Bringslite Goblin Squad Member |
2 people marked this as a favorite. |
A public service announcement from the Nation of Aeternum
Purchase too much to move alone?
Want to sell more than you can carry to market?
Bandits a concern?
You simply want low cost and timely convenience in a busy world?
Then it is my pleasure to offer this, the first of many Aeternum Initiatives, that we hope will make your life in the River Kingdoms safer, more convenient and more profitable!
The Aeternum Parcel Service
This service to the community will run once (or twice, resources and demand permitting) a day from the bustling metropolis of our capital city Callambea. Naturally, our parcel service will be traveling in the company of extremely well armed and well trained forces.
To facillitate this service, The APS will be a Company formed under the auspices of Pax Aeternum. You will simply need to contract for transport through the APS at Our low cost. Collateral secured contracts (for this specific service) will not be possible, due in part to the speedy nature of the contract and the bulk of business that We hope to provide.
For a small fee (based on encumbrance) we will pick up your parcel in Callambea and deliver it to any settlement (subject to entrance restrictions). We will also pick up your parcels in these settlements and for the same small fee deliver them to Callambea so you can take full advantage of our thriving and busy market place.
No amount of goods are too little or too large. The APS will happily provide service for single items as well as bulk.
This is a living, breathing concept, subject to change as the game's mechanics change. The APS is confident that We can provide everything outlined herein, according to information released to date.
Ezekial Krows Goblin Squad Member |
Bringslite Goblin Squad Member |
Psyblade Goblin Squad Member |
Okay, most likely this post might come over as arrogant or the likes, it isn't my intention.
But, even though this idea is nice, I won't use it for a few obvious reasons, and these might be cause trouble due to my logic / feelings about it.
My advice, if there is a real interest in this is setting up a neutral company for this, no ties to any company what so ever and then grow from it.
A good example on doing something like this would be looking at Red Frog Freight from Eve. It is a corp that has 4 divisions. 1 for hi-sec, 1 for low / null sec, 1 for speed deliveries and 1 is for insurance payouts if someone loses their freighter / jump freighter.
If you are serious about it, consider what I said and maybe revise your idea. It is constructive criticism.
Nihimon Goblin Squad Member |
@Psyblade, do you mean "Neutral" as in the Alignment? Or do you mean it more in the political sense?
In the latter case, I think it will be exceptionally difficult for any group large enough to hold a Settlement to remain politically Neutral for long. Likewise, it will be exceptionally difficult for a Company to remain politically neutral, since they'll need to be part of a Settlement to really develop their characters.
While I personally am very hesitant to make plans that involve things that don't exist yet (Companies, Settlements, etc.), this seems like exactly the kind of thing that most groups will want to do, and exactly the kind of thing that a person like Bringslite and an organization like Pax can do well.
I'd even go so far as to say that most folks would be happy to work with an organization with the political and military might to effectively punish the people who interfere with this kind of service.
Psyblade Goblin Squad Member |
I don't mean in alignment sense, I mean as in not affiliated to anyone settlement at all.
Yes, you are right that Pax might be able to pull it off. But as I said. Once Pax get a war dec, their Parcel service is a nice target to attack for those in the war (and it doesn't mean if they get war dec'ed or if they war'dec some someone else. The Parcel service is something you can disrupt.
Once it get's disrupt people won't use it because their goods will come under attack and they might lose it. And if that is the case Pax will have to refund the loss and will be draining their own coffers.
Doing this affiliated to a company / settlement is likely signing a big sign saying shoot me, we are hauling for everyone and it's a free loot pinata.
The sole reason (in eve) Red Frog got so big and used by so many is the fact they are neutral. They don't have to worry about war dec's
Eve related stuff (that might or might not work in PFO, but it is an exampled)
How does RFF work?
You have the RFF corp as a whole. As a player you put in a contract alt (alt that can accept contracts and hand them out). The person doing the hauling also has a hauler char.
Now when someone assigns a contract for stuff to be moved they assign it to RFF (corp). Contract alt picks it up. He then assigns it to his hauler alt (who is in a neutral corp, not affiliated to anyone else).
Hauler alt makes the delivery, completes contract and then rinse and repeat.
