Trade agent functions
Trade agents provide real-time updates of every trade offer on the station in question. Acquiring trade agent also automatically scans all station storage modules. If the module is subsequently destroyed and repaired, the module would need re-scanning if you wish to retain storage info (this mechanic is probably applied to other scanned modules if they are destroyed and rebuilt).
When the Player acquires a Trade Agent on station, the station marked with "eye" icon on the zone map. Every player-build station has a Trade Agent automatically installed after construction of the first stage.
Obtaining Trade Agents for NPC stations
Gaining a Trade Agent is offered as a reward for successful smalltalk. They are also rewards from some missions.
If you wish to deploy Trade Agents through Smalltalk, the option is only offered by a subset of NPCs.
NPCs that can offer Trade Updates
- Inventory item traders (e.g. Food Merchant, Arms Dealer, Recruitment Officer or Black Marketeer).
- License Broker
- Mechanic
- Police Chief
- Specialists (possibly whether they are working on the station or not)
- Non-hirable station crew (ones that are working on the station)*
*Typically found on Administration platforms (i.e. a Defense Officer, an Engineer and a Manager).
NPCs that never offer Trade Updates
- Architect (even if they are working on plot-rated NPC CVs)
- Hirable crew if available for hire (see list above)
- Crew working on our stations (our station automatically give us Trade Updates)
- Small Ship Dealers (maybe capital ones too)