Many have noted the need for gold sinks. The most obvious reason is for the overall well being of the economy - so that gold has trading value amongst players.
But I want to quickly focus on the current problem in team dungeon runs. Loot from bosses in level 45 dungeons falls into one of the following categories: (1) Set boots/gloves; (2) Random Stats Equipment; (3) Non-Random Stats Equipment; (4) Crystalline Remnant; (5) Elemental Flake; (6) Glimmering/Defined Gem;
Set Boots/Gloves (Bound): Unless a player needs these for his set, this is the equivalent of its gold value.
Random Stats Equipment: Could be useful with good rolls but vast majority of the time this is the equivalent of its gold value.
Non-Random Stats Equipment: I may be wrong but my memory tells me this is almost always (if not always) a weapon of sorts. Anyhow, for any player with their set (including crafted weapon) this is the equivalent of its gold value.
Crystalline Remnant: Hypothetical resale value in EP but generally not in current game state. Value to a player changing builds or working on an alt and needs it for crafting. Devalued due to weekly BT/RG quests where a player can easily get 8 per week. Other than that its value is its resale value in gold.
Elemental Flake: Same as Crystalline Remnant, but additionally devalued because it can be obtained with Artisan Points in addition to BT/RG weeklies. Hypothetical resale value in EP. Possible resale value in gold.
Glimmering/Defined Gem: Essentially two varieties here: good types and bad types. Players going to dungeons want one thing more than anything else: The good type of these.
The Issue That Has Arisen
The issue that now exists in team dungeons from established players is this: Any item won from a boss that is not a good glimmering or defined gem is "bleh." [Yes, minor exception for random item with good rolls.] Any item won from a boss that is a good glimmering of defined gem is "hooray!"
The reason stems from the devaluation of gold. As shown above, all boss loot outside of good gems essentially translates into gold. If there is nothing good to spend gold on, players are unenthusiastic about winning it. The gold sink problem has now creeped into the realm of dungeon runs by devaluing runs and turning almost all items into boom or bust. This is not the way players should view dungeon loot.


