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Below is an e-mail that I sent in response to a discussion on Twitter where GM Evike requested feedback and ideas on what would be good promotions for new, returning, and current customers.
From: Isharon Anloraes
To: DR-EVIKE@play.net
Cc: drfeedback@simutronics.com
Subject: Feedback on Promotions and Customer Appreciation Perks
This is in response to a discussion on Twitter:
GM Evike Szandreyni @EvikeDr 2 hours ago
@IsharonDR @uriteldefiqe @sendithu @Jaygo42 I promise nothing but send me ideas of what you think you be a good promo to entice
GM Evike Szandreyni @EvikeDr 1 hour ago
@IsharonDR Please send them to me. They won't be easy for me to reference here.
For new and returning customers, offering free subscription time is a good promotion. However, you have to be careful not to make current subscribers feel like you're giving away too much of what they have to pay for.
Offering free Premium subscriptions during Hollow Eve is problematic to the extent that current Premium customers pay extra for perks at Hollow Eve (the big one being an extra alteration slot). Premium perks at Hollow Eve are so valuable to some players that they PAY to temporarily upgrade to Premium status during the festival. Consider also that it is harder to offer compelling fest-related rewards to your CURRENT Premium subscribers when you are giving away Premium access, since those who take advantage of the free Premium promotion will also get these benefits.
As far as promotional offers go, I think you are less likely to alienate your Premium subscribers by giving away 2 months of a standard subscription instead of 2 months of a Premium subscription. (After all, two months of standard is a $30 value, which is already generous enough. Giving away two months of Premium is worth $80.)
Many Premium users already question whether the Premium benefits are worth an extra $25/month. Additionally, they question whether Simutronics really values them due to the pricing of recent events. For example, during Bacon Man's Birthday Bash, which was billed in part as a Premium festival, everyone -- including F2P -- was allowed to buy Premium access for $1 a day.
Not only did Premium users feel like they got very little out of the event for their extra $25/month, but it exacerbated problems with "auction mules" when players were able to buy unlimited auction tokens for $10 each. (The "one per account" limitation does not have the same effect that it did when each account cost you at least $15/month. By allowing F2P to participate at no additional cost, you remove subscription costs as a limiting factor.)
$40/month is a lot for any online game but especially a MUD. There are many MUDs that are simply free, and other online games are switching from a subscription model to a "freemium" model. So how do you make subscribers, especially Premium subscribers, feel like they are getting a good value for their much sought-after entertainment dollar?
Again, some of this may be problematic to introduce once you've already decided to give away Premium access during Hollow Eve, but here are some things that could be done during big ticket events.
I would consider throwing subscribers more of a bone in terms of event discounts. The 10% discount that Premium users enjoy amounts to $4 off a $40 ticket, and that costs them at least an extra $25. Since we now also have free accounts, I would use the following pricing structure:
• Free accounts pay the full price of admission.
• Standard accounts get a 10% discount off of big-ticket events like Hollow Eve.
• Premium accounts get a much larger discount, perhaps as much as 50%. (Consider that the extra $25/month that it costs for a Premium subscription amounts to 1.25 admit-one tickets every two months.) If you don't want people to go Premium just for one month to get this benefit, limit the discount to those who have maintained continuous Premium status for X months. (Or tier the benefit, so that 1 month of Premium results in a 20% discount, 2 months of Premium results in a 30% discount, and so on.)
To the extent that you continue to charge à la carte for certain extras during festivals (such as alteration sessions and raffle tokens), allow Premium subscribers to participate at no additional cost.
During events like Hollow Eve, where alterations are a major draw (they're one of the main reasons I go), I would include an alteration scroll with every Premium event ticket. If this is not feasible, then I would have some Premium-only alteration sessions during the event.
There could be an extra gift for Premium subscribers.
For every ticket purchased for a Premium account, allow an extra character on that account to attend. For example, if a Premium account purchases an "admit one" ticket, it becomes an "admit two" ticket.
Thank you for your consideration.
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall rank!
Paladin new player guide: https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Paladin_new_player_guide
armor and shields: https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Armor_and_shield_player_guide
>>Premium accounts get a much larger discount, perhaps as much as 50%
FWIW this is the "unofficial-but-they've-been-doing-it-for-a-decade" discount Plat gets.
Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.
FWIW this is the "unofficial-but-they've-been-doing-it-for-a-decade" discount Plat gets.
Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.
Not this wasn't well written, because it was and put things very pointedly in place, which I've come to see as a Hallmark of Isharon's player.
>During events like Hollow Eve, where alterations are a major draw (they're one of the main reasons I go), I would include an alteration scroll with every Premium event ticket. If this is not feasible, then I would have some Premium-only alteration sessions during the event.
>There could be an extra gift for Premium subscribers.
>For every ticket purchased for a Premium account, allow an extra character on that account to attend. For example, if a Premium account purchases an "admit one" ticket, it becomes an "admit two" ticket.
One of the things that I'm pre-emptively looking at is there probably isn't going to be a readily recognized way of seeing premium long term subscriber to a freely upgraded subscriber when it comes to HE. I'd suggest to give these people gifts as something at the end of the year, so that the long term premium account holders are given something special and are treated separately and well they are premium, so I'll use the term, a little more lavishly then others.
---
"I think anything that forces you to do something no sane adventurer would do just in order to train is ridiculous."
DR-SOCHARIS
---
"Phelim, what have I wrought?"
GM NaOHHI
---
Victory Over Lyras, on the 397th year and 156 days since the Vic
>During events like Hollow Eve, where alterations are a major draw (they're one of the main reasons I go), I would include an alteration scroll with every Premium event ticket. If this is not feasible, then I would have some Premium-only alteration sessions during the event.
>There could be an extra gift for Premium subscribers.
>For every ticket purchased for a Premium account, allow an extra character on that account to attend. For example, if a Premium account purchases an "admit one" ticket, it becomes an "admit two" ticket.
One of the things that I'm pre-emptively looking at is there probably isn't going to be a readily recognized way of seeing premium long term subscriber to a freely upgraded subscriber when it comes to HE. I'd suggest to give these people gifts as something at the end of the year, so that the long term premium account holders are given something special and are treated separately and well they are premium, so I'll use the term, a little more lavishly then others.
---
"I think anything that forces you to do something no sane adventurer would do just in order to train is ridiculous."
DR-SOCHARIS
---
"Phelim, what have I wrought?"
GM NaOHHI
---
Victory Over Lyras, on the 397th year and 156 days since the Vic
>>Pangeadr: What exactly are the ongoing perks for Premium subscribers as far as Hollow's Eve is considered? Outside of the 10% discount on ticket prices.
The main one is that Premium accounts can receive up to three alterations, whereas standard accounts are limited to two. There are players who temporarily upgrade just for the extra alterations. There is also the theoretical possibility of Premium-only alteration lists.
>>Teveshszat: FWIW this is the "unofficial-but-they've-been-doing-it-for-a-decade" discount Plat gets.
I'm primarily focusing on the Prime instance, since that's the instance with the most players. (Plat is so tiny and expensive that they should really just give the Platinum instance Hollow Eve for free, and they get the Premium discount for Prime events, since the Plat subscription is treated as Premium anyway.)
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall rank!
Paladin new player guide: https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Paladin_new_player_guide
armor and shields: https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Armor_and_shield_player_guide
The main one is that Premium accounts can receive up to three alterations, whereas standard accounts are limited to two. There are players who temporarily upgrade just for the extra alterations. There is also the theoretical possibility of Premium-only alteration lists.
>>Teveshszat: FWIW this is the "unofficial-but-they've-been-doing-it-for-a-decade" discount Plat gets.
I'm primarily focusing on the Prime instance, since that's the instance with the most players. (Plat is so tiny and expensive that they should really just give the Platinum instance Hollow Eve for free, and they get the Premium discount for Prime events, since the Plat subscription is treated as Premium anyway.)
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall rank!
Paladin new player guide: https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Paladin_new_player_guide
armor and shields: https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Armor_and_shield_player_guide
>>I'm primarily focusing on the Prime instance, since that's the instance with the most players. (Plat is so tiny and expensive that they should really just give the Platinum instance Hollow Eve for free, and they get the Premium discount for Prime events, since the Plat subscription is treated as Premium anyway.)
That's totally understandable. I'm just giving a sense of scope/scale for the discount you're proposing for events.
