A REAL Solution to Price Manipulation

[Earth_Poet]

Before I begin I want to point out this essay implies that there is a problem with price manipulation and it must be stopped. While I dont want to discourage any replies in favor of price manipulators, what my true aim is to promote a solution that we can all live with, that will benefit everyones style of play. I oppose price manipulation, but I don't think it makes those that do it inherently evil.

 

 

 

A Growing Problem

 

 

 

Merchant clans.

 

 

 

There has been a lot of talk about them lately. Is price manipulation wrong? Should something be done about merchant clans, and price manipulation? More importantly, what can be done? My answers to the first two questions are yes, and yes. The final question is a bit trickier. Heres a solution that I propose.

 

 

 

When it comes to stopping price manipulation, there seems to be two common solutions presented: lift trade caps, or restrict trade caps even further. Although I am opposed to price manipulation, I feel neither of these solutions will produce the results we seek, and can potentially make things worse for the rest of us.

 

 

 

Lifting trade caps is not a viable solution Jagex will consider. Removing trade caps opens the door to RWT once again, and considering the trade caps were put in place to prevent RWT in the first place its not likely that Jagex would entertain this idea. Furthermore, it only lifts what restrictions are in place for merchant clans, allowing them to buy out items at greater speed. The only benefit against merchant clans is it would create greater risk for them. The current price caps actually serve as a safety net for merchant clans who know the prices will only rise or fall to a certain point.

 

 

 

Alternatively, tightening the trade caps even further will cause more harm than good. If there is any trade cap available, it can and will be manipulated through the system we have now. The only difference this would make would be to slow down merchant clans. However, stricter trade caps also run the risk of bottlenecking other items in the GE. For example, if an items value is affected by an update, it will take longer for the price to meet its demand and stabilize. Restricting trade caps will not eliminate price manipulation, and will only hurt us further.

 

 

 

Stricter trade caps will also lead us down a path towards set-in-stone prices. You may have heard some players call out words like communism or socialism. Most of these comments are nothing more than political hot buttons we hear in the media, and I believe some players are simply reciting what they hear without understanding what it means. There is some truth to this though. If Jagex decided to set all prices, then our economy would resemble a system called market socialism. Set prices would eliminate price manipulation, but also a valuable emergent aspect of Runescape. Players who are savvy enough to recognize the supply and demand in our economy should not have to suffer. Many of our skills are reflective of how much money you can raise, and there should be multiple avenues of making money available.

 

 

 

So how can we remove price manipulation without destroying merchanting altogether? Surely, there must be some way. I think there is, but in order to understand this method we need to first look at why price manipulation has become so desirable.

 

 

 

Why is Manipulation so Profitable?

 

 

 

Merchant clans serve one primary purpose, and its not to make friends. Merchant clans band together to possess greater influence over the economy. To put it simply, the more money you have, the more power you have. It works in their favor for two reasons:

 

 

 

1. If merchants are working together, then it reduces their competition against each other.

 

 

 

2. They have an enhanced ability to buy out all available stock of a particular item on the GE.

 

 

 

In the real world, a merchant clan would be known as a collusion. The practice of buying out a dominating share of stock for the express purposes of restricting supply and manipulating its price is known as cornering the market. There are laws in preventing these practices in most countries, and for very good reason.

 

 

 

Merchant clans are beneficial because they are able to eliminate competition amongst themselves (by banding together), and gain the ability to overrun any outside competition.

 

 

 

However, merchant clans are only a symptom. The real underlying problem is the GE. The flaw in the GEs design was when Jagex chose to implement its system as a form of control over all trades. The GE sets universal prices caps whether you choose to trade inside the GE or not. Therefore, it makes little sense for most players to trade anywhere else, as you will be getting the exact same results with fewer headaches through the GE. The GE has become the center for nearly all trading within Runescape, and that is where the real problem is.

 

 

 

If 99% of all trades occur on the GE, then it concentrates all goods for sale into one location. If you manage to manipulate the GE, you manage to manipulate virtually all trading in the game. A price manipulator can funnel all sales of their target item directly to them with complete anonymity, and move the price at their will. Looking at this from another angle, every time you choose to use the GE, you are paying an invisible tax directly to merchant clans.

