Economic woes of inflation in the land of Arlor.... (part 2)

[Energizeric]

Last year I posted this thread:

http://www.spacetimestudios.com/show...y-in-Recession

The main issue at hand was that legendary items looted from locked crates were becoming way too common and were driving down prices of all other gear, including elite legendary items that drop from elite dungeons. Thus nobody was farming elites and the economy was at a standstill.

As a result of this discussion, it was concluded that instead of every locked crate giving a guaranteed legendary item, gold and plat rewards would replace epic crate drops, and would also replace some of the legendary drops. The result would be that the legendary crate gear would be more rare, and thus prices of this gear and elite legendary gear would go up. The extra gold entering the economy would also serve as a "stimulus" and would further drive up prices of these items.

This solution worked, and elite farming during season 5/6 was/is much better than during season 4.

However, now a new issue has appeared that seems to be an unintended result of these changes that were made. Too much gold is now entering the economy causing mass inflation. However, the inflation does not appear to be affecting the prices of legendary gear, but is only affecting the most rare arcane gear & pets.

The reason for this seems to be that most of this extra gold is going into the hands of the richest players (since they are the ones who open locked crates), and they are only interested in buying arcane gear, so they bid up the prices of these rare items into the stratosphere. Items that should be dropping in value over time, like a mythic glaive (which is now almost a year old), are instead continuing to go up in price.

So a few months ago I posted this thread:

http://www.spacetimestudios.com/show...-land-of-Arlor

As a result of this discussion, STS decided to remove the largest gold reward (50k) from locked crates, and instead added some elixirs to the drop table. The problem is that these elixirs are not very desired items, and instead have become too common which has driven their prices down.

The truth is that people opening locked crates do NOT want legendary items, nor do they want gold rewards. They are hoping to get lucky and loot a mythic or arcane item. Since only arcane items (and some discontinued mythics) have experienced these huge price increases, here is my proposed solution:

1) Locked Crates should no longer give 3 separate rewards/drops. Instead, they should give only 2 rewards/drops.

2) To account for this decrease in the number of chances you get when opening a locked crate, the chance of looting a mythic item should be increased by 50%. This will mean the number of mythic items being looted should stay consistent.

3) In order to make the most rare arcane items slightly less rare and hopefully bring down their prices, the odds of looting an arcane item should be increased by 80%. This, combined with the decrease in the number of chances you get when opening a locked crate, should result in a 20% increase in the number of arcane items being looted (someone please check my math!). This should result in a price decrease for these items, without driving the price down by too much.

4) The drop rate of legendary crate gear should NOT increase, which will result in the supply of these items being cut by 33%. This will result in a price increase for these items, which I think we can all agree is a good thing. An expedition rifle of brutality, which is the second best rifle for sorcerers, should not cost only 2k.

5) Gold rewards should NOT see any increase in drop rate.

6) Plat rewards should see a 50% increase in drop rate to account for the 50% decrease in the number of chances when opening a locked crate.


If these changes are implemented, the results should be that less new gold will be entering the economy in the hands of crate openers. However, more of them will be looting arcane items, which I think will make them happy. And the legendary items they do loot will be worth more than before. Prices of arcane items will drop slightly or at least level off, which I think will make everyone happy.

This, combined with STS cracking down on plat farmers, should help the current economic/inflation issues.

[Crowsfoot]

IPersonally, I'm just going to vote third party now.

[Hectororius]

If I recall correctly you have mentioned in the past that you will no longer open crates. As such, I am sure that crate poppers everywhere would appreciate it if you refrained from making suggestions regarding matters that do not affect you.

This post should also be in the suggestions and feedback thread where it belongs.

[Energizeric]

If I recall correctly you have mentioned in the past that you will no longer open crates. As such, I am sure that crate poppers everywhere would appreciate it if you refrained from making suggestions regarding matters that do not affect you.

This post should also be in the suggestions and feedback thread where it belongs.

Oh, but what is in crates does affect me and it affects everyone who plays this game. If you want the items in crates not to affect me, then let STS make those items non-tradable. As long as the items that are looted from locked crates are sold by the players that loot them, and as long as the gold you loot from locked crates is spent in the AL economy, then it affects everyone.


Also, if you have a better suggestion, then make the suggestion. Please post your solution to fixing the problems with the AL economy, and please make these suggestions that can be implemented by STS. Keep in mind that STS does not control the companies who give the free plat offers, so they cannot make changes to those offers. So your suggestions must come from elsewhere.

[Gorecaster]

I'm not big gambler IRL. I've gambled in this game and the house has the edge on me right now. 4k plat later. I know ppl that have gambled and had it pay off handsomely. That's what I don't think you are willing to understand. It's a gamble. There's no scenario you can concoct that's going to improve the odds at the blackjack table. Try a few hands. If you lose then you have a decision to make. But spamming letters to the casino suggesting ways you and I could win more off the house is just ludicrous.

