Guild Wars 2

So many posts saying us veterans didn’t get anything and new players are getting the core game for free really makes me think how many of you are actually veteran players.

Us veteran players have gotten to experience all the open world events since release with new patches every few weeks. These new players won’t get all that the same way we did even if they get a “bonus” free version with buying HoT.

They won’t hear while afk’ing at the bank in LA the asura and char that say “Your face is funny”, “No, your face is funny. It’s like a little raisin”

They didn’t experience the festival events and seasoned events like we did.

They won’t see LA getting destroyed and how we fought over it while scarlet attacked it.

They won’t get to fight marionette like we did cause that is all gone and done.

They probably won’t see SAB seeing as people still riot about it to this day.

They didn’t get to farm aetherblades in zones and have tons of champs spawning.

Those are just a few examples but so many other open world events that these new players will never experience even if they do get a “Bonus” free version of the core game.

Stop being greedy and thinking its all about new players when new players will have missed out on a ton of content that is no longer available. Veterans have the memories of all that has happened since launch of this game to this date while new players will never experience those events.

Jesus christ, spare me indignation.
All I’m asking for is a reduction in price because I genuinely feel that the expansion is not worth 45 euros.

Also this: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/hot/ANet-you-have-a-moral-duty-here

I’ve only experience a month or slightly more? I consider myself to be a newbie veteran. I purchased the core thinking it was needed. I was misled and lied to. It’s not a matter of being greedy. I also see that older veterans who bought the game will need to spend more than just $50 to experience the expansion in full. Either that, or they grind madly for that character slot. Is it fair older players needs to pay $60 instead of $50?

No body gives a kitten about that old content. We’re complaining that $49.99 is fair for the base game and expansion, it’s no where near fair for the expansion on it’s own since it doesn’t have $49.99 worth of content in it. Unless I didn’t hear about all the dungeons, races, and classes that they’re adding with this expansion which almost costs the same amount as the game when we first got it with all that content. It’s a clear ripoff and the Anet fanboys will justify the pricing with just about anything they can find.

littlemunster.1059:

I’ve only experience a month or slightly more? I consider myself to be a newbie veteran. I purchased the core thinking it was needed. I was misled and lied to. It’s not a matter of being greedy. I also see that older veterans who bought the game will need to spend more than just $50 to experience the expansion in full. Either that, or they grind madly for that character slot. Is it fair older players needs to pay $60 instead of $50?

Nobody has to spend $10 for another character slot seeing as you can convert gold to gems and if a veteran players doesn’t have enough gold for one more character slot well not even sure what to say about that seeing as most have already purchased many extra slots to have one of each profession. Its no difference, if you want to play another profession and have no slots well you’ll need to purchase one.

The point in this wasn’t about the prices or anything dealing with that. It was more about veterans claiming we get nothing but new players get every thing we got just by purchasing HoT when that is clearly not the case. So many open world events that new players will never experience. So in a way veterans have gotten way more content then any new player will ever get.. That was the point of this.

Val.8265:

We did get something, the lower end of the stick.

Because we bought the game in 2012.

Because we supported them for 3 years.

Because we spend additional money with gems.

Because of us, they have the chance to make an expansion.

And because of that, we pay more for less value.

Ye, being a loyal player feels good.

Were you forced to purchased things with gems? No that was your choice.

Val.8265:

We did get something, the lower end of the stick.

Because we bought the game in 2012.

Because we supported them for 3 years.

Because we spend additional money with gems.

Because of us, they have the chance to make an expansion.

And because of that, we pay more for less value.

Ye, being a loyal player feels good.

Shaf, say hello to Ted. Terrible marketing.

I think the majority of players complaining about the free standard/base game are players that just recently purchased the game at full price and won’t be getting a refund. Before the pre-purchase, Anet did a lot of advertising for the base game, putting it on sale and telling players to purchase and play the base game before the Xpan comes out, you’ll need to buy the base game anyways. But in reality, they didn’t have to buy the base game, they could of just waited and bought this, get the base game and still had the time to catch up on all the content available.

