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GW2 Microtrans- My thoughts

ToxiaToxia Member UncommonPosts: 1,308

So in GW2 you can buy Gems,  turning those into either cash shop items or gold.

I'm okay with this, personally, as i have a stable RL and enough money to get the cool looking armors/whatever may be sold as i need it.

But it wasn't so long ago that i couldn't spend Real money on MT items, so i understand what others in that position could possibly be looking at.

My question is- just how HARD will it be to farm/gather in game gold?

I can only relate to one game i've played that had a setup( in the roughest sense) like this, and that's Atlantica Online. Yes the cash shops are way different, there wont be any better gear, etc. i get that.

My point, is that in AO, the rare gear/rare mounts/etc were inflated to such a price that a player NOT spending real money had NO chance of aquiring these things. For example, a player making a first playthrough of the game might aquire 200mil gold in total, yet the items mentioned above sold each for 500mil and UP.

So in effect, even though on PAPER, a player spending no money COULD attain enough gold to purchase these things, it just wouldn't happen.

This is the only 'Meh' thing i can see in gw2's future. MOST people((i assume)) will base their SELLING prices of ITEMS on the MOST money players have, which would be the Gem sellers. So a Typical gem seller has 5 mil gold, for example. The item this gem seller wants is set at a price of 2 million gold, as its a rare something or another. That's fine for him, he can sell more gems and have more money in no time.

BUT- if on a normal day of farming/grinding, a Non Cash Shop player, relying on in game aquired gold to buy things, can only make say 10 thousand gold, then they REALISTICLLY wouldn't be able to buy the things they seek, as it would take forever just to get enough gold for this ONE time.

What do you guys think?

I hope i explained well enough what i'm thinking so that you understand what im getting at.

The Deep Web is sca-ry.

Comments

  • NMStudioNMStudio Member Posts: 376

    It will work such that, when it's all averages out, each player is paying about $15.00 per months through the cash shop.... some will pay much less, while others will pick up the slack, but in the end they'll be getting AT LEAST $15.00 per month.  But don't worry, they're not calling it a subscription, so this game is still B2P :)

    If they're not making enough money, they'll simply raise the cost of in-game items.

    image

  • MorydinMorydin Member UncommonPosts: 78

    Rare high-end items are purchased with a third currency called Karma. This is not trabeable in anyway and is only obtainable through in game content completion, etc. I think that solves the problems your are concerned about.

  • RizelStarRizelStar Member UncommonPosts: 2,773

    I might get banned for this. - Rizel Star.

    I'm not afraid to tell trolls what they [need] to hear, even if that means for me to have an forced absence afterwards.

    P2P LOGIC = If it's P2P it means longevity, overall better game, and THE BEST SUPPORT EVER!!!!!(Which has been rinsed and repeated about a thousand times)

    Common Sense Logic = P2P logic is no better than F2P Logic.

  • ToxiaToxia Member UncommonPosts: 1,308

    Originally posted by Morydin

    Rare high-end items are purchased with a third currency called Karma. This is not trabeable in anyway and is only obtainable through in game content completion, etc. I think that solves the problems your are concerned about.

    Actually, KArma items can be bought with gold as well...so it doesnt solve anything ^_^

    From the wiki:

    Karma Karma.png is a non-tradable reward received by participating in events and helping others with their personal storyline. It is primarily used to develop a character's personality. Karma can also be used to buy items from certain NPCs.

    Almost everything which is attainable by using karma is also purchasable using coin.[1]

    Source

    The Deep Web is sca-ry.

  • NMStudioNMStudio Member Posts: 376

    Originally posted by Toxia

    Originally posted by Morydin

    Rare high-end items are purchased with a third currency called Karma. This is not trabeable in anyway and is only obtainable through in game content completion, etc. I think that solves the problems your are concerned about.

    Actually, KArma items can be bought with gold as well...so it doesnt solve anything ^_^

    From the wiki:

    Karma Karma.png is a non-tradable reward received by participating in events and helping others with their personal storyline. It is primarily used to develop a character's personality. Karma can also be used to buy items from certain NPCs.

