Stop "fixing" the MW scrap it

[Chezen]

I want to post here what I wrote in another thread, in response to a post by Dreamer. I hope she doesn't mind me quoting her.

The current market wards can be fixed - they simply suffer from the same lack of polish that we see in the rest of the game. What people want is speed and convenience, and it's much easier to streamline the current system for speed and convenience than it is to implement an entirely new system.

People don't understand that there is so much more that can be done with the current system than a traditional house. Ever notice that our retainers have levels? The system seems to be set up in such a way as to allow for further expansion. Imagine being able to sort your retainers wares into different categories for easy browsing. The current unused retainer levels could be utilized to modify transaction fees, or even make it so that your company members pay a reduced rate. Imagine being able to set your retainer up with the necessary materials and then place him or her in the Mender's Ward to offer repairs using your own DoH skillset.

Imagine that once your retainer reaches a certain level, your stalls are upgraded to full storefronts that can hold both retainers and offer better customization and name recognition services (I would love to be able to put up a giant banner in front of my stall to let everyone know that the Ardarose Bakery is open for business).

Could you do most of the above with a traditional auction house? Sure. But the market ward lends itself to these types of expansions more naturally, and it's far more likely to happen if they don't have to spend the time to create a new auction house system from scratch.

Like pretty much everything in this game, the market wards DO have potential. I'd much rather see them try their hand with something uniue and potentially more engaging than the systems we already know and are most familiar with.

From the interviews on youtube and my own observations, it's been clear to me that the devs are trying to create a semi-realistic and completely immersive fantasy world. I'm not saying they have been completely successful at it so far, but some people really are too stuck on mmo fastfood to see it. There are some people who really are here to play the DoH and DoL, and, especially if what Dreamer suspects is true, the market wards are especially for them. Those of a battle nature have an expansive world (under construction) to go fight. Those of a crafting nature will have a market to use their imagination with. Is it fair to demand an AH just because it's inconvenient to you?

That being said, I understand the point everyone has about overcrowding, and I do think it's a problem. But I'm more inclined to think that they have further designs in mind to deal with that, than that that they just didn't consider it altogether.

Se is embarking into unknown territory. There is bound to be some bumps, and even major upsets along the way. But I'm along for the ride. Watching this new mmo unfold will be an adventure in itself.

[Demacia]

When market wards are grossly inconvenient to me, yes I believe it is fair to demand an AH. Those "special" players who are willing to pay a monthly fee to grind crafts/harvesting can use their imagination on an AH window just like they would talking to a bunch of mannequins standing silently still in a tiny room. To me, there's no adventure in them desperately trying to build a game after it's been released. I just want to enjoy myself and the market wards are just one of many obstacles preventing that.

[Chezen]

When market wards are grossly inconvenient to me, yes I believe it is fair to demand an AH. Those "special" players who are willing to pay a monthly fee to grind crafts/harvesting can use their imagination on an AH window just like they would talking to a bunch of mannequins standing silently still in a tiny room. To me, there's no adventure in them desperately trying to build a game after it's been released. I just want to enjoy myself and the market wards are just one of many obstacles preventing that.

Before the search function was implimented, I would agree with you that the market wards take too much time. Hours of searching stores really is too realistic. However, since adding the search funtion, the amount of time it takes is minutes. Further features could help out more.

So, while I don't think anyone wants to deny you a good time, if you can't take a few minutes out of your day to help someone else, have a good time... well that's pretty one-sided isn't it?

[Seirra_Lanzce]

this thread again?

[viion]

I dont see the immersion at all...

100 NPC's just aimlessly, standing around, silently judging you. If you have the sound down, you can hear the little footsteps when they move, like they're about to eat you, its lifeless, its tedious, and the wards are fugly. And only like 10% of them load at a time (for me at least) so they pop/depop constantly.

[Chezen]

I dont see the immersion at all...

100 NPC's just aimlessly, standing around, silently judging you. If you have the sound down, you can hear the little footsteps when they move, like they're about to eat you, its lifeless, its tedious, and the wards are fugly. And only like 10% of them load at a time (for me at least) so they pop/depop constantly.

That's currently. However, that same complaint has been said about the game in general. The devs have outright asked us for ideas on how to make Eorzea have more life. I personally like the quiet market wards, but I wouldn't be against a bustling central hub like some have suggested.

It's entirely possible that the current market wards were always meant to be somewhat temporary until they could get to what they had planned for them. I think there's a lot of things intended for this game that was put on the backburner due to the battle system overhaul.

[Wolfie]

That's currently. However, that same complaint has been said about the game in general. The devs have outright asked us for ideas on how to make Eorzea have more life. I personally like the quiet market wards, but I wouldn't be against a bustling central hub like some have suggested.

It's entirely possible that the current market wards were always meant to be somewhat temporary until they could get to what they had planned for them. I think there's a lot of things intended for this game that was put on the backburner due to the battle system overhaul.

I really doubt that it's meant to be temporary, when a counter/AH/text based system would be easier to implement.

The ONLY problem with MW is that it renders each retainer. That's what's causing awkwardness, zone separation, crashes, limitations, overhead, etc. If they turn the system into something that no longer renders the retainers, meaning you simply browse to a retainer from a text menu, it will be infinitely better than what it is now.

[Chezen]

I really doubt that it's meant to be temporary, when a counter/AH/text based system would be easier to implement.

The ONLY problem with MW is that it renders each retainer. That's what's causing awkwardness, zone separation, crashes, limitations, overhead, etc. If they turn the system into something that no longer renders the retainers, meaning you simply browse to a retainer from a text menu, it will be infinitely better than what it is now.

The fact that there hasn't been as much crashing is why there is now a lot of overcrowding. The only limitation it is currently presenting is having to walk to a retainer, which to me, adds in immersion.

I think maybe just some flowers here and there, not a long corridoor have it as a square big room with stalls in the middle and around so you run different directions. Break the mold. And have the NPC's do different things, could be just filing a sword if they have one for sale, or talking with other npcs (with no dialogue just the illusion), sitting down, resting on crates etc. Anything that gives it life would do me =)

I dont mind the system i just hate how dull it is, so thats my only issue!

Lol, I love it!

[Kilta_Firelotus]

The fact that there hasn't been as much crashing is why there is now a lot of overcrowding. The only limitation it is currently presenting is having to walk to a retainer, which to me, adds in immersion.

And it is funny that time spent walking is the same if not faster then bidding on items in ffxi or buying an item on WoW and running to a mail box.. No AH is "quick and easy" I played ffxi 6-7 years and for 12 hours a day I hated using th AH. It took so long due to not seeing proces and in most cases the price was higher then the list of last sold. It can take me up to 2 hours to fully gear my jobs from the ground up in ffxi. It takes me 10 min in ffxiv. I love the MW because how easy it is to use andthat I'm not stuck in a menue. No AH has a single menu you, pretty much ffxiv search = ffxi AH with improvement in saying what ward sells what. AND is organzised down to low/mid/high level gear. Only issue is having the gear actually be there. Which is an AH issue also.

[Renshi]

Uh? Nono, I really meant it =)
If you've searched an item in the Item Search feature, then go into the right ward, you'll see a big red star on the right Retainer who has the item.
Also, I just... Can't... Possibly see a feeling of pain in the neck while searching for an item in the Wards.

Anyway, I say this by not being an anti-AH fellow: We have a Market Ward system, and we should better it if we have it, not just scrap it and substitute it with an Auction House. I'm definitely not scrapping (scraping, whatever =D) the idea of having an Auction House, but if we have a Market Ward and we can better it I'd not simply gonna scrap it.