Curse

Pugs Not Drugs · Mar 14, 2010, 06:55 PM // 18:55

Since there is all this complaining going on about the value of ectos raising and lowering, and the value of zkeys raising and lowering too, and how people lost all their wealth when UWSC was popular and ectos were going 4k a pop, why not start storing wealth in something with a set value, ie something you can sell to a merchant. The idea occured to me when I was raptor farming event drops and realized that one stack of Saurian Bones was 6k 250g. They are easily obtainable and have a set price, so there is no complaining about loss in money. So what if everyone started using merchantable items to store wealth in and to trade over 100k?

However, one downside is that with 7 stacks of Bones and 100k, you can only trade up to 143,750. So, does anybody have an idea that sells for more at the mercant (ie diamonds that go for 100g I think) and can be used as a seperate currency? All replies are appreciated!

Arduin · Mar 14, 2010, 07:03 PM // 19:03

Lockpicks have already been suggested as the new currency, because they are at a steady price of 1200g - 1250g. The idea didn't fly.

Shayne Hawke · Mar 14, 2010, 08:44 PM // 20:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arduin

Lockpicks have already been suggested as the new currency, because they are at a steady price of 1200g - 1250g. The idea didn't fly.

Likely because of Discount Merchants, I'd assume?

I can't really understand what you're suggesting, OP. It seems to me that you want players to pick another item besides Armbraces, Z-Keys, and Ectos that can be used as a sort of common currency and also have a set value, but that's more of a discussion point that a suggestion.

William C Wallace · Mar 14, 2010, 08:47 PM // 20:47

Ecto's have a "stock market" attraction. You can, of course, buy low and resell high. With that being said, Ecto's are also farmable, with relative ease... There will always be a demand for Ecto's, with a relatively moderate supply going for a decent amount platinum.

Braxton619 · Mar 14, 2010, 08:59 PM // 20:59

I do love the thought of lockpicks.

But I think ecto will still be the current one.

Div · Mar 14, 2010, 09:02 PM // 21:02

Thanks for using the search function. Lockpicks have always been the main alternative trading currency next to ectos, zkeys, and armbraces. There's no item that's higher value than lockpicks that remains stable.

Arduin · Mar 14, 2010, 09:14 PM // 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shayne Hawke

Likely because of Discount Merchants, I'd assume?

Lockpicks are indeed bought @ 1200g at those merchants, and sold for 1250g to players. 80 for 100k.

Neponde Benito · Mar 14, 2010, 11:53 PM // 23:53

storing large amounts of currency in lockpicks would suck. i would have to devote 3 full pages of storage for lockpick stacks. Tis no bueno.

Yawgmoth · Mar 15, 2010, 12:37 AM // 00:37

Lockpicks didn't become a major currency and a way to store wealth because of their low value - a full stack of lockpicks is just 300k, a full trade window of lockpicks is only like 300-330ectos worth and there's a pretty large variety of items that cost more than that.

Still if you want a safe way to store large amount of gold, buying stacks of lockpicks works fine - you'll always be able to sell them at 1200 each to players. The only problem is the decreasing value of gold itself - inflation - lockpicks or any other merch'able item stacks won't save you from it.

btw, I don't see how this is a suggestion thread.

Shayne Hawke · Mar 15, 2010, 02:20 AM // 02:20

Yup, moving this to Riverside.

A suggestion would be something like "add bank notes that stack and have a buy and sell value of 1k" (and I would not be surprised to find that suggested already). Suggesting people should use Lockpicks for currency is more of a discussion point.

FoxBat · Mar 15, 2010, 02:33 AM // 02:33

I'm pretty sure if Anet actually wanted a safe, reliable currency, they'd have set the plat caps much higher. 100k per character is a pittance. I don't see any suggestions on their part going anywhere.

Edit: as to why, likely an ill-conceived attempt to mitigate the max price of high-end items on the market. You might not like that reason but that doesn't make it less valid to Anet.

EragonSorceror · Mar 15, 2010, 03:06 AM // 03:06

Why wouldn't they want us to have a safe, reliable currency (in your opinion)?

Reformed · Mar 15, 2010, 03:29 AM // 03:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by EragonSorceror

Why wouldn't they want us to have a safe, reliable currency (in your opinion)?

I don't think they wanted an unstable currency more like they didn't want wealth accumulation to be the focus of the game. It seems to me they did everything in their power to control that...currency limits, gold sinks, max weapons and armor with no functional differences beyond appearance, etc. It was inevitable people would run out of things to buy or just try to get 1,000 platinum for the hell of it especially in a long running game. I don't think Anet planned on people stockpiling ecto/armbrace stacks or seeing items sell in the tens of millions which is probably why we didn't get a stable placeholder (banknote or whatever).

Dzjudz · Mar 15, 2010, 03:30 AM // 03:30

Festival Tickets?

Arduin · Mar 15, 2010, 05:54 AM // 05:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dzjudz

Festival Tickets?

But those tickets can only hold 3750g per stack. Sure they are stable, because selling price = buying price, but you'd need to buy extra character slots just to hold on to those stacks.

Raven Wing · Mar 15, 2010, 09:02 AM // 09:02

What you need is a item with fixed trader value that is higher than that of a lockpick and also stackable. Ecto is stackable and got a higher value but it isnt fixed. All other merchant items that are stackable got a lower value and thus would take up too much space.
So, such item doesnt exist. We could really use a new item, but it should be one with a logic behind it. It must be more valuable than platinum too. A first thought would be "Divine Matter". Can be purchased for 10 (or 50 or 100) platinum from relevant NPC's (and resold at same price). Donating One Divine Matter to a godly avatar npc can earn the world 3 minutes of favor. Not that anybody would do that, it could just be the reasoning for its existence.
That would provide for the desired high end fixed value item.
But I guess it wouldnt happen. First these people with stacks of ecto would see them drop and initiate a cataclysm of rage. Second anet would be required to invest time in programming it.
So in reality I do not see any easy solution for this.

Axeman002 · Mar 15, 2010, 10:03 AM // 10:03

they could always implement currency coins similar to z coins...so for say 100k plat u buy a blue coin/slate for 500k a red...1 mill a gold etc etc...similar to poker chips. then they are a set currency.

Dzjudz · Mar 15, 2010, 11:59 AM // 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arduin

But those tickets can only hold 3750g per stack. Sure they are stable, because selling price = buying price, but you'd need to buy extra character slots just to hold on to those stacks.

I know, I was jesting. But we'd need something like Festival Tickets, only available easily and with a higher value obviously. I'd suggest 5k, 25k and 100k items.

Yawgmoth · Mar 15, 2010, 12:27 PM // 12:27

The only value storage item that would be needed is stackable 100k bills. For smaller amounts just use gold. Trades would be simply a number of 100k bills + some gold. Just switch your mindset from 100k cash plus some stackables, it shouldn't be hard.

Neo Atomisk · Mar 15, 2010, 04:23 PM // 16:23

honestly, we just need to be able to hold, trade and store more than 100k or 1m at a time.
with all this inflation, I'd say 10m holding and 100m in storage would be fine. would there be any abuse that could be made of it?