2010's Final Version Update

[Kylin]

The final version update of the year is coming tomorrow and will be introducing the search feature for the Market Wards. The feature will still be in its infancy and be expanded upon in the future. Whether or not this is the only thing in the update remains unclear.

 

From the Lodestone:

 

The final version update of the year will introduce the item search function, which players may use to search through retainer bazaars in market wards to locate specific items. The date and time of the version update are as follows.

 

âDate and Time

Tuesday, December 21, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

âThe Item Search Function

This version update marks the first of several that will introduce improvements to item-based searches. The features to be added this time are listed below.

A search option that tells players how many items of a certain type are being sold in the market area with which that item type is associated.

Retainers returned by a search now have a distinguishing icon displayed above their head.

 

* Searches can be conducted by selecting the item search option at the entrance to any market, or from within any individual ward, row, or den.

 

With the introduction of the item search feature, it will now be significantly easier for players to locate specific items. We will continue to improve this system with further enhancements such as keyword-based searches, the ability to show the retainers selling an item at the lowest prices for searches returning numerous hits as with synthesis materials, and more. Concrete details regarding such information will be released in future Topics posts here on the Lodestone as they become available.

[Ghunzyr]

I appreciate the wards from an IC point of view. A busy marketplace was a cool idea, pity it wasn't done well. As practical as a search function is, it does seem like the beginning of the end for the wards as being anything other than warehouses of gear.

 

That said, I understand that all they are right now really is warehouses as the whole system was poorly implemented, and I'm happy that something is being done to make life for the players easier.