    Almost everything which is attainable by using karma is also purchasable using coin.[1]

    Source

    One more straw that the fanboi's can't grasp at :)

    Is it wrong that I'm taking so much pleasure in all of this? lol 

    image

  • ToxiaToxia Member UncommonPosts: 1,308

    I guess i need to clarify what i mean in the OP.

    SIMPLY PUT, a Player driven economy will inflate prices to be on par with Gem sellers money in pocket, so they can make the most money from there sell. A Normal, Non cash shop player will((my opinion) NEVER be able to farm/gather enough in game gold to buy things at a REASONABLE Price.

    The Deep Web is sca-ry.

  • BunksBunks Member Posts: 960

    Originally posted by Toxia

    Originally posted by Morydin

    Rare high-end items are purchased with a third currency called Karma. This is not trabeable in anyway and is only obtainable through in game content completion, etc. I think that solves the problems your are concerned about.

    Actually, KArma items can be bought with gold as well...so it doesnt solve anything ^_^

    From the wiki:

    Karma Karma.png is a non-tradable reward received by participating in events and helping others with their personal storyline. It is primarily used to develop a character's personality. Karma can also be used to buy items from certain NPCs.

    Almost everything which is attainable by using karma is also purchasable using coin.[1]

    Source

    Some NPCs will accept karma (Karma) when making a purchase, although most will also accept coin.

    In other words, there will be items you can purchase with either, but if you look at the videos, the best gear in game and the enhancement items like runes can only be purchased with kharma or tokens. Nor can you buy kharma with coin.

  • ToxiaToxia Member UncommonPosts: 1,308

    Originally posted by NMStudio

    Originally posted by Toxia


    Originally posted by Morydin

    Rare high-end items are purchased with a third currency called Karma. This is not trabeable in anyway and is only obtainable through in game content completion, etc. I think that solves the problems your are concerned about.

    Actually, KArma items can be bought with gold as well...so it doesnt solve anything ^_^

    From the wiki:

    Karma Karma.png is a non-tradable reward received by participating in events and helping others with their personal storyline. It is primarily used to develop a character's personality. Karma can also be used to buy items from certain NPCs.

    Almost everything which is attainable by using karma is also purchasable using coin.[1]

    Source

    One more straw that the fanboi's can't grasp at :)

    Is it wrong that I'm taking so much pleasure in all of this? lol 

    Actually, i'm a super huge GW2 fanboi! <3 this game!

    This is just the first thing i've seen that could be put in the 'i dont know about this' box in my head lol

    The Deep Web is sca-ry.

  • MorydinMorydin Member UncommonPosts: 78

    Originally posted by Bunks

    Originally posted by Toxia


    Originally posted by Morydin

    Rare high-end items are purchased with a third currency called Karma. This is not trabeable in anyway and is only obtainable through in game content completion, etc. I think that solves the problems your are concerned about.

    Actually, KArma items can be bought with gold as well...so it doesnt solve anything ^_^

    From the wiki:

    Karma Karma.png is a non-tradable reward received by participating in events and helping others with their personal storyline. It is primarily used to develop a character's personality. Karma can also be used to buy items from certain NPCs.

    Almost everything which is attainable by using karma is also purchasable using coin.[1]

    Source

    Some NPCs will accept karma (Karma) when making a purchase, although most will also accept coin.

    In other words, there will be items you can purchase with either, but if you look at the videos, the best gear in game and the enhancement items like runes can only be purchased with kharma or tokens. Nor can you buy kharma with coin.

    I hope NMstudio is enjoying this still...

  • ToxiaToxia Member UncommonPosts: 1,308

    Originally posted by Bunks

    Originally posted by Toxia


    Originally posted by Morydin

    Rare high-end items are purchased with a third currency called Karma. This is not trabeable in anyway and is only obtainable through in game content completion, etc. I think that solves the problems your are concerned about.

    Actually, KArma items can be bought with gold as well...so it doesnt solve anything ^_^

    From the wiki:

    Karma Karma.png is a non-tradable reward received by participating in events and helping others with their personal storyline. It is primarily used to develop a character's personality. Karma can also be used to buy items from certain NPCs.

