A Trading System that could ACTUALLY be implemented?

skippythewhale·4/3/2019, 9:11:36 PM·2 votes·1,494 views

I'm aware that you cannot gift purchased content, and I'm WELL aware that this is the bazillionth time someone has asked this question, but I am curious if League would implement a trading system? I'm well aware that this isn't a new concept, but I think a lot of people stop trying stuff as soon as someone says "can't do it." We all know Riot is a company and they want to grow their coffers and pay their people, (and people aren't going to keep buying sweet Akali skins if they can just trade off their Nightmare Tryn they don't want,) plus the potential black market/abuse that could arise from freely being able to trade. But what if the trade system was designed not for blindly trading amongst all players on your server, but only amongst your friends? What if the system was set up along the lines of:

-Players must be friends for a month minimum -Players must have played 10 games together minimum (or win 10 games. Or 10 RANKED games. The point is to trade with your friends; not shovel off skins to strangers) -Players can only trade skins that were at one point on sale in the store (no Victorious Morgana , but Urfwick is fair game, for example) -Skins of unequal value must be evened out via RP (Mundo Mundo + 2730RP = DJ Sona) -Both Players pay (x)RP to Riot to commit/complete the trade -Both Players must be online at the same time: It's a simultaneous transaction, much like most trade systems MMORPGs implement -There is no marketplace (At all. Ever. This all takes place in the Gift a Friend tab on your profile. No searching the player base for Riot Singed or throwing out a Forsaken Jayce in the hopes that someone will swap for Traditional Trundle and some RP. You need to know them and have something they want, and vise verse)

As I see it, this eliminates most if not all of the potential issues associated with a trading system: Hacking an account and trading everything away in the middle of the night is eliminated, and no marketplace, so none of that fishing nonsense.
This would also give the skin collectors/desperate one-tricks less of a reason to risk buying accounts, and perhaps most importantly (for Riot,) Riot gets paid through the whole process. We have to buy the skins to begin with (or earn them through capsules,) and then once all parties have placed their trades in the middle and evened everything out (meaning players who are usually f2p MUST drop some dime for RP, to even out a trade and/or pay for the transfer) they then have to both pay Riot an amount of RP, so they get paid again. This also prevents people from walking away with other people's loot. The server has to recognize the transaction. It's a record-able one that can be seen on your League Account, so no mystery "where did my Clockwork Shaco go!?" moments. If something doesn't work right, then no one loses a thing. and IF something does, there's a recorded instance of it that can be Trouble Ticketed. Lastly, for those out there who STILL want to game the system, this system is an incredibly annoying deterrent. They need to stick around for a month and play, (if we go with the ranked games idea, that prevents high level players with lots of loot from selling off to Iron and Silvers,) and even then, the receiver needs to contribute an equal trade, plus pay Riot. It just isn't worth the hassle to risk getting banned when you can just make friends and if one of them happens across Sad Robot Amumu and wants your SKT1 Thresh, there you go.

Players can get the skins they want (in time,) abuse/stealing/selling is mitigated substantially, if not eliminated, and Riot gets paid, so they don't lose out on a thing. Integrity intact, and players happy.

Of course, I could be COMPLETELY wrong on things, but if so, let's hear why. And better than that, let's try to work out practical solutions so that MAYBE with enough upvotes Rito would implement such a system. It's a lot of spaghetti to put in, but it would make for a MUCH happier and probably more loyal player base. But we need to think like a company, and not a player, if we wanna see this thing added.

4 Comments

Hotarµ4/3/2019, 9:33:24 PM3 votes

League will never have a trading system implemented simply because it's a free-to-play game. 100% of Riot's income comes from cosmetics and the like, meaning any sort of player-to-player interaction directly steps on their profit margins.

Even something like the RP compensation you suggested would still impede on their overall profits. Why would I buy a 20 dollar skin when I could just pay 5 dollars and trade a skin I don't use/enjoy? Add that on top of the free loot from Hextech Crafting and Riot is taking a big hit in the long-run.

AIQ4/3/2019, 9:52:08 PM2 votes

My only things are the "tax" system and that the skins between tiers should be free.

750 can swap with anything lower and 975
975 with 750 or 1350 1350 with 975 and 1820 1820 with 975 and Above (GGMF exist)

If you want to go over you must pay

750 to 1350 300RP 750 to 1820 500RP 750 to above 800RP 975 to 1820 would be 400 RP etc.

The reason I feel the tiers should be free is that Riot has already received their money, but smurfs do exist and trading between then is easily possible with this system, So to make sure they are not jsut trading out their 750 skin for the DJ Sona they got on a smurf you can at least get some of that money back on what would essentially be a free skin.

Implementing a "tax" rule would also mitigate smurf transactions as the user would need to pay 200 RP (100 each account) Just to trade, so again Riot makes money on things that were freely given. Riot has already gotten their money so the prices do not need to be high or equal, just enough to prevent abuse.

Just a small change over all I like it. It would be nice to trade sometimes I get skins my brother wants and he gets ones that I want be nice just to trade him for it. Also rare skin collectors can get them safely as you said.

Over all though I don't think Riot will budge as this would impact them financially.