Curse

fenix · Jul 14, 2009, 05:55 AM // 05:55

Since people don't get how profitable this can be, I'll make it simple.

Month 1: 1 Account entered in XTH, ~21 zkeys received. Zkeys sold for ~US$5
2nd Account bought, total cash -US$5

Month 2: 2 Accounts entered in XTH, ~42 zkeys received. Zkeys sold for ~US$10
3rd Account bought, total cash -US$5

Month 3: 3 Accounts entered in XTH, ~63 zkeys received. Zkeys sold for ~US$15
4th Account bought, total cash US$5

Month 4: 4 Accounts entered in XTH, ~84 zkeys received. Zkeys sold for ~US$20
5th Account bought, total cash US$10, OR 5th AND 6th Accounts bought

Month 5 (hypothetical): 6 Accounts entered in XTH, ~126 Zkeys received. Zkeys sold for ~US$30
7th, 8th and 9th Accounts bought, total cash US$0 (or $30 if no accounts bought)

Month 6: 9 Accounts entered in XTH, ~189 Zkeys received. Zkeys sold for ~US$45.

From this point onwards, the amount of money you can make is pretty clear. This is JUST from collecting zkeys, starting with 1 account. If you started with more, you would make more. If you decided to buy 10 accounts at the start, then power trade your keys, you would make FAR more money when selling the keys.

Scruples aside, this is ridiculous that money can be made so easily, and that ANet are allowing it.

arcanemacabre · Jul 14, 2009, 06:07 AM // 06:07

Actually, I think that just goes to show that players are buying these very easy-to-get keys for way too much in-game currency. Their perceived value is way too high, in other words. They're essentially lottery tickets, with an extremely low chance of getting anything for 50k+, so they should probably sell for like 1.5-2k each if that.

Ah well, as the novelty wears off (and once the XTH gets going, again), they might just drop to around that eventually.

spun ducky · Jul 14, 2009, 06:45 AM // 06:45

Here is my take on it. I own 9 accounts 3 from prophecies before character slots/storage and the other 6 are from friends who have moved onto other games. I can average a sizable amount of z keys however it is nothing compared to 1 week of farming for a few hours a day. If i do various dungeon speed clears with my alliance I can average on the low end 100 ectos a week. The best week I had was around 400-500 ectos from a lucky drop. I also constantly make farm builds as has been seen in the farming section which nets me profit. I do all of this without power trading I just dump my keys if they come and go do my regular farming which nets far more than the keys ever do.

sLiceR · Jul 14, 2009, 06:47 AM // 06:47

the problem is not people having 2-3 accounts, the problem is people having 30 accounts making 1-2millions every month by doing nothing

The Little Viking · Jul 14, 2009, 07:32 AM // 07:32

2nd account = extra storage space. At least that is what i use my other accounts for. With all the crap I collect, not just for me, but for the guild as a whole, I need all the extra storage space I can get. I keep crafting items for the guild so they dont have to spend a bloody fortune on that stuff, I keep weapons and mods, Dyes. And the guild members know I keep this stuff for them, and they contribute to the cause. Having 3 full stacks of steel, 5 of cloth and hides etc.. is normal for me. The whole guild shares this stuff. They know that if they need 400 Tanned hides, they will be able to get it from me if they are just patent and wait a while until I get on. And lets not forget all the "fun" stuff we get from Nicholas every week now as well. Those kegs of ale can take up a lot of room if you cant unload them fast.

I Elite Starchild I · Jul 14, 2009, 07:38 AM // 07:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenix

Since people don't get how profitable this can be, I'll make it simple.

Month 1: 1 Account entered in XTH, ~21 zkeys received. Zkeys sold for ~US$5
2nd Account bought, total cash -US$5

Month 2: 2 Accounts entered in XTH, ~42 zkeys received. Zkeys sold for ~US$10
3rd Account bought, total cash -US$5

Month 3: 3 Accounts entered in XTH, ~63 zkeys received. Zkeys sold for ~US$15
4th Account bought, total cash US$5

Month 4: 4 Accounts entered in XTH, ~84 zkeys received. Zkeys sold for ~US$20
5th Account bought, total cash US$10, OR 5th AND 6th Accounts bought

Month 5 (hypothetical): 6 Accounts entered in XTH, ~126 Zkeys received. Zkeys sold for ~US$30
7th, 8th and 9th Accounts bought, total cash US$0 (or $30 if no accounts bought)

Month 6: 9 Accounts entered in XTH, ~189 Zkeys received. Zkeys sold for ~US$45.

