An AH fix to bring in a Trade Channel

[Quanefel]

I am not sure this idea has been brought up or talked about much. If not then there might be a workable solution to a few trading issues that many players have brought up before. Namely, there is no Trade Channel within the game that a good number of players desire.

What I propose is adding a Trade Channel using something that is already in the game. The AH. Now, what I mean by that is add more options within the AH when a person lists items to include more that just a time listing for an item or the asking price/buyout price. For this to work, the lister's name would be added to item by default.

The options would include but not limited to the following:

1) A check box to list item as a "For Trade", No sale price being asked, contact seller.
2) A check box to list an item "As is". Meaning, do not bother the lister of the item. It is strictly listed as a sale on the AH, only. No deals.
3) A check box to list an item "For Sale or Trade" You may contact the seller if needed.
4) A check box to list an item with a "More Info" icon next to the item when listed. Meaning, when used that item will have next to it for all to see a small little icon (!) that the lister has more info included with it. Such as, the items they wish to trade for the item. The best ways to contact lister, who to directly contact, etc. This icon would be small but easily seen so not be in the way. Either have potential buyer hover curser over icon to bring up a small temp drop down screen with the info and/or make that icon clickable to bring up a full screen off to the side so you can look at it better, if you so wish.

What these or other options would do is decrease the number of Trade LFM's up all the time, allow players to sell OR trade an item in a more reasonable way, make use of the AH for trades instead of the Dev's creating something just for trade, allow those who wish to avoid the excessive AH fees since an item listed as a trade can not be charged for selling on the AH, allow the Dev's to modify something in game rather than waste more time or resources trying to create something from scratch, use it to maybe direct others to the Trade Forums for those who enjoy trading as a form of "fun" for them with the Info Icon button. So basically I see this as a Win-Win situation for the Dev's and us players.

Although there is nothing wrong with more options, those are just but a few of the ideas for options that can be added to the AH. I am sure there are many players(and Dev's) who will like this idea and hopefully those people can toss out more ideas or improve upon the ideas listed above. Thanks for reading this.

[Geonis]

Or, just join your server's trade channel?

[Quanefel]

Or, just join your server's trade channel?

Doesn't that require a player to be online actively using the server Trade channel to be effective? Whereas the AH can be set up for a 3 day period and you can go about doing what you want in-game.

[Geonis]

Doesn't that require a player to be online actively using the server Trade channel to be effective? Whereas the AH can be set up for a 3 day period and you can go about doing what you want in-game.

1) A check box to list item as a "For Trade", No sale price being asked, contact seller.

For trade, can be done via "Trade Channel" or Forums.

2) A check box to list an item "As is". Meaning, do not bother the lister of the item. It is strictly listed as a sale on the AH, only. No deals.

This is the current function of the AH.

3) A check box to list an item "For Sale or Trade" You may contact the seller if needed.

Again, can be done via "Trade Channel" or Forums.

4) A check box to list an item with a "More Info" icon next to the item when listed.

More info would again, be done via "Trade Channel" or Forums. Also, can post your "More Info" in your bio and post your character in a public position for "advertising" while not actively playing.



The changes you are talking about, are a lot of programming work to lessen players "leg work" a little.

Not even discussing the possible bugs introduced through these changes, it is a waste of time to save lazy players a small amount of time.

[Quanefel]

For trade, can be done via "Trade Channel" or Forums.



This is the current function of the AH.



Again, can be done via "Trade Channel" or Forums.



More info would again, be done via "Trade Channel" or Forums. Also, can post your "More Info" in your bio and post your character in a public position for "advertising" while not actively playing.



The changes you are talking about, are a lot of programming work to lessen players "leg work" a little.

Not even discussing the possible bugs introduced through these changes, it is a waste of time to save lazy players a small amount of time.

I honestly do not see how the Trade Channel or Trade forums is more effective than if trades were to be allowed on the AH. As far as I am aware of, not many players even use the Trade Channel in-game nor do most players even use the forums at all. If you believe its more effective to use the forums or trade channels than using the AH for trades, I just don't see it.

If a person posts "more info" in their character for trades, that is assuming two things. One, that someone would even bother looking at your profile and two, thats assuming a person is willing to just stand there for hours waiting on someone to see their profile with a trade list in it. A character just standing there is by no means seen as advertising their trades. I do not see a large amount of people logging in just to stand around hoping for someone to look at their profile. Why would anyone want to log in do something so ineffective as what you are suggesting?

Also to consider is the fact that in order for the Trade Channel to be effective, you have to be signed into the trade channel AND remain logged in to get an item traded. Once you log out, that is the end of your advertising your items until you log back in sometime, remake the trade channel, readvertise your items and remain in-game for anyone willing to trade with you.

Although my ideas might create more programing but I think they would be not as much as you think. The AH is already in place, they already have "Options" listed in the AH when you place an item on it. The code is already there, it just needs a little working to flesh out adding more to the Options in place now. It is not about saving "lazy players" any leg work. It is about making trading/selling more effective with the added bonus of reducing alot of the AH fees for items sold. If an item is traded using the AH, it bypasses and AH selling fee. Meaning we players can save a bit more PP rather than having a 30% fee be tacked on just for selling an item on the AH. It also makes use of something that more players use than the forums or the Trade Channel. If a person wanted to sell something in real life, you do not go where the least amount of people are or use the least effective means to advertise. It is the same in-game. Do you advertise for a trade/sell where the most people are or go to the least used means for trading/selling? I think most would want to go where their items can be seen by the most people AND not have to be online the whole time just to advertise for it.

[Falco_Easts]

I like the idea but think it could use a little tweeking. As stated, would take up a lot of Dev time though but think it would be good.