1 dismissal [+1 dismissal]Merchant roll/roundstart change.

[sdtwbaj]

Right now, merchants are rolled as a job roll, and you aren't allowed to have an employee character who's also a merchant. Therefore, if you select a merchant character, you can ready up *only* as a merchant. Then, the round only has a 20% chance of even spawning a merchant, and you're competing with the other people readied up as merchant, you have an exponentially higher chance of missing round start, and by extension making it that much less likely you could roll an antag slot, for station-side antags.

Instead, make them a 'roles' ticker, along with all of the antags. Then, you can ready up as a normal character, and have merchant ticked on. Even if the round doesn't have a merchant, you have a higher chance of not missing roundstart because you readied up as a job that has a very small chance of actually existing, and you aren't allowed to spawn as an alternative.

If this would be too fucky because dev reasons, throwing up a character modification screen for merchants when they spawn wouldn't be a bad alternative, like the one you get when you're a merc or wizard. That way, I can ready up as, say, Sam Caputo, but also have the merchant job turned on, so that if it happens to spawn and I get it, I can change it up to a merchant character.

For most jobs this isn't necessary, because they're guaranteed to exist on-station, and you can even spawn as other jobs if your high priority fails. But, merchants only have a 20% chance of even being rolled as a job, and a merchant character can't have another occupation selected. Very high chance to miss round-start.

[alexpkeaton]

First of all, if there was simply a prompt to change my name upon rolling merchant that would be enough.

Second, and I am legitimately asking, where does it say that a merchant can't be a station character? Are there new rules that dropped recently?

Here's the thing. Half of the people who know what's up since the update have merchant set to high, including myself (and yes, it is set to high with other jobs set to medium and low). I haven't rolled it yet. My plan is simply to ahelp on the day the stars align and I roll merchant and ask for a name change. That said, Jack Edwardson is a QM character and doing some freelancing wouldn't be so out of character.

All of that said, +1 to making it a role.

EDIT/CLARIFICATION: The role should exist in every roundtype but only have a 20% chance to exist at all. Not sure if that is a coding possibility, perhaps that is why it is a job and not a role.

[DatBerry]

You're supposed to make a character slot with "return to lobby" option for rolling merchant.

the merchant has a cryodorm to sleep, so he can be replaced, that is why it's coded as a job instead of an antag role.

Being a merchant means you're self employed, and I believe there are pro-corporate laws on Biesel that prevent you from double jobbing with another corporate, not sure if it extends to be self owned businesses, but if you're a merchant you're not going to work a wage slave job on another station.

the only change I would support would be a chance increase till the novelty wears off, maybe 40% or so? logic wise we're not hitting 20% of all rounds having merchants with a low number of attempts.

[sdtwbaj]

You're supposed to make a character slot with "return to lobby" option for rolling merchant.

the merchant has a cryodorm to sleep, so he can be replaced, that is why it's coded as a job instead of an antag role.

Being a merchant means you're self employed, and I believe there are pro-corporate laws on Biesel that prevent you from double jobbing with another corporate, not sure if it extends to be self owned businesses, but if you're a merchant you're not going to work a wage slave job on another station.

the only change I would support would be a chance increase till the novelty wears off, maybe 40% or so? logic wise we're not hitting 20% of all rounds having merchants with a low number of attempts.

 

but it's a very high chance to miss roundstart

if we throw up an appearance screen when one gets merchant, it can be included while one is rolling for other jobs, to stop a roundstart fail.

[Synnono]

I believe there are pro-corporate laws on Biesel that prevent you from double jobbing with another corporate, not sure if it extends to be self owned businesses, but if you're a merchant you're not going to work a wage slave job on another station.

 

Chiming in as CCIA has had to occasionally enforce this - It is effectively illegal in Biesel to work for multiple megacorporations. It doesn't really apply to the merchant unless the merchant is roleplaying being some sort of retail subsidiary of a rival megacorp.

That said, characters who work for NT full time would really stretch believability to also have a mercantile business on the side, and it's the sort of thing that many real world companies prohibit their employees from doing in their contracts.

Also:

 

Second, and I am legitimately asking, where does it say that a merchant can't be a station character?

 

Right at the top of the guide:

 

 

As for the original suggestion, I wouldn't mind the merchant being a toggle-able role. It stinks to miss out on roundstart taking a 1 in 5 chance, antag or no.

[DatBerry]

but it's a very high chance to miss roundstart

if we throw up an appearance screen when one gets merchant, it can be included while one is rolling for other jobs, to stop a roundstart fail.

 

I believe that's a fine counter to keep everyone from readying up for merchant.

[ben10083]

What they mean is that most jobs they want are taken at round start so they want Merchant to be able to change their name, One day the stars aligned to me and I got Merchant, but I was a NT character so they let me change my name.

[alexpkeaton]

Wanted to give this thread a bump to see what the current status of this is - namely, is there now an appearance screen? I still haven't rolled merchant yet and have been away from a PC for a week, so if anything has been implemented, I wouldn't know about it.

Thanks!

[Alberyk]

+1 dismissal.

The merchant system is a job, and due to such, it should behave in similar manner to the other jobs. It is the same as not getting a single job slot. Still, you are free to play said character as a visitor or just have you preferences set to return to lobby.

[alexpkeaton]

+1 dismissal.

The merchant system is a job. ...

 

Here's the thing: it really isn't a job. Not unless you consider ninjas, wizards, mercs and raiders jobs as well. Those four roles have more in common with the merchant than jobs do. The major characteristic that they do not have in common is that merchants are not antags.

With merchants:

• You aren't allowed to play the same character like with regular jobs
• A merchant doesn't exist in every round like with regular jobs
• The Head of Personnel cannot assign someone to the role like with regular jobs.

 

If you suggest cyborgs/AI as contradictions here, I would point out that they are able to set a name at round start and have specific character setup preferences for those players who ready up with a variety of synthetic/crew job choices selected.

The merchant is best described as a event role. And as such, it needs a similar treatment to similar roles on the antag side where players can choose a new identity and appearance.

All this suggestion requests is the ability to set a name and appearance upon rolling merchant, to allow players to set several options at roundstart. No other role/job forces players to ready up with only one selection made.

[LordBalkara]

+1, I feel like it would be better if you got the same menu raiders do as merchant, would allow more freedom and less sacrifice to try and play merchant.