Outside the box ideas to generate $$$$ for DDO

[Loromir]

We all know that businesses need to generate $$$ to survive. I assume that most of us who post on these boards enjoy DDO and want to see it stick around for as long as possible. Lets brainstorm some ways that DDO could generate cash that wouldn't be considered "pay to win".

Think outside the box...if your only suggestion is to "fix more bugs" or "give us better content"...take that to another thread. We have plenty of examples of those types of suggestions. I want this to be a constructive conversation.

Some Ideas I have are:

I say get creative...think outside the box. Example...sell Crystal Cove Kobold Ringtones. Who wouldn't love to hear "Kobold Still Hate You" every time they get a call. Sell DDO artwork or a DDO calendar. Sell downloadable MP3 files of various music within DDO. Give us the chance to buy real items from the DDO store, not just virtual items.

What other Ideas do you have?

[Jastarn]

Example...sell Crystal Cove Kobold Ringtones.

yes.

just yes.

[Fedora1]

I think two of the most common things players have been asking for (and willing to pay for that would not be PTW) are Gnomes as a player race and player housing.

Maybe not "outside the box" but I see so many players asking for these two things it would certainly generate some revenue.

[fmalfeas]

Housing could definately be a financial shot in the arm, if it's flexible enough. But it does take an investment to get it going. But it /does/ need to be flexible. The decorator players (who will spend money to do so, EQ2 and EQ1 have plenty of them doing it) are going to want to be able to do their thing with it. Make it pretty, and usually with a cohesive theme. Like a Temple of the Silver Flame. Or a Fighter's training hall. Or a Dojo for monks. Or a Wizard's Library, or Artificer's workshop. And of course the players who would want it to look like a harem even Jeets wouldn't believe in.

[Jastarn]

And of course the players who would want it to look like a harem even Jeets wouldn't believe in.

+1 for making me laugh

[The_Human_Cypher]

Housing could definately be a financial shot in the arm, if it's flexible enough. But it does take an investment to get it going. But it /does/ need to be flexible. The decorator players (who will spend money to do so, EQ2 and EQ1 have plenty of them doing it) are going to want to be able to do their thing with it. Make it pretty, and usually with a cohesive theme. Like a Temple of the Silver Flame. Or a Fighter's training hall. Or a Dojo for monks. Or a Wizard's Library, or Artificer's workshop. And of course the players who would want it to look like a harem even Jeets wouldn't believe in.

I mentioned themed housing in the Player Housing thread. A Xoriat themed housing option (complete with lava lamp, bong, fun house mirrors, etc) would appeal to a certain segment of the player population (i.e. me). Other options would be a monk Dojo, Silver Flame temple for clerics and paladins, Elvish housing, and so on. The housing options could always be rolled out periodically to keep player housing fresh and generate more recurring sales.

[The_Human_Cypher]

One fairly easy way to increase revenue that I have discussed a number of times is to make VIP subs even more appealing. A special VIP area / tavern with all the vendors which can be accessed like The Portable Hole, unique pets and cosmetic items, and periodic VIP only events would increase subs and therefore recurring revenue IMHO.

[The_Human_Cypher]

I think two of the most common things players have been asking for (and willing to pay for that would not be PTW) are Gnomes as a player race and player housing.

Maybe not "outside the box" but I see so many players asking for these two things it would certainly generate some revenue.

Gnomes could be a money maker but player housing almost definitely would bring in considerable revenue. Player housing in both LOTRO and SWTOR were financially successful, and player housing can bring in a regular stream of purchases after being designed only once (it is has to be maintained and debugged however).

[phillymiket]

I think two of the most common things players have been asking for (and willing to pay for that would not be PTW) are Gnomes as a player race and player housing.

Maybe not "outside the box" but I see so many players asking for these two things it would certainly generate some revenue.

I don't think Turbine has the rights to anything "outside the box" unfortunately.

Companies are usually touchy about that, and from what I understand, Dungeons & Dragons in particular.