I’m a veteran from launch, I don’t mind much. Just an incentive for more players, more players = more fun in an MMO. But i do understand the rage that new veteran players are feeling at the moment. They just shelled out $50 bucks for the base game, and now they have to shell out $50 more for an expansion, so they’re paying double what a new player is going to pay now, even though they’ve only been playing for 1-2 months. They don’t get the added benefits of all of LWS Season 1 and only get Season 2 if they paid extra.

McLovin.2796:

No body gives a kitten about that old content. We’re complaining that $49.99 is fair for the base game and expansion, it’s no where near fair for the expansion on it’s own since it doesn’t have $49.99 worth of content in it. Unless I didn’t hear about all the dungeons, races, and classes that they’re adding with this expansion which almost costs the same amount as the game when we first got it with all that content. It’s a clear ripoff and the Anet fanboys will justify the pricing with just about anything they can find.

You’ve played the entire expansion to know what content is included?

And yes nobody cares about old content was exactly the point in this. You have all forgotten about it and have experienced it yet new players will never experience it.

briggah.7910:

Val.8265:

We did get something, the lower end of the stick.

Because we bought the game in 2012.

Because we supported them for 3 years.

Because we spend additional money with gems.

Because of us, they have the chance to make an expansion.

And because of that, we pay more for less value.

Ye, being a loyal player feels good.

Were you forced to purchased things with gems? No that was your choice.

He never used the word “forced”. You’re casting aspersions. Stop it. His point is valid, yours isn’t.

If we can’t say that it’s not worth 45 euros because we haven’t played the expansion, why can you say that it is worth 45 euros even though you haven’t either?

Dott.5672:

If we can’t say that it’s not worth 45 euros because we haven’t played the expansion, why can you say that it is worth 45 euros even though you haven’t either?

+1

briggah.7910:

Val.8265:

We did get something, the lower end of the stick.

Because we bought the game in 2012.

Because we supported them for 3 years.

Because we spend additional money with gems.

Because of us, they have the chance to make an expansion.

And because of that, we pay more for less value.

Ye, being a loyal player feels good.

Were you forced to purchased things with gems? No that was your choice.

A choice he/she made becouse he wanted to be fair, and see Anet fix bugs and keep the servers running, at the very least. Now Anet shows they don’t give a kitten about fairness. C’est la vie.

It is not Greedy to want equality, in fact most Vets are not even asking for equality because are monetarily worth more because we choose to stay and choose to pay. But that not the point. I expected not to go to a store and have to pay for milk because I helped the store open and grow. I don’t expect to be treated less of an employee at my work because I have been with the company longer than a new hire.

I don’t expect more that the new hire, I expect the same, also I would like to be able to play the new class at launch that was advertised without having to pay more than someone who just started the game.

That is the core of the issue not greed just wanna be able to do the same thing a new comer can.

indelible.5928:

briggah.7910:

Val.8265:

We did get something, the lower end of the stick.

Because we bought the game in 2012.

Because we supported them for 3 years.

Because we spend additional money with gems.

Because of us, they have the chance to make an expansion.

And because of that, we pay more for less value.

Ye, being a loyal player feels good.

Were you forced to purchased things with gems? No that was your choice.

He never used the word “forced”. You’re casting aspersions. Stop it. His point is valid, yours isn’t.

I asked it as a question It was his choice to buy things from the gem store just like it is his choice to pay for the expansion if he wants.

As a veteran you are basically paying for the living world content now, that new players will never have and that you got for free.

Would it be fair for newcomers to pay for the core game and the expansion if they never had the chance of experiencing the living story?

Thats no equality as well.

