The World of Layonara

The Layonara Community => Ask A Gamemaster => Topic started by: jadewillow on August 05, 2011, 10:47:32 PM

Title: Pawn Shops
Post by: jadewillow on August 05, 2011, 10:47:32 PM
I am sure this has been bantered around, but is there anyway to address the lack of funds the pawn shops have these days. The servers are so stable now, they never need to be rebooted. I understand and support the reasoning behind not giving them unlimited funds, but perhaps there is a way to slowly trickle funds to them?

I'd like to see the end to characters jumping on and draining all the "big town pawn shops" soon after a reboot. I am guilty of it from time to time myself. I am not blaming anyone. It would be nice if it wasn't needed or possible.
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Dorganath on August 05, 2011, 11:45:18 PM
A few updates ago I level-limited the pawn shops in the lower-level places (read: most or all of the Pawns on Mistone), meaning they won't do business with someone if they're above a certain level.

As I've said before, I'm hesitant to inject more money into the broken economy by simply increasing the amount of gold they have, especially when the problem is as you stated...players logging in and rushing the pawn shops.
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Guardian 452 on August 06, 2011, 12:38:25 AM
If only we could get the pawn brokers to sell something(s) at fairly high prices.... yet items people would want. It would then keep the pawn broker from going broke, and it would take some money out of the economy instead of just putting it into the economy.
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Masterjack on August 06, 2011, 10:09:16 AM
Quote from: Guardian 452
If only we could get the pawn brokers to sell something(s) at fairly high prices.... yet items people would want. It would then keep the pawn broker from going broke, and it would take some money out of the economy instead of just putting it into the economy.


This has been brought up before and has been tried. The lag monster decided that it was a bad idea and kept crashing the server due item over load.

I know what you all mean with the pawn shops as I have gone all over the place to try and sell my items. I find the quest to find a pawn shop with coin a good way create my own adventure. Slaying the monsters on my way to sell my goods. Creating business in a back part of the world where few dare to travel. That is why they call us adventures, no?
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: RollinsCat on August 06, 2011, 10:12:50 AM
for those with the disposable cash to do so, Acacea had before walked around as a traveling peddler buying up other people's stuff when the pawns were empty.  for the rich and devout that's a great way to pick up donations for your temple as well.

Muse, I should do that...hmm...
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Acacea on August 06, 2011, 12:36:12 PM
Teehee. Or someone else's disposable cash. Thanks for selling me out, geez.
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Guardian 452 on August 06, 2011, 04:00:19 PM
To be clear Maserjack. I didnt want the pawn broker to try and "Re-sell" the things that people sell to it. That would indeed just be a lag beast... that is what ruined in game player vendors we used to have.

Im talking 1 to 5 items that the pawn broker sells that are #1 good items, #2 on the pricey side, and #3 you cant buy any place else. This would keep the pawnbrokers "in the money". If that exact idea had been tried.... having a handfull of items on the pawnbroker did indeed cause major lag... I withdrawl the idea ;)

 It doesnt cause lag when somene accesses the melee vendor, or the crafting vendor and they have tons of stuff 4 sale. Dont see how this would be any different.

G-452


.
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Filatus on August 06, 2011, 04:43:52 PM
I think the real issue is that pawnshops over value crafted items. Like say someone is trying to increase his/her enchanting skill by enchanting fire opals. The person gets some nice crafting xp from it, but ends up with otherwise pretty useless end products, enchanted fire opals.

But useless as they are, the pawnshop actually gives a good amount of coin for them. If you leave out the time consumed in crafting them, you can actually earn back a fair portion of the bought enchanting potions, which are used to enchant them. And since they're crafted in bulk and sell for a nice amount, they're always sold off and quickly deplete the money pawn shops have.

I figure there are other plenty of other examples of otherwise useless craftables that are handy to level on and sell for a good amount of coin.
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: jrizz on August 29, 2011, 11:20:12 PM
I have been giving this a lot of thought and decided to go ahead and post my thinking on the pawnshop and gold flow issues.

I dont know how many pawnshops there are and how much true each pawnshops dumps into the system each reboot but I am sure the total number is not small. Why not do away with pawnshop completely?

