Happy with paid for aditions to the game?
By
Blue Rabbit,
Posted on: 2008-10-31 15:35 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
I'm happy with "fun" additions to the game being paid-for, since they:
(a) give no competitive advantage
(b) let the bourgeois overlords and fashion victims with more money than sense pay for the rest of us proles to have more free toys and blessings from Sexeh Jay. 
Only one I've been mildly concerned about is the 30 Day jetpack, since that means you could have two extra powers on your build and never need a travel power. On the other hand, you'd have to keep on shelling out an extra couple of quid a month for the freebie.
Self Destruct is not a concern since it's a very situational power with a huge recharge time. Besides, post-Nova death being a normal part of the average blaster's attack chain, I hardly see the problem with letting other ATs share the experience
If ever they start flogging proper, regularly usable, and high-powered weapons, that would bug me. I do not want someone waving the Sword of a Thousand Truths and Shield Of Epic Fail +3 around that they've paid for. Do that and you're down to the level of the gold-seller/paid PL/Russell Brand scum, which isn't what we pay our licence fee for at all.
Is it time for the dance of joy yet?
I can understand your concerns here, but more stuff doesn't instantly equate to better builds.
I'd be very surprised if the Devs started creating paid for packs that give you a sustained advantage in combat. Okay the option to teleport to a mission will be very handy but I'll bet the recharge on it is enough to warrant only scant or urgent usage.
I like the jetpack it saves a lot of trudgery early on; I may refresh the purchase next month, I may not, but it is nifty. True it does mean you can concentrate on build rather than travel power, but then again it does run out, and it is extra expense. I've spent the time myself getting the temp powers for the characters I'm going to play, so they will have that extra mobility should I choose not to repurchase.
As for the cossie packs: just because someone has a few extra bits that you dont they aren't necessarily going to do anything interesting with them. Great designs have been produced since at least I6, when I joined (can't guarantee anything before then so no speculatey mecicle. :P)
My own opinion is that old chestnut: the Devs are getting more revenue to plough into better stuff for us. I dont mind paying for the stuff I want, but I wont feel my characters are inferior if I dont buy anything.
I don't wanna save my soul now,
I just wanna lose control,
And even if it takes a lifetime, to learn:
I'll learn!
Im happy with paying for add on's with 2 exceptions.
The pay as you go jet pack, and now this Mac freebie that they are going to sell the rest of us.
The jet pack because it's not a one of purchase, and the mac tp/cossie because if its free to them, what we having to pay for it for?
It has been done before that already, the GvE pack (pocket D teleport and that jetpack/jumpthing), but also the sprint powers.
Even the veteran powers can be seen like this (sand of mu, axe, nemesis staff etc).
The cooldown of these powers hardly give a true advantage over normal players, its a nice addition but nothing more then a kheldian has a travel from start or a kin basicly dont need a travel power.
I'm pretty sure they are very carefull on new packs, or at least make sure they have little to no impact.
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double...
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Sign the petition, dont let CoH go down! SIGN!
If it stays to the same degree as we've got it now.If it's the uber elite power of DOOOOOOM, then it's gone too far.
I'll still buy it, but it'll have gone too far...
"Idealism is such a wonderful thing. All you really need is someone rational to put it to proper use." - Kerr Avon
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i tend to like how the payed for stuff has been so far and have gotten every adition since the eu coh deluxe box. so far the powers granted with them have been fun lil aditions that can very easily be dun without. as long as they stay along the fun and flashy rout with the add ons im more than happy with them the way they are.
after all its a much better idea than having to pay for a full game every 6 month to a year so you can stay up to date with the game the way most mmos go.
There isnt a problem on earth that cant be solved with the proper aplication of hi explosive's
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Yes.
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Im happy to pay for GOOD extra bits and i have bought some of the packs that have been done, others i feel are a waste of money.
I have said before on these forums that i would even be more than happy to pay for a game update it was to a high standard and added some much needed extra content.
Hey! I like contribruting to a good and worthy cause! If I had a job I'd be donating a fith of my paycheck to NCNC! (Or NCEU, which ever needs it more!) As well as a recognisable charity! (No made up one's! 
)
In any case I love the purchasble stuff they bring out makes the toons that lil more unique 
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others i feel are a waste of money.
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Doesn't matter. If you/I feel it is a waste of money we don't have to buy it, and we can be happy that someone else will, and they are subsidising our game.
I really should do something about this signature.
I got the GvsE edition, but probably would have paid for those extras anyway. Wedding pack was a must for at least one of my toons concepts. Cyborg pack, similarly. The Mac users getting extra stuff I don't see as any different from the Collectors Editions of the game, or the pre-order Arachnos helms and Sprint powers. Except we're getting the opportunity to buy the new stuff.
