I Question the success of the RMAH without PvP

[ElBozo]

Triple Post, lag :|

[ElBozo]

Double Post, the original version is below + few more lines.

[snowcatcher]

By the time PvP is released we might have a big selection of Inferno items/reagents. And we'll have to see just how Inferno is difficult... With the amount of people attempting to do Inferno, it's hard to tell how long it will take the floodgates holding Inferno loot/reagents to open.

Well from the "You will die, we promise" video you can't tell much but the guys said we needed about an hour to wipe just a single boss + mobs. Ok lets say they exaggerated, best case scenario is what, 10-15 mins ? Inferno will be really hard if at least 20% is true from what we were shown till now, and i don't know many people that are willing to spend so much time and devotion on a game, it can get extremely frustrating later, which means inferno will only be viable for farm for really good teams only (I dont even consider soloing, not until i get inferno uniques at least).

[ElBozo]

Indeed you have a point here, although i would argue the first part of this post. True, there will be massive over saturation on the rmah at first, placing item for sale is free, so everyone will place anything that their class doesn't need. I am interested in end game items (inferno only), this cookies wont come in that great quantity since inferno will be extremely hard and will probably require good teamwork.

I think it will be the same case as it used to be with BoE raid Epics in WoW - Sold for Boatloads by the first few who managed to do the content, then devaluing after week or two - especially there's no time based restrictions in D3... as far as we know.

The non-inferno items will probably stay on the rmah and never sell as PvP players will only be interested in extremely good (if not perfect) versions of certain items. Imo only pro inferno teams ( yes i am talking more then 1 player in a party ) will be able to make any real profit from the rmah, coz farming inferno wont be doable for everyone...

By the time PvP is released we might have a big selection of Inferno items/reagents. And we'll have to see just how Inferno is difficult... With the amount of people attempting to do Inferno, it's hard to tell how long it will take the floodgates holding Inferno loot/reagents to open.

Even a bigger threat for the rmah will be the 5 characters for each account. With the current respec system, there is no need for additional characters from the same type. So after 5-6 months after you have em all maxed out to 60 i rlly don't think the rmah will continue to flourish.

Yup. There is a big possibility of this happening.

Blizzard needs constant events, new items, online quests or w/e that comes to mind in order to keep raising the boundaries of characters and items strength, so that people will constantly have new things to trade/look for in the rmah.

Indeed. And i think they'll need a more frequent schedule of new content patches in order to keep players playing and selling. Not to mention that doing the same story mode 4 times in a row doesn't help keeping players intrest alive, especially when waiting for PvP.

You might argue here that the new players that will keep joining the D3 universe will probably be a good thing for the rmah/ah but lets face it, that number will be nothing compared to the number of players that will get diablo 3 in the release week.

That is true. Still, for some time there might be a gold vein in the shape of new players who are too busy to grind for their stuff. A good revenue stream when noone is interested in buying top end items.

Which reminds me, we actually haven't considered that players might hold off selling low priced items just to score few worth a heftier sum.

[snowcatcher]

I think it will be the same case as it used to be with BoE raid Epics in WoW - Sold for Boatloads by the first few who managed to do the content, then devaluing after week or two.

I never actually played WoW.
How much are we actually talking here, 100-150$ max for elite items ?

edit: read post above yours in case you missed it...

[ElBozo]

I never actually played WoW.
How much are we actually talking here, 100-150$ max for elite items ?

edit: read post above yours...

Oh, well... Hmm... How to put things into perspective... Since items in WoW didn't have much of money value. So... if i recall correctly, those items in the first few weeks of new raid content, reached prices of 15k gold. How would it translate in RMAH values... hmmmm.... hmmm... sorry i'm thinking.... i'm thinking something around 100$ price range, +/- 15$. Of course there were instances of players buying items with money (paying a guild to "carry" them through content and give them drops they wanted). Our guild didn't sell anything like that and i know nobody who bought them in such way... but that's going on a tangent.

100$ price range, +/- 15$.

Well from the "You will die, we promise" video you can't tell much but the guys said we needed about an hour to wipe just a single boss + mobs. Ok lets say they exaggerated, best case scenario is what, 10-15 mins ? Inferno will be really hard if at least 20% is true from what we were shown till now, and i don't know many people that are willing to spend so much time and devotion on a game, it can get extremely frustrating later, which means inferno will only be viable for farm for really good teams only (I dont even consider soloing, not until i get inferno uniques at least).

Of course, a well lead team will run circles around single players/public groups. We'll just have to see if "You will die" will live up to it's promise... It might, but i doubt there will be hours of wiping. Players are resourceful beasties. Actually i think there might be quite a lot of Hell grind in order to maximize chances of successful runs in inferno (which result in increased Hell level goods sold). Only time will tell...

[BZK]

This no PvP annoucement is actually a very bad news for the markets in the game, RMAH and gold.
They put on the battlenet items database some time ago set items for different levels/difficulty before removing them quickly 1 or 2 days later. I assume the PvP part of the game have some lvl restrictions to put people against same level characters. let's say 1-10, 11-20, 21-30... 51-59 and 60.

http://i.imgur.com/hJ7xH.png
If I recall correctly Born+Cain are level 30, Captain Crimson+Aughild are 40, Guardian+Asheara are 50 and Demon+Sage are level 60 and Hallowed is a actually just a shield + main-hand level 60 set. 30 set uses normal material, 40 nightmare, 50 hell and 60 inferno.

Meaning that for any PvPers that like to get twink for a certain PvP level there was really good gear options and so the auctions have multiple target. And you could farm any difficulty and still make something that someone may want if you have access to the plans or know someone with the plans.

I'm afraid that if they take too much time to get the PvP content up and running the only option to offer something that will be demanded in the auctions will be to farm Hell or inferno and offer material and items for level 60 characters.
I hope they add the PvP asap so the PvP centric player will find their favorite format '1-10', '41-51' and this will make the auctions have a broader target public and multiple ways to provide something valuable to answer the players demand.

[Wizz]

i definately do not agree at all. your 100% wrong ;]. i think that having pvp implemented in a patch post release... first big patch post release no doubt is still enough incentive to gear to help pvm and proceed to max level gearing up for inferno and bAM LOOK heres the patch for pvp. it shouldnt have but little effect on the RMAH if any at all. just my 2 cents but i can see how u think it may ramp up rmah use when pvp becomes available. but the pvm incentive is great enough to make it not really matter at all! and im sure blizzard made this decision wieghing the finances n stuff like many other things cut from the game before release. guess we just gotta wait and see...

[FizzyBubbly]

I actually have a different opinion about the pvp delay than most. I think it is wonderful !!! Why? Because from day one we will be able to plan for this market changing event. When pvp finally comes there will be a wave of increased demand as people look for the best items they can get their hands on for pvp. With this demand will also come with a supply shortage as people play pvp they spend less time out in the world collecting items.

So... Big wave of demand followed by supply shortage in relation to demand. The people ready to fill that supply gap will be paid very well.

Also I can see 99% perfect uniques selling for $300+ if the item is found to be the "best" it whatever category. Especially at the time pvp comes around.

[galzohar]

I think it's pretty obvious the RMAH will get used plenty without PvP. PvP will just make it get used some more.