I don't think we really need the pawnshops anymore. There is a healthy barter system in place for goods and crafted items. If we got rid of them and then did a few minor adjustments like raising the true drop rate and amount by say 20% and lower the NPC shop prices by 20%, we should have enough true in the system to do all that is needed.

Getting rid of the pawnshops would also put a damper on the crazy large bank accounts and the over the top auction bids.

The short of it is that the pawnshops dump a huge amount of true into the system every server reboot. We have other ways of getting the equipments and goods that our PCs need.  

For healing and temple goods we could also set up a discount rate based on total donations.

Thoughts?
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Guardian 452 on August 29, 2011, 11:38:20 PM
Im sorry but I dissagree with removing the pawn shops all together. I see that making the gap between the "haves" and the "have nots" even larger. Those who have large bankrolls it wont affect, they can just sell some dropped items and keep that bank roll climbing, but now the lowbie can only sell to fellow PC's and the demand just IS NOT there for that to work as the only system.

I still like the idea of pawn shops selling something thus keeping them in the money.

What I have been kicking around is an idea of a player ran pawn shop. For any of you who watch it... think Pawn Stars on History Channel. Basically their motto is they will buy anything they can make a buck on. So if they buy something for 50 bucks they look to turn around and sell it for 100 bucks.

the problem with a player ran pawnshop is having  player(s) to man the thing enough so that people can sell and buy goods from it.

Some examples... oh so you have some salt you want to sell? Well fine We'll give you 3 true per pinch. Then the pawn shop will turn around and advertise salt for sale at 7 to 9 true per pinch not only beating the price at the crafting merchant but making money for the pawnshop.

Oh so you have 10 Iron Longswords to sell? Ok we'll give you "x" and sell them down the road for 2 times "x" because we have the warehouse space for them.

It also opens the door to consignment or actually pawning items. Pawning is borrowing money against your item. and in "x" number of days you pay back that money plus intrest. If you do not come back to pay off the loan the item is now owned by the pawnshop.

If my character Dot had a house to run this out of. Id already be starting to try this idea out. ;)
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Ravemore on August 29, 2011, 11:54:19 PM
I sort of like this idea, although a modified version. Perhaps make all pawnshops available to lower level characters only? My feeling is the lowbies are the ones that actually need them. I think an increase in gold drops would be necessary though to accomodate everyone else.

For the argument that it would turn things into a grinding spree... I think it would not be valid. I see tons of groups 1-6 players all the time adventuring, with a large amount of RP sprinkled throughout. *Shrugs* Just my two duckets...

Also, there is already a system in place to give discounts to characters that donate regularly. Stygian receives a healthy discount from the temple in Arnax. ;)

Quote from: jrizz
I have been giving this a lot of thought and decided to go ahead and post my thinking on the pawnshop and gold flow issues.

I dont know how many pawnshops there are and how much true each pawnshops dumps into the system each reboot but I am sure the total number is not small. Why not do away with pawnshop completely?

I don't think we really need the pawnshops anymore. There is a healthy barter system in place for goods and crafted items. If we got rid of them and then did a few minor adjustments like raising the true drop rate and amount by say 20% and lower the NPC shop prices by 20%, we should have enough true in the system to do all that is needed.

Getting rid of the pawnshops would also put a damper on the crazy large bank accounts and the over the top auction bids.

The short of it is that the pawnshops dump a huge amount of true into the system every server reboot. We have other ways of getting the equipments and goods that our PCs need.  

For healing and temple goods we could also set up a discount rate based on total donations.

Thoughts?
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: jrizz on August 30, 2011, 12:04:40 AM
Quote from: Ravemore
Also, there is already a system in place to give discounts to characters that donate regularly. Stygian receives a healthy discount from the temple in Arnax. ;)

This I did not know. So If I donate regularly to a temple I will get a discount on healing goods? Nice!
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: geloooo on August 30, 2011, 12:12:25 AM
Quote from: jrizz
This I did not know. So If I donate regularly to a temple I will get a discount on healing goods? Nice!


Yep. Ni'haer receives a discount whenever he purchases something in the temple in Olist Orbinn. So donate! ;)
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Script Wrecked on August 30, 2011, 12:30:28 AM
Quote from: Guardian 452
What I have been kicking around is an idea of a player ran pawn shop.


