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During the previously offered 30 day trial period, you could experience all that GS4 has to offer, free for 30 days. With the change over from a trial period to F2P, you now have to buy simucoins to experience some aspects of the game that were previously free. (One example is societies.)
Considering that the value of the 30 day trial period was $14.95 (one months subscription cost), I'd like to suggest that all F2P accounts receive $14.95 value in simucoins for free. This would give a F2P account a "trial period" in which they could experience the previously free aspects, just as before.
Each new player would obviously benefit, but I also feel the store would benefit, because it would allow a potentially new customer to experience the store and the items offered without risk. If they have free coins to experiment with, they could test out the available options, and if they enjoy their purchase, I believe they would be more likely to repurchase going forward.
"I'd like to suggest that all F2P accounts receive $14.95 value in simucoins for free." -- FreePlay1
With the proviso that they cannot be used for any of the 'permanent' (one-time purchase) items that unlock certain things, I'd be down with this.
Basically, you could use them on all of the one-time use or "for a month" use items that you want, and with careful spending take your one-month Trial equivalent and stretch it out over several if you're inclined that way.
But anything that affects the character permanently, Simutronics should be able to be getting paid. That's what they're in it for.
With the proviso that they cannot be used for any of the 'permanent' (one-time purchase) items that unlock certain things, I'd be down with this.
Basically, you could use them on all of the one-time use or "for a month" use items that you want, and with careful spending take your one-month Trial equivalent and stretch it out over several if you're inclined that way.
But anything that affects the character permanently, Simutronics should be able to be getting paid. That's what they're in it for.
HR>steal xxxxx
[Because your account is free, you don't have access to stealing from other players.]
...aaand my f2p experiment is over. Lasted a day because I waited that long to attempt a theft...as a thief... If you just want new folks to try out rp or try out the limited combat system for a short time before moving on to another game, I'd say we're on the right track here. Because you get to do nothing else for free, it seems. Not even a profile quote. I would submit that too much focus was put on not making current subscribers want to downgrade and not enough was put upon making any player want to play/keep playing. You have my feedback. I'll bill you accordingly.
[Because your account is free, you don't have access to stealing from other players.]
...aaand my f2p experiment is over. Lasted a day because I waited that long to attempt a theft...as a thief... If you just want new folks to try out rp or try out the limited combat system for a short time before moving on to another game, I'd say we're on the right track here. Because you get to do nothing else for free, it seems. Not even a profile quote. I would submit that too much focus was put on not making current subscribers want to downgrade and not enough was put upon making any player want to play/keep playing. You have my feedback. I'll bill you accordingly.
Please bear with us in the transitional period. I don't know what the system is going to be, but I give my full confidence to staff and GMs here.
If you have a problem during the transition, I think they're gonna take care of you.
"What Kaldonis does on his off time is totally Kaldonis's business, dude." ~Scribes
If you have a problem during the transition, I think they're gonna take care of you.
"What Kaldonis does on his off time is totally Kaldonis's business, dude." ~Scribes
"With the proviso that they cannot be used for any of the 'permanent' (one-time purchase) items that unlock certain things, I'd be down with this."
The only permanent options currently are:
Bank account cap increase (100 simucoins for 100k - $1 per 100k)
Bank account transfer (100 simucoins - $1)(from town to town, which has already caused problems for new players.)
Initial elemental attunement (175 simucoins - $1.75)
Profile Quote Pass (95 simucoins - $0.95)
Title Change Pass (250 simucoins - $2.50)
Personally, I don't think it matters if they're used for the permanent changes if that's what the new player wants. It would also help to resolve the issue of people getting stuck with banks in Ta'Vaalor after they use a travel token to go to the Landing.
They may use it all to increase a bank account, but the treasure system won't provide them with silver to fill it up. That new big (but empty) bank account may make them more likely to buy a treasure booster pass to try to fill it up.
I don't see why a person would spend the simucoins on the elemental attunement, profile quote or title change, because those options simply aren't needed. I think they would be more likely to choose a "gift of lumnis" token, which again, after seeing the experience gain, may "lure" them into purchasing it again the following week.