    Almost everything which is attainable by using karma is also purchasable using coin.[1]

    Source

    Some NPCs will accept karma (Karma) when making a purchase, although most will also accept coin.

    In other words, there will be items you can purchase with either, but if you look at the videos, the best gear in game and the enhancement items like runes can only be purchased with kharma or tokens. Nor can you buy kharma with coin.

    These are my thoughts on youre statement. Could be wrong, but imma go for it.

    MOST items(Not the BEST ones) will be able to be bought with GOLD. I assume we are on the same page with that fact.

    A player selling Gems, will have enough money to BUY the ones that can be bought with gold, SAVING their karma for the expensive ones that can ONLY be bought with Karma, whereas A NON cash shop player will have to not only buy the regular items they want with Karma, but ALSO the ones that can ONLY be bought with karma, still leaving them at a severe disadvantage.

    The Deep Web is sca-ry.

  • NaqajNaqaj Member UncommonPosts: 1,673

    It's probably too much to ask of people to actually read the source they keep quoting.

  • adam_noxadam_nox Member UncommonPosts: 2,148

    I'm going to attempt to put this into a semi-formal logical proof.

     

    You can indirectly buy gold with real money.

    For something to be useful, it must confer an advantage either through it's use or acquisition.

    Gold is either useless or it must similarly confer an advantage through it's use or acquisition.

    Therefore, Gold as a currency is either useless or RMT transitively confers an advantage through it's use or acquisition.

     

    Neither possibility should be acceptable, though I'm sure people would prefer gold be a useless currency.  However, due to the use of gold auction houses and probably lots of 'cool' stuff that will cost gold, I still don't want someone plopping down a wad of real cash to just get that stuff without any work, and I'm sure deep down most people agree, even though they won't admit it now.

  • BunksBunks Member Posts: 960

    Originally posted by Toxia

    Originally posted by Bunks


    Originally posted by Toxia


    Originally posted by Morydin

    Rare high-end items are purchased with a third currency called Karma. This is not trabeable in anyway and is only obtainable through in game content completion, etc. I think that solves the problems your are concerned about.

    Actually, KArma items can be bought with gold as well...so it doesnt solve anything ^_^

    From the wiki:

    Karma Karma.png is a non-tradable reward received by participating in events and helping others with their personal storyline. It is primarily used to develop a character's personality. Karma can also be used to buy items from certain NPCs.

    Almost everything which is attainable by using karma is also purchasable using coin.[1]

    Source

    Some NPCs will accept karma (Karma) when making a purchase, although most will also accept coin.

    In other words, there will be items you can purchase with either, but if you look at the videos, the best gear in game and the enhancement items like runes can only be purchased with kharma or tokens. Nor can you buy kharma with coin.

    These are my thoughts on youre statement. Could be wrong, but imma go for it.

    MOST items(Not the BEST ones) will be able to be bought with GOLD. I assume we are on the same page with that fact.

    A player selling Gems, will have enough money to BUY the ones that can be bought with gold, SAVING their karma for the expensive ones that can ONLY be bought with Karma, whereas A NON cash shop player will have to not only buy the regular items they want with Karma, but ALSO the ones that can ONLY be bought with karma, still leaving them at a severe disadvantage.

    but all that really does is gain time. So a wealthy person only gets to save in game play time. Nothing more.Which is what the cash shop items do as well. They call it convience items. Like more bag space, mobile banks ect. Time savers is what real cash gets you, plus some spiffy looking armor. But its not pay to win.

  • NMStudioNMStudio Member Posts: 376

    People also don't want to see the effect it has on those who don't pay.  It will make EVERYTHING in the auction house more expensive, so you'll have to work even harder to buy things...  No one is insulated from the effects this will have on the game.  Again, I'm not saying this is good or bad, just that people need to see it for what it is.

    image

  • MorydinMorydin Member UncommonPosts: 78

    but all that really does is gain time. So a wealthy person only gets to save in game play time. Nothing more.Which is what the cash shop items do as well. They call it convience items. Like more bag space, mobile banks ect. Time savers is what real cash gets you, plus some spiffy looking armor. But its not pay to win.

