Windryder
Caldari
New Fnord Industries
Black Scope Project
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Posted - 2007.09.08 01:10:00 -
[1]
Dear CCP Dr.EyjoG
I loved your blog; as an industrialist in EVE it was a fascinating read. However I think you have overlooked some details of the universe that might explain some of the market and economic behaviour of Mexallon.
Kali not only introduced the Drone Regions and subsequent collapse of the highest-end minerals (Nox, Zyd, Mega and Morphite) but also introduced Warp-To-Zero (WTZ). This has had a staggering effect on the economy; look at any bulk commodity in The Forge and you will see a large rise in the rate of change of volume (dv/dt). The simple fact that you can, without special bookmarks, navigate secure space many times faster than before and travel unsecured space much safer than before, has stimulated the economy across the board. The distribution of minerals from markets to manufacturing centres, and then the transport of manufactured goods back to market is now extremely rapid. Minerals, goods and ISK are moving through the economy much faster than ever before and this has, I believe, *magnified* some differential aspects of industrial/economic mechanics.
The price of Mexallon appears out of character recently. Since WTZ and the Drone Regions have stimulated an economic boom through cheap supply of high-end minerals; the demand for low-end minerals has thus increased proportionally. Unlike other low-end minerals the availability of Mexallon-containing ores in high-population regions to volume-optimised mining operations (i.e. high-sec mining in Caldari space) is limited to a narrow band of systems that occupy a particular security level, and even in these systems the 'roids are not as common as Veldspar and Scordite. Additionally, there is a demand in Caldari space for basic Kernite, to satisify a certain level 4 storyline mission. The demand is such that the Kernite ore sells for more than it's refined mineral worth, thus stopping that Mexallon contained within from reaching the market. In regions where Plagioclase (the other Mexallon-containing ore) is available in higher-security level systems, I believe you will find miners gravitating towards mining the slightly more lucrative Omber.
So in short I think the price of Mexallon is simply a reflection of the booming state of the economy and its limited availability, and lack of presence in high-end Drone Droppings.
With the introduction of new POS warfare and Sovereignty mechanics in zerospace, I think we will see another change in the economy. I won't speculate as to what those changes will be, but systems will change hands far slower than before and demands for war materials (Capital Ships, War Ships etc) will change proportions.
When the Rorqual sees large scale deployment the mineral economy will begin to change again as empire carebears (like me) use the Clone Jumping facilities to operate ninja operations in deep zerospace. The Rorqual has already stimulated the first sale of Capital Clone Vat Bays in Jita for over a year, and I beleive the stimulation of supply of these components in Empire space will enable wide-scale deployment of motherships and titans outside of major alliances. This will change the economy yet again.
Just my opinions - I reserve the right to be wrong.
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