 

 

 

The Solution

 

 

 

Merchant clans have abused the GE to reduce their competition, reduce their risk, and create a monopoly (or oligopoly to be more accurate) on trading. Therefore, the answer does not lie in heavier restrictions. Instead, we can take a more lateral approach to the solution by increasing competition against merchant clans. In order to do this though, we have to reduce the influence the GE has over all of us.

 

 

 

First, Jagex must take a stand against price manipulation. They must make an official policy against these practices, and post it on the front page. There mustnt be any doubt where Jagexs position is. If the honest players are aware of the policy, then they will stop. Then, Jagex must take a more active approach in monitoring trade activity, and punishing those who abuse the system.

 

 

 

Next, the GE should be limited to a certain number of worlds available, similar to PVP worlds. All trades within the GE only occur within these worlds, and all access to the GE is limited to these worlds with the exception of the collection boxes at the banks. This may seem harsh to some of you, but it is with good purpose. This would reduce the influence of the GE, not trading. The downside to this would be that the GE worlds would always be full, and to some degree that would be the point. The true intention behind this is to encourage player-to-player trading, and all individual trades should count towards influencing the GEs prices as well.

 

 

 

Individual trading should also be enhanced with a system called Bank Wire Transactions. The bank wires are real-time, individual trades that can be conducted across different worlds. A seller can locate a buyer through forums, cc, or whatever means they choose. They can make a trade between the two players at any bank, but it must be done in real-time. Basically, its the same as normal trading, except it doesnt have to be done face to face.

 

 

 

Spam trading would be where two or more players are simply trading back and forth to one another in hopes to raise prices. There should be detection that would prevent spam traders similar to how door spammers were stopped.

 

 

 

The biggest enemy to merchant clans would be to create more diversity within the market, encouraging more avenues of trade. This would reduce the amount of trades taking place on the GE itself, and thus reducing the power to manipulate all trades. Greater levels of trading will have two negative impacts on merchant clans:

 

 

 

1. it will take more effort to corner the market

 

2. it will increase their risk

 

 

 

It will be more difficult for price manipulators to influence all individual trades, and because this system creates more individual sales it means more competition against them. This will drive out most price manipulators who are just looking for easy money, and anybody left trying can be punished in smaller numbers.

 

 

 

The Benefits

 

 

 

Although my method would help to reduce the level of influence price manipulators have on the market, it still leaves plenty of room for money-making opportunities.

 

 

 

Not everybody will be able to access the GE. Also, not everybody is willing to search for buyers and sellers on their own. This would allow profits to be made by trading at more desirable prices within the trade caps already in place. Essentially, this would bring back much of the old way of merchanting, which is what merchanting actually is. Merchants could once again find players who are willing to pay a little more or sell for a little less in exchange for the convenience of a quick transaction. Once again, merchants would be able to collect commission for their efforts, but it will take more work than the 5 minute bids on the GE and your done kind of days. Even though old-school merchanting might come back, players would have greater abilities to make trades on their own if they choose to do the legwork with the GE and bank wires.

 

 

 

I believe this method offers a realistic solution to our current problems. It has the potential to benefit both players and merchants, while nullifying price manipulation. However, I wont say this plan is perfect. If Jagex says they listen to our ideas, then we need to come up with a REAL solution they can use. I welcome any discussion, criticism, or suggestions that can help us build a better plan.

[Ravenkana]

Here's a better solution: laissez-faire, let it be. They're doing nothing wrong, maybe unethical but nothing wrong, and any solution implemented by Jagex will, undoubtedly, be far worse than what we currently endure. I do not want them to touch the economy again.

[aegistitan]

very well done, i support

 

 

 

slowing down the ge is the way to go.

 

 

 

also the player-player trade idea was also very well thought out.

[Danqazmlp]

I agree with your solution, in basic, it is slowing down the g.e,and any trades taking place on it, and encouraging player-to-player trades.

