i20.5: Astral/Empyreal cost to unlock everything

Yeah, it kind of does: we need Empyrean merits if we want the Incarnate armor. The only way to get them is through these pestilential Trials. Ergo, if I want the Armor, I am forced to run the Trials. Over and over again.

Luckily I have saved my Empyrean merits so I dont think this'll be an issue for too much longer over here. I just generally become annoyed with the incessant cheerleading of every last aspect of this game from some people. Its like this game can do no wrong. I have been here six years, and do not get me wrong - I love this game. But some stuff needs adjusting, and a lack of trial content/ability to get Empyreans from other sources than these same two *headdesk*-worthy Trials is one of them.

I think it's just some of us are sick and tired of the constant complaining about every little thing. It's been pretty bad for a bit, and it just starts to get annoying.

(Not saying there's no merit to the complaints, nor is the comment directed at you. Just trying to explain why some of us, that are happy with the recent content, like to chime in)

Don't be upset, not everyone can play the game as much as some. But I feel your pain, a friend of mine can't afford to play as much either and he barely has enough to get maybe 1-2 pieces when it goes live.

It would be nice if they made just the iTrials cross server, but I know that's not on the horizon anytime soon. But something we may see eventually.

No, it really doesn't. You said it yourself, you want these things. If you needed them, you'd be being forced. At best you are being coerced, tantalized or encouraged. This isn't being forced. It isn't even a case of semantics, they're way far apart on the spectrum.

I really do hope for something along the lines of dailies as an alternative for earning trial rewards, to be perfectly clear. This is coming from someone who enjoys the trials, mind you.

Want me, love me, shower me with kisses

You and I both. Then again, it may not be as bad once all the trials are out. And hopefully with the new upcoming Incrnate missions tht were mentioned will reward us in some way.

They've only said they're looking at the idea - they've not promised anything yet.

Well keeping my fingers crossed in hopes they do

If I want these items, I must run Trials. We have zero other ways to get Empyrean merits, so if I want the items yeah I'm forced to run the trials.

If we had other ways to get them, this argument would have merit.... but we got one way to get them, so it does not. And yes I want and need the armor, it is thematically appropriate for my main. He has to have it. So I have to run Trials.

Now with that said, if we had more than the two, soon to be three ways to get Empyreal merits, this would be less painful. And thank GOD these are global unlocks. But I still have to run trials to get stuff, if only to slowly kit out Judgement and Lore and all that. I have 18, soon to be 19 level 50s. Not even half of them will pursue the Incarnate path, but that's still a whole hell of a lot of grinding the same few trials. Sisyphus is wearily eying that hill in Hell, thinking about how many more times he has to get that boulder to the top and ....GAH....

There is a VERY high chance that all of this stuff is in the Paragon Store too after Freedom goes live. Maybe you dont have to grind.

Rewards you like gated behind content you severely dislike, with no alternate means of acquiring the rewards whatsoever.

It might not be forced in name, but it sure has a similar smell...

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

It's kind of like making customers run sprints instead of paying at a fast food restaurant.

Fixed.

At least I HOPE they don't sell stuff that is already obtainable in the game. (Don't get me wrong, I still don't like the method to obtain these goods... but having to BUY them with real money is not the answer. In-game items shouldn't be obtainable in that way.)

Considering obesity in America... that sounds like a good idea.

[/Devil's_Advocate]

Pretty much, actually, people don't go to any food outlet unless they plan on acquiring a meal.

Similarly, casual players and costume/RP focussed players are aiming for those things. Suddenly being shacked with grindy, end game content runs completely counter to that goal. And is an equally jerky move.

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

Since these are global unlocks, so you can do the 'work' with several characters I'm happy with these prices.

actually I'd be perfectly fine if the other method to obtain these goods requires money. (Allows folks to avoid the idiot grind). And I actually think there is a HIGH chance you'll see the P Market as the other option.

i'm fine with that.

I was hoping that might happen, but I can see people getting upset at selling stuff that can be obtained in-game in the store. (Yes, I know they will be doing that with stuff like character respecs, but this would be worse).

In game items that have absolutely 0% impact on gameplay, stats, numbers of anything of any meaning other than looking good/vanity/part of a concept?

In game items that are PURELY cosmetic shouldnt be locked in such an abitrary and idiotic fashion, frankly.

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

A very rare component is just portion of what is required to enhance an already existing tier 3 Incarnate power by a rather marginal amount (25%ish). I am STILL surprised that you see 1.2 times that cost for an epic looking costume set that is unlocked for every level 50 on an account as overpriced.

Techbot, I grow tired of agreeing with you,

I have run out of different ways to say it. Simple, generic cosmetic items have no business being achievements for Incarnate content, especially if said content is the only method of obtaining those items. Unfortunately, that doesn't matter diddly-squat at this point, we're getting it tomorrow.

Except that there's no... y'kno... force, involved..

It is because that "epic looking costume set that is unlocked for every level 50 on an account" has absolutely no influence on gameplay. Thankfully, "what you wear" in this game has absolutely no influence on "what you can do."

That amount of Empyrean merits equates to a large amount of trials run over multiple days. For a casual player (what I consider to be a player with no more than 10-12 hours of play time a week), accumulating that amount of Empyrean merits is going to take a while, and probably require them devoting their limited time strictly to trials, ignoring anything else they may want to do in the rest of the game. Once acquired, that player now has to choose whether they want to craft the powers they need in order to keep up with future content releases OR get the thematic cosmetic pieces that they want for many of their characters' concepts.

When you look at it that way, yes, it is a little bit unfair. The casual gamer has much higher stakes, and much harder decisions, than a player who has 4+ hours a day to devote to the game.

And some people are trying to argue that they're wrong...
LOL... Wonderful attitude you've got there!

Opinions... everybody's got'em!

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