I still think more FSP in the game would be great on the marketplace prices.... allowing those that don't donate to get FSP alot cheaper.
Quick eco class with very little detail: While "flooding the market" with FSPs might "appear" to be a classic case of bringing down the price of FSP.
This environment isn't yet set up for that, despite that HCS is constantly implementing (and trying to implement) gold sinks. And this suggestion has absolutely nothing to do with that.
Now asahara, you think, and I understand the confusion that MP prices are going to go down with an "influx" of FSPs. If you read EcoFrog's comments on the AH, you'll see another possible effect. Overall need for FSP will INCREASE as prices rise there, not only on items but also on pots. As the costs of basic playing rise in FSP value, people will be MORE willing to buy FSP with their gold. This will actually INCREASE the gold price of FSP in the MP.
Remember that NOBODY uses the listings portion of the MP. Everyone is using Requests... ie., selling their gold to buy FSP. As the need for FSP increases, so will the gold offered for it. In my opinion, you will be worse off than before.
In short... this isn't a gold sink like scavenging is. What's more important to think about is that this suggestion has to do with a relatively "small" portion of the FS community. Hence, FS is NOT going to be flooded with FSP because of "any" change made.
THE FOLLOWING IS RANTING (
read at your own risk):
Beyond that, as EcoFrog and myself (in different ways) pointed out, there is no incentive for HCS to make a change that lowers their income (though, in my opinion, they do it all the time). If you read some of the posts from the big spenders (I myself donate regularly but don't even come close to that category), they are simply looking for a purchase convenience.
As one player has mentioned, they have to pay a fee every time they donate... (I don't) and that is definitely not fair. It's also bad for those who don't donate, because it ups the worth of FSP.
And one of the great things that EF pointed out was the Reward system. He focused on HCS income from advertisement. I no longer live in the U.S., nor did I when this started... but for those players that do and complete rewards in general... as FSP value increases, the "profit" will go down. I do have allies and guildies that live in the States. They currently do surveys because it's worth their time. If, for example, potion prices double in FSP or switch over directly to FSP, that will have a direct effect on their "minimum wage".
I know it "sucks" that you need FSP to improve your character. But I'd like to remind everybody that the game is "free".
People who have big wallets can "improve" faster as far as character upgrades are concerned, but this isn't at all essential to play. It's the same in "RL".
To finish up: I'd like to point out a little "fact" to those people who don't donate
AND think it's unfair that those that do "have it so easy". I've seen a lot of posts, bios, FSBox message, etc... that shun people that buy their way to fame in FS. I think it's utterly ludicrous. If people never donated, this game wouldn't exist. If people didnt' donate, at the very least, this game wouldn't be free.
In my Guiild, there are a few big spenders... they also happen to be extremely generous in helping the Guild out. We don't require donations, we require players to be good people (yeah, I'm doing advertising... check out my bio or chat me up to join, rotfl). I've always found that FS is a lot like RL with one major exception:
all the big spenders that I know here contribute to continue to make FS free and all of them use their RL money to help out the people they think matter.
I can't argue that money won't make your FS playing "better"... but I can definitely argue that it isn't necessary. I simply hate "whiners" and, sincerely, I don't get it... All those complaints about the fact that "so and so" is better at this game than I am because they have loads of money... why don't those people just get over it?
Do you really evaluate yourself in comparison with, let's say, Bill Gates? "Money doesn't make a man" as they say.... so why the heck are you so fixated on it?
Sorry for the long digression, that's just me ,oP...
TO GET BACK TO THE POINT: my suggestion would be for some big spender to consult with ECOFROG (sorry about getting you involved, but let's face it... you're the best, lol) and construct a well thought out suggestion that would be more to the point: ie., Convenience to the big donators without influencing HCS profit .
If anybody takes the plunge and does this, I'll support. PM me in game. (o0