 

 

 

The only problem is that it could also make it much easier for a clan to buy out and manipulate an item.

 

 

 

If x item is brought out by a clan, people would (using your system) start trading the item player-to-player, however, this wouldn't stop the item from being brought out in the g.e, it wouls actually mean the clan has to buy less of the item to buy it out and increase the price ( i think)

 

 

 

To fight that, a system tracking player-to-player trades would need to be implimented so that those trades could altar the price of an item aswell.

 

 

 

Another solution could also be to just slow down any g.e trades, such as not being able to pick up an item/cash untill 10 mins after the trade is completed.

[jonni]

limiting the GE to a few worlds would be a spammy lagfest that nobody wants or enjoys

[l0rd]

Interesting read

 

 

 

I pictured this new GE idea as the old world 2 marketplace. If anyone needed to make a large purchase, they would head over to world 2, and buy what they needed. However, in the system you proposed, I don't see a world being intentionally full as a good enough reason to make someone inclined to search on the forums or in a populated area for a 1-on-1 trade. Seems like GE trade with still drastically dominate.

[joke_slayer]

Here's a better solution: laissez-faire, let it be. They're doing nothing wrong, maybe unethical but nothing wrong, and any solution implemented by Jagex will, undoubtedly, be far worse than what we currently endure. I do not want them to touch the economy again.

 

 

 

no laissez-faire is bad, look at what happened in the 20s and 30s, harding, coolidge, and hoover were all in favour of laissez-faire, this helped to cause the great depression, and it wasn't till roosevelt was elected, and he intervened with the economy, that the situation improved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

regarding this system, with the trade limit still in place i fail to see how old school style merchers would make any significant profits

[l0rd]

Here's a better solution: laissez-faire, let it be. They're doing nothing wrong, maybe unethical but nothing wrong, and any solution implemented by Jagex will, undoubtedly, be far worse than what we currently endure. I do not want them to touch the economy again.

 

 

 

no laissez-faire is bad, look at what happened in the 20s and 30s, harding, coolidge, and hoover were all in favour of laissez-faire, this helped to cause the great depression, and it wasn't till roosevelt was elected, and he intervened with the economy, that the situation improved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

regarding this system, with the trade limit still in place i fail to see how old school style merchers would make any significant profits

 

Well, in a Laissez-Faire economy, the GE wouldn't even need to exist. The only downside to this would be RWT, scamming, and hacking for items (just like before).

[Ravenkana]

Here's a better solution: laissez-faire, let it be. They're doing nothing wrong, maybe unethical but nothing wrong, and any solution implemented by Jagex will, undoubtedly, be far worse than what we currently endure. I do not want them to touch the economy again.

 

 

 

no laissez-faire is bad, look at what happened in the 20s and 30s, harding, coolidge, and hoover were all in favour of laissez-faire, this helped to cause the great depression, and it wasn't till roosevelt was elected, and he intervened with the economy, that the situation improved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

regarding this system, with the trade limit still in place i fail to see how old school style merchers would make any significant profits

What about the seventies? Eighties? Those decades had heavy government regulation and involvement. Furthermore, the great depression was caused not only by rampant spending on credit, but also by A. the dust bowl and B. the vicious cycle which was the German reparations. Additionally, Roosevelt's New Deal didn't have time to help or fix the economy- WW II did that. Suddenly, EVERYONE was being employed, factories were running full capacity, men were being drafted and volunteering, women were working. The New Deal did nothing but create slight temporary relief at the cost of future prosperity.

[Earth_Poet]

limiting the GE to a few worlds would be a spammy lagfest that nobody wants or enjoys

 

 

 

So do you have anything to contribute, or a better solution? Or are you just here to troll?

 

 

 

Here's a better solution: laissez-faire, let it be. They're doing nothing wrong, maybe unethical but nothing wrong, and any solution implemented by Jagex will, undoubtedly, be far worse than what we currently endure. I do not want them to touch the economy again.