If you're talking about quests in general, Plat gets a flat 50% discount. HE access for Plat is 50% discount and all-character-access by default (that said, the latter half is only really useful if you plan ahead with your alts... I know I have a Bard and a Trader I tend to keep updated with yearly HE gifts alongside my Necro, in the event I ever want to really start them).
Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.
That's totally understandable. I'm just giving a sense of scope/scale for the discount you're proposing for events.
If you're talking about quests in general, Plat gets a flat 50% discount. HE access for Plat is 50% discount and all-character-access by default (that said, the latter half is only really useful if you plan ahead with your alts... I know I have a Bard and a Trader I tend to keep updated with yearly HE gifts alongside my Necro, in the event I ever want to really start them).
Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.
>>• Premium accounts get a much larger discount, perhaps as much as 50%.
All good ideas, but this one is my favorite. Being able to easily access events would go a long way toward making the extra $25/month worthwhile. And the more people who attend events, the more their friends want to go.
- Navesi
All good ideas, but this one is my favorite. Being able to easily access events would go a long way toward making the extra $25/month worthwhile. And the more people who attend events, the more their friends want to go.
- Navesi
>>Shadow7988: One of the things that I'm pre-emptively looking at is there probably isn't going to be a readily recognized way of seeing premium long term subscriber to a freely upgraded subscriber when it comes to HE. I'd suggest to give these people gifts as something at the end of the year, so that the long term premium account holders are given something special and are treated separately and well they are premium, so I'll use the term, a little more lavishly then others.
I think there is room to give Premium subscribers a better festival experience AND improve the value of their subscription during the rest of the year.
While I don't know the inner workings of how they track long-term subscription status, but the LTB system suggests that there is at least the beginning of some framework for it. (If not, I don't know how difficult it would be to add some kind of tracking for continuous months account has been at X status.)
However, to be honest, I don't really care if subscribers temporarily upgrade to Premium during festivals, as that costs them an extra $25 per account. The focus of this post really isn't long-term subscription benefits but benefits period.
>>Teveshszat: If you're talking about quests in general, Plat gets a flat 50% discount. HE access for Plat is 50% discount and all-character-access by default (that said, the latter half is only really useful if you plan ahead with your alts... I know I have a Bard and a Trader I tend to keep updated with yearly HE gifts alongside my Necro, in the event I ever want to really start them).
IMO, what the 5-10 Plat players get as a discount should have little to no bearing on the discussion of Premium benefits (which Plat players also enjoy). If staff feels that giving the other Premium members a larger discount would unacceptably devalue the Plat subscription, I would suggest just increasing Plat's discount and including the Plat version of Hollow Eve in their subscription price.
The takeaway being this: the more you pay in subscription fees, the cheaper event tickets should be. Right now, someone who pays $180/year (and this is a minimum, since most players pay for extra characters if not multiple accounts) pays the same to go as someone who plays for free. Moreover, the 10% discount that Premium gets really only amounts to $4 for the game's biggest event -- $4 that costs them an extra $25/month.
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall rank!
Paladin new player guide: https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Paladin_new_player_guide
armor and shields: https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Armor_and_shield_player_guide
I think there is room to give Premium subscribers a better festival experience AND improve the value of their subscription during the rest of the year.
While I don't know the inner workings of how they track long-term subscription status, but the LTB system suggests that there is at least the beginning of some framework for it. (If not, I don't know how difficult it would be to add some kind of tracking for continuous months account has been at X status.)
However, to be honest, I don't really care if subscribers temporarily upgrade to Premium during festivals, as that costs them an extra $25 per account. The focus of this post really isn't long-term subscription benefits but benefits period.
>>Teveshszat: If you're talking about quests in general, Plat gets a flat 50% discount. HE access for Plat is 50% discount and all-character-access by default (that said, the latter half is only really useful if you plan ahead with your alts... I know I have a Bard and a Trader I tend to keep updated with yearly HE gifts alongside my Necro, in the event I ever want to really start them).
IMO, what the 5-10 Plat players get as a discount should have little to no bearing on the discussion of Premium benefits (which Plat players also enjoy). If staff feels that giving the other Premium members a larger discount would unacceptably devalue the Plat subscription, I would suggest just increasing Plat's discount and including the Plat version of Hollow Eve in their subscription price.
