Should NUB players selling CB be illegal? (in General)

I know Jon gives the NUB way extra cash bonuses.

However it was always my understanding that it was to compensate for the items/minions that they do not have. An attempt to catch up.

So, should NUBs be allowed to sell CB during their NUB. After, when they supposedly have "caught" up, I can see selling.

But to sell during the NUB is almost a slap in the face to the CB game.

I agree.

yeah I agree with that.

Man, then that means that the price for CBD will go up. Then how am I suppose to buy a lot of money to try and compete. Lol. I see where your coming from Ranger. I agree with you.

Even though I have bought from a few NUBs I agree with this sentiment. Reality though says that no matter how we feel about this it is up to them to sell or not as it is their char. If they want to sacrifice growth for selling their money then so be it, I'll be there to snatch it up and feed it to my NCB!

The second question should be "should players buying NUB CB be illegal?"
And then the third should be "should players who have bought NUB CB give it back?"

I don't like it myself Ranger, but where would that line of thinking end? After all, isn't paying for supportership and getting CB$ in return a form of selling by a NUB?

I think Jon has stated in the past that he is not keen on the real money market but given the difficulties in preventing it he allows it to go on in the open.

Of course I think he realises the extra interest it likely adds.

I don't agree. I don't think it's something that can be moderated easily without a constant witchhunt.

Great idea in theory, but wouldn't accomplish anything. They'll just save up until the day after their NUBs end and sell-out then. Nothing solved.

Good Point Arty there is always a way around rules. People find them all the time. Best we can do is shake our heads and say what a waste.

The idea behind the NUB cash increase is to give them access to all the cash Vets would have had.

If Vets could spend thier CB2 selling for USD, then there's no reason New Players shouldn't have the same opportunity.

Or to give it away on contests, or plow it into a Weapon.

What we should be questioning is if New Player *really* need acess to the same amount of cash a vertern would have (potentially...) made. Not what they're allowed to do with it.

jon never had much to do with what we all do with the CB dollars where USD is concerned ..thats a CB user market YOU all control..not Jon..well he does control the output... unless of course you make 100m counterfeit CB dollars and spread them around

So if a NUB wants to sell his CBD and then bail out or just sell it..its not like it hasnt been done before and sure to be done again...which reminds me with my NCB... I have to sell my boots and gloves off on occasion cus i get this "You dont have enough money to heal" ...but I aint mad at no one..YET

I really can't give a relevant opinion on this due to my lack of experience with these matters, but i will try. I this mostly to do with the sudden banning of a Multi Player that has brought up this thread? Cause at the moment i believe it is their choice to sell the money as they wish and you can't stop that. When no one wishes to spend real life money on CBD then you will have solved the problem. Until that time, just live and let be.

I think this would be a good policy, if you play for six months that at least shows some dedication to the game.

Unfortunately, it'd be way too hard to implement. Unless you had admins to CM NUBs about every single unbalanced trade.

meh, i've always felt usd is pretty ridiculous anyway.

Oh, yes. Everything offensive should be ruled against. The sooner the better.

or, just don't buy from NUBs. I don't think anyone is THAT desperate to buy cb these days.

I sort of agree with what Devil said....


You all don't like when NUBs sell out. Well... STOP BUYING IT. Personally, as much as I dislike it, it's their money. They can do what they want with it. Just as anyone else would.

i think rather than limiting it to nub's, it would be much better to just kill off all transfers entirely.

hmm dude, i may have heard this idea somewhere before ;)

Many players have mentioned that selling CB$ for USD is wasteful. I am not looking for an argument; I am looking for an explanation. How is it wasteful for CB$ to change hands? After all, it is staying in the game.

Buying cash with USD gives you more money than if you only fight and earn it ingame. Which translates as USD gives you an advantage. Although that isn't what the original post is about.

All I can say is...

..if I was running a similar, player-driven game economy, I could see no way or reason to limit real-world cash transactions.

