Do you all think there will ever be a point in Diablo 3 where they do something akin to the Ladder system in D2 at which point everyone has to start over? My only concern is that eventually the market will become so saturated with items, that even the best of them will lose their value over time. I understand that this would be a very sensitive issue, especially with people paying real money for items, but does anyone else wonder if there will come a time when it will be necessary to do something of this nature?
One thing you have to realise is Blizzard makes money on the sell price of items by taking %'s off the listing price. So it is in blizzards best interest to make new extremley rare items so people will sell for high prices. There will be more items in the game over time just so Blizzard will make a ton of money of the new items. They arent stupid. They wont let the market get saturated with every item.
I think, personally, that there might be 'ladder seasons' like in Diablo II. I doubt that the 'best' items will remain AS VALUABLE because of this idea. Therefore, we may get more playtime, more RMAH transactions, and 'Ladder-Only' items like Diablo II. I look forward to these possible mechanics, but I hope desperately that there is a SET TIME for a 'ladder season', unlike the seemingly 'when we feel like it' in Diablo II.
Bashiok openly said there was no plans to wipe characters in Diablo 3. Since there is Real money on the line wiping chrs would be Devestating for Blizzard. There is no single player to copy your chr to. People would stop using the AH and then all of Blizzards profit would be gone. Dont expect a wipe ever in D3
Yeah, I don't expect to see a character wipe ever due to the RMAH. Some have stated there might be a Ladder Season type system - in which case these characters should be separate and distinct from you other characters - essentially you will be told from day 1 this character will be wiped after the season change. I like that idea actualy.
Yeah, I don't expect to see a character wipe ever due to the RMAH. Some have stated there might be a Ladder Season type system - in which case these characters should be separate and distinct from you other characters - essentially you will be told from day 1 this character will be wiped after the season change. I like that idea actualy.
I Can see them doing things like this for the Hard Core. Make ladder chrs and have a challenge to go the farthest etc. And when the ladder is over do something. Since there is no RMAH on Hard Core chrs.
One thing you have to realise is Blizzard makes money on the sell price of items by taking %'s off the listing price. So it is in blizzards best interest to make new extremley rare items so people will sell for high prices. There will be more items in the game over time just so Blizzard will make a ton of money of the new items. They arent stupid. They wont let the market get saturated with every item.
Just want to say that Blizzard takes a flat cut, not a percentage.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the game's guaranteed phenomenal success provides for a long and healthy life of the game. Content updates which provide new items to slowly become saturated in the economy will be coming for years and years. Older items will slowly become less valuable but that's the same for every game that has content updates. You can't stop that, that's for sure. And I doubt it will have a big impact, just because the ratio between supply and demand will be the same as with a few thousand people.
I am not sure about the content updates, I remember reading something official posted about the updates but I can't remember exactly what it said. I do remember it compared it to WoW stating that it was a subscription game and the content updates in Diablo III would not be like that. Though you could be right about item content updates. Do you know if there has been anything else official on content updates I have not really seen to much on that?
Do you all think there will ever be a point in Diablo 3 where they do something akin to the Ladder system in D2 at which point everyone has to start over? My only concern is that eventually the market will become so saturated with items, that even the best of them will lose their value over time. I understand that this would be a very sensitive issue, especially with people paying real money for items, but does anyone else wonder if there will come a time when it will be necessary to do something of this nature?
They wont reset it, money is envolved right now they can't.
Item value of unique items will decrease over time the same way it was for D2. Super rare with perfect stats will remain extremely rare and will cost a lot.
I don't see how item devaluating over time is an issue...
At first glance it seems like it depends on whether people are more interested in getting great gear drops to help themselves (their toons), or their wallets.
If a market gets over-saturated, it's certainly within Blizzards power to decrease the drop-rate of items. But that cannot be done without consequence. Upping the rarity means decreasing the supply, which ultimately leads to an increase in the asking price for the items.
Blizzard needs to start hiring economics majors!
However if people are more interested in equipping their toons with the best gear, I'd imagine the supply for rare items will decrease, since people are more likely to use the items for their own toons. At the same time, the demand would increase, because fewer people would be selling the rare items. Perhaps both events cancel each other out. Again, econ majors needed!
In regards to market saturation, one thing to consider is that breaking down valuable items will be useful. Also scrolls of reforging will also be there to randomize an item that might not have exactly what you want. So technically, I could buy an epic item that is not even for my class then reforge it. If reforging fails to meet my expectations, then I have the ability to salvage it for valuable components. This actually increase the need for more items out there.
