Stop "fixing" the MW scrap it

[Chezen]

My problem with the MW is not that I have to walk around to them, it's the fact that it's extremely unorganized. When you're buying battlecraft weapons in the Mender's ward, that's a problem. There's no way in hell anyone could call this system "genius", because it isn't. I've never heard anyone say "oh wow, know what's REALLY cool about the MW?"

I've heard people say "I hate it!"
and I've heard people say: "I don't have much of a problem with it"

but never heard anyone say "I love the MW, let me tell you why they're so cool." (And now I fully expect to hear it)

I understand people, like Eldaena, like to browse, and that's perfectly fine. It's awesome that you like to take the time to do that, but that's what letting people setup bazaars is for. They need to have the bazaar system, and then a fixed MW so that you can browse at a counter, or a single retainer, or series of retainers anyway, to quickly find the items you need in an organized space.

I don't mind walking, even though it is a pain. If they let you choose which item you wanted to buy from which NPC, and then only put a star over that specific retainer instead of all of the retainers, then it would work better, but they don't and I have to check every single red star to find the one I wanted.

Also, I don't see how it's Immersive that the Item Search Counter isn't an actual counter, it's just the outside of a zone. I don't see the immersion in looking into the air in front of me to find what I'm looking for. I even LIKE the IDEA of the MW's, I just think it needs to be made more convenient. And btw, for those saying that it takes just as long in XIV as it does in XI, then you most likely don't know how to bid correctly.

I just want something that works. AH or MW, I don't care. As long as it works, is efficient, organized, and convenient, then I'll be happy.

I did state that I loved the wards and why some time ago, but my reasons didn't matter to the "convenience" crowd. It really doesn't matter anyway. When it comes down to it, you really don't have to have a "good" reason to love something, you just do.

I agree with most of your post though. The Wards are disorganized. Someone suggested something about a single npc per catagory, which isn't bad... but it still doesn't allow for actual shops. Part of the problem I think, was that SE expected people to deal in a few certain areas, not all possible crafts. Resulting in huge fleamarkets rather than specific shops.

As for (refering to Wolfie) this not being possible to fix... many innovators were told they were crazy, and it can't be done. Of course, it also depends on what you think can or can't be fixed. If you simply hate the MW altogether, then yes, it can't be fixed for you. However if you like the idea of the MW, scrapping them is not a fix for that crowd.

[Kailok]

I agree with most of your post though. The Wards are disorganized. Someone suggested something about a single npc per catagory, which isn't bad... but it still doesn't allow for actual shops. Part of the problem I think, was that SE expected people to deal in a few certain areas, not all possible crafts, Resulting in huge fleamarkets rather than specific shops.

I had an idea for this a little while back: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...lease-everyone.

It was pretty much a mix between AH and MW that could please both the people who like to browse, and those who like convenience, all while giving the "feel" of a large Bazaar-type area. Right now, browsing for gear in a dark hallway seems like a black market to me >.>

[Chezen]

I had an idea for this a little while back: http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...lease-everyone.

It was pretty much a mix between AH and MW that could please both the people who like to browse, and those who like convenience, all while giving the "feel" of a large Bazaar-type area. Right now, browsing for gear in a dark hallway seems like a black market to me >.>

Lol about the black market.

My issue with your proposal is that it takes away the possibilty of people having their own stores, or any possible game ideas that might be associated with that. Plus I really love my retainers.

Another thing that will happen (and one reason I don't care for AHs), is people all crowding around one particuliar NPC, which isn't very market-like to me. It also takes away the shop experience that some of us like.

I think your solution is good, but it won't address certain things.

How to let people have their stores and keep it organized, I admit that un's a biggie.

[normalforce]

Lol about the black market.

My issue with your proposal is that it takes away the possibilty of people having their own stores, or any possible game ideas that might be associated with that. Plus I really love my retainers.

Another thing that will happen (and one reason I don't care for AHs), is people all crowding around one particuliar NPC, which isn't very market-like to me. It also takes away the shop experience that some of us like.

I think your solution is good, but it won't address certain things.

How to let people have their stores and keep it organized, I admit that un's a biggie.

Not to veer too far off topic, but I've seen you mention stores and having retainer's eventually level up to offer more options before and I rather like that idea. (It reminds me of Recettear!) Have you given much thought about how you would advance your retainer? A few of the initial ideas that I had could be easily exploited, so other than going on a few quests for your retainer, I don't know what else could be done.

