Epic Scrolls, Shards & Seals in the DDO Store

[ferrite]

I'm sure this has been brought up many times before, but with the recent new epic level content, epic random loot and dozens (or hundreds) of new epic named items that bypass or ignore the prior epic crafting system altogether, crafted epic items seem not to be as exclusive, or important, as they once were. They are still important, yes, but not as much so.

Which leads us to the question again. With all of these new epic items in the game, how detrimental would it be to sell shards, seals or scrolls in the DDO store?

I can imagine pricing to be something like this:

Scrolls 295 TP

Seals 395 TP

Shards 495 TP

Yes its pay2win. But since this is clearly where DDO is headed anyway, they might as well sell something useful in the store besides trinkets, hair dye and annoying pets. And with all the changes and additions to epic content I don't think it would be as detrimental to the game anymore as it might have been in the past.

Constructive opinions/comments welcome.

[Hobgoblin]

I'm sure this has been brought up many times before, but with the recent new epic level content, epic random loot and dozens (or hundreds) of new epic named items that bypass or ignore the prior epic crafting system altogether, crafted epic items seem not to be as exclusive, or important, as they once were. They are still important, yes, but not as much so.

Which leads us to the question again. With all of these new epic items in the game, how detrimental would it be to sell shards, seals or scrolls in the DDO store?

I can imagine pricing to be something like this:

Scrolls 295 TP

Seals 395 TP

Shards 495 TP

Yes its pay2win. But since this is clearly where DDO is headed anyway, they might as well sell something useful in the store besides trinkets, hair dye and annoying pets. And with all the changes and additions to epic content I don't think it would be as detrimental to the game anymore as it might have been in the past.

Constructive opinions/comments welcome.

no thanks.

[redspecter23]

I think I'd prefer to see either of the following:

A) An ingame barter box for swapping any or all of scrolls/seals/shards at whatever ratio is deemed appropriate 3:1, 10:1, 25:1

B) Make all seals and shards unbound so they can be traded and added to the economy

C) Remove any or all of seal/scroll/shard from the recipe and make it easier to collect

D) Raise drop rates on some items. Many sands items can just drop as complete items in epic chests (the lesser items that is). Give a small % chance for any item to drop complete in place of a shard or seal. 5% chance of any seal or shard being a complete item perhaps?

And way, way, way down at the bottom of the list is anything that involves the DDO store and pay to win*

*the word "win" of course is subjective as you can't "win" DDO, but replace it with "pay to X" where X is some achievement in the game that becomes trivialized when it hits the store.

[gerardIII]

Yes please.

If it's the only solution.

I'd rather see some other solution like a barter UI for all seals, scrolls and shards though.

[nibel]

Better idea: Instead of the seal or shard dropping on the chest, make the full item appear on chest (BtA on acquire, BtC on equip). The vast majority of them are useless at actual endgame anyway.

[Ravelock]

...sell shards, seals or scrolls in the ddo store...

yes plz

[Charononus]

No just no, Honestly if they did this I think they'd lose a lot of players. This would be a complete p2w as seen in other f2p games. The moment they sell this kind of thing I at least would leave and I suspect others would as well. I find some things questionable but this thing is a hemisphere away from the line in the sand for what is p2w and shouldn't be in the store.

[Kmnh]

Make it random. 300 tp and you get a mystery box with a random scroll inside. I bet that would make a lot of money.

[Nephilia]

Scrolls 295 TP

Seals 395 TP

Shards 495 TP

/sarcasm
So 890 tp for an epic Ring of Spell Storing (since u can trade 3 random scroll for 1 of your choice), 790 for a claw bracers or gloves (seal are not a problem to solo for em, cmon :3) and 1140 for an epic Sword of Shadow!
No so cheap but neither so expensive (mostly the ring!)
I suggest u to put the basic item in the store too or u still must farm for the sword itself :P
/sarcasm off

It would be long way better to let epic item (that are at 99.9% random **** today but few exceptions like SoS, RoSS, Claw's set and very very VERY few others) just drop completed in the chests, imho

[sirgog]

Not sure if OP trolling, or just unable to forsee consequences of this...

'New item everyone wants. Seal drop rate: 0.04%. Shard drop rate 35%'

[shadereaper33]

I don't have the words to explain how terrible of an idea this is. Please, never, ever make a suggestion like this again. One of the few reasons I still play DDO is that the best items in the game are NOT sold for cash, unlike most other F2P titles.

[dodger72]

/not signed

If anything, change what already is there for seals/shards/scrolls to the following:

Base Item + seal or shard or scroll = Epic Normal Item
(e.g. Sword of Shadows + Seal of Sword of Shadows = Epic Normal Sword of Shadows

Base Item + Seal and Shard (or) Seal and Scroll (or) Scroll and Shard = Epic Hard Item

Base Item + All three = Epic Elite Item

That being said, all items in game that are currently with the system based in Eberon would qualify as Epic Elite, subsequent items could possibly be made using the "new" method.

[CaptainSpacePony]

Regarding the suggestion presented in the OP: No Way.
Regarding the discussion sparked by the OP: Interesting.

[aeroplanefly]

Not sure that I would like this. I've had my share of farming for seals and shards; yes, it's a pain for the casual gamer, but there's some enjoyment to be had for running the quests.

And 980 TP is rather affordable for an item that can be quite rare.

I'd much rather see this...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Item of Unbinding (non-epic)
Make a non-green steel BTC item BTA & BTCoE.
Can only be used once per 60 days per account per server.
500 TP

Epic Item of Unbinding
Make any epic or green steel BTC item (throw in alchemical weapons?) BTA & BTCoE
Can only be used once per 90 days, one per account per server.
1500 TP
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And this could even be a stretch. Just because I came up with the idea doesn't mean I like it!

---------
edit

And someone tell me, does OP mean Original Post or Over Powered >_<

[Eladiun]

This would be awesome but what would be better was if i could buy a whole gear setup. I could just purchase the WF Tank or WF Caster End Game package for 2500TP and then I wouldn't have to play the game.

[nibel]

And someone tell me, does OP mean Original Post or Over Powered >_<

Both. Depends on context. Just like GH might be Greater Heroism or GiantHold

[LordMond63]

I think I'd prefer to see either of the following:

A) An ingame barter box for swapping any or all of scrolls/seals/shards at whatever ratio is deemed appropriate 3:1, 10:1, 25:1

B) Make all seals and shards unbound so they can be traded and added to the economy

C) Remove any or all of seal/scroll/shard from the recipe and make it easier to collect

D) Raise drop rates on some items. Many sands items can just drop as complete items in epic chests (the lesser items that is). Give a small % chance for any item to drop complete in place of a shard or seal. 5% chance of any seal or shard being a complete item perhaps?

And way, way, way down at the bottom of the list is anything that involves the DDO store and pay to win*

*the word "win" of course is subjective as you can't "win" DDO, but replace it with "pay to X" where X is some achievement in the game that becomes trivialized when it hits the store.

It's a discussion that needs to be had now and again and props to the OP for bringing it up, but his solution isn't a good one. If an item is worthy of being called "Epic", it seems to me that acquiring it should be more complicated than putting a coin into a vending machine and pressing the buttons for the doo-dad you want.

I think that redspecter offers a better solution that makes things easier without making them easy.