Also, i would assume if you took a raw max dps item and notched the max number of sockets in it, that would also be of value. With all the twinking PvP possibilities as well, I think the market will be pretty solid for a while and as mentioned earlier, since blizzard makes only a flat rate, it is up to us to make prices fair. If we gouge we do not sell our items, but blizzard still gets their cut, I do not think that will upset blizzards economy too much anyways.
There is a lot more value to the item than just the item this time around in D3. I do not think you will see market saturation very soon, and this is just a win for us players so we have even more loot possibilities.
I think Blizzard will keep it a free market economy with little to no involvement. This is hinted in their noninvolvement in terms of supporting Diablo III as an E-sport. It is probably going to inflate because the vast amount of people including the Chinese trying to sell their items. There will be ways to make money, I'm sure it is not going to be as easy as we think it will though.
well, its definetly an inevitable scenario. unless theres a ladder type system, there WILL be an over saturation of items. prices will start dropping and items will become really cheap. your point about the RMAH is is valid, but keep in mind there will be players on ladder and n ladder. if people want to spend real money on items for ladder, then it resets, they can sell them on non ladder and make SOME of their money back. it takes place even now on diablo2 on jsp. true thats not real money but im sure people will be just as willing to do it.
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(this build was before D3 launched... looking back on it now - i had no idea what i was doing)
well, its definetly an inevitable scenario. unless theres a ladder type system, there WILL be an over saturation of items. prices will start dropping and items will become really cheap. your point about the RMAH is is valid, but keep in mind there will be players on ladder and n ladder. if people want to spend real money on items for ladder, then it resets, they can sell them on non ladder and make SOME of their money back. it takes place even now on diablo2 on jsp. true thats not real money but im sure people will be just as willing to do it.
I guess that's my real question, will there be any semblance of a ladder system. I believe someone stated that there will be no Ladder vs. Non-Ladder stipulation. Can a system like that exist in the game when Blizzard allows real currency to be spent on in-game items. I can imagine that the outrage over Ladder seasons ending would be rather intense.
This is one concern I have as well... I feel like the price for everything is going to go down as time goes by... I am also worried about these third party farming websites, I am sure they will still be in place and with better deals than auction house, also I think the blizzard fees and lack of paypal accessibility is going to deter people from using it, if they were smart : )
Still I hope that it isn't too strongly emphasized in terms of usage. This real money auction house may very well make or break the game... that's how I feel. The whole salvaging system to negate the effects of market saturation won't be enough, thinks I.
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I Can see them doing things like this for the Hard Core. Make ladder chrs and have a challenge to go the farthest etc. And when the ladder is over do something. Since there is no RMAH on Hard Core chrs.
Just want to say that Blizzard takes a flat cut, not a percentage.
I am not sure about the content updates, I remember reading something official posted about the updates but I can't remember exactly what it said. I do remember it compared it to WoW stating that it was a subscription game and the content updates in Diablo III would not be like that. Though you could be right about item content updates. Do you know if there has been anything else official on content updates I have not really seen to much on that?
They wont reset it, money is envolved right now they can't.
Item value of unique items will decrease over time the same way it was for D2. Super rare with perfect stats will remain extremely rare and will cost a lot.
I don't see how item devaluating over time is an issue...
If a market gets over-saturated, it's certainly within Blizzards power to decrease the drop-rate of items. But that cannot be done without consequence. Upping the rarity means decreasing the supply, which ultimately leads to an increase in the asking price for the items.
Blizzard needs to start hiring economics majors!
However if people are more interested in equipping their toons with the best gear, I'd imagine the supply for rare items will decrease, since people are more likely to use the items for their own toons. At the same time, the demand would increase, because fewer people would be selling the rare items. Perhaps both events cancel each other out. Again, econ majors needed!
Also, i would assume if you took a raw max dps item and notched the max number of sockets in it, that would also be of value. With all the twinking PvP possibilities as well, I think the market will be pretty solid for a while and as mentioned earlier, since blizzard makes only a flat rate, it is up to us to make prices fair. If we gouge we do not sell our items, but blizzard still gets their cut, I do not think that will upset blizzards economy too much anyways.
There is a lot more value to the item than just the item this time around in D3. I do not think you will see market saturation very soon, and this is just a win for us players so we have even more loot possibilities.
I guess that's my real question, will there be any semblance of a ladder system. I believe someone stated that there will be no Ladder vs. Non-Ladder stipulation. Can a system like that exist in the game when Blizzard allows real currency to be spent on in-game items. I can imagine that the outrage over Ladder seasons ending would be rather intense.
Still I hope that it isn't too strongly emphasized in terms of usage. This real money auction house may very well make or break the game... that's how I feel. The whole salvaging system to negate the effects of market saturation won't be enough, thinks I.