So long as it doesn't end up with being able to buy significant advantages over other players, I don't mind. I won't get the jetpack because it's not permanent. I don't want to raise my subscription price every month. But a one-off, optional purchase is fine.
In comparison to other MMOs, COH is a heck of a lot better in that respect, despite the exclusive stuff to some players. I don't have to buy an expansion to keep up with the lvl cap or access new zones. Granted I've come into the game as the chargeable stuff has been starting, so I've not been as used to getting everything for free, but when I look back at how much has come the players way with no charge, it's pretty darn good.
@craggy see me on Union for TFs, SFs (please!) or just some good ol fashioned teaming.
Yes - especially if it's enhancing and upgrading our avatars
@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
The good vs evil pack was good, added some much used cossie pieces, the jump pack is excellent and the pocked d teleport very handy.
Wedding packed added lots of various cossie pieces and some fun emotes. Liked it lots.
Cyborg pack was ok... I can't say i fully like it, i think the self destruct was perhaps the most fun out of it, the combat auras was ok too, but the cossie itself looked bad imo. Way to cluttered and detailed to be displayed nicely.
Valkyrie pack... know nothing of this, but it sounds like it'll be nice. I think also jay said this will contain the most cossie pieces in total from a pack so far.
As for the jetpack thingie. I personally think it's silly. I can't honestly see anyone dumb enough to pay for something already in the game for free 
From your reactions it is obvious that most (including me) are willing to pay a bit of money to get some nifty goodies. Most consider this to be a good thing as it brings extra money to the developers and help them create new fun stuff for us to play with.
The jet pack and the mission tp are things that I am less happy about. Because they can be used to replace travel powers. Granted, the jetpack at least is very expensive but it saves you two power slots. I won't pay for it but i am not the competetive sort. So far nobody seems bothered by it. I dislike the thought of the mission teleporter however. Once more it saves on travel powers and it will make the zones even more deserted.
So the next question/musing would be this.
Where do you say enough is enough? This would give those who pay for extras an 'unfair' advantage?
Some examples:
Teleport to mission door.
A ranged attack that does high damage
A ranged attack that does extreme damage
A ranged AOE effect?
A melee attack that does high damage
A power that gives you esentially stamina
A Fly power faster then a fully slotted Flight
A power that makes you more 'resistant' to damage like the paragon protector for 1 minute.
A power that gives you a nice pet that not only looks nice but is actually usefull in combat? Say a single MM minion?
Where would you say stop?
I have no problems with any of the purchasable goodies... they are completely optional and as many have mentioned don't actually enhance game play or provide competitive advantage.
I'll be happy to pay a few quid for more.
I don't even have a problem with paying for the Mac freebies, I think an incentive to get people playing on Mac's is a good thing
If it gets silly then I might have a bit of a moan but equally I've not bought the jet pack because I don't fancy paying out for it monthly.
I can't see too many disadvantages after all it keeps the game going and that must be a good thing
Thelonious Monk
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Some examples:
Teleport to mission door.
A ranged attack that does high damage
A ranged attack that does extreme damage
A ranged AOE effect?
A melee attack that does high damage
A power that gives you esentially stamina
A Fly power faster then a fully slotted Flight
A power that makes you more 'resistant' to damage like the paragon protector for 1 minute.
A power that gives you a nice pet that not only looks nice but is actually usefull in combat? Say a single MM minion?
Where would you say stop?
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The ranged attack that does high damage, because you get a High DoT with Sands of Mu from Vet Rewards, and to get Vet Rewards you need to pay your sub, so it's not really unfair.
Or do you try to race everyone to the mish?
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A ranged attack that does high damage
A ranged attack that does extreme damage
A ranged AOE effect?
A melee attack that does high damage
A power that gives you esentially stamina
A Fly power faster then a fully slotted Flight
A power that makes you more 'resistant' to damage like the paragon protector for 1 minute.
A power that gives you a nice pet that not only looks nice but is actually usefull in combat? Say a single MM minion?
Where would you say stop?
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It's a pointless question, since the devs wouldn't add a power that would unbalance combat. Take the self distruct power. This doesn't really have a significant effect on gameplay because of it's extremly long recharge time. Anything else they added would be balanced by similar downside.
It would be as meaningful to ask "would you continue to play if all the dev went insane and coverted all the villain mobs into pink fluffy bunnies". It's something that simply isn't going to happen, so it is stupid to get in a flap over it.
I really should do something about this signature.
