Money Sinks

[Jubal]

This only really applies if what has been said on the site is true - namely that for dollars and cents you can buy in-game gold. (PS it doesn't work directly the reverse direction does it?).

We all know by now that gold and real money, as far as the non-hardcore economy is concerned, is the same thing. They are interchangeable. With that in mind, couldn't you consider the fact that EVERY time you spend gold in-game (crafting, repairing, unlocking stash, all other gold sinks) that you're also spending (at least potential) dollars and cents?

Let's for simplicitiy's sake say that we can buy 1g for 1 cent. If you die and it costs you 1000g to repair your gear, that's 1000g that you could have cashed out as $10 simply by buying a 1000g item from the gold AH and listing it at the appropriate price of $10 on the RMAH.

Kind of strange, right?

[Azzure]

This only really applies if what has been said on the site is true - namely that for dollars and cents you can buy in-game gold. (PS it doesn't work directly the reverse direction does it?).

We all know by now that gold and real money, as far as the non-hardcore economy is concerned, is the same thing. They are interchangeable. With that in mind, couldn't you consider the fact that EVERY time you spend gold in-game (crafting, repairing, unlocking stash, all other gold sinks) that you're also spending (at least potential) dollars and cents?

Let's for simplicitiy's sake say that we can buy 1g for 1 cent. If you die and it costs you 1000g to repair your gear, that's 1000g that you could have cashed out as $10 simply by buying a 1000g item from the gold AH and listing it at the appropriate price of $10 on the RMAH.

Kind of strange, right?

It's definitely a new way of thinking. Same can be said about crafting - where it will cost "money" per craft. It's gambling with real money, really.

From what we've seen in the data-mines, some of the end-game recipes look very expensive. Don't be surprised to see crafts costing $50+ per go.

Intriguing indeed.

[Jubal]

It's definitely a new way of thinking. Same can be said about crafting - where it will cost "money" per craft. It's gambling with real money, really.

From what we've seen in the data-mines, some of the end-game recipes look very expensive. Don't be surprised to see crafts costing $50+ per go.

Intriguing indeed.


That's scary stuff and a good point. Random affixes on crafted items means you're paying in essence a less-liquid version of cash for a roll of the die. Find me the definition of gambling!

The "solution" to this, which would also prevent me from being a total tight-arse (which I know I will be, doing spot-conversions on anything I buy and just saying "no") would be to remove the possibility to buy gold for money.

But not really... yeesh this game is going to be expensive for me early on - but might actually pay itself off over a couple of years... maybe.

[Neinball]

It's an all new way of looking at things. And people said that durability costs wouldn't deter death! Once it costs you $5 it will make you think twice.

[Azzure]

It will certainly be interesting when you start weighing up whether to buy a piece of armor in Diablo or to buy a shirt in real life. Naturally I'd go for the armor...

[Grayson Carlyle]

(PS it doesn't work directly the reverse direction does it?).

By definition, yes. If you are capable of buying gold with $, what do you think is happening on the other end? Essentially the person selling their gold for $ is in fact buying your $ with their gold.

[Bigfish]

This only really applies if what has been said on the site is true - namely that for dollars and cents you can buy in-game gold. (PS it doesn't work directly the reverse direction does it?).

We all know by now that gold and real money, as far as the non-hardcore economy is concerned, is the same thing. They are interchangeable. With that in mind, couldn't you consider the fact that EVERY time you spend gold in-game (crafting, repairing, unlocking stash, all other gold sinks) that you're also spending (at least potential) dollars and cents?

Let's for simplicitiy's sake say that we can buy 1g for 1 cent. If you die and it costs you 1000g to repair your gear, that's 1000g that you could have cashed out as $10 simply by buying a 1000g item from the gold AH and listing it at the appropriate price of $10 on the RMAH.

Kind of strange, right?

Not really strange. Kind of depends on the rate of farming gold and the real exchange rate. I'd prefer to think of it more in the sense of how much labor do I need to cover my costs? I would think it wouldn't be more than I could farm in say 10 minutes or something, which even at 2.50$ an hour as a converted D3 wage, that's like 40 cents.

The big issue is going to be inflation though, and that's going to be variable dependant on what phase the general population is in as far as characters go. Ideally, inflation stays at the point that repairs become effectively cheaper as time goes on.