Many times over the years, there has been an excess of money in RuneScape. Obviously, the money a player creates over his lifetime is a summation of everything he has done in the game, and the majority of said player's wealth drives the economy, amongst other things.

 

This excess amount of money in the game causes inflation. Inflation is the price of every object in the game, desired even minutely, going up. Why? because people can afford to pay more for it, and competitors are more willing to pay more for it. This is not a problem in the real world, for inflation offsetting wage increases are given to workers (about 3% over 5 years).

 

This is a problem in RS. The amount of capital a noob makes is much less than that of a seasoned player such as I, and I have a huge capital gain advantage over him, meaning that I can make more money with less effort and less time, while he has to bust his ass to get 200k an hour. With this measly money, he can't afford the stuff I'm willing to pay 400k-500k more for, just for convenience.

 

Now, over the years, Jagex has tried to remove this excess of cash flow from the game. Not just runes with new spells, or items made from herblore, but physical wealth generated by players; cold, hard, money.

 

The crystal weapons back in the day were a minor offset...

 

Then came construction... which was semi successful..

 

And now we have the Dawn of the Gravite and Chaotic weaponary. Will this change the ever increasing Inflation problem of RS from the game, or at least slow it down?

Discuss.

 

Some thoughts by other posters with interesting viewpoints:

 

I wouldn't say that the reason dungeoneering has caused deflation was the chaotics (seeing as they came out the day the skill was released)' date=' but the skill itself. To hazard a guestimate, I would say the runescape Production Possibility Curve has been reduced by 20% simply because all the time spent in daemonheim is "wasted" when it comes to the rest of Gielinor's economic system. Couple this with a few recent and minor updates such as frost dragons reducing the cost of prayer, korasi's sword reducing the demand for D scim, ss, and z spear and now with the dragon defender.... You can see where this is going. [/quote']

^ - 'Emerson'

For example: take killing someone in full Bandos in PvP. While the personal loss is huge (60M), economically nothing was lost, as Bandos in raw economical gold is worth nothing more than 400K (?); its High-level alchemy value. However, if the person killed drops an Ancient statuette, this actually brings 5M GP into the game.

^ -'Unknwnwrrior'

although the causation has yet to be proven, since chaotic weapons came out price levels have been falling.

The PVP statues (even bigger problem back when people 76k'd all the time) and that climbers update put a LOT of money into the economy. Gravite and chaotic weapons don't drain as much. I'd still say construction is the biggest money drainer in the game.

 

^ isn't that because there's less demand for lower end equipment?

although the causation has yet to be proven, since chaotic weapons came out price levels have been falling.

That's what I'm thinking, and it makes me excited. :)

The PVP statues (even bigger problem back when people 76k'd all the time) and that climbers update put a LOT of money into the economy. Gravite and chaotic weapons don't drain as much. I'd still say construction is the biggest money drainer in the game.

 

^ isn't that because there's less demand for lower end equipment?

 

 

The money generated in about 3-4 days was about the money climbers put into RS. Not many people had a stock of over 100 boots. Think realistically. Yes, some people had Tens of Thousands, but the average player, if all players are to be taken into account, had an extra 200k in his bank. Measly.

 

PvP Statuettes were another Munich Crisis (Epic WWII Reference that only older people will get) from Jagex, catering to the players of utmost oppression, once again, and a big economic fail on their part.

^ isn't that because there's less demand for lower end equipment?

decreased demand for lower end equipment is still a deflationary force, and your explanation doesn't explain the fall in the prices of potions, herbs, bones, fish, and other commodities.

 

which is not to say that the release of chaotics is the sole contributing factor. other factors like the release of frost dragons & herb resource dungeon, increased botting all contribute. however it is safe to say that runescape is experiencing mild deflation.

^ isn't that because there's less demand for lower end equipment?

decreased demand for lower end equipment is still a deflationary force, and your explanation doesn't explain the fall in the prices of potions, herbs, bones, fish, and other commodities.

 

which is not to say that the release of chaotics is the sole contributing factor. other factors like the release of frost dragons & herb resource dungeon, increased botting all contribute. however it is safe to say that runescape is experiencing mild deflation.

 

Mild deflation... Interesting terminology. :P

 

But yes, it seems to me as if RS is in a slow decline (market-wise), unless someone proves otherwise.

although the causation has yet to be proven, since chaotic weapons came out price levels have been falling.

That's what I'm thinking, and it makes me excited. :)

 

I wouldn't say that the reason dungeoneering has caused deflation was the chaotics (seeing as they came out the day the skill was released), but the skill itself. To hazard a guestimate, I would say the runescape Production Possibility Curve has been reduced by 20% simply because all the time spent in daemonheim is "wasted" when it comes to the rest of Gielinor's economic system. Couple this with a few recent and minor updates such as frost dragons reducing the cost of prayer, korasi's sword reducing the demand for D scim, ss, and z spear and now with the dragon defender.... You can see where this is going.

