The team at IGG.com wants their players to know more about trading in their browser-based game, 'Freesky Online,' so they've just released a new mini-guide to explain the intricacies of trading and give tips to all players. For those of you who don't know what Freesky Online is, it's a simple free to play browser based game (and on Facebook!) where players get resources for their towns to expand and trade. The game was developed to be very simple so that players "won't be forced to dedicate large periods of time on the game micromanaging their account."

You can read the full guide after the jump.

In Freesky Online, whether you are a formidable warlord or a noble billionaire, trade is an indispensible tool for achieving your goals. To take advantage of the trade system, players need to build a Market. As your Market’s level increases, the number of items you can sell also grows. For instance, with a Level 6 Market you can sell 6 different items. There are 3 ways for players to trade in Freesky: player-to-player, within their own alliance, and with an Empire.

If you choose to trade with other players, you need only enter the quantity of the items you want to buy or sell and the prices. The system will then find a buyer or seller matching your supplies or demands. While this method seems simple, players who ask too much for their items or offer to pay too little will find their orders are slow to be filled. As a result, it takes a sound market strategy to fully reap the benefits of Freesky’s robust economy.

If you choose to trade within your Alliance, the selling or buying prices fluctuate according to market supply and demand. While requiring less work than player-to-player trading, you may not always find prices to fit your budget. A wise trader will use a mix of Alliance and player-to-player trading to fulfill their needs.

Finally, if you choose to trade with an Empire, you can only decide the items and quantity to trade at the fixed Empire prices. For a quick sale or purchase, Empire trade can come in handy.

The trade system is further governed by the following rules. Whoever offers the most competitive prices will gain priority when the system arranges a trade. If more than one player chooses the same price, whoever set up their order first will have it filled first. If players have the same IP address, then the system will not arrange trades between them.

In Freesky Online, the economy is as valuable a resource as combat or production, and competition can be just as fierce. Neglect trade opportunities at your peril, but be on your guard against poor deals or predatory traders, lest your fortunes suffer the consequences.