Diablo III Catch-All 2.0

Why is there no game with an indirect pricing model auction house? For example - buy and sell, but in 15-30 minute ticks. So after an object is posted, the AH tracks offered bids and then uses the price delta (smoothed against the number of bidders to reduce the ability to rig prices with single bids) to offer the object to each bidder at a particular price. Buyer then confirms the price. Require a minimum number of bids before a sale can occur, maybe. Selling likewise would be a supply-based value offered after looking at supply and demand of the object.

This way, everyone gets a chance at an object regardless of the number sold into the AH, but the price is still related to demand. The key here is that Blizzard would offer "unlimited" object amounts (even if limited to X per buyer or something), so *actual* scarcity would become a cash source/sink for players without actually limiting the quantity of the item in the game (although that could easily be done too). Early finders would be rewarded for rarity, but eventually the object would be easily available to all. The idea is to move money out of players hands for the most part, making it harded to get seriously rich by damping out the supply/demand spikes that lead to exaggerated prices and thus a 1% vs 99% player economy that ends up pricing everything for the 1%.

I dunno... Does this make sense? Why do we still follow "Rational Market Theory" AH models even after they've blown up nearly every time in the last 20 years of MMOs? Why not take adavantage of the capabilities of virtual marketplaces selling virtual items to keep inflation in check?

It just occurred to me that these simplistic AHs are in fact driven by "Zombie Economics" theories that have been discredited but are still taught and pushed by professors and professionals who bet their careers on them... Just like in the "real world"...

BlackSabre wrote:

Well Quin said they were flying him out for Gamescon and he said they wouldn't do that if nothing new was happening.

Hmm, you don't say? August is my birthday, an announcement of D4 would be a very welcome gift indeed.

I have said it before and I will say it again: auction houses are an excuse to have an even sh*ttier loot system or RNG drops.
It is so much more rewarding to earn stuff yourself than pray that someone else finds it for you and doesn't try to corner the market.
Think of all the things that are awesome that we wouldn't have if the auction house still existed:
Kanai's cube, enchantress, numerous incremental upgrades for all inventory slots throughout the life of a character

That being said, Mosqueira leaving totally sucks. D3 has benefited a great deal with him at the helm. I hope it isn't the case where he built D3 to where it is today, they decide to go with D4 instead of D3x, and Mosqueira leaves because someone higher profile or higher up the food chain wants to take the reigns of what he worked hard for.
I am thinking it could be that or perhaps Mosqueira wanted to do another expansion and they decided to go with D4 instead.
Also, Blizzard is not immune to making the same mistakes twice or repeatedly. It is entirely possible they think that now that they know how to make a modern Diablo game, that they can go back and try and re-implement the same "great ideas" they later corrected in D3. The auction house is a good example of that kind of possibility. The "epic" campaign is another.

Enchantress would've existed regardless of the AH. She was in the original design but dropped before launch, and brought back in typical Blizzard fashion for the expansion (much like Starcraft's medic, lurker, and dark templar units).

I understand that but I am having a hard time seeing them coexist in any meaningful fashion.

In regards to the AH, I would much prefer a sort of conscript(?) system. Maybe commission is the word I am looking for. It would be awesome if there was still some RNG involve but it would be a lot like an improved transmog system. You can select the type of item specifically: a ceremonial dagger, wizard hat, or hand crossbow. Then you can customize the properties you want on it and then post the design to the community create.
The price would be capped based on doubling the cost of ingredients which would include items such that it is worthwhile to the artisan and not break the purchaser's bank. (stuff at level 70 could cost 1 million gold but level 40 or less gear will be affordable so that you can craft it for yourself)
There would also be a reforge option such that if you like the rolls but don't like the amounts you can reroll for a nominal fee like how the enchantress operates. I would add the bit that rerolls will on average bump the stats. (So you take a 500 int, 750 armor, 5.5% crit shoulder and rerolling it turns it into 487 int 759 armor and 5.8% crit.)

I'd be much more for that, Fang. Part of the problem with rare drops in a sea of commons is that it's *really* hard to find *exactly* the item you want when playing. And it makes intuitive sense that you could meet someone who has two, and buy one from them.

But loot systems built around that seem to *require* participation, and that leads to exploitation and inflation and farming and all other sorts of profit-taking...

Robear wrote:

Why is there no game with an indirect pricing model auction house? For example - buy and sell, but in 15-30 minute ticks. So after an object is posted, the AH tracks offered bids and then uses the price delta (smoothed against the number of bidders to reduce the ability to rig prices with single bids) to offer the object to each bidder at a particular price. Buyer then confirms the price. Require a minimum number of bids before a sale can occur, maybe. Selling likewise would be a supply-based value offered after looking at supply and demand of the object.

