Last Updated: 1/17/2020
Everyone's got questions coming back. Here's hoping this answers a few of those.
If you have additional questions, feel free to ask them in this thread. I will do all that
I can to help you get answers. If a question is repeated or the answer lengthy enough,
I may add it to this FAQ list.
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Q: xx{xWHAT IN THE HECK IS PLATINUM?x}
A: This is the new currency on Gaia. Switch to it (see above post for directions). It's easier to earn and supposedly it has fixed the inflation issue. Platinum is basically a "smaller number" to deal with than using Gaia Gold. Not to worry, you STILL can use GG if you are set in your ways, but imo keeping track of all the zeros just got really tedious and annoying for me and I didn't want to deal with it, so I made the switch. Also in the previous post, I have provided you with a conversion chart that will help you when looking at these things. Regardless, if you trade with someone who has GG while you have Plat (or vice versa), the currency is automatically converted for you and your preferences, so you don't have to worry about it.
Q: xx{xWHAT HAPPENED TO THE ECONOMY?x}
A: We're getting a little redundant here, but as this is the f. a. q., I shall not leave you hanging. Back during Inflation-Hell, which is now commonly referred to as the "Goldemort" Era of Gaia's History, Yes, it's history now... *weeps in Gaia Boomer* Gaia exchanged hands a number of times (I don't know the exact), but it even got to the point where the original people responsible for Gaia actually left Gaia. Lanzer even left, but.... BUT, now, he is back. Which I imagine is a good thing. But hang on to your undies there, the whole "what went down" is faaaaaar too long to explain in a single paragraph so allow me to redirect you to these threads here:
and an amendment thread with updates dated a whole season later can be found... here.
These threads (although seemingly abandoned/horrible looking) are still the most accurate account of what happened. If you're looking for a bigger history lesson, check out the YT video, "The Rise and Fall of Gaia Online". <- Just search that exact phrase and you should get what you need. However, getting back to the point, inflation is seemingly fixed by the introduction of platinum as the new currency. On the bright side, some of that stuff you were questing about 6-10 years ago is now easily affordable and platinum is relatively easier to earn now than gold ever was previously. See tips in the previous post for easy ways to make platinum.
Q: xx{xWHAT HAPPENED TO ______ FORUM/SUBFORUM?x}
A: It's gone. Mourn it, press F to pay respects. Gaia has changed hands a bit since "Goldemort" Era and as such, Gaia's been a little reorganized since and as a result, some threads got the axe.
Q: xx{xHOW DOES GC (GAIA CASH) WORK NOW?x}
A: GC more or less works about the same. Though I advise, save buying GC until there's a 120+% tag right next to the spot that shows your GC. It'll look something like this: It'll give you nearly double the amount of GC you're actually paying for. RIGs are still a thing, but also still a risk. Premium Cash Shop items are still a thing. But something cool you couldn't do before is: use GC in the MP. That's right, you can use your GC to buy some items on the MP. It has been enabled that users may click a button to accept GC as payment for their item. Remember when I said some of those things you were questing years ago might be more affordable now? You have GC as acceptable MP currency and platinum as the new currency to thank for that. Now, you can also use GC to play new "slot machine" games called "Lucky Catch", "Narwheel", "Spinami", and "Lisa's Rainbow". Go to the Catch tab -> & click one of those games to play. You win random items, but each one has a different cost, so be sure to double check that that's how much you want to spend.
Q: xx{xWHAT DO PEOPLE DO ON GAIA ANYMORE?x}
A: More or less the same as we did before. We post in forums, hoard items, play dress up with our avis, play zOMG - Yes, it is back; it had a brief closure, but it's returned, play Lake Kindred (aka LK), RP, and now we do Runway/Catwalk. Runway is site side and Catwalk is app side. Towns is pretty much abandoned, but I'm not too sure if Rally or VH are as active as they used to be either (I simply haven't checked them out).
Q: xx{xGAIA HAS AN APP AGAIN? I THOUGHT THE LAST ONE WAS CRUDDY???x}
A: Well, as I've said before, Gaia has changed hands a bit and since then, we've got a new app because of it, and you will want to download it, but I'll get to that in a minute. The previous app was "Gaia on the Go" - and yes, long story short, it was cruddy. It was everything we had hoped it wasn't going to be, lol. But because of the change of hands, that app has since been abandoned and "Go Gaia" is the new app for its replacement. The "Go Gaia" app is still in its infancy, still a work in progress and the Staff is aware of it. You can visit Ask the Staff events to ask about (or see if someone else did) progress on the app, or you can even make suggestions for them to take into consideration for the app (as well as features on Gaia the website). I implore you to do so as it'll only help things get better. Now, getting back to what I said before, you will want to download the Go Gaia app because it is currently the fastest, easiest, and most convenient way to earn money. You can earn easy platinum by voting in the Catwalk on the app, which I'll explain more about in the next question below.
Q: xx{xAREN'T RUNWAY AND CATWALK THE SAME?x}
A: Woo. Trick question, the answer is both yes and no. Runway is the site side version of Catwalk, but only has the "big win" featured avatar contests. You can vote in these contests via the Runway page. Simply go to Games -> Runway -> and select the vote button for whichever theme you want to vote in.
Here's a visual: (Red squares indicate what to click.)
Catwalk, however, is the app side version of Runway and will show you the "big win" featured contests to vote in and regular "small win" contests to vote in. To access catwalk from the app, simply click on Catwalk in the bottom purple navigation bar.
