New Infinite Tools, why not separately?
Oh kitten. Did the watchwork pick debacle teach them nothing?
Remember, remember, 15th of November
Yeah, it’s not worth $30+ to get two tools, one of which probably isn’t that great (harvesting). I’d get the logging axe right away though.
Sadly, these could have also been in-game. 500k Karma for each (but that’d really cut into game profits).
“I’m finding companies should sell access to forums,
it seems many like them better than the games they comment on.” -Horrorscope.7632
Oh kitten. Did the watchwork pick debacle teach them nothing?
I’m honestly not familiar with this, what is/was the issue?
Oh kitten. Did the watchwork pick debacle teach them nothing?
I don’t see there being an issue here. We have items that do what these do in game – they cost karma.
The only difference between these and those is that these are unlimited, which is a convenience. Nothing more, nothing less.
This is no different than the original, basic unlimited tools in comparison to orichalcum gathering tools. You can get the same thing in game for gold or karma, but you need gems if you desire the convenience.
And that’s fine.
Now, do I wish we could buy and stack “like” gathering tools up to ‘x’ number of charges? Yes, that would be nice. Highly unlikely, but it’d still be nice.
The primary issue with the watchwork pick was there wasn’t anything else comparable, in game or otherwise.
Oh kitten. Did the watchwork pick debacle teach them nothing?
I’m honestly not familiar with this, what is/was the issue?
It is the only tool that gives an extra resource when used, in this case, sprockets. Those can be sold to other players. Many were the P2W shouts that went with the debut of that pick.
Here the extra resource is a currency, but one that can be turned into coin.
That said, I do like the tools but watching the Dulfy video it looks like you get the foraged resource at the end of the animation which means I’ll still prefer the golf-swing ones (Consortium and fire) for the smoothest gathering of clumps of plants. I’ll have to decide if the bundle is worth the cash given that I don’t like the sickle and don’t need the loose magic gather skill.
Running numbers to decide if it is worth it. The UB I need to give ascended trinkets to all my characters minus my current stash of tools has me shy around 140-150 thousand UM. Given I have things to spend karma on an alternative to carrying around a bag of tools on everyone is a handy idea. Those animations though …. drool.
I just wish they had done a way to upgrading existing tools as I bought the vanilla ones when LS3 started and they have gotten nearly no use. With these they probably never will either.
Oh kitten. Did the watchwork pick debacle teach them nothing?
I’m honestly not familiar with this, what is/was the issue?
It is the only tool that gives an extra resource when used, in this case, sprockets. Those can be sold to other players. Many were the P2W shouts that went with the debut of that pick.
Here the extra resource is a currency, but one that can be turned into coin.
That said, I do like the tools but watching the Dulfy video it looks like you get the foraged resource at the end of the animation which means I’ll still prefer the golf-swing ones (Consortium and fire) for the smoothest gathering of clumps of plants. I’ll have to decide if the bundle is worth the cash given that I don’t like the sickle and don’t need the loose magic gather skill.
The bundle is 300 gems cheaper than the separate ones although if you don’t want the other two it’s not actually saving you anything.
Oh kitten. Did the watchwork pick debacle teach them nothing?
I’m honestly not familiar with this, what is/was the issue?
Long ago, when Anet released first infinite gathering tools, they were asked if those tools will always remain the best option, or is anet going to release better ones later on. People asked, because that actually had a real impact on the price they were prepared to offer for those tools. We were told, that nothing like that was going to happen, and that anyone investing in them can feel safe.
When Anet released watchwork mining pick, they broke that promise (as the pick was objectively superior to prior infinite picks). They were called up on that, and since that time nothing like that happened again.
True, they released some tools with added chance of gathering some resources (wintersday, and unbound magic ones), but at least they were not infinite, so you could say it’s a trade-off.
With an infinite version of those, from gemshop, no less, it’s again an attempt to introduce gear progression of a sort. Now, you can no longer be sure that any QoL item you buy from gemshop will not be at some point replaced with something that made your previous purchase obsolete.
(basically, anyone that bought a normal infinite tool from gemshop can now rightly feel kittened by Anet)
Remember, remember, 15th of November
(edited by Astralporing.1957)
Oh kitten. Did the watchwork pick debacle teach them nothing?
