Rune trader? - Guild Wars Forums

Ailina · Feb 11, 2011, 10:36 PM // 22:36

Ok so basically, I'm wondering how the rune trader calculates its prices. I know they're supposed to be based on supply and demand. However, with the recent news on the upcoming dervish update, several of the dervish runes (like minor mysticism, minor scythe mastery, windwalker insig, and major scythe mastery) are completely sold out. And as soon as one appears, it gets instantly bought, so the trader is nearly always out of stock.

So obviously, there is a high demand and low supply.

However, I've been watching for several hours, and the prices aren't changing at all. It's consistently 1.2k for minor scythe and 300g for minor mysticism. I can understand the system taking a while to adjust, but it's been about 7 hours that I've been watching, and the prices haven't deviated at all.

The minor mysticism is entirely sold out. I keep refreshing the rune trader (yes, I'm bored, so sue me), and like I said, the instant one appears, I refresh, and it's gone. So why is the price only 300g?

I remember way back when Shadow Form was first made able to be permanently maintained with a superior shadow arts rune, and they were also immediately sold out. I remember that the prices for them went up to ~50k via player trading, but I don't remember how the rune trader handled it.

So basically, what's going on?

Dre · Feb 11, 2011, 11:03 PM // 23:03

Not sure, but I think minor runes have a lower max price than superior runes

Yawgmoth · Feb 11, 2011, 11:14 PM // 23:14

The traders fail miserably at adjusting the prices to big waves of demand. They haven't been working correctly since an update back in 2005.
This problem has occured plenty of times in the history, the other most recent example is Diamonds and Onyx Gemstones just after the HoM update. The traders may not be able to keep any of a specific item in stock for many weeks and still sell the few ones for much below the street price, which in effect causes players to camp at trader, buy him out and immediately sell to players for a nice big profit.

tl;dr : trader price algorithms sux, can't adapt to large demand spikes.

sykoone · Feb 12, 2011, 03:19 AM // 03:19

The trader is fine for gauging prices over a decent period of time, but it does take a few days before there's a significant swing in the price. It's supposed to keep market manipulation down.

HawkofStorms · Feb 12, 2011, 10:38 PM // 22:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by sykoone

The trader is fine for gauging prices over a decent period of time, but it does take a few days before there's a significant swing in the price. It's supposed to keep market manipulation down.

Exactly. You WANT the prices to swing wildly upward? That would just mean the people who bought them all up at the first sign of the announcement would be able to resell them for huge profits.

Feb 11, 2011, 10:36 PM // 22:36	#1
Ailina Krytan Explorer Join Date: Jan 2010 Guild: Whats Prot Spirit [FoR] Profession: R/	Rune trader? Ok so basically, I'm wondering how the rune trader calculates its prices. I know they're supposed to be based on supply and demand. However, with the recent news on the upcoming dervish update, several of the dervish runes (like minor mysticism, minor scythe mastery, windwalker insig, and major scythe mastery) are completely sold out. And as soon as one appears, it gets instantly bought, so the trader is nearly always out of stock. So obviously, there is a high demand and low supply. However, I've been watching for several hours, and the prices aren't changing at all. It's consistently 1.2k for minor scythe and 300g for minor mysticism. I can understand the system taking a while to adjust, but it's been about 7 hours that I've been watching, and the prices haven't deviated at all. The minor mysticism is entirely sold out. I keep refreshing the rune trader (yes, I'm bored, so sue me), and like I said, the instant one appears, I refresh, and it's gone. So why is the price only 300g? I remember way back when Shadow Form was first made able to be permanently maintained with a superior shadow arts rune, and they were also immediately sold out. I remember that the prices for them went up to ~50k via player trading, but I don't remember how the rune trader handled it. So basically, what's going on?

Feb 11, 2011, 11:03 PM // 23:03	#2
Dre Krytan Explorer Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Belgium Guild: Dutch Doom Brigade Profession: W/	Not sure, but I think minor runes have a lower max price than superior runes

Feb 11, 2011, 11:14 PM // 23:14	#3
Yawgmoth Furnace Stoker Join Date: Apr 2005	The traders fail miserably at adjusting the prices to big waves of demand. They haven't been working correctly since an update back in 2005. This problem has occured plenty of times in the history, the other most recent example is Diamonds and Onyx Gemstones just after the HoM update. The traders may not be able to keep any of a specific item in stock for many weeks and still sell the few ones for much below the street price, which in effect causes players to camp at trader, buy him out and immediately sell to players for a nice big profit. tl;dr : trader price algorithms sux, can't adapt to large demand spikes.

Feb 12, 2011, 03:19 AM // 03:19	#4
sykoone Jungle Guide Join Date: Dec 2005 Guild: Mystical Chaos Profession: E/	The trader is fine for gauging prices over a decent period of time, but it does take a few days before there's a significant swing in the price. It's supposed to keep market manipulation down.