[Energizeric]

I'm not big gambler IRL. I've gambled in this game and the house has the edge on me right now. 4k plat later. I know ppl that have gambled and had it pay off handsomely. That's what I don't think you are willing to understand. It's a gamble. There's no scenario you can concoct that's going to improve the odds at the blackjack table. Try a few hands. If you lose then you have a decision to make. But spamming letters to the casino suggesting ways you and I could win more off the house is just ludicrous.

Are you sure you didn't post this response in the wrong thread? Surely this post was meant to be a response to something posted on a different subject.

I don't open locked crates, and my post has nothing to do with trying to better the odds against the house. It has to do with fixing the runaway inflation in this game. If nothing is done the next rare arcane item will cost 1b, and then they will be 5b by next year if the game even lasts that long. This will be the death of AL as most players will quit and those that spend money will become bored as they have everything except other players to compete against.

I don't have numbers, but I can assure you that the population of this game is decreasing by the month. Just about everyone who I was friends with during seasons 1-3 has quit, and that includes both plat spenders and non-plat spenders.

[FluffNStuff]

... I proposed something that benefitted me with no regard to anyone else ... I became one of the anyone else so I proposed something that benefitted me with no regard to anyone else ... I became one of the anyone else so now I am proposing ...

Sound great!

[Gorecaster]

This is mos def the correct thread. The one with 1k suggestions on what to do with crates from a player that doesn't open crates. Seems like there's a confusion over what's benefiting you versus what's benefiting the community as a whole. And tbh I see ppl leaving too. How long do you think adults are really going to dedicate this time to a video game. It's the nature of end game. There's no end in al but interest is dependent on many factors. Some ppl are here for best gear and bragging rights. Others are here for more legitimate reasons. I've made friends. They help me not worry so much about things I can't control.

[drawfflerz]

I agree for all of that suggestion! I dont like overpricing in some good item. 80m-100m maybe 300m in their pocket! <--- (plat users - midas touch - mercher) they controlled all arcane/mythic item price.

[keikali]

Are you sure you didn't post this response in the wrong thread? Surely this post was meant to be a response to something posted on a different subject.

I don't open locked crates, and my post has nothing to do with trying to better the odds against the house. It has to do with fixing the runaway inflation in this game. If nothing is done the next rare arcane item will cost 1b, and then they will be 5b by next year if the game even lasts that long. This will be the death of AL as most players will quit and those that spend money will become bored as they have everything except other players to compete against.

I don't have numbers, but I can assure you that the population of this game is decreasing by the month. Just about everyone who I was friends with during seasons 1-3 has quit, and that includes both plat spenders and non-plat spenders.

Wait wait wait, hold up. So you're saying increasing BOTH the odds of Arcane & Mythics from Locked Crates are NOT increasing your odds against the house?



Also NO item will ever reach 1B. If there is no consumer to buy it the price will constantly drop until it settles at a price that people will pay. An item is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

[FluffNStuff]

He does not want to increase his odds, he wants to increase the odds of players that do open crates. This will mean more Arcane Shards looted which he thinks will make the price go down so he can eventually afford one.

[twoxc]

I don't open locked crates, and my post has nothing to do with trying to better the odds against the house. It has to do with fixing the runaway inflation in this game. If nothing is done the next rare arcane item will cost 1b, and then they will be 5b by next year if the game even lasts that long. This will be the death of AL as most players will quit and those that spend money will become bored as they have everything except other players to compete against.

So by suggesting the chance and odds plus drops in locks like you mentioned 30-80% reduction/increase etc isn't trying to change the odds? Then what do you call it?

Also IF nothing is done like you said and IF the next Arcane item does cost 1BIL and then reach 5BIL by next year or IF the game so END like basically SHUT DOWN where we can no longer access and has been remove from App Store. I PERSONALLY will give you 1-5BIL gold myself and write you a check of how ever much you have spend on AL.

[Hectororius]

Oh, but what is in crates does affect me and it affects everyone who plays this game. If you want the items in crates not to affect me, then let STS make those items non-tradable. As long as the items that are looted from locked crates are sold by the players that loot them, and as long as the gold you loot from locked crates is spent in the AL economy, then it affects everyone.


Also, if you have a better suggestion, then make the suggestion. Please post your solution to fixing the problems with the AL economy, and please make these suggestions that can be implemented by STS. Keep in mind that STS does not control the companies who give the free plat offers, so they cannot make changes to those offers. So your suggestions must come from elsewhere.

If I wasnt on mobile I would make suggestions. In fact, I have made suggestions directly to sts via PM since I don't need the masses to agree or disagree with me. My suggestions also always centre around gameplay and not trying to affect the in game market as many of your suggestions always try to do.

Think about it.

[grzena1982]

I must agree with the post above. If u have any valid suggestions post them directly to moderators. Unless you would like to have them discussed on here.

Your solution isnt going to work. Rarity of items and they relevant drop rates have been set deliberately at these lvls. Supply/demand set the prices.

