Merchant Archive

Doesn't sound bad, although I think it would fit better under Management. Though I am a Master Merchant, I can see how the Hiring line is useless. All you get are NPC's and Droids(the only reason I went through it since I hate those terminal vendors). But...what can you really put there? I think a better idea would be to move the Hiring skill to the Management line and come up with a whole new line in it's place. Now as for what, I don't know. Maybe lots? Maybe bells and whistles like shop music and lights(kinda like what Musicians get)? It's something to ponder to find a sensible idea for that. (something not outrageous that the devs would not laugh)

Or Maybe just Give MORE Eye-Candy, like the bell's and whistles, then just Vender Looks. That would be fine.

I know I'm 4404. I'd keep Hiring, not that I'd use it a whole lot, but I needed the skill points, and yep, you bet master and hiring were the first to go.

Yeah, I've already decided that whenever the next profession comes along I take(probably Starship Engineer with the Expansion months from now), Merchant is gonna go bye-bye. Or the Hiring and Management at least. Can't find a reason to keep it right now.

But while I don't need the points for anything, I'm fine with it for now.

We've discussed this before - it depends on the type of merchant you are. I also see a lot of merchants that have no interest in the efficiency tree - or at least take that last. On the ohter hand, if you're a resource seller, you want the Efficiency tree first. In the case of the Hiring tree, most Tailors hit the hiring tree first to get Hiring IV. What better way to show of the clothes you make, and it just won't do to have a poorly dressed vendor in a tailor shop.

To one degree or another, the same argument can by made for the Advertising and Management trees - it depends upon the focus of the merchant.

I've always wanted to see merchants be able to use the Hiring line in different ways. I'd like us to be able to hire ("craft") NPC furniture for peoples' homes (they don't have to *do* anything, really) -- like customers in a shop. I'd like us to be able to hire/craft NPC trainers for player cities. I'd like us to be able to hire/recruit white-dot NPCs that we see around towns. Click on it's radial, check "Hire" option, and pay the amount he requests if we want him.

These abilities would give our Hiring line a much more active role in the game and give us better reasons to keep it.