Drastic price increases from Lama, very poor form

[Chette]

I got very excited when I saw some of the new items available in the DDO store for update 12. Name change, last name change, plat transfer, etc. For your reference, the items that were available, and their respective prices, are available in this thread:

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=346969

I logged on today intent on changing the first name of two older characters that I had mostly junked because I decided I didn't like their names, and the last name of one of my favourite characters who's last name I misspelled and didn't realize it until part way through my first TR. I also planned on buying the new challenges pack, and some bank platinum sharing.

To my dismay, I found that the prices of all of these options had DRASTICALLY changed from their original prices on Lama. Now, I'll admit, prices to frequently change from Lama to live, but I do not recall them ever changing this drastically across the board.

For example:

First name change goes from 550 to 995, an increase of 80%

Last name change goes from 250 to 495, an increase of 98%

Platinum sharing goes from 195/95/95/95/95/95 to 495/95/195/295/395/495, increases of 153% to the base price, no increase to first upgrade, and increases of 105%, 210%, 315% and a whopping 421% to the successive upgrades.

Challenge pack goes from 550 to 1495, an increase of 172%, making it by far the most expensive adventure pack to date.

I am very put off by these significant price increases and although I am a very frequent DDO store purchaser, can say that I will not be buying any of these items any time soon, short of a 50% off sale.

[QuarterMasterM]

I'm sorry you had different expectations, but prices on Lamannia are never final or even indicative of what prices will be on the live servers. Everything on Lamannia is subject to change, prices especially.

[Chette]

I'm sorry you had different expectations, but prices on Lamannia are never final or even indicative of what prices will be on the live servers. Everything on Lamannia is subject to change, prices especially.

Which is why I also said:

Now, I'll admit, prices to frequently change from Lama to live, but I do not recall them ever changing this drastically across the board.

I maintain my opinion that this is exceptionally poor form.

[cdr]

I've bought every pack to date, but I will not ever buy the U12 pack at its current price. There's a limit.

[Raiderone]

I was thinking of possibly buying the Challenge Pack. But at 1495 TP forget about it.

I'll slowly complete daily challenges. I was never going to buy Plat Sharing cause thats convenience only.

Name change is nice and but two individual costs for First and Last!
I'd rather delete my toon!

[Krelar]

Now, I'll admit, prices to frequently change from Lama to live, but I do not recall them ever changing this drastically across the board.

Your forgetting that artificers were only 1 tp on lama. Now there's an increase

[Delt]

I'm sorry you had different expectations, but prices on Lamannia are never final or even indicative of what prices will be on the live servers. Everything on Lamannia is subject to change, prices especially.

I doubt anyone doesn't expect prices to change from test to live, but these prices don't make a lot of sense. My only thought is that Turbine plans to run 50% off sales again, to entice purchases of what essentially becomes the "real" price.

I have more than enough (paid)TP to cover the new pack. I even impulse bought Supreme +3's. And even I am waffling as to whether I should bother. And the rest of the stuff? Forget it.

[smatt]

LOL, yep prices to high... I would've "considered " name changes on a few toons for the Lama prices... Not sure why LOL, but the price was trivial for a trivial change. Same with the plat bank.... I've never had a problem moving plat with friends and guildies.. But as a convienance sure, the upgrades from the ViP base of 50K might've been on the map IF the prices had stayed the same.... AND if they hadn't decdied to place the STUPID FRICKEN STORE LINK SO CLOSE TO THE FRICKEN THING.... I don't mind them pushing store items.. But thsoe links placed the way they are so that you open the store on accident so often is off- putting, and cuses me to use the store LESS out of spite...

I'd say the 1,595 or whatever for he new pack is rather outragious as well for Prems to be to be honest...

It's getting worse... Vastly bugged content releases, bugs left unfixed for too long 2 year old unfinished PRE's.... Ignored lag-like behavior for many, memory leaks so bad, the game is like trying to hold water in fork, and of course they've never even once bothered to address or comment on the memory leak issues. The LEADERSHIP decisions within the DDO team IMO have been horrible this year.... Not sure how subs/player base is doing but it sure does seem that the LFM panel is getting pretty sparse, even consdering the time of year it is... The last 3 mods have been failures IMO and have driven more people away.... Just my opinion, there's no imperical evidence on the playerbase size....

