by ToxicShadow » 07/26/2014 4:00 PM
And my thoughts about the Black Market, hopefully I didn't miss anything:
+ I really like the idea of having a Grab Bag for a set amount of KS or value. Its more like a fun gamble, as long as you are aware of exactly what you are losing in exchange for the gamble. (I didn't take part in the Thanks for Life Day events because I did not know what I could lose, which is not something I am comfortable with, even if I could have won great prizes. Had I known what I would lose, specifically, I would have been all for it.)
+ Honestly, I don't even think four times the KS amount would deter users from buying a ton of breeding Keys, if they were unlimited. When a user can generally BIN a single Paragon or Lucain for an average of 400 KS (or even more) in trading threads, why would they not go for breeding keys, when it guarantees more than one in return for the KS given? I love the idea of Breeding Keys being available, but I think it would have to be limited in a way similar to what I suggested for the Bureau. (Each user may only buy so many from the Black Market a month. Maybe two, since there is a two week time limit on breedings, so two seems reasonable?)
+ I agree with having rarer or Black Market Exclusive pets available within it. Maybe even custom pets or coupons.
+ Regarding customs for newbies, I like the idea, but I also don't. There is honestly no telling if a user would even stay after receiving a custom pet, but I think it would help new users get started. The only way I think I could be happy with this is if there was an included stipulation. Such as, if you become inactive for X amount of time (maybe three months of no posting, anywhere, or no log ins), you automatically lose the essentially free custom, which cannot be given back to you if you return? Lost customs could be auctioned off, used as prizes, Morey pets, and so forth.
Though, users getting started could also benefit from starting off with more than 100 KS, as an alternative to customs? (We started off with 100 KS when it was 1 KS per roleplay post, back in the day, but the starter KS amount hasn't changed even thought he amount of KS per post has. So I think upping the starter amount is actually long passed due.)
Or, just as well, maybe there could be more ways to earn a custom breedable pet, aside from A Licences or contest prizes? Which could given users motivation to complete these tasks? Like, post so many roleplay posts? The number for that would obviously have to be very large, but it would inspire users to roleplay, and it is technically a "free custom." (Even old users could participate, as only posts made after the event was announced would count toward the award?)
Or new users can order ONE custom with KS, BUT its more than the starting amount of KS, so they actually have to roleplay to earn it first?
(Sorry that these ideas strayed from the topic at hand, but they came to mind just now, so I thought I would voice them.)
+ An idea that hasn't been suggested for the Black Market yet:
Perhaps, every now and then, the Black Market can be looking for an item or pet specifically, which they give something of higher value in exchange for, or something similar? This could change frequently, or have more than one specific thing up, to keep things interesting.
Examples:
The Black Market wants 5 Lovey Love Potions. So up to five different users can exchange a Lovey Love Potion for a Generative Draught.
The Black Market wants 2 female Lucain. So two users then have a chance to exchange ANY female Lucain for male Lucain. (Those received can be preset male Lucain that got traded into the prize stash previously, premade customs, or chances at customs, anything.)
The Black Market wants a Sulkuhna. In exchange, the user could have a choice of one out of five rarer bred Kuhnas.
And so forth. The items/pets don't even have to be super related. Exchange an Albino Drakel for a Kuhna. A potion for a breeding key, and so on. KS could also be some of the things given in exchange.
Obviously, each user could only make one exchange, to keep things fair, during each exchange or set of exchanges?