User:Diarik/Trader Proposal - Revision history

Maintenance script at 09:26, 8 July 2007

2007-07-08T09:26:03Z

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	The essential idea of the Trader is someone who is able to manipulate the flow of money for the sake of personal profit. However, this concept has been sorely unpronounced and untouched. In terms of game design theory, I am a firm believer that a guild is improved by creating abilities through which a player finds himself forced to make a meaningful choice in their playstyle, thus producing situations in which they have the opportunity to think about the way they roleplay their characters.		The essential idea of the Trader is someone who is able to manipulate the flow of money for the sake of personal profit. However, this concept has been sorely unpronounced and untouched. In terms of game design theory, I am a firm believer that a guild is improved by creating abilities through which a player finds himself forced to make a meaningful choice in their playstyle, thus producing situations in which they have the opportunity to think about the way they roleplay their characters. (See [[User:Diarik/Guild Analysis\|Guild Analysis]])

	One excellent, and existing, choice has been contract versus marketplace. Traders currently have the choice to either profit by selling goods or by ferrying them. While this is certainly good, it can clearly be made better, especially as in both cases skill becomes negligible and pointless except for blind circling for its own sake.		One excellent, and existing, choice has been contract versus marketplace. Traders currently have the choice to either profit by selling goods or by ferrying them. While this is certainly good, it can clearly be made better, especially as in both cases skill becomes negligible and pointless except for blind circling for its own sake.

	The below is a proposal, initially entitled the Trader Entrepreneurship Proposal, that presents a number of suggestions on how to improve the play of the Trader guild.		The below is a proposal, initially entitled the Trader Entrepreneurship Proposal, that presents a number of suggestions on how to improve the play of the Trader guild.



	==Credit or Credibility: The Health of an Economic Agent==		==Credit or Credibility: The Health of an Economic Agent==

Maintenance script: /* ToDo */ removing section

2007-07-08T09:18:23Z

ToDo: removing section

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	The below is a proposal, initially entitled the Trader Entrepreneurship Proposal, that presents a number of suggestions on how to improve the play of the Trader guild.		The below is a proposal, initially entitled the Trader Entrepreneurship Proposal, that presents a number of suggestions on how to improve the play of the Trader guild.


	==ToDo==
	* Write Examples
	** Example commands.
	** Example scenario.
	* Elaborate stock market. It's just short and pointless right now.

	==Credit or Credibility: The Health of an Economic Agent==		==Credit or Credibility: The Health of an Economic Agent==

Maintenance script: /* Customer or Vendor NPCs */

2007-07-08T09:17:57Z

Customer or Vendor NPCs

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	===Customer or Vendor NPCs===		===Customer or Vendor NPCs===
			NOTE: This section, and the two Example sections below are incomplete, incoherent, and uncertain. They were my attempt at developing a set of verbs and actions by which the system could be highly detailed, rather than just conceptual-level musings.

			Unfortunately, I appear to have run out of creativity, and given the direction of my recent thoughts, I will not likely be returning to this.
			----
	NPCs have a number of "statistics" and skills, just as you do. They have business sense, knowledge of quality, and experience to back it up. As such, it is entirely possible for a shopkeeper to ambush you and persuade you to buy their wares without any involvement at all. This may be likened to combat, where you walk into a hunting area and, without warning, seordmaors will throw lightning bolts your way.		NPCs have a number of "statistics" and skills, just as you do. They have business sense, knowledge of quality, and experience to back it up. As such, it is entirely possible for a shopkeeper to ambush you and persuade you to buy their wares without any involvement at all. This may be likened to combat, where you walk into a hunting area and, without warning, seordmaors will throw lightning bolts your way.

Maintenance script: /* Customer or Vendor NPCs */

2007-06-28T23:28:46Z

Customer or Vendor NPCs

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	Charisma, Discipline, Intelligence, and Wisdom are the primary stats involved in making a sale. Trading and Appraisal are key skills. Thus, in appraising a customer or vendor, you may see:		Charisma, Discipline, Intelligence, and Wisdom are the primary stats involved in making a sale. Trading and Appraisal are key skills. Thus, in appraising a customer or vendor, you may see:

	>appraise Milgrym		>appraise Milgrym<br>
	You are certain that Milgrym is in a good mood and open to business talks.		You are certain that Milgrym is in a good mood and open to business talks.<br>
	You are certain that he is definitely less charismatic than you are.		You are certain that he is definitely less charismatic than you are.<br>
	You are certain that he is definitely less unreadable than you are.		You are certain that he is definitely less unreadable than you are.<br>
	You are certain that he is definitely wiser than you are.		You are certain that he is definitely wiser than you are.<br>
	Taking stock of his business acumen, you are certain that Milgrym is an experienced trader.		Taking stock of his business acumen, you are certain that Milgrym is an experienced trader.<br>
	Taking stock of his knowledge of products, you are certain that Milgrym knows what he's talking about.		Taking stock of his knowledge of products, you are certain that Milgrym knows what he's talking about.

