Discussion: Featured Items at the Paragon Market - 2/14/12

Love the costume.
But i hate buying "chances" of getting what i want.
I'm very sad NcSoft did something like this.

I'm curious how it is gambling if you are guarenteed a prize at the end of each one, true you have no control over WHICH prize you get.

To me gambling involves you having a chance at not receiving anything at the end. If you spend a dollar to get a pack, you DO GET 5 items. many of which are worth more than that one dollar.

Frankly, I kind of get a kick out of the random nature of it. Am I going to drop 20 bucks a week on super packs, no. Am I going to sometimes grab them, yes.

Also, note that this isn't a costume pack with a random nature to it. The costume parts are only a smaller portion, albeit the part most people like it seems. So to those who 'rolled bad' on getting your costume parts, you have a greater chance at the remaining ones, if you wanna drop a few more dollars, and you also have a mailbox FULL of spiffy new things. some of which are trade-able on the auction house.

You may not get what you like, but you DO GET SOMETHING, please remember that the other rewards have merit to them, in and of themselves.

Frankly, I like the idea of helping to fund this game a bit beyond my normal sub, and having this opportunity to have a bit of fun when I do it is welcome. Is it for everyone, no. But servers don't run on well wishes, happy posts about how much you love new costume parts and rainbows. This is a business, plain and simple, one that has, honestly, treated all of us real damn well. Not every game has a weekly ustream, not every game tries to see how they can get player feedback and incorporate it, not every game asks the players what they want or let's them design back of the game.

That's why I don't play just any game, I play City of Heroes. So do you. This game is known for it's amazing vibrant community, which everyone reading is a part of, dammit take pride in that for a second.

I'm not saying everyone needs to drop ever cent on super packs, but if and when you buy one, realize it's just a buck, not even enough to buy you a drink, and look at what it can get you, each and every time.

If you don't like them, that's also your prerogative, and that's fine too, but let's at least be civil about this, and not start doom crying.

We're better than that and you all know it.

Is there a list of where the costume pieces would be under somewhere?

I bought 1 pack so far. One.

I got the belt and the boots in the same pack. You people need to stop whining and buy some packs already.

Sorry.

This is just my experience on beta, on two accounts, and then buying one 24 pack live:

In all three cases, I got the full costume set within 24 pack (except on 1 character, where I did not get the backpack until about 30 packs), and on one account, it was within 17 packs. Once you get a peice, it is taken out of the random pool. Along with those, I was about to get approx 1200-1500 Reward merits, which helped me to fill some sets I hadn't completed. I got enough ATOs to be able to complete one set on two out of three accounts, and being able to trade ATOs, I don't believe I will have any trouble now this is live to trade for what I need.

If you don't like the consumables and temp powers, then these are likely not for you, and that is perfectly okay. You can get the ATOs by trading with others without coming out of your ivory tower. I would bet the costume set and Black Wolf will be purchasable in about 6 months. But please, don't presume that becasue YOU don't find them useful that other won't. For me, 24 packs of free points are worth 2 1/2 months of free points, or 20 minutes of OT at work.

Seeing a lot of people here say they've compiled the Elemental Order set easily within 20 packs. I had to open 32, or was it 33 (roughly 2,000 points worth)! Anyway, this is exactly why I won't support this type of practice in the future. I went against my better judgement because I wanted the set and I wanted to see for myself how many packs it might take me. So for anyone who thinks it's as simple as buying the 24-pack, think again.

@Snow Globe - I'd quote your post but I'd rather not build a "wall of text"... so just take this for what it's worth... I agree with your post and your assessment. Thanks for posting!

So if I understand correctly:

I spend $18 and I have a chance to have this costume pack unlocked on one character?

PASS.

NCSOFT Dev people, if you need to up the price on some of your newer costume sets say so. I don't mind spending a little extra every couple of months provided any costume sets unlock globally.

This is a money sink and not a very good one. If the costume pieces were global unlocks I *MIGHT* consider trying to get these. I wouldn't even mind if this costume set was obtainable through the Incarnate system.

BTW if anyone considers paying an agreed amount of currency for an agreed upon product "entitlement" you are high. This is bordering on hucksterism. People want things and are willing to pay, adding a lotto aspect is like adding DLC and Online Pass Codes, it creates a enough of a barrier that make people seriously consider finding a new hobby.

I'm not going to buy these because eventually they'll wise up and rotate out of circulation after they figure out that it's not selling anymore or the game will end. I'm sorry, but this is a bridge too far for me.

I wont even go into long detail on those that are complaining so much over this. If you don't like it then don't buy it, its just like any other item you want in the "real" world, if you want it spend money.

Have you never played any trading/miniature game on the market, how about almost all F2P games, or most video games? Almost every single one has random packs or items you ahve to spend money on, I don't even want to go in to detail how much I have spent on something like heroclix.

The big thing is everything in the pack has value you may think its not to you, but it is. You say I'm already level 50, then roll a new alt and use the xp boosters, I'm level 50 and maxed out then use some enhancement boosters and unslotters to make your build better. Even the dual inspirations have some use.

So my wife and me both opened up 24 packs, both of us got all the costume pieces around 12-15 packs in. Lots of ATO's enough to trade and come close to slotting our mains, others we stocked up or sold and made some good profit. Both over 1200 merits enough to buy whatever we want. I had 5 catalysts and she had 3.

To all those that are misinformed you can get 2 ATO's and 2 costume pieces in 1 pack.

My final 2 cents it was fun turning the cards over, I have no complaint on spending money on these. Will I buy more, maybe a few more for fun, but I have what I need, except for some more catalysts but I can wait for them as drops. Will I like to see more, yes and then have the first packs with a lower price, and add in some more top end prizes (like free game time, points, higher merits) I cant wait to here the debate on the next super packs.