So much vaseline u may fall into your own a**! Im veteran player, paid for the game while it was released, then bought it for my husband so we can play together, cant count how many times i paid for gems, and now im furious that they want to reap me off like that! I was loyal and get slap in the face, if they think they ‘made guild wars’ what it is now on their own they wrong!

briggah.7910:

Nobody has to spend $10 for another character slot seeing as you can convert gold to gems and if a veteran players doesn’t have enough gold for one more character slot well not even sure what to say about that

So a big Kitten You to us “filthy casuals,” huh?

I never seen so much victim blaming as in this thread.

For previous players…The $50 price tag would be fine, if HoT was the size of a Nightfall-esque Xpac, in other words: almost an entire game’s worth of content. From what we’ve been told, it’s nowhere near that much.
The $50 price tag would be fine, if it held just a little more content than previously featured, and a character slot. HoT may have the extra meat on it’s bones, hidden by devs, but no character slot.
The $50 price tag is only an attractive deal to new players. Which is where the extra money is at anyway.

It’s not being greedy to expect the same value for the same price. “Including the core game as a freebie” is a base lie, the type I’ve heard sold better at used car lots. “I’ll just throw in the cost of floor mats and cleaning the windows for free because you’re such a nice guy.”

If anything we’re paying twice, if you say we’re greedy, buy 2 copies and give 1 away. If you don’t do that, then you are just as greedy as us.

quacthulhu.2546:

<snip>

..

For previous players…The $50 price tag would be fine, if HoT was the size of a Nightfall-esque Xpac, in other words: almost an entire game’s worth of content. From what we’ve been told, it’s nowhere near that much.

..
<snip>

Also Nightfall, you were given 2 character slots if you already owned any other campaign. It shows how Arenanet handled these things in the past vs. now.

Ark Bladesteele.2943:

I redeemed the HoT code on my current account. There are no separate codes, it appears if you redeem the code on your existing account you do not get another “free” copy of the base game.

This is highly misleading, unless someone from ANet wishes to explain to me how to start another account from a code that has already been redeemed.

If not, and I suspect as such, then that’s BS. The news and order pages should be updated to state that you do not get a free copy of the base game if you activate HoT on a pre-existing account. It means that veteran players are indeed getting screwed; those of us that have an account already will pay whatever we paid for the game originally ($60 in my case) plus $50 for the expansion and no additional account. That brings my total up to $110.

New players get both the base game and the expansion for $50. Wow.

That’s really all I have to say about that.

Ark Bladesteele.2943:

Ark Bladesteele.2943:

I redeemed the HoT code on my current account. There are no separate codes, it appears if you redeem the code on your existing account you do not get another “free” copy of the base game.

This is highly misleading, unless someone from ANet wishes to explain to me how to start another account from a code that has already been redeemed.

If not, and I suspect as such, then that’s BS. The news and order pages should be updated to state that you do not get a free copy of the base game if you activate HoT on a pre-existing account. It means that veteran players are indeed getting screwed; those of us that have an account already will pay whatever we paid for the game originally ($60 in my case) plus $50 for the expansion and no additional account. That brings my total up to $110.

New players get both the base game and the expansion for $50. Wow.

That’s really all I have to say about that.

Depreciation my son, depreciation. This is ANET confirming that the BASE game is worthless now.

And ya, this was misleading, I’m glad I asked and looked around here before deciding to make a purchase or not. They need to reword it or put some kind of disclaimer because right now its just simply, false advertising and fraud.

briggah.7910:

Us veteran players have gotten to experience all the open world events since release with new patches every few weeks.

So basically what you are saying is, “What you paid for the game was your subscription until this point. It was ‘consumable’. You bought it, you used it, now it’s over and spent. If you want to keep getting new stuff, it’s time for your next subscription.”

Val.8265:

quacthulhu.2546:

<snip>
..

For previous players…The $50 price tag would be fine, if HoT was the size of a Nightfall-esque Xpac, in other words: almost an entire game’s worth of content. From what we’ve been told, it’s nowhere near that much.

..
<snip>

Also Nightfall, you were given 2 character slots if you already owned any other campaign. It shows how Arenanet handled these things in the past vs. now.