Now if RFF would get a war dec and the hauler alt would be in the corp then a freighter lost is painful (1b isk down the drain). But with putting a contract alt into RFF it means they don't know who / where / what is being moved and less threat of losing a freighter.
Now in PFO this might take a different turn with how things are being moved. But once more. If you move stuff under your main settlement / company name, it means they are a target once you get into a war, or when a company decides to war dec you just to gank those juicy haukers.
Nihimon Goblin Squad Member |
Bringslite Goblin Squad Member |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
@Psyblade
Let me try to answer what considerations that you have listed here. I hope that I am grasping exactly what your points are. If I haven't, then please enlighten me further. :)
•One of the main reasons is that it isn't a neutral service. Yes it is nice that Aeternum has put their name tag on it, and it might seem nice for Quality of Service. But I am not trusting it. If someone feels like guild X shouldn't be using their system even tho it is done through the proper method's, what will stop people from destroying the caravan and running off with the loot?
I suppose that the first thing that will stop anyone from succeeding at destroying and looting one of our delivery runs will be the highly trained, well armed and numerous guards that protect it. The second will be the swift and violent retribution of an angry Pax Aeternum if they should 1. Manage to succeed, or 2. More likely, attempt and fail.
•I prefer to see a neutral company doing something like this since, well they are neutral and will have a bigger name to uphold. Also people are more willing to step in for a neutral company to protect since it might involve their own business then if it is from company X.
Apologies, that part makes little sense to me. All of Pax Aeternum will be behind the APS and backing it. Ideally there should be no need for anyone else to "step in"
•If Aeternum gets a wardec, your hauling service is rendered useless due to the name tag and being involved in the war. Thus no hauling and you would have to spend people to protect it while they are better off alone.
The possibility that Aeternum will get a "Wardec" is no greater than the possibility that any other settlement with a marketplace will get one. We will deal with the issues of continuation or suspension of services as the situation demands. We will never put a customer's goods at undue risk. Such policy would be foolish.
Here is the bottom line for any that may be curious:
Bringslite Goblin Squad Member |
Lhan Goblin Squad Member |
Bringslite Goblin Squad Member |
Do you deliver beer and curry? If so, put me down for a standing order!
If anyone can make this work, I am sure you can, and I look forward to have a courier service available in game that I can rely on.
We most certainly will, Sir!
*Whisper* "There is also going to be a standing Bacon Rasher option for good friends"
Xeen Goblin Squad Member |
Keovar Goblin Squad Member |
Bringslite Goblin Squad Member |
Banesama wrote:Is it only shipments from and to Callambea?Of course, if you wanted to ship from one side of the map to another, you could just get two contracts. Ashenvale ships to Callambea and then Callambea ships to Ravenscroft.
I am not sure that I have been clear enough. Certainly not in the OP. :)
The APS, at this time, is designed as a service for customers of our marketplace at Callambea.
So there is no confusion:
1. This service is for folks that purchase items or bulk goods at the marketplace in Callambea.
2. This service is also for folks that wish to sell items or bulk goods at the marketplace in Callambea.
Exactly how we insure that the items or bulk goods go through the market at one end of the deal, will have to wait on revealed game mechanics.
Rafkin Goblin Squad Member |
So if I'm in town A and I pay someone to transport goods to town B do I still need to travel to town B to actually place those goods on the market?
I suppose this is more of a mechanics question than anything that relates to the APS. It may work out that APS frequently just buys the goods, at a discount, then takes them back to Town B to sell themselves?
Or what if I'm in Town B and I need some metal bits that are for sale in Town A. Will APS travel to Town A, acquire the metal bits, then return them to me in Town B?
(assuming APS is based in Town B)
Keovar Goblin Squad Member |
Keovar wrote:Banesama wrote:Is it only shipments from and to Callambea?Of course, if you wanted to ship from one side of the map to another, you could just get two contracts. Ashenvale ships to Callambea and then Callambea ships to Ravenscroft.I am not sure that I have been clear enough. Certainly not in the OP. :)
Bringslite wrote:The APS, at this time, is designed as a service for customers of our marketplace at Callambea.So there is no confusion:
1. This service is for folks that purchase items or bulk goods at the marketplace in Callambea.
2. This service is also for folks that wish to sell items or bulk goods at the marketplace in Callambea.
Exactly how we insure that the items or bulk goods go through the market at one end of the deal, will have to wait on revealed game mechanics.
