Possible solution to ArenaNets headache.

So, i think it's agreed that players can still solo the desert and alot of other places, albeit slower. This must be frustrating everyone by now surely?
Anet must throw their arms up in despair while we nervously await the next unwanted update.
In my opinion, monsters drop too much gold. I speak as a farmer too!

Sometimes, i wish this game had an entirely different loot system....which could potentially solve all issues.
No bots, no inflation, no ebay...and farmers have the same chance as John Doe to get that really great loot. Time based loot...you get a top-end loot when it's your turn. Kill a million creatures...it makes no difference.

In Project Entropia (unsure about other MMORPG's) a typical loot pattern went like this...

This creature didn't carry any loot.
This creature didn't carry any loot.
This creature didn't carry any loot.
Cornundos old drops 3 yellow paint.
This creature didn't carry any loot.
Cornundos mature drops 2 cornundos skin.

However, once in a while, you would get something like this....



What is my point?
Basically, the loot system in that game (and probably many more that i am unaware of) gave you enough materials and money to get by.
It was a very fine line between making a loss on a hunt and making a small profit but the game mechanics gave you enough to carry on, even if you had several runs with a loss.
The reason why you could make a loss is the cost of ammunition and the cost of repairs to weapons and armour. If you take too much damage from creatures for too long, you would have to pay for it.
Occasionally (i had ten in a month or so) you would get something reall really great, like the images i've attached.

Another point that is important....

All creatures had the same drop values.

You could kill a small creature and get some skin or you could kill the baddest of them all and get LESS or more. That's the way it was.
A high end creature gave more advanced weapons/armour "when they did drop good" but in monetary terms, a good drop could come from ANY creature.

It IS a possibility to rework the entire loot system.

Changing the creature types, skills, AI isn't getting us anywhere. The monsters drop too much gold, it's a fact...face it.

In my opinion, Anet needs a drastic overhaul of the drops because just making 1/4 of the griffons drop nothing isn't good enough....when the other 3/4 could drop hundreds of gold.

ArenaNet also needs a major mandatory gold sink. Armour and weapon deterioration when used.
Take damage from a creature and it will need repairing. Use your bow...that will need a repair after a few hours of use (Account minus bow value in gold).

Too much gold....kill the source, not the people who pick it up. Just add occasional super loots to keep the excitement...but make it so farmers have no better chance compared to any casual player.
I wouldn't mind killing stuff and just picking up the occasional scrap...i'd be waiting for that big drop...knowing that it soon would be MY turn.
In a system where monsters hardly drop anything...that piece of tanned hide is worth bartering for!! Everything has value.

Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions? Praise? [gasp] Constructive criticism?

interesting idea , but i dont think it'll ever happen. I am now saying it is a bad suggestion by no means though.

I dunno, I have less a problem with the drops as I do what to spend the money on. I agree there need to be more gold sinks...although I hate to use the word 'sink' as it connotates a rather worthless item. I think farming is a part of MMOs (that is if one considers GW a MMO), but it should be socially acceptable in all parts of the game not just one or two areas.

Personally I'd rather see more things people need and could actually use. Let's keep the money flowing in and out of the system rather than people hoarding it for one special item.

I won't go into how I would implement this because I've explained it to death and I'm getting tired of it

It's....Interesting. And whats that game that you mention?

dang right, give my warrior/necro that ninja sword and a shotgun, and he will fix all these farmers, oh yeah lemme go hostile in town too,

OMG HE IS FARMING US, HAX FTL!!!!!!!

By smashing farming, the items that already exist will skyrocket in price. The only reason loads of items aren't pushing 500K is that there is always a big supply of them somewhere out there, and that more are being created every minute. Shut off the supply and, seeing as demand is still as big as it ever was, prices will go UP, UP, UP! It's already tough to get a good item at a reasonable price... this would turn it into an elitist economy. Those poor guys in Ascalon wouldn't have any money until they reach the desert...

I'm content with our loot system right now. I'd be hesitant to have that changed and I wouldn't want it to be anything like the game you mention [ Project Entropia ] There must be a good reason why most people probably haven't heard anything let alone anything good about that game. When Anet nerfs farmers to the extreme I'll be overcome with joy. I wonder if Anet could change it so that if your the only person in an area your drop rate and loot was VERY low compared to what it would be if you were in a party with other people or henchman. The henchman would get a slice of the loot and items to. No more solo farming

If you don't like the price, don't pay it, imo
Supply sets prices, as well as demand.
If xbox, was, and still is $5k.......
See what I mean?
Incase some of you don't, a 5K$ XBOX sould be boycotted, untill prices came down to where consumers would buy it. Now obviously, they have market studies behind them and this doesn't happen.

Anyways, my suggestion, as posted in another topic, to help the economy.

Don't let a player sell outside of the farthest town(or outpost if you want it that way) that he's been to.

That eliminates noobs buying uberweapons with ebay money. as soon as they hit post-searing.
It will eliminate alot of people buying them period, if they have to get to those higher zones to get good drops, well, unless they get run there, they'll have earned the right, and have the ability, to farm for it(or craft, use collectors) themselves(or have clannies help them out).

Maybe make weapons into shops like they did for armor. Craft only.

Maybe set a max item price, and have trades between friends different than Merchant trades.

Just a few ideas, personally I like the area restriction, you can only sell noob items in ascalon, better items in yaks, so on and so forth.


*EDit, wasn't entropia a free game that you could put real money into for cash? I know I tried a few like that, and I know I tried entropia(was in england at the time and couldn't get a good download). Can't remember which Entropia was.

You are correct.

I was merely using it as an example of a different loot system...since i know of no others.

I do too ..or perhaps level restrictions (on armor too). Have rare unique weapons at all levels and there would be so much more commerce.

But they won't change it, too many people are acclimated and have pimped out gear already. Funny playing with a lower level player and seeing everyone with top of the line items. They don't need to buy anything else, equipment wise. Just think if the were forced to buy equip at certain levels. There would be more trade.

I have come to accept thats the way GW is though (sigh).... So if I wanna play a game with a economy I choose a different one.