Electric-Knight

Aw, come on, GG, if that were the case, you'd have quit a long time ago!

I share your love for separation of costumes and mechanics... this is just one (and possibly the only) example that does not cause me any alarm.

Of course, I am also completely fine with it being a purely power-driven visual and having zero tie to the costume. And, again, I honestly don't think they could or would make it tied to the actual costume cape... but, if it would work and/or was, for some reason, more feasible for them to do it that way... I'd have zero problem with it.

So long as the gliding feature was also implemented elsewhere.

I just think it'd be a fantastic feature to have your own capes open up like that... As opposed to it being the red and white rocket board that automatically comes with the power.

I certainly don't see this suggestion as creating any slippery slope problems.
Again, I do share the love for the greatness that is a system where costumes and mechanics are not tied to each other.
I just am not a believer of absolutes.

Haha, I don't doubt that at all.
It is funny to ponder... how often does the gnashing and hysteria possibly benefit the opposite of what the gnashers (any and all of us included) desire!?
Still, from a more optimistic slant, the team certainly delivered on offering very impressive rewards to the longtime and/or loyal (and/or rich [and/or careless, haha... as we don't know everyone's bad credit situation after this]) customers.
I hope my posts don't seem like I am vehemently against and/or out-rightly negative about all of this. It's all good... even if it isn't, hehe.


I understand what you are saying here, but -let's face it - there is a huge aspect of personal preference in regard to this subject. Especially so, in what I was specifically talking about.
As an example, some players really only enjoy playing one character in this game. They may have alts, but the reason they fall in love with this game is because it quite remarkably allowed them to make a character idea come to life via the great options available.
For every significant option that is cut off from initial access, we possibly lose someone else making that magical connection with the game.

Obviously I have a different philosophy about that than those that make the decisions, as they've always gated costumes, but I don't think either paths are invalid, they're just simply different.

So, I hope the above somewhat explains how I don't exactly equate that to instant gratification. There are just different tastes for what is or isn't, should or shouldn't, things to start with or things to earn. I don't disagree with frustration at people who don't want to earn things. I just sometimes question and/or disagree with what should be earned and what should be granted.


Yeah, we really don't have enough information to know what would or wouldn't create a better bottom line.
Pondering about it, do the VIP costumes really create a better bottom line than if they sold them in the store to anyone and everyone? I really am not convinced. So, in that sense... it appears that it really is a great reward of appreciation from the company.
Would they earn more money by keeping them locked in there and gaining the large sums of money from people plopping down hundreds of dollars vs. the direct sales they'd get for selling the sets at 400 or so points?
After running the numbers in my head, I'd suspect that they'd make more money from selling them directly. This I could be wrong about. Maybe the sales are not as big as I imagine and maybe there are far more people willing to spend that money.
It'd take a lot of people plunking down that money to match the sale of a popular set though...
So, again, looking at it... conspiracy theorists, throw away your foil and look at the company as handing out great gifts at the Tier 9 spot.
I could be wrong, but it seems more likely than not.

Are those rewards great carrots for staying subscribed? I'm honestly not sure (he says this sincerely, opposed to that "not sure" that means "I don't think so").

What I think, when I consider this is... While that is cool, I'd rather see those things for sale with immediate availability (on a broader financial scale) so that they can 1) make more money and 2) help provide a happier community overall.
Again, I could be wrong about any or all of the above. I really don't have the information to truly know.

Hehe, get over yerself, ya Goat!
Nah, I hear ya. I just don't like sitting here, after all this time (and having finally surpasses that last costume hurdle of the Arachnos Helmets in the old system) to now be waiting about two years before I can start getting the new awesome costume goods that others get to enjoy.
While I certainly understand what 7-8 years means in comparison to 4 years... I think anything over 2 years loyalty to an mmorpg is all we should really judge by.
Once someone reaches that 3 year mark, to me, they've obviously fallen in love with the product, become a huge part of it and proven their loyalty.
Creating differences beyond that point starts to become more like holding it against someone for being born after the close of the 1900s.

Two years in one game is a long time. After that... we're all really just completely insane and deserve the same padded cells and coloring books.


This, honestly, is not an aspect I like or agree with.


Okay, I've already replied in this thread way more than I intended... Thanks for the good stuff!

Yes, Forbin, we can spend hundreds of dollars to unlock access to those tiers. In your post, you're comparing money spent for subscription (the only access to the game during those times) to money directly for points to spend in the store and/or simply just to reach Tier 9. That money spent in the past was for far more than just points/tiers.
So, that comparison really doesn't hold up as you displayed it.

All I said is that this new system places multiple significantly large, shiny costume sets beyond the three mark.
Yes, you can throw money at that time and make it go away. Excuse me if I balk at adding hundreds of dollars to my budget for this game that I've been paying for for over four years. Of course this is a personal choice.
So, your point is that the new system doesn't put costumes past the three year mark, because you can skip the time via more money.

Okay, I retract everything I said as clearly I wasn't considering the wonderful aspect that this new system allows people with a larger amount of money and a bigger willingness to spend it to skip ahead.
I'm not exactly a fan of that, to be honest, hehe. I get the validity of it. Yay, support the company and be rewarded.
It's just another example of this simple, casual cafe becoming a fancy club. The gap between the haves and have nots grows. That'll foster a great sense of community as we go.

And, again, is four plus years really so insignificant to not be able to access these new sets without having to plunk down over a hundred additional bucks? Again, that problem is really with the conversion from previous vet time to the new tokens.

