Merchant alter refusal to do full project

[Ososis]

So my question is, it it common for a merchant to only alter part of your item? I have had this exact cloak fully altered at one merchant, I have had both parts of a Joola item altered at one merchant. Today I spent two hours in the nations waiting for a spin and I won on the last spin! I was super excited to get my cloak altered, which is a unique Zodi cloak with wings which I have had altered fully previously. But the merchant told me that the cloak, the wings, and the wing detail all require a their own alteration win. I of course was gracious and did not argue, but frankly I am pretty disappointed as I expect the next merchant may do the whole thing, making this minor alteration just a waste.

Is this just up to the whim of the merchant, or is there some sort of standardization as to what is one alter, instead of 3? Cause frankly, with as much time as I have spent hunting down a merchant for my cloak alter, the idea of finding 2 more to do work on the same thing pretty much just makes me want to give up on the project. I have too many things I would like to work on to change something one word at a time.

It would be nice to add to the ANALYZE description if this is the case.

[ArchSenex]

it depends on the merchant and what the item is. if it's the merchants signature item, or a rarer service, they may be more generous.

[Ososis]

it depends on the merchant and what the item is. if it's the merchants signature item, or a rarer service, they may be more generous.

I am already painfully aware that "things may be things, maybe"

I want to know if I got weak service from this merchant or awesome service from every other merchant. I am looking for specifics.

[tyrant-201]

I am already painfully aware that "things may be things, maybe"

I want to know if I got weak service from this merchant or awesome service from every other merchant. I am looking for specifics.

Not every merchant is well-versed in what you're asking them to do. Not every merchant is willing to do what you're asking them to do.

My suggestion is to clarify before trying, and have a backup plan if you need one.

[Ososis]

Not every merchant is well-versed in what you're asking them to do. Not every merchant is willing to do what you're asking them to do.

My suggestion is to clarify before trying, and have a backup plan if you need one.

Yes. But my question is still regarding where single items get turned into multiple alters.

[ArchSenex]

there are no specifics. the full rules are not shared, and merchants have significant discretionary authority based on a never revealed web of script ownership.

if you want to know exactly before you go, prepare to be upset a lot.

[Viekn]

I want to know if I got weak service from this merchant or awesome service from every other merchant. I am looking for specifics.

I've never had a Zodi cloak worked on, but I have had containers worked on where I requested an alter to the container itself and a show added at the same time, and the merchant agreed. I believe I've done that a couple times. It's probably worth e-mailing Wyrom or seeing if he'll respond here so at least you have guidance on what to expect going forward on that cloak.

[Ososis]

there are no specifics. the full rules are not shared, and merchants have significant discretionary authority based on a never revealed web of script ownership.

if you want to know exactly before you go, prepare to be upset a lot.

Many rules are shared, and while I appreciate you going over basic merchant 101 with me, it still doesn't address my question.

[Fallen]

It would seem that an alteration restriction like that should be mentioned in the item's ANALYZE description.

[Ososis]

I've never had a Zodi cloak worked on, but I have had containers worked on where I requested an alter to the container itself and a show added at the same time, and the merchant agreed. I believe I've done that a couple times. It's probably worth e-mailing Wyrom or seeing if he'll respond here so at least you have guidance on what to expect going forward on that cloak.

To be fair, my zodi cloak is more complicated than most (all?) others. And I know merchants don't intentionally disappoint, so it would be nice to have reasonable expectations when I go in. Just trying to dope out what is "reasonable" as I only have my own experiences to go off.

[tyrant-201]

It was Valyrka.

Valyrka is a twat.

That's all you need to know. If you've had it done fully before, 9 times out of 10 I imagine any other experienced merchant would do the exact same thing. GM's can be like regular people and have a random stick up their ass for no reason. It happens.

[Ososis]

It was Valyrka.

Valyrka is a twat.

That's all you need to know. If you've had it done fully before, 9 times out of 10 I imagine any other experienced merchant would do the exact same thing. GM's can be like regular people and have a random stick up their ass for no reason. It happens.


So I got a "weak" service here, and should not consider it a baseline for the future? Now we are getting to it!

