Spiral Knights - AH Prices Vs. CE Prices

AH Prices Vs. CE Prices

9 replies [Last post]

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 13:07

arrogantmatt

Legacy Username

I picked up this game about a week ago and really started looking into it. I have noticed something that i believe to be both a flaw in design and player behavior although i may be wrong.

The first thing i've noticed is the cost of C.E. which has been hovering around 6k as of late. So 6,000 crowns = 100 C.E. and vice versa for the purposes of this analysis. I have noted the following:

2* items:
Average AH price: 3k CR (+/- 1k)

Recipe cost: 1k CR
Alch cost: 400 CR and 50 CE
Mats: 0 (assume they were found during runs or bought for a negligible amount on the AH)

If you convert the energy cost to CR: 50 CE=3,000 CR

This would bring the cost of crafting it when converted to crowns to 3.4k CR for only the alch, 4.4k CR if you include the recipe and more if you include mats.

3* items:
Average AH Price is around 12k CR (+/- 2k)

Recipe cost: 4k CR
Alch cost: 1k CR and 200 CE
Mats: 0 (assume they were found during runs or bought for a negligible amount on the AH and you have the underlying weapon/armor/shield)

If you convert the energy cost to CR: 200 CE=12,000 CR

This would bring the cost of crafting it when converted to crowns to 13k CR for only the alch, 17k CR if you include the recipe and more if you include mats.

It seems to me that crafting 2* and 3* items is inefficient in regards to buying what you want outright from the AH by using mist only for runs and selling everything you come across to come up with the dough. This also causes me to question why someone would sell a crafted item on the AH for (in some cases) significantly less than the cost of creating it.

Before you respond, Yes i realize a number of variables such as the exact item in question, the number of CR earned with 100 mist energy, the fact that you may have the recipe already, etc etc may alter the numbers somewhat but i contend that the point I am making is valid in the majority of cases.

To take this point a bit further lets do some more math.
If you can buy a helmet, chestpeice, shield, and weapon of 3* quality for 48k as i've demonstrated above. Why not buy the 750 CE package and sell it all for crowns at 6k each, this would net you 42k. 2 days of mist energy is more than enough to come up with the additional 6k to purchase an entire 3* set. My point is, for $2.45 and the CR probably sitting on your toon right now you can bypass tier 1 almost entirely and get into a decent set of gear. While I realize the value of T1 to learn the ropes and basics of the game, it seems like a no brainer once you have everything figured out to go ahead and spend $2.45 to boost halfway through the game.

Thoughts?

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 13:14

Nodocchi

People are crafting using

People are crafting using their mist energy for Unique Variants, which are rare bonuses that can appear on a piece of equipment you craft. People are selling sometimes at a loss in order to recoup at least some of the costs of their venture. Which is why you will see most of the really popular and useful equipment sets sell for a lot less on the Auction House than less useful equipment. Though counter-intuitive, it provides new players with some of the best equipment sets for cheap prices. Essentially if a new player wanted to they could buy everything up to 3* from the Auction House instead of crafting it themselves.

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 13:14

Undying

"This also causes me to

"This also causes me to question why someone would sell a crafted item on the AH for (in some cases) significantly less than the cost of creating it."

People mass produce popular items in order to get strong UV's. Which in the end, can make them a lot more than they spent, if they're lucky enough. Sometimes I'll craft 10 items, and get 9 UV's out of them. Even if they're low they can sell for 1-2k (2*) more than the regular item fairly easily.

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 13:29

BiggestLoser

Legacy Username

Zelda

"This also causes me to question why someone would sell a crafted item on the AH for (in some cases) significantly less than the cost of creating it."
Because the NPC gives less money than the auction house. That reason is valid for all casual, mist and rage crafters.

"My point is, for $2.45 and the CR probably sitting on your toon right now you can bypass tier 1 almost entirely and get into a decent set of gear. While I realize the value of T1 to learn the ropes and basics of the game, it seems like a no brainer once you have everything figured out to go ahead and spend $2.45 to boost halfway through the game."
Some people might not be able to figure everything out, while others may need a while(i'm included here). I think those are the majority of players.

