Why two diff values for identical items? - Guild Wars Forums

JimmyNeutron · Sep 23, 2008, 03:42 AM // 03:42

Hi,
Could someone tell me why two identical items in every way have two different values to the merchant? The last line for an item is the Value in gold if you were to sell to merchant.

I know it doesn't mean anything when trading with other people, but why two different values if they are identical?

There must be a reason for this.

Thanks!

DarkFlame · Sep 23, 2008, 03:46 AM // 03:46

Cause they are all randomly generated, when they drop, from a list of possible values. The randomness is not just limited to damage/req/skin/mods.

Gift3d · Sep 23, 2008, 04:01 AM // 04:01

I believe the merchant value for identified items has to do with the attribute requirement, and the level of the monster who dropped it. I remember two white tall shields armor 16 req 9 tactics had different values because one dropped from a lvl 20 monster and another from a lvl 24.

tmakinen · Sep 23, 2008, 06:09 AM // 06:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gift3d

I believe the merchant value for identified items has to do with the attribute requirement, and the level of the monster who dropped it.

This is incorrect. The merchant value V of an item is determined through the equation V = C * (V_base + P * V_range) where

C is between 0 and 1 depending on how close to max the stats (not requirement!) of the item are
V_base is the minimal value which depends on rarity (50 for white and blue, 100 for purple and 200 for gold)
V_range gives the range of variation and depends on rarity as well (much harder to give exact values, probably 100 for white and blue, 200 for purple and 400 for gold)
P is a random number between 0 and 1 drawn from a distribution which heavily favors the low end (most likely P_uni^N where P_uni is the uniform [ 0, 1 ] distribution and N some reasonably large integer)

Quaker · Sep 23, 2008, 05:08 PM // 17:08

Or, to sum up the above - it's random like everything else

(in a pseudo-random way.)

dilan155 · Sep 23, 2008, 07:10 PM // 19:10

if you like confusing equations, then its not random refer to tmakinen's post but if you don't like big confusing equations then its random.

Arlan · Sep 23, 2008, 09:34 PM // 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmakinen

This is incorrect. The merchant value V of an item is determined through the equation V = C * (V_base + P * V_range) where

C is between 0 and 1 depending on how close to max the stats (not requirement!) of the item are
V_base is the minimal value which depends on rarity (50 for white and blue, 100 for purple and 200 for gold)
V_range gives the range of variation and depends on rarity as well (much harder to give exact values, probably 100 for white and blue, 200 for purple and 400 for gold)
P is a random number between 0 and 1 drawn from a distribution which heavily favors the low end (most likely P_uni^N where P_uni is the uniform [ 0, 1 ] distribution and N some reasonably large integer)

Damn - I was so just going to say that and you beat me to it!!!!! :-)

I think the question has been well and truly answered.

Sep 23, 2008, 03:42 AM // 03:42	#1
JimmyNeutron Krytan Explorer Join Date: Sep 2007	Why two diff values for identical items? Hi, Could someone tell me why two identical items in every way have two different values to the merchant? The last line for an item is the Value in gold if you were to sell to merchant. I know it doesn't mean anything when trading with other people, but why two different values if they are identical? There must be a reason for this. Thanks!

Sep 23, 2008, 05:08 PM // 17:08	#5
Quaker Hell's Protector Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada Guild: Brothers Disgruntled	Or, to sum up the above - it's random like everything else (in a pseudo-random way.) Last edited by Quaker; Sep 23, 2008 at 09:18 PM // 21:18..

Sep 23, 2008, 03:46 AM // 03:46	#2
DarkFlame Desert Nomad Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ascalon Profession: E/	Cause they are all randomly generated, when they drop, from a list of possible values. The randomness is not just limited to damage/req/skin/mods.

Sep 23, 2008, 04:01 AM // 04:01	#3
Gift3d Forge Runner Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Las Vegas Guild: Enraged Whiny Carebears [oR] Profession: W/E	I believe the merchant value for identified items has to do with the attribute requirement, and the level of the monster who dropped it. I remember two white tall shields armor 16 req 9 tactics had different values because one dropped from a lvl 20 monster and another from a lvl 24.

Sep 23, 2008, 07:10 PM // 19:10	#6
dilan155 Desert Nomad Join Date: May 2007 Location: living room Profession: N/	if you like confusing equations, then its not random refer to tmakinen's post but if you don't like big confusing equations then its random.