Thank you Carua for taking care of this and seeing it through.
I was going to post my thoughts before I left to visit family but decided not to. Many of you are already aware of some of the difficulties we have experienced so far. I did stop in a few times and had the chance to talk with Carua about the meeting. I was pleased at the results that he told me of and of the number of players who were able to participate. I will add my thoughts now for further discussions. However I think that he outcome of the meeting really said it already. Great job everyone for working that out'
Making a profit - This I want to say as it should be said. I love being at the markets whether as a merchant or a customer. But one has to remember that this is a RP game. The best appeal of the market is the RP that can be established by player interaction between transactions. If I was really in it for the trias I would have had to claim bankruptcy long ago. Many markets I have attended I have made only a few thousand trias. Sometimes a lot more, sometimes actually nothing. I have made more on average selling items one or two at at time through auctions. The marketplace provides an opportunity to RP and helps bring people to you. This creates a customer base. I get more sells through /tells of my time during the week then I do at many markets. Many will come to feel you out, to see if you are someone they may want to do business with or not. By taking the opportunity to RP your interest it them they get that chance. They compare your prices with others as well as get the chance to take note of the type of things you normally carry. So if you have a bad day in sells make up for it in your presentation of character. People do take note of it. If you are a merchant by trade then take time to set up once in awhile near Harnsquist. Remember who the other merchants are and you could ask a few to join you in a mini-market too improve your sells and potential customers. In short form have fun with it. Your trias will grow with time.
Hydlaa East Gate- I think that this is the best place for a regular market, besides being open it is also stable for larger crowds. The market in this area can also be spread out down the street as well
Hydlaa Plaza - Though this sometimes best for a crowd many that hang around the market are not there as a participant. This adds to the subject of lagg and difficulties for many players. Because it is center of town I feel that the location is more OOC then IC as a regular market place. It is suited better for an occasional special event market or maybe a mini-market that is thrown together quickly.
The Laanx Temple grounds - It is a large area and may provide a good playing area as far as game play lag. I feel also that this are is more OOC then IC simply because it is in the temple grounds. I am sure that the Shavern would not be pleased without a sizable donation being made to the temple itself. Again it is better to be used in a more festive type of market use.
The tunnel to the arena - This area was also considered before the meeting. I think though I like the location because its a interesting idea. But I feel this is also more OPC as far as a large market is concerned unless of course it is planned in conjunction with an arena event. I do however think that it is a great area for irregular and mini-market styles.
Moving Markets - This was the killer of the market place over a year ago. They more you move the less interest you generate in it. It takes a few markets in one are to bring customers to you as they get acquainted with the location. It may take a few markets at the East gate before the customers come back steadily again. So be patient the results will come in time.
Mini-Markets - I love this! There are times when I get bored and am ready to leave. When I was first sent a /tells for this I jumped at it and spread the invite to the other merchants I knew. We all grabbed a few items and set-up and it had great results. What is best is that they can be done unscheduled without little effort to set-up. Because of that it is not limited to location verses a very large market. The possibilities of this type of marketing are almost endless. I would like to see more of these being used at different times and set-up in conjunction with other events. Like just before a scheduled event to help bring people into that area in support of it or to atleast check it out since they are there.
Market times and dates- The current 1900GMT time was set to help establish a regularity to the market. Because it is a prime time for Game play events there will be problems in the further with the additions added through the Outpost, the Red Crystal Den , the restaurant in Gugrontrid as well as many other larger events. As well as it being on a Sunday. Both can and will be needed to be flexible as the other things begin to come to life in their own accord. The main thing as the regularity of the location and the by-weekly time frame. The time frame can be expended to allow others to join in a more convenient time in relation to their time zone. This will not cut down the ammount of participating merchants only the number of stands in one particular period.
Displays - I don't think any one particular stand is much different then the others. The stand mentioned of the Woiperdingers has greatly downsized in items to be very few at times. However, they do combined their merchants into one stand which I really like. By doing so I think it cuts down a lot -vs- a individual stand with many items displayed. because the size of the market place has increased greatly over the last six months or so the need for reduction of vender items do need to be minimal to help keep things manageable for all players participating ( meaning lag). A few carpets and books and a couple pieces of wares are not bad. It is when one or more drop their entire inventories that it becomes a problem. I use crates to display several thing at one time, sacks also work, as they both cut down the number of items actually displayed. {As always if deciding on this approach do not display anything of value using this method]
Advertising - [laughing] Always a pet-pev for me. In all honestly once the market is shouted at the opening. Everyone begins to know we are set-up through word of mouth. Auctions have almost as much range as shout so yes, every five minutes is as good as every thirty seconds. All you really do is knock each other out of the auction chat. Once it becomes to much people ignore it anyway, so once every so often is more then sufficient and probably best for advertising. I know I quit watching it after the first half hour if not sooner.
