Discussion: Two Ways to Get Going Rogue

Dang, I don't know why folks are complaining about not getting free time just because they want to pre-purchase GR so they can show off their shiney new toys before anyone else gets the addons. Yeesh.

What a lot of folks don't realize is that this is the second expansion that we, as players, must pay for in the what, five-six years this game has been out? We've had 16 Issues (mini-expansions, if you will) that have been FREE. Now, as someone who played EQ, I seem to recall that we ended up paying for four expansions at $30 each over the course of a year plus our monthly fee of $15? We've got it lucky, folks. Paying $30 for pre-purchase plus another $10 for the add-on pack four months down the road isn't so bad. Yes, you pay the same as if you'd paid for the Complete Collection, except you don't get the free month. Personally, I'd rather give up the free month to get the stuff early and play with it like a kid at Christmas, then pick up the other stuff in July when everything becomes available. That gives me three months to play with the new powersets AND Ultra Mode plus any other goodies.

You want your free month? Pay for the full expansion and wait, fen folks. Me, I'm quite contented with the way things are and thoroughly support NCSoft/Cryptic/Paragon Studios decision. They've done a marvelous job and I have every confidence they'll continue to do so.

At this point, with all the whining, I wouldn't be surprised if the Devs just said, "Forget it, no early releases and you'll get the stuff in July while we continue to tinker with everything." So folks, stop with the whining. If you don't like how the Devs run this game, either (a) leave this game and find something else, or (b) create your own MMO and see how well you do.

Having said all that, and this has come up before in this thread, but do the rednames have an idea as to roughly when in early March this stuff will be available? (like maybe, in time for Double XP weekend?)

doesn't surprise me, the impatient ones are the people who will get it despite the extra $15 (which I'm sure will get wasted elsewhere regardless of you holding out or not ;p)

The info on the expansion options sounds good. Can't understand why so many are whining like some hitman just wacked their pet, all because of 1 free month. It's certainly not my place to say who's wrong or right, so knock yourselves out. I do believe that if they would have placed both options for sale at the same time, and offered the early access to DP and DS in a single paid booster pack instead, that all the anger could have been avoided.

A bit of good reading helps a lot here. I see the same things being mentioned in this topic for so many times now... :S

It really isn't rocket science...

Before I get started on my last post for this thread, I thank Tymer for the excellent explanation as to what’s paid for where.

Now, I’m going to withhold the snark* factor as much as I’m able. But once again, I’m reminded why I generally don’t chat in the forums except my home server. I’m reminded far too much of WoW, but with (thank the gods) less flambe’.

Let’s break it down by the numbers, shall we?

You can either (a) pay $30 in advance for GR. This gives you six month early access to two powers that have been been anticipated, especially dual pistols once we saw the Malta Gunslingers. And I’m sure there are magical type MMs who are slavering after their demons.

Or, (b) you can wait until July, pay $40 and get everything at once, including the “free” month. Please bear with me and I will explain the quotation marks.

You see, even though that $15 isn’t being debited from whatever your payment plan may be using, that $15 is subtracted from the $0 and is applied to costs and whatnot for server maintenance, the people who work at Paragon Studios and NCSoft, these forums for a number of folks to whine on (if I’m wrong, I’m sure a redname will correct me. Others will be ignored). Therefore, your “free” month isn’t really “free”. However, you’re still only paying $25 for everything, a darn good price, all things considered. You’re getting a complete edition of the game with GR plus all the cool stuff that comes with GR, considering City of Heroes itself was what, $50 when it first came out? Yes, I know, the price has since dropped. Generally, other new games also charge $50 coming out the gate, Champions Online, Star Trek Online, and Fallen Earth, are the three most recent examples I can think of. You’re paying $40 for CoH, CoV and GR. That’s a good deal!

A number of us are going with Plan A. Why? Because we like shiney new toys! If so, we’re paying the privilege of having this bright, shiney new powers six months in advance. I think that’s well worth the loss of a “free” month. We also don’t get the disk (not really needed), which is fine as it cuts down clutter at home. We also don’t mind paying an extra $10 for the emotes and other sundry stuff in July. So why should we get a “free” month when we get access to powers six months in advance? (Please try to read completely through before commenting, hmmm?)

Let me try an example.

You buy a really nice computer with all the options you could want at a fairly decent price with good payments. and said computer will paid off in six months. It also includes any extraneous fees. (Yeah, I know, sheer fantasy. Bear with me) This is also a brand new system that is just hitting the market, but the store is allowing a privileged few to purchase it before it officially premiers in six months. Sound familiar?

However, you know through a trusted source at the store that you can buy that exact same computer with the exact same options and exact same price less one month’s payment in six months. However, you also know through that trusted source that though it will be cheaper, there will be added charges for set-up and shipping. So while the total charge for the car itself is less, you still end up paying extra for the costs involved.

Don’t think that can happen? Try buying a large-purchase item sometime. I bought my bike (motorcycle). I paid MSRP (Still an $8000 investment), but fortunately they knocked off set-up fees plus shipping & handling and counted myself lucky. Cynical as it sounds, they want to make as much money off you as they can. However, the money goes to paying for the salesman, store maintenance, etc., etc.

Those of us with a leg up on the new powers already have a privilege of playing with the new powers in advance, why the heck should we get a free month as well? That’s like asking for a second $300-$400 video card for SLI or Crossfire for FREE. The company would soon lose money if they granted that. We should count ourselves lucky that the Devs pay attention to us and try to make us happy rather than complain about “I’m not getting a free month, waaaaaa!”

The conclusion; we’re going to end up paying the same price no matter which way we go; NCSoft and Paragon Studios need to pay for people, servers, server maintenance, for this forum and the moderators to watch and maintain them and you will pay for it one way or the other. I’d rather pay a little extra and have good quality stuff, how about you?

Regardless; either be patient and wait until July or pay it forward in March and enjoy the new powersets. If you still don’t “get it” you’re beyond help.

Thank you for your time.

*Snark = Sarcasm

I'm fine with preordering the early bird version and waiting for a the rest of the stuff to be available later, but I really, really, really hope NCSoft does some serious upgrading to its online store if it wants to go to a download-focused distribution system.

If we can crater the current store with the traffic on days when new booster packs are released, we can *really* crater the store when Going Rogue comes out.

so 9 days too dbl weekend march the 4? so where is the pre-order page odd? checked the story nothing yet im guessing maybe march the 1 at the latest the 4

Well said, Alt_oholic!

I don't get all the angst I've seen in scanning this thread.

I'm a grown-up. With a job. I don't have a lot of expensive hobbies.

I'm choosing the option that lets me play with the new stuff sooner, and the item pack when it's available. Price differences are less than I spend per week on cat litter and cat food.