TOPIC: Just got a $1K token pack, now what?

So I figured that I was going to spend money purplish out my guy anyway and a 1k pack would help reduce the costs. I assume you can likely get around 95 trade items from one pack. That would let me get 1x +3 transmute. Is this wishful thinking? I plan on reselling the tooth and whatever other UR I pull. Any tips for a first time transmuter and first time $1k buyer? I just don't want to squander a good opportunity.

Best case Senario I either end up being able to make a transmute with my mats to sell and cover most or all of my URs... Or maybe a +3 Deathcleaver for myself lol.

Go ahead tell me I am high as a kite and to come down from the clouds lol. Based on the 2ndary market prices I assume one could in theory but a $1K pack and sell the URs and Tooth to cover the cost. If this is the case, why don't more people do it?

You could just offer $$$ for the +3 Cleaver. It would cost less than the 1k order. I would bet that you could get the Cleaver and several URs for that same price. Unless you want the extra Trade bits

Well I am hoping that this will be cheaper then cash. Even if I sell everything and keep the trade items. I feel like that will cover the majority of what I spent.

It's the classic time vs money.

Selling individual tokens gives the most profit, but the market is very small, and more and more people are trying to do that. Competition is friendly but there is a lot of it. If you're counting on selling more than 10% of them at "retail," that's wishful thinking.

And that's why more people don't do it.

Count on turning almost all of your tokens into trade goods. The vast majority of commons/uncommons/rates are only worth 15/45/90 cents each as trade tokens.

The URs and Tooth will get you about $450 if you sell them all. The random UR you get could be a good $100, or a crummy $75 one. If you're lucky, a second one. (20% chance) so let's be generous and call it an expected value of $575

You're left with around 1200 tokens with a combined scrap value of about $360.

If you sell everything you get, every single token, and spend hours and postage and PayPal fees doing it, and work hard at selling some singles, you can break even. Everything you keep out for yourself cuts into that, of course.

If you're lucky (10% chance?) you'll find a Golden Ticket. Buy $10k worth and now you can make a little profit - if the odds are with you. Otherwise, you're losing money.

All of the big resellers I know are operating at a significant loss. If you're in it for the money, you're honestly better off working a couple of weekends selling fries with that.

If you're on a budget, I recommend you tread very lightly when it comes to buying thousands of dollars in tokens if you're counting on making a profit, or even breaking even. Because you probably won't.

I tell people that every year, and every year people jump in anyway and find out I wasn't lying. But they don't mind losing because it's fun.

If anyone thinks this isn't true, please say so, because that means I'm doing something wrong.

I'm not saying don't do it. I'm saying to have your eyes wide open if you do.

I agree with Brad.

I'm very grateful for all the big token buyers/sellers who make this game possible for the rest of us.

I would recommend buying PYPs unless you can afford a 2k+ order and preferably during the "preorder" time period to get more bonuses.

The first few years i bought big packs, I was able to make a profit, but there weren't as many resellers. PYPs went for around $125, and 1k gold for $25.

Today, there are so many more people doing it, and the price of a PYP is down to $90, sometimes less, and 1k gold is going below $20. That makes a big difference. I buy half of what I used to because I can only afford to lose so much.

Steven,


I was the Rogue in your Saturday night group (Hi!).

Echoing Brad strongly here. With a little luck and effort, you might break even, but honestly buying large packs of tokens is just a good strategy to keep your costs of playing low, with as little loss as possible.

I just built a +3 Deathcleaver at GenCon this year, so I know exactly where you're coming from.

Least cost: Buy a +3 Deathcleaver straight out. $325
Mid cost: Buy the trade tokens and build one: $470 (assuming you're buying the cleaver itself, otherwise subtract $100)
Most cost: Buying packs of tokens, making trade items, then making Deathcleaver (variable - I remember you pulling one of the Aragonites you need for it, so you might get enough rares to make a second one in a $1K pack

But half of the fun of this game is that moment of excitement opening a pack of tokens to see what you got, and I really don't think a price can be placed on that. Token packs are the best Skinner boxes, we get just enough reward to keep going back for more.

exactly what was said before

Thanks everyone. I figured as much... but it's nice to know for sure now.

Also, shout out to Josh. That was a really fun run. If you are going to GameholeCon hit me up in a PM.

I just want to crack packs to be honest. I love supporting games that I enjoy, and worse case scenario I will have a bunch of rares that I can try and deck out a few of my friends with.

Steven Schuyler wrote: Thanks everyone. I figured as much... but it's nice to know for sure now.

Also, shout out to Josh. That was a really fun run. If you are going to GameholeCon hit me up in a PM.

I just want to crack packs to be honest. I love supporting games that I enjoy, and worse case scenario I will have a bunch of rares that I can try and deck out a few of my friends with.

I love opening packs, so I always order at least one $250 each year. If I get rares that my casual friends can use, they get them. Otherwise, I mulch everything I can for future use.

balthasar wrote:

Steven Schuyler wrote: Thanks everyone. I figured as much... but it's nice to know for sure now.

Also, shout out to Josh. That was a really fun run. If you are going to GameholeCon hit me up in a PM.

I just want to crack packs to be honest. I love supporting games that I enjoy, and worse case scenario I will have a bunch of rares that I can try and deck out a few of my friends with.

I love opening packs, so I always order at least one $250 each year. If I get rares that my casual friends can use, they get them. Otherwise, I mulch everything I can for future use.

If you think of each pack as a $5 scratch-off lottery ticket where you're guaranteed to win at least $2 back, you're fine. If you max out your credit cards to buy tokens under the impression you're sure to pay off the balance within a year, you have a problem.

Brad Mortensen wrote:

balthasar wrote:

Steven Schuyler wrote: Thanks everyone. I figured as much... but it's nice to know for sure now.

Also, shout out to Josh. That was a really fun run. If you are going to GameholeCon hit me up in a PM.

I just want to crack packs to be honest. I love supporting games that I enjoy, and worse case scenario I will have a bunch of rares that I can try and deck out a few of my friends with.

I love opening packs, so I always order at least one $250 each year. If I get rares that my casual friends can use, they get them. Otherwise, I mulch everything I can for future use.

If you think of each pack as a $5 scratch-off lottery ticket where you're guaranteed to win at least $2 back, you're fine. If you max out your credit cards to buy tokens under the impression you're sure to pay off the balance within a year, you have a problem.

. Haha I can see how it would be overly addicting to some. I have got my GF into it and a buddy, so it will be nice to set up playable characters for each of us. And now I'm thinking of making a combat board at home where we can all PVP. So it will be nice to have a good pool to draft from. That's how I'm looking at it now. You have no idea how much I already love shiffleboard. I have always wanted a table for my house and this a perfect excuse for it.