The player run store would have to be able to operate when there are no running players on.
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Dorganath on August 30, 2011, 08:25:07 AM
Quote from: Guardian 452
Im sorry but I dissagree with removing the pawn shops all together. I see that making the gap between the "haves" and the "have nots" even larger. Those who have large bankrolls it wont affect, they can just sell some dropped items and keep that bank roll climbing, but now the lowbie can only sell to fellow PC's and the demand just IS NOT there for that to work as the only system.

This is true...that is unless everyone would accept a bank/gold wipe.

Quote from: Guardian 452
What I have been kicking around is an idea of a player ran pawn shop.

There are a couple of players doing something similar to this already.

Quote from: Ravemore
I sort of like this idea, although a modified  version. Perhaps make all pawnshops available to lower level characters  only? My feeling is the lowbies are the ones that actually need them. I  think an increase in gold drops would be necessary though to accomodate  everyone else.;)

Already, some of the most commonly-used pawn shops are level-limited.   Port Hempstead, Center and Fort Vehl most specifically are  level-limited, meaning they will not do business  with a character if  that character is above a certain level.
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Guardian 452 on August 30, 2011, 11:21:15 AM
Well, we all survived an item wipe (everything you couldnt equip). So maybe that is what needs done. I dont see it being anything but a bump in the road for the higher level people though. I could care less if someone has 4 million gold in the bank. Good for them. I think Ive managed to get Enzo past 400,000 a couple of times before I had to go buy something shiny or have a temple built, house remodeled etc. lol

Ive seen so many restrictions placed because of the actions of a few. Then everyone has to pay for it. Im for a gold wipe actually though.... I just dont see it being anything more than a band-aid is all.

.
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Dorganath on August 30, 2011, 01:50:24 PM
Quote from: Guardian 452
Im for a gold wipe actually though.... I just dont see it being anything more than a band-aid is all.

Do you know how many people just cringed? *winks*

But you are right. It wouldn't be anything more than a band-aid.  The economy in-game is fundamentally flawed, so a bottom-up redesign of the economy AND a gold/bank wipe would be necessary.
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Hellblazer on August 30, 2011, 02:08:55 PM
Well if there's a way to do a gold wipe without taking the money of shops.. then that could be an option although very unpopular and temporary.. Some of the shops actually pays players outside of their own members to gather stuff and without that money.. well eh.
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: gilshem ironstone on August 30, 2011, 02:10:49 PM
Quote from: Hellblazer
Well if there's a way to do a gold wipe without taking the money of shops.. then that could be an option although very unpopular.. Some of the shops actually pays players outside of their own members to gather stuff and without that money.. well eh.


You would have to gather yourself? ;)  Return to the land my children!!
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Hellblazer on August 30, 2011, 02:13:43 PM
Ah but we do still gather, but we also give a way to others to earn trues instead of credits, which they can then spend where they wish. Makes a small circle for the money I think for the shops at leasts.
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Guardian 452 on August 30, 2011, 02:29:08 PM
A wipe is just that a clean wipe no exclusions. Otherwise you just put the problem in place from the get go. Remember if everyone else is broke too you wont have to pay 2,000 for a box of corn or purple mushrooms. More like 200 maybe... then watch the economy get back on its feet.
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Guardian 452 on August 30, 2011, 02:35:01 PM
Quote from: Dorganath
Do you know how many people just cringed? *winks*

But you are right. It wouldn't be anything more than a band-aid.  The economy in-game is fundamentally flawed, so a bottom-up redesign of the economy AND a gold/bank wipe would be necessary.


I bet a lot of people cringed.. LOL! GOOD !!! Maybe some will even post how they feel on the issue that clearly will affect everyone rather then sit on there hands and gripe once a decission is made. ;)

A little shake up never hurt anyone and I can guarantee this world would not go belly up in the aftermath. Im just not positive it is the solution.

It would take a mixture of, gold wipe, and gold drop adjustments, both up and down (several of them) to see how things go after the wipe. I still see some getting money far easier than others.... you know what? Kinda mimics Real Life dont it? LOL

.
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: gilshem ironstone on August 30, 2011, 02:38:59 PM
For the record, I am for a gold drop, elimination of pawn shops, and tweaking gold drops.  A brave new world, but it could be good!
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: RollinsCat on August 30, 2011, 02:46:58 PM
You want a reaction?

