I practically keep the gold spammers in business

Originally posted by SonikFlash

I practically keep the gold spammers in business

Isnt it wonderful to be entitled to things not earned? 

Originally posted by skarwolf

 The first time I encountered this was back in Everquest.  My friend played a bard and we had banded and brass armor and some crappy weapons.  One day he shows up totally decked out in awesome gear.  I asked how he got all that stuff and he told me he bought gold online and not to say anything because you could get banned.  He gave me 500 plat which was a huge amount for me at the time.

I bought gold in EQ2 & WOW.  I'd create a character who got the gold then transfer it in parts to other other characters.  I tried two different companies.  One sent me the gold directly in bulk to whatever character I specified.  Another had some ridiculous method where I had to contact them on the phone and speak to them directly telling them who I was and what character it was.

Heres a way to find out at least in WOW.  They had me place 1 single bandage on the auction set at 200 gold, since I was getting 1000 gold they had me put up 5 bandages.  The person then bought the bandages and I got my money and it appeared legit.  I was never suspended or banned and I bought gold about 3-4 times in WOW.

To the question of "have you bought gold"
No never have and never will.

Secondly I like to know how your experiance was with those games you bought gold in.

Did it improve your fun? Your experiance within the gameworld? Did it expand your playtime?

I feel that buying gold will decrease playtime, something I don't want out of a MMORPG.

I also believe it limits the challenge to achieve something as why achieve or put effort into a game if you buy your way to the top.

Overall I feel it makes up for a very boring experiance in doing so, kinda how I feel about cheats as they also limit the experiance tenfold. In a way I consider people who buy gold to be wanna be gamers.

So that's why I asked how your experiance was/is and would you continue doing so in other games?

Only game I ever buy stuff for is Diablo2.

I start a new character drop like $20 and make certain they have their high lvl set and runed items.

Its a small evil and one I am ok with participating in since Battlenet has the stupid expiration rules on characters I have let several $20-$0 characters expire.

Alexis

*smiles*

Nope, would be cheating to me. Can't stand their bots spamming in towns either so it's not like they are quiet about their marketing when it repeats less than every 10 seconds in every channel. Disgusting way to act.  I did once go to their little website and annoy the hell out of their livechat ppl since they chose to annoy me in my game. Another time I posted their dns contact info on the LOTRO forums so everyone could sign up their email to every junk mail venue in town.

Putting on airs in a virtual world seems like someone crying out for acceptance. If you don't think it's true ask yourself if you would buy gold in a single player game hmmm.

Broke or rich my toons are what they are and only my efforts affect that.

I bought a few bars and keep them hidden, come the Apocalypse you'll wish you had too.

Originally posted by Reklaw

Originally posted by skarwolf

 The first time I encountered this was back in Everquest.  My friend played a bard and we had banded and brass armor and some crappy weapons.  One day he shows up totally decked out in awesome gear.  I asked how he got all that stuff and he told me he bought gold online and not to say anything because you could get banned.  He gave me 500 plat which was a huge amount for me at the time.

I bought gold in EQ2 & WOW.  I'd create a character who got the gold then transfer it in parts to other other characters.  I tried two different companies.  One sent me the gold directly in bulk to whatever character I specified.  Another had some ridiculous method where I had to contact them on the phone and speak to them directly telling them who I was and what character it was.

Heres a way to find out at least in WOW.  They had me place 1 single bandage on the auction set at 200 gold, since I was getting 1000 gold they had me put up 5 bandages.  The person then bought the bandages and I got my money and it appeared legit.  I was never suspended or banned and I bought gold about 3-4 times in WOW.

To the question of "have you bought gold"
No never have and never will.

Secondly I like to know how your experiance was with those games you bought gold in.

Did it improve your fun? Your experiance within the gameworld? Did it expand your playtime?

Yes it improved my fun because I could obtain items I wanted that I normally couldn't.  Primarily making a uber twink hunter with all the best enchants that I kept in the 30's bracket for a few months.  When I moved to the next bracket I bought another 1000 gold and did the same thing all over again.  

I feel that buying gold will decrease playtime, something I don't want out of a MMORPG.

How would it decrease your playtime ?  If you have the option of spending weeks doing gathering, crafting, buying selling off the AH or paying 20 bucks for 500 gold and getting what you'd like...  If you consider that negative by decreasing the amount of time you play.. well thats your perogative.

I also believe it limits the challenge to achieve something as why achieve or put effort into a game if you buy your way to the top.

You can't buy no drop items from the end game at least in WOW so you're hardly buying your way to the top.  Besides some of the best guilds out there buy gold to afford all the required potions and consumeables.  The best guild in the world even admitted it.

