The main reason for the whacky prices, besides the obvious fact that f1 gets the ak/m4 is that many servers with DWP restrict the auto and/or the awp so the prices of those will come down. Some servers also ensure that you have 16000 at all times so you can purchase anything regardless of price, which will throw things out of kilter. Added on to that is the actual calculation system for new prices.
-Warning, Detailed Explination Ahead. If you already know how DWP works this will be boring for a bit-
Basicly it takes the percentages of how much money was spent on what to increase or decrease the price on items. This means that as an item is purchased more the price goes up. As the price goes up, each purchase of the item will mean a higher percentage. For example, before DWP to get an AK it would cost you 2500. Everyone wants the AK so lots will be bought. For simplicity’s sake lets say 20% of all the money spent in a hour on Aztec is on AKs. That means that the AK should increase in price by 20%(Its not actually equeal like that since there is the possiblity for things to decrease in price, which would be impossible if the % was equeal to price increase, since you can’t spend negative money.)
-Start explination of why DWP sucks-
This is where the system breaks. The AK now costs 3000, an increase of 20% from 2500. Despite this price increase the AK is still the most desired weapon. People are still buying the AK just as much as the were before! But now, because of the higher price the total percentage of money spent on the AK is 30%! The process continues until eventually everyone is simply saving money waiting for thier chance to buy an AK, which after a few more repititions, will cost 16000. And then the next week rolls around, Now the AK costs more than a player can aquire.
-Explination of full problem-
The short version of what im saying is, as the price for items increases it will create an exponetinal curve of increase, instead of a balance like Valve stupidly expected. The curve is supported by servers that give 16000 to all players, allowing a seemingly absurd price to be supported well after the bounds of logic and rational have been breached. The problem is further compunded by servers that restrict weapon purchases of the AWP/Auto, which happen to be some of the most expensive weapons in the game. It is even further compunded by the impression among many casual players that the Para, the most expensive gun in the game, is a useless gun. If the Awp/Auto became unrestricted on all servers, the Para gained a bit of respect, and servers only give you the basic 800 as starting cash it is possible that the prices will stabilize a little. However, the fact remains that there are certain weapons that are prefered by the players in general and it is inevitable that those weapons become absurdly priced as time goes on.
—-Conclusion and Solution—-
DWP sucks, turn it off.
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Congragulations if you read the whole pile of stuff, if you just skipped to the end…..you got the point at least.
~Killty-Chan