Z-keys, the new currency?

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Nothing will replace ecto.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

forget z-keys as a currency. wont happen.


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

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'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.

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

Z-keys are just too susceptible to price fluctuations.

You can only trade 1/4 the value of ectos if you use lockpicks; this just isn't enough to support higher-end transactions.

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.

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.

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.

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!