The only permanent options currently are:
Bank account cap increase (100 simucoins for 100k - $1 per 100k)
Bank account transfer (100 simucoins - $1)(from town to town, which has already caused problems for new players.)
Initial elemental attunement (175 simucoins - $1.75)
Profile Quote Pass (95 simucoins - $0.95)
Title Change Pass (250 simucoins - $2.50)
Personally, I don't think it matters if they're used for the permanent changes if that's what the new player wants. It would also help to resolve the issue of people getting stuck with banks in Ta'Vaalor after they use a travel token to go to the Landing.
They may use it all to increase a bank account, but the treasure system won't provide them with silver to fill it up. That new big (but empty) bank account may make them more likely to buy a treasure booster pass to try to fill it up.
I don't see why a person would spend the simucoins on the elemental attunement, profile quote or title change, because those options simply aren't needed. I think they would be more likely to choose a "gift of lumnis" token, which again, after seeing the experience gain, may "lure" them into purchasing it again the following week.
"HR>steal xxxxx
[Because your account is free, you don't have access to stealing from other players.]
...aaand my f2p experiment is over. Lasted a day because I waited that long to attempt a theft...as a thief..." -- KayB8
.
.
I realize that whole generations of D&D basement denizens have warm fuzzy feelings for stealing, but--and I've been saying this for the larger part of 20 years, since we deiced--we should have taken any of the opportunities provided by major system overhauls and REMOVED COMPLETELY this silly skill that does nothing but cause ILL WILL between players.
(Not usually between characters, mind you, but between the players, across all of their alts.)
Even when it was not pared back to its current (not terribly strong) efficacy, it still sucked. You could never use it to steal from any shop or merchant, permanent NPC or temporarily visiting GM-run. It sucked, plain and simple.
Why still have it?
[Because your account is free, you don't have access to stealing from other players.]
...aaand my f2p experiment is over. Lasted a day because I waited that long to attempt a theft...as a thief..." -- KayB8
.
.
I realize that whole generations of D&D basement denizens have warm fuzzy feelings for stealing, but--and I've been saying this for the larger part of 20 years, since we deiced--we should have taken any of the opportunities provided by major system overhauls and REMOVED COMPLETELY this silly skill that does nothing but cause ILL WILL between players.
(Not usually between characters, mind you, but between the players, across all of their alts.)
Even when it was not pared back to its current (not terribly strong) efficacy, it still sucked. You could never use it to steal from any shop or merchant, permanent NPC or temporarily visiting GM-run. It sucked, plain and simple.
Why still have it?
Rogues should be able to snag stuff off of monsters. Not weapons, but silver, herbs and the standard junky prizes. Once per monster.
Heck, I would even think that would be worth a tiny amount of exp vs. like level creatures. The risk is not huge if you time it right, so the reward needs to be fairly trivial. I would also think a line in the profile would be cool. "XXX pickpocketed # creatures" or "The highest level creature pickpocketed is #".
Magarven the Mad
Heck, I would even think that would be worth a tiny amount of exp vs. like level creatures. The risk is not huge if you time it right, so the reward needs to be fairly trivial. I would also think a line in the profile would be cool. "XXX pickpocketed # creatures" or "The highest level creature pickpocketed is #".
Magarven the Mad
Chiming in here with a big, "Yep". Because Pickpocket should just be outright removed in its current iteration. A solely PvP skill that has been more or less mitigated into uselessness should not dangled out there as a TP sink. If the ability to steal from other players was removed and the ability to steal from creatures implemented it would be a completely different conversation. Let's face it. This is a PvE game.
The suggestion to be able to steal from a creature once before killing it to gain a bit of extra loot is a great, if not perfect solution. A handful of silver, maybe a small statue or a blue crystal here and there.
Make those TPs worth it or remove the skill all together.
Personally I've trained 2x in Pickpocket because... well... RP. My character is a rogue and his back story is that of a thief. Not saying RP is a stupid reason to train in a mechanical skill, but it kind of is when the mechanical skill has absolutely zero mechanical benefit in every aspect of the game except for certain isolated areas of the game where the PvP element hasn't been outright disallowed. Ya know. Gathering areas with healers and such that aren't sanctuaries. Where folks are especially cautious of thieves.