I’m honestly not familiar with this, what is/was the issue?
Watchwork tools drop watchwork sprockets as a bonus item; there’s no other reliable way to farm the sprockets. This was an issue when the tools came out and sprockets were worth 4-6 silver and many metals were vendor price — that meant people could farm silver ore and still make more than someone using other infinite- or limited-use tools on certain ore.
However, this situation is different: unbound tools already exist in the game and are available to anyone with access to the newer maps. Thus the gem store is just selling convenience; there’ no extra functionality this time.
In other words, yes, ANet learned something from the debacle and didn’t make the same mistake.
They should have created a basic “Unlimited Tool” for each type that had a medium cost attached to it.
Then they should have sold the skins (and the affiliated animations) separately allowing your basic “Unlimited Tool” to become any of the new tools as you desire (just like buying an outfit).
Finally, they should have added an “enrichment slot” to gathering tools that gives you a % chance to obtain a specific bonus item (sprockets, Azurite, UM, snowflakes, etc.) when it is equipped in a gathering tool. Unlimited versions of these enrichments could then ALSO be sold on the gem store.
This system would have not only permitted players to have significant control over their customization and convenience, but would have resulting in MORE gemstore revenue for ArenaNet.
Oh kitten. Did the watchwork pick debacle teach them nothing?
I’m honestly not familiar with this, what is/was the issue?
There wasn’t really an issue, but a small set of ppl complained because at the time Watchwork pick was the only one giving something additional and thus made it best in slot and some even claimed it was pay to win.
Can’t say I agree with these being a bundle. It’s great they are a deal, but I;m not shelling out £30 when I prob only want one or two
Long ago, when Anet released first infinite gathering tools, they were asked if those tools will always remain the best option, or is anet going to release better ones later on. People asked, because that actually had a real impact on the price they were prepared to offer for those tools. We were told, that nothing like that was going to happen, and that anyone investing in them can feel safe.
When Anet released watchwork mining pick, they broke that promise (as the pick was objectively superior to prior infinite picks). They were called up on that, and since that time nothing like that happened again.
True, they released some tools with added chance of gathering some resources (wintersday, and unbound magic ones), but at least they were not infinite, so you could say it’s a trade-off.
With an infinite version of those, from gemshop, no less, it’s again an attempt to introduce gear progression of a sort. Now, you can no longer be sure that any QoL item you buy from gemshop will not be at some point replaced with something that made your previous purchase obsolete.
(basically, anyone that bought a normal infinite tool from gemshop can now rightly feel kittened by Anet)
…and everyone else…
Okay, I kinda remember some of that now, thanks.
My main has a set of the old (original?) non-set, individual ones back when they cost 800/ea. I got these new ones since the unbound magic is something I’m really interested in at the moment. I had been buying the karma and farming the Winterberry Bushes in the north once a day, but I think these will be nice to have.
I suppose what would be nice is if there were a way to ‘merge’ infinite tools together so you get the benefit of all the tools you bought at the same time, and then maybe pick your favorite animation skin for each tool.
this is kittened anet,
i bought my 3 harvesting tools one by one so 1000 gems each
i have a Mine-r-Tron
a Chop-It_All_Logging Axe
and a Consortium Harvesting sickle
i paid 3000 gems in total. i get you put them in a bundle and we get discount cuzz we spend more at once but the fact that they give players EXTRA BONUSES (the unbound magic) is just kittened. why do i pay 3000 gems and get unlimited uses, while someone who happened to buy this set of unlimited gathering tools get extra free magic ? just explain that please.
This makes me very unhappy. There should be an option to upgrade existing harvesting tools to get the unbound magic instead of me having to replace the set I bought just last week.
Edit: I am unhappy no longer. Anet has the best customer service ever!
(edited by Anela.3867)
If you just bought them, contact support to see if you can get a refund.
I bought the watchwork mining pick in 2015 for 500 gems during the anniversary sales. I’ll just wait to see if other endless tools will ever have a good discount. Buying a 3-infinite set now is just a waste of my gems.
this is kittened anet,
i bought my 3 harvesting tools one by one so 1000 gems each
i have a Mine-r-Tron
a Chop-It_All_Logging Axe
and a Consortium Harvesting sickle
i paid 3000 gems in total. i get you put them in a bundle and we get discount cuzz we spend more at once but the fact that they give players EXTRA BONUSES (the unbound magic) is just kittened. why do i pay 3000 gems and get unlimited uses, while someone who happened to buy this set of unlimited gathering tools get extra free magic ? just explain that please.
