Astro Galaxy - a realistic space exploration game

- Ships Auction, can auction ship from default selling at Sol value to infinite markup. Min 24 hours, max 7 days, 5 minutes snipe rule, buyout / no buyout, can bid / see from anywhere but you have to pickup the item on Earth at SOL Commodity Exchange station.
        -> bid increments: 1000 solar for ship, 100 solar for module
   -> ships can have modules / personnel and cargo in it   
   -> Modules Auction, can auction modules, same rules.
   -> can only auction things on Earth, can only pick it up from Earth.   
   -> when ship is in auction, it still appear on ships list, but you can not activate it or interact with it. It remains parked on Earth orbit until sold.
   
   -> auction fee to create auction: 1000 Solars / ship, 100 / module posted + 1% of the value at witch the item is sold. The 1% is subtracted from the sale price at the moment of sale and will show in the finance logs as auction tax.

The auction only being accessible on Earth is going to be problematic isn't it?

Also, the current mechanism of setting up "public" buy/sell offers on remote outposts that have prices set to the same things as the SOL/Earth station is a bit limiting - prices should really be controlled by supply and demand forces, which means station owners should be able to set their own prices.

What's the current thinking on these topics?

Well the auction will be accessible from anywhere, meaning you can view listings and bid, but you will have to pickup / claim the item or deliver it for auctioning on Earth orbit.

The prices for high-tech modules and ships will be set by supply and demand, but the resource prices are at this time controlled by the SOL Corporation that issues the inter-stellar captain licenses, but that doesn't mean it will be like that forever.

Yup, market price are important. It doesn't make sense for fuel cells to be as cheap in orbit of GJ 674 Alpha than on earth.

Any thoughts for adding an option to make the Auction Private?

Such as invited people, particular corp(s)?

This makes it easier for a Corporation to make funds and still profit
the members. (in leu of not having the ability to conduct actual
trade amongst your items w/others).

i would like to be able to set our own prices based on demand or need or rarity for a particular station. that would change the economics greatly

I agree with you on that fully.  It would stimulate the economics and
provide the capability of even having price wars  B-)

But of more importance, your reasoning is very sound.