Z-keys, the new currency?

Voltaic Annihilator

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2008

E/Me

You guys think that Z-keys will become a currency like ectos? They are worth the same and easily obtained. Thoughts please

netniwk

netniwk

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2005

Bellgium

W/E

Ectos are still superior imo.

Marverick

Marverick

Forge Runner

Join Date: Aug 2006

R/

I doubt it will ever change because people have invested into ectos too much.

TheLordOfBlah

TheLordOfBlah

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2006

California

None

Mo/N

Not even... the prices are so inconsistent right now, and everyone is trying to sell for like 3k more than people are trying to buy for.

When the price stabilizes its probably gonna be lower than ectos again.

StormDragonZ

StormDragonZ

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2008

New York

W/R

I've seen a lot of WTT 1 Ecto for 1 ZKey quite often. I have yet to see an actual definite price on ZKeys right now. I sold 10 for 4.3k each and maybe an hour later they were 3-6k, even some people selling for 8k.
Quote:
the prices are so inconsistent right now
Ain't that the truth.

Solas

Solas

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Oct 2006

Ireland

Currently LF Active HA Guild, Glad 2, Comm.3, R2

E/

yeah, there in high demand atm but that'll go down in a week or a few.imo

Voltaic Annihilator

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2008

E/Me

I doubt they that the demand will go down (r12 zaishen=20000 keys)

snaek

snaek

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2006

N/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Voltaic Annihilator
I doubt they that the demand will go down (r12 zaishen=20000 keys)
that is exactly the reason y it will go down

ppl only want r1 (r7 at the most) for the emote
anything else is jus beyond unrealistic for the average gamer

to the op: no it wont replace ectos

matsif

matsif

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2006

Warriors of Factions [WOF]

E/Me

I don't see it replacing ecto unless they do a free UW/FoW weekend or a double ecto drop weekend and ecto prices drop to like 3k or lower, which would royally screw over the economy worse than it already is.

snaek

snaek

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2006

N/

Quote:
Originally Posted by matsif
I don't see it replacing ecto unless they do a free UW/FoW weekend or a double ecto drop weekend and ecto prices drop to like 3k or lower, which would royally screw over the economy worse than it already is.
lol @ double ecto drop weekend

Dallcingi

Dallcingi

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2006

USA

The Black Parades [死人死]

Mo/

I see mainly Wtt 1 ecto for 1 key vice versa... so theres no point as using them as currency, just use ecto. Price will change later anyways since there is no trader for them.

Motoko Kusanagi War

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2007

Team Paradigm [pd]

W/

Zkeys were 5k when they were first introduced into the game.
Zkeys decreased in value to a measly 3k at top selling price.

The same will happen with them now.
Sell now, buy later.

captain_carter

captain_carter

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2007

England

The X Viles [TXV]

R/

Even if they did stabilise to the same value I don't see why the community would randomly decide to change to a different item for currency. There just wouldn't be any reason for it.
Further to that, what would everyone do with their existing ecto stockpiles, they would have to sell them to the trader to get cash to buy Zaishen keys, but in the process they would massively increase the availability and hence worth of ectos, so they would end up losing a lot of money if they tried.

On top of that: I imagine ectos work as a currency because people keep them as they do gold, they use them as a currency because they are rare and few are actually used. Zaishen keys will likely be bought with using them on the chest in mind, I can't see them being very practical as a currency if everyone who gets them wants to "destroy" them straight away.

Well those are my thoughts anyway, the main reason I see is that there is just no good reason to change. The best substitute currency would be something that is always a fixed proce at traders, then they could be exchanged directly for a given amount of gold, their worth wouldn't change.

El Presidente

El Presidente

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Lookout Post #1, Andes Mountains

Custer Was Ganked [7th]

R/

Z key price is too inconsistent to be accepted as currency atm...

HuntMaster Avatar

HuntMaster Avatar

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2007

Around

Pillar's of Earth [ROCK]

W/

Zkeys do bring in some profit. I'v a pve player for the most part and I got some keys the other day and made some plat off them. Its wonderful! Easiest 25k I'v made in a long time.

I can see keys making money for awhile, But in 6 months prices may drop to 2-3k. Right now at 5-6k its easy money. Gives me a reason to play competitive missions again.

I love pay to own titles, since I dont want the titles I get the cash! Plus its a really easy way to save money for costly things if you cant farm ectos. I mean if I farm factions for the next 6 months I might be able to afford a kanaxai mini! (WOOHOO!) doubt it, but you never know, with zkeys some of us could trade for some nice loot, maybe not kanaxai, but other nice stuff! Including ectos. (Fow armor just got alot easer to get folks!)

