Savere
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Posted - 2007.07.13 11:55:00 -
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I have long looked forward to the LP store concept, so it pains me to have to chalk them up to yet another nerf in a long series of nerfs aimed at mission runners. Why do I say this? Read on...
I have been running missions since 2005, and I can remember the times when an LP point was actually worth something. Does anyone remember the days when a +3 implant was worth 35 mil or more? A +4 implant was worth 120+ mil? Navy BS's were around 1.5+ bil? These items and others were a mission runners bread and butter! Has anyone seen the prices of these items in Jita lately???
Let's do an analysis here: A +3 implant used to cost 15K LP's (10K LP's if you were lucky and got the best offer). I regularly sold them for 30 mil each, which puts the value of an LP point between 2K-3K isk each. Today that same +3 implant goes for about 10.5K LP's + 10.5 mil isk on the LP store, but they are selling for about 14 mil. This means that LP's are worth about 300-400 isk today. Am I missing something here? THIS MEANS THAT LP'S HAVE SUFFERED A 7x LOSS IN VALUE! To be fair, I was able to push the value of the LP up to 540 isk through some intense market study, but that is still a joke compared to what LP's used to be worth. If anyone is keeping track, this translates out to be a about 65% pay cut for people who run missions in low sec, a 75% pay cut for those running missions in 0.0. No wonder mission runners are leaving those areas in droves. 
Still not convinced? I noticed that today's price on Navy Apocs is around 550 mil. I also sold a +4 implant that had been lying around in my hanger yesterday for 12 mil (a 10x loss in value!!!).
The LP store has a lot of good points, and it makes cashing in on LP's very convienent. However, the way that CCP has set it up causes real problems for mission runners. For instance, why do all of the implants now require a cash component? Was this CCP's attempt to set a bottom for implant prices? If so, it has only succeeded in making the LP value crash. Another problem--why do all of the faction items require obscure tags? The tag requirement keeps us from spending our LP's on items that might actually be worth something. Was the tag requirement an attempt by CCP to force us to run Level 5's? I can't think of where else these tags might come from, because they sure don't drop often in missions!
Well, I hate to write a thread that is all about the complaining. How about some possible solutions to the problem? Here are a few suggestions:
1. Drop the isk requirement. LP stores are just that--stores to spend your LP's on. Why do we have to cough up isk as well?
2. Lower the tag requirement. I don't mind having to come up with a few tags for the really uber items, but several hundred assorted tags for a faction module??? Come on...
3. Stop offering such "lucrative" storyline mission rewards. How many of us have been offered +3, +4, and hardwiring implants in exchange for hauling some ore?. How about a better isk reward for storyline missions instead? How about faction ammo?
4. Implement a REAL system for determining the base value of an item. I am all for a free market system, but EVE is hardly a free market when CCP keeps glutting the market by pumping items of a certain type into the mix, or by forcing us to spend our LP's on a very narrow item base because we don't have the tags for anything else. I hate to say it, but maybe its time for CCP to place NPC buy orders on common implants, skill books, etc? This would have the immediate effect of establishing a baseline for mission items, and it would allow the market to get back on its feet.
Thoughts anyone?
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