    Exactly, someone could make the argument that a player who is being supported by someone else in real life enabling them to play 24/7 has an advantage over someone who does not play that much. it would be the opposite of the above example.

     

    I would say neither has an advantage over the other. They just arrive at the same destination through different paths.

  • ToxiaToxia Member UncommonPosts: 1,308

    Originally posted by Bunks

    Originally posted by Toxia


    Originally posted by Bunks


    Originally posted by Toxia


    Originally posted by Morydin

    Rare high-end items are purchased with a third currency called Karma. This is not trabeable in anyway and is only obtainable through in game content completion, etc. I think that solves the problems your are concerned about.

    Actually, KArma items can be bought with gold as well...so it doesnt solve anything ^_^

    From the wiki:

    Karma Karma.png is a non-tradable reward received by participating in events and helping others with their personal storyline. It is primarily used to develop a character's personality. Karma can also be used to buy items from certain NPCs.

    Almost everything which is attainable by using karma is also purchasable using coin.[1]

    Source

    Some NPCs will accept karma (Karma) when making a purchase, although most will also accept coin.

    In other words, there will be items you can purchase with either, but if you look at the videos, the best gear in game and the enhancement items like runes can only be purchased with kharma or tokens. Nor can you buy kharma with coin.

    These are my thoughts on youre statement. Could be wrong, but imma go for it.

    MOST items(Not the BEST ones) will be able to be bought with GOLD. I assume we are on the same page with that fact.

    A player selling Gems, will have enough money to BUY the ones that can be bought with gold, SAVING their karma for the expensive ones that can ONLY be bought with Karma, whereas A NON cash shop player will have to not only buy the regular items they want with Karma, but ALSO the ones that can ONLY be bought with karma, still leaving them at a severe disadvantage.

    but all that really does is gain time. So a wealthy person only gets to save in game play time. Nothing more.Which is what the cash shop items do as well. They call it convience items. Like more bag space, mobile banks ect. Time savers is what real cash gets you, plus some spiffy looking armor. But its not pay to win.

    no, im definetely not saying it's pay to win ^_^.

    But, we are getting back to my point now! My question in the OP was, How HARD is it to gather in game gold, when i guess i should have said, How much TIME does it take to gather in game gold?

    If, Realisticlly, it takes so much time to gather in game gold/karma/currency, that it is simply outrageous, then the Non cash shjop players will almost be forced to spend money in the cash shop.

    If i were a non cash shop player, and i played a whole year to get all my goodies, and someone comes along a little over a month of time invested, yet has everything im STILL working towards, I'd feel pretty butthurt over that lol.

    That is the nature of games like this i suppose! ((Yes, i know i shouldn't, in this instance, care what anyone else has, and i DO understand what they have doesnt affect my gameplay.))

    The Deep Web is sca-ry.

  • RoybeRoybe Member UncommonPosts: 420

    Originally posted by NMStudio

    Originally posted by Toxia


    Originally posted by Morydin

    Rare high-end items are purchased with a third currency called Karma. This is not trabeable in anyway and is only obtainable through in game content completion, etc. I think that solves the problems your are concerned about.

    Actually, KArma items can be bought with gold as well...so it doesnt solve anything ^_^

    From the wiki:

    Karma Karma.png is a non-tradable reward received by participating in events and helping others with their personal storyline. It is primarily used to develop a character's personality. Karma can also be used to buy items from certain NPCs.

    Almost everything which is attainable by using karma is also purchasable using coin.[1]

    Source

    One more straw that the fanboi's can't grasp at :)

    Is it wrong that I'm taking so much pleasure in all of this? lol 

    Nope your enjoyment is what I live for!  However, this discussion is based on the original posters misunderstanding of Tokens and Karma and your ability to draw a false equivalency (or continuing ignorance of what the two are), so for the record...you are correct that Karma can be used instead of gold and that the vendors provide the same items for either. One recieves Karma basically for doing good things for others in the game.  It is non-transferrable, but it can be exchanged at vendors for gold based items. 

