Any word on when we will get an Auction House?

[Verecund]

We don't really need an auction house, the market wards do everything an AH does except that you have to pick up your item(s).

What does an AH do that you can't do in the wards?

Let's see...

For starters, Gridania (a.k.a. a 'starting city') would not be an absolute GHOST TOWN a few months after release if there was a world-wide AH. Since Uldah had all the coblyns in the beginning, it gained the economy once everyone started playing there. Since the economies aren't inter-connected worldwide with an AH, Gridania and now Limsa Lominsa are both becoming pretty vacant.



What else... oh yes. It takes about 1/5th the time to actually put an item up for sale.

[Seirra_Lanzce]

Wards are a basic AH, just with an unintuitive interface and extra walking. Wards are a type of AH at this point, there is no "AH not needed, I'm happy with Wards."

Exactly i dont think AH is needed anymore since we have what Retainer Wards that function similar with AH. So yea Adding the price list history as suggested by Solfleur and you have a upgrade Market Wards!

[SizeMatters]

We don't need an AH. Just fix the problems with the wards and have a way to see if the item you're looking for is +1, +2, etc.

Edit: With ffxi's AH, you could only sell 7 items at a time. With retainers you can sell 10 items on each retainer

[Digi]

I kinda feel the current system is an attempt to appease people with a form of an AH. Its not terrible but it's nothing compared to what an AH really should be. Maybe if they just allow you to buy the item from outside the market ward and organize things a bit better it maybe a better system. I personally am not a fan of the current system but it'll do until they can make something better.

[Vexx]

Will you guys stop, yes we do need an AH people are quitting the game as it is that being part of the reason we need to draw crowds. Besides I like being able to drop some items on to the AH and go do something more relative to the game not spend an hours trying to setup my stupid retainer and throw him into a crowd ridden room with a chance of him getting kicked out for no apparent reason ><

[SekushiMegami]

The current market ward system diminishes the pleasure in 'shopping'. Let's say I want to buy 10 different things, I have to walk to the end of each ward to access the search menu, then zone to that ward to then look for the retainer. And then access the retainer's bazaar to purchase. Then walk back to the end then repeat it again. What a waste of time!!
AH is a big component of MMO. It adds in pleasure in shopping and selling.

With already limited playing time as a professional in RL, we want to play the game efficiently and smoothly. This kind of time sink is such a turn off for a life long FF and MMO fan like myself.

I have a few real life friends who quit the game and told me that they won't come back until SE makes an AH.

[Abraxai]

The current market ward system diminishes the pleasure in 'shopping'. Let's say I want to buy 10 different things, I have to walk to the end of each ward to access the search menu, then zone to that ward to then look for the retainer. And then access the retainer's bazaar to purchase. Then walk back to the end then repeat it again. What a waste of time!!
AH is a big component of MMO. It adds in pleasure in shopping and selling.

With already limited playing time as a professional in RL, we want to play the game efficiently and smoothly. This kind of time sink is such a turn off for a life long FF and MMO fan like myself.

I have a few real life friends who quit the game and told me that they won't come back until SE makes an AH.

I absolutely agree with this.. SE's whole standpoint right now is streamlining the game.. Making it user friendly and making it work.. In what way shape or form are the Market Wards as now categorized REMOTELY close to being "streamlined and user friendly"?

Auction House.

[MagicofGaia]

At first I felt we should have Auction House, but ever since they fixed up Market Ward, I actually prefer Market Ward to Auction House. I feel it has a lot more possibility this way and can work better. There's still some issues (IE the ward keeps crashing, thus dumping all the retainers). Once the issues get fixed, and gets more feature, it will be better.

I like the idea of both. There were Bazaars in ffxi, and our retainers provide means of fixing items, or listing multiple items that would be troublesome in an Auction, but the Auction would bring major convenience for a lot of other items across nations and different areas. When other cities are introduced, and other areas expand, there will be a need to be able to purchase items in those areas and if there is no auction... Then I don't see it feasable to 'warp' to a cities market wards from such a distance. Seems silly.

[Molly_Millions]

Let the devs focus on something that needs fixing rather than waste time on an AH.

[JackDaniels]

To the people who think market wards prevent price fixing: you're wrong. Anything steel on wutai is far more expensive than any other server.

To the people who think the market wards prevent price gouging: you're wrong. Every day I have to drop my prices to be competetive.

To the people who think the market wards add immersion as well as make the game more interesting and unique: you're right, but it's at the cost of efficiency and consistent crashes in ul'dah wards.

Once PS3 launches, and we start paying for a subscription, how many retainers do you think the average person will have, I know I would want at least four, 20 items isn't enough to sell at once, 40 slots should cover the mess that is NQ,+1,+2,+3. There's no way in hell Ul'dah will go more than 12 hours without crashing.

I for one vote for AH, I'll take convenience over immersion any day. It wouldn't be that huge of a sacrifice anyway, and tbh I wouldn't miss the retainers Adolf and Hitler at all.