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

Count me as another person who thinks the elemental order set looks freaking sweet, sees the consumables as totally pointless, and point blank refuses to spend money when I don't know what I'll actually be getting.

Honestly, I'm not sure I trust where this game is going anymore, which is a very sad thing to realize.

If I may put in my 2 cents?

I bought 24 of these, and in there I got.

1 full costume set by my 7th, which is cheaper than the normal bundles.

675 merits

11 ATOs

68 enhancement boosters

countless dual inspirations, prestige/ inf / xp boosters

Honestly, I think I got a damn good deal.

The new costume pieces look great! Too bad you have to gamble to get them. The CoH team has slowly been eroding my faith in them starting with costume parts unrelated to the trials being locked behind incarnate trials. They continue on their downward trajectory with super packs. I only want the costume pieces and could care less about the other content of the packs.

So, if the costume pieces ever become available on the market as a bundle, depending on the price, I'll purchase them.

Well, as it seems my thread has been closed I will post my reply here.

To the person who said "You simply do not have to buy the boxes and miss out on the set."

Are you -kidding- me? The whole thing about the game is to have all the pieces to create unique superheroes. -Why- do I, a -paying- customer, want to miss out on something I pay over $15 for? I am sorry again, but that is -not- satisfactory. I like completeness, I like having all of my costume pieces, I don't even play the game as much as I fiddle around with the character builder, this is where I find the most fun. So again, no. I am -not- happy with this.

I find these armour pieces to be very cool, and perfect for some of my hero designs, I do want them. But to have to spend -another- $15 to get them? I'm giving you a big -NO-.

Btw, my original response to this new set was as follows:

"Well, I am inherently unhappy with this new "Item Pack". I have played Gaia Online and quit due to an exact replica of this money-pit scam. I'm a VIP player, and have been paying to play for years. I was good enough to continue my subscription not only to support the game, but for the features granted by said privileged accounts when it went free, and I still pay $15 and up per month for the new items that come out. I am not a money-pit however.

Seeing this new "Item Pack" sent my heart into my feet, I may have to stop playing. I love collecting the costume sets, and I -want- to get them if I spend the money to get them. But after spending over $15 on the "sale pack" of 24 of these sets and I did not receive all of the items, needless to say, I was upset. I already spent $15 on my VIP membership this month + $15 more on the previous item release last week, adding -another- $15 this week, that is -far- too much for the average -working- citizen. Yet, I gave it a chance.

I am afraid that this new "advancement" will have to cease, or you will lose valuable players. I don't want to spend $100 a month to get all of the items that are released for my characters, and I know that soon enough, like Gaia, this will turn into not just one pack at a time, but 2 then 3, and already you have lost my interest at one. Random packs are -not- a good solution to gaining money. The people who are already paying for the game monthly should not be a target of this either, but it seems that there is no reward. Because unlike Gaia, these items are account based, therefore, we can not simply trade to get these items, we -must- spend the money to get them. So there is nothing for even the working person to fall on.

This particular update has made me wonder where exactly the game is going, and if they really have the player's best interests in mind. Do not go the way to gain infinite money, cater to the players and make these options gain-able at a reasonable price. You may have lost a paying player, I am not going to be victim to this scam again. I had fun while it lasted, but as someone who loves the character options and customization in the game most, I feel very disappointed.

Best regards:
Astraica"

First of all, apologies for my various brain-farts in my posts about the Super Packs today. This has not been a good day for me.

Now that that's out of the way, I feel I have to admit that I've been thinking this through and decided to give the Super Packs a limited try. Yes, I know what to expect from Beta, but I also know I'll actually USE most of what I get in these packs (the unslotters will be a rare thing), so it's not money wasted for me. Yes, it frustrates me that the costume isn't a sure thing, and the pet may as well not exist for me, but the odds of getting the costume at decent speed really are good.

I caved in, and got the "box" of 24 packs for my second account. With pack 20, I got the last of the costume set. Money wise, I have to say that I got plenty for what I paid, but it worries me that I could have been unlucky and missed part of the costume set.

Basically, I think having ANYTHING exclusive to the Super Packs is a very bad path for Paragon to go down. I can't say I won't spend money on the packs, because I have and got what I should reasonably expect. I think it's important, though, that they announce that they WILL be making the costume parts and pet accessable for direct purchase at some point in the (not too distant) future. That will help those that luck does not smile upon, give them money from the ones that want the pet but can't afford to keep playing for it, and disarm a lot of the problems that are leading to bad feelings about all of this.

I don't like reversing my stance on such things as "I won't buy them", but as I've been so outspoken in opposing them, I felt it only fair to admit to rethinking my views. Laugh at me if you want, but I'd rather look like an honest fool than be a dishonest idiot.