Sad... There's been some dark times in DDO over my last 5 years of constant gameplay, and while each update DOES offer some cool stuff the bad is getting to the point of far out weighing the good... Dark days since "DDO-ME" was released with Update 11.......

[Dandonk]

Silly prices, for sure. A mediocre pack that's more expensive than any other pack in the game? Guess I'll be skipping this one, so thanks for saving me the TP, Turbine.

[danotmano1998]

I got very excited when I saw some of the new items available in the DDO store for update 12. Name change, last name change, plat transfer, etc. For your reference, the items that were available, and their respective prices, are available in this thread:

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=346969

First name change 995
Last name change 495
Platinum sharing 495/95/195/295/395/495

Challenge pack 1495

Seriously???

995 TP's just to change your name? That's ridiculous, IMO. I would have bought them for maybe 200TP max.

All of these prices seem WAY out of line based on the history.
Come on, Turbine.

Isn't it better to make 2 bucks off of lots of people than 10 bucks off of a very tiny majority? *shakes head in disappointment*

I would say that this is just my opinion, but it appears that there are others that feel the same way, evidenced by the number of forum posts about this.


If you guys want to make a few bucks, just sell "fixed" handwraps in the DDO store for 5000TP each, and make them bound to account. Bet you would exceed your wildest dreams of riches in one fell swoop.

[redspecter23]

I'm sorry you had different expectations, but prices on Lamannia are never final or even indicative of what prices will be on the live servers. Everything on Lamannia is subject to change, prices especially.

I understand what you're saying, but why pick any price point at all? Set all new items to 1 TP on Lamania so no expectations are set. It seems better than picking a number that could theoretically end up being the correct price and setting people up for disappointment. It's all about perception. I'll admit I was excited at the plat bank upgrades at Lam prices and only bothered with the first 2 tiers once I realized the escalating price increase.

[Elixxer]

Players have already complained about them at that price, but with this increase? I am not buying anything. I was gonna try the name change. Not worth it now, sorry.

[grodon9999]

At 500ish points I would have bough several name changes.

at 1000ish points it's just too expensive.

Turbine should reconsider this, they'll make more coin in the long run.

[ArkoHighStar]

I will hit maybe the first 2 bank upgrades but thats it. Turbine has way over priced this stuff. Chances are we will see some sales on this stuff then people will jump, and Turbine will still make a killing

[cforce]

I'm sorry you had different expectations, but prices on Lamannia are never final or even indicative of what prices will be on the live servers. Everything on Lamannia is subject to change, prices especially.

Pro tip: if prices on Lamannia are never indicative of what prices will be on live servers, make all prices 1 TP on Lamannia. Players get more angry about surprises than about the prices themselves, and a clearly-not-final price would set expectations without anyone needing to read fine print from the forums.

[rdasca]

I'm sorry you had different expectations, but prices on Lamannia are never final or even indicative of what prices will be on the live servers. Everything on Lamannia is subject to change, prices especially.

You are sorry? Really?

Guess I did not really need any of that stuff anyway.

[Lord_Thanatos]

You are sorry? Really?

Guess I did not really need any of that stuff anyway.

More like they are sorry that they don't want our money apparently, because almost everyone I know will not buy the pack at that price.

[smatt]

I would liek toi add that I'll be buying all kinds of stuff form teh store *Soon.... (And yes, I do mean the Turbine definition of soon)

[Alabore]

Pro tip: if prices on Lamannia are never indicative of what prices will be on live servers, make all prices 1 TP on Lamannia.

^^^

This.
And whoever also suggested the same.

[Malky]

Challenges are really not needed to level a TR2

Some items in it are nice, but at that cost i won't take the pack even with a 20% discount that may happen in a few months or so...