I think the initial prices for selling wood/stone or buying food are too efficient compared to regular resource gathering and the benefits from abusing them (faster ups, better aggressions, etc) will more often than not outweight the small long term set backs that they might imply, and at very little skill needed.
It does need to be changed, although I'm not exactly sure how. Perhaps worse starting prices that are less sensitive to trading could work.
It does need to be changed, although I'm not exactly sure how. Perhaps worse starting prices that are less sensitive to trading could work.