     

    Tokens, which are only related to Dungeons, and the rewards (armor, weapons, etc.) therein, are not only non-transferrable, but are ONLY exchanged with token vendors for a players choice of whatever goodie makes sense to that player, which then is soulbound/only available to the character that purchased it.  Since, generally speaking, the 'coolest' rewards will come from the extra time/effort it takes to finish a dungeon enough times to get everything a player wants from it (full set of armor + 1 weapon would equal 6 times through the dungeon), the idea that gems would have no affect on this part of the game is true.

  • RemainsRemains Member UncommonPosts: 375

    Originally posted by NMStudio

    People also don't want to see the effect it has on those who don't pay.  It will make EVERYTHING in the auction house more expensive, so you'll have to work even harder to buy things...  No one is insulated from the effects this will have on the game.  Again, I'm not saying this is good or bad, just that people need to see it for what it is.

    What this also means is that if you're out adventuring and find a rare resource, you can SELL it in the auction house and earn MUCH MORE because of the gem/gold system.

    So it kinda goes around.

  • ropeniceropenice Member UncommonPosts: 588

    Originally posted by Bunks

    Originally posted by Toxia


    Originally posted by Bunks


    Originally posted by Toxia


    Originally posted by Morydin

    Rare high-end items are purchased with a third currency called Karma. This is not trabeable in anyway and is only obtainable through in game content completion, etc. I think that solves the problems your are concerned about.

    Actually, KArma items can be bought with gold as well...so it doesnt solve anything ^_^

    From the wiki:

    Karma Karma.png is a non-tradable reward received by participating in events and helping others with their personal storyline. It is primarily used to develop a character's personality. Karma can also be used to buy items from certain NPCs.

    Almost everything which is attainable by using karma is also purchasable using coin.[1]

    Source

    Some NPCs will accept karma (Karma) when making a purchase, although most will also accept coin.

    In other words, there will be items you can purchase with either, but if you look at the videos, the best gear in game and the enhancement items like runes can only be purchased with kharma or tokens. Nor can you buy kharma with coin.

    These are my thoughts on youre statement. Could be wrong, but imma go for it.

    MOST items(Not the BEST ones) will be able to be bought with GOLD. I assume we are on the same page with that fact.

    A player selling Gems, will have enough money to BUY the ones that can be bought with gold, SAVING their karma for the expensive ones that can ONLY be bought with Karma, whereas A NON cash shop player will have to not only buy the regular items they want with Karma, but ALSO the ones that can ONLY be bought with karma, still leaving them at a severe disadvantage.

    but all that really does is gain time. So a wealthy person only gets to save in game play time. Nothing more.Which is what the cash shop items do as well. They call it convience items. Like more bag space, mobile banks ect. Time savers is what real cash gets you, plus some spiffy looking armor. But its not pay to win.

    But extra bag space can give an advantage to someone doing crafting, effecting their profit/time spent-and as others mentioned if these things inflates the prices of things on the AH-it impacts play for those not wanting to spend "extra" real money. So even though it isn't pay to win, it does impact the gameplay for one side over the other.

  • RizelStarRizelStar Member UncommonPosts: 2,773

    Originally posted by Roybe

    Originally posted by NMStudio


    Originally posted by Toxia


    Originally posted by Morydin

    Rare high-end items are purchased with a third currency called Karma. This is not trabeable in anyway and is only obtainable through in game content completion, etc. I think that solves the problems your are concerned about.

    Actually, KArma items can be bought with gold as well...so it doesnt solve anything ^_^

    From the wiki:

    Karma Karma.png is a non-tradable reward received by participating in events and helping others with their personal storyline. It is primarily used to develop a character's personality. Karma can also be used to buy items from certain NPCs.

    Almost everything which is attainable by using karma is also purchasable using coin.[1]

    Source

    One more straw that the fanboi's can't grasp at :)

    Is it wrong that I'm taking so much pleasure in all of this? lol 

    Nope your enjoyment is what I live for!  However, this discussion is based on the original posters misunderstanding of Tokens and Karma and your ability to draw a false equivalency (or continuing ignorance of what the two are), so for the record...you are correct that Karma can be used instead of gold and that the vendors provide the same items for either. One recieves Karma basically for doing good things for others in the game.  It is non-transferrable, but it can be exchanged at vendors for gold based items. 

