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Author Topic: Gemp-LotR Merchant explained - Q&A  (Read 9737 times)

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March 14, 2012, 04:21:30 AM
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MarcinS

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Gemp-LotR Merchant explained - Q&A
« on: March 14, 2012, 04:21:30 AM »
Today I have finally added Currency and Merchant to Gemp-LotR.

I want to give you more info on how it works, so you'd have an understanding of what to expect. There will be no instructions here, as the screen is pretty self-explanatory.

Currency

In Game Hall and on Merchant screen you will see something like "200G 0S" on the right-hand side. This indicates how much currency you currently have. G stands for Gold, S stands for Silver, and 1G=100S. At some point I'll replace the G and S letters with icons of appropriate colour.

Earning Currency

When you register, you will be given 200G. Each week (after the first) that you log into your account, you will be given 50G.

This weekly bonus and selling singles to Merchant are the only way of gaining currency.

Spending Currency

Entry to tournaments and leagues will now cost currency. Most likely leagues will cost 50G, but I'm not 100% sure yet on the price.

You can also buy singles and boosters/collections at the Merchant. Normal (non-Reflections) boosters have a fixed price of 10G. Collections (Ages End, etc) will also have a fixed price, after they are added.

How is card price established

Merchant has a 30% spread. Spread is a difference between its sell price and buy price, so if a Merchant is selling a card for 10G, it will offer to buy it off you for 7G (70% of the price). Side note: Most real life card merchants have a spread of 50%.

Due to the fact I had no starting point for card prices, I had to make all cards the same price, based only on rarity. To avoid people buying cheap good cards, and selling bad cards high, in the first 30 days of Merchant operating, the spread is MUCH higher, but is getting lowered down with time, until it gets to the 30%. This is also something that real life card merchants do - increase spread for new cards.

Whenever a card is bought from Merchant, the price of the card increases by 10% and if no other operations are done on the card, it will slowly return to its price it was sold for after 5 days.

Whenever a card is sold to Merchant, the price of the card decreases by 10% and if no other operations are done on the card, it will slowly return to its price it was bought for after 5 days.

After the 5 days since last operation on the card, the card price will be slowly dropping over time. The card price will decrease by 50% after 30 days and will keep on dropping, until someone buys or sells the card.

Buy price for foils is double the normal value of a card.

Card availability

Merchant has an unlimited supply of cards. It's selling only non-foil/non-AI cards and only from the set they were originally printed in.

Card trading with other players

To avoid people cheating the system, for example with multiple accounts or scamming other people for good cards, I have decided to not introduce trading between players. Introducing such a system would require high maintenance cost (time) to try and track down people cheating, monitoring trades, etc.

Merchant card prices will (in time) be a good reflection of the card demand and value, so it should be enough to give you all the tools to acquire the cards you want and even enjoy earning some currency on card price fluctuations.

Trading in cards for foils

Merchant also allows you to trade in 4 copies of the same non-foil card (same printing and image) for 1 copy of a foil version of the same exact card.

Questions?

If you have any questions, just post them here.
« Last Edit: March 14, 2012, 04:33:30 AM by MarcinS »
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March 14, 2012, 07:10:51 AM
Reply #1

Gartax

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Re: Gemp-LotR Merchant explained - Q&A
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2012, 07:10:51 AM »
I think that the merchant should not have unlilited rare supplie. It should have a fix starting amoun
t. Price gowing up for each x day when the supply is 0. And price gowing donw for each x day no card is sold. That it will force player to buy booster.

Also will league play force you to use your cards? Except sealed league? Because I am wondering what i will gain starting to collector these.  Thanks!!!!

March 14, 2012, 07:16:50 AM
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MarcinS

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Re: Gemp-LotR Merchant explained - Q&A
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2012, 07:16:50 AM »
There will be 3 types of leagues and tournaments:
- sealed,
- constructed - using "All cards"
- collector's constructed - using "My cards"

Collector's constructed will have higher prize pay out than normal constructed ones.

I was considering limited supply, but then whoever will get to buy first, will benefit. So then card availability will be more of luck based, and I want to avoid that. Not to mention that it would not really model a real life very well, as most people do not buy boosters of cards any more, instead choose to buy singles off the internet.

Don't worry - boosters will still be opened, as they are the only option for prizes.
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March 14, 2012, 07:45:31 AM
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Gartax

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Re: Gemp-LotR Merchant explained - Q&A
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2012, 07:45:31 AM »
Sound good thanks!!!

March 14, 2012, 10:07:16 AM
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hsiale

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Re: Gemp-LotR Merchant explained - Q&A
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2012, 10:07:16 AM »
Spread is 98,5% at the moment. And it decreases visibly (most expensive rares are 72.05 now and were 72.13 when I got back home less than an hour ago).

