First off, I have been on the Sylvan shard for years, but took a hiatus for a while (Okay an extended while) and am just now returning. To make a very long story very short, the primary reason I am returning (and finding myself being completely addicted to Sylvan again) is because what I love about UO or just about any MMORPG is crafting and RP. I enjoy a good hunt now and then, but my passion is crafting and RP. Now I believe Sylvan is truly a perfect place to not only do both of those, but in fact to be able to happily marry the two together and have a blast doing it. That brings me to my main reason for this post.
I must say I mean no offense to anyone by this post, as this is purely my view of it, but I think it is a valid one that bears hearing. I have a crafter on Sylvan. I make arrows of all kinds, metal goods, food stuffs, and lots of other neat things that we are fortunate enough to be be able to craft on Sylvan. The vast majority of items cost me absolutely nothing to make. I use a use or a few uses of my tool, which after buying one tinker kit to make more tools costs nothing. I use up some basic resources, which in almost every case I go out and gather in bulk at no cost but my labor. And I mix it all together and wallah! A fine product worthy of selling to my friends in Sylvan for a reasonable price. Ah! But there's the rub! What is reasonable?
To me, without adding to the already plentiful postings on basic economics, a reasonable price is enough to cover my expenses, which as already mentioned are nearly zero for the vast majority of items, and enough to make a little something for myself to spend. I have no ambitions of being the next Sam Walton or Bill Gates on UO. I can make plenty just going out and hunting big critters with my big nasty 'tank.' If money is all you care about, then trust me, that is the easier route. I can make millions that way, and at least as easily as even the most successful and greedy crafter can. But in fact, I don't do that. My tank is mostly used to help others out when they wander into the wrong critter. But I do love crafting. That's why I craft. It's fun. I think that is why the majority of people craft. I get a sense of satisfaction out of making all these neat items for my friends and fellow Sylanites (Sylvanians? Sylvans???) and playing the merchant who is out to win over their business and their loyalty.... as an orc no less. And even us orcs know how much the humies love dealing with orcs! But that's the fun of it, and that is the reward of it. Haggling, competing for business with fellow crafters, coming up with clever RP marketing schemes, making shopping a fun and interesting experience instead of a mundane trip to the local replicator..err NPC vendor. I guess it is all in your attitude. And yes, I realize most of you have never met Zug, but give him time... he'll come after your business soon enough.
I honestly don't charge much. Perhaps I charge less than an NPC vendor might for certain things, and yet I can still make a healthy profit doing so. Arrows, you say? I pay absolutely nothing to make them. I chop down some trees with me big choppa and I gots boards. Boards make me lots of shafts. I can go punch a chicken with me bare fists and got some feathers if I want, but harpies are more fun. A couple bits of iron from da pickaxe gets me a fletching kit wif a flick of da tinker kit. Put 'em all together and I gots arrows for nothin'? So, I take some time gathering the stuff for them... and I had a heck of a good time doing it, whistling an orcy tune the whole time. That's my big pay off. I had an orcy good time and I get some stuff I can sell out of it for some shinies as a bonus. *Pardon the orciness slipping in, but just talking about it gets me all orcy inside!* In the end, I can say the same for most of what I make. I'm doing it to have fun. That's what it's all about. That's why we're all here, I hope. Sure I don't wanna lose money any more than anyone else. And I don't. I gotta spend money to lose money, right? What do crafters get for their time? A lot of fun killin' plants, making sheeps bald, an' muggin' critters for their hide an' loot, if ye asks me!... Oh, yeah, and stuff you can sell for money, too.
Even when I have to spend money, I don't have to spend much. Blank scrolls are cheap, runes are cheap, regs are cheap... but a rune book sells for HOW much?
As far as people buying my goods and re-selling them, I am all for it. Enjoy! If people want to pay more for the stuff than they have to for whatever reason, that's cool by me. I still made a little profit, had fun along the way, and feel good about my pricing. If I keep my vendor stocked and you are selling my stuff for more, and people buy from you instead of me, you must be doing something right! Congrats! We both win! But that won't stop me from trying to win those customers back.
If you ask me, fixing minimum prices ruins half the fun of being a crafter. If you want people to buy your stuff, I have a whole bunch of ideas for you. You can try to make better stuff than anyone else and keep selling for more. You can realize that your time is not as valuable as you think it is in game and lower your prices to what customers are willing to pay. You can come up with clever marketing schemes, like half price Tuesday, Free Frog Fridays, or Call your self Crazy Edward and start slashing prices or slashing bolts of cloth.. your choice. There are limitless ideas out there if you let loose and have fun with it. You can actually get out there and RP our sales and marketing (with willing players of course) to try to draw in RP'ers who want more out of their shopping experience. You can deco your shop so it is fun to shop there instead of the usual stark walls and a spot by the wall. You can really have fun with it. Perhaps you work a deal with a neighboring vendor to stage a price war to the benefit of both your shops! The ideas go on and on, and in lots of other directions. I plan on using most of the above and a lot more. All I can say is, "Come on people! This stuff is great! Have fun with it and you might even like it!"
Oh, and to Acacia and any other staff or players or Council Members that contributed to this great step in Sylvan's evolution - A sincere "Thank you." You've added a whole new dimension of fun to the shard.
