Crafting Profitability, Trading Strategies and Market Control

In Ultima Online, the economy is just as competitive as PvP.
Gold farming alone doesn’t make a player wealthy; controlling the market, running vendors effectively and leveraging crafting does.

This guide explains how experienced players build economic dominance on modern shards.

1) The Most Profitable Professions in UO

Some crafting skills are useless for profit, while others create long-term economic power.
Knowing the difference is critical.

1.1 Inscription (Scribe)

One of the most stable gold sources.

High-demand products:

• Slayer scrolls

• Spellbooks

• Runebooks

• Modified spellbooks (custom shards)

PvP players constantly need scrolls, making this a reliable market.

1.2 Blacksmithing & Arms Lore

Dexer gear is universally in demand.

Profitable items:

• Exceptional weapons

• Exceptional armor

• Slayer weapons (shard-dependent)

Dexer PvP ensures continuous item rotation.

1.3 Tailoring

Mage equipment comes from Tailoring.

Profitable items:

• Exceptional Mage Armor

• Leather suits

• High-resist sets

• Rare-material suits

Mage players replace gear frequently, keeping demand high.

1.4 Alchemy

Potion sales never slow down.

High-rotation items:

• Greater Heal

• Greater Cure

• Total Refresh

• Explosion Potions

This is a self-sustaining market.

2) Vendor Strategy

Owning vendors is passive income—but only if positioned correctly.

2.1 Best Vendor Locations

• Main city banks

• Near moongates

• Central guild housing areas

• Shard marketplace zones

A great vendor in a bad location is worthless.

2.2 Vendor Pricing Rules

Follow these three principles:

1. Slightly undercut market price → fast turnover

2. Never exceed market price by more than 30% → items will not sell

3. Match price to demand volume → don’t understock high-demand items

Economy is about velocity, not maximum margin.

2.3 What to Sell on Vendors

Fast-selling items:

• Potions

• Reagent bundles

• Exceptional armor

• Exceptional weapons

• Scrolls

• Bandage bundles

• Slayer weapons / rares

Slower but high profit:

• Rares

• Deco items

• Event-exclusive items

3) Market Control (Price Manipulation)

Experienced traders manipulate the market more than most players realize.

3.1 Monopolizing a Product

Steps:

• Buy out all low-priced items

• Empty the market

• Set the new price

Best items to monopolize:

• Potions

• Reagents

• Leather

• Ores

High-demand consumables are easiest to control.

3.2 Eliminating Undercutters

If a competitor sells far below market price:

• Temporarily undercut them

• Force their inventory to crash

• Re-establish your price later

This is commonly used in vendor wars.

3.3 Creating a Price Wave

Strategy:

• Put the same item on multiple vendors at the same price

• Force the community to accept this as the “normal” price

This works especially well for:

• Scrolls

• Armor sets

• Weapons

• Resources

Consistency creates perceived value.

4) How Professional Traders Think

True traders do not farm monsters; they farm markets.

They follow five fundamental rules:

1. Maintain liquidity (never lock all gold in items)

2. Scan vendors for underpriced items

3. Track price trends

4. Form trading agreements with guilds

5. Manage risk rationally

Economic dominance comes from control, not grinding.

5) Mistakes That Destroy a Server Economy

Shards collapse when these errors occur:

• Excessive gold injection

• Overpowered reward systems

• Easy access to slayer weapons

• Vendor prices becoming chaotic

• Crafting becoming irrelevant

Once the economy breaks, the shard’s longevity ends.

Conclusion

Strength in Ultima Online is not just about PvP or farming.
Players who master economics—crafting, trading and vendor strategy—become the backbone of the shard’s marketplace.

By applying the strategies in this guide, you gain:

• Faster wealth generation

• Sustainable income

• Market influence

• Trade leverage

• Edge over every non-economic player

Master the economy, and everything else becomes easier.