Mistlocke's PC stores

[GoldenArrow]

Markets spring up in places where people frequently congregate; location is important for business.

If people are not hanging around in the market, one must then ask one's self; 'Where are the people?'  

This is usually followed by merchants moving.

If PC merchants see people congregating, and want to set up shop in the area, I don't see the trouble with dropping a couple of makeshift stalls somewhere.  It makes sense.  Or, alternatively, NPC's - or PC's if they feel inclined - should be doing things to bring adventurers into the market.  Perhaps sales, or new stock, or a gladiatorial arena with naked elven women, or something.  

+1?

[Barber]

Can't say I shared this problem at all on the few merchants I played nor those I saw reach longevity. Some tedium is pretty inevitable.

I never found setting up shop on the Zig steps tedious, it was fun!

[Porkolt]

As of this moment, there are two PCs selling their junk sprawled out on the floor in Mistlocke square.
 
Nice idea about the market, but the stall signs aren't exactly vital to setting up a stall. People are still going to do it where they want.

[Kinslayer988]

And one of them as done this constantly even with warnings from the guards.

[chezcaliente]

Yeah I would suggest that if you want to lay your goods out, then do it in the market. If you want to interact with people, just stand in the square as a spruiker, and make slightly misleading statements about your amazing wares to get people's attention... and then show it to them in Barter if they engage with you.  

Or better yet. Have your PC go set up shop in the market, and hire another PC to spruik for you to encourage traffic.

Alternatively, an NPC spruiker could be set up to advertise stall rental in the market (for an additional fee of course!). Essentially they would parrot back a simple phrase for a set time period at a duration that isn't too spammy. This NPC could even be an Ymphian Parrot!

I really like the new market space and feel it should be used more. I think the more merchants utilise it, the more traffic it will get.

EDIT: "An Ymphian" not "a ymphian" ... stupid consonant masquerading as vowel made my grammar confused.

[Staring Death]

The only time I've actually played the role of a merchant was back in the Underdark, and I was selling 'Good day' and hugs, because my character was bored. The part I found fun was hiring people to advertise for me. It worked fairly well, for wares stupid as this!

[Draon17]

I understand the desire to reduce lag, but along those lines would something like the Ilmater freebies in the square be frowned upon?

If the market is going to be where PCs set up though, I like the idea of a sign appearing out front to let players know.

Also something to get people in the door on a more regular basis would be nice. Most every item I have found can not be sold to NPC merchants for one reason or another, so not a lot of traffic there. The supply trading halfling is cool, but I'm not sure how many people bother. Maybe a merchant or two who's stock changes on a regular basis would get people coming in to check.

[tropic]

I'm guessing that with the new server and all the work that went into Mistlocke, the DMs want to see it used the way they had planned...
 
But markets are irrational and unpredictable! It makes sense to have a marketplace inside for the career merchant/vendors, just like the Ziggurat had. But for itinerant adventurers (and actual player-characters, "meta" though it may be...), it makes sense setting up in high-traffic areas.
 
A villager looking to buy new pots and pans knows exactly where to go. An adventurer in the market for a new magical sword wouldn't go to a fruit vendor.
 
I suggest putting a stall in the town square - if you really want to discourage it, just make the price nontrivial - 30 or 50 gold for ten minutes.
 
I am casting my vote for a stall in the square... without one, it's going to be a constant battle for as long as the center of the setting is Mistlocke.

[Egon the Monkey]

There are wild camp-style gathering quests that go there now for food supplies/meat. it's a much better market than the Zig as the PCs, NPCs, a sending station and a quest are together. It actually gets busy! That said it should be clear that trading the odd thing shouldn't be illegal, otherwise you'd have PCs renting stalls to sell a single axe or whatever, and the signs would always be out of date. There's just too few PC stalls if it gets busy.

[Divine Intervention]

Three stalls is usually enough, there aren't actually all that many merchants at any one time really.  I think the new market is great and the sending system makes it easy and convenient for merchants to broadcast wares and advertise their presence.

[AGOTFANBOI]

Just submit to our new overlords and use the Market as intended! Once you start making it the only place to go, it will become THE place to go. There is evidence of this already occurring.