Fronts?

[Crosseyes]

Forming a bussiness to fund my hostile takeover of the world would be really cool. "Coleman's Fish: one day, we will rule you" "1/2 price lobster day"

[apierion]

again refering to my old home, the pre-nge swg, i ran quite a tidy little droidshop back in the day.....it was a shame i couldn't incorporate....rent a storefront in a major city...advertise with billboards that didn't involve spamming (not that i did that...i didn't have to =P).....etc...

[Robgoblin]

Would also be cool to be able to have a business to offer specialized skills. Say one wants their neural interface "hot wired" but doesn't want their brain to be cooked. They bring it to you for the work. This allows one to get information as well that could sell. There is so many options that would be hard to incorporate. I can see specialist being able to make some nice money if able to have a set business place where people know where to come. Advertising would be nice to see.

[Agamemnon]

Interesting, please explain further? Are you referring to a business that offers...over the counter skills or "under the carpet" skills. A neaural interface isn't something that's "done" by just any back corner doctor/hack with upfront money. It's more along the lines of corporate, requirements. What do you infer by "hot wired" and being cooked? and Information to sell? as in brokers or spies?

[Robgoblin]

Pretty much all of that. One could offer some legitimate skills for Mech maintenance but at the same time could have a side business of doing illlegal upgrades in the back room to the right person.

The neural interface "hot wiring" would be so that one could get a little extra out of their Mech. Say a little quicker lock-on time or better able to dodge incoming fire. The problem is that it makes the neural interface have a chance at backlash and if not done by someone with enough knowledge then could be enough backlash to fry ones brain.

Information about what certain people are requesting work done on their Mechs or bodies could be worth a pretty penny to competitors. I could see spies being very big but very dangerous. Information brokers would be cool but I don't really know how to make it happen.

[The Revernd]

I would suggest a Centralized Trading post/Auction house. Located in the Settlements, where players can sell/buy equipment, scrap armor plating, components, technology, etc.

But that is simply one person's opinion.

[Robgoblin]

I would suggest a Centralized Trading post/Auction house. Located in the Settlements, where players can sell/buy equipment, scrap armor plating, components, technology, etc.

But that is simply one person's opinion.

I hate that idea. This is the future. Link such things to a computer network and just charge a shipping & handling fee to the buyer and a posting fee to the seller. Then there is not a ton of people in one spot all selling. I would much prefer that no one is able to /Shout /OOC or anything like that of things they want to sell/buy. Let people use an online auction service or if a dedicated seller (or sellers if a guild that has people pooling together) then the ability to buy a store front. I don't think a central selling area is needed and always have hated those areas in games. This is the future and I don't see the need for such chaos as these normally turn into.

[The Revernd]

Sorry I didn't clarify that a bit more about the Trading Post thingy.

I too get disgusted with Farmers Yelling in general chat  -- WTS such and such item, PST for price!!

But what you are saying is what I was infering. You put the item up for sale and then anyone can buy it, from any settlement.

By centralized I was refering simply that certain settlements or even every settlement has a Trading Post where peeps can put them up for bid and then the Auction house takes their cut (i.e. The Mining Guild) ---- time to leave work so I will post more later.

[Robgoblin]

No problem. Glad we are thinking the same thing. I am hoping it is done more that way. I am hoping to see something more like a club/bar/pub like area where people get together to find teammates or talk strategy or whatever and not have the reason for gathering be for selling/buying. UO then EQ then WoW and everything in between showed me how much I hated that. Crafting only seems to make it worse and that is why I like the idea of having actually business fronts to lease or buy to work from.

[Hamilton]

Would this be acceptable?

A web-browser within the environment will be available; or at least the ability for internal to external (and visa-versa) communications.  So it would be possible for a dedicated website or sub-forum board to provide listings of goods and services for trade; and that information will be available within the game via the browser.

The problem with this right now is how to integrate the two systems so when a player does buy or accept something; that the game environment will register it and make the transaction.

[Robgoblin]

Would this be acceptable?

A web-browser within the environment will be available; or at least the ability for internal to external (and visa-versa) communications.  So it would be possible for a dedicated website or sub-forum board to provide listings of goods and services for trade; and that information will be available within the game via the browser.

The problem with this right now is how to integrate the two systems so when a player does buy or accept something; that the game environment will register it and make the transaction.

Don't want it to be too difficult for the makers but that sounds nice. I just am tired of the problems involved with a marketplace in games. I dislike someone using channels to broadcast what they have or want over and over and over again. I understand that the marketplace is a real life thing but it doesn't operate the way online ones do.

I don't mind if there is just a program that anyone can access from any terminal (placing and recieving the goods might not be realistic this way) to sell/buy something on the auction network. Don't make it where everyone has to be in the same place to buy/sell and not allow hawkers to broadcast such things any where. I don't know about programming but would that be easier? Wish it was possible to have such things reportable an AI security able to show up and issue tickets or jail the offenders (I know this is something probably way in our future from being able to be done).

Hamilton, I am very happy to hear the willingness to have a different approach to selling/buying in the game.

[Omega Red]

I love the idea of no auction house, but why not add a twist to the old buying/selling process.  Why should if I buy something then poof it appears in my mailbox or some other storage unit. 

I would like to see missions from one point to another carring the goods to be delievered.  And yes if no one can get that "Laser of Destruction" to you because they have to cross three different enemie strongholds, well then you had better pick it up yourself. And if you do fail well then the contents could be in a self destruting box so the enemy can not get the merchandise.

By making these missions that players have to do to keep the market open, I think that would open up a whole new line of work, for some of us.

Just a thought.

[Hamilton]

That does look good, but that concept will not be ready off the bat.
We'll limit auctions to within the same faction initially.  Buying/selling from other factions, depending on the political situation (at peace, war, pact, on alert, etc) may allow for smuggling and convoy/escort opportunities.

(My dream profession for a game is to be a gun runner/arms dealer, so that is something I want to implement.)

Players can select certain missions sponsored from players or NPC's.  Some of these missions will be of legal or illegal convoy.  The content of the package(s) for delivery will not be made known for the transporter (it is just a package).  This is to prevent a player from stealing or purposely destroying a package ("OMG, this is ultimate weapon that I am to deliver.  To hell with delivering it, I'm going to keep it.") and give some confidence to players that the trading system does work.  We can later explore the possibility of giving more freedom to a transporter.

Delivery of purchased items will not be instant (unless purchased from the vendor directly).  There will be a time limit on player delivery missions, if the time limit has been reached; then the package will be delivered by an NPC.  If that does not sound appealing (leaving it up to an NPC to transport), then for the most safety of transportation, there will be orbital drops or airlifts; for a significant fee of course; and subjected to inspection.

[Robgoblin]

So with the smuggler being around will bounty hunters be a viable profession? I mean for stupping such things with the same time limits and such. If a player(smuggler) accepts a mission then the timer starts for someone else(bounty hunter) to pick it up and accept.

[D3athsong]

Will there be consequences for not delivering a package?  If not its likely that one guy will take a job delivering a package containing who knows what and then his buddy will come up to him in his mech and take the package and the original delivery guy can say he was attacked and had to give it up or be killed.  They then take what was stolen and turn around and sell it, profiting them both.  Sometimes they will get some cheap part and other times they will hit the jackpot.