AUCTION SYSTEM
The auction system is intended to give players a way of safely trading items of high value. It provides an interface for creating auctions and bidding on items. The system automatically moves the item auctioned and the money exchanged through a convenient system of checks that makes sure that both the seller and the buyer are protected against any risks.
1. Search engine for auctions: search for text and for types (Example: search for power scrolls which include the text 'alchemy' in their name)
2. Sorting autions according to different parameters (most bids, time left...)
3. Solid payment managment: when a bid is placed the money is taken from the bidder's bank right away. Once a higher bid is made, the previous bidder is returned the money.
4. Notifications: when you're outbid you'll receive a small notice with a quick link to the auction in case you wish to place a further bid.
5. Reserve: when creating an auction you specify a reserve. This is a safety value: if the highest bid is over the reserve, the item is sold. If it's below, the owner is given the option whether to sell or not through the notifications system.
6. If an auctioned item is deleted due to server reasons (serialization errors, item wipes...) the buyer will be given the chance to decide whether to purchase or not once the auction is over.
PLAYER COMMANDS
MyAuction: brings up a limited auction gump. Players can only access auctions they're already participating in. They can't use this gump to create new auctions or to place bids on items they haven't bid on before.
In order to create an auction, a player must visit an Auctioner NPC. After selecting the object they wish to auction, the item will be removed from their backpack. The user will then have to specify the parameters of the auction.
Starting bid: the minimum bid accepted for this auction
Duration: the running time for the auction in days
Reserve: a safety value considered when the auction ends. If the highest bid is higher than the reserve the item is automatically sold, otherwise the owner will be given the option to withdraw the auction and have the item returned. The reserve value is not known to the bidder, but only information whether it has been met or not.
Name: the system will try to guess an appropriate name for the auction. The user can of course change it to whatever they wish to.
Description: any additional information should be given here. The system will extract the properties of each item and automatically display them, so there is no need to write them in this field.
Web link: a web link can be provided optionally
Once the auction is confirmed, it's put into the system and available for everyone to bid on. Also once created, the auction can no longer be canceled by the owner.
Bidding on an auction:
If a player can bid on an auction, they will see the option in the lower left area of the auction gump. They must have the required money for the bid in their bank, which will be withdrawn as soon as the bid is placed.
When a higher bid is placed, the previous highest bidder will receive the money back in the form of a auction gold check (which will display a gump that will allow the player to quickly return to the auction).
Restrictions on bidding:
Characters belonging to the same account as the auction owner cannot place bids on the auction.
Staff cannot place bids but can create auctions.
Players can outbid themselves (for example to meet the reserve).
Item checks and gold checks:
Items and gold are moved through the system using checks. A check, when double clicked, will show the player a gump which will specify the name of the auction (if the auction still exists in the system, a button will allow the player to view the auction page), and the reason of the check. A button will allow the player to claim the gold or item by placing it in their bank.
Ambiguous situations and auction messages:
In two situations, when an auction ends, the system will not be able to take a decision about the outcome:
Reserve hasn't been met. In this case the auction owner will have to decide whether to sell or not.
One or more items in the auction no longer exist. This can occur in case of item wipes or serialization errors. In this case the buyer will be able to decide whether to purchase or not.
When an auction end with an ambiguous situation a message will be dispatched to both the owner and the buyer (provided they're online). The system also handles the Login event, and if the owner or buyer login, they will be presented with a little notice from the system requesting their input.
This situation can last at most at few days, as specified in the auction configuration.