World Without The Auction House

Posted by J.E. Douglas at 9:22 AM

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Growing up I used to sneak in and read my brothers comics.  My money went into other items that I wanted (usually involving too much sweets).   He liked buying comic books and reading them over and over again.   They still sit in my parents' closet in need of being bagged and boarded.

One of both of our favorite series was the 'What if' versions that both Marvel Comics and DC had.  They would ask the obvious question for the title 'What if'.  What if Wolverine had forks on his finger.  What if Superman had a cold vision.  Things that were good, sometimes for a laugh or a quick adventure.

Diablo 3 got my mind to thinking of what if World of Warcraft did not have an auction house.  The introduction of the Auction house in Diablo,  including the real money auction house changed the scope of the game.  It made the need for massive amounts of gold almost required to be able to play at a high level.  Gold ended up costing more and more, both in real money and time as players tried to get the best gear.  If it didn't drop or couldn't be crafted then you just went out and bought for obscene amounts of money.  Sound familiar in regards to our friendly beloved WOW?

But what truly happened if the WOW auction house didn't exist?  Or it limited to only trinket items and the occasional non equipment.  Could a game survive in that type of atmosphere?   Diablo has become a game more for the materials than the actual gold.  You can make a large amount of gold in finding different places to farm.  Selling unused equipment is also available.  But for the most part gold becomes a non factor in playing Diablo 3.  Would the same occur with World of Warcraft where gold was only used for vanity items and not necessary for gameplay?

Do not take this as me being a proponent of removing the Auction House from the game.   There is a large difference in the raid/progression style play that Warcraft has against the pick up and beat something down style that is Diablo 3.  But sometimes it is a good thing to take a look at why something is important to learn how to master.

The Warcraft auction house doesn't just give you access to high quality weapons, but also to high equality enhancements.  It also gives you an opportunity to sell those enhancements and items to others.  Diablo 3 anymore, only allows you to take care of your own personal needs.  Both games, share a repair cost,  with the high the equipment levels you have the higher the repair cost.  Both hold legendary items,  though against some popular raid beliefs they aren't just handed to you in Warcraft.

The final thing to look at for where the auction house in Warcraft differs than from Diablo is that you have the option of playing it or not.   This may seem like a counterproductive idea vs what I said earlier.  But with dailies,  questing and vendoring items, as a player you do not have to step anywhere near the auction house for your day to day expenses.  But to be the very best player,  even a little bit of auction house ability can put you farther up the food chain game wise than others.  Especially at the beginning of patches where access to high level patterns are limited.

So take a look at your patterns in the Auction House and imagine yourself without access to the sales or the purchase ability.  Respect can lead to mastery of something that is necessary for your playstyle.

Good Luck and Good Profit Hunting

Not So Smart Loot
It Was A Great Day
WOD:  Prepping For The Storm
Special Brand Of Stupid
Silver And Gold Have I None
Worth What Someone Will Pay For It
Please.. Wait.. I Wanna Tag
WOD: Waiting Til The Fall?
Boost Me, Buy Me, Pay Me Gold
Save That Boost for a Rainy Day
Lent.. Mighty Lent... Super Lent
Who Is Your Nemesis On the Gold Market

It Was A Great Day

Posted by J.E. Douglas at 1:23 PM

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Having been playing World of Warcraft for years,  I have developed little quirks about myself.  One of them is when something finally drops when I have worked for it.

Since the start of the Timeless Isle patch I have been working the rare mob Houlon to have her drop the Reigns Of The Thundering Jade Cloud Serpent.  Having read in one of the Blizzard notes that you were only guaranteed a loot drop once each day from rares (yes,  I know it's possible to get more but they said guarantee),  I had been farming her every day.  Each time I was on the isle and the timer came up I joined 10-30 of my favorite strangers for the quick 2 minute kill and loot.

Finally the mental trumpets played and wallah,  I see in the loot window my next pet.  Being excited I added it to my collection,  dragged it onto my tool bar with some other mounts and then found out that you can't fly it on Timeless Isle.  Really, Blizzard?  Had to get that one final tease in didn't you.

But putting that aside, I started looking for my weekly Garrosh runs.  My hunter has an easier time of getting a better run than my Warrior does.  I would probably link it to Melee DPS being less popular than Ranged DPS or just blind luck.  Either way a couple of weeks ago, my Warrior had obtained his uber mega blade of awesome;  Hellscreams Decapitator.  In my own mental battle my hunter was getting a little bit jealous of him lugging that big shaving axe and wanted her own new BOA toy.

After finishing the first two bosses in one shot (hitting 3 and 4 on the dps respectively) we approached Hellscream.   The first try got him down to 12 percent before the fickle finger of fate disconnected a healer and a tank.   We regrouped,  no one started with the great noob debate and we went after him a second try.  Finally he went down,  and the loot window popped up and there it was:

(it's so pretty)

After doing a little bit of a happy dance in front of my computer (thankfully not having the camera on at the time) I zipped over to my jewelcrafter/engineer to get the enhancements done.   Two Delicate gems and a Lord Blastington's Scope of blowing things up and I was set for the next adventure.

But then I ran into a problem.  What was next?   I work better with a goal in mind.  Both of my main raiders now have their epic capes.  They are both exalted with the Grand Pooba of the isle.  My Warrior is exalted with everyone except for the furry little tribe in la la land.  I have all the coins that I could want,  and all of the gold I really can want (I know.  Blasphemy).  So what's next in the land of Mommar?

Do I make more gold.   Well of course I do.  That's half the fun.   Do I try to go for a 3rd epic cape.  Absolutely not.  No more grinding stones and lost information and you can go find that stuff yourself you little toad dragon.  Do I continue to raid and even look to jump into some regular runs instead of flex raid runs?

There is always a question of what motivates someone to continue to strive to play this game.  The next 6 months some people will decide to take some time off.  Some players will go and continue to work on their game.  Some are playing with new boosted level 90's.  Some are even leveling toons the normal way for a challenge.

So many things that can be done.  So many motivations that still are out there for the picking.  Archaeology looks like it might need to be dusted off and played with some more.  Pet battling (gotta catch em all, POKEWOW).

But one day,  one glorious day I got to run naked through the main horde cities on my new mount with my new weapon in my hand.

This is my weapon,  this is my gun.   This is for.... What you should join the military to hear the rest

Good Luck and Good Profit Hunting

WOD:  Prepping For The Storm
Special Brand Of Stupid
Silver And Gold Have I None
Worth What Someone Will Pay For It
Please.. Wait.. I Wanna Tag
WOD: Waiting Til The Fall?
Boost Me, Buy Me, Pay Me Gold
Save That Boost for a Rainy Day
Lent.. Mighty Lent... Super Lent
Who Is Your Nemesis On the Gold Market
Keeping up with the Black Market Auction House
I love me some Oqueue In The Morning
Will They, Wont They, Will I Care?

The Importance of Quick Decisions