 

But yes, I agree that this is a good thing for RuneScape, if the previous trend would've continued, it would be impossible to get ahead of long-time players.

The PVP statues (even bigger problem back when people 76k'd all the time) and that climbers update put a LOT of money into the economy. Gravite and chaotic weapons don't drain as much. I'd still say construction is the biggest money drainer in the game.

 

^ isn't that because there's less demand for lower end equipment?

 

 

The money generated in about 3-4 days was about the money climbers put into RS. Not many people had a stock of over 100 boots. Think realistically. Yes, some people had Tens of Thousands, but the average player, if all players are to be taken into account, had an extra 200k in his bank. Measly.

 

PvP Statuettes were another Munich Crisis (Epic WWII Reference that only older people will get) from Jagex, catering to the players of utmost oppression, once again, and a big economic fail on their part.

 

It doesn't matter what the average player gained in the climbers update, you have to look at the total amount of money put into the economy, that has nothing to do with averages. And I agree it's not the most contributing factor, 76king was a hundredfold worse.

although the causation has yet to be proven, since chaotic weapons came out price levels have been falling.

That's what I'm thinking, and it makes me excited. :)

 

I wouldn't say that the reason dungeoneering has caused deflation was the chaotics (seeing as they came out the day the skill was released), but the skill itself. To hazard a guestimate, I would say the runescape Production Possibility Curve has been reduced by 20% simply because all the time spent in daemonheim is "wasted" when it comes to the rest of Gielinor's economic system. Couple this with a few recent and minor updates such as frost dragons reducing the cost of prayer, korasi's sword reducing the demand for D scim, ss, and z spear and now with the dragon defender.... You can see where this is going.

 

But yes, I agree that this is a good thing for RuneScape, if the previous trend would've continued, it would be impossible to get ahead of long-time players.

 

This point of being afixiated on the skill makes sense. I will add it to my original post with credit to you now. Thanks for the input.

 

PS: Sorry for making this post so long over a tiny question. :P

 

I consider your OP a rather short post. Discussion of the inflation in RuneScape on a much wider scale is possible, thus would probably result a more complicated(and a longer) viewpoint.

 

PvP Statuettes were another Munich Crisis (Epic WWII Reference that only older people will get)

 

Were you there? You must be really old :o Or did you mean "people who actually listened in the history class" when you said "older people"? :P

 

 

Anyway, obviously it is something Jagex has been working on for a long time, is working on, and probably will keep working on. I don't believe it will be fixed 100%, but it surely helps.

 

PS: Sorry for making this post so long over a tiny question. :P

 

I consider your OP a rather short post. Discussion of the inflation in RuneScape on a much wider scale is possible, thus would probably result a more complicated(and a longer) viewpoint.

 

PvP Statuettes were another Munich Crisis (Epic WWII Reference that only older people will get)

 

Were you there? You must be really old :o Or did you mean "people who actually listened in the history class" when you said "older people"? :P

 

 

Anyway, obviously it is something Jagex has been working on for a long time, is working on, and probably will keep working on. I don't believe it will be fixed 100%, but it surely helps.

 

I concur with all above critical points.

 

And yes, sleep is not for History class! :D

look at prices over the past few months. i don't see a problem of inflation. in fact, most items are relatively stagnant in price.

look at prices over the past few months. i don't see a problem of inflation. in fact, most items are relatively stagnant in price.

 

So do you think there is a deflation in the near future? I would assume so from your post prior.

hopefully tier 80 armor is tradable and pricy, i need some juicy inlfating item to merch

hopefully tier 80 armor is tradable and pricy, i need some juicy inlfating item to merch

People like you are what upset the balance. We need wither untradeable armor that is extremely hard to obtain, or degradable armour capable of recharge that is rare; or Common, powerful armour that is unrepairable and degradable. Making more Bandos set-alikes is just arrogance at it's finest at this point.

look at prices over the past few months. i don't see a problem of inflation. in fact, most items are relatively stagnant in price.

 

So do you think there is a deflation in the near future? I would assume so from your post prior.

 

if i were to predict based on how the economy has been behaving, yes. but that prediction is pretty useless since i have no substantive background in economics, nor do i claim to be able to predict any changes in actual gameplay that would cause inflation.

 

if i were to guess, the main reason behind this deflation is most likely the fact that more people have access to good levels/gear now. average killrate for monsters has increased significantly - thereby increasing the supply of almost everything.