.jaired
>LIKE A BOSS
Please rephrase that command.
The suggestion to be able to steal from a creature once before killing it to gain a bit of extra loot is a great, if not perfect solution. A handful of silver, maybe a small statue or a blue crystal here and there.
Make those TPs worth it or remove the skill all together.
Personally I've trained 2x in Pickpocket because... well... RP. My character is a rogue and his back story is that of a thief. Not saying RP is a stupid reason to train in a mechanical skill, but it kind of is when the mechanical skill has absolutely zero mechanical benefit in every aspect of the game except for certain isolated areas of the game where the PvP element hasn't been outright disallowed. Ya know. Gathering areas with healers and such that aren't sanctuaries. Where folks are especially cautious of thieves.
.jaired
>LIKE A BOSS
Please rephrase that command.
Those of you who are arguing about whether or not stealing are missing the point in an extremely disrespectful way. A new player is expressing concern over the insanely restricted f2p accounts. It's not the stealing they are upset about, it's the illogical nickle and diming going on in a supposedly free account. Want to have more than one bank? Pay us. Want to hold more than 5k? Pay us. Want to cast spells on someone? Pay us. Want to do something class-defining? Pay us.
This isn't about your personal crusade against pickpocketing. It's about a system designed to give people the worst experience at the most crucial time, and someone letting us know that we are missing the mark here.
I will point out how few people have dropped by to say they love the new f2p accounts.
This isn't about your personal crusade against pickpocketing. It's about a system designed to give people the worst experience at the most crucial time, and someone letting us know that we are missing the mark here.
I will point out how few people have dropped by to say they love the new f2p accounts.
I think you may be missing out on some of the joys of life in Elanthia by dwelling on mechanics and mechanical limitations. If you try just getting immersed in what is now freely available to you, in the immense world that each character is given to them to wander about in and discover who that character might be, perhaps then the mechanical limitations might not seem so vexing and, as well, the real beauty of the Elanthian experience might open up before you.
Perhaps it might be better to work on a backstory for your char or otherwise develop a type of rp you want this char to play out.
Then, if over time the mechanical limitations are too difficult, you can subscribe to a basic or premium account and you will not have these sorts of mechanical limitations. Perhaps you might think of this as a chance to begin discovering the "immersive" world of Elanthia and of what ever particular town you begin in. This is where you will find your place if you try.
yours in the dark art,
Keatsr
the doppelganger of Nou the Maimed
Perhaps it might be better to work on a backstory for your char or otherwise develop a type of rp you want this char to play out.
Then, if over time the mechanical limitations are too difficult, you can subscribe to a basic or premium account and you will not have these sorts of mechanical limitations. Perhaps you might think of this as a chance to begin discovering the "immersive" world of Elanthia and of what ever particular town you begin in. This is where you will find your place if you try.
yours in the dark art,
Keatsr
the doppelganger of Nou the Maimed
>I will point out how few people have dropped by to say they love the new f2p accounts.
Complaints on the Internet are always louder than praise. To use a personal example, I've logged over 8000 battles in the Spirit Beasts system since its release last October. The number of posts about the system, positive or otherwise? Low.
What we've seen is a record and growing number of trial accounts since the release of the free subscription tier, and in that, actions speak louder than words. These people are logged in, playing, leveling, and enjoying.
In short, I would be cautious about speaking for everyone here. These accounts may not be for the mechanical powergamer crowd, but they're functional--and extremely generous, let's not forget--for the purpose of getting the entire GS experience without paying a dime.
Auchand
"I have passed through fire and deep water, since we parted. I have forgotten much that I thought I knew, and learned again much that I had forgotten. I can see many things far off, but many things that are close at hand I cannot see."
Complaints on the Internet are always louder than praise. To use a personal example, I've logged over 8000 battles in the Spirit Beasts system since its release last October. The number of posts about the system, positive or otherwise? Low.
What we've seen is a record and growing number of trial accounts since the release of the free subscription tier, and in that, actions speak louder than words. These people are logged in, playing, leveling, and enjoying.
In short, I would be cautious about speaking for everyone here. These accounts may not be for the mechanical powergamer crowd, but they're functional--and extremely generous, let's not forget--for the purpose of getting the entire GS experience without paying a dime.
