If we can't play the content on Elite without VIP... do we really own the content?

[Drachmoril]

Idk, I've been an on-and-off subscriber for many years, invested hundreds into the game... and I still can't play on elite / reaper on a first life without VIP.

Maybe that's the compromise for all of the free content we have access to; DDO started as a subscription game, after all. But they introduced the concept of hard-purchasing expansions as an alternative to that.

It's a bit frustrating, when in 2023 Elite+ is absolutely the default experience of this game, outside of raiding. For an experienced player, it isn't really playing if you can only open on normal. You can't actually test out a new build on a new character. It's demoralizing... I don't play that much these days, and I feel locked into my main if I want any sort of challenge.

I know you can pay a lot of points in order to open each individual quest on elite. Can we do... better than this? Like, if you've reincarnated a million times on one character, can we have like... server-wide elite open access?

Please? Or some one-and-done fee to unlock elite-opening on an account?

[Cathimon]

Idk, I've been an on-and-off subscriber for many years, invested hundreds into the game... and I still can't play on elite / reaper on a first life without VIP.

Maybe that's the compromise for all of the free content we have access to; DDO started as a subscription game, after all. But they introduced the concept of hard-purchasing expansions as an alternative to that.

It's a bit frustrating, when in 2023 Elite+ is absolutely the default experience of this game, outside of raiding. For an experienced player, it isn't really playing if you can only open on normal. You can't actually test out a new build on a new character. It's demoralizing... I don't play that much these days, and I feel locked into my main if I want any sort of challenge.

I know you can pay a lot of points in order to open each individual quest on elite. Can we do... better than this? Like, if you've reincarnated a million times on one character, can we have like... server-wide elite open access?

Please? Or some one-and-done fee to unlock elite-opening on an account?

I'd argue Reaper is the new default and not Elite. Your suggestion is not bad, though almost everybody is reincarnated multiple times and already can unlock Reaper on first try, so I doubt that a lot of people would unlock that ''elite opening pass''.

[Valerianus]

because that's some example of the " old turbine BUT™ " , some arbitrary inconvenience and hindrance for no real reason, that conveniently enabled a fake perk to fake more vip value.


ssg solved some " old turbine BUT™ " but not all, some of them have still uses, like the elite opening, also cause ddo never received real innovation, investements, and it has no one to seriously work on marketing, it's all about cashing in the tr treadmill and selling content. well, now we also know that probably they never really tried to get new players cause the servers could not handle some hundreds....not without investements to make servers at least decent.

no costs,no QoL, only cash what can be cashed.

[OrodelaSol]

Idk, I've been an on-and-off subscriber for many years, invested hundreds into the game... and I still can't play on elite / reaper on a first life without VIP.

Maybe that's the compromise for all of the free content we have access to; DDO started as a subscription game, after all. But they introduced the concept of hard-purchasing expansions as an alternative to that.

It's a bit frustrating, when in 2023 Elite+ is absolutely the default experience of this game, outside of raiding. For an experienced player, it isn't really playing if you can only open on normal. You can't actually test out a new build on a new character. It's demoralizing... I don't play that much these days, and I feel locked into my main if I want any sort of challenge.

I know you can pay a lot of points in order to open each individual quest on elite. Can we do... better than this? Like, if you've reincarnated a million times on one character, can we have like... server-wide elite open access?

Please? Or some one-and-done fee to unlock elite-opening on an account?

For a little over $00.27 (that's 27 cents US) per day, DDO has a solution to this problem.

[merridyan]

Please? Or some one-and-done fee to unlock elite-opening on an account?

Maybe a per character unlock for 2500 points? 2 reincarnations gives elite unlock also per character. so can just do this also.

[Arkat]

For a little over $00.27 (that's 27 cents US) per day, DDO has a solution to this problem.

27.4 cents a day for DDO? What a deal!!

[yfernbottom]

2 reincarnations gives elite unlock also per character. so can just do this also.

This is what I do. I am trying to get two reincarnations done on all the characters I play much. It's also a huge boost to your stats, and possibly some healing amp or something else moderately useful depending on what class.

[droid327]

First and second life chars have reduced XP requirements, so they dont necessarily need to run on E/R1 like you do on 3rd+ life

[Oxarhamar]

Idk, I've been an on-and-off subscriber for many years, invested hundreds into the game... and I still can't play on elite / reaper on a first life without VIP.

Maybe that's the compromise for all of the free content we have access to; DDO started as a subscription game, after all. But they introduced the concept of hard-purchasing expansions as an alternative to that.

It's a bit frustrating, when in 2023 Elite+ is absolutely the default experience of this game, outside of raiding. For an experienced player, it isn't really playing if you can only open on normal. You can't actually test out a new build on a new character. It's demoralizing... I don't play that much these days, and I feel locked into my main if I want any sort of challenge.

I know you can pay a lot of points in order to open each individual quest on elite. Can we do... better than this? Like, if you've reincarnated a million times on one character, can we have like... server-wide elite open access?

Please? Or some one-and-done fee to unlock elite-opening on an account?

Short answer: Yes

Fee to unlock elite is already available

[Artos_Fabril]

If we can't play the content on Elite without VIP... do we really own the content?

No. At no point do you ever own any part of DDO. They can turn off the servers or just ban your individual account at any time, with or without a good reason, and the only thing you have a right to is to have unused subscription time refunded.

