Guild Wars 2

Can we getta optional monthly sub, for increased drop rates and rewards? Like $15-20 a month? I know i’d pay for it, but we’d need a “better than prior to the xpac” system in place, to make it worth it.

Right now, the paywalls are insane. Many other F2P MMOs (lets stop kidding ourselves, this game IS F2P), are offering similar services, as to promote a stable, monthly income for itself, while rewarding customers with a better experience.

Since the content has extremely high replay value, i think this is a very solid next step for Arena Net? Can i get some support on this idea???

Why don’t you just buy gems and convert gems to gold instead?

Yeah. Gold is your biggest hurdle for progress anyway and you can solve that by showing your wallet. Throw in 10 bucks a month for about 100 gold extra you can spend towards whatever you’re going for (Ascended or Legendaries mostly I guess).

slamfunction.7462:

Can i get some support on this idea???

Nope. Well, not from me anyway.

Doesn’t sound like a bad idea in theory but in practice instead of getting extra drops we’d only have stuff taken away and need to pay for a regular drop rate instead of a good one.

I think instead of a sub they make special farming zones that are gated behind weekly tickets. Droprates are drastically improved and it’s just a room like Mad King’s Labrynth (minus the annoying crowd control) with themed mobs like dust mites and sparks sharing a room. All exotic tier goods found in the room are account bound, but cores promoted to lodestones would still have tradeable lodestones. Reason for making stuff account bound is such a room could potentially flood the market with excess goods, reducing prices so you make less gold per sale. So precursors and lodestones would be account bound from the room.

No. Having the game give people who pay money better rewards in game is one of the things that rip-off, pay to win games do. Let’s not even think about going down that road.

What paywalls? I have seen no paywalls in over 3 yrs. I bought the core game for $75 and then I bought HoT expansion for $100 …. that’s it. No paywalls involved. If I didn’t want the expansion I would not have bought it. I am having fun in it and enjoying it quite a bit and happy I got it.

Whether I bought gems or not is immaterial since all those are optional anyway and were not needed to play the game.

No subscriptions is one of the things I like about ANet. I have been playing online games since the BBS days and I have never understood people paying $X for a game and then paying another $X a month just for the privilege to log into to play the game you just bought.

We have a monthly sub. It’s called the gem store. You can pay $15 a month every month if it’ll make you happy.

Absolutely not.

Vayne.8563:

We have a monthly sub. It’s called the gem store. You can pay $15 a month every month if it’ll make you happy.

I was looking for a better package deal. >_>

Anyhow, “optional”, so no, its not required. You can still play the game freely, but for those of us who want a monthly, can reap better rewards.

Also, the game has been P2W for a while now. You can pay tons of money to get your crafting up, and then tons more to get ascended crafting materials, sans the BoA materials that are fairly easy to farm.

…and kill the game.

Really, really, really a huge no from me. I spend £17.00 a month buying gems and am happy to do so as I like the game (moaning aside). When something nice appears in the gem store I might buy it or sometimes I just convert to gold. Anet has motivation to tempt me to ensure I continue to buy gems.

A monthly subscription income to Anet would quickly be absorbed and we’d get very little in return. We’d certainly get nothing ’extra’ as we’d have no way to measure that. Next the fee would creep up higher.

I’d very much prefer to continue to decide how much I give Anet based upon how much they tempt me to spend and my overall enjoyment of the game.

So pay to win then?

slamfunction.7462:

Can i get some support on this idea???

100% No,

You can buy boosters to improve exp speed and drop rate. You can buy gold with gems if you want more faster.

Something like this would have to work exactly as gem-store items already do: they shouldn’t give any monetary advantage to customers, purely aesthetic and convenience benefits.

Anything other than that would be called “pay to win”, as already mentioned by other commenters.

Here’s my suggestion: what about something like a virtual subscription box service? Like a GW2 loot crate? For example, you pay 1,000 gems each month (doesn’t matter if you use real money or gold) and you receive a goody-bag of preselected items, with a value of more than 1,000 gems. The game could detect if you can’t use an item (e.g. if you already have that skin/outfit unlocked, have maximum amount of char slots/bank tabs etc) and replace it with an item of equal value.

The 1,000 gems would have to be paid ahead of time- you can’t find out the contents of the package before purchasing. A multiple month plan could also be ordered, with a slight discount per box (e.g. a 3 month plan could cost 2.5k gems, saving 500 gems total).

Looks like slamfunction…~puts on sunglasses~….got slammed.

YYEEAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaa…

No. I don’t like pay to win.

Why are some people with extra money so hellbent on ruining things for the less fortunate. We were already promised that this will not come into the game outside China.