Please don't wipe my gold.  There.

I think the pawn shops dedicated to lower levels were a great idea, a good start.  I have no problem with that.  Making all crafting items that are not a finished items one gold (looking at you, jewel crafting) would be good.  Putting limits on how many of the same item you can sell in a give time period (ten of XXX then cut off for an hour) would be good if it's possible.  After all what does a pawn shop need with fifteen lutes anyway?

But please don't wipe my gold.  Being higher level means nothing in terms of Andrew's earning potential; he could be forty and still need a group to do anything.   He can still be killed by red light goblins.  And he's far from alone in that.  There are plenty of high level characters who can't bid ten thousand gold on an item, let alone a million.  

*slices his mattress open and stuffs his True in it before sewing the mattress back up*
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Guardian 452 on August 30, 2011, 02:57:57 PM
Quote from: RollinsCat
You want a reaction?


*slices his mattress open and stuffs his True in it before sewing the mattress back up*


LOL everyone get out their mason jars, fill them with money and bury them in the back yard.

For the record Im for a wipe, but I dont see it being the solution. I like the pawns shops that wont sell to high levels...untill on said high level and I want to sell crafting leftovers (vials etc) then it's just annoying so I throw the things away.

As RollinCat said due to class imbalance many will have it tougher than others. But I will leave the class imbalance for another thread. ;) Oh wait this thread was about pawn shops.. not a gold wipe... so I guess its already been derailed. :P
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: merlin34baseball on August 30, 2011, 03:02:04 PM
Gold wipe?!???!!!???

Huh! I barely get to play once a week, and you are suggesting taking the gold that has taken me years, YES YEARS, to accumulate? (oh and I do mean RL YEARS) You'd be killing the part time players right off. People with more play time have a WAY easier time accumulating gold. Due to what? Oh, due to having way more play time to accumulate expensive drops from monsters and selling them, and collecting WAY more CNR to sell for credit or coins cause they can hit the CNR everyday. It takes me weeks to collect a box of CNR to sell...............

So.... I guess if you want to lose more part time players, wipe the gold right out of everyone's bank accounts, then watch the full time players get way rich again while the part time players are again put behind the 8 ball, with inferior equipment and no way to afford anything better.

And pawn shops? They're useless for the casual player. They never can afford to buy a single thing. I gave up years ago even clicking on them because after a reset 9 bazillion enchanted fire opals are sold to every pawn shop on Layo, making them all useless until the next reset, well... and I can't log on right after a reset, so therefore I can sell... nothing to a pawn shop!

Sounds reasonable.:(

My 60,000 Trues.
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: RollinsCat on August 30, 2011, 03:13:59 PM
Merlin, I think it's hypothetical at this point, a suggestion in the context of the pawn shop issue that comes around every few months it seems.  I interpret Dorg's response to mean it's not on the table, just part of the discussion.

in regards to not being able to sell to pawns though and having a lot of crafting items in inventory, in addition to donating the items to temples for reduced costs in healing, what about a "crafting donation" system?  Donate your materials or items to a craft guy for reduced cost on the craft vendors?  that's an indirect way to make some gold (spending less on those tanning acids).
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: merlin34baseball on August 30, 2011, 03:16:38 PM
Eh *shrugs*

Just giving a reaction....;)
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Nehetsrev on August 30, 2011, 03:27:01 PM
[ramble]
 
 All my character's have worked very hard for the money and gear they've acquired, so I'm totally against a wipe at this point.  I don't really think it would help the economy in any way either.  The disparity exists between rich and poor because some have more time to go grind kills for their money than others, and because some have clicks they're part of that allow them to team up more regularly than others to hit areas where more money and better items drop.
 
 I say leave things as they are and be satisfied with what you earn in the time you do have to play.  Try to develop good partying relationships with as many different groups of people that you can because generally such groups look out for eachother and help eachother get the gear they need, or the money to buy said gear.  Prices for items can only be as high as people are willing to pay for them.  There will -always- be someone with more money to spend.  I say let them spend it and enjoy their purchase.  The next time that pricey item comes up there'll likely be one less person in the market for it (because they've already got one of those), and even if they do want another their funds may have been exhausted enough from their previous purchase to keep them from getting in your way the second time round.
 
