Shifty Geezer · Aug 10, 2005, 09:59 AM // 09:59

I've just retreated from Ascalon with an unhealthy sense that something is wrong. The town of Ascalon has been decimated at the hands of the Charr. Murder and pilaging abounds as the Charr have ransacked and burnt the once beautiful countryside. How did this happen one wonders? A couple of years earlier Ascalon was training mighty heroes to do battle and preserve the peace and prosperity of fair Ascalon. What went wrong?

The answer became obvious just now. All these well trained, highly skilled heroes were huddled around the Xunai Storage spouting their wares. They've all become shop-keepers and merchants. Where one would expect heroes to be huddled in taverns talking of their mighty deeds and sharing tips on how to smite the enemy, there is no talk in Ascalon except for 'Selling this!' and 'WTB that!'. The heroic defenders of Ascalon have been subverted by the profit motive!

Worse still, and only I seem to have discovered this, the evil forces of darkness use this against Ascalon. Small bands of enemy are postioned throughout the realm carrying random merchandise. They don't use it, as then it would be worn and not worth as much to the 'would-be-heroes' Ascalon Tradesmen, but they carry it as a psychological weapon. These enemies nobly sacrifice themselves to pollute the Ascalonians with more merchandise, and thus entice the Heroes to leave their questing and instead setup wailing for hours on end about how many different coloured dyes and different minor runes they have for sale. This has left the realm practically unguarded for the mainstay of the dark forces who come out of hiding during the interim periods to have their wicked ways. One would have hoped that the leadership, Prince Osric, would have motivated his heros into more proactive and heroic pursuits, but he is weak and ineffectual, standing idly by as his forces content themselves with their bartering.

Am I the only one who feels it's pretty crazy to have a couple dozen heroes standing around selling things instead of doing what they're supposed to be doing? Would it not be just as ridiculous to have a Stock Market/Trading MMO game where the bowler-hatted city folk wander out into London and beat up Hoodlums? Buying quantites of Flour and Oil to attack yobs with, and then sell back to the markets at a 28% profit?

Ascalon as it is today paints a sorrowful picture of how easily the mighty fall. Not by blade nor spell, which the well trained, highly skilled Hero can so easily overcome, but by the corrupting influence of the Profit Margin. One can only hope such an infection doesn't pass to all fantasy realms. Otherwise Sauron could have simply bought the ring off a Hobbit Trader, and the invasion of the Orcs across the walls of Minas Tirith would have gone unresisted as the soldiers stood about the courtyard selling sworm pomells and runes.

Mr. Matt · Aug 10, 2005, 10:26 AM // 10:26

Well, you have to bear in mind that there isn't a wholesale warehouse in Ascalon. You have to remember how they restock their wares.

THEY GO OUT AND DECAPITATE MONSTERS! AND LOOT THEIR BLOODY REMAINS!!!

Or somesuch.

Count Feanor · Aug 10, 2005, 11:45 AM // 11:45

I too would like to see more role play, however, trading is essential it seems to making a decent profit to buy things you need later on. Though, they could role play the merchants as well. "I have thine dye right here!" LOL

Shifty Geezer · Aug 10, 2005, 12:00 PM // 12:00

They should add a Trader Profession

Deacon Brodie · Aug 10, 2005, 12:45 PM // 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shifty Geezer

They should add a Trader Profession

I could sell my staff to them:

"Insightfull Hawking Staff of Deception"
11-22 dmg to the economy
+10 Markup
10% chance of hoodwinkery
English skills -1

skull · Aug 10, 2005, 01:36 PM // 13:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deacon Brodie

I could sell my staff to them:

"Insightfull Hawking Staff of Deception"
11-22 dmg to the economy
+10 Markup
10% chance of hoodwinkery
English skills -1

Hi,

great reply...but are you sure that 'hoodwinkery' is really even a word. Even if it isn't, that is some funny stuff.

skull

Deacon Brodie · Aug 10, 2005, 01:38 PM // 13:38

yeah i probably should have hyphenated it.... Hadn't finished my Dr. Pepper yet

kaloo · Aug 10, 2005, 05:25 PM // 17:25

Man, I agee... Maybe those people suggeting trading areas were right. When I'm not looking for something, why am I stormed by them... Of course, I could probably just turn off the trade channel.

Weazzol · Aug 10, 2005, 05:34 PM // 17:34

LOL, nice post Geezer...

Would be nice if perhaps there were some sort of "Traders Merchant", where you can "post" what you have for sale & set a price, and it has to be in your storage (can't be in your toons inventory), and then people can just search that merchant for what they want to buy, and if they buy it, the money goes right into your storage.

Count Feanor · Aug 10, 2005, 05:42 PM // 17:42

Great idea. They had something like that in other MMORPGs I've played.

Mr Zun · Aug 10, 2005, 06:23 PM // 18:23

OMG that is the most imaginative post ive ever read that was xcelent keep up the good writing.

Shifty Geezer · Aug 10, 2005, 07:20 PM // 19:20

Kaloo : These days the traders just spam the open channel so there's no escape (though I guess you could turn that noise off too - nothing else there!).

Weazzol : Yeah, an open advertised trade system could be cool. Perhaps an NPC who you drag items onto with a list price, and anyone can visit and select what they want from tabs for runes, swords, etc.? That'd result in an open market where you can see other prices and how much an item is available, meaning prices should drop, not escalate, though rare items would still be able to attract a premium. Might work.

