Guild Wars 2

Not a big poster, posted one regarding a similar subject during halloween events, but felt I had to opine in a more formal manner today. Few observations/suggestions:

1. RNG should not exist for store bought items. Offer skins on the shop if you so desire, but paying real cash should result in a guaranteed product. Especially appreciative would be those of us who support the game by paying into GW2 (and work hard in RL for it!), so that those who don’t buy anything can play for free (aside from the initial game cost).

2. Rare skins and items like the mining-pick that are either bought for real money, or require heavy grind to obtain due to RNG (low drop-rates), should be truly account-bound, so that they can be used to transmute onto any character, current or future. This would make them worth the money and/or effort. For any cash-shop skins/items, at the least have 2 price-points/options, one for single use, another for account-wide use – simply, account-wide costs more, single-use costs less.

3. Offer some more skins in the cash shop a-la-carte for those casual players who work, go to school, etc. Armor, weapons, etc! Maybe I can’t play too often during events with special skin/item drops – I’m sure there are a plethora of reasons among various casual players. I want to buy!

PS side note: I received an email with free Dragonbash minis because I have been a cash-shop user. Appreciated, but I’m not into collecting minis, even though I have bought some thru the cash-shop in the past, just for fun. Implement the aforementioned suggestions, and I will be happy to keep using the shop. I’m sure you’re making a killing with RNG cash shop items, and yes no matter what, some people will continue to throw money into it.

Business-wise I’m sure whoever’s in charge of the cash-shop makes sense implementing RNG cash gambles, temporary items, etc but from a casual player POV, it’s insanity. Usually I have no problem buying, I can afford it no problem, but the paying for “nothing” (ie junk, food, random nothingness from RNG cash chests) is kinda discouraging and off-putting. It can for some folks, get way more expensive than paying a monthly fee sub to play.

Sorry for the long rant-like post, not meant to be negative, but just suggestions and experience. And please excuse any grammar/spelling issues! Great game otherwise, and I do still love the playstyle!

I agree with most but “Especially appreciative would be those of us who support the game by paying into GW2 (and work hard in RL for it!), so that those who don’t buy anything can play for free (aside from the initial game cost).”

This is a B2P game. People who buy the game support the game and pay for the cost. The gem-store income should only be a nice extra. Thats why it is a B2P game. Nobody is playing this game for free or anything close to that.

You are mixing up F2P games with B2P games. You can even wonder if the gem-buyers are in a way not doing the opposite. If the RNG / gem-store focus did not work (for now) it would not be in. But people do buy stuff so it is in. However the decisions that are made because of it are not good for the game and might harm it in the long run.

To add to your arguement; I don’t even use gems for anything RNG because I’m not guaranteed the item I’m after – of course if more people did the same as me, then I’m sure something will be changed
But people still feel RNG gem items works for them so nothing will be done anytime soon

RNG make the events fun,if all get the stuff on day one of the event it will be boring….

I think the point here is people who spend money for RNG or gem store stuff should be rewarded by conveniences (not bonuses to game, such as not better stat items, but something that adds convenience of changes the look aka skins). For instance, the current dragon bash going on, I purchased 15 gem store dragon coffers, not one thing of value came from it, just the junk food and zhai candy. I was appaled to have spent 1200 gems on a “gamble” at a chance to get a weapon skin. I’m not stating it should be guaranteed 1/15 coffers, but it is a bit silly when you spend real money and get no benefit from it.

I understand the low drop rate for the green coffers (it took me almost 600 of them to get a weapon skin). The pay for chests should have better items or an obvious increase in non-consequential (non game changing) drops. The question we should ask ourselves (and what anet should in order to offer these items is) “Am I better off purchasing these items than I was before buying them?” If the answer is no, then there is the problem; the effect doesn’t warrant the cost.

I really don’t mind supporting the game, I actually like to; but it’s silly to feel as if I’m supporting a gambling habit rather than a well-designed game.

Great to see some responses – awesome to see other folks’ opinions on this!

RE: the “Especially appreciative would be those of us who support the game by paying into GW2 (and work hard in RL for it!), so that those who don’t buy anything can play for free (aside from the initial game cost).” – yep I agree with you Devata, sorry I didn’t mean anything bad by that line towards any players. I probably should have worded it better – just got caught in the heat of the moment I guess and used a poor choice of words in phrasing. I definitely meant it more as if viewing from Anet’s perspective, in terms of what ongoing costs for keeping the game evolving and up-to-date may entail. Every player has definitely paid a pretty penny up front to purchase and play the game for sure. Apologies if I had unintentionally offended anyone!

Thanks all for reading and responding!

You’re talking as though you didn’t get the 3 mini’s from Anet as present for spending real money through out the games life time.