Well, you could ask the CS Team to roll your account back to the time right before you first purchased an Unlimited Tool (and lose all the convenience you’ve had since then), and refund your Gems spent, and then purchase the new Tools. Also, ask them to prevent you from purchasing any items that may, some day in the future, be improved, until said improvement materializes.
Good luck.
this is kittened anet,
i bought my 3 harvesting tools one by one so 1000 gems each
i have a Mine-r-Tron
a Chop-It_All_Logging Axe
and a Consortium Harvesting sickle
i paid 3000 gems in total. i get you put them in a bundle and we get discount cuzz we spend more at once but the fact that they give players EXTRA BONUSES (the unbound magic) is just kittened. why do i pay 3000 gems and get unlimited uses, while someone who happened to buy this set of unlimited gathering tools get extra free magic ? just explain that please.
So did I. And they have served me faithfully over these past few years. No regrets.
If you just bought them, contact support to see if you can get a refund.
And if someone bought them two weeks ago? a month?
Let’s face it, as far as pure utility go, buying any infinite gathering tool except unbound magic ones and watchwork pick is a waste, as they are objectively inferior to those. And (to repeat what was said before, during the watchwork pick debacle), that actually makes the value of any gemshop QoL purchase go down. Because now you can never be sure than next week Anet won’t release something that will be just plain better.
In many ways it’s exactly the same as if anet decided now to introduce a new gear tier, better than ascended and legendaries. Just applied to QoL purchases.
Remember, remember, 15th of November
this is kittened anet,
i bought my 3 harvesting tools one by one so 1000 gems each
i have a Mine-r-Tron
a Chop-It_All_Logging Axe
and a Consortium Harvesting sickle
i paid 3000 gems in total. i get you put them in a bundle and we get discount cuzz we spend more at once but the fact that they give players EXTRA BONUSES (the unbound magic) is just kittened. why do i pay 3000 gems and get unlimited uses, while someone who happened to buy this set of unlimited gathering tools get extra free magic ? just explain that please.
Why’d you buy a mine-r-tron mining pick instead of the watchwork mining pick?
Oh kitten. Did the watchwork pick debacle teach them nothing?
It’s not the same since you can buy expendable ones for karma. These is just the unlimited versions.
RIP City of Heroes
I’m more upset that I’d have to use tools with animations I don’t much care for just to get the bonus. It makes all the tools I already bought inferior despite me still much preferring them. I bought them for a reason. Would have much preferred the unbound magic bonus being an infusion I could apply to old tools to give them that effect, or at least for that to be an option released alongside this bundle.
Oh kitten. Did the watchwork pick debacle teach them nothing?
It’s not the same since you can buy expendable ones for karma. These is just the unlimited versions.
No, it’s exactly the same. It’s about breaking a certain principle, which is really dangerous. Before they broke it, i could be sure than what i buy from gemshop won’t become obsolete at some point in the future. Now i know that’s untrue, and Anet, in their rush for more shortterm income gains, will kitten me over (again) at some point. There will be a “new tier”. And that one won’t be safe from the same happening again either.
Remember, remember, 15th of November
Oh kitten. Did the watchwork pick debacle teach them nothing?
It’s not the same since you can buy expendable ones for karma. These is just the unlimited versions.
No, it’s exactly the same. It’s about breaking a certain principle, which is really dangerous. Before they broke it, i could be sure than what i buy from gemshop won’t become obsolete at some point in the future. Now i know that’s untrue, and Anet, in their rush for more shortterm income gains, will kitten me over (again) at some point. There will be a “new tier”. And that one won’t be safe from the same happening again either.
We can buy mining picks that give sprockets? Where?
This argument parallels the argument of something being P2W despite someone being able to convert gold to gems.
(edited by Ayrilana.1396)
They should have created a basic “Unlimited Tool” for each type that had a medium cost attached to it.
Then they should have sold the skins (and the affiliated animations) separately allowing your basic “Unlimited Tool” to become any of the new tools as you desire (just like buying an outfit).
