Revisiting AP and Gold Value in Dark and Darker: A Journey of Discovery

Over the past few days, I've embarked on a journey of theorycrafting to maximize AP values in Dark and Darker. Through live streams and collaborative discussions, I've developed strategies aimed at optimizing AP generation, with the intention of sharing these insights with the community through a YouTube video.

However, amidst this process, I stumbled upon a revelation that completely overturned my previous beliefs regarding the handling of gold in the game. Initially, I had operated under the assumption that leaving gold as loose stacks in your inventory was more advantageous than storing it in bags. This belief stemmed from the misconception that loose gold would retain its "looted" status and therefore contribute to AP rewards, as the entire AP system is intricately tied to the vendored gold value of items at a 1:1 ratio.

However, it turns out that this belief was entirely unfounded. Through rigorous testing, I discovered that Dark and Darker gold coins, as well as silver coins, do not contribute to AP rewards whatsoever. This revelation came as a surprise, and I immediately set out to rectify any misinformation I may have inadvertently spread during my streams.

To those who may have tuned into my streams and heard me discussing the supposed benefits of loose gold for AP rewards, I extend my sincerest apologies for any confusion caused. I'm committed to providing accurate and reliable information to the community, and I'm taking steps to correct this accounting error.

In addition to uncovering this discrepancy, I've also identified several other anomalies in the game's AP values. While I'm uncertain whether these discrepancies are intended features or unintended bugs, I've reported my findings to the appropriate channels and eagerly await clarification.

Here are the key takeaways from my findings:

- Gold coins and silver coins do not contribute to AP rewards under any circumstances.

- Following recent changes in the game, the calculation of AP has been altered. While gold and silver coins still do not yield AP rewards, they are now counted as "items" when collected during a run if they occupy slots in your inventory.

Update: I've received a response from sdf indicating that he was unaware of the issues raised and would consult with the relevant team to determine whether they are intentional or unintended.

Update 2: Further testing has revealed that AP calculations have been adjusted in-game. While gold and silver coins still do not grant AP rewards, they are now considered as "items" on the inventory sheet when collected during a run.

Update 3: A video summary of my findings is currently in the editing phase and will soon be accompanied by a comprehensive written guide for those who prefer text-based information. Additionally, VoD timestamps from my stream on 2/15/24 will be provided for reference purposes.