 

 

 

If it's unethical, then how is it not wrong? I understand the hesitance on wanting to do anything about it, but I won't accept a shrug and say, "can't do nothing about it." I believe there is a solution somewhere that both sides can agree on. Laissez-faire may mean "let it be," but I don't think it means "look the other way whenever something wrong happens."

 

 

 

The only problem is that it could also make it much easier for a clan to buy out and manipulate an item.

 

 

 

If x item is brought out by a clan, people would (using your system) start trading the item player-to-player, however, this wouldn't stop the item from being brought out in the g.e, it wouls actually mean the clan has to buy less of the item to buy it out and increase the price ( i think)

 

 

 

To fight that, a system tracking player-to-player trades would need to be implimented so that those trades could altar the price of an item aswell.

 

 

 

Another solution could also be to just slow down any g.e trades, such as not being able to pick up an item/cash untill 10 mins after the trade is completed.

 

 

 

To answer the bottom of your post, I am against more trade restrictions, and this is my attempt at finding a different solution.

 

 

 

Now, for the rest of your post. Player/player trades would count the same way GE trades count in price changes as you suggested, and I did say that in my essay. Being generous, let's say half of the trades would be occurring on the GE, and half the trades outside of the GE. Even if a merchant clan managed to buy out all items on the GE, they would still only be controlling 50% of the market.

 

 

 

That means they still have competition outside of the GE to contend with. Ideally, if the prices begin to rise, a competing merchant can undercut the price manipulators by selling for less. This creates competition, and can undermine the price manipulation plans. That means that in order for merchant clans to corner the market, they have to control both the GE, and the thousands of trades that would be occurring outside of the GE.

 

 

 

I also mentioned a method to prevent merchants from spam trading one another to manipulate prices.

[Ravenkana]

Here's a better solution: laissez-faire, let it be. They're doing nothing wrong, maybe unethical but nothing wrong, and any solution implemented by Jagex will, undoubtedly, be far worse than what we currently endure. I do not want them to touch the economy again.

 

 

 

If it's unethical, then how is it not wrong? I understand the hesitance on wanting to do anything about it, but I won't accept a shrug and say, "can't do nothing about it." I believe there is a solution somewhere that both sides can agree on. Laissez-faire may mean "let it be," but I don't think it means "look the other way whenever something wrong happens."

 

Sorry, by wrong I meant illegal. Obviously, anything unethical is wrong. My mistake!

[Earth_Poet]

Here's a better solution: laissez-faire, let it be. They're doing nothing wrong, maybe unethical but nothing wrong, and any solution implemented by Jagex will, undoubtedly, be far worse than what we currently endure. I do not want them to touch the economy again.

 

 

 

If it's unethical, then how is it not wrong? I understand the hesitance on wanting to do anything about it, but I won't accept a shrug and say, "can't do nothing about it." I believe there is a solution somewhere that both sides can agree on. Laissez-faire may mean "let it be," but I don't think it means "look the other way whenever something wrong happens."

 

Sorry, by wrong I meant illegal. Obviously, anything unethical is wrong. My mistake!

 

 

 

but it is illegal

[Barihawk]

Here's a better solution: laissez-faire, let it be. They're doing nothing wrong, maybe unethical but nothing wrong, and any solution implemented by Jagex will, undoubtedly, be far worse than what we currently endure. I do not want them to touch the economy again.

 

 

 

Err...Laissez-Faire in a closed-market economy never, ever, works.

[magzar]

Here's a better solution: laissez-faire, let it be. They're doing nothing wrong, maybe unethical but nothing wrong, and any solution implemented by Jagex will, undoubtedly, be far worse than what we currently endure. I do not want them to touch the economy again.

 

 

 

no laissez-faire is bad, look at what happened in the 20s and 30s, harding, coolidge, and hoover were all in favour of laissez-faire, this helped to cause the great depression, and it wasn't till roosevelt was elected, and he intervened with the economy, that the situation improved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

regarding this system, with the trade limit still in place i fail to see how old school style merchers would make any significant profits

 

 

 

The great depression was brought about by the largest bank run in history. What brought us out of it was the switch from Private banking to central banking. Now central banking is the big factor in why the national debt is so high.

