Is Price Fixing Bannable in Path of Exile? A Deep Dive
The short, albeit nuanced answer is: No, price fixing is not directly bannable in Path of Exile (PoE), but it can carry significant risks. While Grinding Gear Games (GGG), the developers of PoE, do not explicitly ban players for price fixing, their stance on activities that exploit the game’s economy is clear. This lack of direct consequence can be confusing, especially when compared to the real world where price fixing is a serious crime with significant penalties. However, this doesn’t mean you can engage in this practice without any repercussions; the community often takes matters into its own hands, and GGG does take action against those who violate terms of service, even if not directly for price fixing.
The core problem lies in the fact that PoE’s trading system is player-driven and decentralized. This design facilitates market manipulation, where players can artificially inflate or deflate prices for their benefit. Unlike real-world economies where regulators enforce fair competition, PoE’s economy is largely self-governed. This results in an environment where price fixing, while not directly illegal within the game’s rules, is detrimental to fair trade and can create a frustrating experience for other players.
Let’s explore this complex topic further and address common questions that arise from this grey area.
Why Isn’t Price Fixing Directly Bannable?
The key point is that price fixing falls into a complicated area of “exploiting game mechanics”, rather than a hard breach of terms of service. While GGG is against exploitation and does ban for some violations, price fixing itself is difficult to prove and enforce.
Here’s why:
- Subjectivity of Pricing: Market prices fluctuate based on supply and demand, so it can be challenging to prove an account is manipulating prices.
- Difficulty of Tracking: Price fixing often involves multiple accounts and coordinated effort, making it hard to trace and punish effectively.
- Lack of Direct Rules: GGG hasn’t explicitly outlawed price fixing as its own separate violation, choosing instead to focus on violations of specific mechanics.
However, while price fixing is not directly bannable, it doesn’t mean there are no repercussions. Players who excessively and deliberately engage in these practices may find their accounts “ignored” when reporting issues or can experience other indirect negative consequences. There’s also the considerable social penalty from the community, where players are likely to be ostracized for engaging in these behaviors. This can lead to negative trading experiences and general lack of engagement.
The Risks Associated with Price Fixing
Even though there are no direct bans for price fixing, here’s why you should avoid it:
- Community Backlash: Players who are caught price-fixing are often publicly called out and face widespread disapproval from the community. This can ruin your reputation, making it hard to engage in future trades.
- Account Ignored: GGG may take a passive stance on banning for price fixing, but they can and do “ignore” accounts suspected of harmful trading practices. This means you may have a harder time if you have legitimate account issues in the future.
- Indirect Ban: While not the primary cause, price-fixing behavior can intersect with real-money trading (RMT) or other activities that ARE strictly against the terms of service. These could lead to a ban.
- Wasted Time: The time investment in maintaining the charade of price fixing may not actually bring high profits, and will bring a lot of hate.
Related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What exactly is price fixing in Path of Exile?
Price fixing in PoE involves artificially manipulating the perceived price of an item by undercutting the competition with multiple listings that are never intended to be sold. These listings are often placed at a very low price with no intention to sell to create the illusion that this is the normal price for the item. This gives the perception of a cheaper price, to entice buyers to buy the price-fixer’s items at a higher price.
2. Is price fixing illegal in the real world?
Yes, price fixing is illegal in most developed nations. It is often considered a serious crime and can be prosecuted with heavy fines and even imprisonment. This is because price fixing harms consumers by artificially inflating or deflating prices, reducing fair competition.
3. Is RMT (Real Money Trading) bannable in PoE?
Yes, RMT is strictly prohibited by GGG and will result in a permanent ban without recourse. Trading in-game currency or items for real money is a direct violation of the terms of service.
4. Can third-party software get me banned in PoE?
Using certain third-party software, like unauthorized overlays, can potentially lead to bans. GGG often restricts software that interacts directly with the game client or its data. It is very important to check with the developers regarding the safety of third-party software.
5. What happens to my microtransactions if I get banned?
Microtransactions on your banned account are likely lost. GGG typically does not transfer microtransactions from banned accounts to new ones.
6. Will PoE microtransactions carry over to PoE 2?
Yes, microtransactions are shared between Path of Exile 1 and 2. The two games exist on a “shared platform,” allowing you to use your cosmetics and other purchases on both games.
7. How do I appeal a ban in Path of Exile?
To appeal a ban, you can email [email protected]. This is the official email for ban appeals, and more information can be found on the official PoE website.
8. Are trade bots allowed in PoE?
No, trade bots are against the rules of PoE, although some may go unnoticed. Using automation to trade items is considered an exploitation of the game.
9. How can I avoid being scammed when trading in PoE?
Always verify the price and quantity before agreeing to a trade. Only engage with reputable traders and avoid deals that seem too good to be true.
10. How does the Path of Exile trade system work?
PoE’s trade system is primarily player-driven. Players use the official trade site and their premium stash tabs to list items for sale at their desired prices. This system facilitates a dynamic economy that fluctuates based on supply and demand.
11. How does bulk selling work in Path of Exile?
To bulk sell, make your premium stash tab public, right-click the item you wish to sell, select the “exact price” option, choose the currency you want to receive, and enter the amount of currency you want using bulk syntax (e.g. 80/1 for 80 Chaos Orbs for 1 Exalted Orb). This eliminates the need for messaging dozens of players individually.
12. Will Path of Exile 2 replace Path of Exile 1?
No, Path of Exile 2 is a separate game, and both PoE1 and PoE2 will exist alongside each other. They will have their own content, mechanics, and leagues.
13. Why does my Path of Exile game sometimes look blurry?
Blurriness in Path of Exile can be caused by adaptive/dynamic resolution settings. Try disabling this option in the graphics settings to see if it resolves the issue. Ensure your hardware is capable of running the game at your desired resolution without dynamic scaling.
14. Is armor or evasion better in Path of Exile?
The effectiveness of armor and evasion depends on the type of damage you’re facing. Evasion is effective against both small and large hits, while armor is more effective against many small hits but can be less effective against fewer, large hits. Generally, both are very important.
15. How many refund points do you get in Path of Exile?
You will receive around 20 refund points by completing the main story. You can also use the Orb of Regret to obtain more refund points that can be used to respec the passive skill tree.
Conclusion
While price fixing in Path of Exile is not directly bannable, it is a practice that can bring about negative consequences. It’s not an activity that’s encouraged by GGG, and while they don’t have a direct ban system in place for price fixing, there can be other indirect problems for the people who engage in it. Engaging in such practices can damage your reputation in the game’s community and potentially lead to account issues down the line.
The best approach for every Path of Exile player is to trade honestly and participate in the game’s economy fairly. Avoid practices that exploit the market and focus on earning your way through the game’s content and challenges. Doing so not only benefits you, but the entire community as well.