Are Stores too Expensive?

[Phantom Lamb]

We're going through and re-doing a lot of things with our stores -- both the public and faction stores. One of the things I'm tweaking is the sell %. This is a field you set on each store. The items being sold by the vendor have base values, but the cost that the vendor sells them for is the base value X the sell %.

Think about your current influx of gold from monsters, quests, and chests (this won't change). Do you feel the cost of goods is on-target currently? Would you like the stores to sell items cheaper? more expensive?

Keep in mind -- this is a double-edged sword. Crafters have to compete with the low prices of public stores. The lower they go, the less likely someone is to buy a crafted customized good.

Also, please note:

* BUYING % may go up or down, but it will always be in ratio with the Selling %. If that ratio needs adjusting, we'll raise it later; but let's not discuss that now please.

* Please don't go into item strength in this post. We are currently revamping our items and making them more powerful and more available. Just stay tuned on that topic please.

* Lastly, please don't bring up complaints about faction stores vs. public stores. Sundren has always stated its focus is on factions, and it will continue to do so. Faction stores will always sell items for slightly cheaper than public ones, and will always add more variety.

Apologies for the zillion qualifiers, but I know how some folks like to derail

[Usurper]

A bit too cheap..*Dodges flying poo* Just a tad bit too cheap,mainly because gold is easy to come by and gather..When you buy something new or work really hard to buy something new,it should almost be like that rewarding feeling of gaining a new level.

"A new level....of confidence and power."

Sorry,just felt that quoting the great Pantera felt necessary.

[Subal]

edited

[Lothoir]

I voted a bit too expensive, might have put way too expensive. My reasoning is that NPC stores are primarily for new/lower level characters. Once a character gets high level enough to run Cartel/Veritas their buying power is significantly higher than the most expensive items in stores. My high level characters buy only from crafters now because those items are significantly better and more customizable than what can be found in NPC shops. That's not a bad thing, unless the sell prices for vendors is balanced against high level PC spending power and low levels with barely a thousand gold have to pay a lot more for decent items.

I don't think the problem for low levels is that big however, I've been able to save up for +1 armor and a +1 weapon for my lvl 6, because those are his only big purchases and the rest goes into heal kits and potions.

[Usurper]

Keep in mind that there are factions with their own stores also and these stores provide better gear.

[vexxen]

I just wrote a page on my own thoughts about this... But realizing its a bit long I decided to summarize it

- Items should be expensive, its rewarding when you get that new piece of kit when you've saved up sooo much and sooo long for it.

- Some class's are.. more "efficient" if that's the correct term, at gaining money than others. I know my warrior has one hell of a hard time gaining money for things ((not a complaint, just throwing my own experience out there))

- And if prices are lowered, wouldnt it deter people from using the PC crafters out there? even if they can have a custom look.

Just my thoughts, hope their useful in some manner or form.

I voted for the 4th option.

[Subal]

Ok now i have my thoughts in order so i wont derail this thing

My thoughts are why raise the price anymore for many of the objects? If by first boss objects are dropping that have +1 on them , then it makes the shop worthless to sell for any more. As for potions and kits, scrolls and wands. i think the price is a bit to low. Kits should not be used like candy, they are for emergency use. Potions on the other hand i guess are fine though

just as everyone else is saying, earning a something worthy should be a accomplishment. Not the very first boss get better then what can be bought in a store, hence you make a store worthless.

[Peridan]

As far as faction stores go, I think some of the higher end equipment is way too expensive. Lower tier rank items cost maybe 1 or 2k. Then you get into the higher ranks, and all the sudden the price goes up to 20k for a slight upgrade from what you originally had. I personally used up most of my savings to buy three items that were only marginally better than what I had to begin with. Of course, that's my decision, but I still think the price should be lowered slightly for faction stores. After all, you are their faction member. You don't get paid by the faction, and you have to buy everything that is acceptable to your rank yourself.

As far as normal shops go, I think they're mostly fine with their prices. Masterwork items and whatnot should be relatively expensive for a low level player, and I see no need to change most of the regular stores.

Although, healing items are always in demand. Maybe a small decrease, so fighters and the like can afford to adventure? They can't always find a cleric to tag along. =P

[ZubMessiah]

Who needs gear the most? People without buffs.
Who has the hardest time getting money? People without buffs.
Way too high for those who actually need it, while those who can get away with a mundane armor and weapon can get cash much more easily.

[Cornuto]

I'd vote something like: All over the board.

Some items are on target, others are under/over-priced. Disposable items (ammunition, throwing axes, etc...) are very much overpriced.

[nezzerscape]

Who needs gear the most? People without buffs.
Who has the hardest time getting money? People without buffs.
Way too high for those who actually need it, while those who can get away with a mundane armor and weapon can get cash much more easily.

Amen!

[nezzerscape]

My pure fighter is broke and cannot keep up with modest opponents, while my cleric has $ and can walk over the same area my fighter cannot at 1/2 the level.

Just not right.

If everything was equal (class wise) fighters would need to earn more $ to keep up. At high levels crafters tend to have the $ advantage and their usually casters. Yes there is a finite about of fatigue points, but you do not die when you run out... Hmm, perhaps failure to enchant/craft should cause damage? The potion drip's on the hands, imperfections in the metal cause it to explode...

It would be nice to give the ability for weapon smiths and armorers (non casters) to put enhancements on stuff, it might help to level out the $ at higher levels. It makes scene that quality or the material and the craftsmanship should go as far caster's enchantments with regard to AC (stronger, more coverage, etc.), DEX (lighter more fluid weapons/armors), To Hit / Dam (lighter sharper weapons). Perhaps even elemental benefits as well (type of padding for warmth)

[BedlamX]

Since I only have one character that has ever managed to save the small fortune it takes to buy good armor/weapons, I would have to say they are at least a bit too high. Now, it did force me to re-think my attitudes towards playing. Not sure if that is a good thing or not, though. I have never been much of a "grinder", but I have now become a wonderful one with my only non-caster (a fighter/Thayan Knight). I think he has spent around 75k on gear to get the best he can...and still can not survive long against the Cartel archers above Aquor on his own. This makes me think I may have better spent the gold on other things and settled with more "basic" gear (the 3-5k, +1 stuff found in normal stores). Like Peridan said, it goes from 3-5k to 30k(+) for what amounts to a small degree of betterment. And even then, a caster can buff the lower stuff to better than the expensive gear. My non-combat characters (which are almost all of them except Ursus) have trouble making enough to keep themselves supplied with healer kits let alone buy any decent gear (they can't grind as well since no one really wants to drag them along where they basically just soak xp/gold). This makes most items quite a bit out of range.

So...guess I could have just said "I think the prices are too high" and saved you all some reading lol.

[Phantom Lamb]

I'm not sure that you can edit the base value of an item beyond adding negative additional cost to it. Problem is, each property you add has a corresponding GP Value it adds to the base value. Some of these corresponding amounts are way, way off to the value of the item itself. Add Cast (Any Spell Level 3 or Higher) 1/day to an item and you're making it worth like 40K alone.

So, item to item, I don't know that there's much we can do. We could go through and edit 1,000 items and increase or decrease their individual values. Or I could just shave the skin off my knuckles with a cheese grater. Both are about as painful.

[nezzerscape]

Zest or nutmeg grater? or the standard cheese?