 

 

 

The USA borrows money from the Federal reserve bank, at interest. There is no possible way to ever pay off these loans because all money comes from the Federa Reserve. So as the interest rises the debt continues to increase.

[Earth_Poet]

The great depression was brought about by the largest bank run in history. What brought us out of it was the switch from Private banking to central banking. Now central banking is the big factor in why the national debt is so high.

 

 

 

The USA borrows money from the Federal reserve bank, at interest. There is no possible way to ever pay off these loans because all money comes from the Federa Reserve. So as the interest rises the debt continues to increase.

 

 

 

OK, this is jumping way off topic now, but the Federal Reserve Act was enacted in 1913. The Great Depression began in 1929. And none of this applies to our current situation in Runescape.

[Gandorf61]

Hmm some well thought out ideas there. Jagex could just announce that it is against the rules and it would take out a huge chunk of the merchanters. Although this would still leave some players who would manipulate the prices secretly but then why not have Jagex crash the price the are manipulating like so many of them thought they did last time?

 

 

 

I would prefer not to have the GE only on select worlds as it is busy enough as it is on every world.

[Abc1230]

So, basically you're saying we should more or less get rid of the grand exchange and keep the trade caps... Remember when Jagex removed the old wilderness? Tens of thousands of players quit. This would do the same thing, but instead of pkers quitting, everybody who ever needed to get rid of the chinchompas accumulated getting to 99 hunter or anybody who needed a pair of insulated boots for their killerwat task would either quit or play less. Since the vast majority of runescape players are children under the age of 18, their membership is most likely coming out of their parents pockets. If mommy realizes that little jimmy is only playing 1 or 2 hours a week, the subscription will be cancelled. This means less money for Jagex. You need to remember, the only reason Runescape exists in the first place is so Jagex can make REAL money. Your "solution" might stop price manipulation, but it would destroy Runescape along with it. It won't happen.

[Earth_Poet]

Hmm some well thought out ideas there. Jagex could just announce that it is against the rules and it would take out a huge chunk of the merchanters. Although this would still leave some players who would manipulate the prices secretly but then why not have Jagex crash the price the are manipulating like so many of them thought they did last time?

 

 

 

I would prefer not to have the GE only on select worlds as it is busy enough as it is on every world.

 

 

 

Deceptively changing prices at will does more damage than good. It also affects any honest players who were using those items, and it drives instability into the market through a loss of confidence in the prices.

 

 

 

I'm not saying this is a perfect solution, but I hope it can at least show people there are alternatives that could benefit everyone.

[Atom Smash40]

good read, and I agree with most of your changes. ofcourse limiting the GE to certain worlds will cause some issues, but the "bank wire" idea is actually one of the smartest things I've ever heard of for runescape. as in previous posts, free market doesn't work when it's a closed market with prices determined by a machine that can only count the number of trades of a particular item and correcting the price based on it.

 

 

 

"merchant" clans are actually anything but. merchanting is selling goods based on supply and demand, and is normally done by one one person, usually an "entrepreneur" (if we can use the term in runescape). merchanting does not affect market prices in any way. it's there like a 7-11. if you want something fast, pay a little more for it. I don't see the "merchant" clans selling goods in w2 for slightly higher prices in order to make peoples lives easier. if jagex wants people to continue to enjoy their game, they should maybe read this article and take some ideas from it. I personally would love to see every manipulator go down. but what can I do? whoever has the money has the power in runescape. I don't have any money

[Danqazmlp]

So, basically you're saying we should more or less get rid of the grand exchange and keep the trade caps... Remember when Jagex removed the old wilderness? Tens of thousands of players quit. This would do the same thing, but instead of pkers quitting, everybody who ever needed to get rid of the chinchompas accumulated getting to 99 hunter or anybody who needed a pair of insulated boots for their killerwat task would either quit or play less. Since the vast majority of runescape players are children under the age of 18, their membership is most likely coming out of their parents pockets. If mommy realizes that little jimmy is only playing 1 or 2 hours a week, the subscription will be cancelled. This means less money for Jagex. You need to remember, the only reason Runescape exists in the first place is so Jagex can make REAL money. Your "solution" might stop price manipulation, but it would destroy Runescape along with it. It won't happen.