It doesn't mean I agree with NUBs selling out. It means I see little in the way of preventing it, given the system we are given.

Thus, given the system we are presented with, it must be allowed, whatever harm it may cause. It is part of the game, like it or not.

duh

If you make USD transactions illegal for one group and not for any other group, that is rather discriminating.

Or ban USD transaction for everyone, or don't. That simple.

Besides how do you want to monitor the transactions outside of CB land?

You can't monitor transactions outside of CB. GL and myself live not very far from each other. There's nothing to stop us handing over cold hard cash - or drink! - in return for items in CB. Until you stop transfers you'll never be able to stop that.

"But to sell during the NUB is almost a slap in the face to the CB game."

I'm fairly certain I've used this exact sentence before, minus the almost :P

Henk, it's discriminatory based on the time spent within the game - that is the whole point.

As it's impractical to enforce properly, I can't see how this policy can be implemented. It's like plugging a 3 ft diameter water main with your hands.

I say Jon set up a system where you buy money from JON not anyone other players
Jon would make so much bank off us.

That would definitely saturate the game with CBD. Then it would only be a matter of how big your wallet is, that's a bit unfair to those who don't have the USD. All players no, rich players only yes. It's a bad formula for game longevity, players would leave just for that reason alone.

I say selling CB cash for real cash by anybody should be illegal.
Specially to be posting it on the game forums.

Whoever is doing so is basiclly stealing from Jon and should be band or demoted for doing so IMO.

That would result in extreme stagnation in the upper ranks, Thak.

How so just by special items with real cash and then sell them for CB cash, Jon gets the money prob could have bought a even better server just recently then.
Or better yet simply add to the special items pages a drop down to buy CBD at i.e 1$ to 1millCBD more realistically what Jon and NS deem the ratio should be. Its a win win for everybody then.

Buying money from Jon would put too much money into the economy.

I agree. My ratio if it was up to me would be like 8$, maybe more, per mill to deter it being used but if people are that lazy its a option and jon makes money in the proccess to spend on the game.
Ideally i would like to see it not allowed at all as stated earlier in any form. But i am leaving an option for the lazy or ones that have money and not so much time.

"I say selling CB cash for real cash by anybody should be illegal.
Specially to be posting it on the game forums.

Whoever is doing so is basiclly stealing from Jon and should be band or demoted for doing so IMO."

On the contrary, Jon loses absolutely nothing by this. It's a one-sided trade that is compensated by RL cash, yes, but there's nothing "stolen" from Jonathan. It's simply CBD being passed from player to player. There's no more stolen from Jonathan by using USD to buy CBD as there would be if you gained that CBD by selling your own items.



Thak 10:59 AM EDT
How so just by special items with real cash and then sell them for CB cash, Jon gets the money prob could have bought a even better server just recently then.
Or better yet simply add to the special items pages a drop down to buy CBD at i.e 1$ to 1millCBD more realistically what Jon and NS deem the ratio should be. Its a win win for everybody then.


-- "Serialkiller 11:12 AM EDT
Buying money from Jon would put too much money into the economy."

this. What is currently happening is that players are trading CBD; what you are suggesting is injecting CBD into the economy. The system currently causes some players to have too much money, what you are suggesting would cause inflation on a massive scale. (not to mention, players will still sell CBD at $1 per mil to each other or less. You overestimate how much people value their CBD, particularly new users.)


It's silly to say it should be outlawed, that simply means we wouldn't SEE it in the forums any longer. Like JW says, it would still be done, and easily.

The only suggestion here that has any chance of stopping USD transfer is to remove transfers altogether. If you guys _really_ think it is that big of a problem, that transfers should be removed altogether, then by all means continue posting that USD sales should be removed...but just keep in mind what it is exactly that you are suggesting when you say "Jon should come up with a system to stop USD transfer."