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It would be as meaningful to ask "would you continue to play if all the dev went insane and coverted all the villain mobs into pink fluffy bunnies". It's something that simply isn't going to happen, so it is stupid to get in a flap over it.
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Issue 16
Thelonious Monk
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It would be as meaningful to ask "would you continue to play if all the dev went insane and coverted all the villain mobs into pink fluffy bunnies". It's something that simply isn't going to happen, so it is stupid to get in a flap over it.
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Issue 16
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Issue 15...no, wait, 14.
[ QUOTE ]
Hello, this is IP Funny Colours Games, giving you the low down on all the latest realases.
Today, IP Funny Colours Games have the privelage of interviewing City of Heroes and Villians Developer, Matt Miller! Let's begin our Q&A with him about the new update to the game, Issue 14.
IPFC Games: So, Matt, what's the title of Issue 14?
Matt: We're calling it Evil Bunny Architect. It fits right in with the concept.
IPFC Games: So I hear this new enemies turning into evil bunnies thing is "the coming storm" that was rumoured about. Is this a Nemesis plot?
Matt: You betcha your life it is. *mutters* And so is this website...
IPFC Games: So, what kind of challenging will our Heroes and Villians will be facing?
Matt: Well, they'll be facing the evil bunny reincarnation of all the enemy groups. It's been suggested since the game was realased, and now we have the tech to put it out. We'll also be pitting Heroes and Villians against a strange force known as the Bunnydom. Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom. Lucozade is niiiiiiiiiice...
That's all from us! See ya next time!
[/ QUOTE ]
My first response to any paid-for costume additions?
I WANT IT NOWWW! GIMME GIMME GIMME!
So, yes, happy to pay, I love playing with the costume bits 
.
�How do I like my MMOs? I like them the way Paragon Studios used to make them.� - a fitting tribute from kiasa.org
EU, Union mostly.
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It's a pointless question, since the devs wouldn't add a power that would unbalance combat. Take the self distruct power. This doesn't really have a significant effect on gameplay because of it's extremly long recharge time. Anything else they added would be balanced by similar downside.
It would be as meaningful to ask "would you continue to play if all the dev went insane and coverted all the villain mobs into pink fluffy bunnies". It's something that simply isn't going to happen, so it is stupid to get in a flap over it.
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I would have never expected to see a travel power appearing that can replace normal travel powers. Yet we have the flight pack and soon the even more handy tp to mission.
You see a trend that games come free these days but you must pay for goodies that makes the game shine. Right now we have the same thing happening to us in a limited fashion. The buyable goodies are nice to have but not game breaking. That could change however if the Dev's decide that they like to earn more money by making the buyable pack a neccesity instead of a fun little thing. Is this scenario feasable? I surely think it is if NCSoft think it a good strategy to make more profit. It is not random insaneness speaking here (although when you see what the stock markets do these days ) but a way to make money. They have taken the first step. Will they make the next one as well?
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Yet we have the flight pack
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Which lasts 30 days, or you can pick up a functionaly identical pack for nothing at level 5. Takes less than 2 hours of play on a new character. The only reason to take it is because you like the way it looks, and the only reason it was made available is because players asked (nay, demended) it.
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and soon the even more handy tp to mission.
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Don't judge how handy it will be until you know what the recharge is.
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That could change however if the Dev's decide that they like to earn more money by making the buyable pack a neccesity instead of a fun little thing.
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The devs know that anything that unbalanced the game in such a way would loose them subscribers. Therefore, as I said, you question is "What would happen if the devs all simultaniously went insane?"
I really should do something about this signature.
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What would happen if the devs all simultaniously went insane?
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They would allow me to post.
We can/could buy the jump pack and the handy pocket D tp power.
We can buy the wedding pack.
We can buy the cyborg pack with a special boom power.
We can pay a monthly fee for a flypack
We will be able to buy a valkyrie pack
I am sure we will be able to pay a monthly fee for the mission teleport pack.
I understand that a lot of these packs can only be developed thanks to our willingness to buy them. For that matter who doesn't want to collect all cossies?
And with the new travel packs you can forget about getting a travel power and concentrate on making a nastier build then ever before. This is what makes me less enthousiastic.
What will they develop next? More travel powers? Special attack powers that are slightly better then the excisting ones or give a handy power that makes hero life more easy?
I pay a monthly fee for this great game and I expect that I will be able to be as effective (perhaps less well dressed then others though) as any other player. However if people can buy a special advantage by paying more and more to NCSoft I will be saddled with a lesser build then the other players. I don't want to be 'forced' to pay a monthly extra just to be as effective as my fellow players.
So what do you think about this development? Do you share my concerns? Do you think this will be a good thing instead?