Component Vendors

[Nysan]

In various sections of the realms, there are vendors that stock components that don't seem to sell to anyone. After extensive in-game clue-hunting, a few of us have assumed these vendors are for players with the licence to own a spell component shop to buy thier stock. No idea if that assumption is right, but if it is it sparks a line of thought... if not, ignore the following:

Is it possible to access these vendors without a dwelling? I don't see much difference in selling out of a shop vs selling out of a cart or out of saddlebags, besides of maybe pricing concerns.

Current vendors that stock spell components seem to be constantly out of stock. From what I gathered, this is linked to the new vendor inventory code that doesn't dump/refresh stock often. From what I hear in-game, this has lead to a rather high demand for certain components and some have no means to attain outside of shops, could be wrong... I don't know every component well.

On the same line of thought, I don't see many new player shops popping up, for whatever reason. Also, there are only 2(?) player component shops in game, that I know of, so it seems these various trader shops sit relatively unused.

So, is it in the realm of possibility to supply licences to non-dwelling owners? Through the merchants guild, some other organization, or something? These traders seem to be a viable solution to stock issues, just need a way to access them... Thoughts?

[Bregga]

I like this Idea, I've seen those component shops all over and get annoyed when I see something I need but can't find anywhere else lol

[Kesiel]

Yes it's possible to apply to set up your own trading organisation/back-of-a-cart business and this is exactly what's being done currently by a certain Holycoin and her business partner.

shameless-self-promotion
Check the noticeboards for details ^_^
/shameless-self-promotion

As you suggest though, it's preferable to use other sources if at all possible for the sake of promoting more roleplay.

[Peverell]

While the shameless self promotion wagon is in town, I'll point out that a certain free newspaper run by a certain Lorekeeper would welcome advertisements for ANY sorts of business or trade

[Isolrem]

Rumor has it that a number of players would like to set up player run component shops (or take over the inactive ones), but the applications are not being considered for the moment?

[Nysan]

Oh, no. I knew we could become merchants and start 'off-the'cart' businesses, like Gilain does. (self-promotion works wonders) I wanted to know if we could purchase the licences to buy from those component stock vendors without owning a dwelling/shop?

The only concern I could see is dwelling shops have code to regulate item prices and cart shop prices are up to the merchant. As long as some guidelines are in place, it shouldn't be a great concern, like a big flashing sign that says "don't sell ruby dust for a copper coin!!". If the system works like the catalog shop and the licence is an item, 'revoking' their licences and retrieving goods from abusing merchants would be easy.

Anyways, original question: Can an 'off the cart' merchant get a licence to buy from component stock shops?

[Gwain]

Rumor has it that a number of players would like to set up player run component shops (or take over the inactive ones), but the applications are not being considered for the moment?

There are issues currently with player-run component shops. I think they're broken.

[Nysan]

Rumor has it that a number of players would like to set up player run component shops (or take over the inactive ones), but the applications are not being considered for the moment?

There are issues currently with player-run component shops. I think they're broken.

Perfect timing! Off-the-cart shops are a great alternative.

[Kesiel]

Perhaps I wasn't clear enough:

Yes, it is possible to apply to set up a trading organisation and be granted a license to use the warehouses.

[Nysan]

Perhaps I wasn't clear enough:

Yes, it is possible to apply to set up a trading organisation and be granted a license to use the warehouses.

Ahh, I can be slow sometimes, sorry. Good to know there is hope without housing, thanks!

[Caelnai]

Recalling old discussion on this, Dalvyn implied "out of stock" is also related to hording by players. Is that still the case? If so, is it keyed to a specific area only?

I've really loved player "cart vendors" RP's on the surface and really support that, but I wonder if it hasn't aggravated the "out of stock" problem a bit? In the Underdark, the cart system doesn't really work because you can't move them across cities easily. Monopolies are also a problem because of player activity, so it would be nice to have more store stock there. (I had one hapless drow who was trapped somewhere for awhile because earthstones are out of stock there. Very tricksy! )

[Nysan]

Before, out of stock was due to player hording certain items... and a miscalculation of the amount of certain items being used (flask of water, hehe). The updated system that doesn't dump vendor inventory of all the wooden spears, crude armour, ect, ect often has a side effect of not restocking spell components it normally stocks, at least thats what folks say. I'm not 100% certain since I'm outside the coding areas.

I highly doubt the handful of out-of-cart merchants are having a large impact on NPC vendor out-of-stock issues. Granted, I've only a couple besides old Gilain, but they all seem to follow a similar 'dont stock more then you can sell' approach. Healthier for everyone to stock a decent amount and restock regularly rather than horde 200 xxx component for weeks. The exception to this being trade goods, like metals and gems, though that has no impact on vendor goods being player-generated items.

[Zorinar]

Hey Great thread!
I would like to add in a small tidbit about component shops. Most of them are chronically out of stock. For example, the Invoker guildhall in Silverymoon has a functioning component shop now and I have never once been able to buy from it. I check all the time, even after reboots. It's always out of stock. Recently, I ran around looking for a blank scroll and visited a plethera of component shops. All of them were out of stock of everything I tried to buy from them! I guess everyone is on strike:)

Z

[darcrod]

If anything and should these licenses be granted, humbly I would ask to raise the prices of those shops since they are fairly cheap and would erase all interest of characters to venture to certain areas to find these components and then sell them, or keep them for personal use. Just a thought. So people still have a reason to collect/create components and then sell them, or having certain components removed of shops because their rarity and is in the best interest of the mud removed because finding/creating them give characters "something to do", namely yuan-ti eyes, components created through the forge, items created through alchemy.

[Enig]

The point of these shops isn't for people to buy components for their personal use but rather to allow merchant PCs to buy components and then resell them to other PCs. Without the lower prices there wouldn't be much room for a profit margin, and if PC merchants can't outdo NPC merchants in prices I think it's safe to say they'd lose a lot of business.

In terms of collecting, I *really* don't think it's in the best interest of the MUD to force component merchant PCs to go out and spend a few RL hours at repetitive tasks every time they want to replenish their stock of wares. For personal use that's not quite as bad but doing it to stock up a business just sounds painful.

[Nysan]

As Enig said, this whole discussion is not about stocking personal spell pouches its about PC merchants, like Kesiel and Gilain, stocking wares to sell to other players. I love all the methods to craft or gather components out in the world. They work great when I need 5 vials of blood for Nysan or 2 perfectly smooth stones for Siros for their personal use.

On the other hand, Gilain stocking his cart might need 7 vials of blood, 9 perfectly smooth stones, 6 earthstones, 3 startstones, 6 reeds, 3 scales, 7 jac gems, 4 tiny titanium shields, and 20 flasks of water to fill orders. The task turns from useful alternative methods to full time job, leaving a very small window of time for RP, group adventuring, buying/selling other stuff, and do I have to mention time for trade skills like mining?

As for price, why ask for a change? These are the same prices players that own component shops have been paying all along. I don't understand why it suddenly needs increasing when someone mentions out-of-cart businesses. Like Enig said, higher PC merchants have to pay for goods, the less profit they get when they sell and running a business that costs more than it pays is demoralizing.