Overall I feel it makes up for a very boring experiance in doing so, kinda how I feel about cheats as they also limit the experiance tenfold. In a way I consider people who buy gold to be wanna be gamers.

You're probably one of those people who I one shot in the BG's.

So that's why I asked how your experiance was/is and would you continue doing so in other games?

 

There is no excuse, cheaters ruin everything.  So many games have been completely destroyed by cheaters.  I hope whatever small gain you get is worth it.

When I started out in EVE my friend sent me 100 million isk....is that still considered cheating ? , I don’t think it is any different than  someone bought it from gold seller (as long as they did not bot it ) but most do so idk .

Originally posted by skarwolf

Originally posted by Reklaw

Originally posted by skarwolf

 The first time I encountered this was back in Everquest.  My friend played a bard and we had banded and brass armor and some crappy weapons.  One day he shows up totally decked out in awesome gear.  I asked how he got all that stuff and he told me he bought gold online and not to say anything because you could get banned.  He gave me 500 plat which was a huge amount for me at the time.

I bought gold in EQ2 & WOW.  I'd create a character who got the gold then transfer it in parts to other other characters.  I tried two different companies.  One sent me the gold directly in bulk to whatever character I specified.  Another had some ridiculous method where I had to contact them on the phone and speak to them directly telling them who I was and what character it was.

Heres a way to find out at least in WOW.  They had me place 1 single bandage on the auction set at 200 gold, since I was getting 1000 gold they had me put up 5 bandages.  The person then bought the bandages and I got my money and it appeared legit.  I was never suspended or banned and I bought gold about 3-4 times in WOW.

To the question of "have you bought gold"
No never have and never will.

Secondly I like to know how your experiance was with those games you bought gold in.

Did it improve your fun? Your experiance within the gameworld? Did it expand your playtime?

Yes it improved my fun because I could obtain items I wanted that I normally couldn't.  Primarily making a uber twink hunter with all the best enchants that I kept in the 30's bracket for a few months.  When I moved to the next bracket I bought another 1000 gold and did the same thing all over again.  

Hmm you stold my txt color :(

But isn't it more fun having some item that you can't quite reach? at least for me it keeps me playing, if I had some of the best items in the game I would quickly get bored *cough* WoW*cough* I burned through that game in around 6 months..

I feel that buying gold will decrease playtime, something I don't want out of a MMORPG.

How would it decrease your playtime ?  If you have the option of spending weeks doing gathering, crafting, buying selling off the AH or paying 20 bucks for 500 gold and getting what you'd like...  If you consider that negative by decreasing the amount of time you play.. well thats your perogative. 

So if you where given the highest end gear in the game at lvl 1 you wouldn't be shortening your game time? because you didn't spend 4 months grinding the gear?

I also believe it limits the challenge to achieve something as why achieve or put effort into a game if you buy your way to the top.

You can't buy no drop items from the end game at least in WOW so you're hardly buying your way to the top.  Besides some of the best guilds out there buy gold to afford all the required potions and consumeables.  The best guild in the world even admitted it.

Are we talking about WoW or MMOs? I know a few MMO's where you CAN buy high end gear.

Overall I feel it makes up for a very boring experiance in doing so, kinda how I feel about cheats as they also limit the experiance tenfold. In a way I consider people who buy gold to be wanna be gamers.

You're probably one of those people who I one shot in the BG's.

Woo hoo you cheated and beat me! (And yes its cheating, hence the reson most game companys are trying to stop it)

 

So that's why I asked how your experiance was/is and would you continue doing so in other games?

 

 

Originally posted by SgtFrog

When I started out in EVE my friend sent me 100 million isk....is that still considered cheating ? , I don’t think it is any different than  someone bought it from gold seller (as long as they did not bot it ) but most do so idk .

Depends. Did he earn his money legitimately through his deeds in-game? Or did HE buy from a gold seller and then give you some? If it's the first, there is nothing wrong with that, if it's the latter, then yes, it's cheating all the same, and you contributed to it by accepting it.

I bought gold once, and I didn't (and still don't) feel the least bit bad about it. I know it means the terrorists win, but I'd much rather be out money equivalent to 0.5 hours of work instead of spending 20 hours of my free time. I already despise the fact that I have to grind RL cash, so why should I waste my time grinding fake money too?

Originally posted by Goatgod76

Originally posted by SgtFrog

When I started out in EVE my friend sent me 100 million isk....is that still considered cheating ? , I don’t think it is any different than  someone bought it from gold seller (as long as they did not bot it ) but most do so idk .