I never even realized that. I got all the GW1 Xpacs at once when they were super cheap/old.

Honestly, I think Anet is playing the “squeeze the money from the impatient!” game right now. Putting up the strictest, most newbie-friendly plans at the full asking price, because there will always be people who leap onto that stuff. Anet has to make it’s profit, that’s fair, but I hope we get a “expansion only” cheaper version of these deals, or something else tossed in to make it worth the cost, likely further down the line. I don’t want to think Anet just turned ice-cold on us. I can expect a little money-grubbing from a company, any company, it’s capitalism, ta-da! I’ll only feel hurt if it stays this way without any concession.
and “hurt” veterans tend to stop spending money.

Kitsune.1902:

So basically what you are saying is, “What you paid for the game was your subscription until this point. It was ‘consumable’. You bought it, you used it, now it’s over and spent. If you want to keep getting new stuff, it’s time for your next subscription.”

Then Anet would be violating their own promise when they released the game years ago.
“No subscriptions ever”

briggah.7910:

So many posts saying us veterans didn’t get anything and new players are getting the core game for free really makes me think how many of you are actually veteran players.

Us veteran players have gotten to experience all the open world events since release with new patches every few weeks. These new players won’t get all that the same way we did even if they get a “bonus” free version with buying HoT.

They won’t hear while afk’ing at the bank in LA the asura and char that say “Your face is funny”, “No, your face is funny. It’s like a little raisin”

They didn’t experience the festival events and seasoned events like we did.

They won’t see LA getting destroyed and how we fought over it while scarlet attacked it.

They won’t get to fight marionette like we did cause that is all gone and done.

They probably won’t see SAB seeing as people still riot about it to this day.

They didn’t get to farm aetherblades in zones and have tons of champs spawning.

Those are just a few examples but so many other open world events that these new players will never experience even if they do get a “Bonus” free version of the core game.

Stop being greedy and thinking its all about new players when new players will have missed out on a ton of content that is no longer available. Veterans have the memories of all that has happened since launch of this game to this date while new players will never experience those events.

We veteran players already have paid 50 bucks for the game, and as a good appreciation from Anet we get a BIG KITTEN YOU and we only reward new players to play our game. Even with the ingame promotion they promote the core game as a bonus, which you cannot use as a 2nd, 3rd or 4th account. The least A-net could do for their core gamers to let them preorder the game and give a small token of grattitude and give a free characterslot (+ bankslot).

They even have promoted their game several times with a 75% off reduction and now you get the game for free. People expected to buy the core game in advance of the hot expansion and now still have to pay another full price for it. This HoT expansion is a total rip of.

littlemunster.1059:

I’ve only experience a month or slightly more? I consider myself to be a newbie veteran. I purchased the core thinking it was needed. I was misled and lied to. It’s not a matter of being greedy. I also see that older veterans who bought the game will need to spend more than just $50 to experience the expansion in full. Either that, or they grind madly for that character slot. Is it fair older players needs to pay $60 instead of $50?

You’re in luck, contact support they’ll probably change your purchase into the pre-purchase for you:
http://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/comments/3a46s4/preorders_for_heart_of_thorns_are_now_live/cs96lfu

quacthulhu.2546:

Val.8265:

quacthulhu.2546:

<snip>
..

For previous players…The $50 price tag would be fine, if HoT was the size of a Nightfall-esque Xpac, in other words: almost an entire game’s worth of content. From what we’ve been told, it’s nowhere near that much.

..
<snip>

Also Nightfall, you were given 2 character slots if you already owned any other campaign. It shows how Arenanet handled these things in the past vs. now.

I never even realized that. I got all the GW1 Xpacs at once when they were super cheap/old.

