Goldmaking Ethics – Responsibility to the Economy
The GoldMaking Ethics is a series of Warcraft Opinion Articles documenting responses to ethical questions posed on Twitter on 8 May 2018.
Tweets are presented out of context, and you can click them to read the rest of the conversation. You are always welcome to chat with me on twitter where my name is @thegoldqueen and you can find Gold Dragon here also @Dragonbearjoe
We have 9 articles for you to read, culminating in a TGQ Long Read with my own opinions. Today, we’re looking at our responsibility to the server economy and market. Do we need to be careful about our prices on the Auction House? Why? And what about advertising on trade chat? Or is that just silly?
All stories were gathered in a judgement-free atmosphere. I understand if you disagree with other people or get upset by it, but during the Ethics Questions, we are examining responses in a detached scientific manner.
What Does A Stronger Economy Mean?
Our Gold Dragon says it’s more players, and stable prices.
Stronger means more active players using the AH to obtain materials, gold and items.
Also that they are crafting and not just farming. A healthy AH means that prices aren't bottomed out or Inflated.— The Gold Dragon (@Dragonbearjoe) May 9, 2018
Its Under Control
Starwolf agrees with Reckles WTBGold that we help the economy by controlling it.
@ryanaeckles answered this in a Youtube video and I agree. If you spend a lot of time focusing on making gold, you can only help the economy in the long run. Wow inflation happens as a result of people playing the game, so we need people focused on controlling the economy.
— 🌠StarWolf🐺 (@Wolfhound7919) May 9, 2018
Deep Dive
Gold Dragon and Brunold both talk about when prices fall hard, purposeful destruction of value and keeping prices steady.
There is a technique to 'drop the market' to drive sellers out. Happened a lot when Inscription had their must have glyphs (before they were just cosmetic items etc).
Between them and the good Samaritan sellers that were bombing the market so everyone could 'afford' glyphs.
— The Gold Dragon (@Dragonbearjoe) May 8, 2018
Most importantly, I don't sell some items under a certain price that allows me to relist them. I try to keep prices stable by buying low and selling at average market price, above that, if demand is high. Ore demand seems to have sudden highs.
— Brunold, a gnome mage pondering real life (@TobiasTegge) May 8, 2018
Golden Reputation
Brunold points out something very important to me: that your reputation is crucial.
Do I check people before buying from them? No. But! I remember people I met in the game and that can play a role in deciding where to buy from.
— Brunold, a gnome mage pondering real life (@TobiasTegge) May 8, 2018
All’s fair in love and warcraft
If I took a risk, so did you.
If it's new and I couldn't find any data? I'd keep the gold. It's unusual behaviour, anyway, so I assume they took the same risk I did.
— Brunold, a gnome mage pondering real life (@TobiasTegge) May 8, 2018
There’s Good and Bad
Remember its an MMORPG not the stock market, people
They infuse the world with life and economy is part of RPGs, so that gets better, too. I think they harm the game if they get too mechanical, too distant from the game.
— Brunold, a gnome mage pondering real life (@TobiasTegge) May 8, 2018
Too High is Bad
Purposeful inflation is bad too, says Gypsyheart
i think it's the intent. If you have a group of gold makers who collaborate to intentionally constantly raising gold prices without any intent to help the community, so that only they can profit, i don't see how that's positive.
— Gypsyheart72 (@gypsyheart72) May 8, 2018
We Need Gold Makers
Ross relies on other AH players for his materials but remembers to value his own time.
I rely on other AH players as part of my supply chain for crafting old blacksmithing recipes. I could do it myself but I don't want to farm truesilver as an example. So it may cost me 100 gold to craft a item that sells for anywhere from 5-10k , I value my own time a bit more
— Ross Sigworth (@hunterprime) May 8, 2018
Too High? Too Low? Balance is just right
Ashwind thinks we keep things just right
That said, a healthy amount of gold making activity on a server seems to keep it balanced, keep things to some level of value and provide made goods for people where they might not be available if gold making crafters weren't around.
— Optimistic Ashwind, the Curious One (@AshwindGamer) May 8, 2018
Its All Good
Chris reminds us about all the ways to get gold
Imho (In my humble opinion) there is no negative effect , atm the game right now if we are talking about WoW is stable enough that the players can get gold in any form of source Auction, farming mats, transmog ( sometimes depends on server) , pets, mounts etc
— 🐱🐑Chris the Naab🐱 (@Chris_Naabie) May 8, 2018
Or is it?
Ashwind reminds us that greed can hurt smaller players
It really can, if a handful of aggressive gold makers are trying to corner multiple markets to force prices up. To be honest, I'd hate to be part of a small server with too many gold makers, because only those who are gold makers would have any chance of acquiring goods.
— Optimistic Ashwind, the Curious One (@AshwindGamer) May 8, 2018
It’s an Individual Choice
Danielle says we all have to decide our own way
I don’t think we have responsibility to do much. Technically we don’t have to worry about health of markets or ripping people off. Whether that’s the correct thing to do or not is up to the individual. We could be unscrupulous, or look out for folks. Depends on play style.
— Danielle Brown (@GoddessSuicune) May 8, 2018
But Bots? Hell no
At least they don’t wipe out all the opportunities.
Ugh no. It crashes the markets, and though they changed things to be more difficult for botters, like making fake trap nodes they get stuck on, or adding mobs nearby that aggro, it’s still crappy and annoying. Glad they made shared nodes though so they don’t wipe all stock out.
— Danielle Brown (@GoddessSuicune) May 8, 2018
Look Out for Each Other
Obelouix will treat you right.
I only cut them if there are a lot of competitors on the market, otherwise I put the same price they put
— obelouix (@obelouix) May 8, 2018
Bonus Video
Darkshore Cap talks about the warcraft economy, inspired by our gold making ethic questions.
Darkshore Cap talks about some of my favourite subjects:
- How gold works (see my patreon!)
- Gold is not Zero Sum
- Adding Value
In pvp, in order to win, someone else has to lose. In the warcraft economy, everyone can win. Gold is abundant. You can take an item, do work to it, and it increases in value. Nobody loses when you do that. You do not need to TAKE money from other players or from the economy, in order to win. You can both win!
These are such basic truths, yet I rarely see them talked about in Warcraft content creation. (Everyone else is talking about “how to farm 50,000g in an hour, using this one amazing trick. Number 9 will shock you!”.) If you like this sort of truthful facts, you will love my videos in the members-only patreon website.
About the Author
Warcraft’s longest running Gold Making blog, The Gold Queen is written by Alyzande since 2010. Working on her 14th level 110, she has 9 years expertise in making gold, 19,000+ achievements, 1593 days played, over 39 million gold earned, and now playing World of Warcraft Legion live on www.twitch.tv/thegoldqueen The Gold Queen blog teaches you how to make gold playing Warcraft using ethical trading, auction house flipping, crafting, reselling, snatch lists, and farming gold making. Want more updates on Warcraft Battle for Azeroth? Support my Patreon for exclusive pre-release Gold Guides