 I might also add that in the past year or so, a lot of prices for items have come down quite a bit and become more affordable.  Though low-level characters can still have a rough time gathering the cash they need to gear up fully.  New static quests in Center and a couple other places do help alleiviate some of the grind at lower levels, but not all of it.  On the other hand, sometimes with lower level characters once you've got that first iron weapon you can take your time saving up and maybe skip some of the weapon upgrades and enchantments for a few levels and save yourself some cash by not buying every upgrade as it becomes available.  If you travel with groups, you're likely not going to be terribly disadvantaged even with what might seem like obsolete gear because you'll have people watching your back (of course that means you have to watch their backs too a bit).
 
 Bottom line, don't take away my True!  Some of us have spent real-life years earning what we have now.  Don't be envious and ruin it for us, just work hard and you'll get there some day too.  (This coming from someone who has only one character that has much money, and the rest stay near-broke most of the time.)
 
 [/ramble]
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: jrizz on August 30, 2011, 06:49:45 PM
Quote from: Dorganath
This is true...that is unless everyone would accept a bank/gold wipe.

I don't think a gold wipe is needed. There are enough actions going on to reduce the gold in the system. As an example Chongo's last auction which took something like 3 million true out of the system, the proceeds went to charity. If we eliminate the one main thing that floods the system with true, the pawnshops, attrition will take care of much of the rest.

Quote from: merlin34baseball
And pawn shops? They're useless for the casual player. They never can  afford to buy a single thing. I gave up years ago even clicking on them  because after a reset 9 bazillion enchanted fire opals are sold to every  pawn shop on Layo, making them all useless until the next reset,  well... and I can't log on right after a reset, so therefore I can  sell... nothing to a pawn shop!

This is exactly my point. Every server re-set floods the system with a massive amount of true and very fast.

Quote from: Nehetsrev
The disparity exists between rich and poor because some have more time  to go grind kills for their money than others, and because some have  clicks they're part of that allow them to team up more regularly than  others to hit areas where more money and better items drop.
 

Very little true comes from a group out hunting. Normally not even enough to cover the healing used. Yes a lot of true comes from the sale of drop goods but that is only because there is so much true in the system that people can bid huge amounts for rare items.

Quote from: RollinsCat
 Making all crafting items that are not a  finished items one gold (looking at you, jewel crafting) would be good.   Putting limits on how many of the same item you can sell in a give time  period (ten of XXX then cut off for an hour) would be good if it's  possible.  After all what does a pawn shop need with fifteen lutes  anyway?

A great suggestion and inline with something that has already started to work well. I think greatly reducing the going price for crafted items at pawnshops would be a good addition to the above suggestion.

We should do a calculation based on the number of pawn shops and their levels how much true gets dumped into the system with every re-boot. Anyone know how many pawnshops of each type there are?
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Acacea on August 30, 2011, 06:51:02 PM
[commentary on the derail]

I think you will find that some of your more negative reactions to such suggestions are born of what appear to be some pretty negative attitudes towards those that have acquired whatever, as if only those who have ill-gotten wealth would ever be opposed to a wipe. I think it is rather the opposite - many of the players that are still here - rather than "here again" or "here now and then" - have acquired what they have over many years, not from visiting some kind of imaginary slot machines. I also see an attitude that shows up in many places and from different people, that seems to hint that because someone's character has less than another, it is somehow worthy of more praise. Not that this is strictly the intent, but it really does kind of come off like, "My character is more flawed than your character... powergamer." and "My character is more broke than your character... money-hoarder." My level 37 died with diamonds on. What's your point?

Additionally, suggesting that those who don't weigh in against an idea are merely going to sit on their hands and complain later can surely only lead to an outpouring of complaints... because we do tend to say what we think, rather than not...whether or not it really falls in line with the thread topic.

Lastly, the ability of one character vs another to earn items or gold outside of a party is not automatically a discussion for "class imbalance." There are a hundred ways to build up different classes and some playstyles favor different numbers. Those who need to lean heavily on others in combat are probably worth their weight in skills on quests, so talking like things have to even out mechanically or it is broken beyond repair just sort of gives the wrong impression.

