So as a frequent reader of this blog may tell you, (which I don't there are any,) that I enjoy hats. I am a connoisseur oh hats. Want to know how to make a game better? Hats. Yes, I can be completely obsessed with hats at times, I know, but I wasn’t truly attached to TF2 until I started trading, and I think it would be a touching story to tell all of you.
So, I when reading the blog when the Mannconomy update was released, I mean really, I had just randomly decided to go to the TF2 blog when it aired. It was pretty cool. I learned about vintages, and I instantly saw my true love.
Nothing makes me happier than a blue border.
But, at this time, I hadn't started playing TF2 hard-core. I still had my horrid little computer, and about a gig's worth of updating to do, but something convinced me: the aspect of an Engineer hat.
So, about a week into the mannconomy update, I decided to put on my gaming pants, and started my 4 hour download into the world of mannconomics. What followed was a shallow goal: Acquire an engineer hat, anyway possible. I had 2 refined, a V. Gentleman's Gatsby, and a W. Noble Amassment of Hats. (For all of you non-traders out there, V stands for vintage, and NV. non-vintage. A vintage item was an item received before the mannconomy update, its simple mannconomics.)
So, I ended up selling my V. Gatsby for a key, (There was a powerjack in the crate) and I forget what I sold my V. Amassment for, but all I remember is trying to get that metal. For whatever godforsaken reason I thought that crafting my hat was the best idea. So, I sold just about everything I had to get it. So, when I finally got that 4th refined and my Engy token, it really was a big moment for me. I was literally happy with any hat for the Engineer, except like the mining light or the Safe'n'Sound. But, I was excited.
3...
2..
1...
New Hat Created!
You found: Horrific Headsplitter!
That's right-- I made a butcher's knife covered in blood, for all classes. This was my crowning achievement. I was ready to explode into a fit of QQ induced rage. Of all the times to craft a hat. I crafted it during the Halloween update, and for whatever reason, my Engineer token, supposedly guaranteeing a 100% chance of Engy-hat goodness had given me this blood covered piece of multi-class bullshit. Well, I was mad as hell, and wasn't going to take it anymore. Trading had made me lose my hats, it was going ot get me them back.
I started trading full-time for about a 4 month period. I started out by getting rid of this abhorrent thing that had dashed my dreams of hat-filled goodness. I started hitting the trade servers and yelled out my demands, looking for anyone who may be interested. And then, one man trades me saying:
"HAY MAN WHAT U WANT FOR THAT THING?"
"Well, I'm really looking for an Engineer hat"
"HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM... ALL I GOT IS THIS"
He adds a V. Hotrod, I can only try typo hold in my girly squeals of delight.
"This works well with me."
"ALL RIGHT'
Trade Accepted.
SUCCESS! Oh yes, this was the beginning of my 500 hour trading palooza. I didn’t play on my Xbox for a good 2 months at the peak. I had one goal: collect the best hats for all of the classes, not a full set, but my favorite. My other goal: bills and buds. For whatever reason, I was never truly concerned about the unusual market, it was usually out of reach, at my height, I only owned 2 pairs of buds, and I was a stupid child, and sold one pair for a very inexpensive price. But now, I think I could possibly be done with trading. I had 3 different runs on trading, all leading me up to my final backpack, which I’m happy with. I used to own buds, but, well, I sold them for New Vegas. I know it’s a bit on the low side, but the guy wanted them, and I didn’t really look at the value tables. And then the dual misc slot update. There really is no justice.
However, I have to say, I am proud of how far I’ve come with the time I’ve spent. I have a hat for every single class, I have the two rarest vintage miscellaneous items, and I even have a bear. What more could I ask for? Well, I suppose a free Hat of Undeniable Wealth and Respect would be nice, but I can’t have it all. My dream has come much farther than I ever dreamt, and has taken much longer, too. As a piece of advice for all of you inspiring traders out there I put together a list of things that could very well help you:
· Don’t trade with your heart. Yes, some hats are cool, but if it’s a good trade, take it, you can get the hat back.
· Set yourself a goal. If it’s unusual, cool. If it’s something simple like a jackhammer, I think you may be missing the point. But, use it as a tool of motivation, it really helps when you have something like the Whiskered Gentleman dangling around in front of your face for motivation
· The one thing I have always believed is that vintage WILL go up. And for the most part, it has. Be wary of the newest hats, they’ll fluxgate to a high price, and go down to nothing after a month. Scarcity causes a scare.
· There are three ranks of values in Trading: Bills, buds, Unusual. I never broke that unusual barrier, but once you break one, you’re in that tire, it’s a big experience.
For all of you gamers, geeks, and random assortment of internet dwellers out there, good night. I have things to do, like watch the IGA’s. If Skyrim doesn’t win, the progress is rigged.
--Santa
No comments:
Post a Comment