Kenshi | How to Start as a Trader | NO MINING

So this was a really long video to say, "Buy low, sell high". However, it's all about the adventure to get there, right? Right? Sure! If you manage to survive the video long enough, you can watch the game humble me, and show me just how much of a variance there can be in prices.
While any start can take on the trader route, this is specifically about the trader start, and how to get the seed money you'll need to make all kinds of cats in a reliable and 'safe' way.

[@jacobellis2369]

I learned alot despite having plyaed nearly 1000 hours. One thing about the waystation ruins is you can rebuild the navmesh using shift f12 and enter and grab all the stuff

[@zombiegandhi8405]

That's some good knowledge to have. Thanks for sharing.

[@xantishayde-walker4593]

I could be wrong but I believe it's Ctrl+Shift+F12(or F11). In my head my initial reaction was the first thing I said but also as I said, I could be wrong.

[@andysalter7779]

Trading in vanilla isn't really fleshed out very well, apart from drugs and alcohol most places don't have a proper trade cultures. The little variation you see is just random each time you start or import. The really big markups can be had from selling drugs and alcohol. A mod like UWE adds proper trade cultures where different region will have really big variations in buy/sell value.

[@zombiegandhi8405]

Vanilla is fairly limited, economics wise, for sure. Still, I think there's a lot of fun (a four lettered word, I know!) if one understands the basic mechanics involved.

[@Bsebt]

What is the UWE mod name? I cannot find it when i search UWE on workshop

[@2070paradigmshift]

​@@Bsebtuniversal wasteland expansion

[@Bsebt]

@@2070paradigmshift Thank you, amazing mod find

[@lukmaanpratomo6866]

Agreed. However, the downside (or upside) of the UWE mod is that you cannot "cheese" the economics like in vanilla, at least not in the early game. Equipment looting, for example. In vanilla, you can loot the gears from captured prisoners inside a town's police building/slaver building and make thousands - if not tens of thousands - of cats by selling the looted gear to a nearby Bar or Weapons/Armor/General shops. In UWE, those looted gears would only sell for a couple hundreds of cats, although looted weapons can still net you thousands, especially those Standard grades ones. Hence, this incentivize selling those looted gear to a different town. Later on, once you researched and built an armorer workbench as well as crafting your own armors in order to sell them, then you start making profits - even when you sell them in the same town/region you're based at.

[@Gaelrenaultdu06]

This game is the best indy discovery i had for years...

[@8vI]

the volume is really quiet please turn up the sound for the next video. Subbed \

[@zombiegandhi8405]

I did boost in editing the volume, as previous ones were quiet to some. My own voice is quite loud to me as is, so I'm leery about flipping up the decibel switch. Though I might give it a poke upwards.

[@leifsolbrig332]

@@zombiegandhi8405 with volume at 100 % it is still more quiet than my games on 15%

[@nathanallison3172]

I've always been kind of curious about this start. Thanks for the breakdown!

[@zombiegandhi8405]

Best part of making these videos, is I get to play Kenshi. So I'm always glad to!

[@CAJames902]

Buy high and sell low? Ok got it. Good video, solid breakdown of the sales mechanics. Also, pretty sure Billy Mays says, "BUT WAIT, THERES MORE!!!"

[@zombiegandhi8405]

It really is that straightforward! I was hoping there would be something of an 'X amount of Y in local market, saturation, lower buy price by Z'; but that doesn't seem to be the case. For a bit more fun that running from A to B, and back again--perhaps limiting how much one sells. Helps make those secondary sort of locations have purpose.

[@Cheffy916]

I was about to post the same thing lol

[@dereck1177]

I keep trying to watch your videos but it’s hard when u can’t hear anything.

[@mw5549]

Nice to hear Bob Odenkirk has a Kenshi KZbin channel

[@zombiegandhi8405]

I wish I were Odenkirk cool.

[@zanderwhitcroft]

My brother you are a godsend to helping me find things that I missed! As soon as you get the money get a mike worthy of your knowledge! I suffered thru the same, my best video has the worst audio lmao!

[@zombiegandhi8405]

We're all in this Kenshi world together!