I still don't like the fact that C and U foils are so easily available. Getting them will now be only a matter of enough clicking, as when the spread goes to normal, I guess commons will be worth less than 0.10 a piece (probably even 0.01 for most of them) and only really good uncommons will go above 1.00. What do you think about:
- making each foil worth at least 1.00, even when original card is worth less than 0.50,
- to balance this, adding a tax of 4.00 to every "trade 4 for foil" operation?

This way the overall buy-sell balance will not be changed, but foils will be something special. As money we use in the game is virtual, not real, foils can be given a bit more value.

BTW, I think all you wrote here should also be at the Gemp site, as I think there are people who play there but don't use this forum.

March 14, 2012, 11:33:50 AM
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MarcinS

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Re: Gemp-LotR Merchant explained - Q&A
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2012, 11:33:50 AM »
I'll add the "trade 4 for foil" tax, as for the sell price minimum of foil - I'm not going to introduce it. If you think your foil is worth more, you're free to keep it. ;) And you can't buy foils, so it should be a problem.
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March 14, 2012, 02:14:48 PM
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Gartax

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Re: Gemp-LotR Merchant explained - Q&A
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2012, 02:14:48 PM »
Is that normal that I do not see the merchant button?

March 14, 2012, 02:16:35 PM
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MarcinS

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Re: Gemp-LotR Merchant explained - Q&A
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2012, 02:16:35 PM »
Is that normal that I do not see the merchant button?
Refresh Game Hall by pressing F5.
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March 15, 2012, 11:38:29 AM
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jahataku

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Re: Gemp-LotR Merchant explained - Q&A
« Reply #8 on: March 15, 2012, 11:38:29 AM »
Anyone notices there are no ,,reflections'' boosters? Were there any IRL or that is just me dreaming ? :D
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March 15, 2012, 12:58:16 PM
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MarcinS

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Re: Gemp-LotR Merchant explained - Q&A
« Reply #9 on: March 15, 2012, 12:58:16 PM »
Anyone notices there are no ,,reflections'' boosters? Were there any IRL or that is just me dreaming ? :D
I'll do them later, as they are a bit more complicated. Also need to find out, how were they packed.
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March 16, 2012, 02:02:15 AM
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Air Power

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Re: Gemp-LotR Merchant explained - Q&A
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2012, 02:02:15 AM »
Also need to find out, how were they packed.

Not a perfect resource, but I hope this helps:
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php/topic,7638.0.html
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March 16, 2012, 07:39:51 AM
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MarcinS

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Re: Gemp-LotR Merchant explained - Q&A
« Reply #11 on: March 16, 2012, 07:39:51 AM »
Also need to find out, how were they packed.

Not a perfect resource, but I hope this helps:
http://lotrtcgwiki.com/forums/index.php/topic,7638.0.html

Ok, found a different resource describing the packaging of Reflections and after next restart, the boosters will be available at the merchant. Unlike all the other boosters, their price will be 20G, and players will not be able to choose the booster as part of their "Booster selection" price for leagues and tournaments.
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March 27, 2012, 06:24:18 AM
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tanzhamster

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Re: Gemp-LotR Merchant explained - Q&A
« Reply #12 on: March 27, 2012, 06:24:18 AM »
Marcin, did you make your decision about the entry fee for the next leagues allready?

April 29, 2012, 08:39:09 AM
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Gartax

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Re: Gemp-LotR Merchant explained - Q&A
« Reply #13 on: April 29, 2012, 08:39:09 AM »
I thin kthe merchand should have a minimum card price. Selling card should get too 1 silver, but buying them should never get under 10 silver for a commun, 50 silver for an uncommon and 1 gold for a rare. And key rare should not be sold under 5 gold. To determine key rare just take all rare that worth more than 5 gold right in the middle of a collector league. Currently FOTR.

Else in a few month all card except a few per set will be selling for a few penny, since each player is given 50 gold per week, it is only a matter of time that the card price will be dropping.

May 01, 2012, 07:01:18 AM
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MarcinS

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Re: Gemp-LotR Merchant explained - Q&A
« Reply #14 on: May 01, 2012, 07:01:18 AM »
I thin kthe merchand should have a minimum card price. Selling card should get too 1 silver, but buying them should never get under 10 silver for a commun, 50 silver for an uncommon and 1 gold for a rare. And key rare should not be sold under 5 gold. To determine key rare just take all rare that worth more than 5 gold right in the middle of a collector league. Currently FOTR.

Else in a few month all card except a few per set will be selling for a few penny, since each player is given 50 gold per week, it is only a matter of time that the card price will be dropping.
I don't think it's a good idea, not to mention, that it would not reflect a real market. If a card is worthless (nobody buys it), then you can get the card for close to nothing.
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