     

    Tokens, which are only related to Dungeons, and the rewards (armor, weapons, etc.) therein, are not only non-transferrable, but are ONLY exchanged with token vendors for a players choice of whatever goodie makes sense to that player, which then is soulbound/only available to the character that purchased it.  Since, generally speaking, the 'coolest' rewards will come from the extra time/effort it takes to finish a dungeon enough times to get everything a player wants from it (full set of armor + 1 weapon would equal 6 times through the dungeon), the idea that gems would have no affect on this part of the game is true.

    Lol funny how no one actually undertsand this, though I also wanted to highlight the almost part as well.

    I might get banned for this. - Rizel Star.

    I'm not afraid to tell trolls what they [need] to hear, even if that means for me to have an forced absence afterwards.

    P2P LOGIC = If it's P2P it means longevity, overall better game, and THE BEST SUPPORT EVER!!!!!(Which has been rinsed and repeated about a thousand times)

    Common Sense Logic = P2P logic is no better than F2P Logic.

  • NMStudioNMStudio Member Posts: 376

    Originally posted by Roybe

    Originally posted by NMStudio


    Originally posted by Toxia


    Originally posted by Morydin

    Rare high-end items are purchased with a third currency called Karma. This is not trabeable in anyway and is only obtainable through in game content completion, etc. I think that solves the problems your are concerned about.

    Actually, KArma items can be bought with gold as well...so it doesnt solve anything ^_^

    From the wiki:

    Karma Karma.png is a non-tradable reward received by participating in events and helping others with their personal storyline. It is primarily used to develop a character's personality. Karma can also be used to buy items from certain NPCs.

    Almost everything which is attainable by using karma is also purchasable using coin.[1]

    Source

    One more straw that the fanboi's can't grasp at :)

    Is it wrong that I'm taking so much pleasure in all of this? lol 

    Nope your enjoyment is what I live for!  However, this discussion is based on the original posters misunderstanding of Tokens and Karma and your ability to draw a false equivalency (or continuing ignorance of what the two are), so for the record...you are correct that Karma can be used instead of gold and that the vendors provide the same items for either. One recieves Karma basically for doing good things for others in the game.  It is non-transferrable, but it can be exchanged at vendors for gold based items. 

     

    Tokens, which are only related to Dungeons, and the rewards (armor, weapons, etc.) therein, are not only non-transferrable, but are ONLY exchanged with token vendors for a players choice of whatever goodie makes sense to that player, which then is soulbound/only available to the character that purchased it.  Since, generally speaking, the 'coolest' rewards will come from the extra time/effort it takes to finish a dungeon enough times to get everything a player wants from it (full set of armor + 1 weapon would equal 6 times through the dungeon), the idea that gems would have no affect on this part of the game is true.

    When all of your extra time/effort can be lessened by paying cash, then you simply cannot say that gems will have no affect on this part of the game.  That's not true.

     

    image

  • ToxiaToxia Member UncommonPosts: 1,308

    Originally posted by Morydin

    Exactly, someone could make the argument that a player who is being supported by someone else in real life enabling them to play 24/7 has an advantage over someone who does not play that much. it would be the opposite of the above example.

     

    I would say neither has an advantage over the other. They just arrive at the same destination through different paths.

    This is a great point! IF there WASNT this system built into the game, then anyone with access to the game 24/7 could skyrocket into fame and riches, without anyway for others who have a job/life to catch up to them!

    I guess it's all about where the balance is found. on one side of the spectrum, there is the instant gratification crowd who has money to spend, and on the other, the teens/other people who have tons of time to invest and get what they want for free.

    I just hope it isnt based on preying heavily on the real money side of the spectrum. IE: get this item today for 10 dollars, or spend 2 months grinding currency to buy it in game!

    If i can buy it for 5-10 bucks, i think i should be able to grind currency for a week and have enough to get it, not a month or two.

    The Deep Web is sca-ry.

This discussion has been closed.