I was wondering if anyone out there uses the bartering system for purchasing their needed supplies. For instance, as an herbalist I would like to trade herbs for enchantments, potions, etc. I asked someone recently (my first customer! *g*) if they would consider that and I got a flat no. Then he bought my herbs for gold which in a short time I will turn around and give back to him for an instrument. To me, it would be beneficial to both parties to enter into an agreement of trading services without gold. Perhaps this seems good to me because my character is poor, and I've used that method in another game with great benefits.

So I was curious, has anyone here tried that and would anyone be willing to enter such an arrangement with Bhiele? Of course, our characters would have to meet IG and discuss it.

Also, what the heck are the average rates for herbs? I don't want to overcharge anyone, and I don't want to screw myself either.

Somehow I made this post twice? someone delete the other one pretty please!

It can vary for many reasons, including what other herbalists are supplying your potential customers.

Tsuki has never been very aggressive in the pursuit of her tradeskill (yes, herbalist). Her prices tend to have a range and can fluctuate within that range depending on things like: how difficult has the recent environment of the game made it to get more of this herb, how useful/in demand is this herb, who's the person wanting to buy it, etc. I know some of her prices are, and will remain, higher than the prices others charge. However, I've also had the experience a few times of someone wanting to buy a particular herb, deciding Tsuki's price was too high and deciding not to buy, and then a few RL days later (after I didn't sell it at a lower price) paying that price anyway because they hadn't been able to find what they wanted from anyone else. You might also decide to provide (for free or at a low price) small quantities of highly-needed herbs to support combatants or others in your own organization at times when they're needed.

That said, here's what Tsuki tends to charge for herbs (but remember to take into account the different factors that might affect your own prices):

(healing herbs)
arnica 8-10
calamus 10-12
chervil 10
coltsfoot 8-10
faeleaf 10
galingale 10
horehound 12-15
kafe 8-10
kombu 12-14
marjoram 8-10
myrtle 14-17
pennyroyal 12
reishi 12
wormwood 15
yarrow 12-14
sparkleberry 35-50

(potion herbs not already listed)
weed 10
flax 8
juniper 10-12
mistletoe 10-12
merbloom 18-20
sargassum 14

(less in demand)
sage 8
colewort 5-8
rosehips 10-12
spices give away free to cooks, or 1 per 10/100


So much as bartering, if you can find an alchemist to work with you might be able to arrange for low prices for them, or first-dibs on available stock, in exchange for lower prices on potions or something. Exchanging for gold seems to be easier on all involved than the more complicated methods of deciding how much of X is worth how much of Y in a way that's agreeable to both parties.


Edit: You can also check the ads regularly or semi-regularly and compare any prices for herbs there against your own with whatever other considerations you've decided upon as important to your pricing.

Your best bet for bartering would be to befriend an alchemist, and work something out with potions/herbs, you supply them with what they need, they supply you. That type of thing could work out with any group of trade skills that supply each other.

Most people just want gold though, as it's the easiest thing to use. Which is the reason it’s usage came about IRL.

Heck, and now we don’t even use that; we trade useless scraps of paper our governments assure us is worth some trivial amount.



erm, anyway most people don't barter, but you're best chance to barter would be between you and friends you know. I used to barter Mercury for Sugar with Sivriel, back when I was a cook myself.

I personally love the barter system. I'll happily trade an unused item or some spare herbs for that bit of metal or some gems I need. But that's me.

Contact Gelo ingame. I can help you with alchemy.