You are being duped.

[Villefere]

This game has the correct formula to absolutely suck money out of you. Free to play plus fun enough where a lot of people will play the endgame at which point you're invested enough to get milked continuously. I fell into this trap for a long time, have spent thousands on this game. The investment of money and time is sufficient enough motivation to continually pour money into this game.

[Xgya]

This game has the correct formula to absolutely suck money out of you. Free to play plus fun enough where a lot of people will play the endgame at which point you're invested enough to get milked continuously. I fell into this trap for a long time, have spent thousands on this game. The investment of money and time is sufficient enough motivation to continually pour money into this game.

This is the default "free to play" model.
That's just how it's supposed to work.

As for money spent on the game, I've been here for years already, and the total cost has been less than I spend going out on other activities.

Should I have spent less on DDO and went out to see more movies, or eating at restaurants? I could have done that, but the enjoyment wouldn't have lasted quite as long.

Now, I wouldn't go out and try to convince someone that what I've spent over a decade of playing should be spent just to enjoy the game as it is (that's almost what's being asked of new players, which would and probably should be a turnoff), but what money I DID spend over a decade was certainly worth the decade's worth of enjoyment I got out of this game.

[rabidfox]

I put money into the game but I'm not being duped into what I spend. I spend way less $$$ per hour of entertainment on DDO than I do on Netflix, Hulu, Disneyplus, etc... each month.

[cdbd3rd]

Not sure where the OP is driving this bus.

*Riding along*

[Tyrande]

This game has the correct formula to absolutely suck money out of you. Free to play plus fun enough where a lot of people will play the endgame at which point you're invested enough to get milked continuously. I fell into this trap for a long time, have spent thousands on this game. The investment of money and time is sufficient enough motivation to continually pour money into this game.

You are yourselves. You are not being forced to spend any money at all. Of course, your character(s) might not level as fast or have the latest shiny mount or have the latest tome or latest shiny gear from the latest expansion, or the most reaper points even.

Just enjoy the game at your own pace, or your character pace.

Also, to increase your enjoyment (as I see your join date). At this moment, do not play a melee based fighter with no heals.

Yes, the game has "sucked" many thousands dollars out of me for the past 16 years that I have been here. I could have used the funds to plan a trip to Hawaii, or Europe. Or purchased another brand new computer... or a nice 77" LG OLED C2 TV. But hey, all of these were in the past and I am glad that I did it as I played with many friends.

If I were given a time machine to travel back in time to 2006 and would I do it again? I would, and I would have planned my characters much ahead of time.

[kmoustakas]

Not sure where the OP is driving this bus.

*Riding along*

I'm on this bus, I just didn't even buy a ticket. Free ride woohoo!

[XXThermitexX]

This game has the correct formula to absolutely suck money out of you. Free to play plus fun enough where a lot of people will play the endgame at which point you're invested enough to get milked continuously. I fell into this trap for a long time, have spent thousands on this game. The investment of money and time is sufficient enough motivation to continually pour money into this game.

Free will, logic, and some common sense argues we are all responsible for our own decisions. Yes, capitalism sucks but this is no different than any hobby. If you want expensive, buy and dock a boat for a season! ????????????

[droid327]

I wish I was being duped. I'd love to have another me.

[Saekee]

Microtransactions are unfortunate money grabs. I have learned to resist them. I have spent under $100 on this game after all these years.

[ismikes]

As for money spent on the game, I've been here for years already, and the total cost has been less than I spend going out on other activities.

Should I have spent less on DDO and went out to see more movies, or eating at restaurants? I could have done that, but the enjoyment wouldn't have lasted quite as long.

This is how I view things as well... as a large percentage of my total entertainment budget as I spend a large portion of my entertainment *time* on it.