Maintenance script: /* Example: Purchasing Wares */

2007-06-28T23:17:16Z

Example: Purchasing Wares

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	Examples of possible new SPECULATE abilities would be pondering on the prices available from other merchants, contemplating the pitiful state of the wares, and so on, while currently available abilities already increase its value in the eyes of the customer (though another to consider possible other buyers may be useful). Like combat commands, the trick is to unbalance your opponent and increase your own stability through effective combinations. You use a combination of your Trading and Appraisal skill to overwhelm the customer's Appraisal and fool them into buying what you have to sell.		Examples of possible new SPECULATE abilities would be pondering on the prices available from other merchants, contemplating the pitiful state of the wares, and so on, while currently available abilities already increase its value in the eyes of the customer (though another to consider possible other buyers may be useful). Like combat commands, the trick is to unbalance your opponent and increase your own stability through effective combinations. You use a combination of your Trading and Appraisal skill to overwhelm the customer's Appraisal and fool them into buying what you have to sell.

			===Customer or Vendor NPCs===
			NPCs have a number of "statistics" and skills, just as you do. They have business sense, knowledge of quality, and experience to back it up. As such, it is entirely possible for a shopkeeper to ambush you and persuade you to buy their wares without any involvement at all. This may be likened to combat, where you walk into a hunting area and, without warning, seordmaors will throw lightning bolts your way.

			Charisma, Discipline, Intelligence, and Wisdom are the primary stats involved in making a sale. Trading and Appraisal are key skills. Thus, in appraising a customer or vendor, you may see:

			>appraise Milgrym
			You are certain that Milgrym is in a good mood and open to business talks.
			You are certain that he is definitely less charismatic than you are.
			You are certain that he is definitely less unreadable than you are.
			You are certain that he is definitely wiser than you are.
			Taking stock of his business acumen, you are certain that Milgrym is an experienced trader.
			Taking stock of his knowledge of products, you are certain that Milgrym knows what he's talking about.

			Obviously, I've stolen this from combat appraisal. While most of the lines are fairly clear ("unreadable" refers to Discipline), the first line bears some elaboration as a segue into the next topic. How open Milgrym is refers to his Interest Level.

			Interest Level is a score that refers to the position of the buyer. The more interested the buyer is, the more likely it is that they'll take whatever price is named.

	===Example: Purchasing Wares===		===Example: Purchasing Wares===

Maintenance script at 02:42, 27 June 2007

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 ** Example commands.
 ** Example scenario.
 * Elaborate stock market. It's just short and pointless right now.
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 ===Fluctuation in Stock Price===
 A stock's value would change not on abstract market vagueries, but on player action. While the typical purchases of adventurers provide one base measure, a more important measure would be based on younger Traders purchasing bulk wares from shopkeepers and selling them. The shopkeeper is thus motivated to sell as much as possible; failure to do so results in a drop in their stock price.

Maintenance script: /* Actual Banking: Investment */

2007-06-27T02:31:26Z

Actual Banking: Investment

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	Now we take a departure from realism. Since there is no permanent effect due to your investment, then your Trading and Appraisal experience and your return should come back immediately.		Now we take a departure from realism. Since there is no permanent effect due to your investment, then your Trading and Appraisal experience and your return should come back immediately.

	Of course, no matter how much you borrow to make your investment, you have to pay it all back, plus interest. While paying the interest itself would raise your credibility, paying an additional bonus on top of it (in other words, cutting into your profit) raises it even more. Thus, your profit is your discretion in whether you use it to aspire higher faster, or take your rise in ~~coporate~~ Elanthia slow and steady.		Of course, no matter how much you borrow to make your investment, you have to pay it all back, plus interest. While paying the interest itself would raise your credibility, paying an additional bonus on top of it (in other words, cutting into your profit) raises it even more. Thus, your profit is your discretion in whether you use it to aspire higher faster, or take your rise in corporate Elanthia slow and steady.

