Suggestions to alleviate returning player pain, and still be profitable.

First off I want to plainly put in text this, is not an argument or discussion. It's simply suggestions that I feel would help the returning player deal with the limitations of certain Freedom Features. So please lets not argue if you have suggestions, add them if not don't. Please embolden your suggestions. and color them yellow.

- Returning players, players that have been gone for a certain length of time. Possibly over 1000 days upon logging in are emailed an invention license (30days) (Character exclusive)

- Global drops, free and premium players receive invention and salvage drops (Would help me personally enjoy the game as a fremium more).

- Ability to earn a short term (7 days or less) invention license via reward merits.

- Global invention access, available to everyone (not exactly profitable, but equal).

- Global invention restrictions, you either VIP, or purchase a license period. There is no Perma. (equal and profitable)

- Current IO's revert to SO values, avoiding the need to respec.

- Returning players, receive a free respec. So they can go ahead and rebuild to SO's. Without having to use a secondary build. without having to pay inf or money for a respec. (it does take a few times to get a build right even if using a secondary build slot, unless you use a tool like mids)

- Valid, and noticeable warnings at character selection, "This characters seems to be using IO's, your account standing restricts the use of Inventions"


Personal notes to the community, yes I did have a mental blowout a few days ago. Which made me re-think my gaming, I may or may not have a problem with gaming addiction. I'll at least acknowledge there is a problem, not related to the game city of heroes freedom. I wasn't sure if I wanted to post this or not due to pure embarrassment, because I have "raged" that I wanted to quit, or have made the impression that I was done. There is something in City of Heroes that keeps me wanting to come back. Maybe because its free, maybe because it could be a good game, and yes maybe I have a problem being addicted to it.

But while playing or even thinking of playing I have, negative feelings, and or issues that keep coming back as well (even while paying a VIP sub). It's an internal confliction I get,
and have not ever experienced until returning back to city of heroes. Perhaps it was there all along, and only revealed itself after my setback with restrictions of the current game. I'm not sure. I can say that I have played other free games with restrictions and not had that problem. But this is the first game that I had used to have to pay for that added a free to play feature. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENPk_...eature=related
(This is open to discussion)

My own feeling is that returning players who want to play for free should roll new toons on a new account (linked to the old one, if you like).

That way you can focus on the cool QoL changes ("I can fly at level 4!?") instead of head-bang about all the stuff that you can't do with the old toys.

Feel free to visit the old guys if you ever decide to go VIP. It's much easier that way.

--
Pauper

I haven't seen this one before - it's a slightly different angle.

- Valid, and noticeable warnings at character selection, "This characters seems to be using IO's, your account standing restricts the use of Inventions"

I could see the utility of adding warnings about restrictions on characters prior to unlocks.

It is my understanding that there is already a warning about redtricted ATs which was another one of your suggestions.

- A playable TF much like the terravolta respec trial, for earning a short term Inventions license (players can still buy invention license out of pure convenience, and has longer duration)(Perhaps for premium tier only?)

- Ability to preview, costume pieces, auras, and etc from the shop prior to buying. (not really a returning player thing, I think it would just be cool)

- A playable TF or mission (solo, or team) that allows you to use your Inventions for only that TF/mission and only while in it. With a limit on runs per day

Yup sure can, as long as you're around a tailor or other NPC. I was thinking of streamlining it. I dunno it was a brainstorm.


- Some more things to use reward merits on. It seems as a premium, or free player you are very limited on stuff from a reward NPC. At least if you haven't earned the right to use inventions yet.

- A purchasable power(limited usage) that grants another player ViP access for a day, or a short time. Possibly for even 1 mission or TF, or incarnate trial. Perhaps need to be a VIP to purchase it. Again brain storming ideas.