Guild Wars 2

“Election Support Bundles can be used to help players support Evon Gnashblade or Ellen Kiel in their campaign to be elected to the Captain’s Council. Each support bundle contains a buff that will double the players’ votes cast for 30 minutes and display five banners that can be placed to visually show the players’ support in the world. Support bundles are available in the Consumable category for 125 gems each or 5 packs for 500 gems.”

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/july-23-content-release-notes/

I’m all for Anet making money on the gem store, but this crosses the line for me. If this were known prior, I would have clammored to just make us outright by the junk in the first place from the store without a vote process. The people who [stupidly] buy gems to vote for the losing opponent will certainly have a bad taste in their mouth and is likely to generate contempt for the game and company.

What does the community think?

I have no problems with it. It is a pirate election anyhow.

So I basically need to play and support my candidate for 1 hour instead of 30 minutes in order to give him/her the same amount of votes?

Don’t really see the issue, this does go quite clearly under convenience and it is not like they will get automatic support just because you buy the package. You still have to actually support them.

I think as long as people are aware that the person they vote for may lose then it’s their money their choice.

A lot of people don’t seem to do 5 minutes of basic research before spending their money though and that seems to cause a lot of un needed complaining.

Kind of ironic that we have to buy the bundles from Evon’s BLTC, hardly an independant party is he?

1) Its a pirate election….its not supposed to be ‘fair’ per se

2) People that opt to purchase these know up front that the one they use it for may not necessarily win. It’s a gamble that they willingly take, much the same as buying RNG boxes for skins.

DrMatt.9408:

Kind of ironic that we have to buy the bundles from Evon’s BLTC, hardly an independant party is he?

Hehe, they actually thought about that when they wrote Evon’s post about it

https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/important-new-items-in-the-gem-store/

lordkrall.7241:

So I basically need to play and support my candidate for 1 hour instead of 30 minutes in order to give him/her the same amount of votes?

Don’t really see the issue, this does go quite clearly under convenience and it is not like they will get automatic support just because you buy the package. You still have to actually support them.

That is a good point.

My grievance is generally that money (In game and out) can be used to sway this at all rather than pure gameplay. Greasing the palms, as I understand the role play, is certainly part of a ‘pirate’ ideal – but at some point the roles of gameplay and the marketing for the company do need to be exposed.

In this context I still believe the economic war will trump any gameplay war. How is that entertainment?

If someone wants to spend gems on this election, then by all means.

It isn’t supposed to be fair, anyhow.

All we need is one wealthy Saudi Arabian prince (like that guy who donated $10,000 to a WoW streamer a few days ago) to call this election over.

pswendel.8179:

In this context I still believe the economic war will trump any gameplay war. How is that entertainment?

Not necessarily, the people that may be more interested in these are going to be those people that generally have less time to play to begin with. The people that work full time, have families, etc. This way their …say 2 hours of play, becomes equivalent to someone that plays 4 hours normally because they have the time. The people that play 8+ hours a day may not be an inclined to purchase these things because they have more time to support naturally. Sure, some will trade in some gold for gems and use these, but I think most will feel its not worth the gold investment when they have the time to devote.

I think the bigger problem is if you want the achievements you don’t get to pick a candidate, you have to support both of them equally to get all the achievements up to a certain point.

its a game..with a make believe election..who cares who wins? why spend money on votes? just play the game and it’s new activities and have fun, then vote and do the achievements, rinse repeat for the other candidate.

spoiler alert: Evon has already won

UrMom.4205:

spoiler alert: Evon has already won

This made me laugh out loud! lol

It’s a pirate election by a council of pirates.

Secondly, I don’t know why Evon would even carry Kiel support banners in his gem store. If I were trying to win an election I’d burn them all in secret, give all who purchase Kiel banners Evon banners and say GG.

Viking Jorun.5413:

It’s a pirate election by a council of pirates.
give all who purchase Kiel banners Evon banners and say GG.

My thoughts as well haha

lordkrall.7241:

So I basically need to play and support my candidate for 1 hour instead of 30 minutes in order to give him/her the same amount of votes?

Don’t really see the issue, this does go quite clearly under convenience and it is not like they will get automatic support just because you buy the package. You still have to actually support them.

Do the math of what the difference of half an hour vs one hour over the course of two weeks multiplied by thousands or tens of thousands of players works out being.

Even if Evon losses he’ll still make big money. That’s the way to do it if you ask me. It’s a win x win situation for Evon.

if someone out there will pay it, why do you care? It’s a huge ripoff to me but maybe not to others.

So whoever pays more decides the results of the elections… sounds like how most democracies work in the first place..

why doesn’t the council make the election a fight to the death?

i envisioned a separate WvW or PvP instance of about 500 players, 250 each side, in support of their favorite candidate. after a week or two, the greater number of zerg wins…wins.

I’m gifting an Evon Gnashblade Support Bundle to everyone in my guild. Bring on Abbadon!!!

This isn’t democracy. It’s cutthroat politics.

(Better than democracy anyways…)