AH tactics -Need before Plat Farmers

[Fenrisulven6]

I've been posting decent gear to the AH at 100gp as opening bid, base value as buyout.

The intent is to direct gear to those who really need it, as opposed to those just twinking rerolls with their millions of plat, or the plat farmers. But I get a sense that its the wrong way to go about it.

For example, I did this last night with a +1 Dex tome. Listed the buyout at 27,500 gp. The most likely scenario is that someone simply bought it out and relisted it at 300,000 gp, to make a profit [which is their right, btw].

But can anyone advise me on a better way to do this? I guess I could start sending gear to players or guilds that have expressed an interest on the forums in helping new players, but I don't want to spam them with stuff.

Any ideas?

[Turial]

Check out the way other players have set up forum services for in-game exchanges. Essentially do what the AH would allow you to do but post the inventory here on the forums. Also it lets you give deals on the items to those who really need the stuff.

[Trillea]

Check out the way other players have set up forum services for in-game exchanges. Essentially do what the AH would allow you to do but post the inventory here on the forums. Also it lets you give deals on the items to those who really need the stuff.

Good idea with 1 problem, the new guys do not usually check the forums and even if they did may well not see the OP's specific post.

[Fenrisulven6]

Hmmm. What about posting with no buyout? I'm thinking those who don't really need the item won't be motivated to follow it for 3 days. Or will they just swarm it during the last few hours?

At least it puts the new players on more equal footing?

[Kraak]

Hmmm. What about posting with no buyout? I'm thinking those who don't really need the item won't be motivated to follow it for 3 days. Or will they just swarm it during the last few hours?

At least it puts the new players on more equal footing?


This would be a better method.

[boldarblood]

Walk around harbor, its generally not to hard to find untwinked players. I used to hand out items years ago to random players asking if they need them.

[tihocan]

I would also do it in low level zones, manually, rather than using the AH.

[Thanimal]

Hmmm. What about posting with no buyout? I'm thinking those who don't really need the item won't be motivated to follow it for 3 days. Or will they just swarm it during the last few hours?

At least it puts the new players on more equal footing?

That probably won't work either. While I am absolutely not a Plat Farmer, I definitely am a day-trader, and I look for AH deals without buyouts all the time. In fact, those are the best places to find one because so many people ignore non-buyout offerings completely. (It's not a matter of swarming at the end either -- if that is required then you're probably NOT getting a good deal because by definition you're bidding against someone who is following it.)

I'd say the best bet is to hang around Korthos or Harbor and run with lowbies. In about 1 minute you'll be able to tell the real newbs from the fakers and then you can send them a pile of cool stuff!

Final note: While I can't really claim newb status, my highest level is 11 and +1 Tomes are Big Loot for me. I will put your extras to good use if you can't find someone more needy! :)

[Clement]

I think you have some good ideas above, all of which will take some work on your part, but hopefully fun work.

The two times I've started on a new server I've rolled a haggle bard first, specifically to be able to buy things cheap on the AH and sell them at the D and K pawn shops, so I can generate plat to fund my new lowbie toons (weapons and potions are expensive for new-to-server players).

Even if they're posted with no buyout I used to check the AH daily and bid on anything < 24 hours left. And I would often lose to what were clearly other hagglers also buying/selling weapons and armor (both good and junk) to generate cash.

I also try to hand out good gear I don't need to new players, often identified in their bio's, or the ones you notice talking to every NPC on Korthos.

I mainly wanted to say "Thanks" for your interest in helping new players. We defininitely need them to keep this game running.

[weyoun]

The AH is dominated by veteran players with a lot of cash and platfarmers. Some of my friends only log on now to accumulate wealth via the AH. They enjoy it and I don't see anything wrong with it. By posting deals on the AH you're only going to make me and some others more wealthy (in game anyway). There are some good suggestions like running with noobs/random pickups. There are a ton of noobs out there, they are mostly unguided or have made up guilds etc. I have given millions of plat to noobs and reknown noob helpers and so have my peers. We may not like to run with them (except Clay) and we all have our pet hard cases (like Mourning) but a lot of cash does trickle down, and in many cases, get dumped down.

But if you really want to help, don't post AH deals, run with them and help them learn the game like Clay or Trissa or Fearos/Bearos/Tearos do.

[moops]

If you have a little time between quests/raids, put up an LFM saying freebies/low priced items for noobies--I've seen a few of these on Sarlona, many of them also say that they will answer questions about the game as well.

[cdemeritt]

Hmmm. What about posting with no buyout? I'm thinking those who don't really need the item won't be motivated to follow it for 3 days. Or will they just swarm it during the last few hours?

At least it puts the new players on more equal footing?


I am one of those who use the AH to twink out new toons. I can't be bothered to save the good lowbie stuff from new build to new build. I'd say this is a pretty good solution for the OP question, as 99% of the time, if it doesn't have a buyout price, I don't even look at the bid price or time left. I want what I want right now. Of course this is just me, and there could be the swarming at last minute.....

[totmacher]

try spamming the help chat channels with prices for your stuff... maybe someone will pick it up

[Mekkah]

try spamming the help chat channels with prices for your stuff... maybe someone will pick it up

This, in turn, is no different than the attempts by Plat farmers.

You can put up an LFM, but someone gets ****y and reports it, leading to you to receive an administrative tell.

I honestly don't see the harm in this, seeing as that when Mod 9 goes live, there will be an in-game /trade channel...

[Alcamez]

On Lhazaar before the AH, we you to have a Wednesday Night Bazaar. You can post what time you would like to sell items or give it away to Lowbies, and host a raid and invite to search your goods. Post a list in you bio and what you would like. I use to keep a running notepad document with all my stuff and CTL C from notepad then CTL V to bio on your mule toon. Just a thought.