The falling demand curve pricing and the Daily trade report tend to spread traders routes across the universe. This is exactly the opposite of what is needed to spur player interaction in these days of low player base.

I suggest that there be a Critical Shortage of a trade item at a Corvus station announced on channel (203, edit) every hour. The needed item would have flat and very high pricing for the hour it is featured. The pricing should be in the neighborhood of 5,000 cr/cu. The next hour a different item at a different Corvus station would be announced as a Critical Shortage.

The positive effect of this Critical Shortage would be to concentrate the effort of traders to a single Corvus station. This would attract pirates, who would then make the services of Viper and ITAN useful.

I can't believe no one had thought of this before. Excellent idea. Question though...is "Critical Shortage" reflected in the sale price? For example say three to five times initial cost?

This would be great, except that every hour is a tad over the top. I mean, how much "Critical Shortage" can a station have every hour?
(considering Corvus consists of 5 stations total)

Honestly, I'd like this to work though. The hourly announcement just reminds me of ctc. (random times would be better)

Maybe add in the other Independent factions that are in grey like Tung, Xang, Aeolus and Ineubis. Anyways, just a thought.

Please god not channel 100. If they had their own channel, that'd be much better. Beginners can learn about it through a text-mission taken in corvus (or through our largely helpful playerbase).

And what Atice said. :)

Yeah, not 100. Otherwise [stamp of approval]

Aye , good idea. I agree that it should be a range of stations in grey and broadcasted on a separate unused channel.

Channel 203. I, too, like this idea.

[Stamp of Approval]™

This should be implemented ASAP

Changed from channel 100 to channel 203.

This would be great, except that every hour is a tad over the top. I mean, how much "Critical Shortage" can a station have every hour?

Well, there can be two solutions to this:

1: Corvus is a non-law abiding faction, and therefore, has more shortages than other, law abiding stations, due to their shady nature and not many people would trade there, at risk of being found out by the law, if you like.

2: There doesn't need to be a Critical shortage every hour, just an announcement. This could mean either, no shortages are announced for a while, then small shortages are announced for the first 4 or so hours, a critical shortage follows, and then a complete depletion.

Adding on to point 2, could mean an addition of a need to provide stations with the goods they need, to continue supplying other players with said item. This could be weapons, and commodities. As well as supplying the player with nice profits, could be helping this idea of a dynamic economy and credit making in the long run.

Anyway, just what I think would be cool ;)