	The difference between a Banker and an Associate Banker is the degree to which you're allowed to use the bank's funds to seed your investments. An associate banker might have a cap of 5% of the bank's store, while a banker might have a 10%. A bank manager might have 20% available.		The difference between a Banker and an Associate Banker is the degree to which you're allowed to use the bank's funds to seed your investments. An associate banker might have a cap of 5% of the bank's store, while a banker might have a 10%. A bank manager might have 20% available.

Maintenance script: /* Actual Banking: Investment */

2007-06-27T02:30:58Z

Actual Banking: Investment

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	===Actual Banking: Investment===		===Actual Banking: Investment===
	So, what the heck does a banker actually DO? Well, associate bankers and bankers essentially do one thing: they invest money. The goal is to make money for the bank, and take a little extra for themselves at the same time (you know, that profit thing).		So, what the heck does a banker actually DO? Well, associate bankers and bankers essentially do one thing: they invest money. The goal is to make money for the bank, and take a little extra for themselves at the same time (you know, that profit thing). In order to do this, bankers receive a second line of credit provided strictly for their investments. (The first line is reserved for their salesmanship.)

	But, what's an investment? Essentially, you go around to NPCs and seed them with capital. The amount that you seed them with is limited by your Trading skill, and whether or not it's a good idea is determined by a skill check of Appraisal versus their Charisma. Or their Trading. The NPCs will primarily be shop owners, of course, but it's conceivable that the same customer critters can be used, based on how they end up being coded.		But, what's an investment? Essentially, you go around to NPCs and seed them with capital. The amount that you seed them with is limited by your Trading skill, and whether or not it's a good idea is determined by a skill check of Appraisal versus their Charisma. Or their Trading. The NPCs will primarily be shop owners, of course, but it's conceivable that the same customer critters can be used, based on how they end up being coded.

	Now we take a departure from realism. Since there is no permanent effect due to your investment, then your Trading and Appraisal experience and your return should come back immediately.		Now we take a departure from realism. Since there is no permanent effect due to your investment, then your Trading and Appraisal experience and your return should come back immediately.

⚫	The difference between a Banker and an Associate Banker is the degree to which you're allowed to use the bank's funds to seed your investments. An associate banker might have a cap of 5% of the bank's store, while a banker might have a 10%. A bank manager might have 20% available.

	Of course, no matter how much you borrow to make your investment, you have to pay it all back, plus interest. While paying the interest itself would raise your credibility, paying an additional bonus on top of it (in other words, cutting into your profit) raises it even more. Thus, your profit is your discretion in whether you use it to aspire higher faster, or take your rise in coporate Elanthia slow and steady.		Of course, no matter how much you borrow to make your investment, you have to pay it all back, plus interest. While paying the interest itself would raise your credibility, paying an additional bonus on top of it (in other words, cutting into your profit) raises it even more. Thus, your profit is your discretion in whether you use it to aspire higher faster, or take your rise in coporate Elanthia slow and steady.

		⚫	The difference between a Banker and an Associate Banker is the degree to which you're allowed to use the bank's funds to seed your investments. An associate banker might have a cap of 5% of the bank's store, while a banker might have a 10%. A bank manager might have 20% available.

	Naturally, if a number of bankers make pitiful investments all the time, they may begin to have less money available in the bank than needs to be withdrawn by a player. While this really should never happen, it can either be hacked around by giving a bank an infinite store to withdraw from (but not to invest from), or player accounts should begin to have less money in them. A banker's credibility will quickly plummet and his own financial stores will be plundered if such a scenario occurs in order to restore the bank's store.		Naturally, if a number of bankers make pitiful investments all the time, they may begin to have less money available in the bank than needs to be withdrawn by a player. While this really should never happen, it can either be hacked around by giving a bank an infinite store to withdraw from (but not to invest from), or player accounts should begin to have less money in them. A banker's credibility will quickly plummet and his own financial stores will be plundered if such a scenario occurs in order to restore the bank's store.

	Oh, and by the way, this system also makes it possible for a player account to gain interest from depositing in a bank.		Oh, and by the way, this system also makes it possible for a player account to gain interest from depositing in a bank. This reward is the flip-side of the risk of permitting bankers to use player monies in investments: it is only possible if the bank can in fact lose all its funds.

			If it is chosen to instead utilize the infinite store scenario, then an initial investment store should be somewhat arbitrarily determined.

