Guild Wars Guru

Taxed Districts to discourage panhandlers

1 pages • Page 1
Xue Yi Liang
Xue Yi Liang
Jungle Guide
• #1
How about designating one district of each town to be a "Taxed District" where entry requires a fee of 50gp - 500gp depending on the town?
The district would be essentially identical to other districts of the same town (maybe a cosmetic difference or two) but, for the people who can afford it, they're virtually assured that this district will be free of beggars and light on player trading.

Why would a beggar pay 100gp to loiter in a "taxed" district? Even if he's dumb enough to do that, nobody would believe he was that poor - so he'd quickly learn to panhandle in some other district instead.

In a "taxed" Lion's Arch there would be less trade chat - that could be a positive thing for some of us.

A taxed district would be a nice gold-sink for "wealthy" players looking to hang out in peace.

Sure, the very notion of a taxed district stinks of social class system, but so does the priviledge of wearing FoW armor.
I, for one, wouldn't mind paying 200gp to enter a Droknar's free of beggars and players complaining about them.
M
Mark of Rodgort
Krytan Explorer
• #2
I'd agree with this. Anyone who says WTS or WTB would be kicked out.
H
Humey
Ascalonian Squire
• #3
Why not just create some type of trade district or an auction house. That would be cool, and then sellers could have a place to go where they could find people that aren't bothered by them and people who might buy from them.
Charrbane
Charrbane
Lion's Arch Merchant
• #4
I don't mind people trading / selling stuff but the beggars and hobos who beg for sums of money are becoming more frequent than ever.

Anyhow Id like to see an auction house for trading too.

Maybe a poor district for the hobos.
A
Azure_Seraph
Academy Page
• #5
Hah. The biggest problem is the WTS/WTB spamming. Easy Fix: Make the auction system where ppl will put up items for auction under different item classes (i.e. a sword under weapon class or feathers under material class). This also eliminates ppl who have no courtesy and price gouge when they know some1 wants an item bad and is actually willing to meet the set price.(USED TO HAPPEN TO ME ALL THE TIME!!)
Xue Yi Liang
Xue Yi Liang
Jungle Guide
• #6
I'm not so sure about having hobo districts (ghettos?)
Why would they want to go there? How can you make them go there?

The auction house idea is not new, but I'm for it.

Filters for WTS or WTB text won't work - they'll just type "Want TS", or "WT sell/buy", or something like that.

A taxed district is the only way I can think of to avoid hobos - because you'll never get rid of them.
Racthoh
Racthoh
Did I hear 7 heroes?
• #7
It would be worth the 100 gold to avoid them all. May sound harsh but when I see someone begging for 50 gold... they could easily earn that back in Ascalon...
A
AeroLion
Krytan Explorer
• #8
If I wanted to sell something I knew would go for a nice chunk of change, I'd instantly go to the "rich district." If I wanted to sell something period and make as much money as possible, I'd go to the "rich district." A "rich district" would pretty much guarantee a lot of trade spam in local and trade because it would be viewed as the place where lots of people with disposable income go.
Alias_X
Alias_X
Desert Nomad
• #9
Agree with the above post.
Xue Yi Liang
Xue Yi Liang
Jungle Guide
• #10
Quote:
Originally Posted by AeroLion
If I wanted to sell something I knew would go for a nice chunk of change, I'd instantly go to the "rich district." If I wanted to sell something period and make as much money as possible, I'd go to the "rich district." A "rich district" would pretty much guarantee a lot of trade spam in local and trade because it would be viewed as the place where lots of people with disposable income go.
Good point.
But these districts aren't supposed to block traders entirely - only act as a filter for most of them.
I wouldn't mind if some people want to sell in the taxed district. How could it possibly be worse than LA dist 1 today?

At the very least it'll filter out these sellers: "WTS 13 cloth and 27 plant fibers, 2 UN-IDed purple runes, 46 wood, 23 iron and Althea's Ashes - PM me."
One and Two
One and Two
Jungle Guide
• #11
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xue Yi Liang
WTS 13 cloth and 27 plant fibers, 2 UN-IDed purple runes, 46 wood, 23 iron and Althea's Ashes - PM me.
Do people know how much that's worth? I sell that to trader and leftover to merchant....