Alex the Great

Alex the Great

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2007

America.....got a problem with that?

[Lite]

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by matsif
I don't see it replacing ecto unless they do a free UW/FoW weekend or a double ecto drop weekend and ecto prices drop to like 3k or lower, which would royally screw over the economy worse than it already is.

so the person without stacks of ectos would get realtivly richer, and thats bad how?




i guess this is bias seeing how i have no more ectos (-_-)

dunky_g

dunky_g

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2005

[SNOW]

No.

Ectos will always be used as currency, as they always have been for 100k+ transitions.

Unlucky Slayer

Unlucky Slayer

RAGE INCARNATE

Join Date: Apr 2006

Sitting at The Guild Hall 2, being happy.

Nerd Clan [NK]

R/

If lockpicks didnt drive Ectos out as the "currency" nothing will unless they make a change to the amount your storage and character can hold cash wise.

Operative 14

Operative 14

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2006

Arizona, USA

[OOP] Order of the Phoenix I

Z-Keys don't have a specified price that a trader will sell them for, ectos do. The reason ectos are worth 5k is becuase traders sell them for 5.5k. The reason Z-keys are worth 5k is becuase a relatively large group are willing to pay that price at this moment.

There is no force that acts to stabilize Z-keys as a currency, they would never be accepted.

Mr. G

Mr. G

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2006

S. Wales

Mo/Me

Quote:
If lockpicks didnt drive Ectos out as the "currency" nothing will unless they make a change to the amount your storage and character can hold cash wise.
QFT

................

Thizzle

Banned

Join Date: Apr 2008

I've seen 10 ectos = 10 z-keys now. Yes, it is the new currency.

moriz

moriz

??ber t??k-n??sh'??n

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada

R/

the reason why ectos have been the currency for so long, is because it's value is attached to a very expensive and highly desired commodity (FoW armor). they are guaranteed to hold value, because FoW armor prices will always stay the same. while lockpicks have fixed value and is counted as a rare drop, their value is attached to something that now where near as valuable (chests).

zaishen keys are now also tied to a (at least currently) highly desired commodity: /zrank emotes, and potentially very valuable drops from the chest. so as long as the desire for zranks remain high, and the zaishen chest continue to spew out very valuable items at least occasionally, zaishen keys can also be used as currency.

Navaros

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2005

Mo/Me

Nope they won't be the new currency. Lots of people on forums always want and make threads about moving away from Ectos, but it never actually happens in-game. Z Keys ain't gonna change that, just like dyes, lockpicks etc. etc. and everything else everyone tried to change the economy to didn't.

[email protected]@ck

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2008

X Legion Of Doom X [LOD]

P/W

Yes Z-Keys are the new Ecto for now, i've seen a bunch of people trading in Ectos of Z-keys. If they keep coming up with better everlasting tonics until GW2 comes out, they should stay stable at 5k.

Get ready to see this : WTS Armbrace 100k+10z

Thizzle

Banned

Join Date: Apr 2008

Look at it this way people always their obsidian armor and chaos gloves. Now when did ectos go up a lot? With the release of EoTN and need of ectos to get chaos gloves. it's always whenever they introduce something new. They're shot up because the title, but mainly because of the Everlasting Phantasmal Tonic. Now some people don't care about the tonic, but if it drops it holds great wealth because it's worth 100e+ Now since anet is changing the tonic monthly zkeys will be desired for a long time to come.

[email protected]@ck

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2008

X Legion Of Doom X [LOD]

P/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thizzle
Look at it this way people always their obsidian armor and chaos gloves. Now when did ectos go up a lot? With the release of EoTN and need of ectos to get chaos gloves. it's always whenever they introduce something new. They're shot up because the title, but mainly because of the Everlasting Phantasmal Tonic. Now some people don't care about the tonic, but if it drops it holds great wealth because it's worth 100e+ Now since anet is changing the tonic monthly zkeys will be desired for a long time to come.
Exactly my point, just imagine if a Charr Tonic or something drops for a month, keys will go up even more. I don't exactly know if after the month if they will stop dropping all together, but if so prices of tonics will also go up if there is no way to go back and get them again.

Malice Black

Site Legend

Join Date: Oct 2005

Nothing will replace ecto.

Thizzle

Banned

Join Date: Apr 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by [email protected]@ck
Exactly my point, just imagine if a Charr Tonic or something drops for a month, keys will go up even more. I don't exactly know if after the month if they will stop dropping all together, but if so prices of tonics will also go up if there is no way to go back and get them again.
If the tonics for the current month never drop after that month then some people will have more gold than they know what to do with.

