Single Denomination Currency was a Bad Idea !

Phantax · July 2014

@ZOS_MattFiror @ZOS_PaulSage

Guys, what was the thinking behind a single denomination currency? Pretty well all MMO's I can think of have multiple denomination currencies. Some take it too far (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Copper) Surely a double denomination would have been better? Say just Gold/Copper. It didn't even have to be all the values, you could have quite easily just used quarters. (25c, 50c, 75, 1g)

As I see it this would have a few benefits-

•Firstly it would have been a greater deterrent to gold farmers/bots in the lower and starter zones. If the materials(node) values would have been say 25c that would have been far less money for them to make. Face it the harder it is for them to make money the more likely they are to go to another game !

•Second, it would have added more depth to the games economy. Granted not a great change, but more like a bit of added diversity. Especially when it came to buying selling of products by players. You're never going to get a truly dynamic economy with a global/factional AH, but this would have at least added something to it !

•Third (more important as of recently) The addition of interactable/trash loot has been well frankly... a bit of a let down. At least having smaller currency denominations you could have added a minimal value to these items, ensuring they are not completely worthless (in every sense)
Just a 50c value for all trash items would have made a big difference. Not enough to warrant farming them for profit but at least something to justify the effort and loss of bag space to the player?

Now I'm not suggesting Zenimax suddenly overhaul the currency system (although it would be beneficial) But it would also be nice to find out why they thought a single denomination (1g or nothing approach) was the better idea? Especially when you look at other MMOs and see they do have dynamic economies !

fromtesonlineb16_ESO · July 2014

In TES there is and always has been one currency, gold. It has various names, Septims and Drakes being the most common, but there has only ever been the concept of a 'gold coin' as the world's common currency.

/thread

As for your points, I really don't see a multi-level currency has any more 'depth', or in a system which has it why Turbine decided to make the top denomination be equal to 1000 of the next one down while most games, such as WOW, had it as a 100 multiple.

Whichever system is in use is fine for me, I see no substantive differences between them.

Enkil · July 2014

It's an Elder Scrolls thing... There's always been just one denomination... Gold coins..

Phantax · July 2014

fromtesonlineb16_ESO wrote: »

In TES there is and always has been one currency, gold. It has various names, Septims and Drakes being the most common, but there has only ever been the concept of a 'gold coin' as the world's common currency.

/thread

Oh I agree and in true TES form (single player) that works fine. Not like you need to sell to other players or try to outbid yourself on an item you are selling...lol
But ESO is a different thing all together, there are thousands of players all using, making, selling items and the games currency should have taken that into account.

dsalter · July 2014

i reckon the only reason they used just gold coins is due to the possibility some are chocolate. but that would be lunacy since nobody has heard of this "chocolate" in Tamriel

rynth · July 2014

Phantax wrote: »

@ZOS_MattFiror @ZOS_PaulSage

Guys, what was the thinking behind a single denomination currency? Pretty well all MMO's I can think of have multiple denomination currencies. Some take it too far (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Copper) Surely a double denomination would have been better? Say just Gold/Copper. It didn't even have to be all the values, you could have quite easily just used quarters. (25c, 50c, 75, 1g)

As I see it this would have a few benefits-

•Firstly it would have been a greater deterrent to gold farmers/bots in the lower and starter zones. If the materials(node) values would have been say 25c that would have been far less money for them to make. Face it the harder it is for them to make money the more likely they are to go to another game !

•Second, it would have added more depth to the games economy. Granted not a great change, but more like a bit of added diversity. Especially when it came to buying selling of products by players. You're never going to get a truly dynamic economy with a global/factional AH, but this would have at least added something to it !

•Third (more important as of recently) The addition of interactable/trash loot has been well frankly... a bit of a let down. At least having smaller currency denominations you could have added a minimal value to these items, ensuring they are not completely worthless (in every sense)
Just a 50c value for all trash items would have made a big difference. Not enough to warrant farming them for profit but at least something to justify the effort and loss of bag space to the player?

Now I'm not suggesting Zenimax suddenly overhaul the currency system (although it would be beneficial) But it would also be nice to find out why they thought a single denomination (1g or nothing approach) was the better idea? Especially when you look at other MMOs and see they do have dynamic economies !

yeah and there are a lot of games, MMOs that do only have one set of currency why make things more complicated and useless with different currency gold is enough for currency.