So I doubt anything with a Beholder on it would be possible.

Even if they technically could make something with DDO specific images, like Soul Stone Earrings, they probably have agreed not to, which is why they don't sell DDO t-shirts.

But there have been promo DDO t-shirts, so who knows?

Realistically, the things you and others mentioned are the way to go. Housing, races, classes, content.

Unrealistically -

"DDO for the Holidays" - All your favorite Holiday Classics as sung by the stars of DDO!

"Winter Wonderland" by Arraetrikos
"Oh! Come all Ye Faithful" by Elminster
"Deck the Halls" by Yaulthoon
"Jingle Bells" by Brawnpits
"SSSSilent Night" by Hesstess the Medusa
"Handel's Messiah" by The Kobold Workers Union

It would be worth the money just for the Kobolds singing "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Yark!"

[Hazelnut]

Unrealistically -

"DDO for the Holidays" - All your favorite Holiday Classics sung by the stars of DDO!

"Winter Wonderland" by Arraetrikos
"Oh! Come all Ye Faithful" by Elminster
"Deck the Halls" by Yaulthoon
"Jingle Bells" by Brawnpits
"SSSSilent Night" by Hesstess the Medusa
"Handel's Messiah" by The Kobold Workers Union

It would be worth the money just for the Kobolds singing "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Yark!"

This I love!

[axel15810]

Forgotten realms teleport wands that place you at any location in forgotten realms

Ebberon teleport wands (with other areas that spell doesn't include)

VIP lounge as mentioned above. Honestly I want to be VIP but there's little reason to be which is why I'm not.

More storage space

custom armor colors/custom armor designs

wilderness/public area run speed boost potions

more pets/pet customization

Purchasable new character face/body customizations

[fmalfeas]

I don't think Turbine has the rights to anything "outside the box" unfortunately.

Companies are usually touchy about that, and from what I understand, Dungeons & Dragons in particular.

So I doubt anything with a Beholder on it would be possible.

Even if they technically could make something with DDO specific images, like Soul Stone Earrings, they probably have agreed not to, which is why they don't sell DDO t-shirts.

But there have been promo DDO t-shirts, so who knows?

Realistically, the things you and others mentioned are the way to go. Housing, races, classes, content.

Unrealistically -

"DDO for the Holidays" - All your favorite Holiday Classics as sung by the stars of DDO!

"Winter Wonderland" by Arraetrikos
"Oh! Come all Ye Faithful" by Elminster
"Deck the Halls" by Yaulthoon
"Jingle Bells" by Brawnpits
"SSSSilent Night" by Hesstess the Medusa
"Handel's Messiah" by The Kobold Workers Union

It would be worth the money just for the Kobolds singing "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Yark!"

Can go farther than that! They could give us a whole run of major NPCs singing songs that aren't holiday too!

Elminster - Do Ya Think I'm Sexy? (Trust me, after reading the Elminster books, and the various bits in Dragon Magazine, he's a 2000+ year old pervert.)
The Lord of Blades - Iron Man
Inquisitor Gnomon - Liar
The Coin Lords - Money (It's What I Want)
The Kobold Worker's Union - 16 Tons
Ana - Help!

[The_Human_Cypher]

Some Ideas I have are:

I say get creative...think outside the box. Example...sell Crystal Cove Kobold Ringtones. Who wouldn't love to hear "Kobold Still Hate You" every time they get a call. Sell DDO artwork or a DDO calendar. Sell downloadable MP3 files of various music within DDO. Give us the chance to buy real items from the DDO store, not just virtual items.

What other Ideas do you have?

I would pay for a "Kobold Still Hate You" ring tone, even though I have never purchased a ring tone in my life.

DDO Calendars would not be hard to have printed up but Turbine would have to keep stock and ship them. The total cost of doing this might be prohibitive.

I suggested including ornate dice and figurines with the next paid expansion, but as above, Turbine would have to keep stock based on their expected sales and then ship them. Digital inventory is much easier to manage which is why online games tend to be more profitable than retail boxed games.

