Glorious Alpha Two Testers!
Phase I of Alpha Two testing will occur on weekends. Each weekend is scheduled to start on Fridays at 10 AM PT and end on Sundays at 10 PM PT. Find out more here.
Check out Alpha Two Announcements here to see the latest Alpha Two news and update notes.
Our quickest Alpha Two updates are in Discord. Testers with Alpha Two access can chat in Alpha Two channels by connecting your Discord and Intrepid accounts here.
Phase I of Alpha Two testing will occur on weekends. Each weekend is scheduled to start on Fridays at 10 AM PT and end on Sundays at 10 PM PT. Find out more here.
Check out Alpha Two Announcements here to see the latest Alpha Two news and update notes.
Our quickest Alpha Two updates are in Discord. Testers with Alpha Two access can chat in Alpha Two channels by connecting your Discord and Intrepid accounts here.
Comments
Let my purchase teeshirts, hoodies, concept art, posters, mugs, books and custom keycaps.
and leave the monthly Subscription fee to fulfill the game world expectations.
I figured, if you want something, you go out in the In-game World and you find it. Meet others along the way, Discover new things, engage in Open World PvP ... and everything in between. This goes for Cosmetics & HouseHolds - if you want to Look "Cool" / has some unique gear - you craft it , Loot it via Boss ( or loot Player ), Treasure Maps/Scribes, in-game Ancient Library / Magical Library, etc ...
In short ... just look around, Explore
I haven't had that feeling ever since i played Original Final Fantasy 9 on PS1 when i was a Child. Can't wait to experience that in this MMO
Realistically, as much as i don't want to admit it - there might be an actual Cash Shop. Sooo ... maybe ... Gender-Swap-Tokens ?
(since Lore is unknown. And the Player(s) will have to figure it out )
Which, makes a Cash Shop useless
I think it was mentioned before in one of the interviews that a lot of the cosmetics will be in-game, and the cash shop will contain more of the unique items. Players still have a lot of customisation options that are unlockable/findable in game.
Freehold cosmetic packs
Housing furniture items
Warehouse/bank expansion slots
Character auras
Non-combat mini-pets
Freehold NPC costumes
Holiday theme packs for housing and characters
In P2W terms the person who has more money can buy slots which will allow them to gather more materials to craft with/sell, in the end it results into more profit. If it was a game function and spending silver/gold to unlock more slots would be more acceptable for a No P2W genre.
What if Netflix added an extra episode of house of cards or Orange is the new black for people who pay another $1 or $2? Would that be OK? what if the episodes were just behind the scenes, bloopers, or an episode that did not add to the overall story arch?
I know that they are two different mediums and therefore comparisons are always tough but that's how I think of it. I never touch the cash shop and don't plan to. The moment I feel pressured to do so is the moment I leave a sub game.
Meaning there must be a balance between new cosmetics available in the cash shop vs. that available in game. Catering to those those players who enjoy spending money to feel unique (hey, those people exists
We'll really have to wait and see how Intrepid implements their cash shop.
Developer Quote from Discord:
So i can dig up some earth, put out that camp fire and SMASH THAT ASH.
It would also be useful for agriculture.
That if they are going to sell cosmetics or effects, that they remain immersive (ie wings to be race locked so if you're an orc, you're grounded)
That if they are going to sell anything it should remain true to the anti P2W philosophy and be largely made up of cosmetics:
Ie: Extra emote animations
Extra dance animations
Extra skins such as personal skins, mount skins, guild hall, house etc
Extra dress up clothing
But that if they are going to sell things such as this, at the very least they keep the best of the best accessible to EVERYONE in game for free.
Alternatively, the way to go would be to ensure that EVERYTHING cosmetic they sell in the cash shop is available in game, but possibly locked behind. hard quests or time locked accessibility to help ensure that those of an impoverished ilk can get them if they try hard, but that those lazy or affluent can help support the game through paying.
I know it's a convenience thing, but I too really hope that character slots are in the cash shop, I know I will have a lifetime sub, but I'd rather pay a high fee to get a chance to roll more alts on the same account than have to go through all of the rigmarole of logging in/out on different accounts etc etc.
I don't mind paying more than $1 for costumes, yeah $30 an outfit is farrr too pricy for one set of pixels, but how about a compromise:
You go for a trust system? (I am aware this is probably a very stupid idea
As far as I know no MMORPG has tried this before and Intrepid are hoping to break the mold....
They explain why they feel they deserve more, and how the money will be spent, much like the stretch goals of the kickstarter they say... "If can achieve $X through sales of this outfit, we can afford to bring out $Y"
They then ask for a minimum donation of $1/$2, but it also allows you to pay more if you can afford it.
My ongoing financial support for this game is ONLY really going to be available through the cash shop, and you have to say, if it didn't work as an idea then they wouldn't be so omnipresent in MMO's.
Though I agree, it will be down to the team to ensure that they keep their main focus on the game.
^This!
*Gets out teachers hat*
Historically, people could only really afford one or two sets of clothes at any one time, the work and materials that went into making clothes pre industrialisation were expensive and a simple shirt could cost MONTHS of (pre-outgoings) wages.
So walking around in medieval times you'd know who did what because they dressed to 'advertise themselves'
Why on earth would you trust a baker who dressed as a blacksmith?
From a historic / immersive point of view, and given that there won't be a universal market, I'd love to see this so you could know at a glance who to approach if you suddenly need lunch or more arrows etc.
Cash Shop "Costumes", trying to separate it from "Combat Costumes"
Cutesy Costumes (Bikini's, Maids) should only be visible in town nodes and freeholds, anywhere else would break immersion, running out of a town would automatically change from Cute to Combat or if you don't have a Combat Costume it would change into regular gear that is currently equipped.
I see Cash Shops as a tipping service with rewards, It allows you to support the developers more than what you are already paying "Sub" but then again subbing is also supporting the devs. But it is your money and I'm not saying you HAVE to tip them to look cool, I'm sure they are coming up with plenty of ways to get player made costumes that isn't in the Cash Shop for people who can only afford to pay for the sub.
I would like to see Profession Costumes to be only player made, as it will make tailor's more useful.
Then again I hope the game's cash shop is Pay 2 Look Good/Cool and hopefully stays away from P2W as Steven has said.
Recall stones = p2w IMO with there being no fast travel.
But I am all for more beards and hairstyles especially long hairstyles always a fan of more hair, and tattoos