Well, having heard (and before that realized) that some tradeskills are simply not as good as others, I thought I'd have a go at adding some extra things in. The two that immediately stand out are bookbinding and artisan, but I'll start with bookbinding.

Bookbinding Additions
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Tarotcards .... Finer vellum cards to better capture the Vernal aspects.
Documents ..... Bind official scrolls to record the affairs of state.
Sketchbooks ... Artists must keep track of their creative efforts.
Mapmaking ..... Navigating the aetherways is a tricky prospect.

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Syntax: BOOKBINDINGS TAROTCARDS
The improved arts of papercraft that are studied by Bookbinders allow fine vellum cards to be created which will require less ink to colour and fewer commodities to construct*.

Assuming that customized cards would make sense. I don't really know how tarot cards work, but they could be a nice little consumable for sale.

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Syntax: BOOKBINDINGS DOCUMENTS
SIGN (document)
Scribes are often asked to transcribe official documents, diplomatic missives and commercial contracts that are not susceptible to forgery. After being composed, these documents can be signed by any number of people in magical ink, protecting the contents from alteration and fraud.

For example,

You read what is written on an official scroll bordered in leaves.
I, Elryn, agree to be nicer to my brother.
Glowing faintly, the document bears the cursive signature of Elryn Greythane.

These could also be mailed, so its an upgraded, customizable letter sort of deal. However, they shouldn't be as expensive as the rest of Bookbinding, and they are not bound to anyone in particular, accepting any writing until someone signs it. Multiple signatures work too. Anyone who signs one will use 1 application of magic ink.

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Syntax: BOOKBINDINGS SKETCHBOOKS
Artistic sketches which are stored in these special books will not decay.

Doesn't need to be bound to anyone to use.

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Syntax: BOOKBINDINGS MAPS
AETHERMAP MARK (location)
AETHERMAP READ (location)
AETHERMAP HEAD TO (location)
In high demand by aethership commanders, each of these navigational charts can record up to five different positions in aetherspace, assuming the coordinates are marked while the algontherine is drifting in that location. Anyone can then read the map to gain an approximate bearing towards the marker, and a commander can use a map to slowly pilot to that position.

Well, I don't know if this is really that useful... I think maps would be cool, I'm just not sure what they would be best for. Essentially, you mark a place your ship is sitting at, and you can then determine how far away it is and in what direction from anywhere else on the same aetherplane. If you're locked into the commander module, you can also use a map to use the 'WALK TO' function to get back to that position. I know all of that can be accomplished by a system, but it might be nice for those without the capacity to use.

These also would not need to be bound to a particular person.

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Thoughts, other ideas?

I'd be tempted to take up bookbinding again and attempt to take back control of Stagleaf if that went in. I've wanted custom letters forever.

A couple more...

Deathcontract .... An unbreakable bargain to sell your soul.
Transcription .... Scribe an oration or meeting to be heard later.

Syntax: OFFER DEATHCONTRACT TO (player)
Power: 10 (any)
Requires: Scroll, a full bottle of magic ink and a dagger
The greatest scribes communicate not only with mortals, but are capable of engaging in negotation with the Divinities on the rarest of occasions. Standing on ground consecrated to a God, you will be able to create a binding contract for their soul, if they are willing to enter into this dangerous agreement. In exchange for being unable to use transmigration, lich, sacrifice, resurgem and conglutination upon their death, the signatory will benefit from enhanced experience gain in general as well as double experience gain from killing other mortals. Their devotion to their chosen God will mean that all offerings are trebled in value, and that they will receive one or two unique powers which depends on the God in question. The contract cannot be broken, and is binding until absolved by the Fates during death.

Yes, I felt like going wacky. The benefits need working on to be attractive without overpowered, but the idea is that if you go into risky mode, where vitae is the only thing between you and praying, you get bonuses for it. I think that is a better solution than removing rez skills across the board.

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Syntax: BOOKBINDINGS NOTEBOOKS
TRANSCRIPTION START IN (NOTEBOOK)
TRANSCRIPTION END
These enchanted notebooks will allow a scribe to record a verbal conversation in which he or she is present, providing that the spoken language is understood. The process is so ingrained in your mind that you will not even notice you are doing it.

So that IC 'logs' can be kept of meetings, important speeches, whatever. It automatically records any says, mutters, questions, exclaimations, etc in the room into the book.

