First discovered in Ska, Ruby Jewels can occasionally be cut from the common lesser gem stones found in nearby areas. Ruby Jewels are particularly valued for their peculiar refracting properties, which make them interesting to collectors and scientists alike. These brilliant gems have a very high resale value and are quickly snatched up by jewelers all across the universe.
Jewelry Trade:
Trade with jewels has two things similar with Dark Corner trade: Long-range, and taking place in faction core clusters (including Union).
In every faction core cluster, one neutral, mobile Gem Merchant is stationed. In regular intervals, the gem merchant moves his building to another random spot of open space in the same cluster, to a sector with a planet. This NPC building works like any other player-owned building: It needs an upkeep (food, water, energy, optical components, and gemstones), and produces the type of jewels corresponding to its territory: Blue Sapphire jewels in Federation space, Ruby jewels in Empire space, and Golden Beryl jewels in Union space. Production level may span from 1 to 7 and depends on the cluster's economic strength (= amount of existing player-owned buildings).
Besides the upkeep, every gem merchant pays for aquiring jewels from other regions. This price is uniquely determined for every gem merchant and changes when a merchant moves to another spot. It is always higher than the price the jewels can be bought for in their regions of origin, with small random variations. Acquired jewels decrease with every production cycle.
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Ruby Jewels
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