Guild Trader vs Auction House Compromise

Eocosa · November 2015

Hello all!

One of the most contentious issue on these forums seems to be that of the guild trader and the way the ingame economy works. For full disclosure I am a huge proponent of the guild trader system, but I am trying to find a healthy compromise for those against it.

My proposal keeps the guild traders as they are, guild owned, but allowing other non-guilded individuals to place a limited number of auctions in a specific guild trader (with a larger "pool" they can place on additional non-guided traders) at a higher listing few and with the guild getting a larger cut from the sale.

This way those who do not wish to join a trade guild are able to still sell things on an trader, but they will get a larger percentage taken out. This also allows players who may or may by be in a trade guild to sell items on a more "prime location" vender as well.

For the trade guilds themselves they will still have incentive to get the traders as their members will be able to sell noticeably more goods at that location at a lower listing few and with a lower cut taken by the guild. They will also get a bit more revenue for having this prime vender from the non-guilded member's sales contributing to their income.

As a buyer this will be advantageous as when you approach a vender there will be a larger "supply" to shop from as you not only see the items that guild has listed, but you can also see all the items non-guilded members have listed as well. This would limit the amount of travel you would potentially have to do (which is a major complaint of the guild trader system) as there is a larger supply at the vender you are looking at.

Admittedly this would possibly make it harder for a smaller guild to get a good vender as those who already have one would be pulling in a larger income, but as these guilds are paying literally millions of gold a week they deserve some perks initially while the smaller guild who does not have this massive guild sink can save up quicker, potentially, and have their members donate more as needed as they have extra venues of sale and can therefore make more gold through this system.

I am open to your thoughts and criticism so please share!
Eocosa

Kammakazi · November 2015

Yes we've gotten many ideas already from many individuals but...

It'll never happen.

Ever.

Eocosa · November 2015

That's fair Kammakazi, as I said I enjoy the guild trader system even as it. Was just trying to find some healthy middle ground between the two major ideas.

kupacmac · November 2015

The problem with that idea is it bypasses the requirements that guilds impose on their members in order to afford that guild trader. Some guilds have a minimum sales requirement, some have a no undercutting policy, and some have a weekly fee, for example. Also, there would have to be a limit on how many people could do the non-guildie posting (otherwise one city or even one trader will just turn into a pseudo global AH and crush all other traders), and that in itself would lead to many other issues.

anitajoneb17_ESO · November 2015

I'm usually all for compromises but... not in this case.

I don't see why the system should accomodate people who do not want to join a trading guild because there is absolutely no valid reason for not joining one and not wanting to.

The only change to the system that I would support is the addition of more guild traders spread across the world. And, OF COURSE, the auction horse :-)

.

Elsonso · November 2015

My feeling is that this compromise would result in problems, disputes, and demands, after the fact, to remove it. I can think of a number of ways to abuse it.

AbraXuSeXile · November 2015

No matter how many ideas come forward the base game will never change.

Calippe_Hac · November 2015

kupacmac wrote: »

The problem with that idea is it bypasses the requirements that guilds impose on their members in order to afford that guild trader. Some guilds have a minimum sales requirement, some have a no undercutting policy, and some have a weekly fee, for example. Also, there would have to be a limit on how many people could do the non-guildie posting (otherwise one city or even one trader will just turn into a pseudo global AH and crush all other traders), and that in itself would lead to many other issues.

Agree
Especially "there would have to be a limit on how many people could do the non-guildie posting (otherwise one city or even one trader will just turn into a pseudo global AH " (for EVE players think Jita and before Jita Yulai.)

RatedChaotic · November 2015

Theres no point of having an AH or even joining trading guilds anymore. Too many things are BOP. I do just fine selling in my casual guilds trader.

Sausage · November 2015

The best solution is to add Global Search what cost Gold. Most players seems to be happy/ok with the current system, there theres those who start to rage if they have to spend 10min or more with the auction house.

Speaking of solo-traders ive thought something awesome for them. I think every vendor in Tamriel should be controlled by players, every vendor has two side, one is NPC side, the normal one and the second is for a player who owns the vendor. I think it'd be pretty unique concept and definitely make all Merchants-wanna-bes happy as ever. I think it would be so fun if all Tamriel's Vendors were up for sale.

cyclonus11 · November 2015

I just want a search box so I can type in what I want instead of having to use the drop downs and scroll through the lists of items every time.