[Loromir]

I would pay for a "Kobold Still Hate You" ring tone, even though I have never purchased a ring tone in my life.

DDO Calendars would not be hard to have printed up but Turbine would have to keep stock and ship them. The total cost of doing this might be prohibitive.

I suggested including ornate dice and figurines with the next paid expansion, but as above, Turbine would have to keep stock based on their expected sales and then ship them. Digital inventory is much easier to manage which is why online games tend to be more profitable than retail boxed games.

No...Turbine wouldn't have to maintain inventory....they can have the items shipped directly from the vendor. My company does this all the time.

[Vooduspyce]

New store items:

1. Otto's Wondrous Box 2495TP. In Otto's Wondrous Box you get:

1 Potion of Supernatural Health: +10 permanent HP, persists through reincarnation
1 Potion of Supernatural Mental Health: +25 permanent SP, persists through reincarnation
1 Flesh Golem Manual: allows you to summon a flesh golem hireling to fight for you (like an onyx panther/owlbear whistle)
2 Cosmetic Weapon Aura of Wondrous Hues: provides a +2 random elemental damage on hit to equipped weapons
1 Eternal Flask of Lesser Mnemonic Enhancement 15-70sp 1x per rest, no min level
1 Eternal Flash of Wondrous Power: as Potion of Wondrous Power 1x per rest.
1 Character Sparkling Dust: as cosmetic pet sparkling dust, but usable on player characters

When can I buy this, please?

2. Cosmetic skins for druid wolf and artificer iron defender

3. Cosmetic skins for player characters... tattoos, zebra stripes, green skin, whatever

4. Rigged Dice: allows you to reroll any daily dice roll 1x per day

5. Deck of Many Things 2495TP. In a Deck of Many Things you get 3 one time random card pulls that can be any of the following:

Justice: card appears in inventory bta, can be used to change your alignment once
Two of Swords: card appears in your inventory and can be used once to instantly slay any creature
Page of Swords: gain a permanent fighter hireling
Ten of Swords: +1 to all saving throws henceforth, persists through reincarnation
Jester: gain 200,000xp
Star: gain a +5 random ability tome
Moon: You are granted 1 wish (you may select from any Deck of Many Things card)
Hermit: Gain +2 permanent diplomacy skill, persists through reincarnation, plus a unique ship amenity

The above are based on the actual Deck of Many Things D&D artifact, but obviously the options are endless

[JOTMON]

~Player Housing is an easy money maker.

Setup a generic door somewhere, like in house J.
Offer some housing focussed ammenities...
like:
butler (barkeep effect that covers the whole house)
Upgradeable house interiors. turn that simple hut into a mansion..
Option on guild portal doors to go to the ship or the players house.
Player storage chests,.. ( who doesn't want more general storage space)
Trophy cases
Wall of shields
Wall of weapons.
Mannequins that you can put gear on... (I want to build a hall of dragon armor sets.. and more...)
Pictures, lots of wall art potential..






~Fashion boutiques and Custom armor shops..
Players are vain.. a place to customize the look of gear/looks .. people pay..
Armor creations need to be able to take all the items in the game and break them down to their basic components
Base pieces, trim, crests, customize colours of each... same for weapons, shields, helms...
Offer fashion competitions with a small entry fee.. to have custom built gear be considered for public release(DDO store), with some sort of prize back to the design winners.

perhaps even adding trades.. use Cannith crafting template..
Metalsmiths, gem smiths, leathersmiths..tailors... for fashion oriented crafting with cannith crafting crossover usage.
Higher level crafters can add augment slots to crafted items.. and such....
Crafting custom armor, weapons, shields, helms, various gear pieces..


~Crew quarters.. condo version of player housing ..
Set a door on a ship in the harbor for those that don't have their own guildship... yet...
Door on guildship offers access to crew quarters layout like blockade buster (or a smaller version of the cargo hold) .. with various upgrades.. captains quarters....