The idea behind all of these ideas is that there is more value to hiring a bookbinder, and some are so that there are actual items to be sold in shops.

Transcribing would be AWESOME.

Artisan additions
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Heirlooms .... The skilled artisan crafts beautiful trinkets.
Fountains .... A water feature offers relaxation in every garden.
Ambience ..... Embed a pleasant ambience in any dwelling.
Potplants .... A splash of greenery to brighten a dreary corner.
Sculpture .... Sculpt intricate artworks of crystal and glass.



Syntax: CONSTRUCT
Craft various minor artifacts such as instruments to be passed from one generation to another.


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Syntax: CONSTRUCT
DRINK FROM FOUNTAIN
Soothing water features can comlete the perfect garden, and the cool waters will refresh visitors who drink from them.

Drinking from the fountain might boost willpower/endurance recovery for a short time? Or heal a random affliction, or something...


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Syntax: CONSTRUCT
EMBED
An artisan is responsible for creating just the right sense of atmosphere in a home, and adding a little ambience to a room is essential. Each ambience stone can be embedded in a location by a manse owner only.

So, these are little messages that fire off randomly in a room. They still go through the same approval process as other crafts, but don't require many commodities to make. They are constructed before-hand, and sold as enchanted stones.


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Syntax: CONSTRUCT
Adding plants to a room will ensure that their delicate fragrance lingers on the air, removing any unpleasant odours.

They would mostly be decoration, but would occasionally remove the stink affliction if you have it, and remove skunk spray from the ground or poison gas from the air.


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Syntax: CONSTRUCT
These beautiful creations are perfect for showcasing the elegance of a location, but in a manse or algontherine they can also be enchanted to warn the owner of intruders, and dazzle them.

This would be the manse version of statues. Not as powerful, they simply glow when an enemy passes by them (sending a message to the owner if online), and deal a small amount of health damage (say, 400 undeffed) as well as transfixion.

Fountains! Make that fountains/pools/ponds and I'm sold, if that counts. Maybe you could SCRUB in a room with a water feature? Or GET IN FOUNTAIN/POOL/POND and then SCRUB.

I want a scrying pool, eventually

YES! Make me lose my dependency on enchantments that decay before I even use them! Whoohoo!

Ooo... scrying pool would be so cool!

Oh, if it actually worked to scry that'd be even more ... I was just talking about aethetically, really.

another idea for Bookbinders, instead of making tarot cards easier
is how about only let them make tarot cards?

NO.

A scrying pool or something with an equivalent function would really great actually, since you can't see who's around while you're in a manse.

Other functional artisan things could include something to make you unscryable, and some sort of consumable to give a temporary boost to aethership operation.

Honestly, I think if artisans spent more time making custom objects that just cost a lot less than the basics (like blacksmiths did) it would be a lot easier to get artisan things made.

I think those things just cost too much, because they have tons of cool items they can make.

I don't quite know what you mean? There are standard costs for all artisan objects - its an expensive tradeskill.

The problem isn't that the existing items are too limited, its more that you're really only ever going to have a maximum of one in each manse. There are probably at most about 40 manses that are bigger than one or two rooms and are interested in taking advantage of artisan upgrades. In each manse, you're only going to need one desk, one bookshelf, one throne, one chandelier, one fighting ring, one chest, one cabinet, one largetable, one rack, one bed. You might have a few chairs, smalltables, wallfeatures, couches and tapestries... but they all last around 300 months, so you won't have to worry too much after the initial construction.

Now, the high cost of everything means limiting the market, and out of the 40 or so people in Lusternia who would be willing to buy from an artisan, only about 5 are going to get much more than a few pieces of furniture.

Aside from pipes and kegs, the potential for making it a viable tradeskill seems pretty low. I'm not saying it isn't used... it is. But if you compare the potential customer base of Artisans (and bookbinders) to say, herbs, enchantment, alchemy or tailoring... there is quite a difference.

That would be freakin' awesome.

But no, not tarot cards.

Out of curiousity, does anyone know if carpets/rugs have a benefit?


Typically costing 100 commodities, why wouldn't I just add a line to the room description instead? Few people are going to probe the carpet.

I want to have your babies Avaer. Keep up the good ideas.

Odd, Almost 90% of forged items cost less than half the original designs.

Ive never ever noticed a real use or reason to have a rug in a manse, never seen anything benificial...kinda a waste to make em unless you know, youre just making em to make yourself look rich.. I wish we could create that stuff though, that'd be great