This isn't a rant thread... but this is just speculation on what is fueling the rising cost of star tools & Nstars? This is just my guess. Given Reasons why Star tools cost so much: Artificially raised by increase in nstar cost from the server Increased profits from higher nstar cost High demand for nstars and the tools they buy Less voting links than in the past Realistic Reasons why star tools should be cheaper: MUCH higher supply of nstars than at the launch of the new currency More star tools on the market (Possible) Price fixing? Or maybe they all just happen sell at ~550 a star I'm not suggesting there's some NStar or star tool cartel... *cough cough* kmaxwelluminatti confirmed... but realistically, prices for nstars should've dropped or at least stayed at a lower level than they are now. I get that there's a high demand for tools, but I don't imagine that the market is big enough to warrant $550/star prices or these crazy million dollar tool prices. I remember a long time ago when I could easily get stars for less than half the price they are now and a msword cost max. 350k.... what happened to those days? Even with the doubled nstar cost @ 2000 stars a sword, it should map to 700-800k including inflation. Maybe I'm just an idiot (Probably the case), but I don't think that star tools should be quite as high as they are.
Given Reasons why Star tools cost so much: 1. Assuming you mean that picks and tools cost more in the shop - Yes, as that essentially decreases the supply of netherstars as more are being taken away. 2. Increased profits meaning you make more per hour with a star tool I assume? Assuming this is what you mean No, what actually happened is everything else was nerfed so bad Eff7's are now the only way to make money on the server. 3. Yes, basically everyone wants every star tool. This will not happen any time in the near/distant future so essentially demand is infinite. 4. Yes, a decrease in nether star supply leads to more expensive tools. Realistic Reasons why star tools should be cheaper: 1. Yes to the very beggining but in the end no. Most nether stars just get turned into star tools. What your seeing is actually a larger supply of star tools. However, demand is infinite so a supply difference, unless insanely massive (like that looting we saw) , will not change the price. 2. See above. 3. Price fixing happens when you own enough of something to control the price they are bought and sold at on the server. I do not believe anyone has this many tools as it is an insanely large number.
I am not involved in any nstar cartel. Sure when I sell stars I don't sell 'em cheap, that's mostly because I don't really want to sell them at all. The cost of anything will always rise to what the market can bear, or it crashes. Whatever the current cost of stars are it must be what the market can bear, as I've tried to hunt up stars for purchase and no station I visit has any in stock. Given what you can make per hour using the tools you purchase with stars, or even just renting them out, their high ECD/star costs are justified, imo.
GR For #2 I mean that resellers can make more money from their votes + their sales. RR Price fixing occurs when competing parties sell the same item but agree to not sell below X amt. I think monopoly would better describe what you said for #3. I see what you mean for why the price has been on the up and up, but they shouldn't be this high for what's happened so far.
Oh, I know. Was just teasing you right back. I had my "minions" back in the day... until someone, without proof, started a rumor that I mistreat my minions... so, now I have none.
Yeah, I didnt properly read your question for number 3. But the answer remains the same, I dont believe any one party has near enough money to control the market. #2, This seems more like an effect of high nether star prices than a cause.
This is actually surprisingly untrue. One day I had an extra few hundred thousand to burn so I bought out all the Nstars from the market that were below a certain price, then threw them in a sign selling them for more. This, combined with a couple other people coincidentally doing the same thing over the next couple days, effectively raised the Nstar price by $50-$100 for a few weeks. I would estimate the entire operation by all parties wasn't a whole lot more than $1,000,000. tl;dr I price fix for fun
Yeah I have done this a lot just buy a lot of nstars make people think prices are going up then sell for profit and repeat process
If you have the money, it is quite easy to raise the star price. Buy out the market, stick a couple stacks in sign at an elevated price, price magically goes up. The real trick is making the price drop. I did that once in a price war for Xp. Bought xp high and sold low while melon farming to supplement the loss. It is fun, but way more work.
Does that mean I no longer can be considered a minion? *sniffs sadly and hands Kmax a banana* I think another part is that there may be less people selling them, instead just throwing them in a chest until they a) have enough to buy a star tool with actual stars, or b) holding them for a higher sell price to maximize profits. I can honestly say that I have occasionally empty the cheapest "buy nstars" signs and add them to my growing pile (~550), but it's to save them for another tool.
