Market Research for a Mercenary Type FC

Hello! This post is to help gather input on an idea I had. I'm sure it's been tried before, but I'd like to see what people would think of the idea, and if they've had experience, what it was like.

A quick link to the research questionnaire: https://forms.gle/y5RhMbMAff2Hvj7T8

~~~~

Premise

The idea of a mercenary FC came when I realized lots of raid groups tend to be missing 1-2 members each week, and there are a lot of people that want to raid but can't commit to a set schedule. Wouldn't it be great, then, for the unfilled static to have an FC to turn to that has all sorts of raiders on stand-by?

~~~~

What's the difference between this and party finder?

With an established mercenary FC, each member would be held to a high standard. You're more willing to trust someone from an FC that has those high standards as opposed to some rando.

~~~~

So how would it work?

A raid leader, missing a slot, would be allowed to go onto this FC's discord or Linkshell and request a mercenary to fill it in. An interested mercenary would then offer themselves up, along with their price (or pro bono if they choose). Then, at the end of the raid, payment is made.

~~~~

What's there to make sure the Client or the Mercenary uphold the bargain?

Word of mouth, basically. Mercenaries would be review-able after the raid, and the FC itself could give refunds for proven grievances. There's plenty of recording/screenshot software available such that proof of fraud can easily be obtained. If a mercenary takes payment but slacks off in raid or is unprofessional, they could get punished. If a raid leader does not pay or causes unnecessary drama from unrealistic expectations, they could be blacklisted.

~~~~

So a mercenary could decide their own worth? Isn't that a little presumptuous?

If a mercenary is overpriced, they're unlikely to get hired and would eventually need to eat some humble pie and lower their price. Simple as that. Supply and Demand also comes into play, as if there's an abundance of DPS they're unlikely to overcharge so that they can get ahead of their competition.

~~~~

What if someone is new to raiding, how would you make sure they have a shot compared to the other mercenaries?

I think the FC would be able to run content every now and then with enough people, just not on a schedule or with a single raid group. That would at least give people experience with the fight. There are also plenty of static groups, I'm sure, who wouldn't mind taking a greenhorn along with them to get them experience and potential discounts/other benefits with the Mercenary FC.

~~~~

That's pretty much the gist. If you think it's interesting or if you've seen this sort of thing before, I'd love it if you filled out the questionnaire to share your insight. Be as honest as you want! You can also contact me, Zana'sae Elakha, if you'd like some more clarification on the concept.