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[[Category:Glossary]]
 
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|''"Gold" redirects here. For the use of "gold" to describe rare items, see [[item rarity]].''
'''Money''' is the currency used in [[Guild Wars]]. There are two denominations of money; gold and platinum. One unit of platinum is worth 1000 units of gold.
 
 
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'''Money''', in the context of [[Guild Wars]], refers to the in-game currency represented by gold and platinum.
   
==Terminology==
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== Terminology ==
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There are two denominations of money in Guild Wars:
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*The gold piece is the base unit of currency and is represented by the symbol {{Gold}}. When quoting prices, it is usually abbreviated to ''g'' or the less common ''gp'', although it is sometimes omitted entirely.
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**Example: 250 gold pieces = 250g = 250{{g}}.
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*The platinum piece is worth 1000 gold pieces and is represented by the symbol {{Plat}}. When quoting prices, it is usually abbreviated to ''k'', referring to the [[Wikipedia:SI prefix|SI prefix]] ''kilo'', meaning 1000. It can also be abbreviated as ''p'' or ''plat'', although these are much less common.
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**Example: 7 platinum = 7k = 7 plat = 7{{plat}} = 7000{{g}}
   
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Money is automatically converted between the two denominations. If a character is holding {{Cost|990}} and then picks up a drop of {{Cost|20}}, the character's inventory will show the new money total as {{Cost|1|10}}, not 1,010{{g}}.
People refer to gold often as simply g, G, gp or GP ("GP" means "Gold Pieces") (as in 540g) or just omit it all together (e.g. ''[[WTS]] yellow dye for 200''). Platinum is generally referred to as '[[k]]', it being the SI prefix ''kilo'', meaning 1000 (e.g. ''[[WTS]] black dye for 7k''). Rarely it is refered to as 'p' or 'plat'.
 
   
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== Acquisition ==
The symbol for gold is {{Gold}}, while the corresponding symbol for platinum is {{Plat}}.
 
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:''Main article: [[Earning gold]]''
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Money is most commonly acquired through [[loot]], either directly as drops of gold pieces or by selling non-monetary loot to [[merchant]]s or other players.
   
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Other methods of obtaining money include:
==Obtaining Money==
 
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*Completing [[quest]]s, as many of them include some amount of gold as part of the quest reward.
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*Filling out and turning in [[book]]s.
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*[[Farm]]ing.
   
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=== Storage ===
Money is often obtained by [[loot]], which is dropped by monsters in the [[PvE]] part of the game. Also [[item]]s in your inventory may be sold to other players or [[merchant]]s.
 
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Each character can carry up to {{Cost|100|0}}. Characters can deposit money into the [[Vault Box]], which can hold {{Cost|1000|0}}.
   
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== Uses ==
To a lesser extent, money is earned by completing [[quest]]s, notably in the [[Factions]] and [[Nightfall]] Campaigns.
 
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Money can be transferred between players, usually in exchange for an item in [[trade]] or as payment for services, such as [[running]].
   
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Money can also be spent at various [[NPC]]s throughout the game in exchange for a wide range of goods and services. These include:
See [[earning gold]] or [[farm]] for further information.
 
   
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*[[Merchant]]s, who offer a selection of basic adventuring supplies.
==Spending Money==
 
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*[[Trader]]s, who both buy and sell [[rune]]s, [[crafting material]]s, [[dye]], and other items.
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*[[Skill Trainer]]s, who can teach you [[skill]]s for your chosen [[profession]]s.
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*[[Crafter]]s, who use crafting materials to create [[armor]], [[weapon]]s, and [[consumable]]s.
   
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Crafters are the most obvious example of [[gold sink]]s, mechanisms designed to remove money from the game.
Money can be used to buy things, either in [[trade]]s with other players or from [[merchant]]s/[[trader]]s.
 
   
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== Substitutes ==
For example, you could buy:
 
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Because a character can only carry {{Cost|100|0}}, this places a limit on the amount of money that can be exchanged during a [[trade]]. To exceed this limit, various high-value, [[stack]]able items are used as monetary substitutes. Up to 7 stacks of 250 items can be traded at a time, vastly increasing the upper limit on overall trade values.
   
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*High-value substitutes are the most popular, but they suffer from fluctuating value due to supply and demand.
* [[Weapon]]s
 
* [[Dye]]s
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**[[Zaishen Key]]s
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**[[Glob of Ectoplasm|Globs of Ectoplasm]]
* [[Rune]]s
 
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**[[Armbrace of Truth|Armbraces of Truth]]
* [[Insight Scroll|Scroll]]s
 
* [[Celestial Sigil]]s
 
* [[Key]]s
 
* [[Crafting Material]]s
 
* [[Armor]]
 
   
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*Fixed-price substitutes are worth less but offer more stable values.
For a complete listing, see [[:Category:Items]].
 
