Commodities and Prices

• Commodities
  Star Exodus commodities are items that can only be produced at a small number of planets. These are not things which are traditionally known as commodities such as common foods or metals. Instead, they are rare items such as trace minerals or gasses, high-tech medicines or microchips, works of art, archaeological artifacts, and endangered plant and animal species.
  
  
• Prices
  Each planet (but not asteroid) produces one commodity, and sells it to visiting ship captains. All other commodities must be purchased from ship captains, and are consumed by the colonists. Each commodity can trade at a different price on every planet. There are no random factors involved in commodity pricing, it is purely a function of the supply of each commodity on the planet, and the demand for the commodity. Colonies with higher populations have more demand for commodities, and consume commodities at a faster rate, reducing supply. Planets with higher populations also produce that planet's commodity at a faster rate, increasing the supply available for sale.
  
  
• Currencies
  Each race has its own currency in Star Exodus: Human EarthMarks, Bug OviRands, Bot Standard Monetary Units, and Old One Credit Crystals. The Universal Currency Board (UCB) currently maintains all currencies at a fixed 1:1 ratio. It is possible that in the future, the UCB will lose its grip on the universe's economy, allowing the currencies to float freely.
  
  
• Taxes
  The owner of the planet collects ten percent of each commodity transaction. This tax rate is fixed by universal trade treaties, and cannot be changed by the colonial governor. Colonies do not tax passenger arrivals, because they increase the value of the colony.
  
  
• Harmful Commodities
  Addictive substances, weapons, dangerous pets, or other commodities which can kill colonists are called Harmful Commodities. Colonists will pay for these items just like any other commodities, but the population of the planet will be reduced. Ship captains may transport these items to planets, and receive money for selling them. However, the owners of those planets may not be happy about the deaths these commodities cause.