The Money Problem

[darthSaKi]

Because, the really fun games have good designs. Games are systems with rules and guidelines that you exploit and manipulate for enjoyment. Enjoyment comes from being successful (within the guidelines). There is a problem because new players are too outmatched to be successful, and (the way things work now) woe onto the noob who does enough mining/pizza baking to do something about it. By and large, anyway.

Although, I have found, mk23s are a very good option to the Era have-not.

One simple way to assist new players could be to give profession items market value. I used to play Diablo 2, which is a game, like Era, that has items ranging from bare basics to godly elite. If you start from scratch in D2 it can be very difficult to get your hands on decent equipment, not because there isn't an active market, but because new players don't have any items they can use to get there foot in the door. Back when I played, however, there was a grace for the newbie. Chipped gems, which any new player comes across, had market value. End game players could use these gems in item crafting, and if new player saved up 40 chipped gems they could be traded for a Stone of Jordan ring (the basic unit of currency in high level trading on D2).

So how could this apply to Era? I am going to use mining for my example because I am most familiar with this profession and there is the hierarchy of resources mining produces. It could be said that iron and lead have a market value because they can be used to construct ammo or nails, but realistically no player will go and shop for them on the market because they are, by and large, useless. But this could change. Take diamonds, these items are somewhat rare to come across and yet they sell for a measly $30 a pop to Era Mining Co. Why? Because Era Mining Co. is the only place on the planet that gives a **** about diamonds. What if there was a demand for diamonds by high-rolling players. Suddenly any newb with a drill could save up his/her diamonds and be guaranteed to make a killing (relative to what professions currently pay). Picture a scenario where there is an NPC aristocrat in Era who collects diamonds for consuming optical experiments. He goes through quite a few resources and will trade his special concoction for 50 Diamonds. This concoction gives players a 48 hour buff, say it gives them a speed bonus or a temporary buff to max life (you oldbies with a grasp on what's valuable to established players give input here), whatever it is it has to be something worthwhile. 50 diamonds sell for $1500 to Era Mining Co., so that sets a minimum market value. If the buff is enticing enough, 50 Diamond stacks could go for 5k+. Now here's for the best part, there's NO NEW MONEY introduced. Rich players are in demand for diamonds, new players have plenty of incentive and means to be suppliers, and money gets passed down the ladder. Furthermore, buffs are temporary so the market for diamonds stays active.