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**[[Lockpick]]s
   
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*In [[Pre-Searing Ascalon]], [[permanent pre-searing character]]s typically use [[Vial of Dye|Black Dyes]] as monetary substitutes, since they lack access to any of the other options.
Money can also be used to pay for services, such as [[running]], learning skills from [[Skill Trainer]]s, entry to the [[Realms of the Gods]], (1{{Plat}}) or access to the [[storage]] account/materials storage section to your [[Vault Box]]. (50{{Gold}})
 
   
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== See also ==
To maintain the stability of the economy and minimize inflation, many [[gold sink]]s are included in the game for players that would otherwise have more than they could spend.
 
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* [[Researching fair prices|This wiki's guide to finding fair prices]].
   
 
[[Category:Glossary]]
== Finding Fair Prices ==
 
Much of the time a player will obtain an item or want a service and not know its worth. Here are a few common ways to find a fair value for an item or service:
 
* Check the Merchants. If they sell or buy the item, then the fair market value will be approximately the average of what the Merchant buys and sells the item for. Many players do not feel like spending the time necessary to make or save the extra cash by trading with other players and opt for the Merchant. Note that this only applies to specific traders of items! For instance, you can sell [[rune]]s to [[Rune Trader]]s or general [[Merchant]]s, but Rune Traders will pay a lot more for valuable runes.
 
* Say ''Price Check [Item Name]'' in a trade heavy district. (such as Lion's Arch, District 1) You might have to do it multiple times to get a fair value, but most of the time, that message will get you an honest opinion.
 
* Shop Around. The more time you spend the more likely you are to find a good value. Eventually you will find that one player who just needs quick cash or absolutely must have the item you are selling now. On the other hand, keep in mind that the time spent looking around could also have been spent making money doing something else. Whether the difference is worth it depends on each player.
 
* Fan-Site Forums, such as [http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=6 Guild Wars Guru's Trade Forum] or [http://guildwars.incgamers.com/traders/ Guild Wars Traders]. You will find some of the most accurate prices at a fan-site forum. (and some of the most sought after items and best deals) Some fan-sites even run an Auction-based service.
 
* Use MarketWatch, a tool for checking current in-game prices that is available via various fansites and guild sites, e.g. [http://www.guildwarsguru.com/marketwatch/ MarketWatch at Guild Wars Guru].
 
 
== Money Substitute ==
 
The maximum amount of money a character can carry at any time is 100{{Plat}}, and thus it is the limit of how much can be traded in a single session. When trading among players involves a monetary amount greater than 100{{Plat}}, high-priced stackable items are often used to make up for the amount above 100{{Plat}}. The most popular monetary substitute is [[Glob of Ectoplasm|Globs of Ectoplasm]]. [[Lockpick]]s are becoming more popular as a money substitute due to their high, and more importantly, fixed value, as are [[Zaishen Keys]]. Additionally, in the highest end trades, multiple [[Armbrace of Truth|Armbraces of Truth]] are used as this form of a "liquid currency". In [[Pre-Searing Ascalon]], high end trades done between [[Permanent pre-searing character|perma-pre]] characters of more than 100{{Plat}}, usually use [[Vial of Dye|Black Dyes]] as substitute to gold.
 

Latest revision as of 08:24, 14 December 2009

Disambiguous "Gold" redirects here. For the use of "gold" to describe rare items, see item rarity.

Money, in the context of Guild Wars, refers to the in-game currency represented by gold and platinum.

Terminology

There are two denominations of money in Guild Wars:

  • The gold piece is the base unit of currency and is represented by the symbol Gold. When quoting prices, it is usually abbreviated to g or the less common gp, although it is sometimes omitted entirely.
    • Example: 250 gold pieces = 250g = 250Gold.
  • The platinum piece is worth 1000 gold pieces and is represented by the symbol Platinum. When quoting prices, it is usually abbreviated to k, referring to the SI prefix kilo, meaning 1000. It can also be abbreviated as p or plat, although these are much less common.
    • Example: 7 platinum = 7k = 7 plat = 7Platinum = 7000Gold

Money is automatically converted between the two denominations. If a character is holding 990 Gold and then picks up a drop of 20 Gold, the character's inventory will show the new money total as 1 Platinum 10 Gold, not 1,010Gold.

Acquisition

Main article: Earning gold

Money is most commonly acquired through loot, either directly as drops of gold pieces or by selling non-monetary loot to merchants or other players.

Other methods of obtaining money include:

  • Completing quests, as many of them include some amount of gold as part of the quest reward.
  • Filling out and turning in books.
  • Farming.

Storage

Each character can carry up to 100 Platinum. Characters can deposit money into the Vault Box, which can hold 1000 Platinum.

Uses

Money can be transferred between players, usually in exchange for an item in trade or as payment for services, such as running.

Money can also be spent at various NPCs throughout the game in exchange for a wide range of goods and services. These include:

Crafters are the most obvious example of gold sinks, mechanisms designed to remove money from the game.

Substitutes

Because a character can only carry 100 Platinum, this places a limit on the amount of money that can be exchanged during a trade. To exceed this limit, various high-value, stackable items are used as monetary substitutes. Up to 7 stacks of 250 items can be traded at a time, vastly increasing the upper limit on overall trade values.

  • Fixed-price substitutes are worth less but offer more stable values.

See also