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Let's take a lesson from mobile gaming.
*THE SPARK SYSTEM*
HESS' limited item distribution is a regular and constant source of player anger, frustration and dissapointment. This suggestion ASSUMES that Staff are unwilling to move to a completely unlimited model.
*What's a Spark?*
In mobile gaming, the term Spark often refers to a system where after a certain amount of spending, the game guarantees your chance of winning rare and desirable things. This is done by granting you a 'spark', which is a generic term for the ability to choose a rare thing and obtain it. No matter normal limits on rarity, these sparks can still obtain what you want.
*How would this work?*
For every X amount of DR vouchers used, a player would generate a Spark. Sparks could be saved from event to event. It would be an alternate currency that couldn't be bought or traded.
Players participate in DR as normal including normal HESS distribution. However, ALL items in the Limited HESS offerings can be bought with Sparks instead of BS. Spark purchases are not subject to quantity limits at HESS. If you want an item and you have enough sparks to afford it, its yours.
*How much would a spark be worth?*
Sparks would generate for a player after a certain amount of redeemed vouchers at DR. For example, you could have 500k HESS cert that might sell instead for 10 sparks. If a spark generates after 50 runs, you could say that a spark has 50 (runs) x 300(bs) = 15k bs value.
*What are the limitations?*
In mobile gaming, sparks can only be spent in a limited window. While we would let players accumulate sparks to their content/ability, if we limited spark redemption to once per DR, that would mean that players wouldn't be able to sweep the entire inventory of HESS in one go. Multiaccounts would likely be a concern, but you could/should at least make it so sparks can only generate for paid accounts. You could also make spark generation account wide.
*Player Benefits?*
Players get what they want. It may take time and expense, but they can guarantee an outcome.
Player frustration falls. You are no longer shooting a moving target.
Players reduce their anger at other players, who have been encourage to try to game the system as much as possible.
Secondary sales for HESS wins decline
*Staff benefits?*
Less frustrated players
Less players expressing that frustration at staff.
More average spending by mainstream players (just go look at how this increases bottom tier spending by mobile gamers)
HESS model remains, and can go forward with minimal changes. It still rewards the things GS has always rewarded (for good or ill): MA, luck, persistence.
Does not apply to OTS purchases at DR. Does not apply to Mania. BS still drains there.
System can expand (Spark Attunement discounts, Spark raffles, sparks at other events, Using sparks AS currency in raffles, selling sparks directly for BS/Silver, etc)
Pick apart, flame or critique to your whim.
The current system, while infinitely better than previous systems, still has two major problems: it encourages profiteering/scalping and it encourages multi-account squatting to increase spinner odds (and artificially inflate apparent demand). I don't believe for a moment that 89 players went after the custom fatal afflares, regardless of how neat it is.
Obviously, I think the best solution is to simply allow people to purchase the things they want unless there's a labor bottleneck. A number of items didn't have any takers, several of which didn't have any takers at August's spin either. Even if they wound up selling after they were added to the main shop, why bother including them in the spin at all?
I think Jaysehn's solution above is a perfectly reasonable system, but I don't think anything even that complex is really required, just expand on the existing time limit for the add-to-existing script doodads. You can buy an item OTS, then a year later make two available via spins, then the next run five, then the next run unlimited (aside from items which require customization QC). If somebody still wants to add a two-year-old script to their project gear at a bonkers price, just let them.
If that's unacceptable for whatever reason, maybe consider something like taking pre-orders after the spin. Let anybody who attends the spin buy a certificate in February that can't be redeemed until July. You get a far more accurate representation of actual demand, there's less appeal to scalping, nobody's going to do it unless they're pretty committed, and it drives retention. It's still not ideal, but the current system is busted.
Obviously, I think the best solution is to simply allow people to purchase the things they want unless there's a labor bottleneck. A number of items didn't have any takers, several of which didn't have any takers at August's spin either. Even if they wound up selling after they were added to the main shop, why bother including them in the spin at all?
I think Jaysehn's solution above is a perfectly reasonable system, but I don't think anything even that complex is really required, just expand on the existing time limit for the add-to-existing script doodads. You can buy an item OTS, then a year later make two available via spins, then the next run five, then the next run unlimited (aside from items which require customization QC). If somebody still wants to add a two-year-old script to their project gear at a bonkers price, just let them.
If that's unacceptable for whatever reason, maybe consider something like taking pre-orders after the spin. Let anybody who attends the spin buy a certificate in February that can't be redeemed until July. You get a far more accurate representation of actual demand, there's less appeal to scalping, nobody's going to do it unless they're pretty committed, and it drives retention. It's still not ideal, but the current system is busted.
