Difference between revisions of "Market World"

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(Created page with "Market World is a transit hub on the GATE Network operated by the Gudersnipe Foundation. The name is actually a colloquialism, the official desig...")
 
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No visitor has actually seen the outside of Market World. There are large skylights with led in natural light, but no windows anyone can actually see out of, except those that look out over more of the interior. The complex is massive and sprawling, and very unlikely for any traveler to visit the same sector twice.
 
No visitor has actually seen the outside of Market World. There are large skylights with led in natural light, but no windows anyone can actually see out of, except those that look out over more of the interior. The complex is massive and sprawling, and very unlikely for any traveler to visit the same sector twice.
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The interior is packed with shops, stalls, restaurants, and various other mediums of entertainment. While these aren't strictly necessary(see bellow) they offer some much needed diversion and a chance to make every long trip considerably more exciting.
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==Purpose==
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Technically, a traveler can transit from any interface on the network to any other interface. However, doing so places considerable extra strain on the network. There is also the human element, as operators down at the interface points are usually barely-trained part-timers who do little more than give instructions and press a button, it can be VERY easy to key-in an incorrect destination and result in a very costly mistake.
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Instead, transit hubs provide a central, simplified approach. From the interface, a traveler goes to a transit hub, then from the hub to their destination. Dedicated and experienced employees at the hub can better ensure a traveler selects the right destination interface.
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There is also a financial motivation. The use of transit centers, by simplifying the transit process, reduces the over-all cost of a GATE excursion. The addition, however, also allows the Foundation to "sell" extra services, such as VIP packages, plus bringing commerce to the hub. For most travelers, a trip complex enough to take them through a transit hub is a rare experience, and the long walk through the vibrant marketplace helps turn it into an exciting adventure. On Market World, travelers can find strange and exotic merchandise from all over the [[known worlds]].
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==Procedure==
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There are two types of travelers who pass through Market World: lone travelers with a specific destination, and low-budget travelers looking to 'hop on' to mass-transits. Hop Ons can save a significant amount by taking advantage of large, scheduled GATE transits, at the cost of time. Slightly more affluent travelers simply take a transit to the hub, then a second transit to their destination. Usually neither is scheduled, though there is always some waiting. Since they are not looking to reach a scheduled site, these travelers will usually spend a few hours exploring the market.

Revision as of 18:08, 14 June 2019

Market World is a transit hub on the GATE Network operated by the Gudersnipe Foundation. The name is actually a colloquialism, the official designation for the site is some sequence of numbers and letters that no one cares to learn. Nominally, the site is a transit terminal; however, the Foundation has opted to take advantage of the massive traffic the place sees, and has made available countless retail spaces.

Size and Layout

Like most sites associated with the GATE network, Market World's exact location within the known worlds is a closely-guarded secret. Most likely it is a Foundation Core World and is speculated to be in the Utops Cluster. Though, for all anyone knows, it could very well be on a flat dimension somewhere. Since everyone accessing it comes and goes by GATE, the official answer from the Foundation is "Everyone who needs to know, already knows. If you don't know, you shouldn't be asking." This has led to the common urban legend that the Foundation itself has lost track of Market World.

No visitor has actually seen the outside of Market World. There are large skylights with led in natural light, but no windows anyone can actually see out of, except those that look out over more of the interior. The complex is massive and sprawling, and very unlikely for any traveler to visit the same sector twice.

The interior is packed with shops, stalls, restaurants, and various other mediums of entertainment. While these aren't strictly necessary(see bellow) they offer some much needed diversion and a chance to make every long trip considerably more exciting.

Purpose

Technically, a traveler can transit from any interface on the network to any other interface. However, doing so places considerable extra strain on the network. There is also the human element, as operators down at the interface points are usually barely-trained part-timers who do little more than give instructions and press a button, it can be VERY easy to key-in an incorrect destination and result in a very costly mistake.

Instead, transit hubs provide a central, simplified approach. From the interface, a traveler goes to a transit hub, then from the hub to their destination. Dedicated and experienced employees at the hub can better ensure a traveler selects the right destination interface.

There is also a financial motivation. The use of transit centers, by simplifying the transit process, reduces the over-all cost of a GATE excursion. The addition, however, also allows the Foundation to "sell" extra services, such as VIP packages, plus bringing commerce to the hub. For most travelers, a trip complex enough to take them through a transit hub is a rare experience, and the long walk through the vibrant marketplace helps turn it into an exciting adventure. On Market World, travelers can find strange and exotic merchandise from all over the known worlds.

Procedure

There are two types of travelers who pass through Market World: lone travelers with a specific destination, and low-budget travelers looking to 'hop on' to mass-transits. Hop Ons can save a significant amount by taking advantage of large, scheduled GATE transits, at the cost of time. Slightly more affluent travelers simply take a transit to the hub, then a second transit to their destination. Usually neither is scheduled, though there is always some waiting. Since they are not looking to reach a scheduled site, these travelers will usually spend a few hours exploring the market.