One thing I noticed though - in the Players Guide, it claims that elves (Dermorians) are almost always fair haired - so if it is impossible to change elf hair color, shouldn't it at least be blond or red instead of black?  Otherwise we end up with a world populated entirely by the "rare" hair color.  Extremely minor, I know...

Sw.

1. I think the rule is that English is the standardized language of the in-character game.  Although I do see apparently german guild names.
2. 'Hispanica' and similar Earth terms are OOC -- the back story may also be at odds with the published history of Yliakum but I'm not sure.

Sw.

I was thinking that each shop would be owned by an individual, (like Arireare Boromir, who is always swords and glyphs from the barrel in Hydlaa).  Instead, he could have a "retail" shop where he sets his desired price for each item and gives the item to his NPC employee.  The NPC sells them at the specified price to whomever stops in.

When he returns, he can collect the money (only he and the NPC can access it).  He could also set prices for things the shop would buy - i.e. buying 10 iron ores for 100 trias each.

If there were multiple markets, this would allow other players to make their living by buying and selling goods from town to town.  Some players might want to collect items, and might open a 'shop' that only buys things.  Other people might have places like hardware stores (buy and sell metal stock and other ingredients, etc).

I'm thinking that eventually, a guild could run a shop, in which case, each player would be able to collect cash for the items they added, or maybe one person has to be in charge.  Someone has to pay to rent the booth (and hire the NPC salesperson).  If there was a lot of demand, the cost of running a shop might mean that only a guild could afford it.  Actually, you could let people rent a booth but not hire an NPC - this would be like renting a storage shed for your stuff.  Something I often wish I could do now...

The shop concept gives you two things - its a way to hire an NPC to sell things without you standing around, and it allows you to sell more items than you currently have inventory slots for.  If you just want to sell things in person, you can stand anywhere and do that.

Sw.

In real life, most societies try to identify the killers and serial killers and seek permanent solutions.  In modern times these permanent solutions usually involve placing someone in a small concrete box and tossing them bits of food, for the duration of their time on earth, (or one of several more expedient methods, the pros and cons of which I intend to not discuss hereabouts.)

In olden days, it was impractical to find (e.g.) serial killers, so what people did was live in small towns and not trust anyone much, except immediate neighbors.  If a resident of a small town is colouring outside the lines, it will become apparent.  If you are a stranger in town, everyone gossips about you, and by comparing notes, they learn every fact they can about you.  (And maybe enough misinformation to fill several small novels.)

In a distant future, I think a "realist" solution could pick either of these.  In the government model, NPC's (some more mobile than the current ones) would report crimes they happened to see to the city guards, and guard patrols that march from town to town at intervals, would try to capture any player character -- forcing criminals to keep to wilder paths.  I'm not sure that jail would work given that the D.R. is seen as a short cut already, but in the future, changes to the D.R., etc.

Second realist (non-gov) solution is that some NPC's would not do business with you if you were not local, until you built up a reputation.  (Quests could speed this?)  If you do nastiness, you could lose this trust, and NPC townsfolk would chase you with pitchforks if you were really bad...

Maybe I'm getting off topic....  In any event, current NPCs are quest related and/or monsters.   To have real community policing, it seems like you might need something more like a big economy of NPCs that flow through the map on semi-but-not-completely-predictable routes.

Sw.

Thanks for your response.  I think NPC's who resell items is a good idea, actually that is mostly what the pawn (er. consignment shop) was meant to do;  the other details are only there cause I'm somewhat leery of the possibility of abuse.  I.e. having shops that only sell worthless items just to fill the marketplace, etc.  I recognize that this is like real estate in that it is far off if ever.

My ultimate goal is not so much the commerce, but it seems like you can't really RP the auction channel.  Sometimes I feel like we are in a midaeval world, but also have modern military encrypted radios, because there are so many ways to talk to someone who is (e.g.) in the death realm if they are in your group, guild, or just /tell.

My ideal answer to everything is "what would it be like in real life" and then simulation of that is like the ideal.  Still, I realize there are limits to such goals, and being able to find other of your guild members from time to time is kind of necessary.

I think that NPC reselling is a good (probably simple) first step, except that presumably the NPC would keep some items, raise prices for resale, and not keep items forever.  I don't want to see a list of 10000 tefusang claws, piles of dust for sale in every store.

Maybe the NPC can become 'allergic' to certain items... he would not buy more than N of each item, and if you sold him 10 piles of dust and noone bought one for a week, he would not buy piles of dust in the future (unless someone asked for one?).  Presumably he would only stock a few of each item until he knew if it sold.... sorry - I tend to add too many polygons to things.

Sw.

Dueling is optional.  I guess I'm thinking of extending that idea - if your guild wants to claim (for instance) a market booth, or (in the future) some kind of guild 'frathouse' that you can buy in game, then they could also defend it.  Rather than let anyone in, they can guard the front door.  The would be grouped and attack anyone who didn't have permission to enter.

You could run past them if they refused to fight (and they would, if you were an especially dangerous type).  Similarly, if there are bullies blocking the water fountain (gold mine, smith), etc. you would need to bring an army to clear them out.

I'm thinking this is more relevant in the hypothetical future where building ownership and so on is possible.  It doesn't make sense to buy a house or a guild hall if everyone is going to run through the living room looking for loose items.  Rather than have the game control these things, it would make sense (to me) to use a solution that mimics real life.

I realize its not an 'infantry' game, but I'm thinking more like west side story - jets vs. sharks.

Kevin

(Hi all, I'm new here.)

I think there are two opposing ideas of the fight mechanics.  First, you build the character and introduce him to a fight, make strategic decisions, etc, and the game simulates the arcade part.  Second, you control the character's arcade action with the game merely capping your abilities a bit (how fast you can swing a sword).

The first is more role-playing oriented I think.  It has the unfortunate quality that by following this voluntary practice you hurt yourself relative to those that dont...  This is something like macro-economics: how to encourage right behavior through system design.  I actually do fight mostly this way though maybe because I am new, with the exception of guzzing healing potions I wasn't aware that you could effectively hit and run (except to flee when fighting unknown monsters).

The problem with the second is that the game isn't nearly accurate enough to make it similar to a real fight.  I think the main issue though is physics.  First, the characters move at full speed at all times - the main problem with using hit/run in real life is that it simply takes time and energy to do this.

You can't sprint everywhere all the time - when you run your body speeds up and slows down.  The energy expended by your body is mostly expended when you change speeds (and some loss due to the up and down motion of running, which is partly due to humans not having all four legs on the ground...)

If you want to simulate this in the game, make the jump forward and backward during a fight cost a big pile of stamina.  Make the healing potion take time to work and time to 'clear the throat', i.e. limit the healing speed as suggested.

Similarly, running backwards should be replaced with turning and running forward in most cases, complete with 'exposing the backside' to damage.

Also, the ability to run through an Uber seems just wrong - real physical combat would be *completely* different if one person couldn't block a doorway or stand in someone else's way.

Changing this means that an aggressive guild could take over a small town by blockading the doorway and fighting incoming people.  I think this would be excellent actually, albeit probably annoying in practice (just as it is in our world).  It also doesn't fit well into the idea of being able to reject PvP attacks.  Maybe you should be able to run through anyone who rejects your attack - this makes sense - if they won't fight they can't block you right?

... In an ideally realistic world anyway.  How all this fits into release schedules, packet networks, etc. is harder to say.  But the game would be more effective and immersive if the valley with a dozen trepors actually required you to pick your way through if you can't kill a trepor yet.

Kevin