Like everyone else is saying, just throw money at the gemstore. The gemstore is the “optional” monthly sub. You would not get anything extra special that the gem store can’t already provide for you; the only difference is your IRL money would not be affected by the gem market, which is not an issue in the short or mid-term.

Garambola.2461:

Why are some people with extra money so hellbent on ruining things for the less fortunate. We were already promised that this will not come into the game outside China.

Because the value per merchandise in this game is extremely skewed.

Compare what you get from a subscription-based MMO, verses a B/P/F2P MMO, and its all there. Not all of us play freely. Nothing against free players, but there needs to be a better value per dollar in this game. I’m not asking for P2W…or at least a more “obvious” P2W system, but maybe item boosters are the answer? I wouldn’t mind that, but still, i think they need to consider varying pay models for the game, so everything isn’t so kitten ed expensive. Thats all i’m saying.

slamfunction.7462:

Also, the game has been P2W for a while now. You can pay tons of money to get your crafting up, and then tons more to get ascended crafting materials, sans the BoA materials that are fairly easy to farm.

You don’t know what P2W means, do you?
P2W is when the game sell something that you can get ONLY by buying from shop and it offers an advantage.
For example, a service where you get better drop rate only if you buy gems as you suggested, it would be P2W.
Your examples are ways to make those items faster, there is even a thread of reddit a while ago of a F2P account that crafted a full zerker asc set (he crafted a sull sinister by playing in SW and then converted in the MF).

slamfunction.7462:

Can we getta optional monthly sub, for increased drop rates and rewards? Like $15-20 a month? I know i’d pay for it, but we’d need a “better than prior to the xpac” system in place, to make it worth it.

Right now, the paywalls are insane. Many other F2P MMOs (lets stop kidding ourselves, this game IS F2P), are offering similar services, as to promote a stable, monthly income for itself, while rewarding customers with a better experience.

Since the content has extremely high replay value, i think this is a very solid next step for Arena Net? Can i get some support on this idea???

The game is B2P not F2P. You have to pay 60 bucks for HoT which is the only way to progress in the game. And it already has a cash store.

So no. No support.

If you dont have time to play “long grindy boring videogames” then maybe you shouldnt. I suggest you trying another genres that could accommodate easier to your time schedules. There are tons of videogame genres that dont require big time investments. Yet you go and choose a genre thats well known for being a time sink.

slamfunction.7462:

Many other F2P MMOs (lets stop kidding ourselves, this game IS F2P), are offering similar services

No, it isn’t F2P, stop mis-using terms.

Kraggy.4169:

No, it isn’t F2P, stop mis-using terms.

Isn’t F2P a game that gives access to most of the content for free considered F2P?

I’m pretty sure you can now play this game without buying it.

Or did they rescind this recently?

The game really isn’t free to play, pay to be a pro though. In that case paying real life money for ascended wouldn’t be optional. Then you would have to buy gamble upgrades where with each upgrade you have a bigger chance of failing. Consider grinders and needing to buy extra talent trees from Phantasy Star Online 2 (a fun game by the way but gets too grindy with RNG elements).

No, just no. Period. No.

Thank you, don’t come again. :P

Edit:

Ps, no.

Celtic Lady.3729:

I’m pretty sure you can now play this game without buying it.

Or did they rescind this recently?

I don’t think anything has changed…

This news posts makes me think A-net would call GW2 free to play as well
https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/play-for-free-today/

slamfunction.7462:

I wouldn’t mind that, but still, i think they need to consider varying pay models for the game, so everything isn’t so kitten ed expensive. Thats all i’m saying.

If you dropped $15 on gems and then converted them to gold, that would get you 150 gold right now. Do that on the first of each month and boom, there’s your optional subscription.

Hell no!

Abso-kittening-lutely not!

You want a subscription? Shuffle your desired amount into gems each month, and then convert them to gold.

slamfunction.7462:

Vayne.8563:

We have a monthly sub. It’s called the gem store. You can pay $15 a month every month if it’ll make you happy.

I was looking for a better package deal. >_>

Anyhow, “optional”, so no, its not required. You can still play the game freely, but for those of us who want a monthly, can reap better rewards.

Also, the game has been P2W for a while now. You can pay tons of money to get your crafting up, and then tons more to get ascended crafting materials, sans the BoA materials that are fairly easy to farm.

But what are you winning? I don’t think you know what P2W means.

slamfunction.7462:

Vayne.8563:

We have a monthly sub. It’s called the gem store. You can pay $15 a month every month if it’ll make you happy.