EinionYrth · July 2014

Given the price of a horse in this game a gold is only about 50c anyway.
eta
and I'm hardly rich, but given the mass of gold how in hell's name to I manage to walk, let alone fight, with 70,000 gp on me?

rynth · July 2014

EinionYrthb16_ESO wrote: »

Given the price of a horse in this game a gold is only about 50c anyway.
eta
and I'm hardly rich, but given the mass of gold how in hell's name to I manage to walk, let alone fight, with 70,000 gp on me?

if thieving gets added you might want to add that to the bank.....or dig a hole to stash it

Knootewoot · July 2014

Maybe in a future patch we can cut our gold coins into pieces of 8. YARRR

AlexDougherty · July 2014

Phantax wrote: »

@ZOS_MattFiror @ZOS_PaulSage

Guys, what was the thinking behind a single denomination currency? Pretty well all MMO's I can think of have multiple denomination currencies. Some take it too far (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Copper) Surely a double denomination would have been better? Say just Gold/Copper. It didn't even have to be all the values, you could have quite easily just used quarters. (25c, 50c, 75, 1g)

As I see it this would have a few benefits-

•Firstly it would have been a greater deterrent to gold farmers/bots in the lower and starter zones. If the materials(node) values would have been say 25c that would have been far less money for them to make. Face it the harder it is for them to make money the more likely they are to go to another game !

•Second, it would have added more depth to the games economy. Granted not a great change, but more like a bit of added diversity. Especially when it came to buying selling of products by players. You're never going to get a truly dynamic economy with a global/factional AH, but this would have at least added something to it !

•Third (more important as of recently) The addition of interactable/trash loot has been well frankly... a bit of a let down. At least having smaller currency denominations you could have added a minimal value to these items, ensuring they are not completely worthless (in every sense)
Just a 50c value for all trash items would have made a big difference. Not enough to warrant farming them for profit but at least something to justify the effort and loss of bag space to the player?

I am going to respond to the firstly/secondly/thirdly points first then respond to the overall suggestion, I know this is backwards but hey that's how I'm doing it.

1. I disagree with the assumption that it would deter farmers/bots, if you add these lower amounts then that becomes the base point for your currency, which means all that changes is the format.

2. Not sure any of us really care about the diversity of the coinage, I'm sure that Tamriel has silver and copper coins for farmers and housewifes to use (I really can't imagine any shop keeper asking a regular housewife for a gold coin for a loaf of bread (but I can imagine her reaction if he did)), but it doesn't really add much to the game, beyond a few moments of interest at the beginning. (before you realise it's just going to be the same as avery other currancy in a game ever, but given a funny format)

3. I could have gone that way, but I doubt it, what is far more likely is that the base line would have been set at the copper level (ie items that cost 10G would have cost 2 C) and the junk would still be worthless.

It's a cosmetic idea, unfortunately most of us would see right through this, and apart from occasionally mucking up our mental calculations have no effect. This is why nobody is saying yes, it's not a terrible idea, but the majority of us are happy with the simpler system already in place.

wrlifeboil · July 2014

Phantax wrote: »

fromtesonlineb16_ESO wrote: »

In TES there is and always has been one currency, gold. It has various names, Septims and Drakes being the most common, but there has only ever been the concept of a 'gold coin' as the world's common currency.

/thread

Oh I agree and in true TES form (single player) that works fine. Not like you need to sell to other players or try to outbid yourself on an item you are selling...lol
But ESO is a different thing all together, there are thousands of players all using, making, selling items and the games currency should have taken that into account.

No.

Phantax · July 2014

wrlifeboil wrote: »

Phantax wrote: »

fromtesonlineb16_ESO wrote: »

In TES there is and always has been one currency, gold. It has various names, Septims and Drakes being the most common, but there has only ever been the concept of a 'gold coin' as the world's common currency.

/thread

Oh I agree and in true TES form (single player) that works fine. Not like you need to sell to other players or try to outbid yourself on an item you are selling...lol
But ESO is a different thing all together, there are thousands of players all using, making, selling items and the games currency should have taken that into account.

No.

Good argument dude... insightful and constructive as ever !

:O

wrlifeboil · July 2014

Phantax wrote: »

wrlifeboil wrote: »

Phantax wrote: »

fromtesonlineb16_ESO wrote: »

In TES there is and always has been one currency, gold. It has various names, Septims and Drakes being the most common, but there has only ever been the concept of a 'gold coin' as the world's common currency.

/thread

Oh I agree and in true TES form (single player) that works fine. Not like you need to sell to other players or try to outbid yourself on an item you are selling...lol
But ESO is a different thing all together, there are thousands of players all using, making, selling items and the games currency should have taken that into account.

No.

Good argument dude... insightful and constructive as ever !

:O

Yes.

p_tsakirisb16_ESO · July 2014

@‌Phantax

I do not see where the problem is. Single denomination currency is fine.

On most ES games was that, and does make sense tbh.
If I wanted more complicated "market", I should go back to EVE where 0.01 isk difference in a bulk item can make you rich.

Phantax · July 2014

p_tsakirisb16_ESO wrote: »

@‌Phantax

I do not see where the problem is. Single denomination currency is fine.

On most ES games was that, and does make sense tbh.
If I wanted more complicated "market", I should go back to EVE where 0.01 isk difference in a bulk item can make you rich.