Auchand
"I have passed through fire and deep water, since we parted. I have forgotten much that I thought I knew, and learned again much that I had forgotten. I can see many things far off, but many things that are close at hand I cannot see."
| What would you suggest instead of the simucoin charges? Is totally free but time-limited to just a few days a better option? |
| SGM Sleken |
I would suggest not limiting them to a single bank account. It is an arbitrary restriction that just makes life difficult for them. I have no problem with the restrictions that prevent subscribers from making use of F2P accounts to augment their existing accounts. I take no issue with the restrictions put in place to prevent F2P players from making a major impact on the economy (even if they can all be circumvented by having a second F2P character that just sits in town and holds your silvers). I don't even mind the "cosmetic" restrictions like titles and profile quotes. I hate the single bank account restriction because it seems to exist solely to force F2P players to spend money if they EVER want to move to a different town.
All that said I don't have a F2P account and I won't. I don't play Prime at all so I won't even be interacting with F2P players. None of this matters to me beyond the fact that some of the F2P players that are chased off by this, frankly asinine, restriction might otherwise have eventually ended up as Platinum players that I could enjoy interacting with. Part of the fun of Gemstone is exploring the world and removing the ability of a F2P player to do that just reduces the chances they fall in love with this game like many of us have. I realize the goal here is to convince them to subscribe eventually but that should have come second to making sure the F2P experience was fun and engaging. That does not seem to be the case when one considers this restriction.
Keith/Brinret/Shiun
Brinret says, "Bring it on."
A bolt of lightning streaks down from the sky and strikes Brinret!
... 16428101 points of damage!
Powerful blast reduces Brinret to a smoldering pile of ash!
Those of you who are arguing about whether or not stealing are missing the point in an extremely disrespectful way. A new player is expressing concern over the insanely restricted f2p accounts.>>
Wrathbringer is hardly new. We didn't react that negatively considering some of his reputation. We mostly responded collectively that stealing doesn't really have a place in the game and that is an old argument that long pre-dates ftp models.
Wrathbringer is hardly new. We didn't react that negatively considering some of his reputation. We mostly responded collectively that stealing doesn't really have a place in the game and that is an old argument that long pre-dates ftp models.
"What would you suggest instead of the simucoin charges? Is totally free but time-limited to just a few days a better option? - SGM Sleken"
I would suggest that it's not necessary to charge for moving the 1 limited bank account at all. It only adds frustration and the sense of greed.
There are already other banking restrictions in place that encourage a simucoin purchase. A F2P account is limited to a 100k maximum, without paying $1 for each additional 100k.
I would suggest that it's not necessary to charge for moving the 1 limited bank account at all. It only adds frustration and the sense of greed.
There are already other banking restrictions in place that encourage a simucoin purchase. A F2P account is limited to a 100k maximum, without paying $1 for each additional 100k.
Folks, you are providing disincentives to get invested. You are putting into place policies that make people less likely to get hooked. And you are requiring an absurd number of micro transactions just to have basic functionality.
Seriously, a 15 min pass to be able to cast spells on someone? It's not the $1 that's the issue, its requiring a multi-step microtransaction every time someone needs a spellup. Limits on healing? It's a profession-defining skill. And both of these activities help build community- which makes people stick around.
Limits on how much exp you can absorb in a day or how much loot you get in a day? Why are you providing a disincentive to play more during such a crucial time?
You want to make them stay? Free to play until level 20, Limits on locker space, limits on society progression (to ranks 5 or 10, not a rank so low that they have no sense of why they should even bother), limits on high end items. Give them a chance to build a character they want to stick around for and see grow? And if they want to stay at twenty forever, fine. The game benefits by having a larger population, and most of the costs associated with GS/DR are sunk costs... The number of players doesn't impact them (within reason)
Meanwhile, double premium point accrual for premium accounts and begin either giving 100 points a month to standard accounts or giving them 10 character slots.
As has been mentioned a few times in this thread: F2P works by offering a free product experience that is robust and fun and then charging for an even better paid experience. It's not about annoying people into paying you, which doesn't work as a long-term strategy.