So this is not like UPS/FedEx but rather like what you'd get if Amazon created a parcel service for their own transactions alone?
If someone in Ashenvale wants to send an item to someone in Ravenscroft, they could sell the item to Callambea using the pickup and then the recipient would buy that same item and have it shipped to them. At that point, I suppose the utility of using the shipping service between two non-Pax parties would depend on how much markup is charged in the middle. Make it too high and render that work-around infeasible, and you'd be leaving an obvious niche for some other company to fill.
Bringslite Goblin Squad Member |
So if I'm in town A and I pay someone to transport goods to town B do I still need to travel to town B to actually place those goods on the market?
I suppose this is more of a mechanics question than anything that relates to the APS. It may work out that APS frequently just buys the goods, at a discount, then takes them back to Town B to sell themselves?
Or what if I'm in Town B and I need some metal bits that are for sale in Town A. Will APS travel to Town A, acquire the metal bits, then return them to me in Town B?
(assuming APS is based in Town B)
Some good questions Rafkin. Thank you.
As to the first, that has not been detailed yet and I can't answer except with speculation. So I won't. I will say that there will be no difference, to it, than there would be for you to use a separate service. Except the might of Aeternum is doing the guarding of your goods, and the cost will be lower for you.
Second, I am not sure that we will be doing much in the way of "on the spot" arbitrage. That is not to say that there won't be speculators that may grab up good deals that are offered. :)
Third, it is possible from the hints that we have been given, that you may be able to "remote purchase" from local markets (with the right skills) and then be required to pick up the items yourself. That is speculation. Again, there is no difference than any other system involved.
Bringslite Goblin Squad Member |
DeciusBrutus Goblinworks Executive Founder |
I'll put out a counter-proposal: I will execute local buy and sell orders of bulk commodities at the Callambea rate, modified by the APS going rate for transportation, and expect that APS will identify the profitable opportunity and take advantage of it. Upon request and demonstrated fulfillment, those orders will be restricted to APS agents, and orders slightly more favorable to me will be offered to the public.
Items with a highly variable Callamea price or low volume would not be included in such a expectation. If the local price determined by the math is not acceptable to the buyers or suppliers, then orders will not be made.
How about it: are you willing to take the risk yourself, rather than take shipments without offering collateral? If cash flow is an issue, I might even offer a very low-cost loan to cover the cost of your initial purchase, secured by only the full faith and credit of the Nation of Aeternum.
Areks Goblin Squad Member |
KarlBob Goblin Squad Member |
Pax Bringslite Goblin Squad Member |
Pax Areks Goblin Squad Member |
Tyncale Goblin Squad Member |
I love this. If only Pax/Callambea would allow Free Agents to apply for their city. I really like your focus on Trading and Callambea seems to go strong.
Unfortunately not a fan of the obligatory "post a lot of extremely friendly posts with lots of smilies on our forums so we can count you as one of ours after 2 weeks, even if we forgot about your application and mostly ignored you" application processes that seem to be the thing these days.
Also not a fan of having to make up Haiku's(looking at you T7V)!
I know, I know, it's all friendly banter, well so was this. :)
Sorry guys, did not sleep too well tonight.
CBDunkerson Goblin Squad Member |
I love this. If only Pax/Callambea would allow Free Agents to apply for their city. I really like your focus on Trading and Callambea seems to go strong.
Unfortunately not a fan of the obligatory "post a lot of extremely friendly posts with lots of smilies on our forums so we can count you as one of ours after 2 weeks, even if we forgot about your application and mostly ignored you" application processes that seem to be the thing these days.
Join Outsiders. Or our settlement. We're all about free agents. Our application process is:
- You apply
- You are accepted
Haiku's are purely optional. :]
Tyncale Goblin Squad Member |
I am planning on that, CB, I want to pick Outsiders as one of 3 settlements that I want to place my 3 EE accounts in, being the first part of my Pony Express.