From official FAQ > misc

Q: Can I buy $CB from you for $USD?
A: Absolutely not. I'm very strict about keeping the CB economy "pure" that way. The only money that enters the game is the money from battles. Nor can you buy a Blacksword or other high-end item from me. (I do offer certain limited-edition items as perks for supporting CB but these are and always will be distinct from the "normal" items.)

Players can and do buy and sell items and $CB from each other, and I have no problem with that.

This is not about buying CB from anyone other than NUB players.

People who join cb, see the incredible money rewards and only play to sell CB2.

I know it is hard to stop, but is it not insulting to see them just play to sell CB, from day 1.

At least play for the 6 months till the NUB ends, then do whatever you want with your money.

I agree with OB there is no realistic way to stop USD trading. Even if you ban it it would still be very hard to regulate and control. I have seen tons of games where USD trading is banned yet it still goes on just fine. A few, very few get caught doing it stupidly but otherwise it goes on more or less unchanged.

That being said USD trading is not the only way to get ahead in terms of CBD. There are quite a few different ways such as collecting many rental items, a loan business, experienced trading. USD trading is simply the easiest way to get ahead.

The only thing you can do Ranger is ask other players to refuse from buying sellout cb$ from NUB players and hope that they do this. This would make it much harder for them to sellout and at the very least likely make them have to sell for less USD.

Ranger, do you have any actual solution on how to stop NUBs from selling CBD? Otherwise you are simply saying "I don't like that, stoppit guys!!"


...not the most effective of tactics.

There's no real way to stop CBD-USD transfers, and when I say that, I mean all CBD-USD transfers, much less any specific group.

Whether it is insulting to you or not - personally, I just accept it: it's going to be human nature that when someone sees the opportunity to make money where there is none, to pursue that path - unless you have some sort of suggestion on how to put a stop to such behavior, you're just pissing in the wind.

I think it's just one of those things you'll have to eventually come to accept. Just as much as you posting this sort of thread, sutekh praising jesu- err Jonathan, Bast correcting grammar, Hakai being blonde, vets running NCBs instead of sticking to old characters...these are all just trademarks of the community that you get used to. NUBs selling out has been going on since there was a NUB at all.


In reference to the original post:
"However it was always my understanding that it was to compensate for the items/minions that they do not have. An attempt to catch up. "

Perhaps they would have been guys who sold out CBD for USD since the start of the game, and they're just catching up on that? We have a number of players who sell every penny they acquire. :P

Actually I do have a solution:

Make NUB characters like T characters their first 6 months.

With a few exceptions. Such as no 20 min waiting to buy from the store.

And some other details that can be worked out.

Ah, now there's an idea :)

After thinking about it a bit, that idea is really good. The only difficulties I see are the NUBs being unable to participate in contests that have entry fees, have items forged, or buy their supportership with CBD....but I think those are pretty acceptable sacrifices to reduce the influx of NUB created CBD4USD sellouts.

"The only thing you can do Ranger is ask other players to refuse from buying sellout cb$ from NUB players and hope that they do this."

I love this idea. I think everyone should refuse to buy CBD from NUBs.

Well duh its not going to stop completely but why allow it as if it is ok on the game itself. Most people follow the rules. And if it was a standing rule like multing it would be cut down alot i believe.

How is it not stealing from Jon? Did he see a penny of that CBD trade just made. You just made 100% profit off of Jon's work that you dont have to pay anything for.

"How is it not stealing from Jon? Did he see a penny of that CBD trade just made. You just made 100% profit off of Jon's work that you dont have to pay anything for."

How is it not stealing from Jon? Because you didn't TAKE anything from Jonathan.

Player A trades with Player B. The trade is $5 for 1 million CBD.

Now Player A has 1 million CBD, and player B has $5. How did Jonathan get shafted in that?? There's STILL the exact same amount of CBD in the game, STILL the exact same amount of USD outside of the game, it just traded hands.

The better question is, how is it stealing from Jonathan to do something that has absolutely nothing to do with the man?

