ALL COSMETICS should be locked behind something ingame

Visual progression is a vital factor for an MMO. Especially during it's early stages and release.

There is something magical when you create a new character in a new or old MMO. You literally see your character evolve visually as you progress. It is also amazing, seeing your fellow players around you grow visually as well. This will never be a thing in AoC. Because everyone will very early use their cosmetics on their armor and weapons.

Is there something we could do instead? Where we value the cosmetics while still retaining the amazing visual progression an MMO can offer at the start of an adventure? Yes.

Lore friendly and fun gameplay solution

In the world of Verra, magically transforming your items and mounts into different beings and items while retaining their properties requires a skilled and knowledgeable individual. A Transmogrifier.

These are rare in the world of Verra, and they don't come cheap. And they may not offer their services to everyone.

Once our character ascends at level 25 (aka, unlocks their secondary archtype) a quest chain could be unlocked. A Transmogrifier is in need of help with an epic task.

Helping the Transmogrifier out, will unlock the ability to freely use your cosmetics, maybe for a small fee, or completly free on the go. He might also teach you how to use this magic on your own, so you can use cosmetics on the fly.

The quest could technically be unlocked at any level, but the later the better in my opinion. I would even prefer level 60, but 25 is a nice compromise for people who want cosmetics early.

What benefits does this bring?

Well, it offers us an amazing lore friendly, potentially epic quest to unlock our cosmetics. I believe a quest chain like this, will make our cosmetics feel more valuable and appreciated. It might also motivate people to stay a bit longer at release to unlock this feature and actually try out the game.

In addition to this, the system will make it so we don't lose that magical early game visual progression. I believe this is vital for the health of the game during release.

What do you think? Share your thoughts!

*Disclaimer: I am aware some cosmetics are already locked. For example, flying mount cosmetics require you to own a tier 3 mount. Gliding mount cosmetics require you to own a tier 2 mount. But, costumes, armor, weapons, tier 1 mounts, will all most likely be avaible very, very early.

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Comments

bloodprophet

I think your 5 years late.

CptBrownBeard

Applying the cosmetic once I've acquired the necessary gear piece is my visual progression. So thanks, but no thanks.

Vhaeyne

We are being compensated for the cash shop and cosmetics existing. There is no box price.

They are not quadruple dipping like WOW(box price,sub,wow token,cash shop) or triple dipping like FFXIV(box price,sub,cash shop).

Cosmetics are a major component of their business model, and it's not going to change. While philosophically, I agree with you, I can't advocate for the change in Ashes because I have already spent good money buying into their current business model. I also agree with Steven that this is the best business model for Ashes. I can't see other models having as high of a chance for success.

Noaani

In general, I agree.

For Ashes, nope. Not what this game is about.

Taleof2Cities

Vhaeyne wrote: »

We are being compensated for the cash shop and cosmetics existing. There is no box price.

Cosmetics are a major component of their business model, and it's not going to change.

^This.^

Taking away cash shop cosmetics means you're asking Steven and the Team to essentially survive on subscription only.

That's not sustainable for the cadence of content that Ashes wants to deliver.

Fortunately, Steven has said a number of times that "comparable" in-game cosmetics can be found in lieu of the cash shop version, @Marzzo.

daveywavey

*sigh* - Do we not have a megathread for these, yet?

Marzzo

CptBrownBeard wrote: »

Applying the cosmetic once I've acquired the necessary gear piece is my visual progression. So thanks, but no thanks.

So the second you log in and find out you are wearing an armor piece? Ur aware most cosmetics are full body, non customizable suits? That you will be able to use right when you log in?

Marzzo

Taleof2Cities wrote: »

Vhaeyne wrote: »

We are being compensated for the cash shop and cosmetics existing. There is no box price.

Cosmetics are a major component of their business model, and it's not going to change.

^This.^

Taking away cash shop cosmetics means you're asking Steven and the Team to essentially survive on subscription only.

That's not sustainable for the cadence of content that Ashes wants to deliver.

Fortunately, Steven has said a number of times that "comparable" in-game cosmetics can be found in lieu of the cash shop version, @Marzzo.

I never said anything about taking away any cosmetic. Also, recoloured items and such will not be a thing. This is confirmed. Maybe actually read the post before commenting.

Marzzo

Vhaeyne wrote: »

We are being compensated for the cash shop and cosmetics existing. There is no box price.

They are not quadruple dipping like WOW(box price,sub,wow token,cash shop) or triple dipping like FFXIV(box price,sub,cash shop).