Finally, they should have added an “enrichment slot” to gathering tools that gives you a % chance to obtain a specific bonus item (sprockets, Azurite, UM, snowflakes, etc.) when it is equipped in a gathering tool. Unlimited versions of these enrichments could then ALSO be sold on the gem store.
This system would have not only permitted players to have significant control over their customization and convenience, but would have resulting in MORE gemstore revenue for ArenaNet.
I absolutely agree with this.
Even if they don’t roll it back to basic/cosmetic/enrichment… if they added an enrichment slot to the current tools, and then allowed purchase of enrichments, that would be good.
Oh kitten. Did the watchwork pick debacle teach them nothing?
It’s not the same since you can buy expendable ones for karma. These is just the unlimited versions.
No, it’s exactly the same. It’s about breaking a certain principle, which is really dangerous. Before they broke it, i could be sure than what i buy from gemshop won’t become obsolete at some point in the future. Now i know that’s untrue, and Anet, in their rush for more shortterm income gains, will kitten me over (again) at some point. There will be a “new tier”. And that one won’t be safe from the same happening again either.
I think it’s more akin to the Basic Salvage Kit and Copper-Fed-Salvage-O-Matic, than OMG, this item has made my purchases obsolete. It’s not like one could not have already used the exact same item, but in a limited capacity, before.
Sometimes, items are improved in the game. Sometimes, it’s even due to player feedback/requests. It would be difficult for the Developers to have the prescience for every change that might happen years down the road.
And what happens in the next expansion when a new map currency and associated tools are introduced? I agree with Astralporing, this is a slippery slope.
They should have created a basic “Unlimited Tool” for each type that had a medium cost attached to it.
They have a generic unlimited set for 2400 gems.
RIP City of Heroes
sure, these are more profitable
but don’t forget, you had the molten tools since LS1, that’s what? 3 years?
you had your money’s worth out of it.
I agree, there’s no reason for the new tools to be so much better without upgrading older tools, but don’t say you were cheated out of money, because for the 300 extra gems, you had them 3 years earlier
Oh kitten. Did the watchwork pick debacle teach them nothing?
I’m honestly not familiar with this, what is/was the issue?
It is the only tool that gives an extra resource when used, in this case, sprockets. Those can be sold to other players. Many were the P2W shouts that went with the debut of that pick.
Here the extra resource is a currency, but one that can be turned into coin.
That said, I do like the tools but watching the Dulfy video it looks like you get the foraged resource at the end of the animation which means I’ll still prefer the golf-swing ones (Consortium and fire) for the smoothest gathering of clumps of plants. I’ll have to decide if the bundle is worth the cash given that I don’t like the sickle and don’t need the loose magic gather skill.
The bundle is 300 gems cheaper than the separate ones although if you don’t want the other two it’s not actually saving you anything.
Ok — does that mean we can buy them (the new unbound magic ones) separately? The OP suggested otherwise and I’ve had a sick headache all day that has kept me from going in game so I relied on that in what I posted.
Oh kitten. Did the watchwork pick debacle teach them nothing?
I’m honestly not familiar with this, what is/was the issue?
It is the only tool that gives an extra resource when used, in this case, sprockets. Those can be sold to other players. Many were the P2W shouts that went with the debut of that pick.
Here the extra resource is a currency, but one that can be turned into coin.
That said, I do like the tools but watching the Dulfy video it looks like you get the foraged resource at the end of the animation which means I’ll still prefer the golf-swing ones (Consortium and fire) for the smoothest gathering of clumps of plants. I’ll have to decide if the bundle is worth the cash given that I don’t like the sickle and don’t need the loose magic gather skill.
The bundle is 300 gems cheaper than the separate ones although if you don’t want the other two it’s not actually saving you anything.
Ok — does that mean we can buy them (the new unbound magic ones) separately? The OP suggested otherwise and I’ve had a sick headache all day that has kept me from going in game so I relied on that in what I posted.
Bundle only because $$$$$
They should have created a basic “Unlimited Tool” for each type that had a medium cost attached to it.
Then they should have sold the skins (and the affiliated animations) separately allowing your basic “Unlimited Tool” to become any of the new tools as you desire (just like buying an outfit).
