I’m a straight-up undeniable sucker for a beautiful world. I’m a card carrying member of the “it has to look good for me to play it” club. Adventuring in detailed, atmospheric and lush worlds is part of the MMO magic for me. ArcheAge on the water has no equal in my MMO experience. It’s simply breath taking. Mining along the shoreline, fishing or standing by watching players load their ships, is a visual treat.
I’m very intrigued by the trade and economy side of the game but I haven’t participated yet. To be honest, the effort + cost + knowledge has been beyond me thus far. I recently found a guide to getting started. If time permits, I hope to take a whack at soon. I know there are members of the guild I joined that will help me but I’ve been entrenched in doing something else each time the call has gone out for lowbie runs. Getting started is a 2 hour commitment.
What I find curious and interesting, is SEEING the underpinnings of the economy manifested in the actual game world. Similar to EVE Online, where you gather and produce your goods might not be the most lucrative location for selling them. Additionally, some goods must be traded to specific Auction House NPCs which may not be anywhere near your home base. For these reasons, most players have to transport large amounts of cargo by sea.
I really get an extra boost of incentive and enthusiasm when the world feels alive beyond us running around completing quests. World boss mobs, events and open world PVP have always appealed to me for that reason. Actually seeing the economy at work does the same.
When I’m out harvesting, questing or crafting, I encounter players walking or using the specialty donkeys to transport a backpack of goods from one location to the next. On the road I see player manned transport vehicles - steampunk themed wagons spitting smoke and kicking up dirt as they rumble past me, heavy with goods. Mining or taking a break along a shoreline, I watch transport ops form – ship by ship, coming to shore as their counterparts arrive on foot, donkey and wagons. They load up and take to the sea.
I’m fascinated and intrigued by what I see and ready to experience it for myself. And as luck would have it, I got the chance sooner than I expected. Stay tuned...
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