Dear Chronicles of Arcadia Community,
We are implementing an adjustment to the Arcadia Coins to Ancient Mementos exchange rate to address current economic imbalances affecting our server's health and new player experience.
๐ The Current Situation
Since the implementation of the Arcadia Coins system, we've observed that the average amount of Ancient Mementos obtained through this exchange has significantly increased. This has resulted in a substantial influx of diamonds being added to the server economy, as Ancient Mementos serve as a primary pathway for players to obtain diamonds through NPC exchange.
๐ Key Data Points:
- Arcadia Coins farming efficiency: 7x faster than original implementation
- Exchange rate adjustment: 5x increase (way under the actual farming improvement)
- Primary users: Endgame players with resources to efficiently utilize current rates
Our data analysis reveals that the majority of these additional diamonds are flowing to veteran players who have the resources and knowledge to efficiently utilize the current exchange rates. While this wasn't necessarily problematic initially, it has created an unintended consequence: a widening gap between veteran and new player economic capabilities.
๐ฏ Arguments Supporting This Decision
1. ๐ฑ New Player Accessibility: We are committed to making Chronicles of Arcadia more accessible to newcomers. The current diamond inflow makes it increasingly difficult for new players to participate meaningfully in the economy, as item prices have escalated beyond their earning capacity.
2. โ๏ธ Economic Sustainability: The rapid diamond injection threatens long-term server economic stability. Historical precedent from our April 2023 Agnes NPC adjustments demonstrates our commitment to maintaining economic balance, even when changes require short-term adaptation.
3. ๐ฎ Content Progression Balance: The ease of diamond acquisition through the current exchange rate has disrupted the intended progression curve, allowing players to bypass content and challenges that were designed to provide meaningful advancement experiences.
4. ๐ฐ Market Health: A more controlled diamond supply will help stabilize auction house prices and create more opportunities for diverse trading strategies, benefiting all player segments.
๐ Alternative Diamond Sources
This change does not eliminate F2P diamond acquisition, only changing rate. Multiple viable alternatives exist:
- ๐๏ธ Direct Ancient Memento farming from instances (unlimited daily exchanges)
- ๐ Monster Cards & Currency - Farm and sell cards or card currency from dungeons/events
- โ๏ธ Equipment & Materials - Sell gear with Item Set Skills, instance materials, crafting mats
- ๐ฎ Mana Stones & Arcane Forge - Currently the most profitable tier farming method
- ๐ฃ Fishing - Rare fish, buff food ingredients, treasure drops (Scroll in a Bottle, Unknown Box)
- ๐ Events & Activities - Guild quests, festivals, world bosses, minigames
- ๐ฐ Gold Trading - Sell gold via Cedric NPC or Auction House
๐ For detailed farming guides: Complete Diamond Earning Guide
๐ New Player Support
Based on community feedback, we are implementing special considerations for newer players:
- ๐ ~40% discount for players with "Newbie" status
- ๐ Data shows most current exchanges are by endgame players, minimizing impact on actual new players
- ๐ฏ Designed to prevent exploitation while preserving accessibility for genuine newcomers
โ Expected Benefits
We understand that economic adjustments can be challenging for established players. However, we believe this change will:
- ๐ Create more opportunities for new players to contribute meaningfully to the server economy
- ๐๏ธ Establish a more sustainable foundation for future content releases
- ๐ค๏ธ Maintain the value and importance of various progression paths
- ๐ Reduce inflationary pressure on item prices
๐ฎ Future Monitoring & Adjustments
This is not a final solution. We are planning to closely monitor how the market adapts to this adjustment over the coming weeks and months. Based on economic data, we may consider:
- ๐ง Further refinements to exchange rates
- ๐ฑ Alternative approaches to new player economic integration
- โ๏ธ Additional systems to support player progression
- โ๏ธ Rebalancing of Ancient Memento sources
๐ Final Notes
๐ Nine years of currency development without adjustment necessitated this change. The current rates were never intended to scale with modern farming efficiency.
๐ This decision is data-driven, not arbitrary. We must learn from these changes before implementing additional modifications, ensuring each adjustment serves the broader community's long-term interests.
๐ฌ We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work together to maintain a healthy, balanced economy for all players.
