Glorious Alpha Two Testers!
Alpha Two Realms are now unlocked for Phase II testing!
For our initial launch, testing will begin on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 10 AM Pacific and continue uninterrupted until Monday, January 6, 2025, at 10 AM Pacific. After January 6th, we’ll transition to a schedule of five-day-per-week access for the remainder of Phase II.
You can download the game launcher here and we encourage you to join us on our for the most up to date testing news.
Alpha Two Realms are now unlocked for Phase II testing!
For our initial launch, testing will begin on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 10 AM Pacific and continue uninterrupted until Monday, January 6, 2025, at 10 AM Pacific. After January 6th, we’ll transition to a schedule of five-day-per-week access for the remainder of Phase II.
You can download the game launcher here and we encourage you to join us on our for the most up to date testing news.
Dear Intrepid: You caved to the masses, and it hurts
darksinge
Member, Alpha Two
Apparently, my purchase of the $250 pre-order package 3 years ago was high-risk/low-reward.
To be clear, these are just complaints. There are already posts containing the same sentiments, so this is mainly for my own catharsis. This is not an attack on Intrepid or Steven. They don't owe me anything. So far, I've gotten exactly what I paid for. I don't regret my purchase. I'm still rooting for AoC to succeed. I still have faith this game will succeed. Intrepid has done me no wrong by showing good to those coming in the 11th hour.
I'm not upset that the opportunity for more folk to experience A2 has opened back up through the $125 packages. This is far less about monetary value and far more about failing to honor the faith and trust many of us put in you. I may not have been a super early backer, but 3 years and $250 should mean something. It was a monetary sacrifice back then and it stings to see I've been rewarded with the nearly the same treatment as those who are joining us now -- as welcome as they are -- for half the price and significantly less risk.
The main difference? Two weeks.
Sorry, correction: Two weeks weekends.
This feels bad. It's not unfair, but I feel wronged.
And I do not care about the embers. I did not spend $250 because of the cosmetic rewards. I bought in for the privilege to actively participate in AoC's development. If I could trade my embers for access to the PTR realm, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
It's been several weeks since the drama with Asmongold's reaction to the new packages only offering A2 access (without Beta access). While intrepid was quick to react to the backlash from the masses, AFAIK, Steven has not addressed the above complaints. While the masses have been appeased, the minority group who's been actively supporting, closely following updates, and waiting with greater anticipation for a longer time, are left shaking their heads. In talking with my guild, I know I'm not alone in these feelings.
To Steven and the powers that be: you made amends to the masses who had no skin in the game. I hope you can do the same for those of us who sacrificed more at greater risk.
---
Note: Edited for clarity.
To be clear, these are just complaints. There are already posts containing the same sentiments, so this is mainly for my own catharsis. This is not an attack on Intrepid or Steven. They don't owe me anything. So far, I've gotten exactly what I paid for. I don't regret my purchase. I'm still rooting for AoC to succeed. I still have faith this game will succeed. Intrepid has done me no wrong by showing good to those coming in the 11th hour.
I'm not upset that the opportunity for more folk to experience A2 has opened back up through the $125 packages. This is far less about monetary value and far more about failing to honor the faith and trust many of us put in you. I may not have been a super early backer, but 3 years and $250 should mean something. It was a monetary sacrifice back then and it stings to see I've been rewarded with the nearly the same treatment as those who are joining us now -- as welcome as they are -- for half the price and significantly less risk.
The main difference? Two weeks.
Sorry, correction: Two weeks weekends.
This feels bad. It's not unfair, but I feel wronged.
And I do not care about the embers. I did not spend $250 because of the cosmetic rewards. I bought in for the privilege to actively participate in AoC's development. If I could trade my embers for access to the PTR realm, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
It's been several weeks since the drama with Asmongold's reaction to the new packages only offering A2 access (without Beta access). While intrepid was quick to react to the backlash from the masses, AFAIK, Steven has not addressed the above complaints. While the masses have been appeased, the minority group who's been actively supporting, closely following updates, and waiting with greater anticipation for a longer time, are left shaking their heads. In talking with my guild, I know I'm not alone in these feelings.
