Main Thread: http://forums.spiralknights.com/en/node/95492

From the OP:
===Selling Gear/Progress Fairly in Some Way===

The original intention of the energy system was to limit the ratio of paying and non-paying members to a ratio. It relied off of players that cared for the game deeply enough to have faith in the energy system and pull through, buying and selling energy on a regular basis.

Something like this *could* be attained, but would have to be done in a way that made it seem fair to the players. In my eyes it would need to avoid giving a massive edge to a minority of players to work.. things like unique variants allow for this to work well for to this end (with the exception of lockdown, UVs are relatively unnecessary). Things like buying and heating weapons do not, though the upgraded system of buying weapons was far more fair and lenient, while still holding true to the model of selling players content. I think this model is vaguely acceptable, as long as it isn't entirely needed to progress- which raises the issue of players not buying into it at all and the game not profiting from it.

===Kathrine Dragon - Bringing Back Epass/Selling Control===

"Second would be an elevator pass equivalent because ele passes were the thing back in the day if you know what I'm talking about. So what would be an ele pass equivalent? An ele pass was basically freedom. You bought the right to go anywhere at any time and not have to pay a single mist. Since the arcade revival, this idea is viable: if the party leader has an arcade pass he can select which level to do. As in, if there are 3 levels rotating at the next depth, the party leader which of the three he wants to do. Of course there's also the discussion as to whether he can select at graveyard/TV depths but that's a side discussion. Alternatively, and perhaps more radically, a pass could allow someone to start a gate at any level. I think I'll leave it at that."