Gold Exploit

[cualquiernombre]

in case the fake gold thing happens again, you will make an announcement? so that it does not happen something like what happened now that many lost items selling and now they are with 0 gold and without the corresponding items that were sold, which would be as if they had given them away.

 

[Damon Otter]

So, if it's not our Devs experimenting with the economy on US3, then I hope @Damon Otter and @Sarah Otter will take a closer look and make sure there aren't any exploiters on US3. Because I don't know any honest players, who can afford to constantly lose gold on unsold auctions.

Sure- good question. We aren't experimenting with the economy.

When we became aware of the gold exploit on US1, we checked all the other servers. US1 was the only server with rampant exploits. There were a few very small transactions on US3 and EU1, but nothing that would have impacted inflation. We also removed the small amount of gold that was injected onto those servers. It takes us less than a minute to know if there is a gold exploit occurring. It takes more work to investigate who specifically is exploiting, and more work still to determine how they are exploiting.

Best, Damon

 

[Damon Otter]

in case the fake gold thing happens again, you will make an announcement? so that it does not happen something like what happened now that many lost items selling and now they are with 0 gold and without the corresponding items that were sold, which would be as if they had given them away.

Hi,
Gold exploits are rare occurrence. In the history of the game, this has only happened twice - about once every five years

I hope with some of the new things we have put in place in the code, this won't happen again.

This time was unusual, and the amount of the exploiting going on led us to take very drastic action. Normally we prefer to use a light touch when impacting the game world, but as I said- the amount of gold injected was so extreme that we took extreme action. In case anyone is curious, the total amount of gold on US1 is typically around 9 million, but the exploit injected an additional 15 million gold into the economy.

Best, Damon

 

[sirbabbo]

Thanks for the hard work going into this and the communication!!!

I’ve noticed on mobile that you can only list item(s) at a max of 9999g at auction house. Is this by design? I’m not trying to put something in there for 10k, (maybe a catapult if I had one), but just curious on that..

Also, maybe this might not be able to happen, but it would be handy to have a auction house in summers hollow and/or blight bay. Just throwing it out there as an addition.

Thanks

 

[Halleebell]

On another note... over the past couple months, US3's Auction House has been flooded with overpriced items and I'm wondering if this has anything to do with the Gold Exploit? Or if the Devs are experimenting with our economy, to see what the Market will bear for the QoL update?

Because I can't believe that auctions priced at 5-6x their normal value are selling very well, which means those sellers are probably losing gold... which would normally cause them to lower their prices, until their items begin selling. But we're still seeing a steady supply of overpriced items. Which makes me believe that we might have some smart exploiters (who know that selling a 3g item for 1000g will draw the Devs attention, but selling a 3g item for 20g might slip by unnoticed)... or that the Devs are experimenting with our economy (because they have an endless supply of gold).

So, if it's not our Devs experimenting with the economy on US3, then I hope @Damon Otter and @Sarah Otter will take a closer look and make sure there aren't any exploiters on US3. Because I don't know any honest players, who can afford to constantly lose gold on unsold auctions.

I just looked at all US server prices last night and we have basically the lowest prices around, on everything.
crown items being sold in AH have always been around that price. Chest prices are extremely low compared to other servers along with mana/material. I don’t think there is an issue on us3 at all and if there was our prices would be going way up.

 

[Zaphyra]

I just looked at all US server prices last night and we have basically the lowest prices around, on everything.
crown items being sold in AH have always been around that price. Chest prices are extremely low compared to other servers along with mana/material. I don’t think there is an issue on us3 at all and if there was our prices would be going way up.

I think prices are higher on other US servers, because they have a lower population and fewer items for sale. I've been playing on US3 for a couple years and raw mats usually sold for 3g/350 in Trade and 3-4g/350 in AH... we now have listings for 20g/350, which is an increase of about 500%. Refined mats usually sold for 7g/350 in Trade and 7-9g/350 in AH... we now have listings for 12-20g/350, which is an increase of over 200%. Darrig Chests used to sell for 3-4g each... now it's more common to see them listed for 5-10g. Level 90 Ham, Eggs and pelts used to sell for 20-30g/350... now I'm seeing them listed for 40g or more. Crown items used to sell for about 10-12g per Crown, now they're selling for almost 20g/Crown. I find the fact that prices which had been pretty stable for years, began to increase at around the same time the gold exploit began, rather suspicious. Normally, players are concerned about losing their auction fees, if their items don't sell. This is what keeps auction prices reasonable. So, why aren't players concerned about overpricing their items and losing listing fees now?

Are players really buying raw mats for 20g/350?

