A trader in the apocalypse.

[MafiaNoble]

I was just got this random thought about a trader based story in a apocalypse setting. Rather then a system or class awakening focussed on combat and adventuring something more unique would be nice.

So what about some trader system? The MC can buy things from a system shop (starts out with 1-3 options and gets more item as he levels up).

Besides the system shop he can get a bounty system/interface or whatever. He basically sells items for whatever the local currency is (can also be barter based) - then uses that currency to place bounties and then redeems the bounty parts for new points.

Getting XP (either by trading or combat depending on author preference) he can unlock new bounty options for stronger monsters, as well as new items.

Hell, maybe even skills, shop/building upgrades or whatever you can think off and would like to add.

You could go for a apocalyptic setting (maybe building upgrades would include magically running water, electricity, general building improvements or whatever)

The concept could also be taken elsewhere like a typical medieval Isekai fantasy setting.

Feel free to use this or add your own ideas/inspiration in the comments for whoever might be interested in picking it up.

 

[c37]

I was just got this random thought about a trader based story in a apocalypse setting. Rather then a system or class awakening focussed on combat and adventuring something more unique would be nice.

So what about some trader system? The MC can buy things from a system shop (starts out with 1-3 options and gets more item as he levels up).

Besides the system shop he can get a bounty system/interface or whatever. He basically sells items for whatever the local currency is (can also be barter based) - then uses that currency to place bounties and then redeems the bounty parts for new points.

Getting XP (either by trading or combat depending on author preference) he can unlock new bounty options for stronger monsters, as well as new items.

Hell, maybe even skills, shop/building upgrades or whatever you can think off and would like to add.

You could go for a apocalyptic setting (maybe building upgrades would include magically running water, electricity, general building improvements or whatever)

The concept could also be taken elsewhere like a typical medieval Isekai fantasy setting.

Feel free to use this or add your own ideas/inspiration in the comments for whoever might be interested in picking it up.

If MC is just buying from the system, wouldn't that remove the whole struggle to find/buy items in the apocalypse? It would be a lot better if the system had limited options and the rest of the things are found/obtained by traders themselves, this creates struggle and story.

 

[MafiaNoble]

If MC is just buying from the system, wouldn't that remove the whole struggle to find/buy items in the apocalypse? It would be a lot better if the system had limited options and the rest of the things are found/obtained by traders themselves, this creates struggle and story.

My idea was that he'd start out with very limited options and unlocks a additional item in his shop for every level up (maybe he can choose between 3 items every time he levels and select one?) no idea, tons of ways to do it.

But in short, the higher the level the more items he has. Let's also not forget that he buys his item with system points not the normal world currency.

He'd regain his points thru some bounty mechanic.

So Interacting with other individuals, trading or even killing monsters himself would have value either way.

 

[c37]

My idea was that he'd start out with very limited options and unlocks a additional item in his shop for every level up (maybe he can choose between 3 items every time he levels and select one?) no idea, tons of ways to do it.

But in short, the higher the level the more items he has. Let's also not forget that he buys his item with system points not the normal world currency.

He'd regain his points thru some bounty mechanic.

So Interacting with other individuals, trading or even killing monsters himself would have value either way.

This could be a good idea if he were not a trader, because as a trader, if he can get more items through level up, it will be pretty one-sided. So either we increase the threshold to level up or reduce the options.

 

[Ai-chan]

I was just got this random thought about a trader based story in a apocalypse setting. Rather then a system or class awakening focussed on combat and adventuring something more unique would be nice.

So what about some trader system? The MC can buy things from a system shop (starts out with 1-3 options and gets more item as he levels up).

Besides the system shop he can get a bounty system/interface or whatever. He basically sells items for whatever the local currency is (can also be barter based) - then uses that currency to place bounties and then redeems the bounty parts for new points.

Getting XP (either by trading or combat depending on author preference) he can unlock new bounty options for stronger monsters, as well as new items.

Hell, maybe even skills, shop/building upgrades or whatever you can think off and would like to add.