To Steven and the powers that be: you made amends to the masses who had no skin in the game. I hope you can do the same for those of us who sacrificed more at greater risk.
---
Note: Edited for clarity.
3
Comments
Kick starters projects always work this way, prices come down over time and the benies given to the big and early donors are tokens and badges not monatarily worth the premium they pay because early donors are expected to be emotionally not financially invested in the product.
You'll be fine. The unpredictability of how the game's value will develop is part of the investment, if you can't handle that you shouldn't have bought it.
Also what amends do you want? More free months? So Intrepid has to tell future investors that they won't make any money in the first year because half the subscriptions were already paid for in "damages" to mend the bruised emotions of kickstarter buyers? Not much of a "backer" mindset. More concerned with meaningless displays of integrity than whether the project can succeed.
And even then, it wouldn't help their public perception. It would just be an expensive admission of fault for something that's a perfectly reasonable decision.
I've supported Camelot Unchained. I've supported Star Citizen.
I've supported these games because I want them to exist, release, and be successful. I do not want any of them to kiss my arse or reward my "loyalty". I just want them to focus on building fantastic games. I am experiencing no regrets or disappointments, only excitement and hope.
There have been many tests that we have been a part of that these new packages have not.
At the end of the day they need bodies, therfore they need to boost the number of testers actively logging in.
Now you are upset because other people that paid less are also getting something as well.
I don't understand this point of view at all. You genuinely need to reevaluate why and how you spend money.
You chose the amount of money you were fine giving away to them, in hopes of getting a good game when it releases. That's it. Why do you care how much others have spent, and if they got alpha or not?
Those packages do offer beta access as well now, as they did change their original decision, btw.
Or did you only buy the $250 package, because it offered alpha access and now you're upset because that alpha access is now being sold for less? Because if so, then it's your fault.
you got skins, game time, shop currency + key.
And you may not care about those things, but other people do care. And it is a fact that you PAID for those skins also. When you were making your purchase you knew that you are not buying a key for 250$.
You bought pack, and you got bonus free key with your purchase.
Ofc when there is sale for key only (and small amount of ember) it will cost less.
It's clear some of you didn't read my post. It should be clear from the first few lines that I don't believe I'm owed anything by Intrepid. For those of you who can't read -- or can't read through your rainbow colored glasses -- I'm completely aware that my purchase came with risk and without any guarantees.
So thank you to all who so helpfully explained how kickstarters and early backing works. Thank you to all who helpfully pointed out that I paid money for something and got something in return. Thank you for helping me realize my feelings are not only invalid, but unwarranted. Thank you for helping me realize that loyalty doesn't mean anything. Seriously, standing applause over here.
And most of all, thanks to everyone who helped me realize it's my own damn fault for feeling upset at how things turned out. Thank goodness I wasn't one of the really, really early backers who only bought into the Beta access.
Ya'll are acting like emotion isn't part of the process of backing a project early. Screw me for having feelings, right? Here's a revelation for you: it's 100% possible to both accept the outcome and have negative feelings about it at the same time.
Grade-A gaslighting. What a great community.
This forum is freaking echo chamber.
On a happier note, hope to see you all in game (no sarcasm)!
This makes no sense man. These are exclusive skins that you got that will never be put on sale again ever.
After few years after launch you may be able to sell the account with those skins for more than you bought them.
You supported the game, in fact primarily to have the game exist. I bought a package with a life time subscription...because I want the game to exist and play it for the value of that...and hopefully even more as Ashes potential...unlocks.
Sort of like the ashes of creation come from people getting burned.
There's no harm in being sincerely upset, I would be... I would just ask that you give Steven some grace. He has a mission, that you assigned him with your money. Its useless if your money doesn't create a product you even want to spend time on.
