Now that life is returning to "normalcy" here...
Tirrag, I love how your mind works!
A lot of your thoughts and ideas can be solved with simple solutions...
1) how do merchants join?
Rather than using the guild structure offered by the game (for many have been in the same guild for years), then a simple dropping off of a rune would be their application. Then - whomever would go and check their vendors - if acceptable, their rune goes in the book and BAM - they are a member. (actually what I do anyway). A formal group meeting can be held to discuss other issues, but I think keeping it as loose as possible would be a good idea.
Of note: Other shards have similar organizations but are loosely controlled - which works.
2) how do we tell people how it works?
By posting here - dropping books - talking to vendors we visit.
Communicate man.
3) one thing i really dont like about runebooks is the lack of decriptive text showing.
That is sometimes a pain.
What I used to do (before uneditable house runes became the norm) was simply name a rune by the house owner name, then something to describe their major wares. Like, for your place I would do "Tirrag-Armor".
However, some people have really long names.... and some people like to have cool names (Llama Head!) on their establishments for branding purposes. People like Prada (you know is clothing - and she was a Tailor) were simple.
As my marketing head wakes up now, there could be a "featured rune" kept out of the main rune book, but sitting atop (or next to) a text book describing the Merchant's wares... People who actually take the time to look at things might appreciate this - but we are indeed limited by game mechanics as to what can be used for descriptions.
4) how do we promote this to merchants and customers?
Dropping of books in the "Luna Walk" has its ups and downs. First, there are people who drop books now promoting questionable websites for buying gold and stuff. Many people just pick up those books and wipe them. However, because BookMaster (I have a lot of his books - awesome works) drops books from time to time, every now and then people actually do read them.
To draw attention to books for a Merchant's Association (which hopefully people will keep), they must be different and show they are special in some way. Perhaps dying them a special color would be an awesome way - dye them with Fire, Magenta, Black or White natural dyes, and people may actually keep and display them. Hmm... I'm growing some white plants now.... Then they need to be red-leafed so their text cannot be changed - so the text must be worthy - and include a web address maybe?
5) how do we keep in contact with the members?
When online, create a chat channel! Is part of the game mechanics, and people who are wanting to find a vendor with specific items can always go there. when I log in I typically sit in the Help or General chat channels... but members of a Merchant Association can sit in .. uhm... a "Merchant Association" chat channel to direct and answer questions.
And a website would be key! Email, maybe... but I've found in the past that a central website works better. News can be posted & updated regularly whereas emails tend to go into spam. Besides, do YOU want to deal with the can-spam requirements? I do that enough for work dude... with a website, there is no issue for opting in or out - you go and see it at your whim completely voluntarily. There are all kinds of free-places to host such with forums (guildlaunch.net is one - I still hold the NVG site there even if the guild is just about dead) or even hosting a complete site with google sites (where my Kirthag site is hosted - for free). Domain name is not really necessary for this, unless it takes off.
If this is the agreed upon venue, I would create a google account for something like Napa Merchant Association (?) and then use the google sites and build up a website. If it takes, awesome - easy enuf to put a domain on it. If it doesn't take, well... it can dye peaceful like and no one has spent any hard earned cash.
6) where will the central directory be located and who will maintain?
Already there, already maintaining (and checking) and already available - as has been for years. I have no issue with volunteering for something I'm already doing.
Actually found some more spots I am going to go over thoroughly this week, might be adding a second gold book. I tend to run all over the shard... sometimes SA hunting is boring.
Overall, I like the idea. The question is, do you really want to exclude the Luna Vendors? I think making an overall Merchant Association with two chapters, one for Luna and one for non-Luna... or rather let's just keep it simple - one Merchant Association. I always promote non-Luna vendors... now I'll shift it to the actual Merchant. I think we need this... it could lead to stabilizing the Napa economy as well as keeping our rares on our shard! I see too much going off shard and it makes me sad.
Anyways... the old adage, "If you build it, they will come!" applies. I figure, now that people realize I have this "golden book" of non-Luna vendors... uhm... Merchants.... they are using it (house visits have jumped recently).
Of note, I think we can form a Merchant's Association for all of Napa. Build a site (keeping it simple - google sites is the place) and go from there. Perhaps each Merchant will have a page dedicated to them, their shop, and their wares. That would be one way to describe each vendor. I'm up for that, building websites & maintaining them is my job and I love what I do.
hmm... might even just get the ball rolling already....
Proposed Site Sections:
-The Luna Walk (inner Luna Merchants)
-Felucca Merchants (yes, there are some - but this poses a problem for runes)
-Yew Merchants
-Brit Merchants
-Vesper Merchants
-Tokuno Merchants
-Malas Merchants (outside of Luna)
Each section would have a page dedicated to each Merchant. Pic(s) of their house, vendors, and a list of regularly stocked or specialized items.
Now if some Merchants have multiple houses with vendors (like Radagast) they still get only one page.
ICQ me man... 55948266 is my number.