I know this recent HESS spin was an attempt to solve the old 'fastest script wins the limited items' problem, but it's STILL reinforcing all the toxic problems inherent to Gemstone. Such as encouraging bot-armys. Such as encouraging scalpers. Such as encouraging the radioactive secondary $$$ market. And all while selling in-game items at truly exorbitant dollar costs that are simply insane for a video game. I realize Gemstone is a niche game and in the late-late-life stage for an MMO, but all of this creates an unhealthy toxic soup that leaves the majority of players unhappy.
I simply don't see the limited quantities in HESS being an issue at all. It was an issue when it was all about running in and grabbing things, but the spins kind of even that out. Yeah, the most popular certs are still selling out and some people who want them don't get them that run. Yes, there are people entering with multiple characters (which, btw means they are spending a lot to get a lot of BS) entering for multiple chances to win, and some folks don't like that when realistically it's about what all of us would do to ensure we get the ONE we want IF we could all afford to do so.
I actually think it's about player patience. There shouldn't be too many of any one powerful script imo, so limiting quantities over a period of time is fine by me. In fact, I see some benefits to it that people never seem to talk about. Here's a clear possibility as an example. Rot Flares. Super popular and once again sold out. It's because it's an odd subscript that can still be squeezed onto things thus making it desirable to people finishing out some high end item. The thing is, it's a terrible option in many instances given the profession of the user and item in question. It happens to be pretty much the only option though. However, it sounds like Wyrom is working on a flare enhancer that can go in the same spot. Possibly a lot better than trying to train a bunch of lore you otherwise would never need just to make your rot flares work halfway. I'm not even getting into the RP side of rot flares either. That's a single example too. I've already thought I missed out on something only to see a better thing come out that now I can shoot for and breathe a sigh of relief that I dodged a bullet by not putting the other property on an item. Also, earlier today there were 4 or 5 Briar certs still in HESS for sale. That tier 3 Briar pretty much allows a melee character to maintain +25 AS perpetually for those who don't know, and that 25 AS is in addition to any other way you could get AS, which is pretty OP, AND it has a sweet flare as well, none of which takes up Cat B. It was a bear to get that cert in the past, but once a script is out enough, it eventually becomes available to anyone who wants it, so it's simply a matter of time. I actually wanted them to retire Briar for now and bring back Blink, but for whatever reason, Blink seems to only be falling in EG and possibly Mania(s).
I take far more issue with rare shop certs in DR that only have like 2 copies per run than I do the HESS offerings. Still, this is just my take. I think what's broken isn't the HESS, but player perspectives. At the end of the day, I'm sure whether or not a way to release more "limited" HESS certs happens or not really comes down to GM/Dev perspective so you should certainly keep trying to sway them if that's your goal.
I actually think it's about player patience. There shouldn't be too many of any one powerful script imo, so limiting quantities over a period of time is fine by me. In fact, I see some benefits to it that people never seem to talk about. Here's a clear possibility as an example. Rot Flares. Super popular and once again sold out. It's because it's an odd subscript that can still be squeezed onto things thus making it desirable to people finishing out some high end item. The thing is, it's a terrible option in many instances given the profession of the user and item in question. It happens to be pretty much the only option though. However, it sounds like Wyrom is working on a flare enhancer that can go in the same spot. Possibly a lot better than trying to train a bunch of lore you otherwise would never need just to make your rot flares work halfway. I'm not even getting into the RP side of rot flares either. That's a single example too. I've already thought I missed out on something only to see a better thing come out that now I can shoot for and breathe a sigh of relief that I dodged a bullet by not putting the other property on an item. Also, earlier today there were 4 or 5 Briar certs still in HESS for sale. That tier 3 Briar pretty much allows a melee character to maintain +25 AS perpetually for those who don't know, and that 25 AS is in addition to any other way you could get AS, which is pretty OP, AND it has a sweet flare as well, none of which takes up Cat B. It was a bear to get that cert in the past, but once a script is out enough, it eventually becomes available to anyone who wants it, so it's simply a matter of time. I actually wanted them to retire Briar for now and bring back Blink, but for whatever reason, Blink seems to only be falling in EG and possibly Mania(s).
I take far more issue with rare shop certs in DR that only have like 2 copies per run than I do the HESS offerings. Still, this is just my take. I think what's broken isn't the HESS, but player perspectives. At the end of the day, I'm sure whether or not a way to release more "limited" HESS certs happens or not really comes down to GM/Dev perspective so you should certainly keep trying to sway them if that's your goal.