/signed on taxed areas
Eltargrim
Eltargrim
Academy Page
• #12
/signed

Although a fee each time is a bit harsh. Maybe 100g buys you 1-2 hours of entry? I mean, if I'm questing around Lions Arch, for example, I don't want to pay 100g every time I go in to get rid of my DP, or collect a reward.
p
pyrosamurai
Ascalonian Squire
• #13
What about a town pass? Or some kind of expensive rights to access certain places for the rich folk?
Xue Yi Liang
Xue Yi Liang
Jungle Guide
• #14
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eltargrim
/signed

Although a fee each time is a bit harsh. Maybe 100g buys you 1-2 hours of entry? I mean, if I'm questing around Lions Arch, for example, I don't want to pay 100g every time I go in to get rid of my DP, or collect a reward.
well that's why it's an optional district. If you're just trying to get rid of DP or collect a reward you can just use a normal free district. The taxed district is an option for people who can afford it. The price is just made to keep out the beggars.
Eltargrim
Eltargrim
Academy Page
• #15
Ah, I see. Well then, I think that would be a great idea. Also features a minor gold sink; nobody loses!
f
funbun
Wilds Pathfinder
• #16
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xue Yi Liang
How about designating one district of each town to be a "Taxed District" where entry requires a fee of 50gp - 500gp depending on the town?
The district would be essentially identical to other districts of the same town (maybe a cosmetic difference or two) but, for the people who can afford it, they're virtually assured that this district will be [I]free of beggars and light on player trading.[/I

Why would a beggar pay 100gp to loiter in a "taxed" district? Even if he's dumb enough to do that, nobody would believe he was that poor - so he'd quickly learn to panhandle in some other district instead.

In a "taxed" Lion's Arch there would be less trade chat - that could be a positive thing for some of us.

A taxed district would be a nice gold-sink for "wealthy" players looking to hang out in peace.

Sure, the very notion of a taxed district stinks of social class system, but so does the priviledge of wearing FoW armor.
I, for one, wouldn't mind paying 200gp to enter a Droknar's free of beggars and players complaining about them.
Let me explain why this wouldn't work.

1. If all the rich people are hanging out in the same spot. Where do you think the beggar's will go? Your taxed districts will be nothing but beggar cess pools.

2. People don't like taxes, at least here in the USA. They won't pay them. the uber rich will just go to the regular tax free districts. Why do you think people are moving in droves to Florida here in the US? Florida has no state taxes!

3. What do miilionares do in real life when a government raises taxes? They stop working! They feel they are being punished forthier efforts so they say screw the world and the choose to siton thier wealth. When taxes arte cut they go back to work building more businesses, thus providing more jobs to the middle class and below. Thus making the economy better.

/voted down
Naprius
Naprius
Frost Gate Guardian
• #17
well i wouldnt mind paying something to be off with those WTS WTB gimme money fools.

/signed

and funbun, comparing gw to real life isn't a good idea
f
funbun
Wilds Pathfinder
• #18
Quote:
Originally Posted by Naprius
well i wouldnt mind paying something to be off with those WTS WTB gimme money fools.

/signed

and funbun, comparing gw to real life isn't a good idea
But Guild Wars is more like real life than you imagine. It has a economy. That economy goes up and down just like ours. No it isn't real life but many of the princicple still apply.

Look at how the Anet (the government) nerfed the game all summer. Remember wat happend to the economy then. It crashed. Rather it was very unstable.

But tlook at SF updates and look at how the economy has become stable again. No more stupid price jumps.

Also, people talk about supply and demand. Why are Mesmer sup rune so cheap? There is no demand for it. Why were monk rune so expesive beforethe nerf? Tons of demand. And then after the nerf prices are down becasue there isn't as much demand for mon sup runes.

Sup. absorb and sup. vigor continue to rise becasue they are in much demand. This supply and demand principle is used in the real world too. It's high school economics.

Anytime there is an economic system in place certain principles will always apply. Doesn't matter if the world is real or digital.
Naprius
Naprius
Frost Gate Guardian
• #19
yes but real rich ppl mind paying taxes coz the goverment makes them pay like half of what they own. and real money is harder to come by than GW money.
GW players can make lots of money in a small period of time and they only need to pay like 0,00001 percent of what they own to make use of the nice oppertunity of not hearing or seeing beggars and traders.

(the percentage is somewhat overexaggerated, i know)
f
funbun
Wilds Pathfinder
• #20
Quote:
Originally Posted by Naprius
yes but real rich ppl mind paying taxes coz the goverment makes them pay like half of what they own. and real money is harder to come by than GW money.
GW players can make lots of money in a small period of time and they only need to pay like 0,00001 percent of what they own to make use of the nice oppertunity of not hearing or seeing beggars and traders.

(the percentage is somewhat overexaggerated, i know)

Yes they do pay taxes in the real world. But twhen the government RAISES taxes, rich people choose not to work. They chose not to build more businesses that would supply jobs for the rest of use. The principle is when the government raises taxes it causes ppl to slack off because they fell they are being punished for their effort as opposed to being rewarded. This isn't a good analogy for GW I know but...

The taxed cities won't work because the beggars will infultrate the taxes cities. If I were a beggar I would find out where the rich ppl were and beg them for money. I'm telling you these taxes cities will be nothing more that cess pools of beggars.

A beggar would beg for the 500g in a nontaxes district. Then go into the taxed districts and proceed to beg for more once they get in!