 

Depends. Did he earn his money legitimately through his deeds in-game? Or did HE buy from a gold seller and then give you some? If it's the first, there is nothing wrong with that, if it's the latter, then yes, it's cheating all the same, and you contributed to it by accepting it.

Na he made it himself.
But if the gold farmer made the money in a legit way is that not the same thing?

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Originally posted by kamenwati
I bought gold once, and I didn't (and still don't) feel the least bit bad about it. I know it means the terrorists win, but I'd much rather be out money equivalent to 0.5 hours of work instead of spending 20 hours of my free time. I already despise the fact that I have to grind RL cash, so why should I waste my time grinding fake money too?

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So, to sum up, you didn't enjoy playing the game, so you paid someone else to play it for you. Good for you.

MMO are kinda sucky nowadays, there's so much grind that you need to buy gold to enjoy most games, quitting them is better then.

 [quote]ut isn't it more fun having some item that you can't quite reach? at least for me it keeps me playing, if I had some of the best items in the game I would quickly get bored *cough* WoW*cough* I burned through that game in around 6 months..[/quote]

Look at Freerealms for example.  You can purchase station cash and buy items better then anything you could get from quests, crafting or dropped and you can use them from level 1 and up.  These weapons have unique graphics with glowing effects.  You still have to play from level 1-20 and they have better stats.  I still played the class from 1-20 I just never had to get any other weapons.

Why is it so bad in a game that doesn't allow it but ok in one that does ?  What if next week WOW decided to create a similar marketplace with unique items you could purchase ?  

As for having the best items you can't get those off the auction in WOW.  

It is cheating, no two ways about it. As a PvPer it specially bothers me because it gives people without use of experience or skill a chance to be on par with someone who got things done the hard way. Now, i really don't mean to come off as holier than thou about it (i stole booze and cigarrettes from convenience stores more than a few times when i was in high school) but there's no discussion about it being wrong. It seems it's now become much more of an issue with gold farmers exploiting cheap labor in the third world. This people don't get even their country's minimum wage, have no job security and are certainly exposed to human traficking or worse. By providing resources to criminal organizations people buying gold may be getting their own hands bloody. I know it may seem exagerated but really adults should have no part in this, nor allow others to be involved.

Having MMOs asociated with crime will hurt us all, already keyloggers and other types of scammers have made navigating gaming sites difficult at best. I appreciate the OP's candor in discussing this issue, as well as that of other posters, i understand it may seem like a harmless thing to do and not a big deal. But there are grave consequences to this behaviour.

And all other things aside, the internet's anonimity is no excuse for dishonesty.

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Originally posted by skarwolf
 

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ut isn't it more fun having some item that you can't quite reach? at least for me it keeps me playing, if I had some of the best items in the game I would quickly get bored *cough* WoW*cough* I burned through that game in around 6 months..

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Look at Freerealms for example.  You can purchase station cash and buy items better then anything you could get from quests, crafting or dropped and you can use them from level 1 and up.  These weapons have unique graphics with glowing effects.  You still have to play from level 1-20 and they have better stats.  I still played the class from 1-20 I just never had to get any other weapons.
Why is it so bad in a game that doesn't allow it but ok in one that does ?

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Because games have rules. The rules, by necessity, are arbitrary, although it takes well-crafted rules to have a good game. Deciding to break the rules is cheating. Stop me if I'm going too fast for you, here.

Incidentally, in games where it's allowed, it is (by definition) not cheating. It's just unfair and ruins the game. I don't play in games with an item shop.

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 What if next week WOW decided to create a similar marketplace with unique items you could purchase ?  

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I'd terminate my subscription after reading the announcement.

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As for having the best items you can't get those off the auction in WOW.  

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Bind-on-pickup is another (although related) subject.

Originally posted by skarwolf

 [quote]ut isn't it more fun having some item that you can't quite reach? at least for me it keeps me playing, if I had some of the best items in the game I would quickly get bored *cough* WoW*cough* I burned through that game in around 6 months..[/quote]

Look at Freerealms for example.  You can purchase station cash and buy items better then anything you could get from quests, crafting or dropped and you can use them from level 1 and up.  These weapons have unique graphics with glowing effects.  You still have to play from level 1-20 and they have better stats.  I still played the class from 1-20 I just never had to get any other weapons.

Why is it so bad in a game that doesn't allow it but ok in one that does ?  What if next week WOW decided to create a similar marketplace with unique items you could purchase ?  

As for having the best items you can't get those off the auction in WOW.  

Well putting aside your bad quoting skills. I honestly havn't play'd Freerealms or even seen it. So I can't comment. And honestly if you want to waist RL money and shorten your game time and do all of these things....I really really do not give a flying flipperoony.