[@floobidyfloo]

its also a good idea to choose the different trade goods in terms of the "cats per kilo" metric. For example, the skeleton repair kit has an average price of 4,300 cats, and weighs 2KG, meaning its 2k per 1kg. Compare this to an advanced first aid kit, which has a price of 265, and weighs the same. This is also a good mentality if you plan on looting ruins since its not always clear if its better to take the weapons or the tradable components with you.

[@ThouguohT]

Ive played 400+ hours of this game and NEVER used this start. You a real nigga

[@zombiegandhi8405]

It's worth it just for the pack bull.

[@INFJ-ThaneTr]

It's the easiest start the game has to offer

[@byakuyakuchiki6277]

Another great upload

[@zombiegandhi8405]

Thank you kindly

[@friendformationbot]

volume is super low

[@michaelpuckering6155]

With trade mod enabled... I've found that a route between the Hub and the Hive village west of the Hub is quite profitable, safe, and a good return on investment taking time and distance into account. I buy luxury goods, "pearl" vases, pots, sword holders. And I sell them to 2 bars close to the hub, and this provides a good mark up

[@michaelpuckering6155]

Ammendment, Use this early game. But this route has been improved upon. You will need 2 things. Greenlander Male Holy Flame Book (you can find one in a small building in the hub, otherwise purchase from bars in HN cities) With these 2 things, you will be able to traverse HN territory unmolested. If guards stop you, pick all options to show the Holy flame book...dont mention Narko, lest a square shaped piece of metal be swung at your cranium. Also, traveling with people of other races risks them being whisked off to slavery, and traveling with a skeleton is assisted suicide. You start off by going to the Hive traders in Vain and purchasing as much Luxury Goods and "Pearl" goods as you can. The village closest to the hub is also the safest, and exercise caution if you want to go to other hive villages because Beaked things spawn in Vain. I would recommend exploring and trying various routes to other villages, because you would want to purchase as much as you can to maximize economies of scale. Once youve purchased as much luxury goods as you can (dont bother with other goods, its not nearly as much profit) I recommend returning to the Hive village closest to the Hub as you launching off point because its the safest. Your destination, is Stoat. You buy luxury goods and Pearl from Vain at around 50%, they will sell in Stoat for around 200%. When in UC territory, and youve off loaded your goods, Buy Cactus Rum for the bars. (Stoat is not bad. 1 bar, 77% on Rum) But Heng is best, 69% on Rum (no, not trolling, thats genuinely the mark up) I do recommend then returning to Stoat as your launching off point, and your destination will be...The Hive in Vain. Happy Trading

[@Sean-wc4mb]

Good trade deal is running drug's from shark to flat's lagoon, works with hash and modded drug's as well

[@noblej7897]

Thanks for thee kenshi content

[@unknownself-kenshi]

You can also buy goods at the Travel Gear shop in Heft, then sell them next door at the Tech Shop for a 50% markup. This should work with any place where the price of goods is 50% higher than an adjacent shop.

[@unknownself-kenshi]

Only works with goods that have the same sell and buy price, but there are a decent amount of goods in this category.

[@stevensheets7217]

I think I'll have to try this start! You got rich quick haha.

[@zombiegandhi8405]

The static nature of the loot spawns so close to one another, really does help.

[@HappyAspid]

Bull in city fighting - invaluable asset. His aoe indors could be absurdly devastating.

[@TheVampireAzriel]

In all my hours of Kenshi, I've never tried a trader. Maybe that's my future.

[@zombiegandhi8405]

It's certainly a different way to play, and can lead to some great organic moments. For me, Kenshi has always been about the journey--and I think there's a lot of fun potential in a trader's life. Add your own particular spice (trading in only certain goods, certain towns, etc), and it can really open up.

[@jaylcujo48]

The audio is way too quiet and trails off frequently

[@cbass7283]

The hash trade is the best trade, buy hash cheap in swamp, sell high in flats lagoon

[@zombiegandhi8405]

It is. However I wanted to try to attempt to show other trades--or, sort of what to look for in a trade. Whether one wants to be a fabric baron, or a hash hessian--I hope the video helps in that understanding and nature of how.

[@nux2k]

I'm using universal wasteland expansion and I do believe they nerf the flats lagoon. I have to go all the way up to the United cities in the Northeast which I like to do anyway because it makes it feel more like a journey

[@zombiegandhi8405]

@@nux2k That's something I like about the trader gameplay loop. Never knowing what's going to happen en route from point A to point B; and how that can spiral out into other interactions.

