Thronefast looks huge! The number of NPCs that will need to be in the marketplace and the city proper, will be a major challenge, if Thronefast is to look lived in. The stream was amazing to see the scope, but it also shows how much programming there is to do. What a challenge! I know the team is up to it, but wow! Also, I hope players can sell in those stalls.
I loved the original EQ bazaar.
That's another aspect of living in this world. We talk about hunting and killing and questing and even tradeskilling.
I *LOVED* being a merchant. Seriously. I loved being around hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of others, hawking my wares and making profit.
Avalon said: The fact that all of them will not be occupied by NPC’s, as stated in the stream, might be a hint. I sure hope players can make use of them.
He said not all of them would be managed by "vendors." It's a minor detail, but I think it's important. I think that is just to differentiate merchants from other types of NPCs, like quest NPCs or trainers. For example, one of the concept art pics showed a stall of the Thronefast Regulars, where people could sign up to become city guards. That would be staffed by some sort of NPC guard recruiter. Not really a vendor - just a different type of NPC.
It still could be that players will be able to staff some of their own. There's certainly a ton of stalls. But I don't see any real indication that will be the case yet.
I'm thinking it could be "leased" by players who then "hire" an NPC to stand at the stall and sell their wares. The stall can hold X amout of goods and when those good sell out well then thats all it holds. The owner of the stall still has to pay the NPC to stand there, but won't be making any profit.
If at any time the player doesn't have enough gold on their account (bank or on player) to auto debit pay the vendor, then the vendor leaves. If goods are still on the stall at that time, they are up for grabs.
Or, if a player just wants to rent a stall for a couple hours and stand there themselves, they can do that too.
Or guilds can rent the stalls to recruit members.
Bazgrim said:Avalon said: The fact that all of them will not be occupied by NPC’s, as stated in the stream, might be a hint. I sure hope players can make use of them.He said not all of them would be managed by "vendors." It's a minor detail, but I think it's important. I think that is just to differentiate merchants from other types of NPCs, like quest NPCs or trainers. For example, one of the concept art pics showed a stall of the Thronefast Regulars, where people could sign up to become city guards. That would be staffed by some sort of NPC guard recruiter. Not really a vendor - just a different type of NPC.
It still could be that players will be able to staff some of their own. There's certainly a ton of stalls. But I don't see any real indication that will be the case yet.
Party pooper!
On a more serious note, yes that’s true. I guess you hear what you want to hear sometimes. I still hope we can utilize them somehow.