 

[Halleebell]

I think prices are higher on other US servers, because they have a lower population and fewer items for sale. I've been playing on US3 for a couple years and raw mats usually sold for 3g/350 in Trade and 3-4g/350 in AH... we now have listings for 20g/350, which is an increase of about 500%. Refined mats usually sold for 7g/350 in Trade and 7-9g/350 in AH... we now have listings for 12-20g/350, which is an increase of over 200%. Darrig Chests used to sell for 3-4g each... now it's more common to see them listed for 5-10g. Level 90 Ham, Eggs and pelts used to sell for 20-30g/350... now I'm seeing them listed for 40g or more. Crown items used to sell for about 10-12g per Crown, now they're selling for almost 20g/Crown. I find the fact that prices which had been pretty stable for years, began to increase at around the same time the gold exploit began, rather suspicious. Normally, players are concerned about losing their auction fees, if their items don't sell. This is what keeps auction prices reasonable. So, why aren't players concerned about overpricing their items and losing listing fees now?

Are players really buying raw mats for 20g/350?

They probably don’t understand the way it works. Also your always going to have your players who over price things. The difference on us1 is we have chest for what 5gold and they had chests for 10k.
Also the same stuff that is listed for 20 is also listed for 10 on our server. Like gathering material I saw three different prices in our server ranging 115 to 160. If players are desperate enough they’ll buy. So we will always have players trying to inflate prices. But most on us3 shut that down pretty quickly.

 

[Zaphyra]

They probably don’t understand the way it works. Also your always going to have your players who over price things. The difference on us1 is we have chest for what 5gold and they had chests for 10k.
Also the same stuff that is listed for 20 is also listed for 10 on our server. Like gathering material I saw three different prices in our server ranging 115 to 160. If players are desperate enough they’ll buy. So we will always have players trying to inflate prices. But most on us3 shut that down pretty quickly.

I agree that sometimes new players overprice items in the AH, because they don't know what current server prices are. However, when/if their items don't sell and they lose their listing fees... they usually begin to lower their listing prices, until their items begin to sell and/or ask other players what prices their items will sell for.

What we're seeing on US3, are hundreds of overpriced auction listings and this has been going on for months (it began about the same time, that the gold exploit began). So, I have a few questions...

Who is paying 12-20g for low-level mats that usually sell for 3-4g?

Who is paying 12-20g for refines that usually sell for 7-9g?

Who is paying 100g for stacks of level 30 Ham, when level 90 usually sells for 20-30g?

IMHO, if these overpriced auctions are selling like hot cakes, then our Devs need to ask WHY? Because I don't know anyone who would pay these prices on US3.

These are screenshots of today's listings:

 

[Tenzor]

Spoiler

On another note... over the past couple months, US3's Auction House has been flooded with overpriced items and I'm wondering if this has anything to do with the Gold Exploit? Or if the Devs are experimenting with our economy, to see what the Market will bear for the QoL update?

Because I can't believe that auctions priced at 5-6x their normal value are selling very well, which means those sellers are probably losing gold... which would normally cause them to lower their prices, until their items begin selling. But we're still seeing a steady supply of overpriced items. Which makes me believe that we might have some smart exploiters (who know that selling a 3g item for 1000g will draw the Devs attention, but selling a 3g item for 20g might slip by unnoticed)... or that the Devs are experimenting with our economy (because they have an endless supply of gold).

So, if it's not our Devs experimenting with the economy on US3, then I hope @Damon Otter and @Sarah Otter will take a closer look and make sure there aren't any exploiters on US3. Because I don't know any honest players, who can afford to constantly lose gold on unsold auctions.

I saw prices like this almost at all servers (except EU2), much long before exploit. I think, that some greedy players want over profit. So they fish gold from new players (Crown sellers) who have much gold but didn't know it value. Or maybe that something like: I better sell 3 stack per 20g, spent 5 min on gathering and 2 weeks for sale instead of selling 20 stacks per 3g, spent one hour on gathering and shout in LFG for sale. So they spent 5 min instead 1 hour and gain same profit but sell to long

 

[Tenzor]

Screen with hum seems suspicious
On EU-1 I am also found a suspicious lot

Spoiler

 

[Zaphyra]

Yes, I think the Ham is especially suspicious, because of how many stacks are listed. How would a new player get so many stacks of level 30 Ham AND be able to afford the listing fees of 5g/stack? And if it's NOT a new player, they should be familiar with server prices and know better than to list that Ham for 100g.

 

[Halleebell]

Yes, I think the Ham is especially suspicious, because of how many stacks are listed. How would a new player get so many stacks of level 30 Ham AND be able to afford the listing fees of 5g/stack? And if it's NOT a new player, they should be familiar with server prices and know better than to list that Ham for 100g.

