A Practical, Monetizable Solution to Improve Trading (Without an Auction House)

The current trading system is one of the most commonly cited frustrations in the PoE community. Both buyers and sellers are affected — sellers are pulled out of gameplay, and buyers often give up after whispering multiple people with no response. This friction drives some players to disengage entirely, some even give up and start looking for another game.

At the same time, I fully understand GGG’s resistance to a traditional auction house. A completely frictionless system could disrupt item value, player retention, and game economy design.

But there’s a middle ground.


Introduce a trading NPC in each player’s hideout. Here’s how it could work:


-The buyer locks in a trade on the official website.

-The buyer visits the seller’s hideout.

-The buyer interacts with the seller’s trading NPC to receive the item and complete the transaction.


This preserves intentional friction — the buyer still has to visit the seller’s hideout — while removing the need for real-time coordination. Crucially, this system:


-Reduces disruption for sellers, who can stay immersed in gameplay.

-Improves the experience for buyers, cutting down on failed whispers and wasted time.

-Provides a new cosmetic monetization avenue via MTX for the trading NPC and associated effects.

-Showcases hideout MTX content to a broader audience, increasing visibility and sales potential.


This approach keeps the economy grounded, respects GGG’s vision, and improves quality of life in a way that’s consistent with PoE’s identity.

It’s not an auction house. It’s a compromise — and one that could make everyone happy.