Plat spenders make gold from looting rare items and selling them for millions, not from ur 50k rewards. Each locked that u open costs 30k of gold or more. This is the price u would expect to get doing some transactions to convert plat to gold. Therefore, gold was only there for us to recoup our losses. Removing 50k from locked left u with elixirs and pinks.

If they wanted to make a good gold sink, they could charge 10% on each transaction. Not sure if u noticed but the higher u sell smth the smaller portion of transaction cost u pay.

9m sale - 500k cost for 3 days, thats approx 4%
1k sale - 0.4k cost for 3 days, 40%

The poorer u r the more u end up paying.
^_^

[Frohnatur]

So far Energizeric is the only guy here who makes real suggestions. Everybody else is just criticizing and mocking - without any substance. No counter-suggestions, no fine tuning, no real discussion.

Ener has proven his merits by the facts that a lot of the things he and others in the discussions following his threads, where emedded into the game and bear fruits. That there is more fine tuning needed is a fact as natural as real economic politics: a living economy always needs improvement. A good economy reacts to mis-developments and failure.

And by all means. Prices higher then the cash limit in AL are not good or natural. They prove that there is something wrong. The cash limit was at this level for a reason. A reason STS has now to reconsider and take action.

[Frohnatur]

As such, I am sure that crate poppers everywhere would appreciate it if you refrained from making suggestions regarding matters that do not affect you.

This post should also be in the suggestions and feedback thread where it belongs.

If I wasnt on mobile I would make suggestions. In fact, I have made suggestions directly to sts via PM since I don't need the masses to agree or disagree with me. My suggestions also always centre around gameplay and not trying to affect the in game market as many of your suggestions always try to do.

Think about it.

I must agree with the post above. If u have any valid suggestions post them directly to moderators. Unless you would like to have them discussed on here.

whats wrong with you guys? Does Collective has a feud going on with ener?

This is a FORUM and its there to let players post ideas and let them discuss them. This is exactly what eners post is doing: making a complex matter clear and offer solutions up for discussions.

Last time I checked, this is a free country. Stop trying to shut people up.

[obee]

Guys, why the hell are you going after him? He has a right to post just sayingg

[Schnitzel]

whats wrong with you guys? Does Collective has a feud going on with ener?

This is a FORUM and its there to let players post ideas and let them discuss them. This is exactly what eners post is doing: making a complex matter clear and offer solutions up for discussions.

I don't believe anyone in <The Collective>, myself included, dislikes Energizeric.

(I didn't read the first post fully but I believe it is about opening locks?)


my reply below is not criticism,

From my opinion, giving only 2 items per lock would mean = less items looted
(if 3 items per lock = 6000 gold; if 2 items per lock = 4000 gold; This is just an example)

If there's a 50% chance of mythics from locks, the prices will go down causing some people to end up losing money and be unhappy. (And also, the richer players can get the best gears at a lower price meaning they are still rich and the new players/poor players in AL remain poor with the added effect of earning money even slower than before)


I don't have a solution, but that is what I think would happen if this were put in effect.

[Morholt]

Many of you missed an important factor about the odds of crates...yes, he said to increase drop chance from each roll in crates...HOWEVER, that is only to compensate for the fact that he is MAINLY suggesting that crates 'drop' only two things, rather than 3.

This would result in less 'free gold' being pumped into wealthy players' hands (on the negative side, though, it makes crates even less appealing to the minor plat users). It would also result in less crate items being in circulation, hopefully increasing the value of such gear (which would be more gold going to major plat users, BUT it wouldn't be 'free gold').


From what I see, Energizeric wants crates to have roughly the same odds for mythic and arcane items (possibly slightly improved for some arcane items), while reducing the amount of "filler loot" (gold, elixirs, pets, and gear) being dumped into the market.

I burned up free plat before until I was down 250 from starting by opening crates. Not a single Ethyl in all that. And yet...I've traded 5k gold for Ethyl before. How is such a great pet only 5k gold, when it's actually rather rare? Because so many 'drops' from crates are happening. Consider this: Ethyl is only 5k gold, while being rare, and 2k gold 'drops' absurdly abundantly. Take a moment to realize how worthless your gold is.

When items become a better form of currency than the actual in game currency, the in game economy is in very bad shape.

[yasshh]

I don't believe anyone in <The Collective>, myself included, dislikes Energizeric.

(I didn't read the first post fully but I believe it is about opening locks?)


my reply below is not criticism,

From my opinion, giving only 2 items per lock would mean = less items looted
(if 3 items per lock = 6000 gold; if 2 items per lock = 4000 gold; This is just an example)

If there's a 50% chance of mythics from locks, the prices will go down causing some people to end up losing money and be unhappy. (And also, the richer players can get the best gears at a lower price meaning they are still rich and the new players/poor players in AL remain poor with the added effect of earning money even slower than before)


I don't have a solution, but that is what I think would happen if this were put in effect.

I believe ener meant 50% of current rate. Like IF drop rate is 0.0000001 it will increase to 0.00000015.