Theorycraft: An MMO without Currency, could it work?

Would an MMO work if there were no currency in the game, Platinum, Gold, Copper? People would resort to other resources to fill its role, or would they?

This popped into my head while I was returning to an old game (mmo) the other day while I wait for Ashes. When I was heavy into the game a number of years ago, things cost an average 10, 20 platinum with a very rare item costing 500... A handful of years later I returned once again and prices were 100, 500, and 20,000 for items of a similar scale.. Returning last week things are out of control with 100,000... 500,000.. and 8,000,0000 platinum being tossed about like nothing. Damage numbers have kept pace but reaching into to billions on a single spell.. but that is another topic.

This triggered a thought, what if there were no currency in mmos? What could be some possible outcomes? People would have to barter for items with other items. it would have to be more involved over a flat currency. The more complicated downside, if even possible, would be purchasing items from NPCs.

Perhaps a no-trade currency?

Not saying this would be right for Ashes, but just toying with ideas is all. This would stop gold sellers and bots in their tracks though.... maybe...

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Comments

TheCouchNerd

It could definitely work. All that would happen is the playerbase would just substitute platinum, gold, silver, copper, etc with in-game items. Similar to how Path of Exile, or Diablo 2 functions. In Diablo 2 players don't trade or buy items with gold. Instead it's a barter system where people have put value in runes and some specific uniques. I'm pretty sure the MMO would function similar to that. A barter system.

Atama

midgard wrote: »

you will always have your "gold" .
it might have a different name like platinum or cows or gems or runes .
once you start trading the community wil find a item that can be used by olmost every class and use it .
for instance :
diabolo 2 has gems and runes .
if gold inflation becomes a bigg issue trades will happen whith other curency .

Do you have 5 chickens for a cow? I want to buy a new crossbow and don’t have change.

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