Value of Ectos

Even though i've had this game since shortly after release, i'm still a big noob (mainly due to me playing world of warcraft for a long time). anyhoo, i'm just now starting to get some items of value and recently i was offered some ectos instead of cash.

how much are ectos worth? if i don't really care about getting the obsidian armor, can i just sell them back to other players for cash? how does this crazy thing work?

Check the rare material trader in Lions arch or the other main towns.

The value varies. There is an NPC in major towns called a "Rare Material Trader" He will have ectos in stock that you can check the current value on. Generally they're worth around 5k and it's very common for people to use them as currency.

From what I can tell from currently trying to amass ectos, is that people want to sell them at 4.8k and people want to buy at 4.5k. That's only the current trend though, it wont stay that way forever.

Ectos vary in value. However, for the past several months they have remained at a ridiculously steady trader sell price of 5.5k (occasionally, for a few minutes dropping to 4.7k, then going right back up to 5.5k). Player to player trade value can usually be agreed to at between 4.8k and 5k each.

Ectos started being used in lieu of gold or platinum because of the 100k cap on trades. So, it's just an alternate way of paying someone when the item is worth more than the 100k trade limit. People will usually offer 100K + _ ectos depending on how much the item is worth and the current market value for ectos. Just thought I would throw that out there because I didn't know about the 100k cap when I first started playing and I didn't know why it wouldn't let me trade for more lol.

ohhh, that makes sense. thanks for the info guys! also if someone is offering me ectos for a value of less than 100k, is it impolite to ask for plat instead?

Its not impolite, but don't be surprised when they don't want to trade. They probably got the ecto at a much higher price (they fluctuate crazily), and then were stuck with them at a lower price, and thus lost on on more potential plat. They will try to offer ecto instead of cashfor items, because they know it will either tank or improve in value (most likely tank), and they'll be able to dump their ecto stock.

I always take cash, anything over 100k, well, nothing to me is really worth it but I would ask for lockpicks instead.

I accept Rubies for trades too.

I rather accept lockpicks over ectos, but ectos=mainstream >.>

Generally speaking, when accepting payment in Ectos (or anything else other than gold) the value you give someone for them should be almost exactly the half-way point between the buy/sell price at the rare material trader. For example, if the trader sells ectos for 5.5k and will give you 4.5k for them, then you should accept them in a trade at 5k each. This is because it's usually easy to sell them to other players at that half-way price too, so you can get the 5k.

I do the lockpick thing too. Sometimes when selling items a person will tell me they have tons of cash but not 25 ecto. So I've asked for 125k in lockpicks instead. The lock picks are atleast something a person can step over to the merchant and pick up, of course they can alwyas run over to the Rare material trader for the ecto required, but then haggaling begins becuase now the ect they just bought is vaulued at 5.5k to them, and trading it to you at a value of 5k seems to become a problem, less haggaling over the lower priced picks, plus they are a solid investment as their price will never change, plus I use em, not merchem.

Well, that's the problem. I would take lockpicks too, because I use them - in fact, I'd rather take lockpicks. But even with lockpicks, should you accept them at 1.5k each or the 1.25k that they often sell for? If you don't use lockpicks, you'd only get 750g each from the merchant.

I agree with the lockpick suggestions. I tend to trade that way, too. Ecto does stick around 4.5-4.8k. I have seen people buy them for more and for less. I've sold ecto for 6k and I've sold ecto for 4k. I've also given ecto out on a few occasions (to people I know in desperate need of them). The only benefit I see in the ecto over lockpicks choice is that ecto WILL always sell!
I've been stuck with 250 lockpicks for awhile, and ended up eventually using them instead of selling them. Ecto are highly liquid. I have never had issues selling ecto, because all those wammos with a million gold love themselves ecto and I love to help them get the pixelated vomit that is FOW wammo armor. Anyway, if you are a farmer, go with the lockpicks. You will always use them. If you are into cash and want the ability to have cash instantly, go with ecto. Ecto sells no matter what the market is like. Lockpick don't always sell.

Actually, it looks pretty good on yourself. It just looks like pixelated vomit to others. (It's a graphics detail thing - dunno why.)

Oh, and technically, it's FoW Warrior armor - whammos are specifically W/Mo.

I agree, and I have a tendency to call all warriors wammos... just like I assume anyone playing a warrior is a tank. Call me jaded. having said that. FOW Warrior armor, although it looks good on the warrior, still doesn't look that good on you. It is horrible. Off topic, I honestly believe anet should revamp their efforts to improve the look of the armor. It is sad and outdated. 10k Norn looks a million times better than FOW, and it shouldn't.