This has probably been said before, but I can't read through all posts about the AH.
This is what I'm worried about: imagine a situation where the vast majority of the players does not invest any real money in the AH. I think this will actually be the case. On the other hand, there will be players trying to gain money by farming items. So on the one hand there will be a minor input of currency into the market, and at the same time a part of that currency will be taken out as well (--> no or minor accumulation). Doesn't this mean that, if there will be a form of interaction between both AH's, gold will be next to worthless? RMAH currency will be so valuable that it will buy a ton of gold. So won't this actually make gold less useful?
EDIT: did I seriously put this with general discussion? I'm so stupid :| Could this be moved?
Still, most players will have an easier time farming gold than getting real money on their accounts. I hope that what you say is true though, but that's taking a lot of faith in balancing. How much gold should there drop for people to be able to do everything they want and still have something circulating in the economy? A lot probably comes down to players' priorities..
in d2 gold value was paperwaight, this caused the game to have to economic transactions
people naturaly jumped to more valued resources such as gems and runes (remember those ist+ runes lol?) and then the real money trade sites came to exist as a trade source
jay said that himself, they will try to do what they can to hold gold valuable so people DONT have to use RM in AH.
most likely ur every move ingame will require gold, so u will need gold more than money when it comes to other things than buying ur gear
What people, possibly the OP, forget is that gold has a cash value that is established by the trades in the AH. So no, gold won't become devalued, unless cash becomes devalued.
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When I grow up, I want to be a frill-necked lizard.
What's likely to happen is that yes, there will be tremendous inflation in the relationship of gold to RM (gold becoming cheaper and cheaper w.r.t. to your wallet). However, I believe that this inflation will occur across all or most items in Diablo 3 as a whole. I posit the following: gold will become cheaper because more will be input more quickly into the economy relative to the amount of RM than is being inputted (just as you say). Likewise, ALL other items in Diablo 3 will find their way into the economy at a rate completely proportional to the rate of Gold, such that your gold to item ratios will remain more or less constant (or less inflation prone). The only thing that can throw this off is gold farming (which will, of course, exist). So, actually, a huge devaluation of gold with respect to RM is a good thing, removing the incentives to partake in this economy ruining tactic.
Example:
Day A: 1000 gold is worth $1.00 AND Certain Axe is worth 1000 Gold, thus Certain Axe is worth around $1.00.
Day B: 100000 gold is worth $1.00 now (due to the market conditions you suggest), and 1000 gold is worth $0.01, but supply of this Certain Axe has increased (for the most part) proportionally to the increase of gold, so Certain Axe is worth around 1000 gold still (even if that's now only $0.01).
Thus, regardless of it being Day A or Day B, you can put in 1000 gold for that type of axe (which you can always grind yourself legitimately), and your axe will be trade-able for 1000 gold.
From this example, I say you have nothing to worry about if you refrain from partaking of the RMAH and simply use gold. Then, your items will retain the gold value you expect and vice versa, even if that value is worth less and less real money.
garro: thanks for your post, I'm glad you see what I mean. Actually I did overlook the fact that gold might be tied to items because they will flood the market at the same rate compared to real money. From this point of view, it might be more accurate to speak about DEflation in the RMAH instead of inflation of gold. In that case, like you say, the gold AH might function fine all in itself, even with a ridiculous real money exchange rate.
One question, however: how do you think this will affect(hypothetical) extremely rare items? These will not increase in proportion to the amount of gold and regular items being pumped into the system. Only top players (and lucky ones, at that) will be able to find them, and many of them will want to keep the item for themselves. There will always be only one or two of these items on the market, since many players who are lucky enough to find one, will just use them instead of trading. So shouldn't that mean that it becomes almost impossible to pay for such an item in gold, while you might get it for 5 dollars?
Edit: mods, I seem to have misplaced this thread, could someone move it to the appropriate forum?
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This is what I'm worried about: imagine a situation where the vast majority of the players does not invest any real money in the AH. I think this will actually be the case. On the other hand, there will be players trying to gain money by farming items. So on the one hand there will be a minor input of currency into the market, and at the same time a part of that currency will be taken out as well (--> no or minor accumulation). Doesn't this mean that, if there will be a form of interaction between both AH's, gold will be next to worthless? RMAH currency will be so valuable that it will buy a ton of gold. So won't this actually make gold less useful?
EDIT: did I seriously put this with general discussion? I'm so stupid :| Could this be moved?
people naturaly jumped to more valued resources such as gems and runes (remember those ist+ runes lol?) and then the real money trade sites came to exist as a trade source
jay said that himself, they will try to do what they can to hold gold valuable so people DONT have to use RM in AH.
most likely ur every move ingame will require gold, so u will need gold more than money when it comes to other things than buying ur gear
What's likely to happen is that yes, there will be tremendous inflation in the relationship of gold to RM (gold becoming cheaper and cheaper w.r.t. to your wallet). However, I believe that this inflation will occur across all or most items in Diablo 3 as a whole. I posit the following: gold will become cheaper because more will be input more quickly into the economy relative to the amount of RM than is being inputted (just as you say). Likewise, ALL other items in Diablo 3 will find their way into the economy at a rate completely proportional to the rate of Gold, such that your gold to item ratios will remain more or less constant (or less inflation prone). The only thing that can throw this off is gold farming (which will, of course, exist). So, actually, a huge devaluation of gold with respect to RM is a good thing, removing the incentives to partake in this economy ruining tactic.
Example:
Day A: 1000 gold is worth $1.00 AND Certain Axe is worth 1000 Gold, thus Certain Axe is worth around $1.00.
Day B: 100000 gold is worth $1.00 now (due to the market conditions you suggest), and 1000 gold is worth $0.01, but supply of this Certain Axe has increased (for the most part) proportionally to the increase of gold, so Certain Axe is worth around 1000 gold still (even if that's now only $0.01).
Thus, regardless of it being Day A or Day B, you can put in 1000 gold for that type of axe (which you can always grind yourself legitimately), and your axe will be trade-able for 1000 gold.
From this example, I say you have nothing to worry about if you refrain from partaking of the RMAH and simply use gold. Then, your items will retain the gold value you expect and vice versa, even if that value is worth less and less real money.
Wonder if you agree.
One question, however: how do you think this will affect(hypothetical) extremely rare items? These will not increase in proportion to the amount of gold and regular items being pumped into the system. Only top players (and lucky ones, at that) will be able to find them, and many of them will want to keep the item for themselves. There will always be only one or two of these items on the market, since many players who are lucky enough to find one, will just use them instead of trading. So shouldn't that mean that it becomes almost impossible to pay for such an item in gold, while you might get it for 5 dollars?
Edit: mods, I seem to have misplaced this thread, could someone move it to the appropriate forum?