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In Path of Exile 2 (POE 2), the in-game economy is a dynamic and ever-evolving system. One of the most contentious and complicated aspects of this economy is the role of bots—automated programs designed to farm resources, grind for items, and generate currency without human intervention. Bots have become a staple part of the game, influencing the currency supply in profound ways. While they offer certain benefits to the overall economy by increasing the availability of in-game resources, they also introduce significant challenges, from market destabilization to the undermining of player-driven gameplay. In this blog, we will explore the role of bots in POE 2’s currency supply, examining the benefits, the drawbacks, and why it’s a double-edged sword for the game’s economy.

What Are Bots and How Do They Impact the Currency Supply?

In the context of POE 2, bots are third-party programs that automate repetitive in-game tasks such as farming mobs, collecting loot, crafting items, or even engaging in trade. These bots are typically run by players who are looking to maximize their efficiency and accumulate wealth without investing the time and effort normally required for these activities. Since POE 2's currency economy is heavily driven by item drops, crafting, and trading, bots play a significant role in generating the supply of in-game currency and resources.

Bots are used to generate vast amounts of currency (such as Chaos Orbs, Exalted Orbs, or Divine Orbs), which then enters the player-driven marketplace. In the short term, this influx of currency can create an apparent abundance of resources, making it easier for casual players to access certain items. However, in the long term, this automated activity can distort the game’s economy, leading to several issues that affect the balance between supply and demand.

The Positive Impact of Bots on Currency Supply

While bots are often seen in a negative light, they do contribute certain benefits to the POE 2 economy:

1. Increased Currency Availability

Bots help maintain a steady flow of currency into the game, particularly in a highly competitive environment like POE 2. By automating farming and grinding, bots can rapidly generate vast amounts of in-game currency, ensuring that there is an ample supply of resources for players who want to buy or trade items. This can create a more fluid economy where players are more likely to find the currency or items they need for crafting or trading.

For instance, without bots, the supply of Chaos Orbs—one of the most commonly used forms of currency in POE 2—might not meet the demand for crafting, leading to scarcity. Bots can alleviate this scarcity by continuously farming mobs and supplying the market with additional Chaos Orbs, keeping prices relatively stable in the short term.

2. Filling the Farming Gap

Many players simply don’t have the time to farm effectively for currency, especially those who may be new to the game or have limited playtime. Bots can fill this gap by providing resources to these players, allowing them to enjoy the game without the grind. This can lead to a less "grindy" experience for casual players, who benefit from the increased availability of currency and items.

Additionally, bots can help maintain the economy in situations where regular players are less active, such as during off-peak hours or in the early stages of a new league. By automating tasks around the clock, bots can ensure that the game’s currency continues to flow into the economy, even when human players are inactive.

The Negative Impact of Bots on Currency Supply

Despite these potential benefits, bots have a far more significant negative impact on the overall economy of POE 2. Here are some of the critical ways bots harm the currency supply:

1. Market Inflation and Price Distortion

One of the biggest issues caused by bots is market inflation. With bots flooding the economy with large quantities of currency, the value of certain items and currencies can plummet. As bots continue to farm resources at an unsustainable rate, they increase the overall currency supply faster than demand can keep up, causing inflation. In POE 2, inflationary trends can lead to an oversupply of lower-tier currencies, such as Chaos Orbs, which can devalue the worth of these items relative to high-end assets like Exalted Orbs.

This inflationary pressure can make it difficult for regular players to find or afford the items they need. The value of in-game currency becomes increasingly volatile, with players often forced to adapt to fluctuating prices, making trading and purchasing decisions more difficult.

2. Undermining Player Effort and Engagement

Bots reduce the value of player effort in the game. In POE 2, farming currency and grinding for items is a significant part of the gameplay loop. When bots are used to automate these processes, they take away from the player-driven nature of the game. Players who invest time and energy into farming or crafting feel as though their efforts are being undermined when bots perform the same tasks much more efficiently.

This feeling of being outpaced by automated programs can lead to player frustration, especially for those who rely on fair competition within the economy. When currency or items are farmed by bots, players may feel they are at a disadvantage, leading to reduced motivation and a decrease in player engagement over time.

3. Market Saturation and the Undermining of Legitimate Players

With bots flooding the market, the supply of certain items or currencies may become oversaturated, leading to diminished returns for players who rely on these resources to progress. For example, if bots continuously farm low-tier maps or resources, the market may become flooded with these items, causing prices to drop and diminishing their value. Legitimate players who farm manually are unable to compete with the sheer volume of automated farming.

This market saturation can also lead to the destabilization of the economy, as the excessive availability of resources may make it harder for players to trade items and acquire what they need. For some, this market flooding can lead to a feeling of stagnation, where the value of their in-game achievements is diluted by the mass-produced currency and items that bots provide.

4. Exploiting the Game’s Mechanics

Some bot programs are designed to exploit in-game mechanics in ways that human players would not be able to replicate efficiently. These bots can farm high-value currency or rare items at a pace far beyond that of a typical player, creating a massive imbalance between the botting population and the legitimate player base. Additionally, bots can engage in practices like running high-level content repeatedly or exploiting loot drops, which further disrupts the game’s economy.

This exploitation also leads to a loss of fairness within the game. Players who are dedicated to mastering the game’s mechanics may feel frustrated when they see that bots, which are not bound by the same limitations, are able to progress at an accelerated pace.

A Double-Edged Sword: Balancing the Benefits and Drawbacks

The role of bots in POE 2’s currency supply is undoubtedly a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they provide a steady flow of resources and ease the farming burden for casual players. On the other hand, they cause inflation, market saturation, and undermine the value of player-driven efforts. The game’s developers, Grinding Gear Games, are aware of the negative impact that bots can have on the game’s economy and often implement measures to combat their influence, such as banning botting accounts and adding features to limit automation.

However, given that the presence of bots is an inevitable part of online games with player-driven economies, it is up to the developers to find a balance between fostering an economy that benefits all players while minimizing the negative impacts that bots have on the in-game experience.

The role of bots in POE 2’s currency supply presents both benefits and challenges. While they contribute to the flow of currency and resources in the game, they also distort the market, inflate prices, and undermine the efforts of legitimate players. Ultimately, the presence of bots is a necessary evil in the game’s economy, but it is essential that developers continue to take steps to maintain balance and fairness within the game. By addressing the impact of bots and finding innovative ways to manage the economy, POE 2 can continue to offer a rewarding and dynamic experience for all players.

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