GMan3

I found her. On the SW most island in Imperial City. About 140 yards NE of the Tiberian Bluff marker.

I think that if they went to this model the game would go under. There is enough people playing today that would be happy with just the free part that Paragon Studios could not afford to keep running. At least with my method they still make at least the same amount per customer and more on some that want more access. You still would have to worry about the longer term players though that would throw up the BS flag and leave the game for it.

This might work on a new game just being introduced, but I don't think they could successfully market it to an audience that has been playing the game for a while. Especially if they had to pay more for the same gaming experience that they have been getting for less. Just for arguments sake, let's say the the pay scale goes like this:

Silver - $14.99
Gold - $15.99
Platinum - $16.99

I know this is different from your example, but this way they make money on all accounts. Only problem is that the long term players have been getting full access to the game now for only $14.99 a month, BUT that same amount would now only get them limited access. Can you hear the mental screams? Especially if the server they have been playing on is no longer one of the ones they have access to for the lower prices?

If micro-transactions is the only way to keep this game afloat, then I will not be staying. I will be on the first wave out, as a matter of fact, and I think that IF they were to announce such a thing you would find a rather large portion of the player base would leave as well. I love this game, but not enough that I want to pay for the game every month and then pay again for every new piece of shiny they put out. That, MaestroMavius, is Business 101. That is why you will not see them make that kind of announcement AND why we have to keep our eyes open for what is going on. That is Smart Consumer 101.

I hear what you are saying, but I am just not sure I agree. An Aura Pack would probably be received better than the "Emote Pack" was, but not as well as most of the other packs were either.

To be honest, I am a completionist, I love costume pieces, and all that, but auras fall into that part of the game I just don't use much. I like the glowing eyes and most of the others look cool and all, but they also give me a headache when I'm traveling (literally a headache, right behind the eyes).

They also don't do anything for my toon, powers wise. They do help with some themes and all, but not enough to warrant paying for them. At least not for me. At this point, every time they do put out a paid for pack it is also going to be pushing me away from this game.

It would really suck to leave after more than six years, but I really do not like the direction this game is headed and if it continues, then I can't.

Thanks for the idea, but I don't think that I would be willing to move away from Guardian. Not unless my SG's could be moved over as well, which I doubt. I put way to much energy into those bases to loose them now. Also I live in Hawaii (moved here last year from NC) now and a west coast server is best for me. Well, I guess it is time to really start putting in trouble tickets on a regular basis and try forcing a fix then. Thanks again Hallowed.

And here I was starting to get encouraged. This however is not a good sign in my opinion. Oh well, guess we'll have to wait and see.

I've actually wondered this myself many times in the past and I have to say Hallowed, I don't appreciate you reminding me of it. Seriously though, thanks for the feedback.

I play exclusively on Guardian. I see a good mix of the obvious server lag and unknown lag. The TF I was talking about I know the one guy getting disconnected was not in the US, but I am not sure which country he was in. He did specifically say though that he never had lag prior to issue 17. The more I think about it my lag actually started getting bad at Issue 17 as well (then got horrible even in the wee hours during GR.Issue 18), so I have to wonder if maybe UM is at least partially responsible. I keep my UM on the lowest settings and my video card is supposed to be able to go much higher, but still . . .

If I still lived in NC I definitely would make the drive. That is saying a lot from me because I HATE cities. Would bring both of my kids as well (14 and 16). Only one plays, but the other one is interested in the game design aspect and would like to pick some brains, so to speak. Heck, I have two tickets worth of travel miles already, so buying one more wouldn't even be that bad. Dang, actually getting a little excited here.

I will also ask a couple of friends that live in the area about it Avatea, but since the original announcement upset them so much, I haven't seen them or their kids on-line.

I agree with Cende and will only add that this will also most likely mean taking up a character slot in the mean time as well.

I have no problems with your opinion, you are welcome to it. I even think you are right about leveling too quickly, considering that Praetoria will only be open to Level 14 for the folks that don't own GR. If they gave a "Double XP Weekend" at the same time they give a "Free GR Weekend", then you would only get about half the content a toon normally does to get to Level 14. Hard to showcase all the GR content, when you would effectively only see about a third of it.

There is one thing about your post that I will comment on. Try not to attack everyone with it before they even disagree with you.

^^^ Yes, please listen to this Post! ^^^

I've noticed it around the clock and it doesn't matter how many people seem to be on the server. Even only one dot is enough to cause lag. I recently did a TF at about 4am to 5am EST with only 6 people and one guy got mapservered in every mission. Most of us also died at least once per mission thanks to lag. You know the type I'm talking about. Game stops working for about four or five seconds and starts up only to have your toon fall over dead. My personal favorite type of lag is the 300 yard lag spikes while trying to travel. I've even tried the "/unloadgfx" and "/sync" commands to no affect. Anyways, it's really starting to annoy me.

I think a better word might be inane. Either way though, I agree.

Well, at least they dropped it from the previous 21+ requirements. Still feels like they are alienating a huge segment of their fans by keeping the younger crowd out. I just can't figure why they don't do this but make it so anyone under 18 has to be chaperoned by a parent or legal guardian. Well anyways, for all those that can attend, have fun.

Not a bad point, except I play on a server already with a lower population normally, and even during the most "Dead" hours during the week, the lag can get bad. This while playing on a computer built to play the MMOs, with a Internet connection speed most envy. I wouldn't even mention this except EVERY group I team with complains of the same problem. So, while you do have a point, so does the person you quoted.

I have to agree personally and this is probably why I like TFs/SFs better than raids. More time to joke around and interact. Raids are just too much action all at once to be able to do anything but fight and try to stay alive.

Well, let me see. I'll start this by first saying I have seen a lot of the same people asking for Power Set Respecs, not a lot of people asking for them. But that may just be me. I stated before that the companies model for this game is get a toon to 50, then make an alt. That has been stated many times now. It MAY be changing since they are coming out with the Incarnates System, but we'll have to wait and see.

As for those items you listed, most of them were not said "Absolutely Not" going to happen. Most were said, basically, "probably not" or "not on the radar". For instance:

Power Customization - listed as would like too, but probably not due to coding issues.

Switching Factions - they wanted to do this since CoV first came out and it took until now to happen.

Market Mergers - listed as a "probably not" because of the price imbalance between the red and blue markets. Switching Factions later made this absolutely necessary.

As for Loot Transfers and Server Transfers, I don't remember what was said about them, nor do I care. You are absolutely right to take my opinion on this matter with a grain of salt though. Just keep in mind that it is based in what was actually said, not on how I interpreted what they said.

I think I said that a few posts back, but thanks for the other info. Good to know. I never saw any mention of it changing in the patch notes, so I didn't know they listed the levels now.

Yes, the original argument was about Powerset Respecs and as I said I doubt it will happen. As for a better Respec System, I would be happy if they did update it a little. At least show what level you are respecing to at any given time in the process. As things stand right now, I would rather delete a toon than respec it, which is exactly what I have done now for about three years.