Finally, they should have added an “enrichment slot” to gathering tools that gives you a % chance to obtain a specific bonus item (sprockets, Azurite, UM, snowflakes, etc.) when it is equipped in a gathering tool. Unlimited versions of these enrichments could then ALSO be sold on the gem store.
This system would have not only permitted players to have significant control over their customization and convenience, but would have resulting in MORE gemstore revenue for ArenaNet.
In context of egalitarian design and player agency, this approach to harvesting tools is superior to what we have now. However, I am not certain that egalitarian design and increased player agency means more revenue.
They’re special! They got aspirations.”
Finn the human
I agree with Astralporing, item progression in the gem shop is a slippery slope. It is the studio monetizing their role as the sole source of innovation and their superior position in a pronounced disparity in information.
The new UM buffed tools aren’t the exact equivalent to the Sprocket buffed tools because there are UM buffed tools available in game; players who use the gem shop do not have an advantage over players who do not.
They’re special! They got aspirations.”
Finn the human
They should have created a basic “Unlimited Tool” for each type that had a medium cost attached to it.
Then they should have sold the skins (and the affiliated animations) separately allowing your basic “Unlimited Tool” to become any of the new tools as you desire (just like buying an outfit).
Finally, they should have added an “enrichment slot” to gathering tools that gives you a % chance to obtain a specific bonus item (sprockets, Azurite, UM, snowflakes, etc.) when it is equipped in a gathering tool. Unlimited versions of these enrichments could then ALSO be sold on the gem store.
This system would have not only permitted players to have significant control over their customization and convenience, but would have resulting in MORE gemstore revenue for ArenaNet.
Fully agreed.
They should have created a basic “Unlimited Tool” for each type that had a medium cost attached to it.
Then they should have sold the skins (and the affiliated animations) separately allowing your basic “Unlimited Tool” to become any of the new tools as you desire (just like buying an outfit).
Finally, they should have added an “enrichment slot” to gathering tools that gives you a % chance to obtain a specific bonus item (sprockets, Azurite, UM, snowflakes, etc.) when it is equipped in a gathering tool. Unlimited versions of these enrichments could then ALSO be sold on the gem store.
This system would have not only permitted players to have significant control over their customization and convenience, but would have resulting in MORE gemstore revenue for ArenaNet.
Fully agreed.
Thirded.
They should have created a basic “Unlimited Tool” for each type that had a medium cost attached to it.
Then they should have sold the skins (and the affiliated animations) separately allowing your basic “Unlimited Tool” to become any of the new tools as you desire (just like buying an outfit).
Finally, they should have added an “enrichment slot” to gathering tools that gives you a % chance to obtain a specific bonus item (sprockets, Azurite, UM, snowflakes, etc.) when it is equipped in a gathering tool. Unlimited versions of these enrichments could then ALSO be sold on the gem store.
This system would have not only permitted players to have significant control over their customization and convenience, but would have resulting in MORE gemstore revenue for ArenaNet.
Fully agreed.
Thirded.
Mostly agree. I’m all for unlimited gathering tools which give extra resources. That said, selling gem priced enrichments (on their own) which gave you extra resources would be a bit iffy – even though its extremely close to what we have currently.
I agree however that all infinite harvesting tools should be normal skinned with the ability to equip any skin you’d previously bought – and then make each infinite harvesting tool purchase a once off option which came with a normal tool, a skin unlock and on appropriate occasion, a gem enrichment.
They should have created a basic “Unlimited Tool” for each type that had a medium cost attached to it.
Then they should have sold the skins (and the affiliated animations) separately allowing your basic “Unlimited Tool” to become any of the new tools as you desire (just like buying an outfit).
Finally, they should have added an “enrichment slot” to gathering tools that gives you a % chance to obtain a specific bonus item (sprockets, Azurite, UM, snowflakes, etc.) when it is equipped in a gathering tool. Unlimited versions of these enrichments could then ALSO be sold on the gem store.
This system would have not only permitted players to have significant control over their customization and convenience, but would have resulting in MORE gemstore revenue for ArenaNet.
Fully agreed.
Thirded.
Yes please.
And what happens in the next expansion when a new map currency and associated tools are introduced? I agree with Astralporing, this is a slippery slope.
Yea this is my fear aswell.
I’m not entirely sure I will be using the plant gathering tool, since it is sooooo much slower than my consortium sickle. Pick I will be swapping off between watchwork and unbound magic.
