Curse

Xue Yi Liang · Jul 07, 2005, 04:55 PM // 16:55

There are many ways to make money. Most people hunt for rare runes and weapons to sell, but I prefer to farm out raw materials. Why?
I used to go out looking for rares all the time but I got tired of the whole scene.

1.) If you find a place that's fertile with rares - inevitably it gets nerfed. That's just a fact of life.
2.) Even when you find a nice rare - it's always heartbreaking to fail a salvage of one component. Before the rune salvaging was patched I farmed out rare runes. Found 2 Sup Vigors and lost them both to salvage. That really hurts.
3.) You have to haggle in Lion's Arch or Ascalon with people who will always call your price a ripoff even though you know it's fair.
4.) Many people just want to see your item instead of buy - they say "I can't afford it anyway" or "I just wanted to see it."
5.) I hated it when people arrange a meeting to buy and change their mind without telling you. So you're left waiting until you have to PM them.
6.) Because of all the above and other reasons farming for rares and having to sell them is inconsistent and often disappointing. Sure you can make 50k or 90k in a single transaction - but it doesn't happen every day.

On the other hand
1.) Raw materials will never be nerfed.
2.) They're everywhere - and if you keep a couple of salvage kits on you and your raw materials supply you can always collect.
3.) Expert salvaging even ordinary items gives you Steel, Silk, Linen and Leather.
4.) With consistent saving you will always make money - it isn't hit/miss.
5.) With more time farming raw materials rather than haggling - you're playing more and chatting less.

Sure, raw materials isn't as sexy as rare items but I'm just trying to earn a buck. I realize that smart rare dealing means the sky's the limit when making money off of a good item - but it's tough to do that on a daily basis. And don't underestimate the earning potential of raw materials - I just hit my 900k gold mark.

Aniewiel · Jul 07, 2005, 04:56 PM // 16:56

Bravo! *plans to go materials hunting*

Reiden Argrock · Jul 07, 2005, 05:03 PM // 17:03

Was just wondering, cause I did this for a while to, and prices started dropping.. Do you just farm the common materials, like wood hides and iron, or do you go and turn into rare materials?

Kuku Monk · Jul 07, 2005, 05:04 PM // 17:04

Totally depends on the raw materials you are salvaging... You'll spend more on the Expert Salvage kit than you will get in return for some of the materials...of course the exceptions are the more rare materials...but you get the picture....

Aracos79 · Jul 07, 2005, 05:11 PM // 17:11

I used to do this, but falling material prices have made it much less profitable. Parchment was an example. Farm wood, turn wood to parchment, sell parchment. But the more people that do this, the lower prices will go. I'm afraid all the OP accomplished here is reduce his profits. :/

Sofonisba · Jul 07, 2005, 05:16 PM // 17:16

But when I had to keep running to buy more and more and more and more wood planks to get my monk's ascetic armor crafted, do you think I have learned my lesson about collecting materials that "seem" worthless?

I salvage almost everything, and I just store it later for myself and other guildmates. Even if I don't make much money from each quest/hunting trip, I consider it an investment for later on, when I can walk up to the crafter and immediately have everything I need.

No more desperation trips to the materials trader for me!

Teufel Eldritch · Jul 07, 2005, 05:31 PM // 17:31

I've been doing this as well. The main prob I have is the 'special' drops. I hate to salvage a Chaos Axe or a Storm/Eternal Bow so I hold onto them & place them into storage. Eventually I get inventory overlflow on this excess 'special' inventory & I either end up giving it away to friends or I force myself to deal with the Trade Channel. I hate doing business with humans in this game.

Aracos79 · Jul 07, 2005, 05:35 PM // 17:35

Ugg... trading is probably the most painful aspect of this game for me. Everytime I unmute the Trade Channel I cringe. Why is it that people buying and selling are the most abusive? Does that really help you sell your stuff faster or get a better price? Seems to me that the best "customer service" would get the most business, not the childish, abusive spammer.

