The game's economy can be divided into two parts - production and consumption. Most other MMORPG economies focus on hunting. The mine is a new field where resources are produced as a part of and in support of economic activity. Mining for minerals and processing the products of these produce many kinds of items. These form the basis for conflict within the mines.
Also, just like in the real world, overproduction causes prices to fall. If many players convert their ore into currency, the going price of ore will drop as supply begins to outstrip demand. Every hour, the economy is recomputed taking into account sales of items over the entire server and who currently controls the mines. This system places the economy (mostly) in the hands of the players.
Every twenty-four hours, the amount of currency in the economy is re-calculated, and based on this, a tax rate (inflation rate) is established for each race. The tax rate makes NPC vendor items more expensive. Players can keep the tax rate in check by converting their currency into gold. The cost of gold is based on the tax rate; Higher tax rates mean cheaper gold, while lower tax rates make gold more expensive. In this manner, the tax rate prompts players to convert currency to or from gold based on whether or not the economy suffers from inflation or deflation.
Certain battle dungeon keys also yield money when the objective is met. Before Ep2, these keys are dropped by monsters or can be bought from Sundries Vendors in HQ. as of Ep2, the sundries version is gone. "BD farming", as it has been coined, is a simple way of gaining currency through an easy method.
Since the Episode 2 update, ore has no value when sold to vendors. In order to profit, it has to be purchased by other players on the Auction House. The ore may be processed, but the materials when sold off to vendors usually does not meet the cost of processing the ore. Other items such as gems or talics can be sold in the Auction House (AH) for increased profits.
Ore & ore processing
Normal mining ores (red, green, blue, yellow and black) can be processed by the Ore Processing NPC. Refining the ore can sometimes produce another ore or bonus items (recovery items, talics, gems).
There is a special ore that can not be sold to NPCs, this is called "Rare Ore". This kind of ore can only be refined in stages by the Ore Processing NPC, which can then be traded for a box at the Gem Collector NPC. If the box is opened, a random type of mining ore (+1, +2, +3, and sometimes even +4) level ore can be obtained along with other possible items (equipment, talics, etc).
Talics
Talics are upgrade items that are processed from ore that can be obtained from mining in the Crag Mine area. Different talics, when inset into a weapon or armour piece, give different beneficial effects. For example, an Ignorance talic can increase a weapon's attack power or a Favour talic can increase an armours defence ability.
Talics are also found at pit bosses or received in Battle Dungeons (BDs).
Gems
Gems increase the chance of talic upgrading success. They are inserted into the equipment before talics are. They are randomly obtained when refining ore and are dropped by crag mine monsters except for T4 gems and T5, which can only be obtain by processing +4 ores (+4 ores can only be obtain from the Big UMT/Big UMT+ and from gift boxes) and from purchasing them via the in-game cash shop respectively.
The 5 ranges of gems are commonly referred to as T1 (Tier 1) as Normal Range to T5 (Tier 5) as Greatest Range.
Archon/Patriarchal/Rulership system
A player receives Contribution Points (CP) whenever they kill a character from another race and also from completing quests. This also means you will lose CP if you are killed by a member of an opposing race. The members of each race with the highest amount of contribution points (top 100) can enter in an election to become the Race Leader for the week or one of the four voted Archon positions, which include Sub-Archon (50% Defense Increase), Assulter (20% Attack Increase), Defender (20% Defense Increase) and Supporter (Has the ability to use 2 racial buffs that raise HP/FP and Attack/Defense).
Additionally, with the Episode 2 update, the Race Leader has the ability to appoint a further four Archons to each of the positions as described above, with the appointed Sub-Archon having similar powers to the Race Leader with the ability to appoint Honour Guilds and set Tax Rates. The voted Sub-Archon does not have these powers, but does have the power to use Nuclear weapons as per the other Sub-Archon and Race Leader.
These nine Patriarchs as they are collectively known are able to communicate with the entire race through global race chat and are expected to lead the race in the Chip Wars. The Race Leader also has the unique ability to understand the language of other races.