin with. If you sell branches to Mags, which you should, you will get enough trading ranks to get you to about fourth circle or so -- which will net you higher contracts anyway -- and enough money to withdraw coppers to prevent theft.
Knowing you've been stolen from doesn't really help that much, though, other than you know you're not crazy. I like to know when I'm stolen from so this is what I do.
Then of course, there's always the issue of getting those 3000 copper to begin with. If you sell branches to Mags, which you should, you will get enough trading ranks to get you to about fourth circle or so -- which will net you higher contracts anyway -- and enough money to withdraw coppers to prevent theft.
<<What I am supposed to do? Hide and sneak the ENTIRE way between every single trade?>>
Yes. I did this in the beginning in the "bad old days" in Shard. When the nickname "steal" was put in "SCC", there was no such thing as an approach time,Ann and the other crew were hitting the routes and hitting 'em hard, there was no such thing as a "gem" barrier <thieves couldn't steal gems in those days, so they didn't take yer granites, they took yer silvers and golds> , and if you didn't pay attention, your every last copper was gone in the time it took your sithannik to spit. That was when I learned how to trade. Fun times.
-Bags-
~ The eye is not satisfied with seeing,
Nor the ear filled with hearing.
That which hath been is that
which shall be,
And that which hath been done is that
which shall be done;
And there is nothing new under the sun.
I would go with what Ahkshan is mentioning. Also, I'd add that if you are stolen from - say SOMETHING. Based from hearing both sides (Traders and Thieves) of the story; a 'sleeping target' is easier prey then someone who is there. I know a few thieves that will just target the Traders who zombie out while working on the trade routes. So personally, just say something funny/silly/whatever.
This goes along with the carrying 3,000 bronzes/coppers.
Along with the carrying cheap gems.
Learning to hide/stalk properly.
Training your own perception and stealing.
Make it a habit to deposit coins at each bank regularly.
-Ruffles
Rinaetly says, "Oh Ruffles.."
Ruffles says, "Yup, I love you too, baby."
Rinaetly says, "I was referring to these Ruffles potato chips."
Ruffles says, "Argh, rejected in favor of those blasted chips yet again."
This goes along with the carrying 3,000 bronzes/coppers.
Along with the carrying cheap gems.
Learning to hide/stalk properly.
Training your own perception and stealing.
Make it a habit to deposit coins at each bank regularly.
-Ruffles
Rinaetly says, "Oh Ruffles.."
Ruffles says, "Yup, I love you too, baby."
Rinaetly says, "I was referring to these Ruffles potato chips."
Ruffles says, "Argh, rejected in favor of those blasted chips yet again."
Well, here's my advice for what it's worth. Forage branches and sell to Mags in Crossing until he won't allow you to anymore. You'll learn trading doing that, plus foraging and appraisal if you appraise the branches. Hunt rats when you're mind is full of the other stuff and sell the bundles to earn more trading (you need armor and evasion anyways). Using the funds you make from this, move down to Shard after Mags stops teaching. You'll then have a small nest egg to trade with, so keep some coppers on you. You'll also be at a level in which you will probably make a small profit on each contract instead of breaking even. Hunting isn't always enjoyable but it will help you with those extra coins you need when you're young. You can also go out to the goblin area if you're careful to retreat a lot and ask hunters there if you can have the cloaks and shields. Pawn those for some extra coins too. While this isn't running contracts, it provides a bit more variety at first. It will also help you build up some skills and funds to do contract trading later.
~Indigoe~
~Indigoe~
<< So personally, just say something funny/silly/whatever. >>
I usually come out with something to the effect of "Enjoying those coppers?"
They'll either respond with a yes or a no, but either way, I have some smartass response. It's just the way I am. I'm sure you can figure out your own similar technique. <grin>
~ Ahkshan, who's a tiny bit of a teaching lesson away from becoming Trader Ahkshan
I usually come out with something to the effect of "Enjoying those coppers?"
They'll either respond with a yes or a no, but either way, I have some smartass response. It's just the way I am. I'm sure you can figure out your own similar technique. <grin>
~ Ahkshan, who's a tiny bit of a teaching lesson away from becoming Trader Ahkshan
People probably didn't suggest this because we're talking about a young trader who might not profit from a caravan, but with all the suggested ways to make money, maybe the trader can rent a caravan now. Just tell your caravan to lead to wherever you're going (yeah, I know it doesn't work to Tiger or Wolf, but that's less than half the outposts in Crossing..) and hide. You don't need to sneak everywhere, the thing will drag you along in hiding.
