1) Don't leave your merchant. I can't stress this enough. It's difficult for a merchant to open a list in another room if in the game. In short, because it's difficult, whichever room they're in is generally the room that the list will appear in, so don't leave your merchant.

2) Eat well. I can't stress this enough either. Take care of your body. Avoid carbs and things that make you crash. Eat lots of protien. You will outlast others. I drink lots of caffeine too, but be warned, if you're not used to it, this can crash you too!

3) Take care of your friends. It's real easy in the heat of the moment to forget and be like "YAH! I'm gonna make Fluffy Butt's uber axe of death and doom list!" but please remember the people who have stood by you and healed you and raised you and defended you when other people said you were crap and a total waste of space in Elanthia.

4) Get organized! For the sake of the God and Goddess! Please! Know where you're going. Print out my maps. That's why I put them there. Print out the alphabetical lists. That's why I put them there. Establish watches between your friends. Exchange phone numbers if you want, but please don't whine about not getting work done if you don't try. Your sour grapes only annoy others.

5) This leads me to five...which is indeed part of four. Go in with a positive outlook. I know it's easier said than done when you been up 48 hours, you have a family, you have dogs, your husband is an axe murderer serving time in the pen... err. Seriously though :p Have fun! Enjoy your time in the game while you wait, or getting something isn't worth much anyway.

6) If you miss a list, shrug it off and move on. You can do this. See five. There will be more lists, and getting pissed off only makes you look bad. Trust me, the staffer running the merchant isn't going to change what he/she is doing cuz you're upset.

7) Never look a gift horse in the mouth. If you can't find merchants on your own, follow someone who'se been known to be at them. I get annoyed when people follow me, but in a way, I see it as a compliment.

8) Be true to yourself. Don't have use for something? For the love of god, let someone else have your spot and leave the room or get something made for a friend.

9) Follow your heart. Does it say go northeast? Go northeast. I have woken up out of straight sleep (Ok...so I'm an insomniac who wakes easily!) with the feeling that so and so merchant was in game, and they were. Follow your instincts. They're yours alone and generally correct.

I'll probably think of more later. I used to have tons of these little things that I let guide me when I merchant hunted.