The takeaway being this: the more you pay in subscription fees, the cheaper event tickets should be. Right now, someone who pays $180/year (and this is a minimum, since most players pay for extra characters if not multiple accounts) pays the same to go as someone who plays for free. Moreover, the 10% discount that Premium gets really only amounts to $4 for the game's biggest event -- $4 that costs them an extra $25/month.
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall rank!
Paladin new player guide: https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Paladin_new_player_guide
armor and shields: https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Armor_and_shield_player_guide
>>IMO, what the 5-10 Plat players get as a discount should have little to no bearing on the discussion of Premium benefits (which Plat players also enjoy).
If the goal is to keep upselling and not cap out at Premium, I think it's necessary to consider Plat's benefits alongside Premium's benefits. Just like some players feel disenfranchised because they pay Premium and don't get enough bang for their buck, Platinum players have a similar viewpoint as customers.
All I'm talking about is what Platinum currently gets, as a scope/scale/goalpost/whatever for what Premium could get. If Premium goes to 50%, I'm fine if Platinum goes to 75%. Alternatively, if Simu sees 50% as good for Platinum, maybe Premium should get 25%. If Platinum gets an all-access pass for HE by default, maybe Premium gets two (or three) characters in with a default ticket.
>>The takeaway being this: the more you pay in subscription fees, the cheaper event tickets should be.
This is generally my point, too. So if Premium gets 50%, I'd want to see Platinum's discount either go up or adjust to justify not being Premium.
Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.
If the goal is to keep upselling and not cap out at Premium, I think it's necessary to consider Plat's benefits alongside Premium's benefits. Just like some players feel disenfranchised because they pay Premium and don't get enough bang for their buck, Platinum players have a similar viewpoint as customers.
All I'm talking about is what Platinum currently gets, as a scope/scale/goalpost/whatever for what Premium could get. If Premium goes to 50%, I'm fine if Platinum goes to 75%. Alternatively, if Simu sees 50% as good for Platinum, maybe Premium should get 25%. If Platinum gets an all-access pass for HE by default, maybe Premium gets two (or three) characters in with a default ticket.
>>The takeaway being this: the more you pay in subscription fees, the cheaper event tickets should be.
This is generally my point, too. So if Premium gets 50%, I'd want to see Platinum's discount either go up or adjust to justify not being Premium.
Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.
>>Pangeadr: I think that 50% fee would have to be waived in certain cases, where you have quests as cheap as 6.99 and 14.99. You cut those prices in half and you typically have people farming for items like they already do but in this case it would be a mass flux.
I'm mainly thinking about big-ticket "experience" events like Hollow Eve. For less expensive quests that are primarily done for the loot, you'd probably have to put a cap on how many times they could be run per account (or a cooldown between runs) to keep farming in check if you gave a 50% discount to Premium subscribers.
Thinking along those lines, perhaps it would be better just to give a monthly or annual "credit" that could be accrued and applied towards events than a flat 50% discount. This could work as a sort of customer loyalty program in addition to the current LTB system (which is only available to Premium subscribers anyway). Regular subscribers would get some credit, but Premium subscribers would get a bigger credit.
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall rank!
Paladin new player guide: https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Paladin_new_player_guide
armor and shields: https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Armor_and_shield_player_guide
I'm mainly thinking about big-ticket "experience" events like Hollow Eve. For less expensive quests that are primarily done for the loot, you'd probably have to put a cap on how many times they could be run per account (or a cooldown between runs) to keep farming in check if you gave a 50% discount to Premium subscribers.
Thinking along those lines, perhaps it would be better just to give a monthly or annual "credit" that could be accrued and applied towards events than a flat 50% discount. This could work as a sort of customer loyalty program in addition to the current LTB system (which is only available to Premium subscribers anyway). Regular subscribers would get some credit, but Premium subscribers would get a bigger credit.
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall rank!
Paladin new player guide: https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Paladin_new_player_guide
armor and shields: https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Armor_and_shield_player_guide
>Thinking along those lines, perhaps it would be better just to give a monthly or annual "credit" that could be accrued and applied towards events than a flat 50% discount.
