Will a Guild Trader Assistant damage the economy?

Thormar · June 2018

What if, in addition to the other two assistants - Merchant and Banker, the Crown Store offered a Guild Trader assistant?
With ESO plus members getting it at discount.

Are there issues associated with such an assistant? Perhaps.
I can only think of one: concern that their introduction may negatively impact the economy.

A possible way to minimize this is to have the assistant's UI list at most say three Guild traders.
Starting on Tuesday each week, the owner will select three Guild Traders, once done the list is set for that week.

An obvious QoL improvement is that when you are in say Wayrest, not only do you have access to the five Guild Traders there but you also get
to pull wares from an additional three Guild traders. One in say Rawl'kha, another Vivec City and a final in for instance Belkarth.

So will a Guild Trader Assistant prove useful or will it lead to market abuse?

EDIT:
@kargen27's comment has alerted me to an oversight on my part.
I obviously failed state just what the Assistant does and does not do.
For any given week, once you select three Trading Guilds, that selection stays fixed for the duration of the week.

What the assistant does not do:
you do not become a member of those three Guilds; and so you won't be able to list your stuff on them.
The assistant only allows you during that week to buy wares from those three big Trading guilds.
If one is in Mournhold, another in Elden Root and the third in Orsinium, you won't need to endure load screens.

Wherever you're in Tamriel all three trading guilds become accessible right from your assistant - it's merely a QoL feature.
At end game I think the tendency for many is to buy stuff from specific Trading guilds.
It's such a pain having to hop from say Deshaan to Stormhaven, then down to Grahtwood and so on.
A UI where three of a player's favorite trading guilds are consolidated would be nice.

Further, to maintain the integrity of the Guild Trader system, when making you selections for a given week,
the pool of Trading guilds you choose from will only contain Trading guilds with trading spots.
Making the selection UI only active between Tuesdays and Sundays.

If putting together a new assistant for such functionality is redundancy,
then as @Sparr0w suggested all this can be appended to either the Merchant or Banker.
Hope I have cleared it up some.

Sparr0w · June 2018

Just add full functionality to the Merchant and Banker.

Thormar · June 2018

Sparr0w wrote: »

Just add full functionality to the Merchant and Banker.

I didn't think of that. It would definitely work, of the two I think the Merchant may be a better place to add the guild trader functionality.

MLGProPlayer · June 2018

The banker is supposed to provide this functionality, but ZOS removed it.

Thormar · June 2018

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

The banker is supposed to provide this functionality, but ZOS removed it.

Well, in that case there is little hope then - if they did consider it and on account of info only they are privy to decided against it.

Zenzuki · June 2018

As long as this assistant allowed for me to either "type" (or set parameters for) the EXACT motif, wep, pot, etc. that I'm looking for and then return the result of which traders (and where) had them, (you'd still have to travel to them to make the purchase)....

I'd give ESO an entire paycheck! (If they were to sell the assistant outright).

Running around the entirety of Tamriel scrolling through thousands of Motifs at endless vendors to find that ONE &*^$ piece you're looking for is NOT a fun game mechanic ZOS!!! At.ALL.

And it continues getting worse, the MORE and MORE motifs you keep adding with each update.

It's the ONE ABSOLUTE QoL addition (outside of the Craftbag), that would bring the most amount of people, who don't currently have ESO+, into the fold! (If ZOS wanted to go the ESO+ perk route)

Note: Obviously PC has this ability already through add-ons. ZOS please, add either a dedicated assistant or enhance the banker to full functionality and add it there! So the legions of consolers out there can finally be done with this EXTREMELY painful process and enjoy more playtime and less run and search time, like our PC brethren currently enjoy.

White wabbit · June 2018

Zenzuki wrote: »

As long as this assistant allowed for me to either "type" (or set parameters for) the EXACT motif, wep, pot, etc. that I'm looking for and then return the result of which traders (and where) had them, (you'd still have to travel to them to make the purchase)....

I'd give ESO an entire paycheck! (If they were to sell the assistant outright).

Running around the entirety of Tamriel scrolling through thousands of Motifs at endless vendors to find that ONE &*^$ piece you're looking for is NOT a fun game mechanic ZOS!!! At.ALL.
And it continues getting worse, the MORE and MORE motifs you keep adding with each update.