Aug 10, 2005, 09:59 AM // 09:59	#1
Shifty Geezer Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: May 2005 Guild: The Luckless Marauders [OOPS] Profession: E/Mo	An observation on trading I've just retreated from Ascalon with an unhealthy sense that something is wrong. The town of Ascalon has been decimated at the hands of the Charr. Murder and pilaging abounds as the Charr have ransacked and burnt the once beautiful countryside. How did this happen one wonders? A couple of years earlier Ascalon was training mighty heroes to do battle and preserve the peace and prosperity of fair Ascalon. What went wrong? The answer became obvious just now. All these well trained, highly skilled heroes were huddled around the Xunai Storage spouting their wares. They've all become shop-keepers and merchants. Where one would expect heroes to be huddled in taverns talking of their mighty deeds and sharing tips on how to smite the enemy, there is no talk in Ascalon except for 'Selling this!' and 'WTB that!'. The heroic defenders of Ascalon have been subverted by the profit motive! Worse still, and only I seem to have discovered this, the evil forces of darkness use this against Ascalon. Small bands of enemy are postioned throughout the realm carrying random merchandise. They don't use it, as then it would be worn and not worth as much to the 'would-be-heroes' Ascalon Tradesmen, but they carry it as a psychological weapon. These enemies nobly sacrifice themselves to pollute the Ascalonians with more merchandise, and thus entice the Heroes to leave their questing and instead setup wailing for hours on end about how many different coloured dyes and different minor runes they have for sale. This has left the realm practically unguarded for the mainstay of the dark forces who come out of hiding during the interim periods to have their wicked ways. One would have hoped that the leadership, Prince Osric, would have motivated his heros into more proactive and heroic pursuits, but he is weak and ineffectual, standing idly by as his forces content themselves with their bartering. Am I the only one who feels it's pretty crazy to have a couple dozen heroes standing around selling things instead of doing what they're supposed to be doing? Would it not be just as ridiculous to have a Stock Market/Trading MMO game where the bowler-hatted city folk wander out into London and beat up Hoodlums? Buying quantites of Flour and Oil to attack yobs with, and then sell back to the markets at a 28% profit? Ascalon as it is today paints a sorrowful picture of how easily the mighty fall. Not by blade nor spell, which the well trained, highly skilled Hero can so easily overcome, but by the corrupting influence of the Profit Margin. One can only hope such an infection doesn't pass to all fantasy realms. Otherwise Sauron could have simply bought the ring off a Hobbit Trader, and the invasion of the Orcs across the walls of Minas Tirith would have gone unresisted as the soldiers stood about the courtyard selling sworm pomells and runes.

Aug 10, 2005, 10:26 AM // 10:26	#2
Mr. Matt Krytan Explorer Join Date: May 2005 Profession: R/Mo	Well, you have to bear in mind that there isn't a wholesale warehouse in Ascalon. You have to remember how they restock their wares. THEY GO OUT AND DECAPITATE MONSTERS! AND LOOT THEIR BLOODY REMAINS!!! Or somesuch.

Aug 10, 2005, 11:45 AM // 11:45	#3
Count Feanor Krytan Explorer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hellsing Organization or... RIGHT BEHIND YOU!! Guild: The Royal Priesthood Profession: N/W	I too would like to see more role play, however, trading is essential it seems to making a decent profit to buy things you need later on. Though, they could role play the merchants as well. "I have thine dye right here!" LOL

Aug 10, 2005, 12:00 PM // 12:00	#4
Shifty Geezer Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: May 2005 Guild: The Luckless Marauders [OOPS] Profession: E/Mo	They should add a Trader Profession

Aug 10, 2005, 01:38 PM // 13:38	#7
Deacon Brodie Academy Page Join Date: Jun 2005 Guild: KoA Profession: Mo/E	yeah i probably should have hyphenated it.... Hadn't finished my Dr. Pepper yet

Aug 10, 2005, 05:25 PM // 17:25	#8
kaloo Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005 Guild: Storm Striders[STRD] Profession: N/W	Man, I agee... Maybe those people suggeting trading areas were right. When I'm not looking for something, why am I stormed by them... Of course, I could probably just turn off the trade channel.

Aug 10, 2005, 05:34 PM // 17:34	#9
Weazzol Academy Page Join Date: May 2005	LOL, nice post Geezer... Would be nice if perhaps there were some sort of "Traders Merchant", where you can "post" what you have for sale & set a price, and it has to be in your storage (can't be in your toons inventory), and then people can just search that merchant for what they want to buy, and if they buy it, the money goes right into your storage.

Aug 10, 2005, 05:42 PM // 17:42	#10
Count Feanor Krytan Explorer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hellsing Organization or... RIGHT BEHIND YOU!! Guild: The Royal Priesthood Profession: N/W	Great idea. They had something like that in other MMORPGs I've played.

Aug 10, 2005, 06:23 PM // 18:23	#11
Mr Zun Academy Page Join Date: Aug 2005 Guild: Twin Dragons Profession: E/N	OMG that is the most imaginative post ive ever read that was xcelent keep up the good writing.

Aug 10, 2005, 07:20 PM // 19:20	#12
Shifty Geezer Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: May 2005 Guild: The Luckless Marauders [OOPS] Profession: E/Mo	Kaloo : These days the traders just spam the open channel so there's no escape (though I guess you could turn that noise off too - nothing else there!). Weazzol : Yeah, an open advertised trade system could be cool. Perhaps an NPC who you drag items onto with a list price, and anyone can visit and select what they want from tabs for runes, swords, etc.? That'd result in an open market where you can see other prices and how much an item is available, meaning prices should drop, not escalate, though rare items would still be able to attract a premium. Might work.