 

also, wrt your point on degrade costs: the more pro players (i.e. those who both DG a lot and will use their chaotic weapons often) have the option of paying with tokens. i actually do this because i dungeoneer for fun, i already have all the chaotics i want, and the ~20K tokens i get an hour is nice cause i don't have to dish out 1.8M every time i pay for your chaotic.

look at prices over the past few months. i don't see a problem of inflation. in fact, most items are relatively stagnant in price.

 

So do you think there is a deflation in the near future? I would assume so from your post prior.

 

if i were to predict based on how the economy has been behaving, yes. but that prediction is pretty useless since i have no substantive background in economics, nor do i claim to be able to predict any changes in actual gameplay that would cause inflation.

 

the main reason behind this deflation is most likely the fact that more people have access to good levels/gear now. average killrate for monsters has increased significantly - thereby increasing the supply of almost everything.

 

also, wrt your point on degrade costs: the more pro players (i.e. those who both DG a lot and will use their chaotic weapons often) have the option of paying with tokens. i actually do this because i dungeoneer for fun, i already have all the chaotics i want, and the ~20K tokens i get an hour is nice cause i don't have to dish out 1.8M every time i pay for your chaotic.

 

That's true, but well over half the populus pays with cash, for it is the most unexclsuive currency, simply put.

hopefully tier 80 armor is tradable and pricy, i need some juicy inlfating item to merch

People like you are what upset the balance. We need wither untradeable armor that is extremely hard to obtain, or degradable armour capable of recharge that is rare; or Common, powerful armour that is unrepairable and degradable. Making more Bandos set-alikes is just arrogance at it's finest at this point.

are you accusing squisher of creating the bandos armor set? be reasonable - players act rationally in response to the stimuli (updates) applied to them by Jagex.

That's true, but well over half the populus pays with cash, for it is the most unexclsuive currency, simply put.

 

Yeah, i'd definitely agree, especially in the short run

 

in the long run when more people get good at dungeoneering and when more people have excess tokens, we might see more of what i outlined

look at prices over the past few months. i don't see a problem of inflation. in fact, most items are relatively stagnant in price.

 

Not only is there no inflation, but for more than 6 months prices have tanked tremendously. This is absolutely a period of deflation for armor, weapons etc. Skill items haven't been affected very much - if the problem is everyone selling gear to train dungeoneering and buy 99s, then the reason skill items are steady is that there are fewer players harvesting them.

hopefully tier 80 armor is tradable and pricy, i need some juicy inlfating item to merch

People like you are what upset the balance. We need wither untradeable armor that is extremely hard to obtain, or degradable armour capable of recharge that is rare; or Common, powerful armour that is unrepairable and degradable. Making more Bandos set-alikes is just arrogance at it's finest at this point.

are you accusing squisher of creating the bandos armor set? be reasonable - players act rationally in response to the stimuli (updates) applied to them by Jagex.

I was referring to the new "get rich quick merchanting" style people are so up in arms over these days. Manipulation of prices only makes inflation, and the exponential growth off items more dramatic and defined, and quickly decays the item's economic shelf life. That's what I was referring to.

once again, manipulation does not cause inflation. do you know what inflation is?

 

and the reason players act this way is because of the faulty system (GE) that allows this kind of activity to actually work.

Price manipulation was already possible before the GE. The GE just encourages it a lot more; and for a majority I would say it gives them more 'security' when price manipulating. If the GE were to be taken out, price manipulation would still be around. PM is going to be around forever and it was going to happen eventually with or without the GE,

 

I think everyone is just 'wasting' time with the new skill and when the majority stop toying around with it, we'll see inflation come flying back. It's going to take a lot more than chaotic weapons or degrading items to limit or null inflation. Jagex would have to make every single item in the game degrade or be bind only to stop inflation. They would also have to change how raw materials are used in skills to make end products.

 

Runescape has fallen off of the path of a balanced and proper game. These 'quick fixes' Jagex implement into the game are not solving core issues. Radical change is the only solution by this point. The Grand Exchange & RWT updates were not implemented correctly with Runescape. The game itself, in my opinion, is rejecting the GE and the trade limits. Either the game changes and/or the game itself needs to change. Jagex is also creating other issues with causing a clustermess of issues with combat & skilling.

 

RS3 is their best solution and arguably the only solution to actually cause enough changes to fix the game. At the rate Jagex is going, we're going to have a ridiculous amount of issues we would have never dreamed of by the time we get into 2012 or 2013. These slow, not-quite-drastic enough updates are not helping.

 

Just my opinion. I honestly do not think it matters what Jagex updates or does in the game at this point, it is way too far gone to be fixed.

once again, manipulation does not cause inflation. do you know what inflation is?

 

and the reason players act this way is because of the faulty system (GE) that allows this kind of activity to actually work.

 

Manipulation doesn't cause inflation, but it amplifies it, and the item rises in price much more quickly.