The Economy
The EarthStonks economy is fully player-driven. There is no automatic balancing system handing out equal resources — every dollar flows from real decisions made by real players. You can earn through labour, trade, market manipulation, war, or investment. The economy is a weapon. Learn to use it.
Your Balance
Jobs — Your Starting Income
Jobs are the primary early-game income source. Use /jobs browse to view available professions. You earn money by performing tasks associated with your job — mining, farming, fishing, building, and more. The best starting jobs are Miner and Farmer for reliable income from common resources.
The Admin Shop
The admin shop (/shop) is a server-run store that acts as a baseline for prices. It buys and sells a range of materials at fixed rates. Use it when you need resources urgently, but be aware: admin shop prices are intentionally higher than player market prices for strategic resources. Player trade is always cheaper if you can find a seller.
Player Chest Shops
Chest shops are player-created storefronts attached to chests. They are the backbone of the EarthStonks player economy. Any player can create one anywhere in claimed town land.
Creating a Chest Shop
- Place a chest and fill it with the item you want to sell
- Stand facing the chest and run
/chestshop create [$price] - A sign will appear on the chest — your shop is live
Market Strategy
The economy rewards players who understand supply and demand. Because strategic resources only come from specific geographic zones, their supply is inherently limited. This creates real market dynamics.
Cornering a Resource
If your nation controls the majority of Iron zones in a region, you can set your prices and watch others pay them. Towns need Iron to survive — they have no choice but to buy from whoever has it. Control the supply, control the market.
Shorting the Market
If you believe the price of a resource is going to drop — perhaps because a large new Iron zone just opened up, or a major town just got sieged and lost their production — you can sell your stockpile at current high prices and buy back cheaper later. This is exactly the kind of economic play EarthStonks is built for.
Trade Deals & Agreements
Nations can negotiate long-term supply agreements with each other. A nation that controls Gold zones might agree to sell exclusively to allied towns at a fixed rate, locking out enemies from a critical resource. Diplomacy and economics are deeply intertwined.
Live Economy Dashboard
Monitor the market in real time at stats.stonksmc.com. The dashboard shows shop prices, player balances, top traders, and market activity. Use it to spot trends, find cheap resources, and track competitor wealth.
The War Economy
War creates economic opportunity. When a town falls under siege:
- Their resource production may be disrupted
- Players flee or stop trading, creating supply gaps
- Winners seize resources and control more zones
- War bonds inject capital and create debt obligations
Smart players watch the war board and position themselves economically before battles are even won.