It's the ONE ABSOLUTE QoL addition (outside of the Craftbag), that would bring the most amount of people, who don't currently have ESO+, into the fold! (If ZOS wanted to go the ESO+ perk route)

Note: Obviously PC has this ability already through add-ons. ZOS please, add either a dedicated assistant or enhance the banker to full functionality and add it there! So the legions of consolers out there can finally be done with this EXTREMELY painful process and enjoy more playtime and less run and search time, like our PC brethren currently enjoy.

Make it a new assistant as I have the other two already

AlnilamE · June 2018

Zenzuki wrote: »

As long as this assistant allowed for me to either "type" (or set parameters for) the EXACT motif, wep, pot, etc. that I'm looking for and then return the result of which traders (and where) had them, (you'd still have to travel to them to make the purchase)....

I'd give ESO an entire paycheck! (If they were to sell the assistant outright).

Running around the entirety of Tamriel scrolling through thousands of Motifs at endless vendors to find that ONE &*^$ piece you're looking for is NOT a fun game mechanic ZOS!!! At.ALL.
And it continues getting worse, the MORE and MORE motifs you keep adding with each update.

It's the ONE ABSOLUTE QoL addition (outside of the Craftbag), that would bring the most amount of people, who don't currently have ESO+, into the fold! (If ZOS wanted to go the ESO+ perk route)

Note: Obviously PC has this ability already through add-ons. ZOS please, add either a dedicated assistant or enhance the banker to full functionality and add it there! So the legions of consolers out there can finally be done with this EXTREMELY painful process and enjoy more playtime and less run and search time, like our PC brethren currently enjoy.

Honestly, if console had the functionality that AwesomeGuildStore provides (remembering searches from trader to trader, a multitude of filters and word search), you would have a much easier time finding things.

Beardimus · June 2018

Auction house - would not be good. I.e. Access to All traders. It underminds the point of the trader system

However a Guild Store assistant that just gave you what you see from a bank - I.e. Your guild banks / stores would be amazing.

I'd happily blow 5K crowns today. If not double so I could get out in our guild house

White wabbit · June 2018

Beardimus wrote: »

Auction house - would not be good. I.e. Access to All traders. It underminds the point of the trader system

However a Guild Store assistant that just gave you what you see from a bank - I.e. Your guild banks / stores would be amazing.

I'd happily blow 5K crowns today. If not double so I could get out in our guild house

Now steady on double hell no, already spent 10k on both only to realise banker isn't that great, merchant though well worth the money

Zenzuki · June 2018

AlnilamE wrote: »

Honestly, if console had the functionality that AwesomeGuildStore provides (remembering searches from trader to trader, a multitude of filters and word search), you would have a much easier time finding things.

I'd love to have that. Unfortunately consoles can't run add-ons. So unless ZOS codes their own version (which I doubt they'd do), they could just create a new assistant that allowed for that.

An even easier thing to do would be code the ability into the already existing banker. For those that buy the banker from then on, it would include that ability. And they could sell a (discounted price) "token" in the store that would "unlock" the ability for those that already own the banker (like myself)!

Or they could be super cool kids and just revamp the *&%^ "base-game" search ability and place it at a button prompt on a billboard in every town. You access the board, set parameters of exactly what you want, it spits out the vendors/locations that meet criteria, and off you go!

No prices given, just location/vendor npc name of seller of item you desire.

You head off to these knowing they are there (or at least from the time you did search). If multiples pop, you would still have to travel around to find the best price, etc. among them, if you so desired.

Biggest QoL benefit (and selling point) is... at least you'd know (almost immediately) that the item you want/need is even out there! Not spend ALL DAY hunting (and not playing the game and having fun), just to find out NOBODY had it to begin with!

I think the game is in a good place currently in regards to amount of content and playerbase that ZOS doesn't need to keep artificial time syncs in the game to show player pop.

Something needs to be done in regards to the horrible guild searching mechanic ZOS! Especially with your continued desire to keep adding more and more Motifs to the game.

Thormar · June 2018

@Beardimus :

However a Guild Store assistant that just gave you what you see from a bank - I.e. Your guild banks / stores would be amazing.

Yeah, the idea is regardless of where you are, you get access to say three Guild Traders right from your assistant.
Each week you get to choose which three of the big Trading guilds you'll access directly from your assistant.

Prof_Bawbag · June 2018

They shouldn't be charging for anything that should be in the base game, but should be implemented in a different way. I mean, something that makes searching guild stores easier for the end user. Never mind damaging the economy, it would leave a bad taste in the mouths of a fair few folk if any improvements were hidden behind yet another paywall.. Especially console players.

