Plat/PLing for cash... Can it be stopped?

[Cryn]

That's not as true as it once was since the changes to the BGs, theoretically it is now possible to level in, albeit a limited form, RvR.

It's not ideal, but it was a step in the right direction.

True, but some people would not enjoy that type of RvR much, either. It's just an unfortunate fact that the bit people sometimes call the end-game, the level 50, frontiers situated RvR is the only part of the game quite a few people get much out of.

Plus, I don't think you would actually (on our cluster at least) be able to level in RvR from 1-50. You can do some patches in RvR but some BGs are dead and therefore no good for that. Also, you can't get ML credit or items in RvR. One way or another, if you want to be on equal footing with other RvRers in the frontier, there's a lot of PvE for you to do.

[Mambopoa]

I did pretty much level my animist from 20-50 in RvR only.
Odd ecounter and unwanted xp happening.

It was fun getting death spam at sub level 35 knowing your a grey to them. However animist is pretty much the easiest to do as a bunch of shrooms will leach a lot.

Other key was being able to get into a keep/tower before the zerg hit.

It is possible, but I doubt it could be done very easily without the keep stuff.

[Lairiodd]

What about this suggestion:-

What if there was a special area in the game, which you could get to by porting, that was called something like the "waiting room". If you were a player in search of finding other players, then you would port there from your house porter, or whatever. In the waiting room you would meet other players who were in search of other players to group with. Once you'd sorted your group of players in the waiting room, then you could all port out to wherever you wanted to go to, maybe the Frontiers, Catacombs, some other instance etc. This would save hanging around places like Ligen, where you may or may not be successful in finding a group.

This isn't much different from flagging as lfg, except you can't do other stuff .

The real problem is that players will tend to stick around with similar players. Why bother use the lfg system if you can get a reasonable group from guildies (or friends). This pulls the average "quality" of players who will use a global system for creating groups down.

[Lieva]

What about this suggestion:-

What if there was a special area in the game, which you could get to by porting, that was called something like the "waiting room". If you were a player in search of finding other players, then you would port there from your house porter, or whatever. In the waiting room you would meet other players who were in search of other players to group with. Once you'd sorted your group of players in the waiting room, then you could all port out to wherever you wanted to go to, maybe the Frontiers, Catacombs, some other instance etc. This would save hanging around places like Ligen, where you may or may not be successful in finding a group.

Also, in the social screen of the game interface, there could be a panel that would list how many players were already in the waiting room and their names, so you could judge whether it was worthwhile porting to the waiting room. Perhaps the waiting room could also contain "amusements" a bit like the training zones for new players, so that you could practise your styles on dummies etc. to pass the time away while you wait for other players to port to the room?

you just want a ingame pub dont you
i dont think daoc will be like everquest and let you order beer online to be delivered to your door

[Cromcruaich]

Actually I think thats a great idea Gandelf (the waiting area bit), could set up several ones for pve with level bands as a starter. The prob with the lfg system is that it doesnt get used and that people cant be arsed sending each other. If you all just turn up in a room its much more likely to suceed.

[Cryn]

City of Heroes has a LFG type flag and it doesn't get used much either, but the game did give me an idea. I noticed that groups are formed by people using the character search facility and just /sending with invites. I think this is one of the reasons CoV has so many groups going, despite its not particularly high population. It's an imperfect system though, because the search facility does not tell you whether someone listed is grouped. If it did, I think you'd see groups formed with a minimum of wasted chat.

Another thing that helps is you can put a free text note against yourself that is displayed in the search list, giving people a chance to say "No invites please" or some such.

[Craft]

how about if you went into a circular room that showed you all the instances and who was in them when you look into them? Then as an added bonus it would be better EXP to group with people rather than soloing, unless its a quest of course? Isnt Dungeons and Dragons online just make it playable through groups alone tho?

[Arcsalin]

Well, like all games, their original purpose evolves more to its player base than it does to the game base. When I was last on DDO, the grouping system was still strong due to the new faction based system that was introduced a patch or two ago.

However, that being the same, alts are now farmed for due to the new pvp arena that is due on that game in the near future - Farming items has replaced the original zeal for playing the game and ofc there is trading and plats. There was some talk of BB's on that game also as some instances can be farmed solo but I doubt it would change the overall face of the game. Many of the instances are far too hard to be farmed with just one player alone and I would even doubt if it was even one player with several accounts trying to prove his point. The artificial intelligence of that games mobs is so much so that you cannot predict mob behavior with absolute certainty and therefore it is a wiser prospect to group with other people to ensure the bets outcome

[Bebop]

nothing will ever stop it, it will always be a part of mmorpg's ... & even *some* like EQ2 has taken the "if you cant beat em, join em" approach by releasing a server a while back which allowed players to trade in-game items for real money.

The biggest loop hole that faces mmorpgs in this type of buisness is the word "time"

DAoC (& many other mmorpgs) have tried all sorts to combat this.. such as in the T&C's it says summit like "All items are owned by GoA bla bla bla..." However the loop-hole is these people (& in some cases buisnesses) are offering to sell there *time* Even though these websites have "buy 10plat for £5" etc.. it will also say somewhere "by paying for our services you are paying for our time only" ...this is where they have mmorpgs around the dogs dangly's as they say.

As for GoA/Mythic deleting accounts that are cought.. yup it will/might stop the small geezer ..but many of these PL'ers are companys who have many accounts....chances are they transfer all plat/items to another account..Have other account(s) for the actual PL'n & then other accounts (even trial accounts) for the transfers to the customer. so in the scenerio one of there accounts gets banned, all they have lost is the trading account or PL account, whatever it is, they are a PL'n service, how long you think it would take for them to knock up another account with L50's!?

tbh PL'n/plat services dont bother me in DAoC as its mainly a PvP game so it dont effect me...however on EQ2 which is based on PvE ...having companys that constantly farm 24/7 *uber* drops stopping others from getting them would p!ss me off.

However paying for a PL on a game such as EQ2 (or any thats based on PvE) is a ittle backwards.. why would you want to pay for a PL on a PvE game your paying monthly for to build up your char.... the fun with PvE games is exploring/meeting ppl/XP'n etc..

In DAoC i can understand as most people just want 50 asap so they begin to enjoy the game in RvR... Lets face it.. PvE in daoc is as dull as it gets. (kill xxx of the same mob) ..very exciting!! so i understand why ppl do use a PL service.... dont bother me as said earlier, also the fact ive PL'd a few of mine own chars at 4fins (way before ToA & fops/shrooms etc) as im sure many people have done. But i wouldnt pay for it... cuz im skint tbh