If Titan HM should have taught you one lesson...

[bokchoykn]

I don't get the negative social stigma behind buying and selling carry runs. I always thought this was a really cool and creative way to make money in a game like this. Reading through this thread and hearing people talk about it in game, the complaints about it generally fall under the same categories...

"Bad players shouldn't get rewards they don't deserve"

Suppose a player is unable to defeat Boss X through conventional means. He simply lacks the player skill, internet quality, and/or playtime to learn the fight and complete it without a carry. However, this player has the business sense, crafting skill and/or patience to earn enough Gil to pay other players to carry him so he can defeat Boss X.

To you, a piece of loot may also be a trophy to prove that you possess the player skill to defeat the boss who drops said loot. That's a valid and commonly-shared belief but it might not be one that some other players agree with. Who are you to decide whether or not this player is entitled to this piece of loot? Who are you to impose your beliefs on someone else who has found an alternative means to get this piece of loot?

To me, the notion that gear quality and rewards should separate good players from the bad is a crappy and elitist attitude. If everyone would just focus on their own enjoyment of the game and maybe people wouldn't be so butthurt that a lesser-skilled player was able to accomplish the same goals that they have. They might not be as good as you, but they found a way to get what they want and enjoy the game.


"Sellers indirectly support RMT and keep RMT companies in business."

The truth is this: ANYTHING that gives Gil value will indirectly support RMT. That is simply the nature of any in-game currency in an MMO. One common (and very valid) complaint about this game is that Gil barely has any value, outside of FC housing. Crafts have some value, but crafted gear can only get you so far. So yes, it's true. In a game where its design trivializes its own in-game currency, if a player is able to purchase carries with Gil, it certainly does give Gil more value and therefore indirectly supports RMT.

However, let me ask you this: Is it the player's duty to keep RMT under control? And to that end, should they put a conscious effort into further trivializing the in-game currency by NOT selling runs? Should players be playing the game any differently than they would normally want to, in order to assist in the battle against RMT? If this is what you suggest, than the battle against RMT is already lost. People are compromising their own enjoyment because of RMT, and the damage is done.

My opinion: Play the game how you want to play. Leave it to Square Enix to police RMT. That's their job, not ours. As long as you are complying with the terms of service, hell yeah you should do what you want, even if that means selling runs for Gil in order to further accomplish your goals in-game.


"Selling carries is greedy. Players should improve the community by helping other players for free."

First of all, this completely contradicts the first point I mentioned: "Bad players shouldn't get rewards they don't deserve." Why is it okay for bad players to get carried out of charity, but not okay for bad players to get carried in exchange for money? In each case, a bad player is getting rewards they they apparently don't deserve. Why is one okay and one not, when the end is the same?

Anyway, every player has their own goals and selfish motives in this game. Players want to get gear, players want to earn money, players want to buy housing, etc... A merc transaction is simply two players helping each other accomplish their goals. The buyer wants items and is willing to give up money to get it. The seller wants money and is willing to provide a means for the buyer to get items. Seems fair to me, and both parties are helping each other.

Outside of that, who's to say that sellers don't help people for free? I've been selling Extreme Primals for a little while now, but our team spends just as much time carrying friends and even strangers through Extreme Primals just for fun. I've even been organizing Titan EX learning parties, teaching players how to beat Titan and earning it legitimately. All I get out of it is a warm fuzzy feeling and some Philo tomes. I've earned a lot of Gil selling runs, but I think a lot of people would be hard pressed to say that they help their server's community more than I help mine.