Albion Online is an MMORPG created by Iron Game Studio, the same developers of Star Wars: The Old Republic. Players can explore a living, breathing world where they can talk to animals, battle robot creatures, and engage in trading with NPCs. In addition to the standard quests, players can choose their own path by embracing different skills and upgrading their equipment as they explore the world.
Speaking of exploring the world, it’s worth noting that Albion Online features an immersive interface that allows players to view all of the game’s regions and wildlife from a bird’s eye view. Simply click on the compass in the upper right corner of the screen to open up a map that displays the game’s locations in a small, satellite view. While exploring, you’ll notice that the game uses a blur effect to conceal the player’s digital avatar. This approach creates a more immersive experience by making it easier for the player to blend into the environment.
The Basics of Making Money in Albion Online
If you thought that Star Wars: The Old Republic was the only form of payment accepted in MMOs, then you’d be mistaken. While gold is still the preferred method of payment in all but the most recent games, MMORPGs have shifted to accepting a variety of forms of currency. Some games, like Guild Wars 2, let you use real world money through a system of virtual ‘converters’ that allow players to spend their hard-earned cash on things like gunsmithing supplies and pets.
Albion Online is no different. Players can use a combination of in-game gold and cash to purchase a range of goods and services. You’ll note that some items can only be purchased with in-game gold, while others can be paid for with either type of currency. The developers seem to want to prevent players from running up excessive bills by imposing limits on how much gold and cash can be spent on certain items. For example, you can’t use real world money to purchase level 50 equipment from NPC traders.
The downside of this system is that it makes keeping track of your finances a little more complicated when playing. You’ll have to keep an eye on both your gold and cash reserves throughout the day to make sure that you don’t spend too much and deplete your wealth. Fortunately, the game provides you with a number of in-game tools that can help. For example, the ‘Bank Account’, which is accessed by clicking on the three upright triangles in the top right corner of the screen, shows your overall finances and enables you to monitor your spending. It also allows you to save up to three different budgets, allowing you to track expenses for different projects or teams.
The Skill Based Economy
While most players will use the cash and gold system to purchase items in Albion Online, the game is also structured around a skill-based economy that gives players a range of options for how they can earn money. As the game’s website notes:
“The skills and upgrades that you acquire in-game directly contribute to your character’s progression, enabling you to specialize in various industries and pursue a range of professions. Not only does this provide a steady stream of revenue, but it also allows you to freely experiment with different skills and equipment to find what works best for you. You can’t make the same mistake twice; your character will constantly evolve and improve with each new skill that you learn and implement into your gameplay.”
This aspect of the game was the result of extensive testing and balancing. According to the developers, the skill-based economy was an essential part of the gameplay, enabling players to specialize in certain areas and develop a range of in-game skills. In addition, the game features a Trade Skill System, which allows players to learn and implement a variety of trading strategies. For example, you can train your skills in Gathering, crafting, or selling in order to specialize in one area and become an expert in that area.
The development team emphasized the depth of gameplay that can be achieved by specializing in one area and developing your skillset in that area. They noted that even though gathering is low-risk and high-reward, it can be difficult to become efficient and profitable at gathering if you don’t have the right equipment and a suitable place to store the resources you collect. In response, the game offers players a steady source of revenue through gathering, crafting, and trading, while also providing them with the flexibility to develop their own strategy.
The Equipment Business
Albion Online also features an Equipment Business System, which was designed to be a more accessible way for players to make money. Using the equipment you’ve acquired throughout the day, you can start small businesses that offer a range of services, from delivering items to providing security for merchants.
The Equipment Business System offers players the flexibility to start a business and employ staff, enabling them to take on a range of jobs and generate a steady stream of income. It’s an ideal source of passive income, as you don’t need to devote a lot of time to make money, but you’ll always be able to generate a few extra dollars.
You can start an Equipment Business by clicking on the three upright triangles in the upper right corner of the screen to access the Bank. From here, you’ll see a list of your active equipment, which you can activate in order to start your employment search. You’ll need to look for jobs that match your skills, of course, but you can also choose your own path by deciding what jobs you want to pursue and which ones you don’t want to pursue. This aspect of the game was also highlighted as one of the major improvements that the developers made in order to make money more accessible.
In addition to delivering items and providing security, equipment can be used to craft various items, including food, drink, outfits, and more. This aspect of the game also allows you to become more efficient and develop a variety of in-game skills. For example, you can train your gathering skills to create food that’s higher-end and more quickly create a variety of unique items, like shirts and pants, using the farming equipment that you’ve acquired.
Final Takeaway
Overall, it’s clear that the development team at Iron Game Studio wanted to create a more accessible way for players to make money in an MMORPG. As a result, they created a cash and gold based economy, with additional sources of income including a skill-based economy, an equipment business, and a trade skill system. While it may not seem like a lot of money, every extra cent adds up when you’re playing an MMORPG.
The fact that you can use a combination of these methods for making money makes it simpler to create passive income streams, which many gamers find to be a key strategy in managing their finances. If you’re looking for a new way to earn a living, you could do worse than to check out Albion Online. With a little bit of luck, information gathering, and a lot of hard work, you may just be able to turn a profit.