Curse

Kai Nui · Aug 13, 2005, 08:32 AM // 08:32

Ok, how about making something have a higher drop rate the more expensive it is? What do you think about that?

Here's how I think it'd work.

People buy out whole stock and it gets really expensive (OH NO!)

Now that it's expensive, this item drops more commonly (OH SWEETNESS!)

People restock store until there aren't many more dropping (UH OH! SPAGHETTI-O's)

People now buy from store since it's no longer dropping (UH... neutral here.)

And then the cycle repeats. Whaddaya thinkers?

Ultimate_Gaara · Aug 13, 2005, 09:33 AM // 09:33

one problem... no one sells to the merchants... thats why everything is so messed up, greedy people buy and sell to players for super high profits... making drops higher will only anger these people because they no longer have a way to make easy cash if everyone is finding them... farmers would be happy, but scalpers would not

Kai Nui · Aug 13, 2005, 09:49 AM // 09:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultimate_Gaara

one problem... no one sells to the merchants... thats why everything is so messed up, greedy people buy and sell to players for super high profits... making drops higher will only anger these people because they no longer have a way to make easy cash if everyone is finding them... farmers would be happy, but scalpers would not

Then I tweak it by making the merchants buy higher.

Since they're already dropping more commonly, people are going to get them more and several will sell to store, and since it's common, players can't really sell high because they can always go out and get it after a few minutes of playing.

Andy of Glacieria · Aug 13, 2005, 09:52 AM // 09:52

I think it's a fair idea. Scalpers would be angry? And that's bad? :P

Kai Nui · Aug 13, 2005, 10:00 AM // 10:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy of Glacieria

I think it's a fair idea. Scalpers would be angry? And that's bad? :P

Yay someone likes my idea! I want to see if anyone can find the easter egg/flaw/glitch in my idea! Because I don't think there is, I think it's a great system.

Red Sonya · Aug 13, 2005, 10:11 AM // 10:11

Fixed prices and unlimited npc stock would be a better idea. Then scalpers and rich people wouldn't have any advantages over the more casual or low hour playing people other than income, but, at least there would be no rediculous high prices created by the player base.

Something else I would do were I to develop a game would be to put in handicaps for those that only play a few hours a day. Each account would be monitored for time for an average week of play, for those that only average 7 to 14 hours a week of play this is what I would give them, the first 1 hour of play would get a 400% increase in XP and item drops, the second hour of play would yield 300% increase in XP and items drops, those that play 3 hours a day on average plus for a week would just get the regular XP and item drop rate up to 6 hours, anyone averaging over 6 hours of play a day there would be a 75% decrease in XP and drop rates. This would definitely work against the ebay farmers to a degree and definitely be an advantage to those that only play a few hours at a time.

There is another advantage to this development idea as well and it's in favor of the company. For those that would try to exploit this setup they would have to "buy" beau coo accounts to get the advantages of the 1 hour and 2 hours of play bonuses and to bypass the 75% decrease in XP and drop rates. So, the 1 to 2 hour average players would be happy, the company would be happy and the ebayers would be crying foul foul foul. lol By only being able to play 1 to 2 hours a day for those increased drop rates and XP it would take the ebayers just as long as the casual players to reach the higher drop rate areas or suffer the consequences of the 75% penalty after 6 hours of play. I would say the average player including weekends would only average about 5 to 6 hours a day unless they just do nothing but play games for a living like ebayers do.

It would also be setup to work on a weekly basis, so players would need to monitor their time if they want the bonuses, each week each players time would be checked and anyone at the 14 hour average or less level would get the bonus for the next week as long as each day they didn't go over the 2 hour period. If they try to exploit the time, then the system would kick in and they would be moved to the 100% gain for that day and then the penalty if they go over 6 hours. The following day they would go back to the 2 hour or less bonus and the cycle would repeat until the end of the week where there time would be checked again, of course if they have gone over the 14 hour period average for that week they move back into the 100% level for the next week.

This would be for one specific character also for the week, so those that would also try to exploit the system by playing 1 character for 2 hours and then another to keep the bonus would not get it, they would qualify for the penalty though after 6 hours of "account" play.

Now I know the powergamers and ebayers wouldn't be happy with this setup, but, I would definitely be building a game for casual players which there are more of and if the ebayers want to participate they will "pay the price" so to speak in real life dollars like they are charging the poor casual players who can't keep up or compete because of "time".

Let the flames begin.

Kai Nui · Aug 13, 2005, 10:17 AM // 10:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Sonya

Fixed prices and unlimited npc stock would be a better idea. Then scalpers and rich people wouldn't have any advantages over the more casual or low hour playing people other than income, but, at least there would be no rediculous high prices created by the player base.

Yes, fixed prices would be good, but how about automatically restocking? I dunno, this is the place to find the answer to the merchant dilemma.

Sagius Truthbarron · Aug 13, 2005, 11:32 AM // 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy of Glacieria

I think it's a fair idea. Scalpers would be angry? And that's bad? :P

Angry scalpers who can't get the scalps they want will find other alternatives. Yes, angry scalps are bad, very bad.

Fear them >.>