This article describes the basic principles of trading with EVE Mentat in EVE Online universe.

Preface

So, you have a character with some trade capabilities and couple of mil ISK and wish to make money in almost AFK mode. Let’s start!

Download EVE Mentat, extract it and launch. Follow menu File/Character/Add new…, then enter your account API information. It can be obtained by clicking “API Key” link. Carefully check opened link and ensure that you are at the official EVE Online web site. Select your trade character and add him to program.

At the first you need to decide your trade strategy and find profitable market positions. One of the good strategies are selling trade goods by retail in a few regions.

Let’s see at the real example of trading by retail.

For instance, I’ve decided to sell Ballistic Control System II over Caldari state (Lonetrek and The Citadel regions for instance) because these modules are in demand by Caldari agent-runners. Note, that ideal situation is selling a few types of Tech II modules over one or two regions.

Stage #1: Where to get the goods

Easiest way is simple buy operation in major trade hub, for instance in Jita or Amarr.

But you can save some money by using buy orders in this hub. Picture below shows how you can decrease self-cost for self by 6% (from 823 952 to approximately 775 019 ISK). To do it import your market data into EVE Mentat and select item type and hub location in market bowser.

Of course, investigation of the sales market should be done before you actually buy any goods.

Stage #2: Sales market investigation

In the previous stage I’ve calculated approximate self cost of Ballistic Control Unit II for me – about 824 000 ISK (taken from cheapest sell order). And I’m going to find places where I can sell it with handsome profit. Import needed market data for target regions into EVE Mentat, open market browser, select item type, location and then stack it by solar systems. Now you can sort result by price or volume as shown on the picture below.

Let’s analyze this table! Here are two main parameter for every solar system: minimal price and volume. Bigger price and smaller amount means low trade speed at this location and absence of competition. From the other side lower price and larger amount shows active trading process and competition.

You can use Market Filter to cut off non-profitable orders:

• Press Ctrl+Shift+F shortcut at the market browser tab to open filter panel
• Enter minimal price – 825 000 and minimal volume – 10, for instance
• Press Apply button

Then you will see only solar systems with profitable minimal prices:

Remember, profit is calculated not only from differences between buy and sell prices, it also depends from amount sold per time. So the best practice will be to place orders not only in minor hubs, but with regard to trade speed. Also take into account systems with the most popular military agents and systems located near entrances to the zero security space. Usually there is a brisk trade.

For instance 5-10 units for systems with high prices and 10-50 units for systems with active trading. But if you doubt it is better to confine a small test orders for all solar systems.

After a week of trade you will know your most profitable places and be able to adjust amount of goods in orders.

Stage #3: Order placement

Once you decide how and where you sell goods it’s time to start hauling and placing orders! Be aware at this stage because you can become a victim of pirates even in empire. It is recommended to use agile ships and avoid flying with autopilot when your cargo are full of goods. The best solution is Tech II industrial ship with cloaking device and set of inertia stabilizators and/or nanofiber internal structures at low slots.

Calculate optimal route and start hauling your goods. Using EVE Mentat you can easily set recommended prices for every order. Just right-click on market table row and select menu item “Copy recommended price”, then paste it into EVE Online client.

Stage #4: Order support

For most effective order support your character should have ability to change orders remotely. Detailed information about trade skills can be found in EVE Online Trade Skills article.

At the first, open your orders in game and sort them by item type. Then click “View market details” once for each type in current region. Don’t press “Export” button, just view it. Then launch EVE Mentat and import fresh data. Note that cache import must be active!

After importing switch to Orders tab and you’ll see statuses of your orders. Move your mouse over signs in Price column to see status details. If your price was overrode by a rival price cell has a red sign and displays rival’s price and profit loss in popup hint. To fix your order right-click Price cell and select Copy recommended price in popup menu.

Sometimes rivals places orders with very low price and a small amount of goods. The best practices are wait for this order’s fulfilling or buy it himself. To detect such situation select your order and see concurent market orders in Market orders panel below. Optionally you can copy into clipboard recommended price for any concurrent order.

EVE Mentat alows you to spend only a few minutes to review and fix a lot of orders.

And remember…

• Be fair trader, don’t overstate prices and don’t underbid trade positions.
• Be aware hauling your goods on ships with a weak protection.

Post Scriptum

Screenshots and workflow are taken from EVE Mentat 1.1.6. It can vary from version to version.

Latest EVE Mentat can be downloaded from http://www.evementat.com/download/

© 2010, Thart