You merely choose the way you want to pay to rent the content.

I agree that anything you purchased should be wholely available, just as I believe that VIP should include access to all content. But SSG has chosen this hostile pricing scheme, so our only choice is to take it or leave it.

[archest]

you pay to enter the content.
It sucks for hardcore because hardcore is a competition and vip starts with an advantage, but its the way it is.

[Annex]

You have three options available to you.

1) Subscribe. The people at Standing Stone Games need to generate revenue to keep the lights on. A subscription significantly speeds character power accumulation while saving you time. If your time is worth anything, the subscription pays for itself very quickly.

2) Create a second account. On your next play through with your main character, take along a character on the second account. Leave the secondary character standing at the door for each quest. In this way, level the secondary character to 20, 30, or 32. While this procedure takes some extra time, you now have an elite opener for the quests you enjoy playing. This trick works with the vast majority of quests. Use the current DUNGEONCRAWL coupon code to unlock almost everything on the secondary account. Use the points earned from leveling the secondary character to purchase all the 99 point expansions. If you ever gain a spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, child, or friend, he or she can use the secondary account in the future.

3) Make a friend. Ask him or her to act as an elite opener when you have the need. You will need to return the favor but having a friend or two offers huge additional benefits.

[Sylvado]

No. At no point do you ever own any part of DDO. They can turn off the servers or just ban your individual account at any time, with or without a good reason, and the only thing you have a right to is to have unused subscription time refunded.

You merely choose the way you want to pay to rent the content.

I agree that anything you purchased should be wholely available, just as I believe that VIP should include access to all content. But SSG has chosen this hostile pricing scheme, so our only choice is to take it or leave it.

Hostile, well that is my morning dose of humor. Entitlement is always funny.

[magaiti]

you pay to enter the content.
It sucks for hardcore because hardcore is a competition and vip starts with an advantage, but its the way it is.

Hardcore was originally VIP-only content, so

[gravisrs]

Easiest to implement solution I've proposed many times:

Make DDOstore hard/elite unlocks work for a period of time, eg 3/6 hours instead of per-quest.

[adamkatt]

27.4 cents a day for DDO? What a deal!!

For less than a cup of coffee! Well not these days!

[axel15810]

I totally understand your frustration, but they do have to paywall certain features to get people to sub to VIP so they can be profitable as a business. And elite open is a pretty big draw. And they do offer free to play ways to get around this (either by grouping with someone who has access, doing reincarnations, or playing on normal and hard first). Also the 1st life XP curve is way lower so it takes normal unlock only into account.

You should know the way the game works before buying content. Maybe they could be more clear that buying content doesn't allow instant elite+ access if the store doesn't indicate that already...I'm not sure.

I think they want perma elite open to be VIP only. But maybe a temporary unlock potion could be sold in the store? Might be a compromise SSG would consider.

[slarden]

Idk, I've been an on-and-off subscriber for many years, invested hundreds into the game... and I still can't play on elite / reaper on a first life without VIP.

Maybe that's the compromise for all of the free content we have access to; DDO started as a subscription game, after all. But they introduced the concept of hard-purchasing expansions as an alternative to that.

It's a bit frustrating, when in 2023 Elite+ is absolutely the default experience of this game, outside of raiding. For an experienced player, it isn't really playing if you can only open on normal. You can't actually test out a new build on a new character. It's demoralizing... I don't play that much these days, and I feel locked into my main if I want any sort of challenge.

I know you can pay a lot of points in order to open each individual quest on elite. Can we do... better than this? Like, if you've reincarnated a million times on one character, can we have like... server-wide elite open access?

Please? Or some one-and-done fee to unlock elite-opening on an account?

Heroic content can't be opened on elite, but epic and legendary content can. I haven't done an exact count but you can easily get to 4k favor running heroic-only content on normal with a few hard/elite runs added in and followed by epics and legendaries on E+. If you raid that will get you really close to 5k favor and then you can do a little clean up to get to 5k.

On hardcore I group if I want to go for favor since I can't open on anything but normal, but more often I want to go for reaper rewards instead. To do that just run to 20 with normal and wilderness runs focusing on getting sands wilderness, red fens and saltmarsh gear. Maybe join a few groups for content that isn't super risky. Then at 20 get red fens and sands mats, borderlands wilderness items/mats to upgrade/craft your items on top of saltmarsh gear which can be immediately upgraded to epic (if you acquired the items/mats at heroic levels). Running to get epic mats and items should get you to 23. At 23 I start a reaper run starting with borderlands and getting to 10 reaper points can be done in less than a week. If you want to go for 20 reaper points you will want to run to level 30 and then continue to run 30s until you reach your goal.

This approach worked very well for me and I've introduced it to many people that also found it a good path for reaper progression on hardcore. Having a few farming characters for saltmarsh/red fens/sands can be a nice diversion from the leveling process also.

Bottom line, the constraint does change the way you approach things, but shouldn't impede your progress at all. Finding some groups will help you progress faster even if you prefer soloing. If you can't find groups at or simply don't want to group - getting to 20 still doesn't take too long. Repeat high xp things on hard/elite or R to speed it up. So many quests are garbage xp anyhow you get alot of mileage from higher xp quests.