Will the DDO Store reduce the Guild power advantage

[NXPlasmid]

First of all PLEASE DO NOT POST NDA violations in this thread if you are a beta tester.

So, on DDOcast they talked about the ddostore and buying things like rez shrines, rez cakes that you can use while you are dead, and buy things like mana pots and healing pots and that you can do these things while in quests. There are soooo many pluses and minuses that can be pondered over with the advent of microtransactions and the ddostore but lets just focus on one aspect. As someone who has never been part of a big guild, it's taken a lot longer to get raid gear, fat loots, etc... part of the reason is that it's easier to get raids together and many guilds provide a lot of support to new players to help them attain skillz, favor, and xp. I see that as all great. The only guilds I have joined are because of social interactions during questing. (That said, I am thinking about trying to get one of my toons into one of the many bigger guilds on Khyber to check out the guild experience. I don't want to come off as being anti-guild, I'm not.)

So, it seems that the ddo store will allow non-guild associated players to get though content more readily than before and "sort of" even the playing field between guilds and the masses. In my opinion, currently if you are in a big guild you have a significant advantage in this game, in terms of plat and stuff. If you are a serious player and in a guild too, all the more. Multiple greensteels, a complement of raid loot, tomes, etc... And yes, the ddostore is the "easy button" but in many ways, being in a big guild is also an "easy button". I appologize in advance if I inadvertantly offend anyone or any guild, that isn't my intent.

(also has there been any official note in the regular forums about if all store items will be available in all quests and raids or if there are restrictions?)

[Arianrhod]

I think this question might have to wait till after the NDA is lifted to be answered. Without knowing whether the store will be available in raids, or what other limitations there might be on its use, it's going to be very hard to judge its impact.

[Spisey]

this is from the ddocast. Actually this is in response to Jerry's podcast:

Hey Jerry,

Good podcast, I was only able to listen to the first half today, but I had a few comments on issues brought up by the crew.


On guest passes: Anyone who owns the content, whether VIP or F2P, will be able to purchase them for the content they own.

On items from the store: All items will either be bound the the character, or to the account.

On resurrection items and shrines: They will not be usable in raids.

On LFMs and Pugging: When F2P players are looking at an LFM for a quest they do not own (presuming the party leader has chosen a quest for the LFM) the LFM will appear as ineligable, just as if the player was in the incorrect level range. In addition, a button will appear on the LFM which will take that player directly to the page in the store where they can purchase the apropriate adventure pack to gain access.

On viewing F2P players in game: The cast was correct that there will be no way to look at a F2P player and identify them as such.

Thanks again for the podcast and hopefully I'll be able to finish it tomorrow!

So in short there may be items available for purchase that seem overpowered but if they are unable to be used in raid specific runs then I don't see an issue. I don't think guilding will be affected except for availablility of familiar people to continue to quest with. Hope Phax's response helps!

(Edit) Of course anything we know or get from the devs is still a trial and error situation so current info could get reworked.

[NXPlasmid]

thanks for the info. I think even access to mana pots will make raids significantly more doable for PUGs. If things aren't going well you can drop some turbine points and get more blue bar and push though.

[Spisey]

thanks for the info. I think even access to mana pots will make raids significantly more doable for PUGs. If things aren't going well you can drop some turbine points and get more blue bar and push though.

/agreed

I also think that recalling will be unnecessary thereby just speeding up the pace of the night. That is, as long as the sorc or cleric actually still have enough points left to purchase the mana pot. If not, looks like they probably won't be tradeable to other people, so back to option one again...

recall and refill. Or just be s.o.l. is it happens in pug raids!

[Zenako]

/agreed

I also think that recalling will be unnecessary thereby just speeding up the pace of the night. That is, as long as the sorc or cleric actually still have enough points left to purchase the mana pot. If not, looks like they probably won't be tradeable to other people, so back to option one again...

recall and refill. Or just be s.o.l. is it happens in pug raids!

But this just slightly alters the old Recall for Mana arguement when the cost was "only" some experience. This now depends on the characters with Blue Bars to spend some of their Points on Pots, while those playing just melees or semi casters can now spend those points on things that might benefit them or their character more. The cost for those "easy to get" pots would be disproportionately borne by a few for the benefit of the many. Same reason many players will not burn pots in pugs since they have no sense of recipricocity. IN a guild you often know that while you are on your Cleric/caster today, tomorrow you will be on your Ranger and someone else is on their Caster and the costs get more equally borne by all.

[Rabbi_Hordo]

There is no chance that this might disadvantage guilds. To the contrary it makes them stronger with their access to items they may be running short on yet with their knowledge of each other and the teamwork they have engendered it should be just as much a boon to them as having Qwijymart just outside the quest to begin with for other items.

[Lithic]

Anything noobs can use, power guilds can use better. Nuff said.

[NXPlasmid]

There is no chance that this might disadvantage guilds. To the contrary it makes them stronger with their access to items they may be running short on yet with their knowledge of each other and the teamwork they have engendered it should be just as much a boon to them as having Qwijymart just outside the quest to begin with for other items.

Yeah, I agree. I didn't mean it as a disadvantage for guilds so much as help up for non-guildies, but I can see your point, basically it just lifts (or lowers depending on how you look at it) the entire player base. I also think you hit it on the head as far as the real power of guilds; Knowledge of eachother and teamwork that you can anicipate (if I migiht embelish a tad).

