An actual alternative to RNG
Pretty good idea, actually. They’d have to code for a new mechanic to implement, but if they thought the return was worth the development, I’m sure they’d do it. A blind auction has it’s pros and cons for both sides of a bidding war for sure. Maybe more of an eBay style auction where you only see when your max bid has been passed?
The biggest drawback is that RNG boxes make Anet real cash. Money is spent in large sums when people gamble in general, so I believe the only way they’ll abandon RNG boxes or look for alternatives is when sales go down significantly.
2nd thought: instead of an auction-style competition, what about the idea of a lottery? Buy entries to a lottery with gem-purchased tickets (relatively low cost … maybe 50 each?) and the winners are chosen randomly from the pool. It can be coded so one person does or doesn’t win multiple items in the same lottery depending on which outcome Anet prefers.
So only rich players who grind all day long can get a skin? While poor players who have to buy gems still don’t have the money to outbid rich players.
So only rich players who grind all day long can get a skin? While poor players who have to buy gems still don’t have the money to outbid rich players.
I think your definition of “Rich” is a bit too narrow. Players who are buying gems are time poor, thus they can’t grind all day, but they maybe be cash rich. So they can buy more gems outright, while time rich but cash poor players grind all day to save-up in-game gold which they can convert to gems. So as long as a player is “rich” either time wise or cash wise, the auction system will work for them.
However, there is an inherent “fairness” to the RNG system in that everybody (in-theory) is equal in the eyes of RNG. Still, those who can buy more gems – either using RL cash or in-game gold, are buying more crates/chests and thus giving themselves more chances to “win”. So… shrug