Using alts to manipulate server economies

[HybridRifter]

I ran across a thread on my server's forums and I wanted to bring it here to see what the devs have to say about it. He is the post:

I am looking to get in touch with societies of all faction for a very lucrative offer. Completely legal and ethical, however it is something id rather not discuss openly, lest those participating lose the achieved advantage. If you're interested in my offer please send a message. This is a limited and very selective offer intended only for econ heavy societies. We'll consider large and small societies but 10 active players is about minimum. Like to keep this a mutual agreement between my society and yours so only respond if you're serious about making dubs. I'm sure some of you do really know what this is all about.. I'm not broadcasting it for the very reasons that you're thinking. So why mention it and help the masses along to your same realizations? Its just business.

Seeing as the orgional poster wants to try to keep this tactic a secret, I will explain his suggestion. What he is proposing is that a player makes an alt on his server and he'll make an alt on that player's server. He will then tell the player what buildings to put on the alt on his server and the player tells him what buildings to put on the alt he makes. The player gives him what they make on their alt and he will give you what he makes on his alt. Now times this by dozens of alts...

I would like to get some comments about this from the developers and see what their take on this is.

[Vetarnias]

"There is no crying in the auctionhouse", probably.

[Spinnaker Sam]

I don't see very many people willing to deal with the hassles of such a situation. You still have to maintain and manage those structures. You have to earn money somehow or arrange face to face payments. Then what is an equiable trade? Server economies are different, the cost of producing things can be affected by port conquest. What happens when one side of the partnership finds his structures in a foreign port and he has to pay more than the other partner.

It would take alot of coordination to accomplish this and I don't think it is really worth it to alot of people. I think people will try it and then find out what a big pain it is and go back and just buy what they need off the auction houses of their own servers.

[Alexander DeLarge]

Cross server lot swapping isnt a secret, its one of the latest trends. Some dual boxers are angry as can be about it because some people are accomplishing what they set out to without paying any extra real money for it. Were probably never going to get a dev answer on it. I couldnt even get a dev's opinion on using two accounts cross factions on the same server to farm MoV's or captured ships for pirates. Believe me Ive been trying to provoke and answer from dev's on these subjects for a long long time now. Dev's have avoided this subject like the plague. Dont worry though, you will get a dozen or two people responding to this thread with why its ok to do.

All we can hope is that Sam is at least half right and enough people obstain from participating in these activities so that it doesent fundamentally wreck the entire games economy. Im not sure if it hasnt already gone there on some servers. For a player made economy to work you generally need one consumer for each producer. People who lot swap or run multiple accounts represent two or more producers yet still only one consumer. Rather than to just allow gold buying and selling theyre attempting to cause inflation through increased doubloon generation from the npc grind. It seems to me like a nasty, embarassing oversight that could possibly threaten the credibility of this game someday.

[Vetarnias]

Well, the threads on the server-specific forums quoted by the OP have been deleted. Let's hope it is a genuine attempt to fight those unfair tactics and not a cover-up of the issue by the devs. I too got the impression they were reluctant to tackle the situation (if there is anything to be done to stop it, which I doubt).

[Vixentrox]

Just more examples of jerks that will find every loophole to exploit. Tooo hard to actually play the game like everyone else so they have to resort to underhanded tactics. Loosers.

[armae]

I have 2 accounts,i use both players actively for PvE,and the economy. Sue me. FLS wont do anything about it..2 accounts,and 2 + characters on a server...it helps boost their numbers...im thinking shooting themselves in the foot isnt gonna happen.

I do more for my servers economy then a lot of the closed societies in terms of buying resources and selling ships. Profit isnt my main motive. To turn a port(s) into places to go to buy a ship is. If you need a ship, and dont want to bother logging in your lvl 7 FT alt, you can be reasonably sure "X" port will have it...thats my goal. I could work with other players, but as iv already seen, other players have their own "vision", which includes words like "monopolize", "dominate", "profitability" ,"spreadsheets" ,"efficiency", etc. I cant be bothered with that nonsense. im playing a game ffs. Its sposd to be fun, not some geeked out form of work.

I have more then when i started, so to me its all good. Iv sold a lot of ships that no one else could be bothered making, and still do. Some of the batches of ships i make take forever to sell, eventually they do tho, and then il make another batch, cuz someday someone might want one. My goal is to run a business that is successful in terms of service, and sustainability. The reason for 2 accounts is to provide the second goal, sustainability. When the markets go weird, as they so oft do, it doesnt affect me. If there is a resource low in quantity for sale, it doesnt affect me. if the prices are ridiculously high on certain items( for MC usually), it doesnt affect me. If my "partners" decide to quit, or dont have time to "do that " right now, it doesnt affect me. At the end of the day, if you buy my ships, none of that affects you either. Prices have notched up a little(resources), you know what?..it hasnt affected my prices...i actually dropped prices on a few ships earlier today. OMG im a criminal...or so some of ya would think...and for the anti-socializing this is a MMORPG crowd...i buy most of my resources from other players AH, directly..so go ppfftt yoursef on that too.

Lot swapping...who cares..if they want go ahead. Iv been providing resources to, and buying from people who have used lot swaps, since SWG(launch). Some massive, some small. They help to stimulate the economy, and also help to keep prices in check. And considering the amount of work that will be involved in PoTBS, and for the reward..not many people will do it for long.Il agree with FLS on this "not particularily concerned".

[runabout]

Originally Posted by HybridRifter I ran across a thread on my server's forums and I wanted to bring it here to see what the devs have to say about it. He is the post: Seeing as the orgional poster wants to try to keep this tactic a secret, I will explain his suggestion. What he is proposing is that a player makes an alt on his server and he'll make an alt on that player's server. He will then tell the player what buildings to put on the alt on his server and the player tells him what buildings to put on the alt he makes. The player gives him what they make on their alt and he will give you what he makes on his alt. Now times this by dozens of alts... I would like to get some comments about this from the developers and see what their take on this is.

Seems like a case where people should spend less time worrying about what other people do and more time on having fun and playing the game themselves. It's a game...treat it that way.

[kkrabbit]

I just love the "its just a game" statements people give about this kind of stuff. Yes, it is "just a game" and I agree that people should be having fun. But not when that fun amounts to something close to cheating.

If I were playing chess with you and you managed to kill my queen. If then I pulled out another chess set and replaced my queen with one from that, would you think that's fun? Afterall, I paid for that other chess set and this is my way of just "having fun." And chess is, afterall, "just a game." So... tell me, would any of you continue wanting to play chess with me then? If so, I've got a house of chess sets and I'd like to set up a few matches with ya.

[Kylra]

Originally Posted by andy52584 I just love the "its just a game" statements people give about this kind of stuff. Yes, it is "just a game" and I agree that people should be having fun. But not when that fun amounts to something close to cheating. If I were playing chess with you and you managed to kill my queen. If then I pulled out another chess set and replaced my queen with one from that, would you think that's fun? Afterall, I paid for that other chess set and this is my way of just "having fun." And chess is, afterall, "just a game." So... tell me, would any of you continue wanting to play chess with me then? If so, I've got a house of chess sets and I'd like to set up a few matches with ya.

The way the game works, a more accurate analogy would end up more you pulling out another chess set and playing against someone else at the same time. Even still, the game has far more individual teams in the economy than 2 so chess is probably a bad game to pick.