Gidorick · November 2015

So the rich just get richer. This would just create stronger guilds, at first. Then people would quit guilds and those guilds and you would end up with a memberless guilds who sit on guild traders full of stock of non members.

I don't see how that's helpful.

Now, the Auction Horse on the other hand....

Link to the original post with details!: http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/159594/eso-needs-an-auction-horse-expanded-concept

Cadelay · November 2015

I disagree and think that is a bad idea for the above reasons named by the other posters.

Also the Auction Horse is a terrible idea, and reposting it constantly on every slightly relevant thread in an annoying fashion is in no way going to make it happen, ever. You must be trying to artificially raise your post count by reposting that spam.

Fruitmass · November 2015

The auction horse is an interesting idea. Would be neat to see active trade routes crisscrossing Tamriel and not just having set locations.

I also like the idea of there being some sort of trade bazaar event that would come up on a monthly basis that lasts for maybe 3-7 days where players could purchase a contract to set up a personal stall. Players choose how long they want to stay open and how much they want to sell (up to a limit 12 hours and 100 items) and pay accordingly. Perhaps even being able to pay a barker to advertise listed items for you (nothing fancy mind you, just something simply like "Now on sale at Gro' Shur's Bargain Bin, the Wondrous Sword of Many Splendors get it before its gone!" and so on and so forth)

So say it cost 5k per hour and you buy listings in increments of 10 at 500 gold each. A player who wants to keep their stall open for the full 12 hours and sell the max 100 items would therefore have to pay 65k but a player who just wants the minimum would only pay 5.5k.

Players can only purchase a single contract once per day but while the stall is open players are fully ability to adjust their prices and add or remove items in their listings. However they cannot access their profits until their contract expires or is cancelled. If a player chooses to close their stall early for whatever reason they loose a percentage of their profits based on how much time was left on their contract.

Each faction has it's own area and schedule for hosting the event and players can only purchase a stall in the character's home faction (so a DC characters can only purchase a stall when the event is scheduled for the DC faction) though players from other factions can still visit the bazaar and purchase goods.

MornaBaine · November 2015

anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »

I'm usually all for compromises but... not in this case.

I don't see why the system should accomodate people who do not want to join a trading guild because there is absolutely no valid reason for not joining one and not wanting to.

The only change to the system that I would support is the addition of more guild traders spread across the world. And, OF COURSE, the auction horse :-)

.

I hate that I have to be in a trade guild in order to sell stuff. Believe me, there are many other guilds I'd prefer to join but 2 of my precious 5 slots are taken by trade guilds. It's stupid. Plus I absolutely HATE how I have to traipse all over the damn world looking for an item. This is not "immersion" it's endless irritation. Plus, anyone throwing out the "immersion" argument should maybe look at all the things they FAILED to do for immersion and rethink that. For just ONE I'll mention....weather being client side. Incredibly stupid. Really? It's raining on my character and the character standing next to her is experiencing beautiful sunny weather? ZOS OBVIOUSLY does NOT care about "immersion."

Anyway, I'd gladly surrender a higher percentage of my sale price if it meant I could drop trade guilds and pick up more RP guilds and/or PvE and PvP guilds.

Laerian · November 2015

Eocosa wrote: »

Hello all!

One of the most contentious issue on these forums seems to be that of the guild trader and the way the ingame economy works. For full disclosure I am a huge proponent of the guild trader system, but I am trying to find a healthy compromise for those against it.

My proposal keeps the guild traders as they are, guild owned, but allowing other non-guilded individuals to place a limited number of auctions in a specific guild trader (with a larger "pool" they can place on additional non-guided traders) at a higher listing few and with the guild getting a larger cut from the sale.

This way those who do not wish to join a trade guild are able to still sell things on an trader, but they will get a larger percentage taken out. This also allows players who may or may by be in a trade guild to sell items on a more "prime location" vender as well.

For the trade guilds themselves they will still have incentive to get the traders as their members will be able to sell noticeably more goods at that location at a lower listing few and with a lower cut taken by the guild. They will also get a bit more revenue for having this prime vender from the non-guilded member's sales contributing to their income.