From this point onwards, the amount of money you can make is pretty clear. This is JUST from collecting zkeys, starting with 1 account. If you started with more, you would make more. If you decided to buy 10 accounts at the start, then power trade your keys, you would make FAR more money when selling the keys.

Scruples aside, this is ridiculous that money can be made so easily, and that ANet are allowing it.

First problem:
You are assuming you don't get banned from selling the zkeys for real money.

Second problem:
As more and more people abuse the XTH, more keys enter the market, with more keys in the market, prices fall. (From MAX 5.5k to a low of 3.5k)
You won't be able to sell the keys for nearly as much a few months down the road.

zwei2stein · Jul 14, 2009, 07:45 AM // 07:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racthoh

If wealth actually mattered ingame I'd care. But it doesn't, so meh.

This.

Ingame monies just give you ability to play GW

ress Up Barbie edition. And buy you some titles that would otherwise require farming (not exactly healthy gameplay here either).

PS: I have three accounts. 1 ancient from days where only 4 slots were available, and one from buddy who quit GW.

I know quite few people who got accounts the same way (people who quit game tend to be quite generous with stuff that no longer matters to them)

Fril Estelin · Jul 14, 2009, 07:58 AM // 07:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenix

Scruples aside, this is ridiculous that money can be made so easily, and that ANet are allowing it.

You can see XTH and Nicholas as a way to actually remove the focus from items (with one EL cottontail I got enough to buy the FoW armor which I was never, ever rushed to get) and expensive titles, and ultimately the economy. In the short term, there's much more cheap stuff in the economy, in the long term many people get their items and titles, which is what I think Anet is attempting to do, giving players more opportunity to get these things before GW2.

In theory, Zquest could have shifted the focus to more gameplay, see in particular the highest benefits (tomes), rather than farming your way to get items and titles. In practice I'm not sure, it seems that there's more activity (this is a subjective statement!) and Regina already mentioned increased activity (but impossible to know what type of activity, we don't need more farming). What would be fantastic, but difficult, is if Nicholas' tasks required teamplay and XTH required actual observing, rather than the current "click and cash the money".

I do find it mad that people manage 10 accounts for Nicholas (it's easy for XTH, which also gives you another title I guess). I'm personally using the opportunity to run my 2nd account wherever Nicholas is and enjoying the scenery (never made so many SS

), but that's some serious repetitive/boring stuff to do for 10 accounts! As zwei2stein said in a different thread, it's fun for a moment to have to come up with weekly farming build. This week was hilariously easy, almost unbelievable.

One point is sure: Anet can NOT do a u-turn on this. Look at the thread activity for Nicholas each Monday, then the multiple districts on the closest outpost; look at how many people were disappointed by XTH closure. Whatever we think these people should do, they're here for the (virtual) money and Anet won't take that from them. Or at least not quickly...

Nanood · Jul 14, 2009, 08:16 AM // 08:16

If everyone buys 1000 accounts I will still play it cause it's fun.

If everyone buys 1000 accounts they might put on a few more people on the development team.

A business is there to make money. That can't be hard to understand can it.

Fril Estelin · Jul 14, 2009, 08:25 AM // 08:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nanood

If everyone buys 1000 accounts they might put on a few more people on the development team.

Most people buying accounts don't play on them, so it doesn't require one ounce of work on Anet, not even buying more servers (just more storage). Which is ultimately why this is completely ridiculous: we all bought our first GW chapters to play, now people just buy XTH/Nicholas tickets in a box!

Cacheelma · Jul 14, 2009, 09:05 AM // 09:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fril Estelin

Most people buying accounts don't play on them, so it doesn't require one ounce of work on Anet, not even buying more servers (just more storage). Which is ultimately why this is completely ridiculous: we all bought our first GW chapters to play, now people just buy XTH/Nicholas tickets in a box!

You missed his point.

Everyone buys 1,000 accounts = increase in GW sale numbers significantly = GW1 becomes very profittable = more investment = more development time is put on the game to generate EVEN MORE profit.

