So...VIPs are apparently getting hosed.

[myliftkk_v2]

Honestly, they should also be giving VIPs a full suite of (hopefully dupe-proof) ottos boxes and say, "Here ya go, enjoy your free life, and thank you for paying for what we've been giving away to others for free for the last several months."

^^

They could give VIPs an Otto's box a month, it still wouldn't get us past the grind wheels.

VIPs in DDO is another name for Very Irritated Peasants.

[JollySwagMan]

If I were a dev, I would probably get fired for sneaking in a VIP only "Untwistable Pantaloons" item into the next update.

[Alttab]

They should make all adventure packs free and the VIP should give access to expansions. Just a thought lol.

[FranOhmsford]

Okay everyone, I guess I need to point out exactly what I'm riled up about here.

I'm cool with them giving away the farm to extend the shelf life of the game, but what they're offering VIPs in return is lacking, at the very best.

Don't stop there.

Honestly, they should also be giving VIPs a full suite of (hopefully dupe-proof) ottos boxes and say, "Here ya go, enjoy your free life, and thank you for paying for what we've been giving away to others for free for the last several months."

As much as I'd love a free Heroic Otto's and free Epic Otto's Box even for just one single character I think you're probably asking for a little much there

How about some small QoL bonuses for VIPs though....

- One Free Large Hireling Folder per Server
- One Free Spirit Cake per Character
- 25 Astral Shards per Server

Those wouldn't break SSG's bank and would give VIPs who feel shafted a little extra

[Hogdog5]

Haha, enjoy your 1% XP boost. I'll be over here enjoying all the content without paying a dime.

This is a clear message not to spend another dime on this game because whatever you purchase will probably be free later anyways. Customer loyalty is a thing of the past.

[Drunkendex]

Honestly, they should also be giving VIPs a full suite of (hopefully dupe-proof) ottos boxes and say, "Here ya go, enjoy your free life, and thank you for paying for what we've been giving away to others for free for the last several months."

*facepalm*

Honestly...

Why not ask for free uber completionist and 200 reaper points? Yes I don't see difference from asking this or asking for what you asked.

IMHO VIP has some benefits that STILL make it worth it's price. https://ddowiki.com/page/VIP#Account_benefits

Plus they've given out some benefits for VIP players (I mean seriously, people were begging them to sell them more storage space and they gave 10 slots to VIP's just for being VIP ATM)

I see tons of stuff that I could spend my money that goes for VIP subscription, but I still plan to renew it once it runs out.

To SSG: in an age when most video game companies look at ways to get more money out of customers (I'M LOOKING AT YOU DERPHESDA! You and your "paid mods" aka DLC's that do not go into season pass), you decided to give significant part of game for free to players. I THANK YOU!

Haha, enjoy your 1% XP boost. I'll be over here enjoying all the content without paying a dime.

This is a clear message not to spend another dime on this game because whatever you purchase will probably be free later anyways. Customer loyalty is a thing of the past.

Yeah, I see your logic. Why buy new car for full price when I can get old one for fraction of that price. Or even better, why buy new car now, when it will be much cheaper in 5 years.

[nokowi]

This is what getting hosed looks like:

https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...515270-Warning!

[SirValentine]

As much as I'd love a free Heroic Otto's and free Epic Otto's Box even for just one single character I think you're probably asking for a little much there

How about some small QoL bonuses for VIPs though....

- One Free Large Hireling Folder per Server
- One Free Spirit Cake per Character
- 25 Astral Shards per Server

The problem with all of those, be it boxes or folders or cakes, is that it's a one-time benefit.

If you want people to be happy with paying on an on-going basis, you need to give them benefits that are on-going. I'm not saying +1% XP is the right bonus, but at least it's the right kind of bonus.

[HungarianRhapsody]

This is what getting hosed looks like:

https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...515270-Warning!

Why do I have a feeling that there's more to this story?

