11-28-2005, 12:20 AM
oldmandennis,Nov 26 2005, 09:55 PM Wrote:The problem is that they distort the economy. Stuff that is relativly easily farmed solo(essences, Arcane Crystals) becomes artificially cheep because of them. This hurts players that want to get togeather some cash for a mount or a BOE purple. Stuff that is relativly hard to grind solo (RWD's, ZG loot) becomes more expensive because all the bought gold is chasing it. This hurts anybody who wants those items but doesn't cheat.
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This is true to an extent but the business model for these ventures is still evolving. There is no reason why a company employing a number of staff to farm gold MUST make them all play alone
I think that we are likely to see an increase in farmer groups running places for valuable items. Imagine a group of druids/rogues/hunters rushing straight for the phat lewt and resetting the instance. Righteous orbs are a likely candidate for this type of farming
Unfortunately this will tend to force Blizzard to make more stuff BoP and keep crafted items uninspired. The more that crafted items are worth having, the more their components will be farmed regardless of whether it can be farmed solo. Put it this way if Righteous Orbs hit 100g and arcane crystals 20g for the commercial farmers it's a simple equation of whether a group of 5 generates a Righteous Orb in the time a solo would find an Arcane Crystal
Still as long as farmers tend to be solo and Blizzard remains committed to discouraging them then solo content and rewards are likely to be underwhelming. This is because if you could get top stuff solo farmers would get it
Quote:Ghostiger
2 Enchants tend to take money effectively out of the system just like horses do. It doesnt matter if a small percentage of players become fabulously rich - DEFLATION and INFLATION only happens when the average player has more money than he needs.(Not MMOS as they age develope huge inflation only on the truely rare items[or thus percieved] and everything else deflates.)
Most players spend their money, no matter how rich. The real player might spend money on engineering resources and potions to dominate in pvp. The farmer/enchanter will sell it.
Generally speaking the very rich won't sit on their cash. It's pointless, who wants to have 1000 gold in the bank when you quit? (Sure, being rich may be an end in itself but for most people having a better main weapon will be more fun than having a fat bank account)