Yes, he's back, maybe not really the Mk3 trader by BurnIt! & Co but close to it
It's essentially a 'grown' script core (not using any vanilla scripts, no hacks or patching) I have used for economy testing with a more userfriendly interface, no statistical info and, of course, restricted to player ships only :p (for more details see below).
[b]What and How[/b]
Have a Titurel or Scaldis (yes, only those are allowed because of the universal stogage) in you squad and lead it to a zone (sector, cluster) of your choice. Select the location carefully bareing in mind that the initial range is limited to the current sector!
If the ship has arrived then hail the pilot and select "Start sectortrader" and you will receive a short PDA confirmation. [b]I do recommend that you remove him now from your squad[/b] (for more details see below).
Congratulations, you have started your first auto trader
[b]Ok, but what now?[/b]
Your auto trader will look at first for wares in his cargo hold and try to sell them with priority. If there is no buyer in range or nothing in the cargo hold other than fuel he will check the market for the most profitable trades (buy and sell) within his range (sector, cluster, galaxy). He will provide PDA messages for every deal. He also will send you a status update after each trade run. Yes, that could become quite a PDA spam but without hacking the UI and patching there is no way to avoid that. He will also inform you in case his total profit unlocks the next level. It is then your call to promote him to cluster/galaxy trader or leave him as sector/cluster trader. For pro & con see below.
[b]Level and range[/b]
Initially the sector trader has level 1 and, with increasing profit, he is able to reach level 2 which unlocks the option to promote him to cluster trader. As the name indicates the range of a sector trader will always be the current sector but at level 2 he will become a bit more efficient (read: faster). He also will keep a small commission fee for every credit made for you. A level 1 autotrader is considered a trainee and hence will do his trades free of charge.
If you decide to promote a level 2 auto trader to cluster trader then hail the pilot and select "Start clustertrader". He will send a PDA confirmation. A cluster trader is level 2 and, with increasing profit, will reach level 3 to unlock the ultimate galaxy trader. As a cluster trader he charges a bit more but is faster and deals only in selected wares of mid to high end range. He is also able to trade in ammunition and drones (keyword:unbundle).
Hailing a cluster trader at level 2 provides the option to promote him to galaxy trader. His commision charge is 5% of the turnover but he is even faster then the cluster trader and he deals exclusively in wares of the most expensive high end range, including ammunition, drones and weapons.
[b]Moving the auto trader[/b]
If you decide to move your auto trader to another location (zone/cluster/galaxy) then just hail him, preferrably [b]after[/b] he has finsihed a trade run, and select "Join my squad". The lead him to the new loaction and, after he has arrived there, hail him again and select "Resume autotrade" and then kick him from your squad again. Alternatively (if unlocked) you can promote him.
[b]Compatibility[/b]
As mentioned already this mod does not use [b]any[/b] game scripts and does not hack the UI. But this comes with a price:
[b] This mods uses the pilot's inventory and adds a pilot account. Any other mod that changes the pilot's inventory or adds a pilot account will conflict!!! [/b]
The reason is that the current script system lacks of global variables as we know them from the "old" SE. Hence it's tricky to 'safe' data if a script, that has defined them, is cancelled. My solution is to use the prilot's inventory (yes, NPCs have one ;-) ) which I use to safe the auto trader's level. I've also added an account to the pilot and set a maximum budget to save the profit.
[b] Do not touch the budget slider or the mod breaks !!! [/b]
[b]FAQ[/b]
Q: My auto trader is not moving and hasn't dend me any report for some time.
A: Hail the pilot and see if the option "Show profit" appears. If so feel free to click it for a status update. Probably your trader has not found any deals in his range.
Q: I did hail him but there is no such show profit option. What is wrong?
A: The only way that can happen is if your pilot has received another command. Either you have assigned him to a new superior or added him to your squad or issued any other order. But no panic, you can restart him (see "Moving the auto trader" above).
Q: No, that didn't work either. What now?
A: Kick him from your squad, add him again and if you still do not get the option then send me your zipped saved game please
Q: What about fuel?
A: No worries, the pilot covers for the fuel cost via his commision charge. (Technically: they do not use fuel for jumping).
Q: I've accidentially added him to my squad and now he's just following me. Is all lost?
A: Nope, all is cool. See above "Moving the auto trader".
Q: I keep getting reputation gains with faction I never met but nothing increases. Is this brocken?
A: No, not broken; it's intended. Every trade partner's faction will be known to you, too, and With each trade you gain a very small reputation with the trader faction. It is so small that it requires many runs to "see" a reputation gain.
Q: LOL ! I've never been in Omicron Lyrae but in the map some sectors and zones are "known" to me. Is that right?
A: Do you remember the feature in X3 where you could set a fast ship to follow the Goner U.F.O.? It would eventually map out for you the entire universe :D The auto trader has the same feature: if an area is known to them it is also known to you.
Q: I watched my auto trader during trades but where are the cargo lifter?
A: This mod does not use cargo lifters for load wares. The auto trader's ship has secretly been upgraded and equipped with a transporter beam ;-)
Q: What would you consider as an optimum ship setup for an auto trader?
A: Use a Titurel (go captue one
with a high-skilled engineer and a defence officer (command set on defend), fully equipped ammo, 75 welder drones and 75 interceptor Mk2, no fuel.
Cheers Euclid