Money Sinks....

[Wrentia]

money sinks have been a beef of mine going way back to the MUD days. I know money sinks are required based on the nature of MMORPG's and thats fine. we just need more realistic money sinks.

Trade Skills should be money sinks.....for awhile.....but if I am the master of my trade, I should be able to sell things to vendors for MORE than the cost of the supplies needed to make it. Of course I can always sell to players also, but there must be some kind of sense to the system....if I spend 10 units on supplies and make an item....and the vender offers to pay me 8 units for it, thats just wrong....especially when he turns around and sells it for 100 units.....

A more fair deal would be....Supplies 10/ sell to vendor for 20. Vendor sells it for 100.....Players can buy from me for 50. The trick here is to not have bottomless vendors....Vendors have only so much money to buy trade skill items with/they only stock so many of an item/some vendors only buy a certain quality of item....etc...That way traders can't stuff a vendor for cash....Oh and a vendor who sells shoes would not be interested in buying that damn sewing kit I just made....:)

On muds, good money sinks were gambling activities....rents on stores/houses.....fines for crimes.....With guild systems, you can have larger money sinks....the guild has to pool their money to buy their guild hall, then to put guards outside it, then to have a vault room built where items can be stored (although there should never be anything completely theft proof). tons of money sinks available through this....

What do you Brickhouse boys think?

-Wrentia

[Saint Faucet]

I disagree with your trade skill sales philosophy as it doesn't take into account supply and demand.

Sure, I'd love to craft a nice pair of mittens and then sell them for large amounts of coin, but what happens if I'm in an area that's seen a glut of mitten-making. I would expect that the price I was given would be quite low (possibly below the cost of the materials). Consequently, if I'm the first person in fifty cycles/years/whatever that has a pair of good-quality, home-crafted mittens to sell, then I would expect to get top dollar for my work.

Of course the interesting thing about Arcanity is that you could technically hunt down all the other mitten makers in the area and "put them out of business" (if you know what I mean) thus giving you a monopoly on the mitten industry.

As for my idea on a money sink? I suggest a midway in the vein of a fair or amusement park. You know: basketball hoops, ring tosses, skeeball, etc.. Of course the games would all be rigged and even if you did happen to get a lucky break, the prize would be worth a lot less than the amount of money you spent... but that's the whole idea of a money sink, isn't it?

[Slitherrr]

And a carnival is not just a money sink, it's a good social occasion, and would probably be best done as an every once-in-a-while thing. It also provides opportunity for exploration, as adventurers traveling with a carnie band would provide extra protection for all parties concerned. It might also be possible to work in a system where a player could join the carnie business... That would, however, probably too difficult to implement, and should be classified as "fluff" for the time being.

[Cynycal]

perhaps carnivals could pop up in different Cities and you'd have to travel a great deal to goto one..etc..it would make a great "in game" vacation =)

[Kymeri mac An Iolar]

I agree that if you are doing a trade skill it should be a money sink for a short will, ie while your gaining skill in the beginning. Once a certain level is reached you should be able to sell to a vendor for a slight profit and to players for a higher profit. If you are selling a item that is commen then you might take lose on it.Carnivals are a good idea. In EQ Sat and Sun there is a player Bazzar at a area that is easy to reach for most players. This is great for Craftsman and for people who if smart can buy and resale of r a profit.