Sector map / trade analysis: confusig language / need for trade computer?

[Bodasey]

Also not a real program bug, but surely confusing for new players...

Sector map without trade computer:

Sector map with trade computer:

So, precious metals are a major Export from Gliese 674, supposed to have a very low price (in relation to trade partners). Precious metals are a minor Export from Sol (in general), but become a major export article from Sol to Gliese 674 (?), although demand and prices are supposed to be higher at Sol?

Let's have a look to metal alloys (no images): Alloys are minor import from Gliese 674 (to Sol?). Metal alloys are a major import (high demand) to Sol in the commodity market, but become only a minor import only (or export?) from Sol to Gliese 674....?????

Fix: replace "from"/"to" by "at"/"on"/"for"/"blank" in this tooltip (i am not sure about the correct word, my first language is german where "für"/"nichts" would be right, but there is no german translation yet.

Further:

• Import/Export status for the local system is shown in the commodity market yet.
• Import/Export status for the remote system is always shown in the sector map.
• Why is the remote status always and better known than the local one?
• The trade computer is only a comfort function without further benefit?

Feature request:

• The commodity trade analysis should not be accessible without trade computer or show only illegal goods, so trading gets riskier without.

My pioneer version (and OS): 20210123 master branch on SuSE Linux

[Web-eWorks]

This screen is specifically displaying the local economic conditions of the selected star system - a commodity that is a minor export in the from system and a major export in the to system is an unprofitable trade, indicated by the red down-trend arrow. I agree with you regarding the terminology being slightly confusing; I'll likely replace the words with an iconography of some kind to indicate the current and selected systems. However, this tooltip is also meant to communicate information about the profitability of a trade route, as you will see if you mouse over a commodity displaying a down/up-trend arrow.

• Regarding the need for a trade computer, the only thing it does is make it possible to quickly compare and visually see whether a given trade is profitable. You can switch back and forth with the current system and estimate the profit on a commodity yourself.
• Local commodity import/export status is displayed on the commodity market screen, thanks @impaktor!
• Similarly, viewing the estimated commodity prices (major/minor import/export) of inhabited systems on the sector map even without a trade computer is intended for gameplay reasons and will not be considered a bug.
• Remote/local status are the exact same thing. Try selecting your current system.

I appreciate the feature request, however we generally don't track those here on the issue tracker. Feel free to open a topic on the forums if you think it's important enough; there's definitely a bit of wiggle room regarding balance of this feature, but it's not going to get revisited until several other systems are in place.

[impaktor]

I think this issue could be closed by replacing the "From sol" to "In Sol" and "In Gliese", (or "at sol"?).

Granted, the import/export info aught to be in the commodity table, rather than the commodity description, but I'll leave that as an exercise for someone else.

Why is the remote status always and better known than the local one?

No? Only the local one is know, unless player has a trade computer.