Honestly, I think Anet is playing the “squeeze the money from the impatient!” game right now. Putting up the strictest, most newbie-friendly plans at the full asking price, because there will always be people who leap onto that stuff. Anet has to make it’s profit, that’s fair, but I hope we get a “expansion only” cheaper version of these deals, or something else tossed in to make it worth the cost, likely further down the line. I don’t want to think Anet just turned ice-cold on us. I can expect a little money-grubbing from a company, any company, it’s capitalism, ta-da! I’ll only feel hurt if it stays this way without any concession.
and “hurt” veterans tend to stop spending money.

I’m reluctant to make comparisons to Prophecies/Factions/Nightfall, because the deal was completely different. If you bought Factions, you got full Factions game, but nothing from Prophecies or Nightfall. They were all different campaigns, and you didn’t get freebies across them. Basically if you merged them, you lost some character slots, but had the ability to have your characters ‘travel’ between the campaigns.

It’s like if you could buy HoT separate, and could then only play in the HoT areas, but not in base game areas… you’d have to buy both separately, and could either play them as separate accounts, or merge them. It’s different deal. I think that’s why the FAQ had that question about whether you need base game to play HoT, and why there was all the confusion about it. Honestly I don’t blame a.net much about that fumble.. it’s true that you need base game to play HoT, as opposed to GW1 where all three campaigns could be played individually.

Of course I’m not saying it all fine – it’s true it gives wrong impression seeing as the game was bundled with the expansion by default, but given the background of GW1, I think it was understandable mistake.

quacthulhu.2546:

Kitsune.1902:

So basically what you are saying is, “What you paid for the game was your subscription until this point. It was ‘consumable’. You bought it, you used it, now it’s over and spent. If you want to keep getting new stuff, it’s time for your next subscription.”

Then Anet would be violating their own promise when they released the game years ago.
“No subscriptions ever”

Not really.. it’s technically true of course – you can keep playing the base GW2 until the doomsday without paying extra.

All i’m asking is Collectors edition. I can be even quite simple. What would make me happy is following:

- Making off book, with concept art of HoT. I’m sure this wouldnt take up much work. Don’t have to be the 200 pages of original book.
- Soundtrack of living story 2+Hearth of thorns (with maybe some bonus songs form orignal if possible).
- Those small paintings that you could switch in and out of a cardboard were amazing, just repeat that
- If possible Caithe statue, but I can live without it, still would be missed

Digital bonus content is nice, but I have no need at all for it.

Jitsuryoku.9038:

If anything we’re paying twice, if you say we’re greedy, buy 2 copies and give 1 away. If you don’t do that, then you are just as greedy as us.

It’s actually more than that. Fill all your slots with characters, and buy the extra slot for the revenant for $10 more dollars.

Don’t want to spend money just like that, new players? Greedy
/s

Agreed another fair option would be to lock the new players out of creating a Revenant until they purchase a character slot.

Giland.4507:

Agreed another fair option would be to lock the new players out of creating a Revenant until they purchase a character slot.

That would be an extraordinarily bad solution. New players aren’t guilty of having all the free slots for the Revenant.
Veteran players are simply getting a lot less, when they have clearly given more.

Kitsune.1902:

Not really.. it’s technically true of course – you can keep playing the base GW2 until the doomsday without paying extra.

Wait… you mean this isn’t Doomsday already? ‘Cause that’s the impression I’m getting from about 5 minutes on these forums lol.

That’s it, no more Guild Wars 2 for me. I won’t be angry, I won’t make accusations, I will just state my point of view:

I won’t pay a FULL game price for something that isn’t. a FULL. game.
Just by comparison you see what got introduced with the release of GW2 and what will get introduced with HoT. I won’t give you exact numbers, but it should be obvious that there is a clear disparity.

• GW2 introduced multiple skill sets with multiple weapons for each profession. HoT just one.

• GW2 introduced 20+ map sectiosn with lot of things to explore. HoT will about let’s say five (not including what is to come, but then I didn’t include new maps before too).

• GW2 had multiple character slots. HoT will have ONE additional, but ONLY if you are willing to pay MORE money!!

• GW2 introduced multiple pvp arenas, and multiple WvW maps. HoT will have only one additional borderland and… well you get it by now.

