[DDO Store] Adventure Packs vs. Other Items

[Wyllie]

Greetings,

I may get flamed here, and I totally understand where it is coming from if I do, but this needs to be said; at least in my opinion it does.

Adventure Packs should not be part of the store.

Why? Why do you ask?

Adventures are a huge part of what the game is and allows for the players to play together. Turbine has the chance here to allow the community to bond and form a tight hold on a player; making them more willing to fork out money for things like items, stats, experience gains. Community is a must in every MMO; and the way the adventure packs are set up in the store right now creates a huge rift in that community. A good example would be someone running with a group through Water Works and then deciding that since it is such a good group it might be a good idea to attempt Shan To Kor; well not a good idea when 3 out of 5 are totally F2P and do not have access to the dungeon. This is sad.

Instead, I propose that Turbine adds a "prestige quest token" to the store that allows those who have them to accept prestige quest rewards. For adventures like Shan To Kor, when the players complete the quest they would get a normal quest loot table mixed with the prestige loot table. The player then has the choice, accept a normal reward or spend some money on the awesome reward. They are going to be more willing to fork out the money in this scenario... they just got done running a long series of dungeons and are tired, and BAM there is that +2 STR item staring them in the face! I know Shan To Kor has various items that players can run the dungeon over for; Turbine may even end up making a little extra cash in some cases.

I think you will find a higher willingness to fork out smaller bits of money for the prestige rewards than you will for the dungeons. ESPECIALLY since you have a limited number of times you can do the dungeon for its rewards. This also allows more freedom to those that are not paying; but it also allows more freedom to those that are since it will be easier for them to fill in thier groups and play.

Hope this makes sense.

[Nighteyes428]

I agree here. I can see WHY adventure packs have been added to the store, but feel that it would be easier to do something like the OP has suggested. You're certainly going to get more people giving up a little bit of cash when they see a prestige loot item, rather than expecting them to fork out a truckload for an adventure pack.

[TThorlord]

its not going to happen, adventure packs being sold are highly profitable and give a great way to offer both VIP and Free access to the game.

yes, they may make more money on pointless items. but you have to account for that a majority of gamers, WONT pay for those enhancements. that many gamers dont have access to a credit card and thus this change wouldn't give them incentive to pay anything but rather thank the creators for making the whole game free.

there is an advantage for payed adventure packs. they provide a good income to turbine, and as such will give Turbine a great reason to make more adventure areas and content.

what im saying is: dont hold your breath for free access to the entire game, to put what you asked in a metiphor: you are asking that your food to be free, because you tip well.

[Wyllie]

...you are asking that your food to be free, because you tip well.

Actually I'm not.

You are correct on the idea that adventure packs could be a large sum of revenue; but honestly I think most people looking at buying adventure packs end up paying the monthly fee instead. What is it? 3-4 adventure packs equals the monthly fee?

Keep in mind, people are more willing to fork out money for a reward than a possible reward. What happens if someone pays to buy the Sha To Kor series, becuase they want a specific prestige item, and then run it so many times that they no longer get a reward from it (and never got it). That player is going to feel cheated... plain and simple.

And you are also right that it is most likely possible that Turbine will never do this. I just needed to point it out as I felt it was a flawed system and gave them an idea that could possibly work better.

I CAN play the whole game as F2P right now; I would just miss out grouping with people who are VIP or bought the Adventure Packs. If it were changes, I could play the whole game as F2P but assist those players who are VIP - and get enticed to make minor purchases at every completion stage of the quest.

...that many gamers dont have access to a credit card and thus this change wouldn't give them incentive to pay anything but rather thank the creators for making the whole game free.

In the current system; a Gamer who does not have a credit card is not buying anything. And will be lesser part of the community.

Changed system; a Gamer who does not have a credit card is not buying anything. And will be a larger part of the comminity; allowing more paying players to run the dungeons since it will be easier to find groups and maybe even help entice some of us "who have credit cards" to buy the rewards at the end of the dungeon (Since they can scrounge up a group able to complete it).