I realize this is not strictly on topic, but I feel like the kinds of comments that get thrown around easily here can only lead to 1) a negative push-back and 2) more of the same in yes-man form. Let's chill out with the strong-yet-casually-thrown opinions when talking suggestions. We can suggest drastic things objectively and without implications, I think. I think we should take that and apply it not just to this discussion, but to all the others we get going on.

[/commentary on the derail]
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: jrizz on August 30, 2011, 06:52:38 PM
Quote from: jrizz
A great suggestion and inline with something that has already started to work well. I think greatly reducing the going price for crafted items at pawnshops would be a good addition to the above suggestion.

On second thought that only slows down the flow of true into the system from the pawnshops.
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Hellblazer on August 30, 2011, 07:49:58 PM
This is sarcastic a little so not to take in a bad way :p

But with the type of engine that runs the game, there's not much that can be really done let alone;
1- send all the pawnshops to the pyre
2- reduce all the drops to 1 gold
3- stop all items from being included in the drops (instead make them craftable.. ouch.. more expense for the character.. that's the point no?)
4- only have crafting materials as items in the drop, and none of the one that are on sale.
5- have a periodic bank robber go through the accounts and take out 10% of an account (ie governments, local taxes for houses etc).

*takes up his shield for the coming tomatoes*
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Guardian 452 on August 30, 2011, 08:13:25 PM
Being able to only sell so many of an item to a pawner would work. Would this be an honor system thing? Cause adding code I would add lag?

Lowering the price the pawners give for things would help. If they are paying out less their bank roll should in theory last longer right?

The side issue I see is with the crafter.... They have a hard time keeping their heads above water as it is after paying for all the crafting items and tools, tools and more tools. And we all know the demand will never meet supply of crafted items as long as items last forever. So that leaves people who truly enjoy crafting to sell items at a loss on the pawns if they are lowered more yet.

So....... can a balance be found?  That would be the goal *nods*
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: lonnarin on August 30, 2011, 10:50:46 PM
The trick is to deal with exploiters as they come along, and not collectively punish the entire server.  And to quit caring about how some people may be richer than others.  Just like the broken economy of real life, some worker ants may survive long winters that playful grasshoppers do not.  Other wolves may be stronger and more battle ready than the pups born with less profound physical attributes than their brothers of the same litter.  Sometimes people in your own workforces irl seem to excel through less effort than the unsung heroes who grind and toil on the frontline, sacrificing their weekends and after hours for little compensation while their coworkers get bonuses and paid vacations.  And sometimes fortune smiles on fools while fate hands the well-planned and thought investors a big goose egg and bankruptcy for their efforts.  Such is life and economics, both in game and outside of it.  Only one thing remains certain of inequality, however; the more one seeks to balance all things artificially to redistribute wealth, the greater the potential there is for conflict and instability all around.  History has proven this time and time again.

Please note that my thoughts on this subject do not reflect the team as a whole, and are merely my observations on all things economic.
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Dorganath on August 30, 2011, 10:53:24 PM
Everybody.....

Take a step back.

I am in no way stating there will be a gold wipe.  And if there was a gold drop, shops would not be excluded.  To say that any group would be excluded for any reason is ludicrous, as if a gold wipe became necessary it would be because the system was so flawed that any remedy to truly, truly fix it would require everyone to start out on a level playing field.

I am going to try to be clear on something that's really important.

Pawn shops are not the problem in the economy.

Neither are gold drops.

There are three major factors that contribute to the broken-ness of this system:

1) NWN's single-currency system
2) Very few gold sinks
3) Players

Yes, I went there.  Players.  Guess what? If players didn't rush pawn shops with loads of {insert favorite pawned item here...you all know which one I'm talking about} after every reset, there wouldn't be an issue, would there?  At the core, it is player behavior that causes pawn shops to deplete. Why? Not because players are unloading their spare junk for a few coins but because they're unloading items that happen to pay pretty well for the purpose of gaining more gold. It is this player behavior that causes issues for the lower-level characters who actually need those few coins from junk a lot more than the people who can go where the monsters drop larger piles of gold or who have mastered Demon Cards or whatever.

I'm not saying this with any malice, but player behavior is not a factor that can be overlooked.  Incidentally, I don't expect anything to come of me saying this  I've said it before, and the problems continue.