 

 

 

Can i guess that your a post-g.e only player? We haven't always had the g.e, we can trade person to person y'know. Without the g.e, its still possible to trade.

 

 

 

Actually, getting rid of the g.e, keeping the caps, and having player-to-player trades control the market is a good idea. However, this could be easily abused by ring-merchanting by a clan, a sells item to b, who sells to c, who sells to d who sells to e who sells to a who sells to b etc. Get the ring large enough and an item could easily be forced up, which is why strict caps, item limits and trade limits are needed.

 

 

 

The fundimental thing with a solution is that people in runescape a greedy, want things now and not later, and will do anything to get money for nothing. Combatting that is the key imo.

[Ravenkana]

Here's a better solution: laissez-faire, let it be. They're doing nothing wrong, maybe unethical but nothing wrong, and any solution implemented by Jagex will, undoubtedly, be far worse than what we currently endure. I do not want them to touch the economy again.

 

 

 

If it's unethical, then how is it not wrong? I understand the hesitance on wanting to do anything about it, but I won't accept a shrug and say, "can't do nothing about it." I believe there is a solution somewhere that both sides can agree on. Laissez-faire may mean "let it be," but I don't think it means "look the other way whenever something wrong happens."

 

Sorry, by wrong I meant illegal. Obviously, anything unethical is wrong. My mistake!

 

 

 

but it is illegal

No, it is not. Unless you can find me proof in the official rules against manipulating the GE prices, than it is, as far as Jagex is be concerned, legal.

[Danqazmlp]

Here's a better solution: laissez-faire, let it be. They're doing nothing wrong, maybe unethical but nothing wrong, and any solution implemented by Jagex will, undoubtedly, be far worse than what we currently endure. I do not want them to touch the economy again.

 

 

 

If it's unethical, then how is it not wrong? I understand the hesitance on wanting to do anything about it, but I won't accept a shrug and say, "can't do nothing about it." I believe there is a solution somewhere that both sides can agree on. Laissez-faire may mean "let it be," but I don't think it means "look the other way whenever something wrong happens."

 

Sorry, by wrong I meant illegal. Obviously, anything unethical is wrong. My mistake!

 

 

 

but it is illegal

No, it is not. Unless you can find me proof in the official rules against manipulating the GE prices, than it is, as far as Jagex is be concerned, legal.

 

 

 

This is goign very off-topic, this isn't to discuss wether it is right or wrong, its for the majority (who think its wrong from what i see) to discuss ways of stopping it.

 

 

 

If you want to discuss wether its right or wrong, this thread viewtopic.php?f=30&t=797039 has some good arguments both ways.

[Earth_Poet]

So, basically you're saying we should more or less get rid of the grand exchange and keep the trade caps... Remember when Jagex removed the old wilderness? Tens of thousands of players quit. This would do the same thing, but instead of pkers quitting, everybody who ever needed to get rid of the chinchompas accumulated getting to 99 hunter or anybody who needed a pair of insulated boots for their killerwat task would either quit or play less. Since the vast majority of runescape players are children under the age of 18, their membership is most likely coming out of their parents pockets. If mommy realizes that little jimmy is only playing 1 or 2 hours a week, the subscription will be cancelled. This means less money for Jagex. You need to remember, the only reason Runescape exists in the first place is so Jagex can make REAL money. Your "solution" might stop price manipulation, but it would destroy Runescape along with it. It won't happen.

 

 

 

If I could get rid of the trade caps I would, but we can't. We're stuck with them. I'm suggesting LIMITING the Grand Exchange's influence, while enhancing personal trade abilities. I'm offering a way beyond the only trade system we really use.