Aba

Aba

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2006

Vancouver,Canada

ya i agree with malice.....ecto will always be...

Ekelon

Ekelon

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Dec 2005

Rebel Rising [rawr]

A/W

Yea, the lack of a merchant trader for z-keys severely hinders in keeping this consistent (of course, this does, in a way, make that a better thing). And also coupled with the fact that it's so tempting to use keys if you have them.

sir fluffums

sir fluffums

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2008

Droknar's Forge

Just type slah resign [Noob]

W/

purple ball rules maor then teh red key of Zaishen...i win.
its not currency beacause (in my eyes) the're easy to farm and shouldn't sell for what they are going fore.

Brimstonez

Brimstonez

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2006

Earth?

None

E/

Armbraces are used in high-end trades nowadays, so why can't Z-Keys be used as normal currency? PvE wise, this is a game based on supply and demand. Currency is whatever people are willing to purchase of.

I don't think the Ectoplasm will ever be replaced as the base currency for trading, as they are relatively hard to farm (from the average persons point of view), cost upwards of 5k at the merchant, and are needed in large supply for the much loved Fissure Armor, and Chaos Gloves. We now look at the Z-Key, which can only be obtained via Balthazar points (one way or another). They are used to obtain items that cannot be found or are near impossible to find in the game, and can obtain a title. This also makes them highly valuable also.

But look at it from this angle;
Ecto = low chance of drop, if you want them you either buy, or farm your ass off hoping one will drop.
Z-Key = trading in easily farmed Balthazar points, either that or buy.

No I'm not contradicting myself, I'm simply saying that Ecto will not change as base currency, though people I'm sure will use Z-Keys also, as well as other materials, as long as the demand is high.

nirhan shadowmauler

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2005

potland,oregon

Through the eyes of the dragon [eyes]

E/W

forget z-keys as a currency. wont happen.


now if there was just something to do with all my zaishen medallions...

jhu

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2007

i'm kind of surprised that lockpicks didn't take over as currency equivalent. they're high priced and their value is stable (~1.25k). ectos, on the other hand, are subject to price fluctuations. i remember when ecto prices were 10k (apparently they were 15k before then). now they're a measly 5k, and i've seen them go for less. personally, i'd convert all my excess gold into lockpicks.

la_cabra_de_vida

la_cabra_de_vida

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2007

Great Soviet California!

Deputy Glitter's Shoe Squad [ghey]

Me/

You can't buy zkeys from an npc, so they will never have a base price which players can reference, therefor players wont trust them as a currency standard. Where as ectos are always just above 5k or so.

Martin Alvito

Martin Alvito

Older Than God (1)

Join Date: Aug 2006

Clan Dethryche [dth]

The rare material trader provides stability, which makes ectos a pretty attractive currency.

Z-keys are just too susceptible to price fluctuations.

Quote:
Originally Posted by jhu
i'm kind of surprised that lockpicks didn't take over as currency equivalent. they're high priced and their value is stable (~1.25k). ectos, on the other hand, are subject to price fluctuations. i remember when ecto prices were 10k (apparently they were 15k before then). now they're a measly 5k, and i've seen them go for less. personally, i'd convert all my excess gold into lockpicks.
You can only trade 1/4 the value of ectos if you use lockpicks; this just isn't enough to support higher-end transactions.

zwei2stein

zwei2stein

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Jun 2006

Europe

The German Order [GER]

N/

People who make ecto currency standard will not trade their ecto for keys because they would loose substantial wealth by doing so.

Hence, non-ecto currency will never, ever happen.

kooomar

kooomar

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2006

Pow Pow Pow [myau]

Mo/E

Just because ectos and zkeys are currently the same price, that doesnt mean that one will replace the other. ie subway has delicious 5 dollar footlongs, but if I go to buy gas, I cant pay with 10 subways sandwiches.

Musei Karasu

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Nov 2007

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by jhu
i'm kind of surprised that lockpicks didn't take over as currency equivalent. they're high priced and their value is stable (~1.25k). ectos, on the other hand, are subject to price fluctuations. i remember when ecto prices were 10k (apparently they were 15k before then). now they're a measly 5k, and i've seen them go for less. personally, i'd convert all my excess gold into lockpicks.
The fluctuating price of ecto is the fluctuating value of currency. Just like how the value of the dollar changes, the value of ecto changes representing the change in the market.

HuntMaster Avatar

HuntMaster Avatar

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2007

Around

Pillar's of Earth [ROCK]

W/

In other words, farm factions, trade for keys, trade keys for ectos while they are hot. When keys drop in price, You still have the ecto's. Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money!