Ham/leather/eggs have always been a bit over priced. But what I think happened is someone bought a bunch of high lvl ham for cheap, broke them down and are trying to mess with players hoping they’ll buy. Also most of the items listed at are low lvl items so when your low lvl your probably gathering everything and trying to make a quick buck. Trying to take advantage of the low lvl players who need those items. It’s a vicious circle. Though it has crossed my mind that players from the other servers are jumping onto US3 and trying to match the other server prices. But again most players on us3 know our prices and so many people sell at AH that it’s pretty easy to get what you need for a cheaper price. Which ties the hands of the ones trying to boost prices. But believe me we are extremely lucky to be on the server we are on I saw 100 mana going for like 200 gold on us1 and like 100 gold on us2. Where we normally pay 40 if there isn’t a high demand for it

 

[Mari]

Ham/leather/eggs have always been a bit over priced. But what I think happened is someone bought a bunch of high lvl ham for cheap, broke them down and are trying to mess with players hoping they’ll buy. Also most of the items listed at are low lvl items so when your low lvl your probably gathering everything and trying to make a quick buck. Trying to take advantage of the low lvl players who need those items. It’s a vicious circle. Though it has crossed my mind that players from the other servers are jumping onto US3 and trying to match the other server prices. But again most players on us3 know our prices and so many people sell at AH that it’s pretty easy to get what you need for a cheaper price. Which ties the hands of the ones trying to boost prices. But believe me we are extremely lucky to be on the server we are on I saw 100 mana going for like 200 gold on us1 and like 100 gold on us2. Where we normally pay 40 if there isn’t a high demand for it

I guess this is bc of the exploit and the inflation, this is not a usual price, unfortunelly there are a lot of players trying to take advantage from what is happening, we have now a lot of overpriced items in our AH. And things are starting to dissaper, maybe the honest players are waiting till the end of this exploit. Ty again Devs, this is probably a annoying situation.

 

[Priest Daimheach]

to avoid future problems, could you please indicate a list of prices that will be accepted in the auction? so that the same thing does not happen again.

There's no way to 'set' prices, really....but I *CAN* tell you that a locked chest on US2 was listed for 6 gold, buyout 9 gold.

 

[Halleebell]

I guess this is bc of the exploit and the inflation, this is not a usual price, unfortunelly there are a lot of players trying to take advantage from what is happening, we have now a lot of overpriced items in our AH. And things are starting to dissaper, maybe the honest players are waiting till the end of this exploit. Ty again Devs, this is probably a annoying situation.

That’s what I was thinking. But I haven’t spent very much time on us1/2 during the years Iv played to know what prices normally are.

 

[Morgan Headstriker]

But believe me we are extremely lucky to be on the server we are on I saw 100 mana going for like 200 gold on us1 and like 100 gold on us2. Where we normally pay 40 if there isn’t a high demand for it

We do have some greedy merchants who sell mana pots for 100g most likely to justify their own pots they also sell for around 50g a stack, which is also expensive. 40g is still the normal going rate for those who aren't wise or resourceful or just too lazy to make their own pots.

 

[IrishElf]

I would not call anyone greedy, an auction will only succeed if you have a seller and a willing buyer. (Unless of course there are outside influences as noted by management.)
If players think a price is too high they won't buy it. Then the cost of listing at a high price becomes a concern for the seller. It can get pricy if you keep listing at unrealistic prices.

 

[Roseabel]

I feel like this is fair steps to take. If it wasn’t earned properly then it should be taken back. Some people are acting like they’re banning everyone for this when she clearly stated, “Players who REPEATEDLY have ill-gotten gold taken by us, will face temporary to permanent bans.” Just wanted to address this as well. Thank you guys for working so diligently on this!

 

[sirbabbo]

I feel like this is fair steps to take. If it wasn’t earned properly then it should be taken back. Some people are acting like they’re banning everyone for this when she clearly stated, “Players who REPEATEDLY have ill-gotten gold taken by us, will face temporary to permanent bans.” Just wanted to address this as well. Thank you guys for working so diligently on this!

But that would require people to read! I mean Sarah did point it out twice! Lol

 

[Katniss Everdeen]

This explains a lot. Some weeks back, I had heard the AH was out of sight on US1, so I popped on to see. While in Ardent, a toon came up and asked to be my friend. I agreed and they opened the trade window ( sometimes the newbs will give you some low-level stuff in appreciation for your friendship) I saw they were giving me thousands in gold. I refused the trade, told them I have plenty of gold already and gave them some pies.