Thormar · June 2018

@Prof_Bawbag:

They shouldn't be charging for anything that should be in the base game

Well, in a perfect world conscience would offer enough incentive to add features.
That's not where we are though - and the finger can't be pointed at any one company - for better or worse it's a place we've left behind. And so we have to fall back on monetization as motivation.

AlnilamE · June 2018

Zenzuki wrote: »

AlnilamE wrote: »

Honestly, if console had the functionality that AwesomeGuildStore provides (remembering searches from trader to trader, a multitude of filters and word search), you would have a much easier time finding things.

I'd love to have that. Unfortunately consoles can't run add-ons. So unless ZOS codes their own version (which I doubt they'd do), they could just create a new assistant that allowed for that.

An even easier thing to do would be code the ability into the already existing banker. For those that buy the banker from then on, it would include that ability. And they could sell a (discounted price) "token" in the store that would "unlock" the ability for those that already own the banker (like myself)!

Or they could be super cool kids and just revamp the *&%^ "base-game" search ability and place it at a button prompt on a billboard in every town. You access the board, set parameters of exactly what you want, it spits out the vendors/locations that meet criteria, and off you go!

No prices given, just location/vendor npc name of seller of item you desire.

You head off to these knowing they are there (or at least from the time you did search). If multiples pop, you would still have to travel around to find the best price, etc. among them, if you so desired.

Biggest QoL benefit (and selling point) is... at least you'd know (almost immediately) that the item you want/need is even out there! Not spend ALL DAY hunting (and not playing the game and having fun), just to find out NOBODY had it to begin with!

I think the game is in a good place currently in regards to amount of content and playerbase that ZOS doesn't need to keep artificial time syncs in the game to show player pop.

Something needs to be done in regards to the horrible guild searching mechanic ZOS! Especially with your continued desire to keep adding more and more Motifs to the game.

I understand consoles can't have add-ons. I'm advocating for this to be included into the game UI so everyone has access to it.

I have very rarely not found the item I am looking for by say, the third zone I look at. And usually I just hit up guild traders as I go buy and see what motifs they have that I don't know yet and buy them if they are reasonably priced.

White wabbit · June 2018

Yep sounds like a good Eso plus perk,

Beardimus · June 2018

Thormar wrote: »

@Beardimus :

However a Guild Store assistant that just gave you what you see from a bank - I.e. Your guild banks / stores would be amazing.

Yeah, the idea is regardless of where you are, you get access to say three Guild Traders right from your assistant.
Each week you get to choose which three of the big Trading guilds you'll access directly from your assistant.

id be a no to that @Thormar sure it sounds good to many i'm sure, but its breaking away from Guild Traders principle etc.

I'd support it replicating what you see at a bank (up to 5 Guild Traders / Banks) absolutely. but not just access to random traders.

phileunderx2 · June 2018

Eso plus perk that your assistants have full functionality. Make it happen zos.

Thormar · June 2018

@Beardimus

I'd support it replicating what you see at a bank (up to 5 Guild Traders / Banks) absolutely. but not just access to random traders.

Fair enough.

Lets say you're in Rawl'kha by the traders, those five NPCs give you access to five big Trading guilds.
What the assistant will bring to the table is an additional three slots to fill with three more big name trading guilds.
You fill those three slots at the start of a given week, once you hit apply the choice is fixed for the duration of the week.
And so even when you're far from major trading hubs you have access, via your assistant, to three big name trading guilds.
In order to better adhere to the Guild trader principle, the number of suggested trader slots may even be dropped to just two.

White wabbit · June 2018

Beardimus wrote: »

Thormar wrote: »

@Beardimus :

However a Guild Store assistant that just gave you what you see from a bank - I.e. Your guild banks / stores would be amazing.

Yeah, the idea is regardless of where you are, you get access to say three Guild Traders right from your assistant.
Each week you get to choose which three of the big Trading guilds you'll access directly from your assistant.

id be a no to that @Thormar sure it sounds good to many i'm sure, but its breaking away from Guild Traders principle etc.

I'd support it replicating what you see at a bank (up to 5 Guild Traders / Banks) absolutely. but not just access to random traders.

+1 on this

kargen27 · June 2018

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

The banker is supposed to provide this functionality, but ZOS removed it.

No he is not. What the OP is talking about is access to a guild trader when you are not a member of that guild. No banker has ever provided that service.