Thanks to Uadjet, events are held weekly, and with good participation too. So clearly having something occur every week, at a set time, is not limiting its appeal, at least not in my opinion.
I don't think the GM events are straight up comparable to the markets at all. Now i haven't been in most of the events in past few years, to the few i have attended have been very different from each other, and what i've been following from forums/discord and where-ever, they are each very individual and unique. One can be helping artist to gain inspiration, other can be helping guards sort out trouble. When i was still playing regularly, i had the feeling i would atleast check out what is going to happen, wherein i always know market is going to be market. I'm not saying each can't have their own unique content, as Migg allready said for example, there could be GM engraver, pickpockets, anything really. But the
premise is the same.
What I believe is the problem with the market is that it attracts a low number of sellers with a limited, unvarying supply of goods. Hence people are not interested in attending because the products they can get are of no real value to them, not being unique or hard to find. That in turn limits the other appeal the market could have, as a place to RP on a regular schedule.
I don't see this speaking for the advantage of weekly market, rather against it. Since there is indeed quite niche variation to the items at the moment (and those we have are not bought, this can be especially frustrating to aspiring peddlers), it would only make more sense to have markets less frequently. What comes to unique items, well of course they make it more lucrative. But as all eye candy it's just props, nothing essential for RP. In fact, i feel like they have been more distracting for me than helpful at. But this thread is not my psychoanalysis of current economical state of PS and how mechanics and RP work together.
Unfortunately I have been unable to attend the market of late, but from what I recall, in the near past, peddlers of unique items or services, including GMs acting as engravers or offering items no NPC sells and no mob drops, would cause an apparent up-tick in player participation. Unfortunately such events were not announced in advance, I think that greater visibility would have further increased their effect on player count.
Can't speak too well from the near past, and my comment above somewhat talks to this point aswell, but i would recall that not in so recent past GMs could pop up as engravers and what not and it could be more lucrative. But we also had more players back then. I feel like nobody had to have specific reason to join and everyone would be around neverthless. Markets were (almost) always filled anyway, regardless of special goodies.
What could be done to improve the effect of the weekly market as an event would be to arrange for players (or GMs) to participate with original offerings, including games, shows or RP of special types of participants: I did some skill games in the past, and I have seen players RP reporters, bards, fortune tellers or even pickpockets in the market with fairly good results.
That sort of actions could be of great help, but just being there for the market would be a start. And that, I know, is an advice I should heed myself.
I can't even go to the market because I'm busy on weekends. I think a monthly market wouldn't be a bad idea, though. I wouldn't mind seeing other monthly events either, like fairs or games. Chances are I wouldn't be able to make them. Whatever.
Everything unique is always welcome and would indeed make the markets more fun! But it's not big secret there's not a big tick to the player activity of the markets, and im afraid people would only be sceptical anyone finds their way to the market even if they tell of their plans. But you are right, if you announce it on the gossip im sure peeps will find their way there. Just being there would be a start yes. But people are busy. I should allready take more time back to myself as it is. But perhaps i try to be there to proof myself wrong on this one. And yes i agree with Volki, i want to see more fairs and such. Maybe i find time to come up with one myself. Diddo.
Now, i know its easy to hold the market in east hydlaa with stalls and all, but what about a more traditional plaza market? It is the most central place afterall and the allready low treshold to come there would be even lower. People would obligatory pass there and atleast stop to say hi, atleast from my experience.
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