Diablo 3 conversation achievement from Merchants “Sales and tales”

While you might be able to miss a required conversation when playing strictly linearly, you don't have to play strictly linearly.

Diablo 3 is broken up into quests, and since you can start from any quest you've unlocked, you can jump back to whatever conversation you have missed if you go too far, too fast.

Once you've unlocked all the acts in a given difficulty, you can jump anywhere you want, at any time, so it becomes less an issue of "missing" a conversation than it is "figuring out which conversations I've yet to have". (And then jumping directly to the relevant quest)

I waited a week before posting in case Ashel ever did find Halmin, but since they didn't, here's the answer with guides, including Halmin's location. I also contributed to Ashel's answer too, but that was when I didn't expect to find Halmin like a day later.

The locations of many of the wandering merchants appear randomly and for some of them, the merchants also appear randomly within those locations and so it will likely take several tries for each in order to get them.

Wandering Tinker

Wandering Tinker is always found at the Tinker's Hovel that is randomly at the Sheltered Cottage that is always to the north of the Fields of Misery in Act I. The nearest waypoint is Fields of Misery. Port in and run north. There's a lore book just outside the Tinker's Hovel.

Rodger the Alchemist

Rodger the Alchemist is randomly found across the bridge of the Wortham Bluffs during the quest Trailing the Coven in Act I. Despite nearly 100 attempts, I have never seen him appear except during this quest. The nearest waypoint is the Wortham Chapel Cellar. Port in and run until you get to the other side of the bridge.

Vendel the Armorsmith

Vendel the Armorsmith is randomly found in The Watch Tower Level 2 which is randomly found on the west edge of Southern Highlands in Act I. The nearest waypoint is Northern Highlands. Port in and run west, then search north and south to get your relative position and see if you find The Watch Tower - Dash through Level 1 and see if Vendel appears once you enter Level 2. Complete his quest to get a lore book and access to his shop. Ashel mentions this dungeon also being in Act III, but I have never seen it there.

• As of patch 1.05 it's the southern Highlands

Adenath the Curio Vendor

Adenath the Curio Vendor is always found at the House of Curios that is randomly found at one of four locations in the Fields of Misery. It can be at any of the 3 landmarks in the picture (either dungeon or the waypoint), or at a location far north and slightly east of the northern-most dungeon (in this picture). There's a lore book inside the House of Curios.

Kyr the Weaponsmith

Kyr the Weaponsmith is randomly found in the Highlands Passage just outside of the exit from Halls of Agony Level 2 in Act I. The nearest waypoint is Halls of Agony Level 2. Port in and run generally south-east until you exit Halls of Agony Level 2. Complete his quest to gain access to his shop.

Zaven the Alchemist

Zaven the Alchemist is randomly found in one of the southern tips of Dahlgur Oasis by the entrance to The Mysterious Cave in Act II. I believe I have found him at either of these tips but I definitely found him on the eastern one this time. The nearest waypoints are Path to the Oasis and Dahlgur Oasis. Port in, run south until you hit one tip and then continue towards the other. If you visit both waypoints, it makes it easier to get your bearings. Save him from some ghosts in order to gain access to his shop and the Mysterious Cave (where one of the components of The Staff of Herding can be found).

Larra

Larra is found in a randomly occurring Deserted Cellar that is randomly in Black Canyon Mines in Act II. The deserted cellar can spawn to the north or to the south. I have never found Larra at any of the southern deserted cellars. Also, I believe it is unlikely that the Blood Cellar and Deserted Cellar both spawn. Having a deserted cellar spawn and having it be the one with Larra are both random. The nearest waypoint is Black Canyon Mines. Port in an run north-west. The correct cellar will have a hovel named Larra at the back and your character will coax Larra into leaving the hovel and doing business with you. You will also get a lore book.

Halmin the Alchemist

Halmin the Alchemist is randomly found in The Foundry Level 1 which is randomly in The Battlefields in Act III. The nearest waypoint is The Bridge of Korsikk. Port in, run south and check if you see a big fort in the middle of The Battlefields with no access from the back, then run around the front to see if it's The Foundry. You will need to kill some enemies in a room with a fireplace which I found both times in the north-east part of the map and then Helmin will crawl out from under a bed and give you access to his shop. If you find a room with a fireplace and Halmin's not there, you may want to re-instance and try again.