Okay, thank you for at least this bit of information, this tells us a lot
. I'm mostly interested in knowing what changes may be coming in regards to the overall usage as well as acquisition methods. Hereafter Stones are a minor point, but my curiosity extends to items like Synthium Stones for costumes and underwear (which remove Gilda Dust and replace them with Charcoal Stabilizers) and Polishes/Pigments/Oils in the Alchemy proficiency (which require a Polish/Pigment/Oil of the previous tier to be crafted, so a Tier 4 needs a Tier 3 which needs a Tier 2 which needs a Tier 1). Will you remove the requirement for previous tiers of polishes in the same manner that you removed Gilda Stars from trade packs? That alone will add up to a hefty penny that I'm sure many of us are wondering and worrying about.
On the other end of the spectrum are effectiveness of the ways to get Charcoal. Let's say that an average player can earn 200 Charcoal Stabilizers a week using the current method. Do you project that your system will drop that down to 100 a week for the same amount of time and effort? Is it projected to increase to 300 a week for the same amount of time and effort? Or will it be a balance where that same player can earn 200 a week doing one method while another player can earn 200 a week doing the other method? Or is that too difficult to calculate?
I'm asking this because rich people expecting the worst out of 3.5 are going to buy up Charcoal Stabilizers to hoard it if they're expecting 3.5's system (because after 3.5 dropped on Live, Charcoal prices increased by 800%, and knowing even the least bit about economics alongside supply and demand, prices are anticipated to increase by at LEAST that much), which will hike up prices like they are doing right now and at least this bit of information will tell players to not worry, and will get those who have already begun buying up Charcoal in an attempt to get ahead of the coming storm that we all know 3.5 is to cool their jets and conduct business like normal.