Great Era of Commerce - Part 2

[h2]Merchant Group Commerce[/h2]

Merchant Group Commerce is now available.
- This is a party group where 2 to 8 party members can do Commerce together.
- Merchant Group Commerce can only be formed at the Qilla, Fillia, Cor, and Vales trading posts.
- Group trading can only be performed in Iria.
- There are two types of group trading:
  - On-Foot Travel when trading on land.
  - Air Travel when trading by air.
Visit the Merchant Group Commerce Bulletin Board near an Iria trading post to create a new group.
- Merchant group parties cannot be registered to the Party Board.
- The group leader can choose the method of travel, the starting trading post and the Destination trading post, and modify the Finishing and EXP rules for the party.
- From the Group Info menu, you can view the group status, transportation method of the party members, or right-click a party member for more options such as appoint a new leader, or check a member’s purchased trade goods information.
To start trade for the merchant group, the party leader can purchase trade goods when there are at least 2 people in the group.
- Trade goods can only be purchased at the trading post designated as the launch point.
- When the leader purchases trade goods and trading starts, no additional party members can be recruited until the trade ends.
- Once the leader has purchased the trade goods, members can purchase trade goods.
- You can get additional bonus profits when selling to the trading post designated as the Destination.
  - Each member can go to any desired trading post and sell trade goods, it does not have to be the Destination point for the merchant group.
- When all members sell the trade goods, trade ends for the merchant group and new trade goods can be purchased.
The Merchant Group Exclusive Trading Posts and exclusive trade goods have been added.
- Access to the exclusive trading posts is only possible while in a merchant group.
- Exclusive trade goods can be bought and sold at the Qilla, Filia, Cor and Vales Trading Posts in Iria.
  - The number of purchases available for trade goods differs by each trade good at each Trading Post.
  - The number of exchanges available resets weekly on Saturdays at 7 AM PT.
  - The characters within the account share trade counts.
- All merchant group members can choose and purchase the trade items they want.
- If you close the Trading Post UI after purchasing a trade item, you cannot purchase again until the trade ends for the group.
- When one of the party members arrives first at the Destination and sells a trade good, the sale price is fixed for the merchant group.
  - Party members who arrive late can also sell trade goods at the same price without a drop in the market price.
  - When all members sell trade goods and trade ends, the saved market price ends.
On-Foot Travel:
- Party members can use any transportation methods owned by the individual (Backpack, Camel, etc.).
Air Travel:
- The Airship has been added as a means of transport exclusively for Air Travel while in a Merchant Group.
  - 18 Slots, 2500 Weight
- An Air Transport License can be purchased by talking to an Iria Transportation Association NPC.
  - Requires Seasonal Commerce Rank Silver 5 and 10,000,000 Seasonal Ducats to unlock during the season.
  - The Airship transportation method rental will expire when the Commerce Season is over.
If the leader of the merchant group has an Air Transport License, the Airship can be boarded by all members in the group.
The Airship can only be operated by the leader of the merchant group.
- Use the Airship controls and click on the ground or select a waypoint on the minimap to move to an area.
- TIP: Hold Shift and Left Click to select multiple waypoints!
- You can board the Airship and fly around Iria to trade. All members must board before it can take off.
- Pets and Partners cannot be summoned while aboard the Airship.
A new Event Encounter system has been added during merchant group trading.
- You can encounter it randomly during trade.
- If one of the merchant group party members triggers an event, all members within a certain range can receive the effect.
- Different events occur during On-Foot Travel and Air Travel.
- On-Foot Travel
  - Discover an Ancient Stela and interact with it to increase trade profits by 2% for all party members within range. (Effect can stack up to 10 times)
  - Discover hidden chests and open them to find 50,000 to 500,000 Seasonal Ducats within!
- Air Travel
  - Two effects can be approached during Air Travel, granting one of the following:
    - Gust of Wind - increase the Airship’s speed.
    - Wind Essence - recover the Airship’s HP.
The encountered enemies while merchant group trading are stronger than the regular trade bandits, so defeat them together with your party members!
- During On-Foot Travel, you can encounter bandits during merchant group trading.
- During Air Travel, you can encounter Wyverns and Red Dragon.
Combat missions may occur randomly during Air Travel.
- Wyvern Battle:
  - Defeat all Wyverns using ranged skills and the Airship’s ballista to earn one of the following buffs. (Effect can stack up to 10 times)
    - Increased Airship Movement Speed
    - Increased Seasonal Ducat acquisition when trade is completed
    - Increased Merchant Rating when trade is completed
  - If the Airship’s HP is reduced by 30%, the battle will fail and the Airship Movement Speed will be decreased until the trade ends.
- Red Dragon Battle:
  - Attack the Red Dragon using ranged skills and the Airship’s ballista. If you hit the dragon more than a certain number of times, the dragon will retreat and you can earn one of the following buffs. (Effect can stack up to 10 times)
    - Increased Airship Movement Speed
    - Increased Seasonal Ducat acquisition when trade is completed
    - Increased Merchant Rating when trade is completed
  - If the group fails to hit the dragon a certain number of times within the time limit, the battle will fail and the Airship Movement Speed will be decreased until the trade ends.
- When the Airship’s HP reaches 0%, the Airship crashes to the floor, returns 75% of the purchase price of trade goods as Seasonal Ducats, and lowers the Merchant Rating.
- To prevent the Airship from crashing, all party members must work together to defeat the monsters!
Iria Trade Association merchants now sell the following items to help you during Air Travel Battles in the “Merchant Group” tab which can be purchased using Gold:
- Enhancement Stone: Increases Ballista's attack speed for a certain period of time during combat.
  You will also receive 5 when starting a new trade by Airship.
- Protection Stone: Airship's durability is not consumed for a certain period of time during combat.
  You will also receive 5 when starting a new trade by Airship.
- Ballista Bolt (Merchant Group): Can be used for the ballista of the Airship during combat.
Side Quests related to the Iria Trade Association NPCs have been added. The quests can be obtained by meeting the following requirements:
- Coming Home Late
  - Complete G22 and G25
  - Achieve Seasonal Commerce Rank Silver 5 or higher
  - Talk to Sayiv with the keyword “Piran” to receive the quest.
- High Tea on the High Seas
  - Achieve Seasonal Commerce Rank Bronze 1 or higher
  - Talk to Igerna with the keyword “Nearby Rumors” to receive the quest.
- Longing Flowing through the Desert Sea
  - Complete G17 The Saga Iria Part 1
  - Achieve Seasonal Commerce Rank Gold 5 or higher
  - Talk to Caoimhin with the keyword “Nearby Rumors” to receive the quest.
Other Commerce related additions and improvements have been added:
- You can obtain the Great Era of Commerce Collection Book from Sayiv.
- Linden, Sayiv, Igerna, and Caoimhin have been added to the list of NPCs that can be invited using a Campfire Invitation for the Campfire Spirit.
- 7 new Journal Achievements related to the Merchant Group Commerce can be obtained.
The following products will be added to the Trade Merchant NPCs and Sayiv’s Shop.
- Commerce Mount Extra Style Ticket - Airship (Imbolic) - 150,000,000 Ducats or Seasonal Ducats
- Exchange 10 Million Seasonal Ducats has been added to the Ducat Exchange function of the Trade Merchant NPC