Cosmetics are a major component of their business model, and it's not going to change. While philosophically, I agree with you, I can't advocate for the change in Ashes because I have already spent good money buying into their current business model. I also agree with Steven that this is the best business model for Ashes. I can't see other models having as high of a chance for success.

I don't understand what you mean. With my proposed system, all cosmetics are still there. Nothing changes, except that you need to unlock the ability to use them.

Marzzo

bloodprophet wrote: »

I think your 5 years late.

What do you even mean?

CROW3

Marzzo wrote: »

What do you even mean?

The majority of games do not use a fixed visual progression system. Xmog and cosmetics are the new established norm.

Marzzo

CROW3 wrote: »

Marzzo wrote: »

What do you even mean?

The majority of games do not use a fixed visual progression system. Xmog and cosmetics are the new established norm.

But why would we let that happened. This game does not have to be like all other, failed games. I really can't understand why cosmetics can't be unlocked a little later in progression.

I mean, if it is tied to a fun and engaging questiline, it actually puts some lore and depth to everyone's cosmetics.

It's a win win for everyone.

CROW3

I think the cosmetics ship has sailed for Ashes.

To answer your question ‘why would we let that happen?’ The practical response is to vote with your wallet. If you disagree, don’t buy cosmetics. If you disagree so vehemently, don’t sub for the game.

bloodprophet

Marzzo wrote: »

bloodprophet wrote: »

I think your 5 years late.

What do you even mean?

That choice was made long before they announced the project and Kickstarter happened.
Lots of games had this long before AOC was even a thing.
EQ2 had the dress up thing way back on 2007 when I tried it for the first time. Don't know where this started and no interest in looking it up.
Point is this thing happened long time ago and most people like it.
Locking some gears behind achievements is a good thing and that stuff will be prestigious above anything you can buy in the shop.

Vhaeyne

Marzzo wrote: »

I don't understand what you mean. With my proposed system, all cosmetics are still there. Nothing changes, except that you need to unlock the ability to use them.

You want Intrepid to make money. They are not a charity. Your suggested system would be devastating financially compared to having a cash shop. This is why nearly every MMORPG has a cash shop. The $15 a month only model is not good enough anymore. Even more so for and Indy start up like Intrepid Studios.

Orym

Damn, sounds like an awsome idea. I totally agree that visual progression is important and that it feels fair and believable.
Probably wont happen though. They are too far into development to change it up now. Sad times ;(

The meta right now is to farm money from cash shops but hopefully not too far from now a game completely without any form of cashshop releases and becomes so popular that it makes a statement to other developers so that this trash meta finally goes in the grave.

Marzzo

Vhaeyne wrote: »

Marzzo wrote: »

I don't understand what you mean. With my proposed system, all cosmetics are still there. Nothing changes, except that you need to unlock the ability to use them.

You want Intrepid to make money. They are not a charity. Your suggested system would be devastating financially compared to having a cash shop. This is why nearly every MMORPG has a cash shop. The $15 a month only model is not good enough anymore. Even more so for and Indy start up like Intrepid Studios.

What the hell are you talking about? In my system, the cash shop is still there. All the planned cosmetics are still there. Everyone can use all cosmetics. They just need to do a quest a bit later (lvl 25) before they can use them?

Marzzo

Orym wrote: »

Damn, sounds like an awsome idea. I totally agree that visual progression is important and that it feels fair and believable.
Probably wont happen though. They are too far into development to change it up now. Sad times ;(

The meta right now is to farm money from cash shops but hopefully not too far from now a game completely without any form of cashshop releases and becomes so popular that it makes a statement to other developers so that this trash meta finally goes in the grave.

Kinda, but this change does not really alter the development. The only differnece is that the ability to use cosmetics has to be unlocked a bit later (lvl 25)

Marzzo

CROW3 wrote: »

I think the cosmetics ship has sailed for Ashes.

To answer your question ‘why would we let that happen?’ The practical response is to vote with your wallet. If you disagree, don’t buy cosmetics. If you disagree so vehemently, don’t sub for the game.

I am fairly certain that most people that bought cosmetics would not have anything against doing a small quest chain to unlock the ability to use them lol

Taleof2Cities

Marzzo wrote: »

CROW3 wrote: »

I think the cosmetics ship has sailed for Ashes.

To answer your question ‘why would we let that happen?’ The practical response is to vote with your wallet. If you disagree, don’t buy cosmetics. If you disagree so vehemently, don’t sub for the game.

I am fairly certain that most people that bought cosmetics would not have anything against doing a small quest chain to unlock the ability to use them lol

I don't want my enjoyment of the game to have an arbitrary restriction at level 25 ... especially if it's at the expense of another player's immersion.

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