Uber upgrade?

[nameless noob]

Hm, there actually is a fairly interesting ethical question among all of the flak going back and forth.

The question: Is it ever OK to purchase a virtual item for real money?

The consensus LL answer seems to be: NO. Never. If you didn't see it drop it could be a dupe.

This is of course the wrong answer. IMO of course (and so much for my reputation). It is an over-reaction to a problem which is now endemic in D2, and also in every successful MMORPG (which D2 is. sorta) in existence.

I have a "confession" to make. I have purchased something. For season 2. On Ebay. From somebody I never even met. Who assures me that it is legit. (No doubt just like the other 300 exact replicas he might possess).

Why did I do this?

You see, I allegedly have a life. I have a Job, Friends, and things that I must DO. I don't get to play D2 much, and when I do I prefer to run odd characters. Because the item i wanted is odd, people sell it (at the vendors), so they're almost never for trade. By purchasing it, I saved myself doing MF runs for 5 hours a week until the next ladder reset, and probably STILL not finding the item. Was it worth what I paid? YES.

<I should also note that I traded the skullders that mephisto left me on hell difficulty for some other rather nice items. The items traded to me were spawned in a different game for somebody I’ve never met. I cannot confirm that my items are not duplicates. Also, I am not, nor have I ever been a communist.>

So if buying an item for real money will increase your enjoyment of D2, then by all means buy it. For sure, trade if you can, but don't think that doing so shields you from the botters and the dupers.

Enjoy the game. If you no longer enjoy the game, quit.

my $.02

-nameless noob