And the list goes on and on. I hope you guys, also Arenanet, can understand what I am trying to say. HoT is NOT a game worthy of a full game price, I am NOT willing to spend that much money.

P.S.: For those who say: “Don’t be greedy…”, “You don’t have to buy it…”, “You are entitled to nothing…”.
Yeah. I get it. I am not demanding Arenanet to lower their prices. I am just not willing to buy HoT because of the aforementioned reasons.

P.P.S.: I also feel a little sorry for my friend who just bought this game about one week ago, when he could get GW2+HoT for the same price just a little later.

briggah.7910:

So many posts saying us veterans didn’t get anything and new players are getting the core game for free really makes me think how many of you are actually veteran players.

Us veteran players have gotten to experience all the open world events since release with new patches every few weeks. These new players won’t get all that the same way we did even if they get a “bonus” free version with buying HoT.

They won’t hear while afk’ing at the bank in LA the asura and char that say “Your face is funny”, “No, your face is funny. It’s like a little raisin”

They didn’t experience the festival events and seasoned events like we did.

They won’t see LA getting destroyed and how we fought over it while scarlet attacked it.

They won’t get to fight marionette like we did cause that is all gone and done.

They probably won’t see SAB seeing as people still riot about it to this day.

They didn’t get to farm aetherblades in zones and have tons of champs spawning.

Those are just a few examples but so many other open world events that these new players will never experience even if they do get a “Bonus” free version of the core game.

Stop being greedy and thinking its all about new players when new players will have missed out on a ton of content that is no longer available. Veterans have the memories of all that has happened since launch of this game to this date while new players will never experience those events.

Half of the stuff you mentioned I did not experience either. I have been a model player, sinking at least $10/month (often >$20 or more) into this game. Far more than what I would be paying for a subscription fee elsewhere. So, no, I do not feel like my investment was worth it if I could have saved all of that money and just joined when HOT comes out.

Let me play the base as a mule account and I could justify it at least. I would not choose to do it but at least I could justify it.

The notion that the base game is free with the expansion is just marketing doublespeak. Everybody who purchases the expansion is paying for the base game in addition to the expansion regardless of whether they own it or not. Reminds me of microsoft claiming that internet explorer is “free with windows”. It isn’t free just has the price included.

Anet pulled a bait and switch on players who purchased the base game with the understanding that is was required in order to play the expansion.

Anet should look forward to months of complaining and abuse rather than hype for the expansion.

village idiot.1436:

The notion that the base game is free with the expansion is just marketing doublespeak. Everybody who purchases the expansion is paying for the base game in addition to the expansion regardless of whether they own it or not. Reminds me of microsoft claiming that internet explorer is “free with windows”. It isn’t free just has the price included.

Anet pulled a bait and switch on players who purchased the base game with the understanding that is was required in order to play the expansion.

Anet should look forward to months of complaining and abuse rather than hype for the expansion.

what are you basing you claims on exactly?

why is it marketing double speak in your opinion?

Dott.5672:

Jesus christ, spare me indignation.
All I’m asking for is a reduction in price because I genuinely feel that the expansion is not worth 45 euros.

Also this: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/hot/ANet-you-have-a-moral-duty-here

Dott.5672:

If we can’t say that it’s not worth 45 euros because we haven’t played the expansion, why can you say that it is worth 45 euros even though you haven’t either?

Good point, everyone should stop talking about if it’s worth it or not until we learn more. Also who said it is worth 45 euros? All I’ve seen so far in this thread is people like you saying it isn’t worth the money because you ‘feel’ it.

Otokomae.9356:

Kitsune.1902:

Not really.. it’s technically true of course – you can keep playing the base GW2 until the doomsday without paying extra.

Wait… you mean this isn’t Doomsday already? ‘Cause that’s the impression I’m getting from about 5 minutes on these forums lol.

The sky is falling the sky is falling!

