Is this generally considered a practical and economical way to get A crystals? I'm asking the question just in general, but in trying to think it through, 2 sub-questions have occured to me:
1) The crystals cost 15,000 AA from Mammon. On my server I see AA going for 3 adena, so to me this seems like the crystals cost 45,000 adena when I buy them this way. Meaning, in theory I would be better off selling my AA for adena and then buying crystals (or shots, which is my real goal) with the adena. In practice, I have put AA up for sale almost every night this week. I always sell a little, but only a little, and the sales don't even begin to keep up with what I would need to cover crystals/shots.
2) Regardless of the AA/adena conversion economics, assuming I tried to get all of my shots by buying crystals from Mammon and having a dwarf craft shots for me, would the rate at which seal stones/AA is earned in the cats cover the rate at which most Destroyers with a 2-handers sword consume shots to get the drops. (Let's assume the use of a Focus weapon, as I am working on getting an IM with Focus SA.)
Thanks for any help.
well, to answer 1 as best I can: AA sales historically are always slow with random spikes (1 buyer needing alot of AA for something on short notice, this is most commonly weapon SA) the trick to selling it faster is to diversify. take the selling prices of GHP, GSAP, GMHP, etc (dont forget CP pots too) and see what % return you can get on moving those. part of the problem from the mammon aspect is what castle lords can put into the market (unless something has changed...its been awhile since I've been in a castle owning clan) castle lords can get A and S crystals for pretty darn cheap in real terms.
However, never underestimate the value of focusing your sales on your tarket market by providing them further service. how? well, 1 simple method is if you know there is a (or several) major castle siege(s) in the near future, take a dorf or 2 (# of accounts dependant) and park em as close to the siege ground as possible while in the safe area and start selling all the siege supplies EVERYONE needs, cp pots, elixers, healing pots, hell I've done recovery scrolls too (at a markup of course :P). this is just one example of how to further sales, more are around but I cant give everything away ;)
as to #2: that is dependant on which catacomb (as the higher up they drop more stones) but I would think the return would be better (but not necessarily faster) to, as mentioned in question 1, sell off the AA etc and buy shop the crystals for under market price then make friends w/ some WSs for the shot crafting. The best return your going to get, however, is to grab a healer, buffer w/ vr and pole (which I'm sure you know). but if your really wanting to use the PvE 2h sword, the way to keep economic efficiency is to make each shot count, ie frenzy/rage max use time. (which again, I'm sure you know)
I wouldnt even consider buying A Crys from Mammon. You will NEVER compete with the speical players. I saw one the other day selling 132m of AA, they sell A Crys cheaper than ull get them from mammon cause they need the adena to erm cough pass on for orders....
Make em Brezes/Bsoes Stuff like that. They will sell much much faster. Or pots like the friend above mentioned.
But dont waste AA on A crystals.. no way..
usualy If my dorfs dont have much stuff to sell, I turn all my AA and blanks into EAC. they sell (on bartz) for about twice what you pay for them at mammon. (cost ~80-90k, sell for 150-200k)