We need an AH

[Amsai]

Like my other post about the convenience of repairs, this post is in regards to the conveniece of buying and selling goods. But I will make this one short.

Suppose I want a Dr. Pepper, which would be quicker:
1. I go to the store and get it.
2. I send my wife to go get it (nevermind that she'd tell me to go to hell).

I am keeping the argument simple. Its not about how good or bad the market place opperates. It is about convenience to useres. The less steps there are the more streamlined and fast the process. Time is money, and I don't have time to do unnecessary steps. Why make something take 5 min, when it could take 5 sec?

MMOs are by nature a time sink, but lets cut out the time sinks where we can yes?

[Cairdeas]

No we do not.

Current Marketward Transaction

Enter wards
Search for Item
Find Seller
Go to ward
Pick up Item

The quickest you can do it is approximately 30 seconds. The longest I've ever searched for a specific item is less then 2 minutes.


FFXI > Blind Auction
Run to AH
Search through item lists for item you want
Find item you want (100 Listed)
Check Item History
Bid for item 10% lower then item history:
wait 5 seconds
Fail
Bid for Item 5% lower then item history:
wait 5 seconds
Fail
Bid for item same as last item History:
wait 5 seconds
fail
Re-check Item History, Recent item has been sold since last checked. 15% more then one before it.
Bid for item same price as new last one sold :
wait 5 seconds
Fail
Bid for item 5% more then last one sold:
wait 5 seconds
Success, Item delivered to inventory.


WoW
Go to Auction House.
Filter through items you want. See that everything in your level is posted for prices that are way above your characters possible gold at your level.
Find one that is decent. Bid on it.
Wait 2 days. Lose Bid.
Look again
Find new item. Bid.
wait 4 hours. Win Bid.
Wait hour for item to deliver to mail box.
Find mailbox to pick it up.


Auctions Fail. The only difference between the Marketward and an Auction house is the marketward has no Auction. Blind or Timed.

Now for WoW they do have a buy it now but guess what.

Search for item
Buy It Now
Go to Mailbox
Pick up Item

YOU STILL HAVE TO GO PICK UP THE ITEM.

[Jynx]

Market wards work perfectly fine for the time being, it's not something that really needs focus at this moment in time. You can search for items just as well as any AH and take a few moment to hobble your virtual legs over to it.

Lets focus on what needs fixed before we focus on what needs tweaks.

[Nipa]

Technically we already have something with the exactly the same features than an AH.

But with more walking time. And a stupid interface.

[Cairdeas]

Technically we already have something with the exactly the same features than an AH.

But with more walking time. And a stupid interface.

I'd rather take 2 minutes to go pick up an item instantly then wait an hour for an AH delivery system like WoW. Where I have to backtrack to a mailbox once it finally comes in to pick it up.

[toshimoog]

I always thought an auction house would be nice, too, but the way they've fixed up the market wards system, it's pretty much good to go. It shows prices, where items are located, how many there are. What more could you ask for? It seems to work.

[toshimoog]

I'd rather take 2 minutes to go pick up an item instantly then wait an hour for an AH delivery system like WoW. Where I have to backtrack to a mailbox once it finally comes in to pick it up.

That's why I liked FFXI's auction system because it went directly to your items.

edit: Didn't it? It did, right? Now I'm having trouble remembering, it's been a while.

[BruceyBruceyBangBang]

In FFXIV people are undercutting by an asinine amount opposed to XI's system where people would look up the history and undercut by a small amount. I was selling Pearl Rings for 50k a pop til someone just comes along and undercuts me by 60%. 60 PERCENT!

Like honestly? Honestly?

[Verecund]

WoW's Auction House has a buyout feature, which is used very prolificly (far more than the bid option).

An AH is a little more convenient, but the main reason I would want one is to help with population issues for major cities.

[Tonka]

Lol at making WoW's AH seem like more of a hassle than FFXIV's Market Wards. That is someone you just don't bother to argue with.