What is your ideal merchant build?

[W]

I'm almost ready to buy my first ship. I've played the game for a bit and decided I like trading the most. I've read some excellent guides, but I don't want to limit myself. What builds do you run for trading?

[Trese Brothers]

Merchants often put an emphasis on Navigation to aid in peaceful escape. In the July smuggler challenge, I saw a Victor post their ship with multiple Javat Hauler Holds, total 265 cargo space!

[davea]

If you haven't unlocked the Galtak Freighter, you may consider that. That's a favorite of mine, but usually for a starting ship. Have you seen the wiki page which lists all the ships? You can sort by any field, such as starting cargo configuration. It's here: https://startraders.gamepedia.com/Ships
The Arcanum Freighter has the most starting cargo, but I have to admit I've never flown that one.

A good rule of thumb for buying a ship that costs X is to have another X credits available to fully upgrade it. If you aren't planning much fighting, you don't need to worry so much about weapon upgrades. But as mentioned above, do invest in several nav 4 assist modules immediately, and look around at the other similar modules. It helps to understand how "strong navigation dice" work, if you don't already: https://startraders.gamepedia.com/Skill_Pools

[Grimelord82]

Building on what Dave said:
upgrading cargo bays is incredibly expensive, so it's more a matter of how much you have to spend.
Several ships have Cargo4 holds, the best GENERIC ones you can get, when you buy the initial ship. They could still be upgraded to Javat or Moklumnue holds for 15 weeks, 200k+ each.
The Arcanum Freighter he mentions is one of these. It's a 5000 mass ship. Arcanum also has the best long range engine for that weight. It's Electronics/Nav defense are only starting-ship tier at 16-21.
The Horizon Highliner also has Cargo4 holds, but only 2 of them instead of 3. In trade, you get 37-30 base electronics-navigation while only losing 8 on the engine. It's got 150% the hull the Arcanum does and a couple more slots besides. And another officer. Feels like a steal for only 20k more than the Arcanum at that point.

The Engine speed/agility difference may be bigger than it looks. 15 speed/agility is low/average. 23 Speed is worth 10% defense dice in almost every fight, but probably 15% in most of those multiplied by your Command + Pilot dice. By the time you can afford a second ship, that 15% defense may be worth 10+ regular dice. Someone can come along and correct me if they like.

All that said, I'm enjoying my Galtak Heavylift as my second ship for one run. The 5th Large Slot is fun to swap out for 500k+ prisoner missions. It still holds 75 cargo by default but is similar to the Arcanum otherwise...for 1/3 the price. That price difference is the cargo holds!

[JimmysTheBestCop]

Everything depends on what type of play through and what plays style you are using.

If your a peaceful friendly merchant who has permits/edicts/ranks and positive faction rep with everyone then it almost doesn't matter what your ship is.

You can start in any 5000m and make millions doing enough RTG trade runs. Then just save up for a Sword battle cruiser and do anything you want.

I usually go galtak heavy lift as my 2nd ship when trading and cram 230-260 cargo capacity in there.

I don't worry about escape ever. Because I will never be in combat. 3 skip off the voids, plenty of faction rep and all the permits etc I can get.

Only combat chance is xeno that's what 3 skip off voids are for. If I'm doing a merchant run I never see the ship combat screen.

The Arcanum but in all my combined runs zenrin contacts are the hardest to come by for me. So chances of buying it are unlikely in most of play throughs.

I like Alta Mesa as starting traders. Great home system and right next store to trading paradise of farfallen Rim. Which is next door to those medical bays!!!!

💰💰💰💰💰