I don't really get the fact that there are no skill points used or crafting choices. Sounds like everyone will be able to craft everything? OR nobody can craft anything but they can buy stuff from a merchant and modify it given the time and effort to quest etc for the modification requirements.

If this is the case then meh. Playing a crafter/merchant was fun and it doesnt seem to make much RP sense that anyone can whip up a sword. Thats going on my assumptions anyway.

I'm assuming the dm's will release more information when the system is finalized. Prolly a good idea to just stick to the ideas and information we have been given, save people the dissapointment of not getting a reply =p

I know DM's dont just give a house and storage to anyone that fancies it. But storage is a massive perk if you are playing a merchant group thats just fact if you are buying or selling any items that weigh anything. I suppose if a striving merchant group comes up with a good idea, and finds ways to get around the problems in order to compete. It may eventually be rewarded for involving other players. Thats how the system is meant to work as I see it.

I know what Mossy is saying but I suppose some of these obsticles are IG issues that are just the case for any buisness trying to compete with groups that are already powerful and known. Some of these issues can be resolved IC by the sounds of it.

My only worry is the inability for player merchants to take orders from players before they have crafted the item. The random flaws mean that the items players want will have to be crafted and held before they are sold. Which means that anyone with storage will have an instant benifit (if they are a merchant group).

Lets hope we can find a way around that anyway. I'm happy to hear that there are ideas in the works to try and counter the issue.

Well I suppose i'm destined to sell light items to start with until some changes are made. My argument wasnt that without storage you cant play a merchant and create intrigue and fun for other players, just that storage really helps when you are buying heavy items from other players, or just generally when you are trading in armour. If storage is available IC that isnt supplied by merchants then i've never heard of it and I suppose I should seek it out IC.

Thanks for all the input.

if you're roleplaying a merchant, there are options that can help you get storage for the most part–including factions that rent storage.

I you are in a roleplay setting, why would you go to a main competitor and boost their income with coin and trust them with your items? You'd effectivley be working for them as they generally sell items for you and just take a cut.

There would be further issues with the fact that a member of this faction would have to be online to pass the item to you so you could pass the item to the buyer. If the buyer went straight to the storage holder, this would further distance your merchant name from the buyer.

Everything is against any trader who wants to deal with heavy goods, unless they can figure out a way of storing goods on other characters that they can get hold of easily. Its far more complicated than just hiring a bit of box space to hold some items.

Yeah i was around when Teamon Oak was a PC and Trystan was a player. If i remember rightly, Trystan basically delt in taking orders to craft items, not buying sets to sell from players. The new system will mean that heavy weapons etc will have to be carried before they are sold (obviously because you cant take an order to craft an item becuase theres no telling what the flaws etc will be).

Dealing in light items like scrolls is easy. I've made thousands on Pip by dealing in scrolls and minor light magic items, thats perhaps why the DM's are not changing it, there doesn't seem to be many complaints with wand crafting, scroll scribing (infact scroll crafting has been streamlined alot since i played a while ago; when scrolls of the same inate level had different craft values).

The new crafting system will require a second market traders to carry their goods before they sell them. Does this mean that any merchant group will need to hire bodyguards to just act as item mules if they dont have storage space? I suppose we have to be inventive as players and the best merchants are, but theres only so much you can carry as a player before it starts to get boring and you just resent the path you have chosen.

The means by which to enchant items under the new system are meant to go within rewards for quests so it won't just be high levels getting it all but all levels of characters

I fear that what you are suggesting is that perhaps there might be reward items of some form that are needed to enchant items. Therefore the weight will still be on gold? and thus those who can get hold of it. If these items are available to all levels, as in some items that can be recieved by lower levels in lower level quests then this might work.

I'm not trying to be a doomsayer or anything by the wya, i think that adding different enchantments and different weapon bonuses is a great idea. I love this server thats why i'm still playing it after starting like 5 years ago, it's that reason I always fear change =p

Storage is a massive bonus to this "second market" that you expect to occur from the creation of new items. Any player that wants to start a buisness is greatly hindered by what they can carry. As soon as you have bought enough items off players to make you encumbered (usually only takes one large weapon or bit of armour, unless you are some high str fighter class) your character is destined to walk slowly until he has sold some of it. This means your character merchant cant accompany anyone on quests or go to an inn to meet anyone without chucking the items off to someone they trust or making a very slow journey to their destination. Players with storage can buy these items, throw them in a box, free from the fear of items been pickpocketed while you are unable to run or not being able to join in a quest because you can barley move.

How is storage not a massive deal for anyone that wants to play a merchant?

Anyone asking questions remember that the have not finalised everything publically to the server so don't expect "spoilers" XD

On the subject of crafting in general. I feel that the allocation of points into crafting and the allocation of feats for crafting is useful in that it acts as a balance, for example if you want to craft armour you have to sacrifice the skill points to be good in that skill.

There has to be a balance in some form whether it be time, levels, skill choices or crafting. My personal preference is that the effort and time put into crafting was not at all an issue, it was the fact that it impeded your character from doing other things, like scripted quests. This would not be an issue if players had some form of storage (quite unreasonable suggestion due to the lag caused by item storage i imagine). But I found the fact that crafters had to team up with fighters for support and go on some form of expedition to an area a useful way to get people together.