Thoughts on the use of auction houses in hardcore mode

[Guoguo]

I have an idea for a Hardcore mode that allows an auction house. Every item can only be traded once — whether via mail, direct player-to-player trade, or the auction house.
Similar to party level restrictions, when using the auction house, you can only search and buy items listed by players whose character level is within ±5 levels of yours.
For example, if I am level 10, I can only see listings from players level 5 to 15. The item becomes bound immediately after purchase.

I’m wondering how technically difficult this would be to implement. I’d really love to have access to an auction house in Hardcore mode; it would make things so much more convenient.

[Kjsharp]

It is too onerous to trade right now, for sure. You can either play, or you can spend ~30-45 minutes whispering people around your level seeing if they want to buy X or Y good.

I hate how difficult to impossible it is to solicit things like sharpening stones or alchemy potions. These are the types of things that should be being bought and sold with frequency, yet it is just too onerous it seems.

I don't know what the solution is. Perhaps something like regional auction houses would be interesting.

This is more a problem from levels 1 through 45, and less a problem for levels 45-60.

Imagine an auction house that was shared between Darkshore, Ashenvale, Barrens, and Stonetalon. And another shared between Westfall, Redridge, and Duskwood. And another between Loch Modan, Silverpine, Wetlands, and Hillsbrad. And each regional auction house had max levels for who could post in them and what items could be posted in them.

[Kjsharp]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but thinking more about it, I really like the regional Auction House idea.

It preserves most of the friction that banning the AH intends -- it doesn't make it easy to funnel items from your level 60 to your twink alt. I think in-person and COD trades would still be happening at a healthy clip. It fosters some sense of community because it's regional.

The proposal would be:
Regional Auction Houses, (i) 10% cut on white mats/items, 15% on green mats, 20% cut on green items/blue mats, 25% cut on blue items. (ii) Items are not mailed to you -- you have to pick up your item from the auction house. (iii) Minimum floor price is double the vendor price. (iv) 12/24/36 hour time options, which could become 8/16/24 if the server grows.

I. Westfall Auction House
-- accessible in major cities in Westfall, Redridge Mountains, and Duskwood
-- item levels 1-30
-- player levels 10-32

II. Ashenvale Auction House
-- accessible in major cities in Darkshore, Ashenvale, the Barrens, and Stonetalon Mountains
-- item levels 1-30
-- player levels 10-32

III. Wetlands Auction House
-- accessible in major cities in Silverpine Forest, Thallasian Highlands, Hillsbrad Foothills, Wetlands, and Loch Modan
-- item levels 1-30
-- player levels 10-32

IV. Hinterlands Auction House
-- accessible in major cities in the Eastern Plaguelands, Western Plaguelands, Arathi Highlands, Hinterlands, Gilneas, and Alterac Mountains
-- item levels 31-58
-- player levels 31-60

V. Stranglethorn Auction House
-- accessible in major cities in Stranglethorn Vale, Blasted Lands, Swamp of Sorrows, Searing Gorge, Badlands, and the Burning Steppe
-- item levels 31-58
-- player levels 31-60

VI. Winterspring Auction House
-- accessible in major cities in Winterspring, Felwood, Azshara, Gilijim's Isle, Island of Lapidis, and Desolace
-- item levels 31-58
-- player levels 31-60

VII. Tanaris Auction House
-- accessible in major cities in Tanaris, Dustwallow Marsh, Thousand Needles, Un'Goru Crater, Tel'abim, and Silithus
-- item levels 31-58
-- player levels 31-60