Trading
Everyone knows, if you need a card you don't have to
buy an entire box oif the expansion it's in, just find someone to trade
with. However, trading stratagies vary. Collectors, players, all have their
different stratagies. If you know who you're trading with, you know how
to manipulate them into giving you the deal you want. This requires you
to do insourceful, and varying. My favorite stratagy when trading is "Ferengi."
This doesn't mean I like to trade for Ferengi cards, but I like to use
the business princapals that they employ in my own trading. "Know about
new customers, before they walk in your door."
When trading with Collectors- Collectors are more
prone to weather or not they have the card, then what it's gameplay value.
You might find that if a true collectors has 2 Deanna Troi's, but didn't
get an Alien Groupie, you'll fin a "fair" trade. What constitutes a "fair
trade" is ultimatly up to you, more about that discussed below. Collectors
also care about the condition of the card. You're liable to lose a trade
with a true collector if someone else has the same card in a better condition.
I can remeber this exact RL experience. After announcing what I wanted
to trade for I was asked by the collector I was trading with to get the
card, which they then closely examined. By keeping your cards in protective
sleeves, you increase the chances of being the guy who steals the trade,
rather than the one who loses it. And, if you have enough capital, I'd
strongly suggest sleeving all your cards, not just your current deck(s).
When trading with players- Players take an entirely
different perspective on trading. A player is more concerned with weather
or not the crd has gameply value then weather or not they have it. Indeed,
most players like to have one to two sets of every card, but will settle
fo an addition Revolving Door over the Enterprise-C they don't have because
the C only works with on affiliations, needs an Alternate Universe personal
to staff, and comes into play damaged. Players also care less about card
condition. Most players will be lienient wth how the card is. If you have
a Devidian Door a player needs, they'll still take it if the conrers are
a little worn. This all is interhcangable by who you trade with.
The first time you go to trade with someone, let
them make the offers, don't barter here too much either. Observe their
stratagies, and then come back later ready to counter.
When trading online, you automatically take a risk,
because I'd say at least one out of every 200 online trders has made a
bad deal. These people are usually shunned from ever trading again, but
they have your cards for nothing. Also your stratagy stays the same, barter
until you get what you want.
A Fair Trade is all in perspective. If you're happy,
it was a fair trade. But, for those mathematical, there is a rough conversion
chart you can use.
| (based on pack distribution of raity) |
Commons (c) |
Uncommons (u) |
Rares (r) |
Preimiums (p) |
| Commons (c) |
1c= 1c |
2-4c=1u |
6-12c=1r |
18-32c=1p |
| Uncommons (u) |
2-4c=1u |
1u=1u |
3u=1r |
9u=1p |
| Rares (r) |
6-12c=1r |
3u=1r |
1r=1r |
3r=1p |
| Premiums (p) |
18-32c=1p |
9u=1p |
3r=1p |
1p=1p |
Loosely translated: 1 Uncommons, equals 3 commons, 1 rare equals 3 uncommons,
and one premium equals 3 rares.
But remember if you're happy with the trade it was fair and it worked
for you, if you didn't get what you wanted you may consider furthur trading.
Remember also the "actioning" can be fun, where, if you get a higly desirable
card, you can have everyone interested put up an offer, and take the best
one. This is something I did when I pulled a Captain Kirk, and this allows
you the ultimate experience to see what everyone's willing to give you.
And at one point someone even came up to me and asked me to put a sleeve
on it:-) (they ended up not getting the card and giving away a free sleeve,
tahnks!)
Back to stratagy