I was looking for a better package deal. >_>

Anyhow, “optional”, so no, its not required. You can still play the game freely, but for those of us who want a monthly, can reap better rewards.

Also, the game has been P2W for a while now. You can pay tons of money to get your crafting up, and then tons more to get ascended crafting materials, sans the BoA materials that are fairly easy to farm.

Nope, no support. You want subscription with bonuses, spend £15 on gems each month and buy boosters/convert to gold. the subscription idea you presented is another example of people with wealth believing they are entitled and consequently more important, because of that wealth, in the world today. I’m sorry but just because you seem to have a little extra money, does not mean you are some super special snowflake deserving of more than others.

Paulytnz.7619:

No, just no. Period. No.

Thank you, don’t come again. :P

Edit:

Ps, no.

+1

LanfearShadowflame.3189:

Hell no!

Abso-kittening-lutely not!

You want a subscription? Shuffle your desired amount into gems each month, and then convert them to gold.

Unfortunately if players decide they want to do this, they will end up running havoc on the economy.

Sicarius.4639:

Unfortunately if players decide they want to do this, they will end up running havoc on the economy.

I don’t see how it would cause havoc; how many players out there want to pay a sub so they would instead just shuffle it into gems to gold?

Currently, the suggestion is exactly what people do. Buy gems, get what you want…

How is not f2p am I delusional ?

slamfunction.7462:

Since the content has extremely high replay value, i think this is a very solid next step for Arena Net? Can i get some support on this idea???

What?
High replay value?
You’re kidding right?

Sicarius.4639:

LanfearShadowflame.3189:

Hell no!

Abso-kittening-lutely not!

You want a subscription? Shuffle your desired amount into gems each month, and then convert them to gold.

Unfortunately if players decide they want to do this, they will end up running havoc on the economy.

It actually wouldn’t because of the way the Gem exchange works. Converting Gems to Gold doesn’t involve Anet creating Gold from nothing; rather, you buy gold from players who want Gems. As such, selling Gems is actually good for the Economy because it removes gold from the economy (as there’s a TP-like fee charged by Anet every time someone buys or sells gems).

The only affect of mass Gem-to-gold conversions would be to dramatically reduce the amount of gold you could get per dollar, which would ultimately result in a natural equilibrium as players increasingly decide they’d rather grind for gold in-game.

Miku.6297:

Sicarius.4639:

Unfortunately if players decide they want to do this, they will end up running havoc on the economy.

I don’t see how it would cause havoc; how many players out there want to pay a sub so they would instead just shuffle it into gems to gold?

Currently, the suggestion is exactly what people do. Buy gems, get what you want…

Exactly. I know a couple of people that do this with games (not specifically GW2 necessarily). They’re used to paying $15/mo for a sub (or more, depending on how many sub games they maintain at a time), so when they play a game that doesn’t have a sub they shuffle that money into whatever the cash shop currency is instead.

Blaine Tog.8304:

Sicarius.4639:

LanfearShadowflame.3189:

Hell no!

Abso-kittening-lutely not!

You want a subscription? Shuffle your desired amount into gems each month, and then convert them to gold.

Unfortunately if players decide they want to do this, they will end up running havoc on the economy.

It actually wouldn’t because of the way the Gem exchange works. Converting Gems to Gold doesn’t involve Anet creating Gold from nothing; rather, you buy gold from players who want Gems. As such, selling Gems is actually good for the Economy because it removes gold from the economy (as there’s a TP-like fee charged by Anet every time someone buys or sells gems).

The only affect of mass Gem-to-gold conversions would be to dramatically reduce the amount of gold you could get per dollar, which would ultimately result in a natural equilibrium as players increasingly decide they’d rather grind for gold in-game.

Thank you Blaine, you saved me the time of having to explain how the exchange works.

And just to add some support to your explanation:
“Transaction fee is a 15% fee for trading gems for gold or vice-versa. For example, exchanging 1 Gold coin gives 85 Silver coin worth of gems while reselling those gems returns only around 72 Silver coin 25 Copper coin, resulting in a net loss of roughly 28%”

http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Currency_exchange

Reedemer.1760:

How is not f2p am I delusional ?

1) the $100 I spent on the expack says it’s not f2p
2) the f2p you’re referring to is much closer to a free to try. An extended trial version with numerous restrictions on trade, chat, where you can go and when, character limit, whispering…. among other restrictions.

warning!

this is an obvious troll thread do not reply

(that or OP is crazy)

I’d pay $15 monthly if this offered something like unlimited transmutation, makeovers, bank, tp and merchant summons.

Definitely not for drops, though.