And what happens in the next expansion when a new map currency and associated tools are introduced? I agree with Astralporing, this is a slippery slope.
Presumably, said map currency will have its own gathering tools available for coin, karma, or a different currency as well. The gem store gathering tools will just be convenience as you can get the same effect without spending a gem.
They should have created a basic “Unlimited Tool” for each type that had a medium cost attached to it.
Then they should have sold the skins (and the affiliated animations) separately allowing your basic “Unlimited Tool” to become any of the new tools as you desire (just like buying an outfit).
Finally, they should have added an “enrichment slot” to gathering tools that gives you a % chance to obtain a specific bonus item (sprockets, Azurite, UM, snowflakes, etc.) when it is equipped in a gathering tool. Unlimited versions of these enrichments could then ALSO be sold on the gem store.
This system would have not only permitted players to have significant control over their customization and convenience, but would have resulting in MORE gemstore revenue for ArenaNet.
Fully agreed.
Thirded.
Yes please.
Yes, it was suggested before…
we could even have some enrichments that would give:
– Gathering speed
– Extra resource from the one being mined
– Map reward bonus when harvesting
etc…
Oh kitten. Did the watchwork pick debacle teach them nothing?
Not sure this is the same. For one thing unbound magic is easy to get via the berry farm or just playing in the new zones. It’s not like watchwork sprockets which had very very limited methods of acquisition.
And you get get gathering tools in game with karma that allow you to gather unbound magic as well.
Not the same situation and I’m not seeing the same outcry.
The only complaint I’m seeing here is that it invalidates other gathering tools you’ve spend good gems on.
Unless you are new or have not already bought a set there is no need to rush out and get these. Just play normal with what you have and you will be fine.
Anet will not learn if everyone panics and drops a ton of gems on these.
Oh please the drama is overblown. It’s just unbound magic which already exists tools for, is all over the place in various maps and needs to be converted.
It is nothing on the league of the watchwork one, because not only were sprockets pretty valuable at the time, it was very hard to acquire normally. That become muted with it becoming a map reward and now they’re not really that valuable.
I’ll buy these in the future when they inevitably go on sale, maybe. I still think every tool should each provide something.
for there you have been and there you will long to return.
(edited by ArchonWing.9480)
Oh kitten. Did the watchwork pick debacle teach them nothing?
The Unbound magic ones don’t make a liquid gold profit…..
There’s only one reliable source of watchwork sprockets: the pick. There are tons of ways to farm unbound magic.
There’s no in-game pick that drops watchwork sprockets; only the gem shop one. There are six NPCs that sell unbound magic tools.
There is one other set of tools that drops a currency: the frostbitten set. No one much cares, because snowflakes (special or otherwise) are worth next to nothing (huge supply, hardly any demand).
So, no, this isn’t the same as what happened with the Watchwork Mining Tool. There are notable similarities, but the differences are more important.
It is nothing on the league of the watchwork one, because not only were sprockets pretty valuable at the time, it was very hard to acquire normally. That become muted with it becoming a map reward and now they’re not really that valuable.
Actually almost half of the ~650k supply of watchwork sprockets in the TP has disappeared in the past week, and the value of them has about doubled in the past two weeks – from 1s to 2s. I assume that it’s related to recent changes and the “new condi meta”, and sigil of bursting. Hardly leather-level valuable, but a significant change nonetheless – especially because the gathering options amount to watchwork picks and home nodes, so the supply is hardly flush.
I see nothing wrong with the new unlimited gathering tools. They are as mentioned numerous times, available for karma if you don’t want to spend the gems.
And I as well have several sets of the different types of unlimited gathering tools and still do not mind.
I just put the extra sets on alts so I don’t have to worry about switching the tools before switching tools.
I dunno . Unbound magic is really easy to come by just playing new map. Unlike watchwork one that pretty much have to gathering it yourself with that tool and some recipe still use a stack of watchwork to craft.
I think this thread may have veered a bit off-topic.
The Devs may, or may not, offer the Unbound Magic Tools separately in the future. Perhaps, if there is enough desire for such an offering from the playerbase, the offering will be more likely, than not.
Either way, I would not expect a separate offering any time in the near future.
Good luck.