Still... a new player, who doesn't spend an inordinate amount of money to get higher more quickly, will wait over three years to access extremely shiny costume sets.
Are we really going to compare the boxing gloves, shorts, boots and belt, or the sleek tech chest, gloves, legs and boots or the Arachnos helmets to the VIP sets?
The samurai armor is the only one that might compare somewhat well. And that was what... a little over a year?

I didn't condemn this new system. Without the Tier 9 sets, I thought this system was much better. However, I think that the Tier 9 sets are making this system err in many the same way that the old system did.
My reply to Nethergoat was simply to say that the complaints some had about the old system have not exactly gone away.
Whether or not the company feels that this is a problem is another story. I disliked the gating within the old system and I dislike it now. No big deal, but that's what I think.


Thank you, good sir.

You know what I think it is?

The people who get upset about magic in this game are like the leading men from I Dream Of Jeannie and Bewitched.
"No, no... don't use your magic!!!"
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM???
I've been putting my wife through magic training for years... and if anything ever comes from it, you better believe she is encouraged to use it as much as possible!!

There is a big difference that I see and I only offer it for consideration (not that I believe they will make any changes to the tier structure, honestly).
The old system had a few costume options that were not very far into the vet system. 1.5 years, if I recall correctly. Nothing after 3 years (and the only things that came that late were the old pre-order non-customizable Arachnos helmets.

What's the difference?
The later vet rewards were more Quality of Life features, while costume options, in this game, are something that can make or break a character. Sometimes a character just can't be done without the right options... and the game may not have those options. However, when the game does have those options, but they're gated off, that can spoil the fun of things.
(Hey, I know... "boohoo", hehe. However, we could pass off the significance of EVERYTHING within this game. I'm only speaking within terms relative to happy fun passtime video game stuff).

That's just a difference that I see and think of.

It is interesting and an interesting subject, however, the arguments are not quite as interesting to me.
I think they've decided what they want to do and are going to stick to it... so this is all just between us. Don't get me wrong... it's great to provide them with feedback. I just think it is useless to argue about this stuff.
You (the universal you, not anyone in particular) like it or you don't like it. Lording over anyone based on opinions of the matter only reveals a lack of character on the attacker's part. Just because someone does not like the current setup does not mean that they have entitlement issues. Does anybody here have nothing they think could be changed for the better in some way?? Do you think everyone is going to agree with your suggestion??
Just like everyone who likes the current setup isn't displaying their own entitlement issues.
The only people who have the answers are the designers/developers/monsters of marketing (you heard me, Zwill!).

Your last question, Goat, about how would it be better for the company?
I really don't know.
I could speculate on possible ways it could be made more profitable for them, but I can't say it would be with any certainty.

From my own personal situation... I honestly do not like that I've been subscribed to this game for over 4 years, but I have no access to the three awesome VIP costume sets. That honestly doesn't strike me as being right. Four plus years subscription to a single game seems like it should be enough to merit not having to sit and watch these shiny sets coming out of my reach.
And a bigger factor, for me, is this... Take my money for subscription time and give me the rewards up front and we're golden.
Only giving the Reward Tokens upfront for points purchases is disappointing (they had planned to grant the tokens for prepaid time, but have not been able to and, last we heard, Zwill said not to expect it to be changed any time soon). Money is money. And if I give it to the company for a year's subscription or for points, it'd be a nicer situation if they'd count it just the same.
I'm pretty sure that has to do with the whole billing aspect which is somewhat out of their control/jurisdiction. So, I'm not griping to them about this, but I do have my opinions on the matter.

Right now, with all the VIP costume sets... you're talking 9 months beyond the time it takes to get to Tier 9.
How many more costume sets and how much more time gets added on as we go?
And, for those who were not there in time, wait and see what happens.
I think there is room for improvement... but only for people that may not really be a major consideration for the company's bottom line. *shrugs*

The fact that Zwill has made it clear that these sets will be made available is a good sign.
However, then it comes right back around the other side... if it is not restricted to VIPs only... then, instead of rotating things out... why not just lower the requirements as time passes (as has been suggested).

That, honestly, seems a bit like a win win... unless the company would really just win by selling them in the store... which I am also all for (just seems like some won't be happy about that... but, some will always not be happy. That is life).

Very well said.
Honestly, I've always been for non-gated costume parts (so, this example is nothing new at all). I find that, not only is exclusivity overrated (and often times detrimental to the fun atmosphere of a shared world), there are tons of options that I might have "earned" that I'm not going to use that other people will make great use of and my experience would only benefit by having those people running around and using them.

The more options everyone has, the more I get to enjoy seeing these different things used as each individual may choose to use them.

You receive a cookie!

His somersaults are legendary?

75 replies it took before someone finally said it! You receive a cookie!
However... did you miss this one?
...

A very interesting solution, Sam!
This might be the only way to really do it, but... My only personal issue with this is that in combat I get annoyed when I put away my weapon from hitting ESC to untarget an enemy (most often when I'm targeted on one that is farther away and I want to target another one nearby).
Not a huge deal and nothing's perfect, but I just thought I'd mention it!


Maybe there is an untarget command I can make a bind... or even just a bind to target a specific named target (that doesn't exist) that'd untarget for me?
Hmm... I'll have to look into that, hehe.

Agreed 100% plus tax!

I hear ya.
It's hobby/fun/playtime, but we do invest ourselves in such ventures.
Take some time away from thinking about it. It can be quite disappointing when the places we look to for escape cause frustration and disappointment... especially when it is through intention and decisions being made.
Those options will be more accessible to you eventually. How and when, we don't know. One way or the other, they will eventually though.