It's here! The "Funding" as chadz & the Devs call it, has been implemented!
Once again, I want to say a big "Thank You" to all you who voted and posted in this thread! Not that this thread got this implemented... it seemed the Devs may have already been chewing on this idea. But I think it definitely got the ball rolling for them to actually make it happen. Meaning, the "Funding" option may have been months down the road if not for this thread (and you folks voice here in this thread).
And of course a huge "Thanks" to chadz & the Devs!!!
- Mallets
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Why propose this idea?
It's quite tough for Alts to build up the financial capital that we can with our Mains. Mains can sell their looms in the Marketplace, ensuring that for several generations (a very freaking long time), that they'll never have to worry about upkeep. Also, with your main, when trying out items and finding out you don't like them... you can sell them on the Marketplace for about 90% of what you paid for them (only a 10% loss). With an Alt, you have to sell it back to the shop for a 50% loss. That can equal a lot of money (I mean a lot of money) for players. Along with that... Mains can find deals in the Marketplace on items that Alts don't have a chance at.
I'm just saying all this to show the financial challenges that Alts face that Mains simply do not. Again, I'm not suggesting that Alts get to use the Marketplace. I just want to Mains be able to give money to Alts... in order to help alleviate their financial woes. Players work hard to get their Alts to lvl 30... it'd be nice to see them have the same financial stability we have with our Mains.
What's the idea? How would it work?
I propose that Mains be able to give Alts money (gold). Now this would be only for Mains to give money. Alts would not be able to give money back to Mains... nor to other Alts.
Whether Mains would be able to give money to STF characters is certainly up for debate. At this moment, I'd say "No". But this feature is discussed in the last paragarph. STF characters are certainly different from regular Alts. With regular Alts, players have to work hard to get to lvl 30. It'd be nice to see that hard work be fruitful... and have Alts be afforded the same financial stability as Mains.
Just for Main characters, have a Tab where they can give money to their Alts. Not sure how the interface would work or look. But it should be a simple interface to make. And I'd think it would be a somewhat easy as programming goes. Shouldn't be too hard of an idea to implement!
Why this is a good idea? Or at least... why it's not a bad idea?
First off, I think there's several benefits to this idea. But just as important... I don't see any negative effects to this idea. Check out #1, it actually may be the best reason to implement this.
1) Allowing Mains to give money to Alts will help take some money out of the Market... helping fight inflation. There's tons of complaints about inflation and too much money in circulation. The money given to Alts will be forever lost from the Market, since Alts can't give money themselves. Over time it could totally halt inflation... might even actually see deflation happen!
2) It'll help alleviate the financial woes that Alts face... which Mains simply do not. Allowing Alts to wear better armor and not worry about upkeep, just the same as Mains. While this will make more well-equipped players in-game... that's not a bad thing. Some folks may not like that idea... but it's not an unfair advantage (because Mains get to do this). And you guys know that skill is way more of an advantage than equipment.
3) There's no negative effect to Strategus. Mains cannot be given money in any way... so no unfair advantages.
Closing Statement... and what I (and the Community) need from you?
Hopefully you see the advantages of this idea. But also, hopefully you see there's no real negative (or unfair) points in this idea. And the factor of taking money out of circulation in the Marketplace is seemingly a good enough reason alone.
Please vote "Yes" at the top. Please +1 this idea. Please make a post saying "great idea" or what not... so we can get many bumps on this.
I really want to take this idea to the Admins and push for this idea to be put into effect. But I (or rather we) need to come together and unanimously make our voices/opinions known. Let's make this idea happen!!!
STF feature in question
Would a Main be able to give money to a "Skip The Fun" character? Two positives here. One being that 10k is not a lot of gold to really enjoy your STF character (thus making you grind like all other characters). Allowing STFs to receive money would hush all the complaints about this (cause many folks are asking for the 10k to be raised). Number 2, giving money to a STF still takes money out of circulation in the Marketplace. And with players regularly (at least weekly) creating and deleting STF characters... that's just more money that's likely to leave the Market... thus helping to halt inflation. Players make a STF character. Give it tons of money to max out their equipment. Two weeks later they are wanting to make another STF character... so they delete this one... losing all those items anyways. And then they make another character, give it money to max out equipment... and take even more money out of circulation in the Market.
The negative factor to this is... most players (after at least gen-ing their Main, which most players have done so) can instantly make a lvl 30 character with the best equipment available. What's different about regular Alts is that players work hard to get them to lvl 30... they should be able to have the same financial stability as Mains. However, STF characters are a different story. Players could truly have instant gratification if able to give money to STF characters.