[cbk1994]

Originally Posted by Sam

Hmm I'm not familiar with Era and perhaps my post is dumb, but what about raise a big tax from very rich people?

We've considered doing this but ultimately abandoned it. There aren't any "off shore bank accounts", but there are definitely ways of hiding wealth (across trials, for example). The real reason for a reset is to facilitate the new scripting improvements.

Originally Posted by elite_master

Alongside with the reset, I feel that everyone should be unbanned aswell.

I've planned this since the initial conception of "new Era" .

Originally Posted by MontyPython

Limiting players to a set list of pre-generated items will dilute any real creativity or actual purpose for the business in the first place. Then, on top of that, the pawn shop will sell most (if not all) items in the shop. This just isn't an ideal way to give "everyone" a chance at running a business while combating economic woes.

There's not really a better way to do it. Era Dev right now has the backbone of a MUDLib but a full one would be way overkill and would make purchasing and handling weapons extremely difficult.

The biggest problem with the current businesses is lack of diversity and purpose. You have a couple stores selling very basic guns and ammo (all of which can be bought at an NPC shop), and you've got three food stores. The only difference in the food stores is the graphics, levels, and which owner you're better friends with. The -only- thing that gives any of the businesses some sort of control is setting the price, its physical location, and/or holding special sales and discounts. When literally every item in each store yields the exact same results to the player, the only thing that matters is price and location.

I agree with you here. I don't like food businesses at all and I want to either completely change them or remove them completely. However, as for ammo, there's not a whole lot that can be done. I suppose arbitrary stock limits can be imposed in hopes of forcing shops to compete on constant stocking, but there aren't a lot of solutions to that.

I think that rather than making another mass-produced automated business system (even looking past the economic havoc wreaked by it, the first incarnation was the most uninspired form of businesses on era ever), you should instead rework the way the business administrator handles new ideas and suggestions. Open up a forum where people submit applications with ideas and a solid plan for new businesses.

Similar to gangs, I don't want staff to be involved in businesses. Staff involvement inevitably leads to inactivity and poor choices. I'd rather see them run themselves competitively.

Now here's the thing, I know a classic response is going to be "too much work brah, that's stupid." And maybe it is a bit demanding. But anything of quality and worth takes time and effort. Sure, you can have 3-5 clone businesses battling it in a vicious price and location war. Or you could have 3-4 businesses each with a unique purpose, unique products, and unique vision. Each could possibly add new variations to gameplay and new ways to enjoy Era, rather than the same product at a different price from the store down the street but still a bit lower than the pawn shop.

We did actually plan something that would have businesses interoperating with player jobs. For example, a furniture shop was planned that would use wood (purchased from individual players or even from some other business). However, these would most likely be player-ran completely (think Speedy Pizza).

Originally Posted by Crono

better market atmosphere

think g2k1

This is one of the main goals behind it, we've actually pretty much ripped off the trade tables.