I was trying to learn how exactly inflation works in the XML files so I could modify it to a rate closer to my tastes. However, the first thing I tried in order to see if I had the right variable (DustInflationFactor) was to set it to 0 to see if that stopped inflation all together. Even with it set at 0 and starting a new game inflation seemed to continue as per usual. So now I'm confused to whether or not there's another variable or global somewhere overriding that value. For reference the value I modifyied was in the "SimulatorDescriptors[Marketplace].xml" file.

Changed this line:

<Property Name="DustInflationFactor"            BaseValue="0.000175"   MinValue="0"/>  

to 

<Property Name="DustInflationFactor"            BaseValue="0.0"   MinValue="0"/>  

Thoughts?

Actually inflation is being calculated separately at two xml files. One is ClassMarketplace and the other is ClassEmpire.

The formula of inflation is slightly different.

ClassEmpire: Inflation = 1 + (Global Dust Production) × (0.002/(Number of Empires))

ClassMarketplace: Inflation = 1 + (Global Dust Production) × 0.000175

Global Dust Production is total sum of net Dust income of every major empire.

So if you change that 0.000175 factor to zero, inflation at marketplace will become 1.

That value on the marketplace would also be empire inflation and won't have any impact on market price calculation.

Ok thanks PARAdoxiBLE, i'll have to modfy both of them then

Strange Marketplace class can not be found 

and simulator descriptors on it have no effect.

<Modifier TargetProperty="DustInflation" Operation="Percent" Value="-0.20" Path="../ClassMarketPlace"/>

In addition, once game launched, the F1 menu shows only the Empire class DustInflation property as i does not exist for MarketPlace class

I guess i'am missing something

https://www.games2gether.com/amplitude-studios/endless-space-2/forums/75-modding/threads/30470-differences-in-handling-dustinflation#post-263596

I learned a lot from the comment linked above. In short, ClassMarketplace can't be accessed with modifiers in ClassEmpire.

Thanks for the link, i indeed understood a bit more how it works.

However, it also confirms that what i'am trying to achieve is possible (although i'am unsuccessfull now). 

As empire and marketplace classes are at the same level (root or the class hierarchy), they use, each, a specific set of properties.

They each have one named "DustInflation", which is not sealed (so can be modified) and calculated separatly.

Then we should be able to modify them as the following (simple example)

<Modifier TargetProperty="DustInflation" Operation="Percent" Value="-0.20" Path="../ClassEmpire"/>
<Modifier TargetProperty="DustInflation" Operation="Percent" Value="-0.20" Path="../ClassMarketPlace"/>

Only the first line does the expected effect.

The question coming after that is : as there is only one marketplace for all empires, if i achive to modify DustInflation ot ClassMarketPlace, will it modify only for me or for all the empires ?

Thanks