[Red_Knight]

None of what you said there has any bearing outside of your personal bubble, simply because none if it is correct...and, I'm going to assume that you don't fully understand a very important concept: The fact that I'm CURRENTLY paying for what SSG is CURENTLY giving away for free.

If you can't see the disconnect there, then there's no further point in conversing.

If you can't see what I was trying to point out, I can't help you. Maybe you need an eye exam?

Using the code will be optional. Use it, or don't. The choice is entirely yours. If you think using the code will strip too much value from your VIP subscription, don't use the code. It's that simple. Someone else choosing to use the code will have zero impact on how much value you are getting from your VIP subscription. Or do you also consider me paying a one time fee to get permanent access to adventure packs to strip value from your VIP subscription?

Between subscription fees, buying adventure packs, buying account upgrades, buying Supreme Ability tomes, and buying the most expensive bundle of every expansion I've spent a couple thousand dollars, at least, on DDO over the years. A new player using the code to get permanent access to all currently released adventure packs in no way makes me think that the money I've spent on the game was "wasted". I've gotten several thousand hours of enjoyment over the years for my money and supported a game I enjoy. I don't subscribe because I don't consider the benefits worth it for as little as I play in a given month anymore. But that is my assessment of VIP's value. My account's access to content should have zero impact on your assessment of "am I getting value for my money". In fact, nobody's account except your own should factor into that assessment. And if you are letting others impact it, then maybe you should reevaluate your priorities. Maybe it's time to take a break for a while.

[nokowi]

Why do I have a feeling that there's more to this story?

Because you like to make things up about other people without factual information?

If you knew the person, you would probably want to know before forming conclusions.

I only know him tangentially, but this is one solid dude.

FYI - if you're on Fire, you are welcome to any of my stuff.

I hope SSG is able to help you.

[SerPounce]

I'm happy my subscription helps to support the game, and if it's helped subsidize access to adventure packs for people going though a tough time right now then all the better. This is a great game and I'm happy more people are getting to enjoy it. It's really always been true that if just want max power for your money you're better off buying ottos, or xp pots, or shards, etc than VIP. VIP is attractive to people who don't really want to deal with trying to game the microtransaction system to get the maximum value for every penny.

If you're in a tough spot and you can't afford the $10/month then, yeah, you should cancel and save that money for where you need it. I think that's kind of the point of the free packs.

[Elfishski]

I'm happy my subscription helps to support the game, and if it's helped subsidize access to adventure packs for people going though a tough time right now then all the better. This is a great game and I'm happy more people are getting to enjoy it. It's really always been true that if just want max power for your money you're better off buying ottos, or xp pots, or shards, etc than VIP. VIP is attractive to people who don't really want to deal with trying to game the microtransaction system to get the maximum value for every penny.

If you're in a tough spot and you can't afford the $10/month then, yeah, you should cancel and save that money for where you need it. I think that's kind of the point of the free packs.

Well said.

Season Pass holder here: I don't feel I'm losing anything from this announcement as I don't measure the value of things in terms of what other people aren't getting. Neat that it might help expand the community a bit.

[Syranthian]

First off, if you're unhappy with the value you're getting from your VIP subscription, you can simply cancel it. If you're trying to impress upon SSG the need to offer better perceived value given the adventure packs giveaway (and I agree, 1% XP per party member is lacking as a replacement incentive), you can be far more constructive in your phrasing.

More importantly, if your first instinct upon reading the news is to whine, then either you
1. Care more about what you feel you're getting out of the game, than the importance of maintaining/expanding the playerbase and the health of the game itself as a whole;
2. Don't understand that with such a dwindling population, VIP subscriptions were likely nowhere near the source of income for the company that addons (boosts, classes) had become;
3. Or both.

I do agree that you ideally want both the addon revenue AND a reliable source of recurring income, and that there may need to be adjustments to the value of VIP benefits, but this move--extreme though it may seem--was desperately needed to overcome the horrendous barriers of entry for newcomers to DDO. Its initial cost and content parceling have been Achilles' Heels for long enough.

