This weekend I sat and watched my wife drop a few k in casino to get some stat food (master baker am I but who cares?). I dont like RL casinos or gamlbing much so the in game one holds no appeal.

I was amazed at how little work had actually gone into the casino from a UI perspective - I mean a text message saying "bad luck or "good lick" isnt exactly leading edge.

But I digress.

Obviously the tribute system and the casino were put in to suck cash out of the economy. I dont know anyone who puts cash into tributes so I am not sure that is working as intended but it seems a lot of people are putting a lot of money into the casino. I am not a bazaar rat but it does not *seem* to me that bazaar prices are changing materially.

Anyone else have a view on whether the casino and/or tribute system is changing the amount of available plat?

it's probably only taking plat from the people who didnt' dupe it or cheat to get it...

If you want to judge by the EQPP to USD conversion rates.. they do seem to have stabilized.

Well I don't have any money, but mostly because I bought ornamental leather pants (*cough*clickyrootforsoloing*cough*) and loaned a lot of money to a friend.

/shrug guild gave me 50k plat for winning the humour section of our annual haiku contest so I am (relatively) rolling in it :)

It will take some time for the sinks to take enough out of the economy for it to make a difference, but in my opinion, they will. I have read about enough people dropping a couple hundred k in the casino alone, and that's not even counting tribute. Of course this all benefits me, because I'm holding on to my cash with clenched fists and grinning evilly as it increases in value. /hug corporate finance

/shrug guild gave me 50k plat for winning the humour section of our annual haiku contest so I am (relatively) rolling in it :)

/tap And where is this haiku that we haven't seen it? Hmmmm? :)

"good lick"

Hmm, no wonder she may have enjoyed it.

The cash sinks have always worked. I've been broke since day 1 (March 99).

Well since all accounts are open until may 15th I logged in.


now I have dropped 288k in the casino, and my best prize was beer goggles.
Aquaintance beside me dropped 300k and won TWO golden tickets (and got TWO Elder Holgresh beads)

Haha I'm not telling. It was kind of an inside joke that probably doesnt translate too well. Or perhaps I should say:

Repeat, I will not
Funny the winning haiku
Only on inside

As you can see, maybe the competition wasnt too intense :)

Someone did however submit these non-original ones:

Dog Haiku

I love my master;
Thus I perfume myself with
This long-rotten squirrel.

I lie belly-up
In the sunshine, happier than
You ever will be.

Today I sniffed
Many dog butts--I celebrate
By kissing your face.

I sound the alarm!
Paperboy--come to kill us all--
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

I sound the alarm!
Garbage man--come to kill us all--
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

I lift my leg and
Whiz on each bush . Hello, Spot-
Sniff this and weep.

How do I love thee?
The ways are numberless as
My hairs on the rug.

My human is home!
I am so ecstatic I have
Made a puddle.

I Hate my choke chain.
Look, world, they strangle me! Ack
Ack Ack Ack Ack Ack!

Sleeping here, my chin
On your foot--no greater bliss--well,
Maybe catching rats.

Look in my eyes and
Deny it. No human could
Love you as much I do.

The cat is not all
Bad--she fills the litter box
With Tootsie Rolls.

Dig under fence--why?
Because it's there. Because it's
There. Because it's there.

I am your best friend,
Now, always, and especially
When you are eating.

You may call them fleas,
But they are far more--I call
Them a vocation.

My owners' mood is
Romantic--I lie near their
Feet. I fart a big one.

Clerics are working just fine, thanks ;)

Every time I cast a HP buff I take 10.5pp out of the economy! :rolleyes:

Spent 510k myself got Holgresh Elder Beads that I gave away (i have some already) and a Guise of the Deceiver.

Thats the toy i wanted so am done with the casino now.

Most of my guildies have spent some PP in the casino though so I guess it is working as a money sink.

I would have to say YES!! they are working, casion sucked 90k outta me. I got one golden ticket then got SCREWED...i got Rubicite BP

(for those who dont understand how i got screwed Rubicite BP is carbon copy of ikky regen ac19 regen 3 but its a pretty red color)