The history of trading in the Middle Ages

k9mouse

I was thinking of about zone chat and trading in ESO. How the system set up now, (small local markets and no AH), it does add some realism to the game. Consider this, Each kingdom in the Middle Ages (for that matter, Lord / Duke, another ruling noble) will set up their own rules about trading and taxes. Also, each town will have different markets for the same goods (they had to make a profit and pay their taxes, which can be different to town to town)

http://middleagestoday.com/en/node/810

In short, I like the fact that ESO does NOT have an AH and add some realism of small local markets to the game like the real world has. Also, each crafter have more freedom to set their own prices for the work (and wares) they can make. With an AH, prices will be set to much across the whole game and will make crafting to easy. Lastly, gold will become to important (one must used gold to buy from an AH). Right now, it is much easier to set up trades with out using any gold -- item or a service for an items or service. Once, I even pawn my own pants to pay for an item -- lol

Ri_Dariit

Khajiit agrees with fellow clawed ones sentiment. Additionally for realism and since ESO seems to strive to be "different" from other games of such type, they should also eliminate zone chat. Not like any lords back then where able to scream across an entire zone.

Tannakaobi

One thing: Waypoints! All realism gone.

emeraldbay

Tannakaobi wrote: »

One thing: Waypoints! All realism gone.

So you're saying that because some things aren't realistic, nothing should be?

DarkAedin

not only this, but i have filled up my friends list b/c of all the ppl i have met by shouting for sales in zone chats, i approve this message

Valn

Did they have destruction spells in the middle ages too?

Surinen

keep real world in the real world and away from TES.

Crumpy

Realism in an mmo...

fromtesonlineb16_ESO

k9mouse wrote: »

In short, I like the fact that ESO does NOT have an AH and add some realism of small local markets to the game like the real world has.

Except the guild-based economy is nothing like a 'local market', I don't have to 'join' a market nor do I have to tolerate guild drama, leaders making asinine rules that if I don't obey them I lose my ability to trade.

I wouldn't mind some sort of open market system but not the guild-based crap we have right now.

Booba

fromtesonlineb16_ESO wrote: »

I lose my ability to trade.

You don't

nudel

k9mouse wrote: »

Right now, it is much easier to set up trades with out using any gold -- item or a service for an items or service. Once, I even pawn my own pants to pay for an item -- lol

Agreed. That is my favorite part of this economy to be honest. Someone in my trade guild was looking for V1 glyphs, but was short on funds. We were able to work it out so that he paid almost entirely in various mats (all fair market value). It was pretty awesome.

He got glyphs he otherwise could not have purchased off of a store. I got mats that I didn't have to purchase or come by via normal drops/ farming. I saved time. He saved coin. And we both got what we wanted.

Irakandji

Not to mention in ESO you can be a real merchant and purchase goods for a low price in guild "A" and sell it for more on the street or in another guild.

Soulharvester

I think its pretty good without an auction house.

Now pertaining to those middle ages, I believe, that in an inn, guild hall, lair of some really mean spider thing, probably would not have heard an announcer trying to sell things. Unless its some kind super spider killer elixir...

Now having a trade channel, guild recruitment channel, those would be nice to have.

Ri_Dariit

Valn wrote: »

Did they have destruction spells in the middle ages too?

They did, that's why they call it "forgotten art"' duh!

Audigy

k9mouse wrote: »

I was thinking of about zone chat and trading in ESO. How the system set up now, (small local markets and no AH), it does add some realism to the game. Consider this, Each kingdom in the Middle Ages (for that matter, Lord / Duke, another ruling noble) will set up their own rules about trading and taxes. Also, each town will have different markets for the same goods (they had to make a profit and pay their taxes, which can be different to town to town)

http://middleagestoday.com/en/node/810

In short, I like the fact that ESO does NOT have an AH and add some realism of small local markets to the game like the real world has. Also, each crafter have more freedom to set their own prices for the work (and wares) they can make. With an AH, prices will be set to much across the whole game and will make crafting to easy. Lastly, gold will become to important (one must used gold to buy from an AH). Right now, it is much easier to set up trades with out using any gold -- item or a service for an items or service. Once, I even pawn my own pants to pay for an item -- lol

In theory I agree, but for an MMO its too complicated to run from one chat to another. Its about time, it can take days to sell or buy a required item as you never know who is in the chat. If you play at odd times, your chances of selling and buying are very low.