One thing for sure, I will probably be much more willing to run VoD on my Cleric if I can buy mana pots even if I have to pay a little cash. For me it would be worth it just to get the experience. Especially as a cleric I am reluctant to do VoD due to the pressures of screwing up things for 11 other people.

[direwolf33]

Not sure about the unlimited situation but I'd recommend looking for a guild - they aren't too hard to find. Guilds really enhance the DDO experience.

[FluffyCalico]

I am not worried about the store anymore.

[Bindox]

But this just slightly alters the old Recall for mana argument when the cost was "only" some experience. This now depends on the characters with Blue Bars to spend some of their Points on Pots, while those playing just melees or semi casters can now spend those points on things that might benefit them or their character more. The cost for those "easy to get" pots would be disproportionately borne by a few for the benefit of the many. Same reason many players will not burn pots in pugs since they have no sense of reciprocity. IN a guild you often know that while you are on your Cleric/caster today, tomorrow you will be on your Ranger and someone else is on their Caster and the costs get more equally borne by all.

Exactly to the point sir, and very well said. I have even been reluctant to use pots with my cleric, who carries over 30 all the time, when I am not even sure the PUG will make it halfway through a quest. If it might make the difference for completion, even if there is only a slim chance, I wont hesitate. But everyone knows when a quest is doomed.

[NXPlasmid]

Not sure about the unlimited situation but I'd recommend looking for a guild - they aren't too hard to find. Guilds really enhance the DDO experience.

Well, I think there are a few reasons why I haven't pursued a "real" guild. Mostly ignorance really. All of my toons are either in "The Nine" or "DULG" so I don't get recuited and I am in those guilds because although they are very small I like playing with them a lot. In some ways I have been apprehensive about join another guild because I don't want to have guild commitments or responsibilites, but like I said, that thought is probably more based on my ignorance than anything else. At this point I am not too worried about it one way or the other.

[Gornn]

Well, I think there are a few reasons why I haven't pursued a "real" guild. Mostly ignorance really. All of my toons are either in "The Nine" or "DULG" so I don't get recuited and I am in those guilds because although they are very small I like playing with them a lot. In some ways I have been apprehensive about join another guild because I don't want to have guild commitments or responsibilites, but like I said, that thought is probably more based on my ignorance than anything else. At this point I am not too worried about it one way or the other.

*looks at your signature* OMG...when did you roll a level 16 monk?

*looking for the boot button...*

[Zenako]

Well, I think there are a few reasons why I haven't pursued a "real" guild. Mostly ignorance really. All of my toons are either in "The Nine" or "DULG" so I don't get recuited and I am in those guilds because although they are very small I like playing with them a lot. In some ways I have been apprehensive about join another guild because I don't want to have guild commitments or responsibilites, but like I said, that thought is probably more based on my ignorance than anything else. At this point I am not too worried about it one way or the other.

Some ignorance perhaps. While some guilds are a lot more focused and organized and demanding of participation, I have seen many more that are laid back and tend to be just like minded individuals about general playstyle with very few demands or expectations. That the guild roster is really just a short list of WHO we could choose to play with, on a routine and recurring basis.

[Riorik]

I disagree too. I think it's going to reduce the opportunities for PUGging...at least as it relates to random casual players getting into groups with the power gaming crowd.

[NXPlasmid]

*looks at your signature* OMG...when did you roll a level 16 monk?

*looking for the boot button...*

*thinks a minute about DDO EU*
hmmmm... potentially unlimited character slots...


UNLIMITED MONKS FOR ME!!! SSSHEEEEYYAAA!

[silverraven]

I disagree too. I think it's going to reduce the opportunities for PUGging...at least as it relates to random casual players getting into groups with the power gaming crowd.

I dont think unlimited mana will get you into a powergaming PUG as a casual gamer

[Worker1179]

I also think that recalling will be unnecessary thereby just speeding up the pace of the night.

This makes me happy. I don't think it actually hurts guilds, but makes me feel like it isn't necessary for me to be in one to consistantly have a good night of DDO. Some of the advantages of being in a guild already stated here, really make a night go well. The right people and equipment, and some organization, all make my experience more enjoyable. Again, I don't think the store is going to hurt guilds at all, but I do think it will take some of the edge off the lack of equipment and organization I find in some pugs.

[Emili]

I see nothing very significant; those who do well in the game will still do well. While some of the larger guilds tend to do better then some the smaller ones for an average player. It is not any great advantage to those who do and those who do not… What I mean by that is a guild tends to equal out the wealth a tad. Sure they tend to accelerate those who are less aggressive… but they also tend to slow down those who would normally be very aggressive. While a guild run assures less risks in some of the more strenuous raids it also presses more of a share-the –wealth, resources and time on any guildies’ part.

At least from my perspective… you see it’s like this… New guildie joins – cleric – well all of a sudden Emili has to take the time to run with said guildie, Rosewood of course will stop in house J pick up supplies and send them to said guildie. The new guildie declares, “Oh, I do not have1750 favor yet – would like to get that, or I been trying my hardest to get x loot from y raid, or I am not flagged for z raid. Therefore… all of a sudden, Emili and much of the core makes the guildies wish their own and thus find themselves spending a few nights this week opening quest for favor or flagging and running a raid with whatever character to bring said new guildie up to speed. Someone rolls a new character? Oh, well now much of the guild is rolling new characters and running along… Thus now we're doing it all over again x fold. So then instead of making ones decision based upon your wish – you make decisions based upon the wishes of the many.