Re: Changing the face of MMORPG - was Who sells gold the cheapest

"Taras Bulba" <no-one@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Tue, 19 Jul 2005 09:50:55 +0200, "Christian Stauffer"
<wildcard666@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

"Taras Bulba" <no-one@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Mon, 18 Jul 2005 16:08:27 +0200, "Christian Stauffer"
<wildcard666@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


I don't have enough information about WoW's economy to categorically
state that buying gold does devalue the currency, although it seems
intuitive that it would. Nevertheless, economies, even ones as
[relatively] unsophisticated as WoW's, can sometimes work in a
counter-intuitive way.


More money = less value of one unit of this money. What's to discuss
about this topic?


Lots.

How is it more money?

The money has to exist in order to be able to sell it. It is  in the
economy long before they sell it.


The money that is buyable comes from gold farmers. They do nothing
but create money all the time.

And, if someone buys 900 gold, or whatever it takes to buy an epic
mount, and  then buys that mount, isn't that taking gold out of the
economy?


How does this affect the point that buying money is bad for the
economy?
Of course there are money sinks like mounts, but these money sinks
aren't even enough to keep the economy from inflation without gold
farmers.

The real question might be whether you would put up with gold being
bought legally from the company, if they could ensure it had a totally
neutral effect on the economy?

I wouldn't care. 

So, for example, if Blizzard decided to put in a gold buying service,
you would be happy as long as it didn't exceed what is being sold
illegally now?


No, that's not what I wrote. First, I wouldn't be happy, I just wouldn't
care. Second, it's ONLY when it has no influence on what I can achieve
by fair play and it doesn't alter the economy.

If they could prove to you that being able to buy gold would not
weaken your game experience

Would it then be ok? 

As long as:
- I can achieve the same thing by spending time ingame


You can do that now. In fact you can get BoP gear which  no amount of
gold buying will get you.


Sure. But:
- I can't get my hands on $LEETITEM$ if it goes for 5k gold in the
 AH because there are people who have this insane amount of cash
 due to buying gold
- I can't get my hands on $LEETITEM$ if someone decides that this
 item will only be available by spending RL cash

Only some points imaginable.

- It doesn't raise prices or affect me in any other way 

"Affect me in any other way"  covers a multitude of sins.

Any rule change will affect you. 

I guess it's crystal clear what I'm talking about in the context
of what I wrote.
If not, hey, it's usenet, just imagine what I could've ment
and lay words in my mouth :o)

I'd say let people spend their RL cash for items/cash/whatever.
I wouldn't want to play with people who bought all their gear
with RL money, but that's just me.


It's not just you. I'm sure there are plenty of people who feel the
same way.

What is interesting is why they still feel that way, even if it were
to have no effect whatsoever, on their game.


Please what? Ok, I'll explain it slowly: If you decide to buy your
equipment with RL cash, that's fine. If it doesn't hurt me, I have
no problem with it. But: I know it's possible without problems to
play the game without buying cash/items. I know how much experience
(or player skill, don't mistake experience with XP) or social
competence is gained by buying equipment with RL cash compared to
earning it in challenging instance runs.
Summary: Buy money, but you're a crappy player in my eyes if you
have to. And you're an idiot if you're proud of your achievements
(looky looky me cool armor folks).

(where "you" didn't mean you of course)

If the above points are
fulfilled, it would be no problem for me.


As you can see, it is not possible to fulfil all of the points.

This is because the points have not been specified. They have simply
been left to the vagaries of "affect me in any other way".


That is the point.

Whats the point of me being rich in RL if I can't have a better
character, with a bigger sword, and more money, than the great
unwashed?


What's the point of me being a PvE freak and instance addict,
when every rich old fart can spend some $ to achieve the same?


They haven't achieved the same. They haven't had the same experiences
and maybe they haven't achieved the same level of skill.

All they have done is buy their character already equipped.

Wouldn't you argue that you have had a much more rewarding experience
than them?


Agreed.

Again, as long as I'm not directly affected by people buying
gear/cash with RL money, let them do it. But you'll have to
life with the fact that people like me would prefer to play
endgame stuff with relatively weak geared players who know
what they do, than with someone who spent 200$ to pimp his
level 60 to the extremes for whatever reasons.


The main criterion for me grouping with someone would be that they
knew what they were doing, not where they got there gear from.


Agreed.

I wouldn't boot a bought character who knew what to do, in favour of
an inept fool who had stumbled his way through 60 levels of dungeon
wipes.


I can't imagine anyone at level 60 who's buying cash knows what he
does.

A sort of BMW character, as opposed to a Kia character. 

Nice analogy: Just as I'd prefer to play my drood with less-
than-optimal gear than buying ubergear with RL cash if I
can't get it by playing, I'd rather buy a Kia than
lease/rent a BMW if I didn't have the money for buying a BMW.


Well, its your money. You have the right to purchase whatever you want
with it, don't you?


Sure. And again: Everyone has this right to do with his cash
what he wants. But this right ends where the money is used for
doubtful reasons that most likely decrease my game experience.

Chris

--
[WoW] Wildcard - Treehugging Tauren (57) on EN Sunstrider [PvP]
     Lonewalker - Striding Tauren (15)  on EN Sunstrider [PvP]
     Jazrah - Brutal Troll (16)         on EN Sunstrider [PvP]
     Jivarr - Charming Troll (12)       on EN Sunstrider [PvP]
.

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