"The Gamblers" Guide to making Gold

Posted by J.E. Douglas at 8:00 AM

Growing up in Iowa music was very important to me. Many times it would set my mood
for the day.  From listening to an old 8 track player (ask your parents if you're not sure what
that really is) to slipping a cassette tape into a player.   Even today I will add an mp3 to my Ipod
to drive me through the day.

But even in music,  we can learn lessons.  Some of them are lessons we already know.   But then
some can be relearned as the days go by.

Playing the auction house is very much like a poker game.  But it goes by many of it's own rules.
And where many will assume you're playing against another auction goblin.   In reality you're  playing against the auction house and your own mental accuity.   Let's go over the rules that we can learn:

1)  Know when to hold em'


Everyone has run into that day where the bloodletting of undercutting is at an all time high.
One person lists a Inferno ruby at 110g.   Next person lists it at 109g and so on til it gets
to it's barely profitable line of 90g per.    But there is no doubt that  when all of those cheap gems are sold you can get your money,  and more on the weekend if you just drop those extras in the bank for one or two days.   Hold onto them when everyone has burnt through their stacks and you are the only gem game in town.    Sometimes it's even profitable to see 4 or 5 gems at a low price and flip the market.   Grab them at 90g and then flip everything up to 175g per.   One or two sales and then the rest of your sales are profit.   Gamblers always have an ace in the hole and a deuce up their sleeve.

2)  Know when to fold em'

Looking at the auction house market.   Question yourself, what raw materials can be converted to finished products for sale?  Where an obsidium bar may not sell on it's own,  your blacksmith can create  folded obsidium.   Ask a premium price and you have just made double your investment.   Same with "folding" your mats into scrolls instead of just listing them in groups of raw materials.   Have extra Savage Leather to sell?    Craft 10 of these to 1 piece Heavy Savage Leather and list it for twice the price.   The Gambler knows when to rake in the profits.

3)  Know when to walk away

Someone has come into one of your favorite markets (Inscription is a great example) and listed all
of the glyphs at 20g per glyph.   Rubbing your head and looking at your Darkmoon Faire Cards questioning "how can I make money at that price?".   Answer yourself this way:  walk away from
inscription and let them burn their stock out.   Concentrate on mastering a new branch of inscription
(Crafted Offhands,  PVP Relics,  Darkmoon Faire Cards) and you will be back on top,  with the added
money making opportnity.    The Gambler always knows there is a new poker game opening somewhere.

4)  Know when to run


Between visits to the Auction House,   Run an instance.   4.3 has introduced that Chaos Orbs will be
BOE,   giving it a large demand for those that want items crafted.    Buying and selling Chaos Orbs
will be a big boost in the economy as people go to craft epic items.    Run instances now so that you
have a stockpile of them to drop on the AH.    Have you been running Direbrew boss?    Gearing up your alternate toons?   Fill that idle space with even the idea of selling your tank and pocket healer
for 100g a run.    With 4.3 endgame approaching people will be looking more and more to have their
toons geared up.    The Gambler always knows when it's time to get a few more gold for your time
and effort.


5)   You never count your money,  when your sitting at the table

BBD should be your new motto (Bigger,  Better Deal).   Offer packages of the PVP gear.  Full Bloodthirsty leather gear for 6k.   Full Ornate pyrium gear for 7k.   Have you checked the PTR's for the new recipes?    Know what volatiles to save to craft those recipes right at the restart of the server?  
Your only as good as your last deal,  and there is always time for a Gambler to make another deal.

6)  There will be time enough for counting when the deal is done


At the end of the day,  did you make enough gold?   What is your goal?  Make 1000g an hour?
Buy your entire raid group Mecha-hogs?    Set your goals,  meet your goals,  then move onto your
next goal.    Your making gold at a higher rate than 90% of the server population.    Gamblers know when to tip their cap and move onto the next game.

It's all in fun,   is there any new information provided?  Of course not.   But in the long run,  gold making is supposed to be fun.  Entertainment is why we pay the money every month.  And in this case,   it becomes a personal quest on why we play the auction house.  Why we announce our crafting wares in trade chat.  Why we run hastily to get that 25g tip for crafting an item.   Performing our trade chat version of Mister Burns swimming in his millions of gold to entertain the masses?  Why we will do anything for the sake of more toon pocket money?

Tune in next week for how Metallica makes me money.   Unless Lars sues me too.    Maybe Not....

Want to get in contact with me? . Email me at Dragonbearjoe @ gmail. dOT com or find me on twitter at  "@Dragonbearjoe" or leave a comment here.   Would love to know how your experience with this tip works out.