When Elder Scrolls Online went freemium, they had something like this. Basically you could play for free, but there was a store like the Simucoin shop. So free players could buy tokens or whatever just like they can do now on DR. Those tokens were used to flat out buy game expansions, mounts, and other stuff.
But if you subscribed to the game for $15 a month, you got all the new game content for free. So when a new expansion came out, as long as you were subscribed, you could travel there for free. In addition, you got a certain number of tokens per month as a part of your subscription. So you could save up and buy stuff from the store without getting double-dipped on.
I think something like this could work for DR, too. If they could somehow tie the event payment system to simucoins, they could give Premium subscribers a certain stipend of simucoins per month which those players could spend as they wish. That could be on events like HE, or on repeatable quests, or on bonding potions--whatever the player wants to save up for.
When Elder Scrolls Online went freemium, they had something like this. Basically you could play for free, but there was a store like the Simucoin shop. So free players could buy tokens or whatever just like they can do now on DR. Those tokens were used to flat out buy game expansions, mounts, and other stuff.
But if you subscribed to the game for $15 a month, you got all the new game content for free. So when a new expansion came out, as long as you were subscribed, you could travel there for free. In addition, you got a certain number of tokens per month as a part of your subscription. So you could save up and buy stuff from the store without getting double-dipped on.
I think something like this could work for DR, too. If they could somehow tie the event payment system to simucoins, they could give Premium subscribers a certain stipend of simucoins per month which those players could spend as they wish. That could be on events like HE, or on repeatable quests, or on bonding potions--whatever the player wants to save up for.
>>I think something like this could work for DR, too. If they could somehow tie the event payment system to simucoins, they could give Premium subscribers a certain stipend of simucoins per month which those players could spend as they wish. That could be on events like HE, or on repeatable quests, or on bonding potions--whatever the player wants to save up for.
Basically, LTB points.
"Game balance is sobbing over in the corner as it considers the ramifications of AoE Blufmor Garaen. Your spell slots send their condolences." - GM Raesh
Basically, LTB points.
"Game balance is sobbing over in the corner as it considers the ramifications of AoE Blufmor Garaen. Your spell slots send their condolences." - GM Raesh
Some of my thoughts and suggestions are below. I realize this is getting off-topic, but the original email was a bit gray and I wanted to address most of what was said in this thread already.
Hollow Eve
We all like alterations, the highlight of Hollow Eve last year for me was getting to work with Voldag. The policy over the past few years has been that Premium accounts are allowed an additional alteration overall (3 in total, versus 2 for standard subscribers), but that does not guarantee an additional alteration. There is also the option that every merchant has to exclude F2P players from joining their lists. I've yet to see this exercised, but given consistent feedback maybe it will be this year. Luckily with quick-working alterers like Bildon/Penjurm (embiggening), Rebecho (item ties), and "tap"-only alterations the possibility of more alterations does open up (but maybe not the custom ones that take considerably longer).
I really liked the Premium-subscriber created and Premium-only shops last year. I realize it's too late to do the same this year, but it gave everyone the opportunity to contribute. Hopefully this will return with future events like Hollow Eve.
At the end of the day, everyone going to Hollow Eve is basically paying basically the same price for admission. Why shouldn't we expect the same experience/treatment at a paid event where we pay the same price? I'd be amenable to either a price reduction or increase in benefits/sessions at the festival for Premium subscribers; we shouldn't expect both to happen.
Finally (and loosely related), two years ago at Hollow Eve, Bildon did three embiggenings per character. That meant Admit Two, Three, All purchasers got two, three, fifteen embiggening sessions. Last year we got two, three, all kitten choices. Yes that's an additional cost to Premium subscription, but it was an additional benefit we could pay to take advantage of and certainly added value for the additional slots purchased.
Long Term Benefits
I think a lot of what's been described in terms of credit or extra purchases is exactly what LTB was intended to do. I was really happy to see the plan to introduce new items to the LTB store earlier this year and understand that there has been some delay in executing it. We should get something this year though, and that's exciting! It has been said that LTB prices are being looked at. Maybe they allow a LTB to SimuCoin conversion for participating in some of the microtrans events. 100 LTB = 500 SimuCoins? Seems like that's about in line with what people have been asking for.
