GM Weapons/Goods Depot

To be clear, I do understand your point.

The markets are the least robust and least reliable I've seen since 2008. I just wonder what the impact on new players might be, and expecting them to supply themselves for things that are considered small scale isn't reasonable.

I've never ever self-supplied weapons before, and I've fought in as many wars and player wars as anyone. It's not that I can't, it's that the markets used to work. They are so small that one player massively impacts them now. I don't mind having to supply myself, but my point is that the market is such that I'm having to do something I've never needed to do before.

The huge shortages we have for quite some time are a problem.

Shortages are now smaller and the situation is improving.
check the utilization page and you see a lot of green.

we will continue to support a more stable market and reduce shortages.
Changes must be small or the market can turn green and prices will plumet.

I think that when some products have smaller shortages and even turn to positive, C3 countries, by design, will close some corporations and replace them by ones producing defense products and products that are in short supply.

Andy,

Another way to reduce shortages would be to allow C3 countries to have an additional State corporation. Currently, as best I can tell, C3 countries are limited to a maximum of 21 State Corporations, this leaves many of them with a lot of unemployed people. Making them consume far more than they produce, resulting in global shortages.

It is a way.
it used to be 19.
Problem is, it is irreversible.

and it is a major change across the board. adding thousands of corporations.

At this stage, many products will go into surplus.

Sounds good.

My suggestion comes from a place of hearing and watching new players struggle with this aspect.

That said, they may always struggle in some way, and you have been working on reducing shortages, which is ultimately the main issue.

I just see the problem being that the markets for some things are too small. Realistic? Perhaps. But seemingly not flexible enough to accommodate likely gameplay easily for some newer accounts. This is one area I don't mind less realism. I'm looking forward to seeing the continued improvements you're making.

Thanks Andy.

do you also see that shortages are becoming smaller?
or is it my wishful thinking.

I agree that this is difficult, mainly for new players.

I will do more but we will probably start hearing that some product prices are declining.

I see that shortages in some goods are smaller. I've noticed this more with high tech, industrial etc goods, and less with weapons and ammo specifically.

Maybe things are better with weapons and ammo, but I haven't felt significant improvements. If you're making changes, I probably will feel them more over time than in an instant.

It's also hard to judge those products. Perhaps the shortage is smaller because there are less orders than usual. Some shortages are so massive it's hard to notice improvements. There are many weapon and ammo types haha.

Of current orders I've made, I still have many where I've been waiting over a week to fill (on White Giant: 10 real life days for missile interceptors, 9+ for armored vehicle and anti-aircraft missiles etc). I've been waiting 16+ days on forts as well. Again, I'm not worried about my own supply, just the supply in general.

The

We see oversupply in some products.

C3 countries, in such market situation, are quickly closing corporations and build new ones that produce products that are in severe shortage.

such adjustments take some time to take effect but this process, we think, is on going.