. . . One final thing, though. Paragon people, PLEASE work on getting some sort of Paragon Points cards out there on the market. You want us to spend more money? Then let me go down to the mall and buy a $5 or $15 dollar points card so I can give the code/points to a friend in the game. Who knows, maybe they'll use the points to buy some Super Packs.

Given a choice between going the way to infinite money or catering to the players, I'm afraid I would go the way to infinite money. Assuming TopDoc didn't get there first.


The devs know that the people who are completists, who want everything in the game even to the point of having no problem with *limiting* the growth of the game to guarantee that their subscription and/or a small amount on top guarantees them everything, won't be happy with City of Heroes Freedom. They already know this. They are hoping most players are willing to have *more* than they had before even if it is not everything. But that's the path the devs have decided upon. The devs have decided that the best option for the most players is to increase the revenue base of the game by selling optional extras and using the proceeds to fund more content development accessible for the most part by everyone. They have decided that is in the best interests of the most people. You might disagree, but the devs decision is a rational choice to make, and being disappointed in it won't change it. Details can be debated and negotiated, but that choice to offer more for most players but making it harder to have literally everything, isn't.

Ok, so I've just spent roughly 500+ point and came out pretty good. I have all of the costume pieces except the boots (which I don't want or need) and the Gloves (which I want very badly). All in all, I bought enough that I can sell and make a small mint, store for my lowbie sg mates and the rest use and abuse when needed.

I don't think it was so bad, I came out waaay better than I thought for spending less than half of the 24 pack and still recieved 5 ATO's. Sorry to those who are not enjoying.

Edit: The question is, do I sell now and make as much as I can?

So why is it that we never get a full list of the week's Items? Sure, we get a list of the NEW stuff, but what about the items that are On Sale?

Please, include <meme>ALL THE THINGS</meme> in future Featured Items posts.

Thanks!

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Biggest Troll on the forums? I'll give you a hint:

Add me to the "don't like this" group of people. I'm not a fan of gambling with my money. I have no problem paying for packs or buying this a la carte, but I do not play the slots in Vegas and I won't be spending money to play "what's in the box".

Add the items separately and I'll happily buy them. I don't even care if you make it so that buying them from a super pack is potentially cheaper.

Ephemeris and Astra, I share the same sentiment. I'm currently alternating between fifteen dollars in Paragon Points and V.I.P. time every month. I haven't exactly been the most positive of players voicing my opinions in this forum, but I only complain when I feel it is absolutely justified (for instance: the switch to the free to play model, price gauging, further exclusivity of items, and now gambling).

I had never thought that this game would be reduced to what it currently is now, but I have had the sinking suspicion for a long time that Paragon Studios is not calling the shots; N.C. Soft is showing its hand here. Sadly, what I feel will happen long term is the alienation of City Of Heroes' core player base. However, I don't think N.C. Soft is much concerned with that at this point. This game is well past its sell-by date and has only hung on because of its extremely devoted players. The game is still profitable by an ever increasingly small margin. Notice how the developers have quickened their pace in wrapping up the Praetorian story line and bringing on The Coming Storm. They must be bringing the game's lore to a head because they don't know how long the servers will be on.

All of these factors contribute to such a gambling system's implementation. They're trying to get every buck they can while the going's still somewhat good.

Astra, I may be following suit. I've said I'd quit before and I came back, but ever since Freedom came about I've spent far less time playing this game as a result of the changes that came with it. City Of Heroes is now an aberration of what it once was and there is no going back. I'll wait and see how things pan out a little longer, but I fear my cynicism is justified in this matter and things will only get worse from here on out.

Goodbye to you and may you find another interest that might be more constructive than a video game! I know once I'm done with City Of Heroes that it is it when it comes to gaming.

One last thing; dev,'s, if you are reading this, City Of Heroes was a great game and still is in many regards, but the way marketing and your parent company are handling its current affairs leaves me with a bitter taste in my mouth. The costumes and content are better than at any other time before, but the micro-transactions and now gambling are testing your core players.

Despite my current account's creation date, I am a five year veteran of this game and its the only game that I've played in eight years. I've had a great time playing with such a wonderful, friendly, and helpful gaming community, but I don't know if I can stomach much more myself. There will be more people like Astra and me; you are testing your customers' limits with your increasingly one sided payment models. For all intents and purposes, we are in a depression, people won't have as much disposable income that they are (unwisely) spending now. I'd be interested to see how the players buying these item packs (as well as their spouses and parents) will feel when they get their credit card statements next month and if they'd harbor any resentment for being had. Please reconsider your transaction models, if not the current ones, then the future ones, which I'm sure are being cooked up as we speak.