Not sure if Outsiders is a good name though. :D I love the concept and am sure many peeps that will come here in the next months that also do not want to be bothered to make up Haiku's(still bantering, T7V!)will want to go for a Settlement like yours(if even only in the beginning), but they probably do shy away from labeling themselves immediately as Outsiders in this game, where cooperation and teamwork are so important.
So I am totally behind the concept, but right now it seems important for people to put themselves in more defined boxes(Barbarian, LG, Traders). The current membership of Outsiders (2) reflects this.
I am thinking this has to do with the fact that these forums and the landrush proces is still "ingested" with all the Roleplay and talk about mechanics that we have done in the last 1.5 years, so that will hopefully wane away somewhat when those people come here that "just want in, give me a place to stay, no obligations".
Even so, how about "Freerunners" as an alternative name? :)
Pax Keovar Goblin Squad Member |
Pax Bringslite Goblin Squad Member |
Lhan Goblin Squad Member |
CBDunkerson Goblin Squad Member |
I am thinking this has to do with the fact that these forums and the landrush proces is still "ingested" with all the Roleplay and talk about mechanics that we have done in the last 1.5 years, so that will hopefully wane away somewhat when those people come here that "just want in, give me a place to stay, no obligations".
Even so, how about "Freerunners" as an alternative name? :)
Yeah, this isn't the best environment for building a 'laissez faire' organization. I have talked to some people who will likely join once open enrollment starts, but getting a settlement from the land rush is worth trying to push for earlier participation. As to the name, something else might be better, but changing it now could be confusing for various channels I've been pursuing for 'votes'. Might be worth discussing a change when we are working on the settlement name, supposing we get one.
Tyncale Goblin Squad Member |
Tyncale - you do know the haiku are optional? You can compose a sonnet or a paradelle instead, if you prefer :P
Freerunners makes you sound like a parkour club - which may be exactly the image you're looking for as you leap chasms and bound up trees evading the bandits ...
I am afraid a limerick would be the best I can do. :)
Maybe just Free Agents then? A great name would be Freeport imo, but unfortunately this is the name of an iconic city in Everquest. Though I wonder if such a name has enough "generic" in it that it could be used in PFO? I could imagine that there a whole lot more "Freeports" out there in other MMO's and RPG's.
Edit: after googling, there are actually quit a few "Freeports" in the real world.
FMS Flintlokk Goblin Squad Member |
Nihimon Goblin Squad Member |
Tyncale Goblin Squad Member |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Nobody likes a partypooper.....
Nihimon, I would have presented a dirty limerick no problem, and all would have been fine. :) Just not ready to truly apply for my "closer gaming circle" just yet.
I also must admit that the Settlement thing in PFO seems to fit my needs remarkably well though. A large group of people, living in, and working for a common goal, yet you are not so closely bound to them that it is suffocating. I like the idea of such a group consisting of several smaller groups (Companies) that have their own identities, and even free agents who are just member of the settlement. One evening you could tag on with a Company that needs every hands on deck to Raid a PoI, and the next day you could be part of a crew that erects a new building. Or go with a COmpany that concentrates on Harvesting.
I would like it if there was Settlement-chat, and I would hope people would talk in there, and not just in their Company chat.
T7V Jazzlvraz Goblin Squad Member |
Pax Pagan |
I love this. If only Pax/Callambea would allow Free Agents to apply for their city. I really like your focus on Trading and Callambea seems to go strong.
Unfortunately not a fan of the obligatory "post a lot of extremely friendly posts with lots of smilies on our forums so we can count you as one of ours after 2 weeks, even if we forgot about your application and mostly ignored you" application processes that seem to be the thing these days.
Also not a fan of having to make up Haiku's(looking at you T7V)!
I know, I know, it's all friendly banter, well so was this. :)
Sorry guys, did not sleep too well tonight.
The two week period is only for those that wish to be full pax members. Xeilias will be full supportive of sponsored companies who do not wish to be full Pax members. Speak to ambassador Hobs about it
Tyncale Goblin Squad Member |
Ravenlute SBC _Prophecy_ Goblin Squad Member |