SE Please implement a Chonoscroll/PLEX system in FFXIV: ARR

[Zantetsuken]

The lower the price that the subscription-item costs, the harder it is for RMT to profit from the game, so market competition (or undercutting, as you put it) here is good. It also lowers the amount that PLEX-buyers can make from spending cash, which is also good for "fairness". Also, the "F2P option" here is certainly NOT available to any 12-yo with internet access because it requires time and dedication to actually make the money needed to buy the subscription-item.

Exactly~

If SE could guarantee no RMT in this game, then I could see the opposition having a much better position to argue from.

But RMT are going to be in the game and they will definitely be selling gil (as well as items, etc..) This serves as a balancing force against them.

Also, perhaps a cap on *crysta* purchases [per player account - per month] would help to limit the amount of gil one player could obtain via this system.


Disclaimer, I am not in favor of any Cash Shop or RMT style operation, nor do I ever want this game to be F2P. But this system is a very good solution for bringing new players into the game.

And that will be critical for FFXIV:ARR's success.

[Abriael]

Competing for drops, as in camping profitable targets so as to prevent other people from camping the same targets? As far as I know, Xiv has a workaround in most cases to completely bypass RMT campers as any form of hindrance. Ex: Need Karakul fleece? RMT's use the faction leve at Cedarwood. Need a dungeon drop? They are fully instanced, i.e. no competition.

You're taking the word "competition" too literally. The problem is not that RMT can grab mobs before players and steal their drops.

The problem is that RMT firms have massive workforces that they can apply in order to control the economy, making prices raise and drop to maximize their gains. Something against which single players or entire guilds can do nothing, because they don't have the numbers or the organization.

On top of that the massive RMT workforce directly influences the economy, as they *CREATE* currency.

Ever seen those big group of identical lalafells with weird names scampering about? Guess what it is? It's a single RMT botter *creating* currency. They do guildleves and content in massive quantities (often multiplied for every account they use). The gil they earn is actually generated by the system, so it basically magically appears in their pockets. Multiply that for the whole workforce of RMT companies applied 24/7, and you get a massive inflation effect on the market, as massive amount of gil are generate from nothing.

It's like having a country suddenly starting to print a ton of money.

1. Altering game experience: It allows people with dollars to benefit over those without dollars

No. It allows people with dollars to benefit people without dollars. They can pay the game for them.

2. Inflation: It raises the rate of purchase for rare and highly-sought goods, which raises their demand without altering the supply, causing a rise in prices.

It does not. No gil is created. While one player's purchase power is increased, the other player's is decreased. The total result is exactly the same.

[Abriael]

If you like it, you should link or copy it in the OP so it's not buried on page 17

good idea.

[GodseijuroHiko]

So... because I asked which side he would be on of the system he is fighting so hard to sell people on, and what in game price he would pay for it... I attacked him? Ok. I think it was a valid question, and I'm not sorry.

I'll ask everyone here that is in favor of this system: If you were going to buy this item, how much would you be willing to pay for it, in game? If you're going to sell it, what is your $10/$15 worth to you in gil?

I don't know. When I played Tera, my friends said the price was usually 1500 gold. The most I saw it jump in my short play time is 1800 gold. So 1500 gold = 15 dollars I guess. Hope that answers your question.

[Abriael]

I don't know. When I played Tera, my friends said the price was usually 1500 gold. The most I saw it jump in my short play time is 1800 gold. So 1500 gold = 15 dollars I guess. Hope that answers your question.

That's pretty much the same as it is now.

[Mamakat]

Not really. I didn't play Tera, so I don't know if 1500 gold = 10k or 1m in a comparison to gil in our current economy

[Zantetsuken]

Off the top of my head, 500k (50k ARR) seems like as good a starting point as any...

But if nobody wants to spend that much gil, then the price will drop. And the more people purchase *crysta* from SE, the less gil it will be worth.

The opposite would be true as well, lets say people are only willing to spend 50k Gil (5k ARR) for *crysta*... Less people will purchase it from SE, and over time, the gil value will rise due to demand.

Market forces at work.

[axemtitanium]

No. It allows people with dollars to benefit people without dollars. They can pay the game for them.

It does not. No gil is created. While one player's purchase power is increased, the other player is decreased. The total result is exactly the same.

This is a really good point that people sometimes miss. When Player A buys a PLEX item for real money, he earns a certain amount of in-game money for its sale. The sold item goes to Player B who wants to play for free. This earned money is then presumably used to buy items from Player C who produces items and earns a handy profit. Even if you're not a person who personally buys PLEX to sell, you still benefit from others who do since you'll be getting their gil when they buy your stuff. And again, gil is neither created nor destroyed in this process.

[Nuinn]

No? Ok, I suppose silence is an answer in its own right as well. Thank you, goodbye~

[GodseijuroHiko]

Exactly~

If SE could guarantee no RMT in this game, then I could see the opposition having a much better position to argue from.

But RMT are going to be in the game and they will definitely be selling gil (as well as items, etc..) This serves as a balancing force against them.

Also, perhaps a cap on *crysta* purchases [per player account - per month] would help to limit the amount of gil one player could obtain via this system.


Disclaimer, I am not in favor of any Cash Shop or RMT style operation, nor do I ever want this game to be F2P. But this system is a very good solution for bringing new players into the game.

And that will be critical for FFXIV:ARR's success.

Lacking sanctimony (check)
Voice of reason (check)
Does not approve of system (check)
Admits that it would actually hurt but not get rid of RMT (check)
Accepts that RMT exist and will continue to exist (check)

Difficulty seeing this clearly while disagreeing (hopeless) *even though I quoted you, it isn't directed at you*