KvanCetre · Jul 07, 2005, 05:41 PM // 17:41

If I remember correctly, I sold a set of 10 silks for 2 plat to the trader

And they're so easy to get from the RoF webs

Xue Yi Liang · Jul 07, 2005, 05:44 PM // 17:44

Amen.
When I have some weapon to sell in Lion's Arch - I price for quick sale so I don't have to haggle. Adept players will know a good price when they see one and we both end up happy. The people who insist on haggling obnoxiously even when the price is fair are frequently surprised to find that someone beat them to the purchase.

The way I see it - when selling rare weapons - you don't lose money for selling it below someone else's price because you didn't pay for it to begin with.

Creston · Jul 07, 2005, 05:48 PM // 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xue Yi Liang

There are many ways to make money. Most people hunt for rare runes and weapons to sell, but I prefer to farm out raw materials. Why?
...

Excellent post. Look for materials farming to be nerfed in a future patch. After all, making money is NOT ALLOWED...

Then to be followed by a dev post saying "Oh, but we're not against farming, really, it's okay if you want to."

Hehe

Creston

Ollj · Jul 07, 2005, 05:48 PM // 17:48

hehe funny, now prices for raw materials will drop also

thanks guys.

Xue Yi Liang · Jul 07, 2005, 06:41 PM // 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ollj

hehe funny, now prices for raw materials will drop also

thanks guys.

Well - that's why I didn't specify WHICH raw materials are my best sources of revenue. A well motivated person can figure it out, but those looking for a quick buck will have a harder time. Still, it's hard to LOSE money farming raw materials - no matter what they are.

Izzy Izumi · Jul 07, 2005, 06:47 PM // 18:47

Yeah, even if you don't get a lot of money out of *each* wood plank, that's still 3 (or was it 5?) gold per piece. Imagine if a Ranger must REALLY need that Druid Armor set?

Hell, most of us here probably have a few 250-count stacks of Iron Ingots. I know I do.

If everyone's trying to farm the rare materials, nobody's selling the BASIC stuff.

It is farming after all, and it'll take a while....most times longer than others.

wallin · Jul 07, 2005, 07:30 PM // 19:30

I've started doing this as well. Out of curiosity, would you say it's better to expert salvage all the items you find? (increasing you chances of getting rares/more commons) Or just expert the highly salvagable ones?

Also, seeing as how much prices fluctuate through the day, I'm thinking I'll hold off on selling everything till the weekends, when prices are at their max (I think). Is this what you all do as well?

Loviatar · Jul 07, 2005, 07:45 PM // 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallin

I've started doing this as well. Out of curiosity, would you say it's better to expert salvage all the items you find? (increasing you chances of getting rares/more commons) Or just expert the highly salvagable ones?

Also, seeing as how much prices fluctuate through the day, I'm thinking I'll hold off on selling everything till the weekends, when prices are at their max (I think). Is this what you all do as well?

hold them a month if needed

as for expert salvage keep a record of what gives good and which it doesnt make a difference

if i mention my favorite source of a good rare they will nerf it
just keep records and they will stand out

also dyes are dropping so fast some colors are almost worth only giving away

Izzy Izumi · Jul 07, 2005, 07:56 PM // 19:56

Yeah, dyes are dropping pretty fast now. I remember going to the trader and seeing like...98 for an orange. LOL.

Sir Skullcrasher · Jul 07, 2005, 08:01 PM // 20:01

speaking of dye drop, i used to get two or three dye whenever i went on a killing spreed. But now, i get zero dye drops? is it because i got to many dye that why no more drops for me

Aracos79 · Jul 07, 2005, 09:16 PM // 21:16

They seem to come in bunches for me. I'll go days without seeing one, then I'll get 3 or 4 in one night. Still no black ones tho.

Loviatar · Jul 07, 2005, 09:24 PM // 21:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aracos79

They seem to come in bunches for me. I'll go days without seeing one, then I'll get 3 or 4 in one night. Still no black ones tho.

i have only had a double drop once (2 silver) and have only 2 blacks so far

on the other hand i average 1-4 per hour of the others and the last price i got for 3 of the colors was 40 so i will try later

i have not (for the last few weeks) gone more than 1 hour on any day without at least 1-2 dyes