You could go for a apocalyptic setting (maybe building upgrades would include magically running water, electricity, general building improvements or whatever)

The concept could also be taken elsewhere like a typical medieval Isekai fantasy setting.

Feel free to use this or add your own ideas/inspiration in the comments for whoever might be interested in picking it up.

What you've described is the typical xitong genre. The genre is quite mature already with numerous quite creative ideas.

For example:
Melon-eating system - You get points for participating/spreading gossip or creating new gossip. Then you can buy stuff from the mall and resell it.
Gossip system - You get daily gossip, but the catch is everyone else can hear your thoughts and you didn't know about it until everyone have used you for their own benefit.
Boss-killing system - You get points for every trophy. There are many variations of this, including in xian setting.
Apocalypse hotel system - You get points for every guest which could be exchanged for apocalypse seeds, food and hotel expansion. Ai-chan didn't like this story because the author made the protagonist overpowered and the story boring.
Apocalypse base system - The protagonist has to do missions to build his base in exchange for robots from the future, abilities and base expansion. Ai-chan enjoyed the story at first but the continuous base upgrading felt monotonous and boring. Plus, the protagonist barely interacts with anyone else. It's too suffocating for Ai-chan.

Ai-chan's personally writing a xitong story about a girl who transmigrates into the princess of a falling tributary state of isekai china. She had to juggle politics, appease isekai china and fight other kingdoms, some of which are other tributary states. She got the Ancestral Favour System, who originally transmigrated her into the princess because the princess was the last direct royal bloodline and she had just died due to treachery and she used the fact that they transmigrated her against her will to squeeze benefits from the system.

The xitong's most common admonishment "The heavens sees and the ancestors' complains are rotting my ears."

 

[MafiaNoble]

What you've described is the typical xitong genre. The genre is quite mature already with numerous quite creative ideas.

For example:
Melon-eating system - You get points for participating/spreading gossip or creating new gossip. Then you can buy stuff from the mall and resell it.
Gossip system - You get daily gossip, but the catch is everyone else can hear your thoughts and you didn't know about it until everyone have used you for their own benefit.
Boss-killing system - You get points for every trophy. There are many variations of this, including in xian setting.
Apocalypse hotel system - You get points for every guest which could be exchanged for apocalypse seeds, food and hotel expansion. Ai-chan didn't like this story because the author made the protagonist overpowered and the story boring.
Apocalypse base system - The protagonist has to do missions to build his base in exchange for robots from the future, abilities and base expansion. Ai-chan enjoyed the story at first but the continuous base upgrading felt monotonous and boring. Plus, the protagonist barely interacts with anyone else. It's too suffocating for Ai-chan.

Ai-chan's personally writing a xitong story about a girl who transmigrates into the princess of a falling tributary state of isekai china. She had to juggle politics, appease isekai china and fight other kingdoms, some of which are other tributary states. She got the Ancestral Favour System, who originally transmigrated her into the princess because the princess was the last direct royal bloodline and she had just died due to treachery and she used the fact that they transmigrated her against her will to squeeze benefits from the system.

The xitong's most common admonishment "The heavens sees and the ancestors' complains are rotting my ears."

By the sound of it I like these Xitong themes somewhat but probably would enjoy a more Western version more, personally that is.

This could be a good idea if he were not a trader, because as a trader, if he can get more items through level up, it will be pretty one-sided. So either we increase the threshold to level up or reduce the options.

I mean, it's a trader based system novel so of course he'd be a trader. The catch is that shop items can only be bought with shop points which he has to regain thru monster trophies or whatever.

So shop items ---> Local currency that he can't spend on the shop, which stimulates trading with other individuals. If his shop at LVL 1 sells water bottles, lvl 2 dogfood, lvl 3 beercans, lvl 4 Nutrition bars etc etc (random example)

then he still has to trade local currency so he can restock on points. Maybe he has a base and wants to hire security, or get furniture made or looted.

If the author makes XP based on killing things he'll be forced to go out and kill as a typical protagonist as well, so there'll be plenty of ways to interact and trade outside of his system.

It would definitely be a core function but it can't do everything.