This way, everyone gets a chance at an object regardless of the number sold into the AH, but the price is still related to demand. The key here is that Blizzard would offer "unlimited" object amounts (even if limited to X per buyer or something), so *actual* scarcity would become a cash source/sink for players without actually limiting the quantity of the item in the game (although that could easily be done too). Early finders would be rewarded for rarity, but eventually the object would be easily available to all. The idea is to move money out of players hands for the most part, making it harded to get seriously rich by damping out the supply/demand spikes that lead to exaggerated prices and thus a 1% vs 99% player economy that ends up pricing everything for the 1%.

I dunno... Does this make sense?

This is how the AH works in BDO.

Huh. Maybe I should try it.

Robear wrote:

Huh. Maybe I should try it.

Definitely the most depth I've seen in a MMO along with being the most beautiful.

This pre-season end period always seems like a good time to catch up on other games, what are you folks playing in wait for aug 5?

Monster hunter generations

Currently playing Fallout Shelter on PC. I loved in on IOS and on PC it's even better.

Just in case anyone isn't aware, Season 6 has now ended so collect and merge all your gear.

I have 4 of the 6 Firebird Finery pieces for my wizard. Anyone have thoughts on a build/skill set for this set? And/or tips on how to get the rest of the pieces.

depends if you want to use the exploit feature or not, even on the ptr the higher wizards are still firebird archon despite the patchnote changes to the mechanic so I assume it must still work in some fashion.

(basically get an elite burning but not dead for perma 2000% dmg)
edit: oh 4/6, hmm that wont work then since it requires 6 piece iirc

Heh, there is a conspiracy theory that the misprinted 4 sided die in the Blizzcon goodie bag is a clue that Diablo 4 will be announced at Blizzcon.
One side of the die reads 114 or 11/4: November 4th the date of Blizzcon.
Oh man I cannot wait
And then if it is true, the agony of waiting for release.

yeah even if they announce it I would not expect to see it for 2ish+ years :/ then there's the issues of how they'd handle it as far as monetization, design, etc.

Can't imagine there will be a Diablo 4 anytime soon. Nor an announcement.

Maybe it's Warcraft 4

PWAlessi wrote:

Maybe it's Warcraft 4

That would be awesome.

If anything it would be Diablo since it was a 4 sided Die (D4) and also came in the Diablo pouch.

I wouldn't be surprised if they announced Diablo 4, but I agree, it would still be another few years before it's released.

As for D3, I feel like I've lost my motivation to play again. I merged all my gear when the season ended, but don't know if I'll do season 7. I probably will just so I can get the stash tab, but then that'll probably be as far as I go.

PWAlessi wrote:

Maybe it's Warcraft 4

Yes please!

World of Warcraft 4?

Half-Life 3: "f*ck It If Valve Can Suddenly Make DOTA Then We Can Do This, Goddamn It" Edition.

LeapingGnome wrote:

PWAlessi wrote:
Maybe it's Warcraft 4
That would be awesome.

Quite awesome!

BlackSabre wrote:

I wouldn't be surprised if they announced Diablo 4, but I agree, it would still be another few years before it's released.

This seems to be the likeliest explanation, although honestly it's probably the Internet tilting at windmills like usual.

As for D3, I feel like I've lost my motivation to play again. I merged all my gear when the season ended, but don't know if I'll do season 7. I probably will just so I can get the stash tab, but then that'll probably be as far as I go.

I'm taking a break too this season. Seasons were a great way to get me to actually play all 6 classes to Level 70+ (which is not something I normally do in this type of game) and I can't see myself diving back in unless there's actually new content to explore.

I have no idea what the Seasons are or why they matter. I played the campaign through when it first came out, and I just started a new campaign a few days ago, this time with the expansion. Should I care about the Seasons?

Seasons offer new items and play styles and such that are only available if you create a season character or convert a current one to the season. All the items and new stuff will be available to vanilla players after the season is over, plus all the money and gear and stuff you got during the season.

All gear is available for everyone these days. Only cosmetic items and more stash space from seasons.

Burned out during last season and sadly never got the extra stash space. Don't think ill try this time around. Still really dislike season exclusive stuff. It is actively making me less motivated to play. If I don't play season it feels like I'm doing it wrong - I could really use that extra stash space - but if I play season it feels like I have to commit to getting the rewards in a limited time.

Thanks guys. Extra stash space does sound nice. I will check into it and if I still feel motivated might participate in season 7. Right now I am just enjoying playing through the campaign again, I really don't remember any of it and my mage is a fun character, if overpowered. I bumped it to Hard around level 10 because it was so easy, but still there is not a lot of challenge and I don't think I've died once, currently about level 30. Fun though!