Please accept his condolences via the embers, and bear some of the chagrin. Most people buying at that new price, are also sincerely looking forward to AOC's potential. You are someone that took risks to inspire that passion. Please value your participation in this venture.
If anything I hope Steven comments here, or the community manager does, and asks for your anger and dispirited feelings to find solace. You are someone wonderful that helped create something people dream to do.
You're actively constructing beauty in the world. I hope that means more to you then 2 weekends.
Your welcome.
If you bought the pack uou did only for alpha access, that's on you, my dude.
The additional game time and Embers that pack comes with almost make up the difference between the packs in and of themselves - the cosmetics are essentially a bonus on top of that.
If you feel slighted at all, it is only because you can't do basic math.
@Ludullu I see the name reservation perk in the shop under the $125 Voyager Plus Pre-Order Pack.
@Noaani Yeah, I do feel kind of slighted, and it has absolutely nothing to do with basic math. The fact that people like you can't see that, even if you disagree, is concerning.
@OrcLuck Thanks for not jumping straight to the gaslighting like everyone else. I would respond further if I felt like there was a meaningful conversation to be had. But in response to you: of course, I'm absolutely, 100% willing to give -- and am giving -- Stephen a lot of grace. I'm honestly baffled you felt the need to suggest that in the first place. That's a given. I want this game to succeed. I do not regret my purchase. I understand I'm not owed anything. I'm still excited to participate. And also, my feelings are legitimate. Outside of this echo chamber, I know others feel the same. Most likely they won't pipe up (nor would I blame them) because they'll have to deal with inane responses like "you can't do basic math" (seriously, that's your argument?). Anyway, thanks for showing some level of understanding. The reception over expressing sincere and legitimate reasons for being upset is far more disheartening to me than the whole A2 key debacle. I should've known this place was basically like Reddit, but sheesh.
Edit: You seem to be mistaken, your shop probably offers different things than people who do not yet have accounts. I am not signed in on the shop and I am looking at all three packages. No name res.
Log out of your account and go look at the shop. THAT is what people will get for $120 if they buy in rn.
But seriously, why does intrepid charge any money at all? if they claim they like MMORPG so much, right? And to be an MMO they need players - they need us, right? They should make it free for all and enjoy playing their game in well-populated servers. Instead, they are charging us money, a win-win for them, greedy bastards.
intrepid pays for servers for people to play on, for people that you're going to complain to about how everything is bad; the A2 is going to last at least over 12 months, most people say it's 24-36 months, 120/24=5$ per month as a lump sum. And that's not even taking into consideration that the reason they decided to sell keys is not to screw early backers over but most likely they needed money, 200 people is a lot for a relatively small company. You can see the pain and tears in Steven's eyes when this was mentioned on one of the streams.
But I went a little bit off topic, they can't make everyone happy at all times, time goes by, challenges arise and they need to deal with them and you will never make everyone happy. ever. it's not against you, they made the best decision they thought they could in the given situation. Go ahead and try to come up with a better one.
Its a bit of a storm in tea cup tbh. I don't know how many kickstarter supporters they originally were, but they could include you all in some sort of easteregg? Maybe a memorial wall with all your names on it.
Blown past falling sands…
And the sooner my friends can join, the happier I am!
This is my personal feedback, shared to help the game thrive in its niche.
Yeah, I really can't.
And as you can see in this thread, neither can most people.
Speaking purely objectively, when you do the math, you paid less for alpha access than people that nought the more recent option. If you take the pack cost and subtract the value of what was in each pack, your alpha access cost you about ten dollars.
If you didn't want the other stuff you bought, that's on you, dude.
I personally missed buying a lifetime kickstarter package by 1 single day, and so I supported lntrepid’s idea so purchased the voyager plus. Also getting the Pax West cosmetics is great too to make up for that 25$ gap the perceived value the voyager plus packs were missing entirely.