[@cbass7283]

@@nux2k what about Catun? I’m sure you could smuggle it there to sell to ninjas

[@nux2k]

@@cbass7283 with the mods that I have I can sell to bars no matter where I'm at and most shopkeepers have a little bit more money than base game so I run out of supply before I have to go that way . But I might do that just to go to different places to see and buy different things

[@Clay_j_Bray]

Hey there, hope you do well. Saw your passion and believe you deserve a higher subscription number and blessings from the algorithm God, fickle bish that she can be

[@zombiegandhi8405]

I appreciated the kind words, but it's not my intent to be a content creator, KZbinr, or whatnot. Just sharing things I've learned, in hopes that it helps other players.

[@Clay_j_Bray]

@@zombiegandhi8405 fair enough, I hope you are finding it fulfills you inits own way so the content continues to be produced. May you still be blessed with success, but in all things that matter to YOU

[@Clay_j_Bray]

Should i admit in this permanent and public way, that i have never played this wonderful seeming game??? Ah well, I am always disappointing someone ;)

[@educationcentral_]

How many pack animal can you have, and how do acquire more ?

[@zombiegandhi8405]

Far as I know, pack animals are considered as squad members--so likely up to squad cap, which is thirty, if memory recalls. Far as getting more pack animals, you can buy them from the Nomad traders you'll find either in static locations or from their shops--or from the wandering animal merchants. Though they'll get quite hungry, so making sure you are able to keep them fed (and happy), could be a chore.

[@evergray]

Man, I am still trying to figure out how to tell my bull to guard, or put what in his inventory. :/

[@zombiegandhi8405]

You'll get there. I have faith in your bull-handling abilities.

[@yokogal]

Yeah voice toooooo soft.

[@DrHouseMusic]

How I make money as a trader: buy hashish and opium from the swamp and then sell it at Flats Lagoon

[@zombiegandhi8405]

I approve of your dubious trade. The cats must flow.

[@DrHouseMusic]

@@zombiegandhi8405 They started flowing extremely well after I decided to skip the middlemen and establish my own farm and processors in Shem, most of the tech hunter bars buy illicit goods

[@donterrenoalto4235]

good vid bro, but volume kinda low..an ad almost killed my ears lmao

[@spatrk6634]

only thing i trade is hashish.

[@RedditMan]

Why is everyone mistyping strat

[@DaRat100]

theyre saying start not strat

[@davyotten601]

tf did you do to your mic to make it sound like this xD

[@zombiegandhi8405]

A magician never reveals their secrets.

[@lobstermuchacho]

Your voice audio is too low.

[@trumplostlol3007]

If you recruit 10 NPCS in the first 2 days, you can easily earn 30k everyday in the first week without doing anything, but AUTOMATED mining. AND you will have time to train a couple of them lockpicking, stealth, and assassination in the first few days while others are mining AUTOMATICALLY without much micromanagement. LOL AND the more they mine, the faster they mine and the more money they earn WITHOUT all the micromanagement. A large team of miners can earn 100 to 200k everyday after day 30. Trading is HARD money. AND you don't gain any experience over time, except for athletics. You can train athletics and strength by setting up a good "mining practice". The price differences in different cities are tiny AND you have to waste time traveling. Totally inefficient. The ultimate problem of trading is, only a few large cities, like Squin, can afford to buy over 100k cats of goods everyday. With such a low profit margin, you will have to run around like crazy to earn more than 50k cats daily. That's just a tiny amount of money for my team. LOL

[@zombiegandhi8405]

However you enjoy Kenshi, more power to ya.

[@Pleiades_Erret]

I would like more context as a newcomer

[@nicklasberg5146]

How to start as a trader (begins to steall stuff) ahhahahaha i played for 3 days, yestoday i discorvered Assasination and what it can do and how freaking easyli i cud get it up to the point (about half an hour) where i cud knockout those wandereing assasins hahahaa ez, then i found a mod that allows me to recruit soooo yyah hahaha, then i tested recruiting bodyguards and mercs. the once that u hire well just stand in ure prison doing nothing when y talk to them u can hire them so i guess still usefull, but the 2 others is now MY bodyguards hahaha ive been wanting to play this for sooo long now i can hehe,.. but my pc not happy hahaha,..