As seen here:
To vote in the "big win" featured contests, you have to click the blue button that says "Featured" and shows a recycle arrow sign (it's to the left of the red museum button).
See here:
To vote in a regular "small win" contest, click the purple button that reads "Category: Original" and has a dropdown arrow next to it (this button is located below the blue and red buttons).
See here:
Once you open the dropdown menu, simply click whichever category you desire and then hit the yellow "Go Vote" button under the red "Enter Now!" button (located under whatever avatar you currently have).
See here:
From there, just click the yellow "Vote!" button under whichever avatar you want to vote for. After awhile of voting, the app will soft crash on you, but don't worry. This is just a thing it does, you don't lose any gold or plat from it doing so. Just simply go back to whatever category and get back to voting. Eventually, the amount of GG or platinum will gradually go down, this is normal, however, this is still the fastest, easiest, and most convenient way to earn GG/Plat and you can earn a good chunk within an hour.
Q: xx{xWHAT HAPPENED TO TEKTEK?x}
A: I don't know specifically, but I do know that it is dead. Press F to pay respects and the promptly redirect yourself to Gaia's very own version of Tektek Dream Avi that is "Avatar Builder". Tektek did have a final message before the site disappeared: here. While it doesn't really answer any questions on account of the dismantled site, hopefully it helps you realize that it had to close down bc of an issue with GO. To access the "Avatar Builder", simply hover over the "My Gaia" tab and click "Avatar Builder".
As seen here:
Now, I'm still technically learning how to use Avatar Builder, but it works similarly enough to tektek that it's easy enough to get the hang of it. However to make an avatar with your own inventory (because sometimes we simply don't remember what the heck is still in there), click the drop arrow box that says "Item DB (Default)" - this is telling you that it is currently using the entirety of the Item Database. This is always the default when you load Avatar Builder up.
As seen here:
However, if you want to specifically only use your inventory, click that box, and select, you guessed it, "Inventory". Make sure this is the word that shows up in the box and the builder will only use your inventory for that session.
As seen here:
Be sure to save the image (using the yellow "Save Image" button), so you don't lose what you were working on. If you'd like to know more about "Ghosting", please see the ICYMI post above for a walkthrough.
Q: xx{xWHAT WILL HAPPEN TO GAIA ONCE FLASH ISN'T A THING ANYMORE?x}
A: I can't give you a definitive answer on this one, BUT the Staff is aware of the impending doom should they update Gaia's features post Flash collapse. All you can do is simply ask for an update via Ask the Staff events to check in on any progress, but please don't harass them about the issue. They are aware of it and are working as fast as they possibly can to maintain the site, as well as working on developments for updates for the flash-less future.
Q: xx{xWHAT IN THE WORLD IS GAIA PLEDGE? or WHY ARE PEOPLE'S USERNAMES GLOWING COLORS?x}
A: Gaia Pledge is a new method to support Gaia with your RL money (alternative to buying GCash). Basically, since you've been gone the Staff has been seeking out a way to get some more funds to keep Gaia up and running and Gaia Pledge is one way of doing that. When you purchase a "flair" as we call them, you can equip it via the Customize Avatar page and depending on the flair chosen, you username will glow the color associated with that flair. If you need a complete list to see which you'd like to buy off MP or are just curious what colors are available, there is a full list here at the Gaia Pledge and Forum Flair List. One thing that should be noted is that the flairs available at any given time on the Gaia Pledge page change over time and will be no longer purchase-able from that page after their given time frame. If I am not mistaken, I believe they change monthly. So be sure to nab the one you like when it's on the pledge page.
Q: xx{xWHAT IN THE WORLD IS AN ANGEL SUBSCRIPTION? or WHAT IS CLOUD 9?x}
A: Angel Subscription serves as another means by which Gaia is trying to fund itself. If you buy GCash monthly, consider joining because in addition to a set amount of GCash (depending on which tier you choose), you also get items, which you can either keep or sell on MP for more GG/Plat. To sign up for an Angel Subscription or to simply learn more about it, visit the Angel Subscription page. When you have an Angel Subscription, you also gain access to the exclusive GCash Cloud 9 shop (I'm assuming it's GCash only, but as I don't have a sub, Idk for sure). The Cloud 9 shop is only accessible with an Angel Subscription.
Q: xx{xI'M A RETURNING ARTIST - WHAT DO I EVEN ASK FOR WHEN IT COMES TO PRICING?x}
A: Wooo, alright, this is tricky to answer, but it is BEST explained by Saines in their thread, An Honest Attempt at a Guide to Art Pricing and Currency on Gaia. Saines covers just about everything you need to know about conversions, which if a requester/customer asks about, you can direct them to this thread to help with that. They also cover how you should figure out your art's worth; please remember to account for how much effort it takes you and whether or not someone's request includes either characters with features that you dislike or are difficult/complicated. Plus also upcharge for additional characters, this is standard in the art world. Most regular artists upcharge about double for RLC (Real Life Commissions), but you make your own rules for upcharging for virtual money. Most importantly do not sell yourself short, but if you aren't selling I suggest taking a look around the Art Shops forum to see what other artists are doing to sell. Many have PWYW (Pay What You Want) because they simply don't want to set prices or deal with conversions. You can do this yourself if you also don't want to do either of those. Another alternative is doing Art Freebies in the AF Forum. You can also use the AF for getting examples for a future art shop and pick the brains of those who frequent the AF for price suggestions. Just be sure to reference the guide should you ever need it.
More Questions May Be Pending in the Foreseeable Future
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