Example: You've played for 6 years and been a loyal subscriber, you could get 2 cosmetic alterations (900 LTB each), gweths that never break (1800 LTB), a permanent bonding potion (600 LTB), and a completely custom floater (3000 LTB). Returning players do not get this, only loyal month-after-month subscribing players do.
Monthly Benefits
Based on what Nohn stated in the last meeting, we can continue to expect monthly gifts, monthly alteration sessions, and a now monthly Premium meeting with a chance to influence what happens on Fang Cove.
Fang Cove
This is a huge Premium benefit, lots of stuff already and plans to expand that to more. Private hunting/mining/lumberjacking, a crafting hall, great healer, furrier and gem buyer who pay an additional 10%. There has been talk about expanding Fang Cove even further, with enough hunting to cover most tiers as well. This is all only a ring-jump away. Number one suggestion: change the Estate Holder rings to remove the limit on how fast you have to use the return function, even if that meant cooldown didn't start until you used the return.
Conclusion
I do think we should all take a step back and look at more than just a 2 month promotion that just went out or Hollow Eve. LTB is already in place, so why not make a few changes there instead of having to introduce new credits, etc.
Hollow Eve
We all like alterations, the highlight of Hollow Eve last year for me was getting to work with Voldag. The policy over the past few years has been that Premium accounts are allowed an additional alteration overall (3 in total, versus 2 for standard subscribers), but that does not guarantee an additional alteration. There is also the option that every merchant has to exclude F2P players from joining their lists. I've yet to see this exercised, but given consistent feedback maybe it will be this year. Luckily with quick-working alterers like Bildon/Penjurm (embiggening), Rebecho (item ties), and "tap"-only alterations the possibility of more alterations does open up (but maybe not the custom ones that take considerably longer).
I really liked the Premium-subscriber created and Premium-only shops last year. I realize it's too late to do the same this year, but it gave everyone the opportunity to contribute. Hopefully this will return with future events like Hollow Eve.
At the end of the day, everyone going to Hollow Eve is basically paying basically the same price for admission. Why shouldn't we expect the same experience/treatment at a paid event where we pay the same price? I'd be amenable to either a price reduction or increase in benefits/sessions at the festival for Premium subscribers; we shouldn't expect both to happen.
Finally (and loosely related), two years ago at Hollow Eve, Bildon did three embiggenings per character. That meant Admit Two, Three, All purchasers got two, three, fifteen embiggening sessions. Last year we got two, three, all kitten choices. Yes that's an additional cost to Premium subscription, but it was an additional benefit we could pay to take advantage of and certainly added value for the additional slots purchased.
Long Term Benefits
I think a lot of what's been described in terms of credit or extra purchases is exactly what LTB was intended to do. I was really happy to see the plan to introduce new items to the LTB store earlier this year and understand that there has been some delay in executing it. We should get something this year though, and that's exciting! It has been said that LTB prices are being looked at. Maybe they allow a LTB to SimuCoin conversion for participating in some of the microtrans events. 100 LTB = 500 SimuCoins? Seems like that's about in line with what people have been asking for.
Example: You've played for 6 years and been a loyal subscriber, you could get 2 cosmetic alterations (900 LTB each), gweths that never break (1800 LTB), a permanent bonding potion (600 LTB), and a completely custom floater (3000 LTB). Returning players do not get this, only loyal month-after-month subscribing players do.
Monthly Benefits
Based on what Nohn stated in the last meeting, we can continue to expect monthly gifts, monthly alteration sessions, and a now monthly Premium meeting with a chance to influence what happens on Fang Cove.
Fang Cove
This is a huge Premium benefit, lots of stuff already and plans to expand that to more. Private hunting/mining/lumberjacking, a crafting hall, great healer, furrier and gem buyer who pay an additional 10%. There has been talk about expanding Fang Cove even further, with enough hunting to cover most tiers as well. This is all only a ring-jump away. Number one suggestion: change the Estate Holder rings to remove the limit on how fast you have to use the return function, even if that meant cooldown didn't start until you used the return.
Conclusion
I do think we should all take a step back and look at more than just a 2 month promotion that just went out or Hollow Eve. LTB is already in place, so why not make a few changes there instead of having to introduce new credits, etc.
