Gold in Ultima Online : why is it so much wanted ?

[Zosimus]

I think it's time for a revamp of our economy system. Add new currency to the game like copper, platinum, steel, titanium and so on. Can make gold worthless by trading it in to a banker NPC and exchange it for new currency.

They also could make items specific to be only sold a certain currency. For example say powder of translocation can be sold or bought in zinc. Doom arties can be sold or bought in platinum.

Also make all monsters drop different types of currency so it may curb currency farmers. If they can do it in factions for silver why cant they make the whole game that way.

 

[Stupid Miner]

It is only my impression or is it that gold in this game is too much seeked by players, on average ?

If so, why is it that players feel the need to try get as much gold as they can ?

Why would a player feel the need to have, say, 100 million UO gold rather than, say, 1 million gold ?

Or, why would a player feel that 300 millions are not enough to play the game "in a satisfactory and enjoyable" way ?

I mean, why would "cheque books" be needed if not to reduce the item count of many, many and many 1 million cheques ?

Bottom line is, I am asking, why is gold felt so much a need in this game ?

And, regardless what players may or not feel, the most important question is, is gold so much important to be able to play Ultima Online in a satisfactory and enjoyable way ?

After a certain point, getting more gold becomes rather meaningless unless you're a rares collector.
And also if you want to buy the ridiculously expensive equipment like non-replica Gladiator's Collars and such.

Also, being a vendor is one of the unique aspects of the game, and selling items/making gold is much like PvP or PvM, a competition with the other vendors and with yourself.

And some people are just really good at making tons of money relatively easily. Or rather they know the value of items and don't care about them too much and thus sell them: Event Items for example.

 

[FisherNap]

The amount of possessions is closely tied to the owner's reluctance to quit the game. If you have nothing, you probably don't mind leaving for a while and coming back to nothing at some later time. Skills are saved when you suspend an account. If you have a house full of rares, a powerful suit of armor, and incredible weaponry you're more tied to the world. You may find it boring but you're less inclined to leave all your "online-worldly" possessions.

In other words, it's a scheme to keep you hooked. Not unlike many other situations you find in the real world.


Wyatt of Catskills, retired