+/- upkeep inflation. Yeah, it keeps some people in line, but people who have been playing a long time are unphased. New players will have a hard time getting anything at this rate. I thought the whole point of upkeep was to be friendly to new players due to the vets not being able to run around in their plate and expensive gear 24/7. It never changed. All the old players have a nice chunk of gold and it never once stopped them from using the gear they loved from back in the day, and it makes it easier for them to slaughter new people in garbage gear because they can barely pay for what they struggled for. Upkeep is not going to make people use their stuff more or less. Why not just get rid of it? It was a nice concept at the start, but all I see is new players having to peasant for weeks to get enough gold to get anything decent, then by the time they get it they can barely maintain it due to upkeep, especially now. I personally am not affected by upkeep, but it is really ruining the fun for newer players trying to get into the game and it is ruining the fun and challenge for vets due to not having much of a challenge fighting people with low grade gear. Most people see good gear as a crutch but for most it is the way they use it. You can run around in plate and the most expensive things all day, but it is not going to change the fact that someone with enough skill in lighter armour will still tear through your metal walls and crush you.
Just my 2 cents.
I found this post from Poophammer in another thread.
This guy is alright, I couldnt have said it better.
Upkeep was implemented and was a good try. But the only thing that changed it was New- and Medium- Players are getting punished. Hardcore Players arnt effected by the upkeep.
If you raise the upkeep (like last patch from 5%-7%) some Hardcore Players lose some money, but New- and Medium Players cant achieve their gear anymore. Like the guy who started the thread and many others who are running around in peasant gear and getting slaughtered by the hardcore one.
Bugatti Veyron vs. Smart.
Look at the guys running around in plate, most of them are the old players with hundred thousands of gold.
The Problem is not that they are running around in plate and using the gear what they want - the problem is the other players cant use their gear what they want because of the upkeep. That means that players who are that damn good, cant be stopped because they have uber gear and other cant ur theirs.
I think upkeep should be removed completely out of the game. That would make it be fair for everone and everybody could use the gear what they want.