Yep, nothing quite like filling your Orca or Charon with cheap ore then heading off to Jita to make a few million ISK....lol
Would be nice if ESO had a buzzing trade hub somewhere?

Sharee · July 2014

AlexDougherty wrote: »

if you add these lower amounts then that become the base point for your currency, which means all that changes is the format.

Exactly. Nothing would change, except the format.

Phantax · July 2014

Sharee wrote: »

AlexDougherty wrote: »

if you add these lower amounts then that become the base point for your currency, which means all that changes is the format.

Exactly. Nothing would change, except the format.

And the fact that they would have to farm 4x as many mats to get the same amount back? Both sides of that argument could be down to technicalities !

fromtesonlineb16_ESO · July 2014

Phantax wrote: »

But ESO is a different thing all together, there are thousands of players all using, making, selling items and the games currency should have taken that into account.

I've played FFXI since '05, it has only ever had a single denomination currency, the 'gil', and FFXIV for 4 years with the same currency.

I don't feel in any way disadvantaged from not having to deal with two or three levels of coins. Given the first MMO I played was like that I never understood why WOW, LOTRO and the likes needed 3-level currencies, it seemed pointless to me to over-complicate it.

Sharee · July 2014

Phantax wrote: »

Sharee wrote: »

AlexDougherty wrote: »

if you add these lower amounts then that become the base point for your currency, which means all that changes is the format.

Exactly. Nothing would change, except the format.

And the fact that they would have to farm 4x as many mats to get the same amount back? Both sides of that argument could be down to technicalities !

The base point would change. They would have to farm exactly the same amount of mats to get the base point. The only thing that would change is the base point would be called 'one silver' instead of 'one gold'.

kassandratheclericb14_ESO · July 2014

Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

isengrimb16_ESO · July 2014

I remember a real life case where I only had to work with one denomination. Greece, 1992 - the Drachma, before that apparently disastrous Euro crap was introduced. There were no "cents", nothing smaller than a 1 Drachma coin. It worked fine, and the Greeks weren't in half the pickle they are now. Spent a month there, was told I could have snagged an airport job just for speaking English, but that seemed unethical to me.

Frankly, I like having just one denomination; pocket change is crap. Glad Canada had the nads to finally get rid of the g-d penny.

zgrssd · July 2014

Phantax wrote: »

@ZOS_MattFiror @ZOS_PaulSage

Guys, what was the thinking behind a single denomination currency? Pretty well all MMO's I can think of have multiple denomination currencies. Some take it too far (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Copper) Surely a double denomination would have been better? Say just Gold/Copper. It didn't even have to be all the values, you could have quite easily just used quarters. (25c, 50c, 75, 1g)

You know what the difference between 100 Copper and 1 Bronze is (asuming 100 C = 1 Bronze)? How it is displayed.
Internally the game just tracks the ammount of Copper coins you carry around.
During DISPLAY it splits that up, to those three values. All you really get is a smaller granularity and a more complex display routine for your client.

You might see 2 bronze, 12 Copper as something revolutionary.
I just see 212 Coins being tracked. And during display:
Copper = Total modulo 100
Bronze = (Total minus Copper) /100

2$ 12c = 212c = 2,12$ = 2 Dollars, 12 Cent

There might be some benefit to smaler currencies.
But they could just as easily move the Decimal Seperator 1-3 rows forward durign display and leave every price the same.
Suddenly you get 0,43 Gold instead of 43 Gold from that piece of armor. But it is still worth the same.

Fairydragon3 · July 2014

I fail to see how having only gold is any different than having copper and silver too.

when i saw that i got one gold on my first loot drop in this game, all i though that one gold was really the same thing as one copper in WoW. the cheapest items cost less than 100 copper, repairs cost silvers, bank slots cost a few gold, when you think about it this way, this is a cheap economy right now

theyancey · July 2014

Seems like a solution in search of a problem. I just have no problem with the currency as it is and as others have pointed out it is part of the ES history.

Hilgara · July 2014

Add depth not complexity. This is just adding complexity for the sake of it. It brings nothing to the game and adds, however minutely, more complexity.

Knootewoot · July 2014

In starwars galaxies and also SWTOR you just have "credits". also in Tabula Rasa. And i Sage of ryzom you just had "dappers". And just "gold" in TESO is good enough for me. I don't need change. This is not WoW/EQ/Vanguard where you had Platinum/gold/silver/bronze/wood/sand

And calling it a cheap economy because of this is not true. SWG and Ryzom had a very good and complex economy even with just one currency. It is not the currency that makes economy. It is a good crafting system and player interaction.

rbenkepub19_ESO · July 2014

This is about as trivial a complaint as I've seen in any game forum ever.

Hilgara · July 2014

rbenkepub19_ESO wrote: »

This is about as trivial a complaint as I've seen in any game forum ever.

I was thinking that. Could be read as a good sign I suppoed