That said, I don't support a global AH!

What I would like to see is that Kiosk system improved, so that also a single player could buy a trading slot there. Don't make it a bid system like for guilds, more like a 1 slot a week = 100 gold or something.

Then add a skill line where every trade made contributes to your skill, so that the gold cost will be limited over time and other boni granted.

I must admit that I really think the guild only trade system that's coming with 1.3. will cause a lot of trouble for small guilds who don't have 50 members / very active ones to pay the price for owning a store. Plus, at that store the guild can only sell, but never buy.

ebondeath

If I lived in the middle ages I'd probably be dead from starvation or a crazy old hag living off of mushrooms in the woods.

There is no incentive that would compel me to use the system we currently have, so with the lack of an AH, I will either do without or find a way to be entirely self-sufficient.

kitsinni

You guys do realize this game has absolutely nothing to do with the middle ages though right? This isn't the middle ages it is a completely seperate world. Sorry this is one of my pet peeves .. like when people watch Game of Thrones and say "well back in those days ..."

Surinen

ebondeath wrote: »

If I lived in the middle ages I'd probably be dead from starvation or a crazy old hag living off of mushrooms in the woods.

There is no incentive that would compel me to use the system we currently have, so with the lack of an AH, I will either do without or find a way to be entirely self-sufficient.

most definately not! medieval was the brightest period in human history with inventions, upgrades rolling like a thunder on the Zeus' back. it was the age of illumination! maybe you would not eat tons of meat, but the food was plenty. it is trully not an easy task to starve yourself to death. it takes determination.

still, TES is not real life medieval

ebondeath

Surinen wrote: »

ebondeath wrote: »

If I lived in the middle ages I'd probably be dead from starvation or a crazy old hag living off of mushrooms in the woods.

There is no incentive that would compel me to use the system we currently have, so with the lack of an AH, I will either do without or find a way to be entirely self-sufficient.

most definately not! medieval was the brightest period in human history with inventions, upgrades rolling like a thunder on the Zeus' back. it was the age of illumination! maybe you would not eat tons of meat, but the food was plenty. it is trully not an easy task to starve yourself to death. it takes determination.

still, TES is not real life medieval

It was more of a comment on my intense dislike of trading and interacting to get what I need. Would rather eat gnarly home-grown potatoes than haggle and barter in a marketplace.

Surinen

ebondeath wrote: »

It was more of a comment on my intense dislike of trading and interacting to get what I need. Would rather eat gnarly home-grown potatoes than haggle and barter in a marketplace.

I guessed this much, but still! even without visiting markets you would be probably in the finest condition ever! forests full of fruits and meat, skies and rivers too! (although rivers were rather polluted but still!). well, you have made me hungry. personally I adore markets, under the sky where people bring their goods from the farms. healthy looking girls selling ripe apples and elderly men persuading me that their potatoes are the best. ah-I love markets!

k9mouse

ESO and the TES world is set in a middle age type world, thus we can draw from it (I am treating it as meta-lore) just like we can from lore. I know there are very different aspects to RL middle age then to a video game like ESO / TES, but also they are closer enough to make some comparisons.

One can see RL races (or aspects of them) in the races of TES / ESO (ie Imperial race is based on Rome history). Thus, it is not to far out there to compare the how a RL market worked in the Middle Age time and how a market is working in the world of ESO / TES.

I was just saying how small local markets worked in the Middle and how they compare to what we have in ESO now and why I think AH is a bad idea. Also, why I do not want an AH in the game.

kitsinni

I would say there is more that isn't at all like any real middle ages than there is. Cat people races, Lizard people races, magic, teleportation, resurrection, fire spewing bugs, demons, ghosts, skelletons walking around, losing your soul and fighting the power of evil .. killing the giant demon and taking your soul back the lists just go on and on.

Yes there are castles and plate armor and they borrow some ashetics from some of the popular lore about middle ages but I think when you can resurrect someone from the dead while fighting a giant demon surrounded by skelletons shooting balls of flame at you an AH wouldn't be that tough to fit in to the lore.

Surinen

No, I do not think that it is even safe to compare both. With TES magick integration into everyday lives, you can pretty much create aetherial delivery system and browse items displayed in the sun powered crystals. Never forget that TES is a sci fi fantasy. The most obvious things tremble in fear!