It's interesting to think about, for sure. There's certainly a separation for most people in that obtaining currency outside of the game, and obtaining items worth currency within the game are exclusive concepts. That if you're playing the game and obtaining items, they are of a higher value than having a job and being paid for it. Which is kind of strange as real world currency is by far more widely valuable and usable than an in-game item. Obviously there's an exchange rate of sorts that will be worked out by players to match the two, but I think it's interesting that conceptually someone who works to obtain currency in their job and buy an item is perceived of as less than someone who was able to obtain it by playing the game. Logically it's backwards as a real world job is not the fun and enjoyment of playing a video game, but that gets turned around within the context of wanting to compare skill and aptitude.

I still think drop chance puts so much randomization into someone's acquisition of items that there's no true test of aptitude to be had, just luck and time. What's to say working to earn money to buy an item is easier than launching the game and getting that same item on your first kill? Also, I love my job, but it's still not as awesome as just playing Diablo III.

I don't even know how someone can attempt to place value on the way someone obtained their items, at what cost, in what Act and difficulty was it found, what their magic find was, are they more skilled than me, are they using a 'cheesy build' etc. There's too many variables that throw off comparison of 'skill' before currency even enters the picture.

04/11/2012 01:51 PMPosted by Lõri

In regards to PvP, that gear didn't just appear out of nowhere. If my opponent bought his gear that doesn't change the fact that it dropped for someone else somewhere. That gear was going to make someone beefy in PvP regardless of whether it was sold or not so what's the point? Is it really worse that I fight someone in PvP whom bought all their gear versus fighting the player for whom that gear originally dropped before they sell it? If anything, the person that bought their gear is more likely to be at a disadvantage because they haven't invested the time to get really good at their skills. Overall I think it's a moot point.

I like the way this all makes sense inside my brain.