His EXPENSES, his work, his time to keep the game working for your enjoyment that he doesnt force you to pay a cent for. Thats what you are stealing.
Maybe if he made more money from the game he wouldn't have to work another job as much and spend more time with the game fixes and changes that everyone posts about.

Buy a special item then just sell it for CBD if you want to pay CBD for cash. Or buy supportership for some one for CBD if you want to pay real $ for fake dollars.

correction:

Buy a special item then just sell it for CBD if you want to pay CBD for cash. should be if you want to pay cash for CBD

"His EXPENSES, his work, his time to keep the game working for your enjoyment that he doesnt force you to pay a cent for. Thats what you are stealing.
Maybe if he made more money from the game he wouldn't have to work another job as much and spend more time with the game fixes and changes that everyone posts about."

What the hell? How is trading within the game stealing his expenses, time, or work? You make it sound like it is criminal to be giving money to anyone but Jonathan. That's just ridiculous! LOL

And I'm pretty certain he's not going to make anywhere near the same money from this game as he does from his primary source of income, even if the membership on this game swelled to 500 consistent players. Assuming each donated $5 a month - more than what currently takes place - he'd still make $2500/month minus expenses, or around 30,000 a year minus the expenses. That's like...minimum wage, MAYBE.

"What the hell? How is trading within the game stealing his expenses, time, or work? You make it sound like it is criminal to be giving money to anyone but Jonathan. That's just ridiculous! LOL

And I'm pretty certain he's not going to make anywhere near the same money from this game as he does from his primary source of income, even if the membership on this game swelled to 500 consistent players. Assuming each donated $5 a month - more than what currently takes place - he'd still make $2500/month minus expenses, or around 30,000 a year minus the expenses. That's like...minimum wage, MAYBE."

LOL you are to funny specially being a QB no where did i state he should quit his primary job, simply said he would probably have more time to work on the game, work one day less a week for example. And yes all money relating to game should be given to Jon. And minimum wage is more like 15K a year in the US 30K a year is low middle class.

OB many teachers make less than 30k a year, and that's with a bachelor's degree. Minimum wage is less than 16k a year, and that's if you work 40 hour weeks for 52 weeks a year.

Multis just keep coming back to make a profit. I bet it's a few of the same multis over and over again.

Arty, I said minus expenses. There are server costs, and they aren't particularly cheap. He's also having to periodically replace it altogether. Does nobody read anymore?

Thak - "Maybe if he made more money from the game he wouldn't have to work another job as much and spend more time with the game fixes and changes that everyone posts about."

How else was I supposed to read that, exactly?

and what, pray tell, does me being a QB have to do with anything, mister Thak?

Thak, why do you even care? Jon has specifically stated he has nothing against the cb/usd trade and if he has no problem with it, neither should you.

Back on topic.

What about my idea of treating NUB's as T characters till they graduate and become normal ones?

And for certain things such as buying supportership, I am sure the admins can make an exception and let this occur.

I think this cure may be worse than the disease.

I think it's a good idea, and if it were possible for admins to allow such transfers for special cases - such as purchasing supportership - it would have very few flaws.

Aside from, you know, placing one more item on the admins' plate of responsibilities when they log in. :P

what part about hording all your money until the end of the NUB and sell it dont you understand lol =x

QB doesnt have much to do with Oddfish other then making me laugh with your opinion countering my opinion being a QB.
And as for how are you suppose to take it. Why did you have to assume the extreme automaticly of quiting his primary job completely. I simply said he would have more time to work on the game.

And i believe Jon stated he doesnt approve of it as Rubberduck mentioned above.

OK, so maybe you don't understand how jobs work, so I'll explain:

He can't just go tell his boss "hey, I'm gonna work 20 hours/week from now on instead of 40 now, 'cuz I'm making some extra income from my game." It's a pretty all-or-nothing kinda thing.

ANYWAY. I think Ranger's solution is a good one.

No, Jonathan has never, ever said he doesn't approve of USD/CBD transfers.

I have a vague recollection he said he was not overly keen on it, I'm certainly not going looking for it though :)

A person cannot sell anything without someone else willing to buy.

