So I brought this up in the Developer Query discord chat earlier- I'd like to make a quick suggestion for the "Rogue Only" or Shady Looking Man vendors. I really like these vendors and the idea behind them, but I feel like most of the selection on them might have been set up for a much earlier time in the server's history where better gear wasn't as prevalent as it is today. In that line of thinking, I have suggestions for an update if the Dev team feels like one is in order. (I'm trying not to be too spoiler-ish with the merchants and their names/exact locations/specific bonuses on gear, but I can edit things to reflect that if you want)
Traps - Most of the traps on these merchants are "Minor" traps, and have a pretty high price tag relative to the extreme low level they'd be useful at. Adding selections of even "Average" traps would do a lot for low-mid level rogues who need extra options for defense or PvP (because of the price tag on traps sold from vendors, they're not likely being used heavily in dungeons outside of maybe 'boss' encounters). Adding up to "Strong" would even ensure that higher level rogues have a reason to come back to these merchants. (Edit - Strong is probably too powerful for area, suggesting Average, as well as player craftable trap kits and advanced trap kits)
Rogue Gear - There are 2 different shadowed hoods that give a lower and a higher amount of hide, though they're both out in Port-a-Lucine. Any Rogues who are based in Barovia (Gundarakites, Garda, RVT, ect) have to run out there to buy one. While that's not a terribly big deal, it's pretty OOC and I feel like there's no real reason the shady merchants in Vallaki wouldn't be able to get their hands on this kind of product - especially merchants who basically only sell to thieves.
Aside from the hoods, there are the special daggers that give a bonus to disable trap/pickpocket that could be welcome additions. Especially in Vallaki where you have less skill points to fall back on in places like Tergs that start to get the tougher traps. Also, Lock Picker's friends. There is already a place to buy these, and while it is very accessible, these just feel like an item that a Rogue-Only vendor would want to sell as well.
Rogues Gloves are also available from a shop in Port-a-Lucine, though it's just a normal shop and this gear isn't in any of the rogue only shops. Same as above, it feels like an item they'd definitely carry. As it stands, the guy who has these gloves is a better rogue vendor than ALL the rogue-only shops. He's got better traps, better gear, and will sell to any PC, rogue or no. It makes the rogue only shops feel more like flavor than anything actually useful.
A Lockpicking belt or Thieves Utility belt would also be cool. The second one is available in a shop in the Vallaki area, but I figured I'd throw it in here since it fits with the theme of the store and makes sense.
Scrolls/Magic Items - The vendor in Degannwy sells nature scrolls including One with the Land and Camouflage. You constantly see underworld/sneak players tromping through elf-town to buy bags of these, it seems much more IC for these shady merchant guys to market things like that to their clients. They already sell scrolls, so this wouldn't be new, they'd just sell BETTER scrolls that people actually use. A final suggestion would be maybe some of the weakest weight reduction bags or something, since most rogues have crap STR and the weakest bags are already in shops in the mod that are available to the public. This is exactly the kind of item that rogues want to carry around, especially when low level looting.
Level Restriction - I don't know if this is possible, but if it is, it would be neat. Could a second conversation option (Something like [Show me your special stock]) be added for people who have more than 5 levels in Rogue, or at least 1 level in a PrC like Assassin or Shadow Dancer? That cuts out the skill dumpers and low level characters who have lots of money from using the store. What I imagine for this section is that they have all the stuff the base store has, but maybe better versions. This is where I'd put this like strong traps, the weakest weight bag, rogue gloves, the stronger hide hood, ect.
In closing: What I have suggested is just making certain items commonly used by rogue players more readily available in the Rogue-Only stores. All of the items I have suggested to be placed in the shops can ALREADY be bought at other stores who sell to anyone and don't require keys/faction access. All this would do is save a bit of time and OOCness of running to places like Degannwy and Port to hit those specific vendors. The rogue merchants are cool, and I really like the concept, but they are outshined in every way by some other merchants who are willing to sell to anyone. To me, it stands to reason that if a merchant is restricted to a small group of people, it has every reason to be at least on par (but maybe better) as the ones who sell to anyone, otherwise there is no incentive to use them. Especially at the very high price they charge compared to other merchants.
I understand that possibly a reason the Port guys sell better gear is that players are expected to be a higher level by the time they reach that place and maybe you don't want that stuff floating around Vallaki. Though with the current server availability of gear and ability to sell herbs easily 2k a box, what ends up happening is I often see level 2-4 rogues sell 2 boxes of herbs, then make the OOC dash to Port to buy the necessary rogue gear with no IC explanation of how they even know about these "secret" vendors. It's just become common practice and the spawns on the road are easily avoidable for experienced players who know how to run them. Also, all of the gear I'm suggesting to be added gives +1s to skills, with the exception of the stronger hide hood. To me it really doesn't feel "overpowered" for the Vallaki area, even when considering the implications of stacking the bonuses. Also, it's going to be locked for rogues only, which is a notoriously weak class at those low levels, especially considering that ML Crypts and Tergs (two of the 'staple' low level dungeons) are entirely undead.
-Edited to be more ambiguous with item names and accompanying stats