Intrepid did due diligence to make up for the mistake in the voyager plus packs missing 25$ in value yet charging $250.
With that said, I believe in this case that for testing’s sake Intrepid needs more people in the Alpha 2, and isnt caving as you perceive. Simply put, they need a higher connection rate than the packages they sold with Alpha 2 access previously. You don’t want to go to the next phase of testing, if you don't complete bread and butter basics and that’s the reality we have here. Intrepid needs more people on Alpha 2 at the same time, than they previously estimated. I am sure they have a specific number in mind and wont exceed this.
Although, we waited 7 years and I feel the frustration that others wont wait the 7 years we did and it just turns Voyager plus preorder packs with alpha 2 to just “getting cosmetics” reality is we needs the game connections working and that most likely they need more bodies and this probably is key to stabilizing the servers, finding the bus etc. If its anything, the Pax 2017 cosmetics that they converted our packs too are likely the most rare next to the royalty of the kickstarter and I recall some who bought “every” cosmetic” pack missed the Pax West 2017 package cosmetics! So what does Voyager Plus get in the end? We supported Intrepid’s initial game from the beginning, watched how the game developed, watched how the company got a new building, The annual game-athons at Steven's house . They missed all that stuff over the passed 7 years as a whale of a gamer, matured and developed an idea into a formidable MMORPG developing corporation, that has some of the preeminent talent in the industry working for them. At least $250 helped kick that off more or less! Don’t forget we get 6 months of game time automatically, the $375 lifetime kickstarter package equates to 3 years of game time already paid and how many of those will be playing beyond that, remains to be seen.
Voyager Plus waited 7 years and these current packages get nothing else, so the question I ask you is are the cosmetics of the Voyager Plus and Pax West 2017 cosmetics, 6 months of game time, over 10,000 of in game currency worth and a 7 year wait compared to the current $125 alpha 2 access and nothing else worth the discrepancy to you?
I preordered it 5 years ago.
A2 was to be included with my purchase.
I got access to A2.
I'm not sure what you're complaining about... That other people who preordered later than me also got access?
Yes, OP paid $250 and got what they paid for. So that's fine.
On the other hand, it seems very obvious that IS created an artificial FOMO event to capture the people willing to pay $250 for A2 access before magically determining that they could accommodate more people and then moving downstream to the next tier of people willing to pay $120. The vast majority of people who paid $250 did so entirely for A2, on the belief that was necessary to play A2 from the start; aside from any giveaways, or the potential for needing more A2 testers at some point well into the future. The cosmetics were meaningless to the majority of these people, and while the game time provides value, it really is not a meaningful factor when launch is years away. To then offer A2 access to new testers before A2 even starts, it's understandable that some people will feel like they weren't treated fairly. The OP, and others, feel like they paid $250 for A2 access, when just months later, before A2 even started, they could have had the same A2 access for half the price. And yeah, it came with cosmetics and game time, but that was not the reason they bought it. Intrepid knows this.
I mean, why not skip the deadline and instead offer two tiers of A2 access from the very beginning? One pack for $250 with cosmetics and game time, and one for $120 for A2 only? They planned this from the start to milk the $250 crew. It was a sneaky move and people like the OP know this.
So yeah, OP, I understand where you're coming from. If all the white knights were intellectually honest, they would see the same.
Loving the game/A2 so far btw. Super fun. Can't wait to get back in in a couple days!
I was clear from the start that, yes, I'm complaining. I am very self aware of that. For those of you with a problem with complaining, maybe you shouldn't have continued reading my post after I clearly stated from the very beginning that I was complaining. To all you white knights, your responses have mostly been reactive rather than constructive and lack a holistic perspective.
Basically, I was just trying to say, "Hey Intrepid, you gave in to the whims of the roiling of the masses who had no investment in the game. It would be great if you could show the same deference to those who've already bought in and been around for a while by tossing us a bone." For many of us, that "bone" is more opportunities to participate in testing and providing early feedback.