Grand Exchange: Good or not?

Grand Exchange: Good or not?

The Grand Exchange might’ve seemed like a perfect solution to RWT at the time it was created. It determined the prices of all items, based on supply and demand. Scamming couldn’t be done anymore, since all players had a trade limit based on the Grand Exchange price. Players could now trade items faster, without needing to put in any effort. They could now do other stuff while the G.E. did the trading for them. A perfect world it would seem…or not?

To me, the Grand Exchange is one of the main reasons Runescape has become dull! Everyone could just buy any item they wanted in a few seconds. Being able to obtain such items made everything easier:
-Need a specific item for a quest? Buy it in the G.E.
-Need a specific item for an achievement diary? Buy it in the G.E.
-Want to train a skill? Buy items in the G.E.
-Want high level armor? Buy it in the G.E.

You see, the Grand Exchange has totally destroyed the difficulty of obtaining items, causing everything to become easier!

I remember when I was still F2P, I had the money to get full adamant, and the skills to wear it. It took me a whole week to get it! I was so happy and so proud when I finally got it!

I also remember the time I created another account, a few years later. I got combat level 60+ with full rune and all quests complete, in 2 weeks! I was content, but got bored quickly after that.

The Grand Exchange has destroyed the sense of achievement. When something is difficult to get, people will be happier when they finally get it. The G.E. has taken this away. You make some money, buy the best equipment you can wear at your level, but don’t have that feeling of accomplishment. Jagex, needing to put in effort is what makes players like a game!

I predict that if Jagex doesn’t do something about this, Runescape will be a game played by only 11-year olds. They don’t mind a game being easy. The problem is that everyone else does! Many people don’t realize it, but the fun part of playing is the part where you try to get something, not actually having it!

Because of the Grand Exchange people are disencouraged to get items themselves. Instead of cutting the logs you fletch, and fishing the food you cook, you just buy the raw materials in the G.E.

People just make money by doing one thing constantly, and then they buy supplies to do another one thing constantly. They miss out on all the fun!

For example:
Mark makes money by picking flax all day and selling it in the G.E. With the money, Mark buys thousands of logs and starts fletching all the time. He spends most of his time on Runescape doing these two things.

Without the G.E., Mark wouldn't be able to sell all his flax so quickly, so he would've spun it into bowstring. He would also be unable to buy logs, so he would start cutting them himself. Then Mark would make lots of strung bows.

You see, without the Grand Exchange, people are encouraged to do stuff themself, which is much more fun than just buying and selling! In Jagex' point of view, this would get people to play more hours, while being happier!

The Grand Exchange is the main reason that Runescape has become boring.


Another problem with the Grand Exchange is that the prices can be manipulated.

A lot of merchanting clans are manipulating the G.E. prices and making profit, at the cost of other players! Ruining the game for others while making profit yourself. Hmm, that sounds a lot like scamming! You see, price manipulation is a serious problem and Jagex shouldn't ignore it.

There is nothing wrong with merchanting, the problem is price manipulation. Merchanting is simply buying items cheap, and selling them for more money. This doesn't change the market price, so it is not an issue.

As you can see, I think the Grand Exchange is bad. I think it is one of the main reasons for Runescape's decline.

So what do you all think?

I must admit that I always pop-in at the Exchange to get quest supplies... I know it's bad, and I always feel bad that I'm killing the effort of questing... but it's sooooo much easier and a teleport away if I don't have any ropes or Jug of Wines.

3mptylord wrote:I must admit that I always pop-in at the Exchange to get quest supplies... I know it's bad, and I always feel bad that I'm killing the effort of questing... but it's sooooo much easier and a teleport away if I don't have any ropes or Jug of Wines.

Yeah, same here. This is also the reason why most people would be sad to see the GE removed. I think Jagex should make a replacement which is a compromise between the GE and regular trading.

Ruy112 wrote:I must admit it is handy, but attracts too many people. I once suggested the Mining-Exchange in Lumbridge, Weapon-Exchange in Falador etcetera, to spread out people.

That would indeed get rid of the overcrowded area. But it wouldn't solve the problem about RuneScape becoming too easy.

wow i never really thought of it
it also has drained the once productive life of seers' village- all it is now for is flax (not so common anymore) and maple log cutting

The Grand Exchange is good...I don't think that effort and a feeling of achievement comes from searching through the forums...r spamming seer's bank

I also don't think that the main difficulty of questing is in how long it takes to get some ropes and wine XD I have no qualms about using the GE for that purpose or for any other

The GE...although you may not like it...is the living beating heart of runescape...pumping it's lifeblood through it's veins and arteries...

Note: I have played since '05, don't get me wrong I kinda preferred the game then (cept for the new awesome quests/skills) and I've seen what it was like...I spammed seer's and leafed through the forums...it was boring...not challenging

EDIT: In response to dragon...that is to me the saddest side effect...well almost...walking around the ghost town that is falador world 2 almost drives me too tears

Dark Avorian wrote:The Grand Exchange is good...I don't think that effort and a feeling of achievement comes from searching through the forums...r spamming seer's bank

The feeling of accomplishment comes from obtaining that item. If something is difficult to get, you'll be happier when you finally get it. The GE takes away this difficulty to obtain, and so the feeling of achievement.

I'm sorry...I feel achievement form getting the gold to buy an item...or from getting an item off of a clue or monster drop...but I don't get an extra sense of achievement off of the forums...