While I somehow agree that a card removal NPC should be added, at the same time I don't agree with its currently proposed rules/clauses. It's pretty much understandable that the hot issue with decarding in general is mainly about the super important cards such as deviling, ghostring, etc. cards, but let's face it, guys - What difference does it make for someone to
Option A: wait till they get a +10 [insert gear] and then slot in their [insert card]
than
Option B: to slot [insert card] into [insert weaker gear] and then decard and slot into [insert stronger gear]?
Only difference is probably how tedious it is to get another card, but the end result is just the same.
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But the point I'm writing this is because I prefer something extra from the NPC if it is ever added. With the current suggested fee of 100m zeny, no one would be dumb enough to do an act such as decarding their useless poring cards from their gears. What I would prefer from the card removal NPC is that it
allows extraction of lower class cards at a much lower fee, and also the
option to extract your gear, sacrificing the card in the process.
Let's say that ghostring card have a fee of 100m zeny to be decarded from its gear. Sure, seems fair. But a zombie card removal should not be charged with the same fee. Maybe give it like a base 500k zeny fee (or maybe 50k even) for low-class cards but increases based on how valuable, going up to 100m zeny or higher.
Since I'm proposing card removal for lesser cards at a lower cost, I think I should at least provide a new list of pros and cons.
Possible pros of card/gear extraction
1. These low tier cards will see some use for newer players, and not be restricted to become only Hatter/NPC fodder just because it becomes useless after a while when slotted into something.
Example:
Minnt makes a thief bug carded armor for his early leveling days. Due to thief bug armor being crap at higher levels cause ancient mimic card exists, Minnt feels really sad. But Minnt have the option to extract either his armor or card! Thief bug card can used for hatter while the armor can maybe can be used as home for another card. It's Minnt's choice (for maybe 500k zeny)!
2. Players will not hesitate to use some of their card on their unrefined/refined gears to enhance their leveling/grinding experience.
Example:
Minnt have a bunch of low tier cards and he is currently using a Clip [1]. Maybe he can just add something into the clip to improve his stats so he can hit nekorings. Minnt cards in his worm tail (or zerom) card because he knows he can extract it later if anyone dare laugh at him for having such bad choice of accessory!
3. Allows players to aim for weaker armors/weapons first before upgrading/optimizing their gears.
Example:
Minnt somehow obtained an Alice card, but sadly he'll never ever slot it into anything at all until he has his +8 Stone Buckler. But no worries, he slot it into one of his +4 Stone Buckler for now and can just unslot it when he ever gets a +8 Stone Buckler! (for a fee of maybe 10m-50m zeny)
4. A lot of card will have temporarily higher value to them rather than having zero/little value.
Example:
Elder Willow feels unloved by the community in heRO because his card is never considered to be slotted in headgears mainly due to the existence of Isilla card with a better card art card effect. But now, at least Elder Willow card gets some love before he is discarded for an Isilla card (and used for Mage Hat quest)!
5. More room to experiment with cards/gears without risking it being nullified by its eternal uselessness/under-performance when slotted into bad gears.
Example:
Minnt can now rest easy knowing that he can slot a random Wootan Shooter card into his Zodiac Stone [1] to test out how good it is, without having to make another Zodiac Stone if the wings end up being god awful.
Possible cons of card/gear extraction
1. Players might never need more than one to four of each card unless they plan to have different versions of gear with the same card(s).
Example:
Cinnt isn't that satisfied with having Imp Bradium Earrings only, so she hunts two more imp cards for her Imp Harthoons. However, Minnt is happy with his Imp Earrings after having them moved from his Clips so he probably won't ever bother hunting/buying imp cards ever again.
2. There might be less demands for cards due to players possibly needing only one to four.
Example:
See above.
While this may somehow damage the economy (economy is already being damaged/nonexistent like Roger stated, but it is not an excuse to let it be damaged further unless there's reasons for it), I believe the addition of card removal, with some tweaks to its current suggested rules, may improve player experience when it comes to getting geared for parties/leveling/farming.
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Card removal serves to make what already is possible less tedious, and makes carding mistakes forgiving. Such a feature that makes processes less tedious should be included in games, especially in 2016. But, a server feature that only the rich can ever hope to use is a dumb server feature to me. If card removal NPC is ever added, make it so that it has a much lower fee for the less useful cards so that newer (or old but poor) players can make use of it. Mini-boss/boss cards can stay as pricey as 100m zeny. Of course, some other balance changes can be considered to counteract the efficiency that this card removal NPC provides, other than high price or card/gear destruction.
Edit: Not voting in the pool because it doesn't have the option I want.
Card Removal - before complaining after reading the title, read the damn thread