I definitely think it would be cool if you could exchange LTBs for sCoins and use sCoins to pay for quests.
Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.
Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.
>>No, because you can't use LTB points to pay for entry to events or quests yet
>FTFY
Not sure I follow you. LTB points have nothing to do with Simucoins currently, and whether a hypothetical future implementation of additional Premium benefits would allow us to convert LTB points to Simucoins or instead keep them separate and just give us Simucoins each month is anyone's guess.
>FTFY
Not sure I follow you. LTB points have nothing to do with Simucoins currently, and whether a hypothetical future implementation of additional Premium benefits would allow us to convert LTB points to Simucoins or instead keep them separate and just give us Simucoins each month is anyone's guess.
>I definitely think it would be cool if you could exchange LTBs for sCoins and use sCoins to pay for quests.
Personally I'd prefer that LTB rewards stay how they are, and that we got a separate monthly stipend of Simucoins that could be used to pay for events. That makes more sense to me than Simu having to overhaul the payment system (which they already will have to do somewhat since the Simucoin store and event payment systems are separated right now).
The in-game LTB rewards are already pretty pricey as it is.
Personally I'd prefer that LTB rewards stay how they are, and that we got a separate monthly stipend of Simucoins that could be used to pay for events. That makes more sense to me than Simu having to overhaul the payment system (which they already will have to do somewhat since the Simucoin store and event payment systems are separated right now).
The in-game LTB rewards are already pretty pricey as it is.
>>Personally I'd prefer that LTB rewards stay how they are, and that we got a separate monthly stipend of Simucoins that could be used to pay for events.
I'm not against that either, but I'm also sitting on a boatload of LTBs because I don't feel that inclined to buy anything at the current bungalow (and while I think the bungalow updates are neat, I'm not going to clean out my LTB account with them).
Meanwhile, I'll always want to go on more quests, buy new simucoin items, etc.
On one hand, why give let me trade something I don't want to use otherwise for something I definitely want to purchase, but on the other hand I'd love to be able to spend something I don't want to use on something I do want to use.
Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.
I'm not against that either, but I'm also sitting on a boatload of LTBs because I don't feel that inclined to buy anything at the current bungalow (and while I think the bungalow updates are neat, I'm not going to clean out my LTB account with them).
Meanwhile, I'll always want to go on more quests, buy new simucoin items, etc.
On one hand, why give let me trade something I don't want to use otherwise for something I definitely want to purchase, but on the other hand I'd love to be able to spend something I don't want to use on something I do want to use.
Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.
My point was to add simucoin items to the bungalow. There's no reason to give premium players LTB and simucoin, when there's already a system in place to provide a monthly reward.
I seriously doubt we'll see something like this happening, as the new norm appears to be a policy of "maximize cash infusions" (which is just business, hopefully some of those extra funds from all the microtrans are going to software dev aka paying staff to add new fun things, and not just maintaining hardware and providing a reason to keep the lights on in a quarterly report)
"Game balance is sobbing over in the corner as it considers the ramifications of AoE Blufmor Garaen. Your spell slots send their condolences." - GM Raesh
>My point was to add simucoin items to the bungalow. There's no reason to give premium players LTB and simucoin, when there's already a system in place to provide a monthly reward.
I can think of forty reasons a month.
>I seriously doubt we'll see something like this happening, as the new norm appears to be a policy of "maximize cash infusions" (which is just business, hopefully some of those extra funds from all the microtrans are going to software dev aka paying staff to add new fun things, and not just maintaining hardware and providing a reason to keep the lights on in a quarterly report)
Sadly, however, I can't argue with this at all.
I can think of forty reasons a month.
>I seriously doubt we'll see something like this happening, as the new norm appears to be a policy of "maximize cash infusions" (which is just business, hopefully some of those extra funds from all the microtrans are going to software dev aka paying staff to add new fun things, and not just maintaining hardware and providing a reason to keep the lights on in a quarterly report)
Sadly, however, I can't argue with this at all.
