[Suggestion] Market Ward Modernization

[tymora]

1) Make it open-air - A hundred retainers in a poorly ventilated room, clustered together like cattle doesn't make it attractive.

2) In the open-zone, have as many stands available as the number of retainers allowed in the zone - People will now know exactly how many retainers are supported per ward.
-> SE will also be able to control retainer placement to better alleviate retainer display issues.

3) Make stands free - As it is, no one uses it anymore anyway.

4) Additional NPCs that walk up and down and talks to retainers - Adds life

[Rinsui]

[Suggestion] Auction House [Suggested since 2010]

[glassalice]

I like this idea. I am one of the (possibly quite) few who like the idea of retainers and the market wards for the sense of realism they offer despite drawbacks on convenience. So it takes 5 minutes more to buy stuff - it's pretty! Open air would be nicer though, agreed. And if retainers had to use stalls, and they were free - yes, it would space things out more. Maybe the stalls themselves could be smaller and simpler to save rendering time?

[tymora]

[Suggestion] Auction House [Suggested since 2010]

There is nothing against the side-by-side existence of an AH and a good market ward. Keeps people off the streets.
More ways to sell goods is always a plus.

Squatter bazaars aren't pretty either. (e.g. Rolanberry/Sauromugue bazaar land in FFXI)

[Darrkness]

4) Additional NPCs that walk up and down and talks to retainers - Adds life

i like this idea even throughout the rest of town even.. the idea of npcs walking and talking to other npcs is a very nice touch.. don't know how long or how much programming would be involved but its a good idea to shoot for anyways =)

[Darrkness]

There is nothing against the side-by-side existence of an AH and a good market ward. Keeps people off the streets.
More ways to sell goods is always a plus.

Squatter bazaars aren't pretty either. (e.g. Rolanberry/Sauromugue bazaar land in FFXI)

how about you have both.. picture this.. you walk up to a building labeled "Auction House" talk to one of the npcs you do a TYPED search of the item you are looking for (its annoying going through the all the menus to find an item) it brings up a list of retainers that have that item you select one and either bid on said item, or buy it outright

1. if you buy it outright it sends you automatically to the ward with the ONE retainer with a star above his head in which you go and and claim your item for agreed amount..
2. if you bid on said item check back every so often and see if said bid is won.. if won then you have the option of going to ward with said star above said retainer and claim your item for the amount agreed on
2.a when said item is bid on and won the item goes into a separate inv. slot on the retainer to free up available bazzar space until the buyer claims said item.
2.b said buyer has a certain amount of time to claim then it becomes available to bid again.
3. if all you want to do is go and drop off some stuff and manage your bazzar then you can do that the normal way by walking to the ward entrance and going to the ward without having to go to AH

just my thoughts of how both could co-exist =)

also frees up the need for a mailbox system which is how you get your AH items in WoW going and getting them from the seller yourself adds to the realism which is what i like about the retainer system