It’s dwindling because of bots(one of the big reasons). And in time when they actually get a handle on this botting crisis, the quality of the game will come back. This will attract new players. Buying a game to play is nothing new. Many people have been doing it from the get-go of gaming. Between playing a low free quality game versus a paid high quality, I think most will pick a paid high quality.
If they don’t get a handle on this botting solution, this game will die at this rate.
The game can continue to be f2p.
Just block gold transactions between players as in BDO, (there is no single bot try to sell “money”) and increase gold rewards in quest dungoens etc…, instead of always when there is an update they remove more and more the gold rewards.
I know there are people who don’t like this idea because they sell their “dungeon services” and “itens” to other players. But if the gold that dropped throughout the game was bigger no one would have the need to do this kind of thing.
Peace 
Blocking gold transfer will not work. They transfer gold in other ways which will seem legit. Such as AH for example
If you mean gold transaction between players as in sending gold via mail, this idea won’t work.
What bots can do is have players sell items in the AH, like a level 1 gem, and then the bot will buy it for a ridiculous gold amount, say 100k for a T2 gem.
this idea is a good idea
however, building your toon will become a lot harder be that mats or gearing/tripods/accessories
(I assume you meant locking auction house as well)
IMO
the problem is bots yes, but also existing players funding them as well with RMT
and normal players botting their way up in ilvl
Are you saying that building a new character will be harder if they block out gold mailing?
read
Write better.
no, I’m positive it’s not my writing but the one trying to comment on a quote posted to another user blindly without reading the original or the quote
you have a nice day I don’t have the time or energy to continue the conversation with you
No really, learn to write coherently. And good riddance.
so sick an tired of coming on this forum in the hopes for finding some type of good communication. Still every single time some baby wants to complain about something, Hey, guess what if you dont like it. DONT PLAY IT. Simple as that.
I hope you’re not referring to my post. This post is suggestion, or more like an idea, an open dialogue for debate.
Yeah man.
Alright bro, offer some ideas please. Or what you can do is take your own advice. Don’t like this forum because it’s “filled with baby wanting to complain?”
“Hey, guess what if you dont like it. DONT PLAY IT. Simple as that.”
pragmatically and realistically, AGS/SG will not change anything what ever you or anyone else debates here
However suggesting an idea which negatively affects everyone else but yourself is a bit selfish to be honest. It should affect everyone if your suggesting a change. Why should you get a free pass while everyone else has to sink money in?
There is no way to get rid of bots in their entirety, Not with Gold in its current form
Doesnt help. The bot just has to make 50 more dollars before it gets banned. Either they just increase the prices of gold on their website or they make the bots less visible. For example only farm inside some dungeon. To make it less likely they will get reported and banned.
WoW classic was paid. There still were bots coming in and out of dungeons every second. I am sure other paid games are the same as long as there is profit to make.
Solution? There is no simple answer. I say go harder after the RMT players. But even that can blow up in their face if the RMT players start lying on forums that they got banned for no reasson and people join their sides.
While your solution would help reduce number of bots, it isn’t very realistic in terms of profits for the devs/publisher.
Maybe something less of an issue in terms of getting new players to the game - pay $50 to enable marketplace/AH/mail trade and you also get royal crystals worth of $50. Until you enable trade all loot you get is untradable and remains like that permanently, so that bots do not stock on stuff worth more than $50 and then sell it.
I think you are misunderstanding this post entirely. No where did I suggest that I get a free pass. Everyone who is playing this game is getting a “free pass,” if you want to put it that way.
The idea is to create a cd key system, moving forward, to better improve the quality of this game. This will attract new players, yes it may also deter players who don’t want to pay, but that’s always the case with those people for any game anyway. I will go further to say that those type of players who do not want to pay will not be paying money to buy skins, get royal crystal. And I honestly don’t think AGS/SG created this game for charity.
You’re right, there’s no way to get bots entirely. I never said that was a realistic goal nor suggest that idea with this post.
This post’s idea is to MINIMIZE botting with cd keys. It has worked for other games I have played that required a cd key purchase.
We are on this again ?
Pay me and I will vote for you but Im against in general.
People who using bots already pay for them on cloud and selling gold make them money. They will pay for accounts.
All we will do is to lose free to play players
Of all the replies here, your reply offers the most thoughts and substance, so thank you.
I do like the idea of paying $50 to enable AH, mailing gold to other accounts, etc. This will help prevent bots from exploiting this into RMT. And if they get caught botting, just ban them and that’ll force them to pay another $50. Also, yes, players who have had a history of spending at least $50 should have these services enabled.
Lastly, I think SG and AG will make profit with cd key selling. However, how much that is compared to netting F2P players with the hope of enticing them to swipe their credit card for Mari’s shop is another debate. But I rather not get into that.