I think we’re all not on the same page here, as to what the various payment models are for MMOs these days. I don’t have time fully educate:

“Buy to play” is the model used for most games, such as Batman Arkham Asylum, Sonic The Hedgehog, Super Mario Brothers. No cash shop. You just buy the game, and thats it. DLC can be an option, but its a once time purchase for more content.

“Pay to Win” is being able to buy, with RL currency, a level of something in any game, that puts you ahead of the rest of the players, playing the game. A good example of this is ascended crafting in this game: I can pay for all the mats to hit 500 Weaponsmith, then turn around and buy all the parts needed to make an ascended weapon. Granted, you need 5 laurels for the recipe, which means logging in for 30 seconds, after reset, each day.

“Free to play” is a game that is completely free for anyone to download and play the game. No charge at all! But, these types of games always have a cash shop, that allows you to buy cosmetics and boosters.

Now, heres the deal: Look at the competition:
https://www.dcuniverseonline.com/shop/value-bundles
http://www.swtor.com/buy
https://shop.wildstar-online.com/product/signatureMembership

I guess what i am missing is heroic boosters, which would complete all of the above, but wouldn’t it be nice to have an automatic heroic booster running everytime you log into any character on your account, PLUS get some sorta other perk, like 100g? Thats what i’d be interested in seeing.

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Reedemer.1760:

How is not f2p am I delusional ?

1) the $100 I spent on the expack says it’s not f2p
2) the f2p you’re referring to is much closer to a free to try. An extended trial version with numerous restrictions on trade, chat, where you can go and when, character limit, whispering…. among other restrictions.

SWTOR is classified as f2p. It also offers a sub and requires you to pay for expansions.

Don’t fool yourself.

Guild Wars 2 is free to play. Welcome to your overpriced, cash shop centric game. Enjoy.

Reedemer.1760:

am I delusional ?

No. But seems many of the people that play this game are. I don’t understand the mindset of people so eager to be exploited by these predatory business practises. Unless they of course have invested interest in the company or in-game, which causes them to be bias and their opinion not to be trusted.

Azure Prower.8701:

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Reedemer.1760:

How is not f2p am I delusional ?

1) the $100 I spent on the expack says it’s not f2p
2) the f2p you’re referring to is much closer to a free to try. An extended trial version with numerous restrictions on trade, chat, where you can go and when, character limit, whispering…. among other restrictions.

SWTOR is classified as f2p. It also offers a sub and requires you to pay for expansions.

Don’t fool yourself.

Guild Wars 2 is free to play. Welcome to your cash shop centric game. Enjoy.

I wouldn’t have a problem with this, but i’m not a SWTOR fan.

slamfunction.7462:

I think we’re all not on the same page here, as to what the various payment models are for MMOs these days. I don’t have time fully educate:
I guess what i am missing is heroic boosters, which would complete all of the above, but wouldn’t it be nice to have an automatic heroic booster running everytime you log into any character on your account, PLUS get some sorta other perk, like 100g? Thats what i’d be interested in seeing.

I think most are on the same page about the main suggestion: NO we do not want any form of subscription, no need to “educate” anyone.

Just buy some boosters and some gold with gems if that’s what you want. Problem solved.

I’d happily pay a sub, especially if it had increased drop rates/benefits, but as it stands I just normally spend about 20 bucks a month on gems anyway.

The only “paywall” I’ve seen discussed in relation to drops is the price of HoT, due to the dungeon gold nerf and the "better’ rewards being in HoT. So, you’d rather pay $15-20 per month than a one-time fee of $50? And the paywalls are insane?

If the “paywalls” are a perceived need to get gold faster, thus “needing” to buy gold with gems… that’s not a paywall, it’s an “impatience wall.”

I have a suggestion to TS to change thread name. New one:
“Destroy the game, please!”.
If you want monthly sub, just delete this game and play some Korean p2w grind pseudo-game.

IndigoSundown.5419:

The only “paywall” I’ve seen discussed in relation to drops is the price of HoT, due to the dungeon gold nerf and the "better’ rewards being in HoT. So, you’d rather pay $15-20 per month than a one-time fee of $50? And the paywalls are insane?

If the “paywalls” are a perceived need to get gold faster, thus “needing” to buy gold with gems… that’s not a paywall, it’s an “impatience wall.”

No, impatience would be asking to crash the market so we can all buy legendaries for 1600 gems. I do not want that. What i want is the same drop rates on things, as you’d get in a sub’d MMO. Same price. Same value. I don’t mind working for things, but i want a certified, “better bang for my buck”.

At any rate, i think Miko gave me the best idea, so its a dead subject with me now. I’ll plug away at it with heroic boosters.