Slap yourself if your defending this style of selling, it’s not even only about the veterans. What if you just bought the game 4 months ago, you now get it for the same price with a new expansion which was supposed to be standalone. Lies and false marketing, a total sham.

The base opinion from what I’ve heard is that HoT seems to have less story content than the GW1 expansions, while costing more and not providing a character slot to play the new class on.

Do the forums really need another thread regarding that topic just so a different person can state its opinion as the most important? The OP is totally redundant because this could have been written in the other threads and instead of reading and differentiating all the different opinions and perspectives it’s just another “colour everyone with the same brush”.
But I have an advice, too: instead of “advising” others about what they should think and feel you could try to think outside the box.

Stop being stingy Arena Net, is what you meant to say briggah.

I am fine with new players getting GW2 for free, but veterans deserve something of equal value.

1. You won’t be able to play with the revenant if you have all your character slots filled, unless you delete characters, pay $10 more or farm.
2. You won’t get a “free” core account if you’re not a new player (even though you’re probably paying for it).
3. If you bought a core account recently, and want to buy the expansion now, you’re basically churning more money than you should.

Yes, the players are so greedy. Praise Anet’s marketing team, for they are full of saints.

Antillio Full Metal.2795:

Slap yourself if your defending this style of selling, it’s not even only about the veterans. What if you just bought the game 4 months ago, you now get it for the same price with a new expansion which was supposed to be standalone. Lies and false marketing, a total sham.

Have they already announced the release date for HoT!?

If you just bought the game 4 months ago, you got to enjoy the game for the past 4 months + the few months ahead before the next expansion releases. Sham? Do you expect to play the game for free just because an expansion will release in the future? I wish healthcare worked like that, getting some dental work done for free because I know my teeth will grow all screwed up in the future.

The problem is not the content or the price. The problem is trust.
Should Anet say the expansion costs 80 bucks, that could be overpriced, but is a fair offer. You can take it or not, but is clear and honest.
But if Anet says HoT will be just a expansion and then includes the core game into the price ONLY FOR A GROUP (Converting HoT in a boosted version of the core game, not just an expansion), after inducing a lot of people to get the core game alone through offers and promises… its false advertising. And that’s even legally punishable.

Ardid.7203:

The problem is not the content or the price. The problem is trust.
Should Anet say the expansion costs 80 bucks, that could be overpriced, but is a fair offer. You can take it or not, but is clear and honest.

My own feeling exactly.

If people want to whinge about the price point, I have little sympathy. ANet is ultimately free to try to sell its products at any price it wants. I’m free to make my own judgement, and either buy or not. As is everyone else.

Telling me ahead of time that I would need a copy of the base game, though (resulting in me spending money on the second account I’d been considering, in preparation for the expansion), then changing that without warning – and not only not acknowledging the fact, but trying to pretend that’s not what they were doing at all – that’s another thing entirely. I’ve put in a request for a full or partial refund – there’s a post on Reddit indicating that they may be open to things along those lines here). I shall be interested to see how they respond.

(I’ve worked in marketing in a multinational, and worked with the corporate guys quite a bit in other roles too. I’ve seen decisions like this many times. They usually happen last minute, when the marketing guys can’t make the numbers balance to squeeze as much money out of the release as they want. In this case, I’m sure, it was about trying to find a price as an expansion that would both get enough money from existing players and not put off new players who had to buy the base game as well. Ad they couldn’t agree one. So some bright spark had the idea of just bundling everything together from day one, upping the price point to something between the two extremes, and spinning the bundling as “a free bonus”. And either they didn’t realise just how big a lead balloon THAT would be amongst existing customers, or they decided the actual number of lost players would be acceptable.)

1 class and some 4 maps = $35 if we assume base is worth $10
8 classes and 25 maps = $10

I don’t think HoT is a good use of my money.

£35 for an expansion featuring a much vaunted new class. A class that you can’t actually play unless you hand them another £10 on top of the expansion’s £35.

Including a character slot isn’t that much to ask. is it?