Special NPC to trade currencies

I suppose someone may have suggested this but I haven't seen it so here it goes:

What about a special NPC that allows you to trade any currency item for every other one? All numbers scaled and balanced according to currency power/value of course.

For instance, people are starting to gather 400, even 1.000 Scrolls of Wisdom and Portal.

With such a vendor, one could trade (for example) 100 or 200 Scrolls of Wisdom for 1 Orb of Fusing. This would make every currency even more worthwhile to pick up, including the more common ones.

X quantity of Currency A for Y quantity of Currency B etc.

This would give players HUGE flexibility in item crafting and help us avoid frustration. Say someone needs desperately a Regal Orb but can't get one. But he has thousands of Scrolls of Wisdom and 25 Chromatic Orbs, so he can go to this special NPC and get some Regal Orbs (or Orbs of Fusing, or whatever).

This has been suggested before.

The problem is that it sets relative values on currency items. It's intended that you barter to get what you want, instead of trading X for 2Y because that's what the game tells us they're worth.

Then make the prices fluctuate with demand for the item. I know GW did this with some of there merchants, giving them fluctuating values in the market.

Or maybe make these special NPCs only trade for lower-to-mid (maybe some higher, but not the highest) currencies and let people barter for the highest currencies.

I'd really like a NPC to trade for every currency and I suppose many players would, too.

"

WhiteBoy88 wrote:

This has been suggested before.

The problem is that it sets relative values on currency items. It's intended that you barter to get what you want, instead of trading X for 2Y because that's what the game tells us they're worth.

Someone needs to send the devs to the wikipedia article on Transaction Costs because if they think barter is an acceptable trade system they obviously don't know anything bout it.

Because, y'know, set exchange rates and universal currencies are totally the norm in postapocalyptic wastelands. Just look at Fallout.

"

With a large portion of the country's infrastructure in ruins, basic necessities are scarce. Barter is the common method of exchange, with bottlecaps providing a more conventional form of currency.

(emphasis mine) - the only difference is that there are multiple kinds of "bottlecaps", used for different things.

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Strill wrote:

Someone needs to send the devs to the wikipedia article on Transaction Costs because if they think barter is an acceptable trade system they obviously don't know anything bout it.

Instead, I'll point you to the wikipedia article on barter, and offer a few key notes that might possibly fit into the setting of this game:

"

Barter usually replaces money as the method of exchange in times of monetary crisis...

"

When barter did in fact occur, it was usually between either complete strangers or would-be enemies.

"

In a monetary economy, money plays the role of a measure of value of all goods, so their values can be measured against each other; this role may be absent in a barter economy.

This system makes perfect sense in a setting that has no governing authority or mutual agreement over the values of currency items.

"

WhiteBoy88 wrote:

"

Strill wrote:

Someone needs to send the devs to the wikipedia article on Transaction Costs because if they think barter is an acceptable trade system they obviously don't know anything bout it.

Instead, I'll point you to the wikipedia article on barter, and offer a few key notes that might possibly fit into the setting of this game:

"

Barter usually replaces money as the method of exchange in times of monetary crisis...

"

When barter did in fact occur, it was usually between either complete strangers or would-be enemies.

"

In a monetary economy, money plays the role of a measure of value of all goods, so their values can be measured against each other; this role may be absent in a barter economy.

This system makes perfect sense in a setting that has no governing authority or mutual agreement over the values of currency items.

Also, what value has Gold and Silver to a person in an environment like Wraeclast? Items directly related to survival will be valued far more than precious metals, especially if the population is low relative to the available supply of conventional "treasure." =^[.]^=

"

WhiteBoy88 wrote:

"

Strill wrote:

Someone needs to send the devs to the wikipedia article on Transaction Costs because if they think barter is an acceptable trade system they obviously don't know anything bout it.

Instead, I'll point you to the wikipedia article on barter, and offer a few key notes that might possibly fit into the setting of this game:

"

Barter usually replaces money as the method of exchange in times of monetary crisis...

"

When barter did in fact occur, it was usually between either complete strangers or would-be enemies.

"

In a monetary economy, money plays the role of a measure of value of all goods, so their values can be measured against each other; this role may be absent in a barter economy.

This system makes perfect sense in a setting that has no governing authority or mutual agreement over the values of currency items.

But makes no sense with their goal of having a thriving economy. Barter vastly complicates trade, stifling the economy. Currency systems are used precisely because they make trade efficient, increasing the wealth generated by all parties.

"

Strill wrote:

But makes no sense with their goal of having a thriving economy. Barter vastly complicates trade, stifling the economy. Currency systems are used precisely because they make trade efficient, increasing the wealth generated by all parties.

Yea they make trade efficient, and makes it easier to get wealthy. But that doesn't make the game more fun. D2 was a lot more fun before I discovered jsp.
Any game I've played with a money economy made farming/trading a lot more boring... you just put whatever you find on the ah and hope it sells... removes most of the fun and excitement out of the wealth/trade game.