	===Actual Banking: Exchange Rates===		===Actual Banking: Exchange Rates===

Maintenance script: /* Application */

2007-06-27T02:26:43Z

Application

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	You see, in the banking system, credibility is a commodity just as it is in the marketplace. It can be speculated upon, and thus reinforced or belittled. This is generally anonymous, but information about who is affecting your credibility may be discovered through discreet bribes for information or by asking a Thief to perform espionage. Both methods are useful additionally for widdling away someone's credibility.		You see, in the banking system, credibility is a commodity just as it is in the marketplace. It can be speculated upon, and thus reinforced or belittled. This is generally anonymous, but information about who is affecting your credibility may be discovered through discreet bribes for information or by asking a Thief to perform espionage. Both methods are useful additionally for widdling away someone's credibility.

			This does create an atmosphere of politics, with the potential in-fighting and assassination plots that could arise. However, it is justified as a means to create two forces: one, to spread and distribute high circle Traders more evenly across the realms; and two, to create a scarcity in which it is possible to justify the income that bankers enjoy.

	===Actual Banking: Investment===		===Actual Banking: Investment===

Maintenance script: /* Credibility */

2007-06-27T02:23:39Z

Credibility

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	===Credibility===		===Credibility===
		⚫	First, a would-be banker must worry about credibility. Credibility, like credit, does not carry over into other provinces. A trader's credibility begins as a score determined by the timeliness with which they paid their dues. However, hitting the streets as a salesman does not earn you high credibility; it makes an impact, but it is not large. The real way to earn credibility is through doing a series of deals with Trader Guild NPCs, most notably the guildleaders and commerce ministers.
	----
	NOTE: This is where I need to continue revamping.
	----
⚫	First, a would-be banker must worry about credibility. ~~They~~ ~~have~~ ~~provincial level credibility that~~ does not carry over into other provinces. A trader begins with no ~~credibility~~ ~~(indeed~~, a ~~trader~~ ~~under~~ ~~50th~~ ~~circle~~ ~~has~~ ~~negative~~ ~~repute~~, in ~~the~~ ~~banking~~ ~~system)~~ ~~and~~ ~~earns~~ it through doing a series of deals with Trader Guild NPCs, most notably the guildleaders and commerce ministers.

	You should never have an exact estimate of your provincial credibility. While the precise scale may vary from 0 to 1000, there would only be perhaps 4 or 5 actual messagings for an indicator. Perhaps 0-100, 100-300, 300-600, 600-900, 900-1000. However, differences of, say, 50 points would be significant. Furthermore, credibility should decay very rapidly without constantly being boosted. It is easier to boost it as a banker than as a potential banker, so there is little reason to take part in the system unless you are intending to join it.		You should never have an exact estimate of your provincial credibility. While the precise scale may vary from 0 to 1000, there would only be perhaps 4 or 5 actual messagings for an indicator. Perhaps 0-100, 100-300, 300-600, 600-900, 900-1000. However, differences of, say, 50 points would be significant. Furthermore, credibility should decay very rapidly without constantly being boosted. It is easier to boost it as a banker than as a potential banker, so there is little reason to take part in the system unless you are intending to join it.

	Raising one's credibility, outside of the banking system, is done chiefly through determining which NPC is the best to bribe. That determination is by interacting with them, similar to the Business as War system above, which uses a combination of Trading and Appraisal to understand how amenable they are to a bribe. It is also possible for an older Trader to endorse you by determining this for you and giving you the funds to make the bribe. It is also possible to raise credibility through the guildleader by accepting a special contract ~~from~~ ~~him that has multiple~~ ~~unloading~~ ~~points~~.		Raising one's credibility, outside of the banking system, is done chiefly through determining which NPC is the best to bribe. That determination is by interacting with them, similar to the Business as War system above, which uses a combination of Trading and Appraisal to understand how amenable they are to a bribe. (We can assume, here, that all relevant NPCs will have the same positive impact on your credibility when bribed.) It is also possible for an older Trader to endorse you by determining this for you and giving you the funds to make the bribe. It is also possible to raise credibility through the guildleader by accepting a special contract (perhaps a smuggling run).

	It is also possible to leverage your pristine record of repaying credit on time and in excessive amounts to indicate your superior capabilities with large amounts of coin.		It is also possible to leverage your pristine record of repaying credit on time and in excessive amounts to indicate your superior capabilities with large amounts of coin.