Any word on when we will get an Auction House?

[Betelgeuzah]

A marketplace that functions like an AH is an AH. Give me the ability to buy from the search screen. This cannot possibly be the amazing programming feat that some of you would have us believe.

Yes, that's what's needed. Not this magical "Auction House" like described in the thread title.

Also, a marketplace that functions like an AH is a marketplace that functions like an AH. Some people will still not be satisfied before it is called "the AH" though, no matter how similar it is in concept.

People keep saying "I look forward to the extra functions of wards!" or "Wards could be superior to AHs!" without elaborating.

"Wards" are the AH. When people say they look forward to extra functions of wards, it's the same as saying they look forward to extra functions of an AH. Although as mentioned "the wards" are not just the AH, as they offer features that are not available in a traditional AH. Which is why calling the system "an AH" is not correct. An AH doesn't store items for you.

[trinta]

Yes, that's what's needed. Not this magical "Auction House" like described in the thread title.

Also, a marketplace that functions like an AH is a marketplace that functions like an AH. Some people will still not be satisfied before it is called "the AH" though, no matter how similar it is in concept.

I'll be satisfied when I have something that functions like an AH. To this point, that's not what we have.

[TonyMontana]

I am suprised to see several people saying that we dont need an auction house, well actually several people are saying we dont need an auction house right now, resources should be spent on content.

[OJtheLIONKing]

I'll be satisfied when I have something that functions like an AH. To this point, that's not what we have.

This. And as you can see from posts and (more importantly) the poll results, we are NOT in agreement that the system is fine as it is, and most players do want an AH where they can simply buy what they search for instead of having to manually walk there. A price history is also needed, as it is I either need to hope there's a few items so I know what to list sale prices are, or check a site like ffxivpro, and when I need to check a third party site for a basic economic transaction something has gone wrong.

The wards are just one example of the many extraneous time sinks of this game that keep people on a limited schedule from maximizing their time enjoying the content. Thankfully, the producer seems to recognize this and hopefully an AH will arrive soon that will cut out the flab and let me actually play the game as opposed to waste time with busywork.

[ShinChuck]

"Wards" are the AH. When people say they look forward to extra functions of wards, it's the same as saying they look forward to extra functions of an AH. Although as mentioned "the wards" are not just the AH, as they offer features that are not available in a traditional AH. Which is why calling the system "an AH" is not correct. An AH doesn't store items for you.

Yes, Wards are the AH - exactly what I said earlier in this topic long before you posted. My issue was simply that people were not acknowledging that as such.

What features do AHs offer that traditional AHs don't? You're mixing two systems - the Market Wards do not store items for you. Retainers do. And, as stated by myself and many others throughout the history of XIV, there's no reason Retainers couldn't be accessed from elsewhere.

[Betelgeuzah]

Yes, Wards are the AH - exactly what I said earlier in this topic long before you posted. My issue was simply that people were not acknowledging that as such.

Yes, they are. The only people not acknowledging it are those who want a separate AH instead of improving the Marketplace.

What features do AHs offer that traditional AHs don't? You're mixing two systems - the Market Wards do not store items for you. Retainers do.

And you do not use the Market Wards to sell or buy items for you- you use the Retainers.

The two systems are so closely integrated that it is silly to think that they should be kept separate. Without Retainers the Marketplace wouldn't function. They are as crucial part of the system as the item search screen is. Even more so in-fact. Should the item search function be kept separate from the Marketplace too?

[ShinChuck]

Yes, they are. The only people not acknowledging it are those who want a separate AH instead of improving the Marketplace.

You're being entirely too literal. The Marketplace *is* a basic AH. The people asking for an AH would be quite content to have the Wards improved to match a traditional AH's offerings. And yet, the entire topic is full of people saying they *don't* want an AH, they like the *wards* better - when at this point they're referring to a rose by different names. And a rose is still a rose by any other name.

And you do not use the Market Wards to sell or buy items for you- you use the Retainers.

The two systems are so closely integrated that it is silly to think that they should be kept separate. Without Retainers the Marketplace wouldn't function. They are as crucial part of the system as the item search screen is. Even more so in-fact. Should the item search function be kept separate from the Marketplace too?

Er, why not? As someone else posted, Retainers have a level - it would be an easy transition to Adventuring Fellow/mule. They are not a crucial part, at all. They are simply random stand-ins that don't need to be there, an arbitrary location to go to to receive an item. There's really no reason not to do it all from a menu at this point. The concept of Retainers as sellers is a relic of the *dead* original concept behind Wards.

[Betelgeuzah]

The people asking for an AH would be quite content to have the Wards improved to match a traditional AH's offerings.

Then they should say that instead of asking for an AH. That's my point here. There are two ways to interpret what they are saying, so they should clarify. Those who say they don't want an AH because the marketplace is fine could clarify what they mean as well, but it's not too necessary. I mean, I'm sure they are not against improved marketplace [and everything included, not just AH] either.

Er, why not? As someone else posted, Retainers have a level - it would be an easy transition to Adventuring Fellow/mule. They are not a crucial part, at all. They are simply random stand-ins that don't need to be there, an arbitrary location to go to to receive an item. There's really no reason not to do it all from a menu at this point. The concept of Retainers as sellers is a relic of the *dead* original concept behind Wards.

Why should they change it? You are asking for them to do unnecessary work. Both can co-exist as well. But before that happens, the two systems are closely integrated and thus do not need to be kept separate in the discussion.

[trinta]

And you do not use the Market Wards to sell or buy items for you- you use the Retainers.

I do, however, use the Market Wards to search for the items I am going to buy (or to help price the ones I'm going to sell)--these are not retainer-based functions, they are AH functions.

The two systems are so closely integrated that it is silly to think that they should be kept separate.

They are separate, as noted above.

Without Retainers the Marketplace wouldn't function.

But an AH would function just fine without retainer involvement. Why do you want to make things harder than they have to be?

My two retainers hold specific categories of items. If I'm in Gridania and my bags are full of logs, but my carpentry retainer is selling Ul'dah, I have to have him quit selling in order to manage my inventory. An AH does not present this difficulty.

AH please.