If you don't like people selling under certain conditions, then don't buy under those conditions.


Regarding the cash of a NUB, this was addressed earlier when the BA cost changed. The reason a NUB character doesn't pay for BA is that a certain portion of that cash bonus is to allow the user to purchase BA. Instead of giving the person cash hoping he will go buy BA, the user now (almost) automatically buys all BA -- the cash is taken back and the BA cost is zero.

That addressed a large portion of NUB cash flow, and I don't personally at this moment see any additional issues.

If you want to collect data -- real data, and not anecdotal -- on how cash is flowing, I'd be very interested in seeing that. From my perspective, however, I don't see a pressing issue.

Can somebody explain to me why NUB's selling CB-D for US$ hurts the economy?
Also, Why should veterans be allowed to sell CB-D if NUB's can't?

I have no idea why people think it hurts the economy.

As to the 2nd question:

Older players have put time into the game. The NUB is a very artificial method designed to give newer players a chance to catch up to older ones. Via more xp and money rewards.

However, they are plenty of people who play their NUB and sell out right after. Also, plenty of people multi just to make money to sell since the rewards are so outstanding.

My proposals/thoughts is to at least make new players put in 6 months before they can sell out virtual money for real. If they are a multi, let them wait the 6 months and then be able to sell.

You've always been fixed on the Vets vs. NUB issue, Ranger and speak with some bias with your ideas. It's easy to propose ideas with sixth month stipulations when you have already put your time in and much much more, but the ideal behind the game is to promote growth and expand the playerbase. Which should continue, and have a little more thought put into the rules that are welcoming to new players, not just rules that fit with what already exists.
The real problem here that was already mentioned is the multi factor. So that is what should be focused on. Having a multi have to wait 6 months so they can sell out isn't going to solve anything. Can multis be better regulated?

"Having a multi have to wait 6 months so they can sell out isn't going to solve anything. Can multis be better regulated?"

Actually, if nothing else, forcing the worst offenders of the sell out, the multis, to have to wait 6 months gives the multi hunters that much more time to catch them BEFORE they can sell any of their cb dollars, which in my opinion is not a bad thing.

But what is confunding me is, do NUBs make more cb now? As NS was talking about, I thought the overwhelming cash flow of the NUB was greatly changed?

With the economy being "hurt", if the NUB is a multi, in theory doesn't it hurt? Just floods the items and money that is available which would seem to drive it down, but with the rate going from 1milCB:3US to 1:5-6 it's hard to believe :o

That makes sense JBob, but maybe the FS/WTB forum should be hawked more and anyone selling out an admin should do some checking? A log should be kept with those selling out too.

and with the NUB bonus, the money should definitely not be increased any further, unless needed. Items haven't shot up in price, if anything have come down some. EXP yes, but money no.

I Personally don't think I make very much money at this points, but I have also been told my rewards will increase greatly in about a month. Also, putting any limit on a NUB will just make them less likely to stay. From my stand point any new player should have the same rights as a vet. The vets will most likely say thats not fair, but if you want to run a balanced and growing game thats the only way to do it.
Also, if NUBs can't sell CBD then it is not fair that vets can. Why not just abolish it completely then and solve all the problems?

"I think this cure may be worse than the disease."

Agreed

Yes Kevlar,

I have a problem with the NUB and the way it promotes people playing just to sell CB adding nothing to the community other than more CB2.

It is not much and may not be a huge problem, but as a vet, I want people who actually want to stay and contribute.

Rather than someone who comes in and does nothing but sell CB for their NUB time.

Call it bias, or whatever you want. I want people who really want to join the game and community.

In some ways I totally agree with you Ranger, I want players who will stay and contribute to the community. Reality however dictates that this is a random variable that cannot be controlled. It is the nature of things that players will come and go. The may leave on their own or with an Admins help. The more we as a community attempt to control this process the more we would become an "Elitist" group which is the antithesis to a "FREE" openly run and fair game.

