over 4 years ago - Shurenai - Direct link
I mean, When they all sold everything without any specialization, people still self-limited the map because basically everyone plants a base right next to a trader, or within a short walk of the trader. It doesn't matter which trader it is or if it's specialized or not, in the end, everyone bases right by a trader- And once planted, most don't move to a new location.

You're going to plant next to a trader and you're not going to move away from it which limits your options, Specialized traders or not.
over 4 years ago - Crater Creator - Direct link
I'm not seeing the argument that it "limits the map" more than non-specialized traders. With non-specialized traders, there's less reason to explore. You do your starter quest, find your first trader, and you're set. You don't have as much incentive to try other traders, because they'll have the same stuff, whereas specialized traders give you an added reason to check them all at least once in a while.

Think if this were real life. If your house is next to a Walmart, it doesn't really matter if there are other, equally stocked Walmarts in neighboring towns. You just go to the close one. If instead you don't have a Walmart but you have a grocery store, a drug store, and a hardware store in your local area, now your trips are more interesting, requiring different paths.

In game terms, that means more exploration, utilizing more of the map. Theoretically, which trader to build near is an interesting choice, with the opportunity to synergize with your character build's strengths, or bolster your character build's weaknesses. If the game's in a state where only one kind of thing is worth buying, across many playstyles, then let's address that and make different kinds of items for sale more worthwhile, rather than genericize the traders again.