Any word on when we will get an Auction House?

[Aldwin]

I think one reason people want an ah, myself included, is that an ah creates a somewhat stable economy. Yes it can be manipulated, the market wards can be too.

Connecting all 3 main city wards I don't think would be a good idea either. Sure it would be nice to be able to buy from any city, but the market ward system I don't think can support a very large playerbase, not without zoning in to find 999999999999999999999 retainers.

I would like an auction house, but I don't feel it should be top priority right now.

[Peregrine]

I will gladly pick up my crap on foot if it means no one can bot the activity. A single ah botter does worse things for your convenience than running ever would. First, they get rewarded as if they played there times more than you do. Second you'll never see the items on ah for prices that are acceptable.

Essentially I would rather run than never have a chance at it or be thoroughly whipped by a cheater in my own craft.

[ShinChuck]

I know, but I will gladly pick up my crap on foot if it means no one can bot the activity. A single ah bitter dies worse things for your convenience than running ever would. Essentially I would rather run than never have a chance at it.

It's nice you're willing to decide for the entire population what their time, effort and convenience is worth, and you might be all for sacrificing freedom and convenience to stop minor cases of illegal activity (maybe SE can set up cameras on every corner to watch EVERYBODY and be sure nobody's doing anything shady), but just because you'd be willing to make the sacrifice, doesn't mean it's fair to ask everyone to, especially when using anecdotal evidence to make a decision.

[Peregrine]

For the idea that hiding info from consumers leads to ripoffs and hustlers I agree. That is the biggest drawback of thus system is that consumers have a right to know. However, as soon as that info is released then producers will use it to falsify the info anyway.

Overall I think this system keeps things more honest. I think sales histories would lead to immediate and raging inflation.

[nRosenberg]

I prefer not to have an auction house. Market Wards are much more realistic. (Not to say that it is realistic, just that it's a bit less "senseless")

[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.

[Peregrine]

They are not minor cases. AH botting and price speculation...market playing....were huge issues in 11. Botting dominates whatever activity that it can be used for, and you can never compete with it as a human. It only takes one botter for you to never be able to get an item on the ah for as long as they bot it unless you sit there and spam like it does. Eventually you have to sleep. It keeps scavenging the item you want.

So to me your choice is to pick up your items or pretty much pick up a pickaxe and run further.

[ShinChuck]

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.

I'm not even sure what your point is, honestly. The people who are asking for an AH don't want a literal AH with nothing else sufficing ever. They want the same functions as an AH, whether a separate entity or with the basic AH functions of the Wards upgraded to accomplish that. And on the other side, saying "I liked Wards better than AHs" is like saying "I like dogs better than canines."

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.

It's been shown multiple times that there's no reason they must be kept together, and anymore are really *unnecessarily* connected. Retainers buying and selling is a concept for the old bazaar-style wards. It is now an outdated relic that only adds *unnecessary work* to the system. That's why they should change it.

They are not minor cases. AH botting and price speculation...market playing....were huge issues in 11. Botting dominates whatever activity that it can be used for, and you can never compete with it as a human. It only takes one botter for you to never be able to get an item on the ah for as long as they bot it unless you sit there and spam like it does. Eventually you have to sleep. It keeps scavenging the item you want.

So to me your choice is to pick up your items or pretty much pick up a pickaxe and run further.

That's absolutely not my choice. I've played XI for a while and NEVER had issues to the level you're implying by any means. Hecked, I've played MMOs since they were text based in the early 90s.

You're telling me I need to sacrifice convenience (convenience other games, including XI) allow me to deal with "bots" as if that's the only way to deal with botters, as if SE can't and hasn't banned them before. Numerous games, including games like WoW, have survived with *gasp* an Auction House that didn't require running, and botters did not ruin them.

It sounds like you're on a bit of witch hunt with this. I don't see many others freaking out about botters.

[AreeyaJaidee]

No auction House. The Market Wards do everything plus keep players from being lazy. Why would SE put all that work into revising Market Wards repeatedly to make it function better and then give us a AH?

Face the music: Retainers exist. Market Wards exist. They both work. That's all we need.

[Gath]

I can see making the retainers have more options to make them more like salespeople and make you feel like you're interacting with the people in game ^^v