BUT when it effects my game play, then I have a problem with it. I mean because you decided to fork out $200 for 1000 gold doesn't mean that I should have to grind for an extra 4 hours for somthing.

I mean you complain about the grinding and the time you have to spend doing it. But imagine if no one bought gold. how would that effect prices?

I mean just think of it this way, every time you buy somthing with bought gold. remember you are increasing the grind time for some other player.

 Having better gear and enchants certainly provides benefits but if you play your character well those factors can be negated.  I encountered plenty of crappy twinks whose only benefit was the huge amount of hitpoints they had from enchants most people wouldn't pay for on low level twinks. 

I'm just curious what you'd think if Blizzard created a marketplace where you could purchase items with real life money ?  It would negate 3rd party gold farmers.  

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Originally posted by skarwolf
 Having better gear and enchants certainly provides benefits but if you play your character well those factors can be negated.  I encountered plenty of crappy twinks whose only benefit was the huge amount of hitpoints they had from enchants most people wouldn't pay for on low level twinks. 
I'm just curious what you'd think if Blizzard created a marketplace where you could purchase items with real life money ?  It would negate 3rd party gold farmers.  

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Fine. You have fun in games where the guy with the most cash and clue how to spend it wins. Just keep it out of the games I play. I believe I already stated I'd leave WoW if it ever got a cash shop.

I would never buy gold.  Part of the fun of an MMO is the economy, at least for me.  I enjoy saving the gold I earned to buy better gear on the AH, or to get that mount I've been longing for (if its purchasable in game).  At first I didn't mind other people buying gold because I thought it didn't affect me because I didn't PvP.  My hubby, who is a financial analyst, pointed out to me, that it does affect me.  Among other things, it drives up the prices of the AH.  So it has an affect on both PvP and PvE. 

Anyway....the answer is "No."

Originally posted by skarwolf

 Having better gear and enchants certainly provides benefits but if you play your character well those factors can be negated.  I encountered plenty of crappy twinks whose only benefit was the huge amount of hitpoints they had from enchants most people wouldn't pay for on low level twinks. 

I'm just curious what you'd think if Blizzard created a marketplace where you could purchase items with real life money ?  It would negate 3rd party gold farmers.  

How bout stigmas? Or are skills something i'm also suposed to negate easilly? How about it will be impossible for me to outbid gold buyers for good gear? Those huge amounts of hit points will be something i'll be missing. Other posters here have made very valid points about the PvE side of the equation, do you think that's not going to affect my pvp?

I don't play WOW, can't stand it. But i would certainly be concerned about the industry leader adding a cash shop. P2P with micros is the absolute worst of both worlds. Cash shops turn games into wallet races where skill and dedication are no longer important. I like my PvP to be about skill and gearing/specs, not about who can throw the most money at an online game. If a game is no longer an even playing field because a corporation, as you suggest, decided to basically cut the middle man, then no, i wouldn't like being ripped off. Not in a million years will i repeat the mistake of giving money to a company that's taking advantage of me with an open scam.

I don't know if you're trolling or trying to make a point, but if you're in fact advocating cheating then...

Never have, never will.  In fact, most of the guilds I've ever been a part of have been major no-buying guilds, anyone who is found out to have ever bought or sold gold or an account gets booted and that's fine with me.

Originally posted by skarwolf

 The problem I had was that lower level gear was insanely priced because farmers would target twinkers.  They knew higher level people would pay ridiculous amounts for twink gear.  In some cases level 10 gear was more expensive then 60th.  The worst example of this was FFXI.

What you don't seem to realize -- or perhaps you just don't care -- is that these farmers/sellers only exist because of people like you. All of that overpriced equipment that you want so badly only costs as much as it does because a few people are foolish enough to support it. 
 

I didn't have the time to farm and earn cash because I had limited time to play.  So I bought gold online to purchase the items I wanted off the Auction.

The most common excuse for this subject.  These are video games that we are talking about; there is no race or serious competition.  We all have different amounts of time in which we can play, whether it be necessity or choice. There will always be new players that catch up to you, or others like yourself that have a similar amount of time to play.  You might take longer to do the things that you want when considering real life, but that's how it should be; you play less, you advance less.  What really matters is time played.  Why do you deserve to progress quicker than others simply because you're not patient enough to handle the pace of that specific MMORPG?  Play something else.  If you find yourself doing something in a GAME that you'd rather not do (grinding for gold because you feel that you need it), you always have the choice to stop playing rather than contribute to activities that devalue the game for everyone. 

If companies really want to combat gold farming implement their own store similar to what freerealms does.  The company can make a profit in the process.