[imported_Whisper]

I've been toying around with a different approach to the vendor mall concept, and thought that with all of the discussion on the subject now might be the right time.

What about the idea of players being able to sign up for a contract to operate a specific static shop in town?
- The contract would grant them the right to add vendors to a single static shop, for the sole purpose of selling products that are applicable to that shop.
- For example, a player could purchase the contract to run the carpentry shop in west Britain, and they could place a vendor that would sell carpentry craftables like looms (but not armor, for example).
- Only one player would be allowed to operate each shop.
- In addition I'd recommend that each player could only operate a single shop, to prevent individuals from buying up all of the rights.
- It would probably make sense to do this on a "lease", where someone pays on a regular basis (weekly/monthly/etc.) to maintain the contract.
- Contracts would be revokable if the player doesn't keep the shop stocked.

This would potentially address a number of issues:
- It would make it easier for people to find specific types of items, because the locations of different types of shops are well-documented. If I wanted to buy a forge, I'd know where to go. If I wanted to buy scrolls, I'd know where to go.
- It would generate a more distributed but organized population of the different towns, as different GM carpenters contract with shops in Britain, Vesper, etc. Currently 99% of shops are empty, except as a place where macro'ers sit and sell their products back to the storekeepers.
- The "red vs blue" discussion would be moot, because contracts could be purchased in both guarded and unguarded towns.
- It would enhance the roleplaying aspect of the server, as people would actually take on specific identities ("I'm the bitter old hag that runs the carpentry shop in Vesper"), instead of just generically being the master of all trades.
- It would still allow for the potential for competition from player-run malls like the old S-Mart.

Comments?

Whisper

[imported_Shade]

I do like the basis of the idea and it would be ideal for a shard with a skill cap. However, what makes me disagree with parts of it is that it wouldn't be fair to make a player choose a craft they wish to make money off of. If I had gm'd smithy and carp, I would want to make money off both after putting so much work into it. Don't get me wrong, it is a great idea but we want to be fair and not limit players who worked for additional craft skills.

We are currently discussing a similar idea though.

[imported_Whisper]

Thanks for the feedback.

Just to be clear, there's nothing stopping someone from having normal vendors in normal non-static places. So someone that's GM'd every skill, hypothetically speaking of course, could always set up a vendor mall in some static that they've purchased outright.