Excelsior

I have been getting PMs and pages regarding the "hacking" or "rigging" of auction tables. So I figured I would explain some things.

These tables work just like any raffle. The more tickets you buy, the higher the probability you will win. However, probability is much like correlation. Where correlation does not equal causation, probability does not equal certainty. You can buy 99 tickets out of 100, and still lose. You can buy 1 out of the 100 tickets and win. Statistically, these situations are rare. However, they still happen.

Just because someone won a raffle and you didn't, it doesn't mean that the system is broken. It doesn't mean that it is hacked. It doesn't mean that it is rigged. It simply means the ticket pulled, was not yours. The next one pulled could be yours! =)

I highly recommend you limit the amount of gold you spend on raffle tickets if you have a limited amount of gold to begin with. I want you to enjoy your time here on Excelsior with as much fun and as little frustration as possible.

Take care.

+V

I'd like to add that if you see something on the raffle tables that you really want, look at it as any other competitive purchase - buy as many tickets as you can comfortably afford for the level of desire you have to win the item. The person who won the water house recently had purchased more than 60% of the total tickets sold. Clearly, they really wanted that item and worked hard to get the gold to put on it. Generally speaking the people winning the 'big dollar' raffle items have sunk - and risked losing - many millions of gold into buying tickets.

The moral of the story is simple. Work hard to earn the gold for the items you really want. You'll be able to get them. Just because any player has more than you doesn't mean they cheated or hacked to get it. It means they have worked hard (and likely a long time) to get there. Or they're a big donator, in which case they have donated their hard-earned money to get where they are. If someone wins an item you wanted, then they likely put more tickets into it. Instead of viewing these things with paranoia or anger, maybe try approaching the person you are envious of and asking them for advice or how they got whatever item you covet. You'd be surprised how many of our more 'wealthy' players are incredibly helpful, nice people who would be willing to give some tips to a polite inquirer.

This is a topic regarding the raffle tables, not macros. Buying a small amount of tickets at an interval does nothing in regards to chances of wining the raffle. Lets keep it on topic please.

(Moved unrelated posts)

I know one fact, when you buy 0 tickets you seem to have 0 chance of winning.

Hey i bought 5 tickets for a raffle and won and i know for a fact someone bought way more than that.... Its a raffle not a guarantee if you dont like the system than heres a thought dont use it ?

lol wish i could win with 5 tickets lol ive bought 300 once for relayer and no win its all chance better chance if u have more tickets that all!! :}

A gentleman on global chat mentioned that it was initially designed as a gold sink (I was not here when raffles were

implemented...I think).

That makes sense. I have seen many an MMO's economy go south with no measures taken to stop it.

Imagine batwings costing 80 mil ? (sure it would be great with today's economy) but inconvenient and hard to manage I would

think.

I did express some discomfiture regarding raffles but understand that it is something for later stages in the game

when money is less of an issue and that your main goals have been achieved.

Raffles are necessary (and fun)!

Draconomicon wrote:A gentleman on global chat mentioned that it was initially designed as a gold sink (I was not here when raffles were

yes, the raffles and gm auctions are designed to remove gold from the economy. go count up the gold removed from the grand auctions lol

Exactly, it's no big secret that the raffles and grand auctions are meant as gold sinks.

This most recent grand auction had 171 users online at the start. We sunk 360 million gold and 13 million tokens. And that was just for a 'throw together' auction that we planned only a few days in advance.

+Nyx wrote:Exactly, it's no big secret that the raffles and grand auctions are meant as gold sinks.

This most recent grand auction had 171 users online at the start. We sunk 360 million gold and 13 million tokens. And that was just for a 'throw together' auction that we planned only a few days in advance.

It was a great auction! If it wasn't for the auctions I probably wouldn't play that much. I look forward to them like Christmas lol

Thanks for running them and for controlling inflation.

Hey now 120 mil of that 360 was mine =/ if makeing a gold sink for server is the idea does that mean your gonna start taxxing my bank lol cause in that cause i will line the city of Aurei Urbem with mithril so you can withdraw it hehehe

+V seriously people where complaining about the raffle? wow. ok this is what i do. i buy 10 tickets lol. but lately i've been hunting and dumping anything i make from hunts into the raffle. why not free money might as well try

also, good luck everyone on the raffles.

The only raffle I've won, was when I bought 10 tickets.

I won a raffle (item bless deed) a few months back and I bought only 1 ticket (as usual). So winning is always possible, as long as you buy any tickets.

Teh raffles r rigged! I never win...

I mean... exex forum makes me laugh.

Only raffle item I own (0 slot ethy Cu Sidhe) I had to buy off the winner after the raffle was drawn. Easier than trying to win the raffle itself, and generally cheaper.