Push this factor and there may not be anymore game to play Ranger.

Ya know, I've read this entire thread.. I know I have, and I'm not going to re read it, but I don't recall anyone actually making this point...

and the number 1 reason to NOT let NUB's sell cb...

It has to be the easiest most untraceable way to have a long standing character and move your multi money to it.
"yeah, i'm selling booboo chicken 10 mil cb and he sent me 50 USD."
okay.
And I'm certainly not pointing fingers at people who like to buy cb but it's not just about creating multis to make usd, it can also be about multiing just to have more cb.

(i'm confused now)

i would think that our admins would take extra care looking at nub accounts buying or selling usd. methinks they are clever enough for that!

oh believe me, that was not a shot at the multi hunters!
But for as good as they are I'm sorry if I'm a believer that there is always someone on the "other team" who is just as good as your guys.

Duke anyone???

6 multis and was not caught till years later.

bump
cause NUB should be illegal

bahrahahaha

I agree, illegalize the NUB, rolling bonus FTW!!!

wouldn't solve anything as far as this discussion, but it would help in a hell of a lot of other ways...

"yeah, i'm selling booboo chicken"

Another fan of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse? ;)

"I have a problem with the NUB and the way it promotes people playing just to sell CB adding nothing to the community other than more CB2.

It is not much and may not be a huge problem, but as a vet, I want people who actually want to stay and contribute.

Rather than someone who comes in and does nothing but sell CB for their NUB time.

Call it bias, or whatever you want. I want people who really want to join the game and community. "



Seconded.

Rolling bonus anyone?

A rolling bonus won't have any effect on the topic of the thread, but selling out is just a nuisance anyway. What the rolling bonus will cure is the problem of disposable characters, which is far more pressing to me.

What about the people who want to try a new strat that they have no way of doing through retraining?

perhaps we could have "survivor carnage blender" and if enough people vote a cb selling nub as a multi, then they are kicked off of the island!

I thought all NUBs were multis? =P

I still have yet to see empirical data on the number of people that fall into this category (NUB sellouts) compared to those that don't. Until then, please stop the proliferation of FUD.

There is no empirical data I can possibly find as I have no access to the data required to make an analysis.

However, even if 1 does so, is that not against what the NUB is designed to do?

To make a new player catch up to the vets. Not to let them catch up selling USD.

Or I may be completely wrong.

Easiest way to stop NUB selling, people should stop buying from them. Involves no extra work on top of bug fixes and their day jobs for Jon or NS.

JW,

Unfortunately that will never happen.

We even have NUBs buying from other NUBs.

Just wondering.... Ranger.. as the person most opposed to NUB's selling out... How many times have you bought CB from a NUB? Just an observation, but if you are so against them selling out, shouldn't you not buy from them to at least say you are doing your part? Again, nothing against you, but just an observation.

From a person actively on the NUB, long ago I bought from 1 or 2.

Yes, I am quite guilty.

Recently, no way no how.

Lol, looks like your definition of recently and mine are pretty different.

Eversoris (C.R.E.A.M.) 69.159.1.161 QBRanger (Heroes) $3500000 -- 11 USD :) Mar 28

Did not remember that.

I am such a waste of space as GL has proved.

You win GL.

JW still isn't my Multi.

"You win GL."

JW?

I sometimes feel so very sorry for Ranger. All alone, friendless, in a Ranger-bashing world.
Hang in there, man!

And, 100.

GL's much taller than he looks. I'm much shorter.

I'm also a lot fatter than Johnny. He's quite svelt.

svelte

I also can't spell. ;)

"Unfortunately that will never happen."

Which is why a policy trying to stop it, wouldn't work.

Does it really matter, if and when, Ranger bought CB from a NUB? I don't see anything wrong with a little "Do as I say, not as I do".

