How do we want to run Shops?

[Royal Duke]

Prior to the site's Grand Wipe, Shop was run on the following manner: As a meta subforum where people could use their BP to buy items anytime, and even make 'custom Enhanced Armaments'. And so, here is my suggestion.

I say we integrate Shops in the game itself, in the Unlimited Neutral Zone. Every session, if the players are lucky or if they know where to look (Shibuya or Sunshine City are always good places to start, hint hint) there's always the chance to find one of these places, whose selection varies depending on its location and what the players are looking for.

You can buy anything in a Shop, provided you have the right amount of Burst Points. While not quite as effective as initial Enhanced Armaments or Rare Drops from Large class Enemies orabove, you get what you pay for. If you buy armor, it'll protect your body. If you buy a gun using precious BP or a jamming radar, it will be effective as well.

For melee weapons, they break more often and their effects are generally weaker than initial Enhanced Armaments, but they are always better than nothing for some. As for guns, they don't deal quite as much damage and have strict ammo limits, forcing one to spend his BP several times to buy additional ammo packages while a true long range gives no fucks about running out of it by the time he's reached the UNZ. But if it's your long dream to have a sniper rifle on your char, not up to me to stop you.

There are also indirect combat items, like mines, wire, jammming systems, radars, night vision goggles, smoke bombs, tear gas grenades, sonic bombs...

Utilities can also be bought. While they don't show up in the LNs, I'd believe that if you can buy anything flash bangs, walkie talkies, torches and the sort can be purchased as well. They'd be infinitely invaluable in providing communcations and coordination support during Dungeon raids where large numbers are involved.

Not done yet. For a modest fee, one can also buy accessories if he finds the right place. If you think a kitty sticker, a badass scarf or cape, chains, necklaces, that sort of thing would look good, you can also buy them. For a larger fee you can buy accessories that give you extra things, like a maid uniform that boosts one's ability to carry melee weapons beneath the skirt, or a martial arts headband that lets one launch hadou- err balls of ki.

Not done yet. Skill cards of varying effects, such as granting armor additional resistances or effects such as flaming fists exist, although shops that sell these are very rare and prize is extremely high.

Next thing to consider is, that like in SAO, you can buy a housing of your own. There you can rest away, allowing you to extend further your stays in the Unlimited Neutral Zone, while providing a means to restore one's HP. Size varies from purchasing a small apartment to a large housing of your own, like Sky Raker's. Furniture can also be bought.

Lastly, food stalls and restaurants would exist, in case you need a temporary rest and are too far from any base you can call home. Health would be restored slightly and you'd be able to get rid of some fatigue.

Phew. And I think this is all. Of course, there'd not be a single shop, but these items would be distributed across the various shops.

[Sado Ikaru]

I think it would be possible to integrate both ideas. Say we have a subforum where we have a shop. Rather than purchasing the actual item in that subforum, it's more of a request/reservation form.

Say you post in the subforum:

I'd like a rainbow jetpack.

The next time you enter the UNZ and a nearby shop has that (or similar) item in stock, you get a notification. At which time you must go search for said shop.

[Eminence Puppeteer]

We should also consider that going into the UNZ can be dangerous, even if they just go to buy items. fwahaha.

[R4yleonard]

If the Shop's specific location is in UNZ, me and Xaq, who have a veteran char, have the excuse to enter it easily, being a veteran who has known important locations such as shop
For guns, I suggest they're being sold with a cheap price (since there's the ammo to think about) unless you give some ammo or people always start with some ammo when spawning. I also suggest selling special type of ammo (such as explosive, incendiary, etc), especially if you choose to let people with some ammo every time they spawn. You can also sell guns that doesn't need ammo or reloading, but instead needs charging (something like a railgun) or laser weaponry.
For swords, you can sell them in pairs for some swords that are specified to be pairs. They should have different parameter of durability which is refilled after every battle. Weapons like katana obviously have low durability but boast more power, while the normal semi spatha sword are is more durable but is not as sharp as katanas.
There's still a lot of suggestion, but this topic borders on EA system, which is not made yet

[Sado Ikaru]

R4y: I believe they're re-vamping the plot so that "Veteran Linkers" don't exist anymore.

[Sponsored content]