 

 

 

I think you're trying to say trade would die without the GE, and I think that's a complete farce. How did players trade chinchompas before the GE? They found people buying or selling them. How did players obtain insulated boots? From the Slayer Masters. As for the rest of your post, it makes a huge leap in assumptions with no connection. Remove the GE (which I didn't suggest)...and then Jagex goes out of business. I don't buy that.

 

 

 

Actually, getting rid of the g.e, keeping the caps, and having player-to-player trades control the market is a good idea. However, this could be easily abused by ring-merchanting by a clan, a sells item to b, who sells to c, who sells to d who sells to e who sells to a who sells to b etc. Get the ring large enough and an item could easily be forced up, which is why strict caps, item limits and trade limits are needed.

 

 

 

I suppose they could do that, but the problem with that is it would be way to easy for them to scam each other. It would end up as musical chairs, with whoever is left holding the merchandise when the music stops, wins.

[Atom Smash40]

Here's a better solution: laissez-faire, let it be. They're doing nothing wrong, maybe unethical but nothing wrong, and any solution implemented by Jagex will, undoubtedly, be far worse than what we currently endure. I do not want them to touch the economy again.

 

 

 

If it's unethical, then how is it not wrong? I understand the hesitance on wanting to do anything about it, but I won't accept a shrug and say, "can't do nothing about it." I believe there is a solution somewhere that both sides can agree on. Laissez-faire may mean "let it be," but I don't think it means "look the other way whenever something wrong happens."

 

Sorry, by wrong I meant illegal. Obviously, anything unethical is wrong. My mistake!

 

 

 

but it is illegal

No, it is not. Unless you can find me proof in the official rules against manipulating the GE prices, than it is, as far as Jagex is be concerned, legal.

 

This makes it harder for players to manipulate prices and ensures that everyone gets a fair deal.

 

 

 

We will only intervene as a last resort, and only if we think price manipulation is going on, although the system has lots of safeguards to prevent that.

 

they don't approve of it. therefore it's less legal than you say it is

[Master_Smither]

Price manipulation is legal but it's not within the spirit of the game just like 26king.

 

 

 

Your on the right track here but I don't think you have the right solutions yet. I feel this thread was needed because the other manipulation thread was 35 pages of arguments mixed with good ideas which got little to no response.

 

 

 

1. The official statement

 

 

 

Good idea it has to be done and the longer they delay it the more damage that wull be done to the economy. I have a feeling something like a riot is the only way to get their attention about something like this. But riots are bad and you should never do them ;)

 

 

 

2. GE only worlds

 

 

 

Bad idea it would me massive lag and spam even with all worlds with the GE open it is still laggy and spammy. It a good idea but what will become of it is players flooding the server with login requests to get on to sell their items and people who can't get in selling their items for less than they are worth or not being able to sell them at all. The bad outweighs the good in this case so I say scratch this idea.

 

 

 

3. Bank Wire Transactions

 

 

 

Good idea would increase player trading overall but manipulators can post on forums too and have all the sellers sell to them before someone not maniplating gets to them first. Decent idea with some draw backs.

 

 

 

I agree overall though there needs to be changes and it's not more or less limits it's getting people to use that dang trade window that Jagex worked on so we didn't get scammed by item switching and such. It will be hard to stop manipulation but it's something I'm sure the players and Jagex can stop together if they put their minds to it. But right now it doesn't seem like a problem to them especially after no more talk about fixing it by any Jagex mod.

 

 

 

All in all good thread was a nice read and realy puts it something out there for us to come up with ideas.

 

 

 

The only sure fire way to atleast slow manipulation is going to have to be banhammering the big guys such as chessy and smokin mils. This will create fear in the tag alongs and make them worry if they will be banned if they continue. From then on it will switch to IRC or ingame clan chats that are for select members only and this is were Jagex's logs of GE trades comes into play. From then on it will require real humans(I know a shocker Jagex!) to study buying and selling trends of suspected price manipulators. I'm sure there are other ideas that could work in coalition with my idea.

 

 

 

If I'm late replying to anything I'm just busy in pvp and will reply when I can.

 

 

 

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