The Whisper Market

The Whisper Market

One rumor. Five towns. Watch what a price signal does.

Markets don’t respond only to facts. They respond to what people believe is about to happen. In this valley, five towns trade grain along the roads. Nobody is in charge. Nobody can be ordered to do anything — including by you.

You have exactly three powers:

• Whisper. Plant a rumor of drought in one trader’s ear. True? Not even you know yet.
• Weather. When the moment comes, decide: does the drought actually arrive, or do the rains come?
• Roads. Click any road to close or reopen it, and see what trade does about it.

No prices are set by you. No one is commanded. Everything that happens, happens because someone, somewhere, acted on a belief.

Three rounds: the Whisper (a rumor moves prices), the Washout (a road dies, trade reroutes), and Your Valley (everything unlocked). Tip: click any town anytime to open its live supply-and-demand lens.