TOPIC: The 2012 Tokens << Why the Big Increase in Sales?

You know if the transmuted tokens were even cooler next year it could drive token buying to new heights.

how many folks spent more than they should have this year because of the transmuted tokens? thus might be in a bind or scaling back next year?

something to think about.

Personally, my purchase had nothing to do with transmutes. My plan is to buy about the same amount next year, but it depends of course. If the real unemployment rate stays at 15% or worsens that will probably change things.

I definitely expect to buy at a lower level next year.

I think transmuted tokens might drive sales even higher next year, for this reason. I think there were a lot of collectors like myself, that had accumulated tokens over many years of token buying, and this year cashed in most of those excess tokens for transmuted tokens. Now, if we plan on getting even close to as many transmuted tokens next year, we'll probably have to buy significantly more tokens, because we used up all of our token reserves this year.

I suspect higher level Transumtes need another year of tweaking to their power levels. For the creation cost, I think they're under-powered- especially the ones that are Stat bonuses (though admittedly I had set the bar at "Staff of the Magi"- Allow freecast of a first or second level spells).

Mike Steele had suggested adding in an additional cost To future transmutables of "Any non-consumable UR" as a way of stabilizing the declining UR market, which seemed like a very good idea to me.

With a few alterations for 2013, and I think the Transmutes will be there. Which will again help move more tokens.

I probably fall into both categories: I'm a new token buyer but I wanted to buy enough to get a couple relic tokens right away. And if next year's URs and relics are as interesting as this year's, I doubt I'll buy any less next year. Token fever!

I sort of hate to say this, but I think the dungeons being easier/more balanced last year over 2010 probably helped. A number of people I have spoken were turned off by the seeming impossibility of defeating Smoak in 2010.

Personally, I have purchased more each year since returning to GenCon and TD. I hope to buy even more next year, but that will in part depend on what next year's UR crop (and to a lesser degree, transmutables) looks like, as well as how finances play out.

Transmutes had no effect on me this year, but if there is a wizard item next year to go for, I might have to up my purchase.

Transmutes did affect me but I may scale back a bit next year. I agree with an earlier comment that many stretched to get some of the transmutes and may not be willing to stretch that far again given the economy. On the plus side it is awesome that the 2nd print is about to sell out!

I actually bought way less then last year. I wanted all the transmutable s but I just couldn't afford them all with the economy where it is now. Luckily I had some tokens from yesteryear that I used to get a few of the relics that I needed.

Mike Steele wrote: I think transmuted tokens might drive sales even higher next year, for this reason. I think there were a lot of collectors like myself, that had accumulated tokens over many years of token buying, and this year cashed in most of those excess tokens for transmuted tokens. Now, if we plan on getting even close to as many transmuted tokens next year, we'll probably have to buy significantly more tokens, because we used up all of our token reserves this year.

Agreed. My only question is with the cost of the relics (and moreso) legendaries, are they just plain going to be out of reach next year, given stockpiling of tokens over multiple years towards this year's purchases?

Regarding transmuting pushing sales, for the relic and legendary level, I think the pushing thing this year has been definition of what was required, and the possibility of achieving it. For example, regarding the artifacts, you didn't know how much would be required to get them, and may have wanted them, but been waaaaaay below where the bidding was (yes, personal experience ).

That said, for next year, IMHO, the relic and artifact tranmutes will need to balance how much you get for purchases of packs from TD directly next year given the depletion of stockpiles this year, to maximize sales related to transmutes, lest people get discouraged by one or more aspects being totally out of range (gold requirement or other trade-in requirements, such as being too short on minotaur hides in relation to what you get for pack purchases).

Regarding the lesser transmutes, the power of the eldritch runestones this year may encourage or dissuade next year's purchases (ie, if you spent $25 worth towards an Eldritch runestone this year, and the in-game value is not worth it, you probably won't go for something uncertain next year).