[drauz]

To be fair, my zodi cloak is more complicated than most (all?) others. And I know merchants don't intentionally disappoint, so it would be nice to have reasonable expectations when I go in. Just trying to dope out what is "reasonable" as I only have my own experiences to go off.

I had a full alter on a climatewear cloak done at EG, but the merchant had specifically said that if I we had it ready they would do the entire thing. They were done within 5 minutes with everything. I think some GMs are just more experienced than others.

[Ososis]

I had a full alter on a climatewear cloak done at EG, but the merchant had specifically said that if I we had it ready they would do the entire thing. They were done within 5 minutes with everything. I think some GMs are just more experienced than others.

I had my paragraph already written up. This is a T2 zodi cloak, it gets these 3 things, these are what I want those three things to be. I wanted so badly not to waste time, I had worked it over with Japh a few weeks ago, and compared it to other accepted alters to be sure it fit the rules, spacing, etc. I did all my pre-alter homework and was good to go.

[hello]

I had my paragraph already written up. This is a T2 zodi cloak, it gets these 3 things, these are what I want those three things to be. I wanted so badly not to waste time, I had worked it over with Japh a few weeks ago, and compared it to other accepted alters to be sure it fit the rules, spacing, etc. I did all my pre-alter homework and was good to go.

I always wondered if Japh is a English teacher in RL. He's really good at alters.

[Warriorbird]

I had my paragraph already written up. This is a T2 zodi cloak, it gets these 3 things, these are what I want those three things to be. I wanted so badly not to waste time, I had worked it over with Japh a few weeks ago, and compared it to other accepted alters to be sure it fit the rules, spacing, etc. I did all my pre-alter homework and was good to go.

It happens sometimes. Don't consider it typical. Recently, I wanted to do less than possible on an item and a GM talked me into doing more. Just consider it a variation in the system.

[hello]

It happens sometimes. Don't consider it typical. Recently, I wanted to do less than possible on an item and a GM talked me into doing more. Just consider it a variation in the system.

I also think there is a unstated but implied rule about alters; not all alteration sessions are the same, pay walled alter sessions will be much more lenient.

[Fortybox]

Yeah, not every merchant does the same thing.

To fix this, I think the team should create a 5,276 page document that outlines what a merchant can and can't do. This should take priority over all other things, except of course, nerfing monks.

[hello]

Yeah, not every merchant does the same thing.

To fix this, I think the team should create a 5,276 page document that outlines what a merchant can and can't do. This should take priority over all other things, except of course, nerfing monks.

We have monks?

[n0551n3n0m1n3]

In my experience merchants will alter 1 single part of an item if they can. They are usually willing to do a base 15/15/15 and long at one shot, but not a base and show. With scripted items most merchants will touch one part, unless it is their own scripts in which case they will more likely be generous.
https://gswiki.play.net/Alteration
The term alteration refers to a relatively common merchant service which allows for an item to be given a custom 15/15/15 or base description and potentially either a custom long or show description. General alterations are limited to either a long or show description, though some special items (or special merchant services) allow for both. Standard alteration rules can be seen using the ALTER verb.

[Jhynnifer]

You'll find some merchants more willing than others to do an entire veola (all sides, all hairstyles) in a single sitting, for example. Climatewear is another example of multi-part items that often take lots of merchant spins to get done. Paid festivals tend to offer more chances at these full customizations than your average random weeknight merchant will. My suggestion? Be prepared with the full alteration you want and give it to the merchant. They may come back and tell you they'll only do one or two... but you have a better chance of having it all done if the merchant knows you're 100% prepared and the ideas meet alter guidelines.

There are some merchants who are known to be, not strict, but less willing to work with you but that is just how things are! You eventually get a feel for those particular GM merchants and you either avoid them or save your lighten/deepens/one thing changed alters for them!

[Tisket]

Clearly the merchant doesn't like you, Oso.

[Ososis]

Clearly the merchant doesn't like you, Oso.

Mother fucking dirt elves...

No, that's not fair (they all look the same to me). But yeah, nations is a bucket of dumb.

[Luxelle]

When I had Veola items altered ... it was just one "side" at a time. So maybe your Zodi cloak was like that?