As a buyer this will be advantageous as when you approach a vender there will be a larger "supply" to shop from as you not only see the items that guild has listed, but you can also see all the items non-guilded members have listed as well. This would limit the amount of travel you would potentially have to do (which is a major complaint of the guild trader system) as there is a larger supply at the vender you are looking at.

Admittedly this would possibly make it harder for a smaller guild to get a good vender as those who already have one would be pulling in a larger income, but as these guilds are paying literally millions of gold a week they deserve some perks initially while the smaller guild who does not have this massive guild sink can save up quicker, potentially, and have their members donate more as needed as they have extra venues of sale and can therefore make more gold through this system.

I am open to your thoughts and criticism so please share!
Eocosa

TLDR:

Use non-guilded players to attract customers and potential members for the cartel and milk them.

Obviously this creates a perverse incentive for the guild owners. Also, non-guilded players wouldn't have a way to compete because they'll have to rise the prices for pay the guild extorsion.

Or you have no idea what you're talking about or you are blatantly suggesting a massive rip-off.

Fuzzybrick · December 2015

Do away with the 5 guild system. Make it so you can only join 1 guild of 100 people (numbers can be changed just thinking out loud) Where guild traders are currently located, have a localized mini auction house (not global) Depending on how many traders there was, will determine the number of slots to bid on for guilds to trade, maybe 25-50 slots. After 24 hours the top 25_50 highest bids get a position at the local auction house. I believe that this would not be the best option but better than what we have now. My biggest problem with current system is there is little pride in one's guild. At least there doesn't seem to be any.

I tried to keep thought as short as I could.

Zorrashi · December 2015

Calippe_Hac wrote: »

kupacmac wrote: »

The problem with that idea is it bypasses the requirements that guilds impose on their members in order to afford that guild trader. Some guilds have a minimum sales requirement, some have a no undercutting policy, and some have a weekly fee, for example. Also, there would have to be a limit on how many people could do the non-guildie posting (otherwise one city or even one trader will just turn into a pseudo global AH and crush all other traders), and that in itself would lead to many other issues.

Agree
Especially "there would have to be a limit on how many people could do the non-guildie posting (otherwise one city or even one trader will just turn into a pseudo global AH " (for EVE players think Jita and before Jita Yulai.)

I pretty much feel this way as well. Without certain limitations on how many non-guild can post, kiosks in certain locations (ex. Rawlkha) would just turn into the de facto AH and force other guild traders out of business. That's not even counting possible technical issues with organizing/filtering through that many items (especially with UI we have now).

I'm sure there are other methods, but I recommend a randomly selected flat-fee raffle to determine who can sell at the kiosk for the week. The limit of how many people should be around...50? 100? More?

Azurephoenix999 · December 2015

Would like to point out that merely having a global search option to find items you want would solve most problems with guild traders.

Running all over the continent to find a rare or otherwise obscure item is just so frustrating.

You want to buy some charcoals of remorse? Good luck, you'll have to wade through mountains of Cassiterite, dwemer frames and Palladium first.

KingYogi415 · December 2015

Gidorick wrote: »

So the rich just get richer. This would just create stronger guilds, at first. Then people would quit guilds and those guilds and you would end up with a memberless guilds who sit on guild traders full of stock of non members.

I don't see how that's helpful.

Now, the Auction Horse on the other hand....

Link to the original post with details!: http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/159594/eso-needs-an-auction-horse-expanded-concept

All Hail the Auction Horse

DanielMaxwell · December 2015

two better options IMHO

add the guild store functionality to the fighters/mages guild that players can access by going to the fighters/mages guild quartermaster in the local guild hall (these could be zone limited for what is sold , only selling what would be available in the zone based on the zones level range (DLC being level 50 and up))
add consignment stores to each city that players can list items for sale at , with items sold at these stores being flagged as account bound when bought .

Twilix01 · December 2015

Cadelay wrote: »

I disagree and think that is a bad idea for the above reasons named by the other posters.

Also the Auction Horse is a terrible idea, and reposting it constantly on every slightly relevant thread in an annoying fashion is in no way going to make it happen, ever. You must be trying to artificially raise your post count by reposting that spam.

How is it a bad idea? I've seen two people outright opposed to it and neither have given a reason why.