What about a Free Quest per year perk? May only be used on quest under $20.00, cannot be combined to credit against cost of higher price ticket, not redeemable on multiple day quests (i.e. Taisidon), must have continuous Premium time of 12 months to qualify, would have to email in to redeem (adding credit to account probably couldn't be figured to only use on a quest and not toward subscription cost), one time use (if you go on a $9.99 quest you don't keep the remaining balance.), etc
Maybe instead of adding the simucon items themselves... what about an item that you can buy in the LTB store that converts your LTB points into simucoin? Best of both worlds? You are using your LTB points still, but it gives you the option of buying an already in game item, or converting them to purchase a simucoin item instead.
>Maybe instead of adding the simucon items themselves... what about an item that you can buy in the LTB store that converts your LTB points into simucoin? Best of both worlds? You are using your LTB points still, but it gives you the option of buying an already in game item, or converting them to purchase a simucoin item instead.
Yeah I guess that would be the next best thing, since the general consensus is that there is no way that Simu is going to give us monthly Simucoins in addition to our current LTB points.
I'm considering dropping Premium anyway, not necessarily because I don't think the current rewards are worth it, but because three basic accounts cost roughly the same price and I can get way more utility out of playing three characters simultaneously than I would ever be able to get from LTB points or other Premium perks. And Premium + two basic (+ paying to get in events and quests) is just madness. At least for me.
Yeah I guess that would be the next best thing, since the general consensus is that there is no way that Simu is going to give us monthly Simucoins in addition to our current LTB points.
I'm considering dropping Premium anyway, not necessarily because I don't think the current rewards are worth it, but because three basic accounts cost roughly the same price and I can get way more utility out of playing three characters simultaneously than I would ever be able to get from LTB points or other Premium perks. And Premium + two basic (+ paying to get in events and quests) is just madness. At least for me.
>>Would be pretty cool if as a premium perk we could log in as 2 characters at the same time.
I'd love to be able to log into separate instances, at least.
>>Perhaps give platinum a perk for 3 characters at a time
TBH I feel like this would be counter to the general "goals" of Plat.
Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.
I'd love to be able to log into separate instances, at least.
>>Perhaps give platinum a perk for 3 characters at a time
TBH I feel like this would be counter to the general "goals" of Plat.
Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.
Let's move further plat discussion to another folder (either the Plat forums if you have access or "Discussions with DragonRealms Staff and Players < Dragonrealms: Platinum" if you don't), so we can keep this one about Estate Holders.
Thanks!
Helje
DragonRealms Senior Board Moderator
If you have a question about the forums, please email me Senior Board Moderator Helje at DR-Helje@play.net or Message Board Supervisor Annwyl at DR-Annwyl@play.net
Thanks!
Helje
DragonRealms Senior Board Moderator
If you have a question about the forums, please email me Senior Board Moderator Helje at DR-Helje@play.net or Message Board Supervisor Annwyl at DR-Annwyl@play.net
Hi!
I was not trying to suggest that anyone in this thread had done anything wrong, and I am sorry if I made it seem that way.
I commented because I see the progression of the thread and feel it needs splitting into two new ones, keeping premium here and moving the platinum to the appropriate folders. Yes, the original suggestion organically brought up Platinum in conjunction to Premium, and that's perfectly fine. Yet, the Platinum server has its own considerations that are different from Prime or Premium. It's helpful for us following to keep the conversations organized and separate.
If you have further comments or questions about my decision here, please e-mail me and Message Board Supervisor Annwyl (DR-Helje@play.net and DR-Annwyl@play.net). We can clarify more there.
Otherwise, I bring you back to your regularly scheduled suggestions.
Thank you,
Helje
DragonRealms Senior Board Moderator
I was not trying to suggest that anyone in this thread had done anything wrong, and I am sorry if I made it seem that way.
I commented because I see the progression of the thread and feel it needs splitting into two new ones, keeping premium here and moving the platinum to the appropriate folders. Yes, the original suggestion organically brought up Platinum in conjunction to Premium, and that's perfectly fine. Yet, the Platinum server has its own considerations that are different from Prime or Premium. It's helpful for us following to keep the conversations organized and separate.
If you have further comments or questions about my decision here, please e-mail me and Message Board Supervisor Annwyl (DR-Helje@play.net and DR-Annwyl@play.net). We can clarify more there.
Otherwise, I bring you back to your regularly scheduled suggestions.
Thank you,
Helje
DragonRealms Senior Board Moderator
