Bitttymacod (atys)
The trade forum is dead, I would not take it as indicator of anything really. Use the op registry app and try to trade with op owners directly, that could get you closer to a balanced image.As it is, I have seen no indication of a glut of OP materials. There are no offers in the trade forum for "OP mat to trade for xxx sup mats", or even "q250 rubbarn jeweler's tool for sale, make offer."
Bitttymacod (atys)
A does not follow from B unless you're making some assumptions not explicitly stated. Making the mats substantially less common would possibly increase PvP opportunities, but I think the most likely result would be even stronger alliances because the mats would become even more of a reward than they are now.
If group 1 has a waiting list of 10 guilds for most mats and group 2 has a waiting list of 4 guilds, it would be more advantageous to join group 2 unless that second group has no chance of holding an outpost.
Of course it's difficult to keep changing allegiance, but I believe it's necessary to create the right climate for the powerplayers. Right now, the only rational choice is to join the strongest faction as a newcomer, or to stay inside the faction as a master -- because it would take mass migration to change the balance of power, and no one has incentive to switch.
Bitttymacod (atys)
Of course, the conditions were never as I propose here, either? Track record doesn't mean much, then...OP battles haven't been guild v. guild for as long as I have played, and I don't think that's going to change.
YMMV, etc :)
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