The grind behind the TR gameplay loop should be the next focus, but there is no way to start realigning these things without potentially angering current veterans. Still needed to be done, IMHO...that's my two coppers on the whole thing anyway.

A kinder, more succinct version of what I'm trying to say:

I don't feel I'm losing anything from this announcement as I don't measure the value of things in terms of what other people aren't getting. Neat that it might help expand the community a bit.

[Altamedes]

Really think this is overwhelmingly a good thing. Let people get engaged and involved in the early parts of the game...then let them realize the "pay to win/catch-up" later on.

[Impaqt]

As much as I'd love a free Heroic Otto's and free Epic Otto's Box even for just one single character I think you're probably asking for a little much there

How about some small QoL bonuses for VIPs though....

- One Free Large Hireling Folder per Server
- One Free Spirit Cake per Character
- 25 Astral Shards per Server

Those wouldn't break SSG's bank and would give VIPs who feel shafted a little extra

I dont use Hirelings.
I rarely use Rez cakes.
A few astral shards would be nice I guess... But I only play on one server...

[Knightrose]

So reading the following announcement from SSG, VIPs are basically paying for what they're now giving away for everyone else now.

https://ddo.com/en/news/free-questin...ng-stone-games

Permanent +1% xp bonus per party member?! Are you guys kidding us right now?! Thinking about cancelling my sub now because due compensation for those of us that are actually paying for this game has been so outrageously lacking, what you've just announced here is an insult.

You gave us a crummy cake last time, now it appears you're giving us something (that doesn't quite belong) in a Mountain Dew bottle.

What a weird effing complaint. I read the announcement and think it is an AWESOME move by SSG. You must be high or just plain selfish. What other game company throws content at you FOR FREE. A few extra steps and SSG will be Re-Digits wake (Terraria) as one of the best gamer-sensitive developers.

lol, cripes man.

[acemonkey]

Well there was already no way I’d have ever given $$G another dime, so this is overall a win for me. I’m even less happy that I’m paying for a lagfest game that can’t manage to successfully zone a character more than 5 times in a row, but now after my sub lapses I won’t have to start paying again if they ever decide to fix the servers. Net win.

I was kinda expecting them to find a way to give more access to nonpayers, I just didn’t think they’d let VIP benefit from it, just like how they make sure VIPs can’t buy any packs on sale.

[ValariusK]

You know, this month VIPs got a free shared bank expansion. Next month maybe they'll get something else.
I'm not VIP, although I was for one stretch when they had a really good vip sale. My guess is SSG isn't done tweaking what's going to be VIP yet.

Thing is, none of us really understand what SSG's revenue model looks like. What fraction of their revenue comes from people buying packs, or VIP subscriptions? I have no idea. What do whales spend money on? Lots and loads of astral shards and xp pots? I don't know. I know people who regularly spend tons of money on rounds of golf and drinks, for some people, maybe DDO is their sorta pricey hobby.

It is entirely possible that they're positioning to offer a VIP that includes all expansions races etc---such that a new player who subscribed monthly really would have all the necessities plus a small monthly allowance of points to cover stuff like tomes or bags or the like over time.

[Zess-wolf]

Okay everyone, I guess I need to point out exactly what I'm riled up about here.

I'm cool with them giving away the farm to extend the shelf life of the game, but what they're offering VIPs in return is lacking, at the very best.

Don't stop there.

Honestly, they should also be giving VIPs a full suite of (hopefully dupe-proof) ottos boxes and say, "Here ya go, enjoy your free life, and thank you for paying for what we've been giving away to others for free for the last several months."

Remember you still have: races and classes, other perks (eds, 32 points, etc etc) , xp, slots, gold roll, etc.

yea, there are more packs to come after august, you can cancel till then and renew after, but the matter is not having more than others(im vip, subbed today even, and im happy about that)