"I picked up this game about a week ago and really started looking into it. I have noticed something that i believe to be both a flaw in design and player behavior although i may be wrong."
I thought about this 1 a little bit. I think, since this is an MMO, it is okay to have the players play with both, the monsters and the players. So i come to the conclusion, that it isn't a flaw.

Besides, i am assuming, that you're aware of Unique Variants and their values.

Correct me, if i'm wrong.

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 17:49

arrogantmatt

Legacy Username

I'm aware of UV but i don't

I'm aware of UV but i don't seem to think they play such a significant role. If you go into any encounter in this game with 3 other competant players in a generic set of 5* gear without UV's I believe you can succeed. UV's help, i'm sure of that, but i feel their importance is not overwhelmingly significant. Its not like in wow where you need best in slot and enchants and elixers etc etc to down a high end boss everytime. Something tells me this game is much more simplistic and i'm drawn to that.

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 17:54

Volebamus

You're assuming people that

You're assuming people that want UV need the UV to succeed.

Instead, they want to UV to succeed in what they want to do faster, easier, and/or with style. People are willing to spend more CE on any or all three of those.

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 18:43

Dukesky

Legacy Username

As others have said....

Players mass-produce items hoping for valuable Unique Variants, either to use or sell. Everything else is being sold at a loss, for whatever they/we can get. So, yes, crafters are selling at massive losses usually, so do them a favor and buy something.

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 19:26

BiggestLoser

Legacy Username

Zelda

"i don't seem to think"
First of all, that's funny xD. Thumbs up for that.

Other than that, assuming a 10% chance with equal chances on each UV and multiplying it with the possible amount of different UV's for a 2* weapon, i get this:
- Attack speed
- Charge time reduction
- Damage bonus vs construct
- Damage bonus vs gremlin
- Damage bonus vs fiend
- Damage bonus vs beast
- Damage bonus vs undead
- Damage bonus vs slime

That is 8 x 4(Low, Medium, High, Very High) = 32

So the chance for 1 particular UV, that you're looking for would be at 1/32 x 10% = 1/320, which means you'd have to craft 320 x 2* to get the UV, you're looking for, if you're luck is abnormally normal(lol). That's 320 x 50 energy + 320 x 200 crowns + 320 x mats = 16 000 + 64 000 crowns + 320 x mats. So, it is in fact worth buying what you're looking for.

I know, that the UV's aren't worth their value. However, if you're rich and have everything, you ever wanted, then there really isn't much, you could possibly aim for. That's, where UV's come in.

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 19:49

Mauto

The way I see it..*

The mass crafters are the big-box retailers (wallwart, kaymart, etc.) while we, the smaller crafters, are the specialty shops. Our products are created with only the best materials and crafted with the kind of love and attention to detail you just can't get from large scale factory work, and the cost for said item reflects this. We simply cannot compete with such quantities of poorly made and cheaply produced items. So when you're looking for quality; when you absolutely, positively, need to send that gremlin healer back to whatever den of villainy gremlins emerge from, remember the hard working entrepreneurs out there and buy locally produced high quality weapons and armour.

(*This has been an abject lesson in learning to ignore any statement that begins with "The way I see it...". Your time will almost always be better spent thinking about cats, videos of cats on the internet, or other important things. In all honesty godspeed you crazy low-balling crafters. Lower prices on 2-3 star items hopefully encourages new players to keep it up and it allows more senior players easier paths to those items upgraded equivalents. Like the other posters have stated many of those items were made by players looking for UVs, so unless there was a compelling reason to equip 40+ haze bombs, well...)

Mon, 07/11/2011 - 20:08

Duskdash

People that craft with mist

People that craft with mist are doing the community a service, actually.

You may not earn as many raw crowns if you craft with mist, but by earning your money in trades and not from the game "printing" it via monster drops, you're not contributing to inflation, either.

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AH Prices Vs. CE Prices