But, let me go hypothetical here.

Suppose we did all these things suggested.  Suppose we lowered the gold drops, adjusted merchants, adjusted pawns and fixed a few other seemingly unlimited sources of gold. Suppose we did all that.  What we'd have is a system that might work a lot better overall, but we'd have people and groups who were both beneficiaries of the previously flawed system and those who were victims of the same flawed system.  There would still be this massive divide between who has the gold and who doesn't, and in fact, in such a situation, gold would become more valuable than it is now (which is arguably both extremely valuable and completely worthless, depending on who you are).

In that hypothetical situation, it would only make sense to level the playing field. It wouldn't matter if you were the poorest or richest person on the server. It wouldn't matter if your store pays people to gather or if you have to scrape for every coin. I say this as one of those people whose characters would probably suffer...not because any of my characters have much gold, but because they don't...nor do they seek it

Guardian can maybe correct me if I'm wrong, but the item wipe was to fix a pretty serious problem, yes?  Adjusting the sources of gold/items only addresses part of the problem. To really fix things, sometimes more extreme measures are required. Incidentally, by "wipe" I mean more like cutting things off at a particular maximum. For instance, maybe all bank accounts would have no more than 1000 True each. If it came to a wipe, we wouldn't leave you all with nothing, but it would have to be realistic.

But as I said, I'm not seriously considering a gold wipe.  You can all calm down and stop thinking of places to hide it (though I know how to find them, just so you know). You can stop fretting about the injustice of it all or how it will cause hardship or whatever. It's not in the plans, and even if we started to go down that path, I would give you all a chance to change market dynamics on your own.

Remember my list above.  We can put blame on the pawn shops or gold drops or Demon Cards all we want, but we are all part of the system too, and our collective actions helped make the system as it is today. Our collective actions can change it.

Food for thought...
Title: Re: Pawn Shops
Post by: Guardian 452 on August 31, 2011, 12:28:04 AM
It was a long time ago the item wipe... I know we got to keep anything we had equipped. Everything else they set up a pawner that payed a very high price for that had no limit of money. So that right there set some people up as rich. I really dont remember the true reason for the item wipe and I was a GM at the time *embarrased smile* but it was several years ago in my defense.

You are 100% correct in the biggest issue is the players. Heck I sell things to the broker simply cause they are worth a lot. For what it's worth I seek out... out of the way pawners. And something Shiny always comes up and im broke again... LOL.

Really the amount of money any person here has doesnt concern me... hence why I was saying I was in favor of a gold wipe. And why each time I said I was in favor of it I said... I dont think it would help. because it all comes back to us players. We will just find another way to become the best, fastest, richest, etc. Its in our nature.

back to the Pawn Shops though if I may. I wouldnt think recucing what they pay for things when I say this I mean the things they pay too much for like the opals etc. But go about it in the other direction... reducing the value of known exploited items. Cause we can do that... we have the technology. ;)
Title: Re: Pawn Shops.............ten penneth from me
Post by: Zoogmunch on August 31, 2011, 08:12:32 AM
ah, the age old problem of capitalism!


well my ten penneth is to agree with the last suggestion from Hellblazer and re-introduce daylight robbery. Eg, many years ago I used to rp with some friends in a sci fi/ space game ( evn forget its name) and in game i played a space merchant. I did some nifty negotiating and started picking up just 5% of everyones loot in game. I no time at all i owned my own spaceship, heavy armour, deadly ray gun and an antigrav belt ( but dont call me Luke ok and i dont know any bloke called Anakin). anyways i was obviously too big for my boots and the friendly Gm had a group of hi tech thieves pinch me belt, clear my accounts and blow up my spaceship to cover tracks  ( wipes a tear remembering the glory of it all)

I learnt a valuable lesson.  How about the thieves guild geting a list of the 50 wealthiest and having a go at relieving them of their lolly. If it become a decent quest storyline I'll even try for my first rogue character to help out.

p.s. If I succed can the DM's foregt that bit about checking up on me and spending any ill gotten loot please, I'm after having a level 6 rogue with a palace, harem, servants, carriages oh oh oh and a golden dagger and and........................


just a thought! it might be fun

Zoogmunch
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