Again, all of the above is meant in the spirit of fun and deepest respect for everyone else out there with an opinion. I just think people sometimes miss out on a lot of enjoyment by focusing on the little gripes instead of looking for the great things that are right in front of them.
I must say I mean no offense to anyone by this post, as this is purely my view of it, but I think it is a valid one that bears hearing. I have a crafter on Sylvan. I make arrows of all kinds, metal goods, food stuffs, and lots of other neat things that we are fortunate enough to be be able to craft on Sylvan. The vast majority of items cost me absolutely nothing to make. I use a use or a few uses of my tool, which after buying one tinker kit to make more tools costs nothing. I use up some basic resources, which in almost every case I go out and gather in bulk at no cost but my labor. And I mix it all together and wallah! A fine product worthy of selling to my friends in Sylvan for a reasonable price. Ah! But there's the rub! What is reasonable?
To me, without adding to the already plentiful postings on basic economics, a reasonable price is enough to cover my expenses, which as already mentioned are nearly zero for the vast majority of items, and enough to make a little something for myself to spend. I have no ambitions of being the next Sam Walton or Bill Gates on UO. I can make plenty just going out and hunting big critters with my big nasty 'tank.' If money is all you care about, then trust me, that is the easier route. I can make millions that way, and at least as easily as even the most successful and greedy crafter can. But in fact, I don't do that. My tank is mostly used to help others out when they wander into the wrong critter. But I do love crafting. That's why I craft. It's fun. I think that is why the majority of people craft. I get a sense of satisfaction out of making all these neat items for my friends and fellow Sylanites (Sylvanians? Sylvans???) and playing the merchant who is out to win over their business and their loyalty.... as an orc no less. And even us orcs know how much the humies love dealing with orcs! But that's the fun of it, and that is the reward of it. Haggling, competing for business with fellow crafters, coming up with clever RP marketing schemes, making shopping a fun and interesting experience instead of a mundane trip to the local replicator..err NPC vendor. I guess it is all in your attitude. And yes, I realize most of you have never met Zug, but give him time... he'll come after your business soon enough.
I honestly don't charge much. Perhaps I charge less than an NPC vendor might for certain things, and yet I can still make a healthy profit doing so. Arrows, you say? I pay absolutely nothing to make them. I chop down some trees with me big choppa and I gots boards. Boards make me lots of shafts. I can go punch a chicken with me bare fists and got some feathers if I want, but harpies are more fun. A couple bits of iron from da pickaxe gets me a fletching kit wif a flick of da tinker kit. Put 'em all together and I gots arrows for nothin'? So, I take some time gathering the stuff for them... and I had a heck of a good time doing it, whistling an orcy tune the whole time. That's my big pay off. I had an orcy good time and I get some stuff I can sell out of it for some shinies as a bonus. *Pardon the orciness slipping in, but just talking about it gets me all orcy inside!* In the end, I can say the same for most of what I make. I'm doing it to have fun. That's what it's all about. That's why we're all here, I hope. Sure I don't wanna lose money any more than anyone else. And I don't. I gotta spend money to lose money, right? What do crafters get for their time? A lot of fun killin' plants, making sheeps bald, an' muggin' critters for their hide an' loot, if ye asks me!... Oh, yeah, and stuff you can sell for money, too.
Even when I have to spend money, I don't have to spend much. Blank scrolls are cheap, runes are cheap, regs are cheap... but a rune book sells for HOW much?As far as people buying my goods and re-selling them, I am all for it. Enjoy! If people want to pay more for the stuff than they have to for whatever reason, that's cool by me. I still made a little profit, had fun along the way, and feel good about my pricing. If I keep my vendor stocked and you are selling my stuff for more, and people buy from you instead of me, you must be doing something right! Congrats! We both win! But that won't stop me from trying to win those customers back.
If you ask me, fixing minimum prices ruins half the fun of being a crafter. If you want people to buy your stuff, I have a whole bunch of ideas for you. You can try to make better stuff than anyone else and keep selling for more. You can realize that your time is not as valuable as you think it is in game and lower your prices to what customers are willing to pay. You can come up with clever marketing schemes, like half price Tuesday, Free Frog Fridays, or Call your self Crazy Edward and start slashing prices or slashing bolts of cloth.. your choice. There are limitless ideas out there if you let loose and have fun with it. You can actually get out there and RP our sales and marketing (with willing players of course) to try to draw in RP'ers who want more out of their shopping experience. You can deco your shop so it is fun to shop there instead of the usual stark walls and a spot by the wall. You can really have fun with it. Perhaps you work a deal with a neighboring vendor to stage a price war to the benefit of both your shops! The ideas go on and on, and in lots of other directions. I plan on using most of the above and a lot more. All I can say is, "Come on people! This stuff is great! Have fun with it and you might even like it!"
Oh, and to Acacia and any other staff or players or Council Members that contributed to this great step in Sylvan's evolution - A sincere "Thank you." You've added a whole new dimension of fun to the shard.
Again, all of the above is meant in the spirit of fun and deepest respect for everyone else out there with an opinion. I just think people sometimes miss out on a lot of enjoyment by focusing on the little gripes instead of looking for the great things that are right in front of them.