After all, who cares if this thing has any side effects. That's the stance Anet took when they made XTH AND the traveller available and be account-based.

rkubik · Jul 14, 2009, 11:11 AM // 11:11

Are two or more accounts available to all? Yes it is. Right now there is no restriction on it and there shouldn't be. I have only one account and I could care less if someone has more than me. It is American and if that is how someone chosses to spend their money more power to them. A-net doesn't need to get in the business of restricting accounts. This is the on the same line as someone being jealous because they can't afford a new armour set etc. If it really bothers you either buy another account, another computer or stop bitching about it. It is a game folks.

YunSooJin · Jul 14, 2009, 11:19 AM // 11:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cacheelma

You missed his point.

Everyone buys 1,000 accounts = increase in GW sale numbers significantly = GW1 becomes very profittable = more investment = more development time is put on the game to generate EVEN MORE profit.

After all, who cares if this thing has any side effects. That's the stance Anet took when they made XTH AND the traveller available and be account-based.

you're assuming more money is actually going into gw2.. which isn't something i would assume. Frankly, if businesses feel like this shitty model is a great way to drum up sales, don't you think they'd repeat this failboat crap later on instead of avoiding it?

damkel · Jul 14, 2009, 11:21 AM // 11:21

A better way to phrase it..

More in-game wealth = More accounts = More time spent in-game = No life

Each to their own

Arduin · Jul 14, 2009, 12:18 PM // 12:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by damkel

A better way to phrase it..

More in-game wealth = More accounts = More time spent in-game = No life

Each to their own

Look, I can do that too!

More accounts = More XTH = More in-game wealth without playing = More time for real life

Yay!

Ebony Shadowheart · Jul 14, 2009, 12:58 PM // 12:58

Yes, some people have multiple accounts simply for the purpose of reaping in rewards like free zkeys and in a sense, yes, this is abuse of the system. However, not everyone is greedy and some people have multiple accounts for legitimate reasons.

Example, I have 2 accounts. I started playing before the ability to purchase additional character slots; before the online store existed. I already owned prophecies and factions, and had the max number of character slots I could get. I wanted to create more characters, for various reasons, and didn't want to delete characters I was working on/had built. I also wanted the collector's editions for their neat additions, but since they wouldn't give me more character slots, I used them to create a new account, so I could have 1 of every profession at the time.

Yes, I use both accounts for zkeys, but I build my title that way. My 2nd account was also holding a guild for a friend, but since he's stopped playing I've sort of inherited it, so now I have 2 guilds. =/

I'm simply waiting for the day for Anet to figure out how to merge accounts while keeping characters in tact, at which point I'll merge my 2 accounts.

boxterduke · Jul 14, 2009, 01:40 PM // 13:40

I have two accounts, I got the second one when we only had 4 slots and I wanted to create a character.

I don't use that account at all these days but I still use the toons on the account to redo things like the traveler or festival quests and such.

But I won't buy any more accounts just to get more game gold. I value my real dollar money more than GW gold.

-Sonata- · Jul 14, 2009, 02:06 PM // 14:06

Two accounts. One is a PvE account, the other is a PvP account.
My total wealth combined is less than 100K currently in storage. Personal wealth in Guild Wars is pointless.

AngeliqueSynner · Jul 14, 2009, 02:22 PM // 14:22

I have two accounts myself.
I do raid the XTH and Nick when I can on both.
But I take my keys to the Zaishen chest, my title point items [Beers, bombs, and whatnot] are given to friends working on the titles.
Other than that, my second account is just weapon storage.
I outfit friends and guildies from it. :]

Aussie Boy · Jul 14, 2009, 02:26 PM // 14:26

5 Accounts owned and 4 of these were when we only had 4 char slots and if we needed more chars we had no choice at the time.
4 accounts all chapters and bonus stuff.
5th account (profs only) bought for a nephew last year who turned out not to like the game anyway so gave it back to me.
If Anet had of allowed me to join all the accounts into a single one I'd be happy with that.
Either way I spent a lot of my money over the years so they can keep running and thats what it's all about since they don't charge a monthly fee.

Money or how much you have IN Guild Wars is irrelevant as it's just a game in the end and everything
is owned by Anet if when they shut down and move on to gw2.