[Eldaena]

Not to veer too far off topic, but I've seen you mention stores and having retainer's eventually level up to offer more options before and I rather like that idea. (It reminds me of Recettear!) Have you given much thought about how you would advance your retainer? A few of the initial ideas that I had could be easily exploited, so other than going on a few quests for your retainer, I don't know what else could be done.

Well currently retainers do have a level on them, don't they? Maybe by the more items you sell, how much gil you make, or how many people visit the retainer could help you rank it up? It could benefit you by being able to sell more items and maybe reduce the price of stalls for you or something?

[normalforce]

Well currently retainers do have a level on them, don't they? Maybe by the more items you sell, how much gil you make, or how many people visit the retainer could help you rank it up? It could benefit you by being able to sell more items and maybe reduce the price of stalls for you or something?

Yea, there are some great perks that SE could give to us for leveling up our retainers and here's the problem as I see it. You and I could strike up a deal, right. You buy all my items, I buy all yours items and when we're done we have both spent the same amount of gil. Or some combination where you and I aren't out gil, but just a little time to buy each other's goods. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Maybe it's not such a big deal, but I see it as a simple way to exploit such a system.

[Eldaena]

Yea, there are some great perks that SE could give to us for leveling up our retainers and here's the problem as I see it. You and I could strike up a deal, right. You buy all my items, I buy all yours items and when we're done we have both spent the same amount of gil. Or some combination where you and I aren't out gil, but just a little time to buy each other's goods. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Maybe it's not such a big deal, but I see it as a simple way to exploit such a system.

Even so, I don't think that the benefits of leveling up would be so overwhelming that people would want to do that. =p

[Kailok]

Lol about the black market.

My issue with your proposal is that it takes away the possibilty of people having their own stores, or any possible game ideas that might be associated with that. Plus I really love my retainers.

Another thing that will happen (and one reason I don't care for AHs), is people all crowding around one particuliar NPC, which isn't very market-like to me. It also takes away the shop experience that some of us like.

I think your solution is good, but it won't address certain things.

How to let people have their stores and keep it organized, I admit that un's a biggie.

Thanks for the feedback on it I just like the idea of it feeling like a Bazaar. Hell, it'd be cool even if Moogles ran it or something. I remember in FFIX the Moogles were the ones who were the shop owners. Right now, I also like having people have their own shop, but the problem I have is (as I stated before) the fact that it's disorganized, and that each player's retainer takes up space. What happens when 3,000 people come back? each setting up multiple retainers but it's tough to keep your items on sale because SE just decided to start booting retainers from certain wards once it hits the cap. Representing your sales with a seperate NPC that takes up space is just going to cause server problems in the long run.

[Chezen]

Not to veer too far off topic, but I've seen you mention stores and having retainer's eventually level up to offer more options before and I rather like that idea. (It reminds me of Recettear!) Have you given much thought about how you would advance your retainer? A few of the initial ideas that I had could be easily exploited, so other than going on a few quests for your retainer, I don't know what else could be done.

I'd like to take credit for that, but it was actually Dreamer who pointed that out. I can think of some possibilities of my own though (ones that will likely annoy a few here, I appologize to you guys, but I think they sound fun). One would be that different ranks allow you access to better counters and shops. You start off with no counter, like the standing room in the wards, and work your way to "superstore". The way you earn points and reputation could be through the dollar amt of things you sell. You have to sell so much to reach it. Sell too high, no one will buy. Sell too low, you will never reach the quota. Also, the ranks will give other bonuses and rewards like tax breaks and bonus items or some such.

Those are just my ideas, I don't know what SE is planning.

Thanks for the feedback on it I just like the idea of it feeling like a Bazaar. Hell, it'd be cool even if Moogles ran it or something. I remember in FFIX the Moogles were the ones who were the shop owners. Right now, I also like having people have their own shop, but the problem I have is (as I stated before) the fact that it's disorganized, and that each player's retainer takes up space. What happens when 3,000 people come back? each setting up multiple retainers but it's tough to keep your items on sale because SE just decided to start booting retainers from certain wards once it hits the cap. Representing your sales with a seperate NPC that takes up space is just going to cause server problems in the long run.

Well... in regards to overcrowding, a lot of people might not like this idea... but maybe something better could come out of it...I think that everyone should only be allowed to have one retainer selling at a time. For organization... I don't think raising the tax would work, so I would propose that when in a ward, only things of that ward's category should be allowed to be sold, with maybe two extra slots for other things. Eventually, I would take out the long hallways in favor of a circular set up. This would cut down on running arund.

Just ideas off the top of my head, nothing more.