I thought this thread was about discussing why NUBs should or shouldn't be allowed to sell CB. Of course people are going to buy CB from NUBs, they offer the lowest rates because they make the most money in the shortest amount of time. NUBs are like Walmart; you may not agree with their practices, but you are certainly going to take advantage of the unbeatable discounts.

As stated before, there is likely no way to ever stop NUBs from selling CBD. Sad. Considering the gross amount of obvious multis that have been plaguing CB for many, many months now.

I guess I can sum my scattered thoughts up by saying:

Yes, NUBs selling CBD should be illegal. No, it can never be enforced.

NUB lets new users catch up on where they were gonna be.

If they were gonna sell CBD the whole time anyway, they would've gotten this much in the first place and sold it, so the NUB is serving its purpose.

Man, I wish I could get the NUB for each job I start, so I could catch up on the salary I would have earned had I worked there already.

Well thank you everyone for a very enjoyable read.

To all those that took this as a time for personal attacks, there is no real response to that.

I guess this is not something the community finds as needed.

So time to abandon this thread.

Once, again, thanks to all those who respectfully replied, to all others, pfft.

> There is no empirical data I can possibly find as I have no access to the data required to make an analysis.


It involves going back through FS threads and seeing who did what when. That's how I would do it, at least. Get a hold of everyone who sold USD as far back as FS goes (6 months, I think), and see if they were a NUB at the time. Then, see how many of those subsequently quit the game.

That's the kind of empirical data that would substantiate these kinds of claims, instead of just a feeling that it might be a certain way. It won't account for people that sold without a thread, but it's a start at least.

If I could stop NUB selling $ in a foolproof way, I think it might be worth trying. But I am not sure you would like it, honestly. If there were no market for it we would not be having this discussion.

But even Blizzard can't stop this kind of thing, and neither can we (not and have the kind of unregulated market we have now). So it's a moot point.

Instead of raw cash let new users chose from a short list of self leveling items that aren't transferable until after the NUB is over.
I realize the math for the items would be a bit complicated, but with encumbrance as a guide I don't think it's impossible.

What about making them like T characters?

If they have to buy something on credit, let them have an admin help them do it.

Don't these ideas seem like a heck of a lot of coding and restructuring for a problem that's really just a nuisance? It's not as though new players selling out breaks the game. It's sad to see people ditch the game for a few small dollars, but the only effect it has on the rest of us is that it keeps the CB-to-$ market relatively low. That's not exactly the end of the world.

I'd rather see the coding and mental efforts be spent in ways that will grow the user base.

The thing that comes to my mind is basically giving NUBs a 'credit bank' instead of a cash bonus.

A separate account of money that can only be used for the blacksmith, forge, auctions, rentals, clan joining/creating fees, transfer fees, and stores.

They would get normal battle money added to their normal account, and the extra cash from the NUB goes into the credit account. If they want to sell their normal cash, just like any other user, that would still be possible. If that's unwanted, making all cash earned during a NUB go into a credit account would solve that, but it would restrict things like having their items forged, or paying for supportership and the like.

I can't think of any downsides off the top of my head, other than the coding that would need to be done (but coding pretty much has to be done for any ideas related to this topic to work, right?). Other than that maybe it might take a bit longer for them to buy something like supportership. Maybe something could be done about that? I don't know. It's late, and I'm tired. @_@

Exclude NUBs from selling CBD? Get rid of the NUB altogether o_O
Probably the only way stop them doing business.

Stopping NuB all together is silly. Why would i want to play when it would take me years to catch up. (I still would)

I am not going to be buying or selling my CBD for USD anytime soon, however i did sell my CBD for my supporter status and a named item.

These give back to the community even if i am not the one doing it.
If changes are made a NuB should still be able to buy supporter status and named items as long as there are willing sellers.

"The thing that comes to my mind is basically giving NUBs a 'credit bank' instead of a cash bonus."

Interesting idea, actually, but I already see flaws. Loan something to the NUB, have them BS it (for free), have them send it back, you pay them USD for a discounted insta-forge. Stuff like that.

Demigod: very well put. :)