Mercenary Heroes - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

04 Mar 2011 at 23:50 - 161

Quote:

Originally Posted by go cubs

So really, this is just a donation to an old game and they are being gracious enough to give me something in return??

Lol, dont get me wrong, I love the game, no problems with it. I would be happy with the idea of it was a reasonable price but shit, $45 for 8 slots? I want to support Anet and I am usually happy for buying certain things like storage if I need it and Im glad it supports the game. But I cant pull myself to thinking how expensive that is. $10 for 1 char slot is a little over the top.

For the same low price that allows you to create a new char you can make a char your hero....hmmm wut?

So basically, you completely dont understand that the point of microtransactions is not the cost of what you are paying for, but a way for the game to make money like other MMOs do with fees to keep the servers running through offering you something for the money you put into the game.

If people cant understand this, and simply attach the cost of the microtransaction to whatever they are getting for it in the game, then you would really be much better off playing a game that charges you $10 a month instead.

The purchase is completely optional. There is nothing about mercenaries that would make you disadvantageous without them in the game.

Its not a requirement to play the game, its simply a privilege that you can pay for if you want it, and understand what microtransactions actually are.

Pay £29.99 for 8 character slots and play the game for another year? That seems worth it to me. Or would you rather that the game had never had any microtransactions and simply shut down its servers 2 years ago instead? Or that they started charging you fees to be able to log in and play like WoW does?

SonicTHI

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

Ion Cannon Operators

W/R

04 Mar 2011 at 23:50 - 162

Waay overpriced as are most things in the store. But hey if enough people are dumb enough and/or wealthy enough to pay such prices why not milk em.

At least they could have given one merc slot to people that own all 3 campaigns + eotn or something like that but as it is its just another feature that got lost to the cash shop.

Now for me it aint that big of a deal since i m mostly done with GW1 but it seems microtransactions have infested ArenaNet and it looks like its only gonna get worse in GW2 where you ll apparently be paying for consumables so you ll be able to have the look you want on your armor. Not to mention most probable level cap increases and gear creep with expansions so you can do it all over again.

Greedy bastards. Well still the least greedy ones of the bunch. For now... at least.

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

04 Mar 2011 at 23:55 - 163

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonicTHI

Waay overpriced as are most things in the store. But hey if enough people are dumb enough and/or wealthy enough to pay such prices why not milk em.

Greedy bastards. Well still the least greedy ones of the bunch. For now... at least.

Or maybe you simply dont understand how much MMOs cost to run. It has nothing to do with greed or milking money out of people. Anet is a business, they have wages to pay, families to feed, and MMO servers to maintain.

Tell me one single MMO that is cheaper to play than GW with as much content?

If you cant stand microtransactions, then you should either be playing a fee based game instead, or single player ones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonicTHI

its only gonna get worse in GW2 where you ll apparently be paying for consumables so you ll be able to have the look you want on your armor.

So a free to play MMO with no fees cant offer visual only stuff for sale through microtransactions? What do you want instead of that, fees?

go cubs

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2007

Chicago

[SIR]

D/

05 Mar 2011 at 00:29 - 164

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhavv

So basically, you completely dont understand that the point of microtransactions is not the cost of what you are paying for, but a way for the game to make money like other MMOs do with fees to keep the servers running through offering you something for the money you put into the game.

If people cant understand this, and simply attach the cost of the microtransaction to whatever they are getting for it in the game, then you would really be much better off playing a game that charges you $10 a month instead.

The purchase is completely optional. There is nothing about mercenaries that would make you disadvantageous without them in the game.

Its not a requirement to play the game, its simply a privilege that you can pay for if you want it, and understand what microtransactions actually are.

Pay £29.99 for 8 character slots and play the game for another year? That seems worth it to me. Or would you rather that the game had never had any microtransactions and simply shut down its servers 2 years ago instead? Or that they started charging you fees to be able to log in and play like WoW does?

Of course I realize that the money goes to support the game. But this is not the way to go about getting donations from players. They are selling an item in the store, this item should be a fair price.
If this were a charity I might expect them to sell $50 pies or something like that. But it isn't, this is a business, if they want to attract customers they need to have a good product with a fair price.

Tbh, I just think it's stupid, I would gladly buy 8 slots for $25 and I'm sure many others would as well. When I saw that they were gonna sell em I was thinking they'd sell at $5 per slot so about half what it is now. I would have been glad to pay that price, so it's not like I'd b complaining if they released em at that price.

If they really wanted to sell them for $45 they should have done what they do with costumes, sell them for the first month cheap, then have them be normal price.
Although tbh, it seems like they will do it the opposite way, sucker in as many as they can until the birthday then have a sale and get the rest....which is a pretty good idea, lol

TheGizzy

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2010

A giant mitten

TeAe

E/R

05 Mar 2011 at 01:03 - 165

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonicTHI

Now for me it aint that big of a deal since i m mostly done with GW1 but it seems microtransactions have infested ArenaNet

Infested? Other than changing out which costumes are available - appropriately so, since they're based on additions to the lore, the last new microtransaction category added to the store was in 2009. How does that constitute an infestation?

pingu666

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2006

guildhall

[DETH]

05 Mar 2011 at 01:36 - 166

its not really a micro transaction if it costs more than the game(s) costs to buy new, from amazon.

supporting a software company is ok, and ill do it when i can, have a bunch of indie games for example

, but the stuff in the store is overpriced.

SonicTHI

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

Ion Cannon Operators

W/R

05 Mar 2011 at 01:51 - 167

@bhavv
Maybe YOU dont know how much MMOs cost to run on life support or economics and business in terms of "sell to more people for less" and how to keep your customers happy.
And apparently you also have no clue what F2P and B2P is and how GW was originally designed to do all those things you so wonderfully described without an ingame store.

I have spent my fair share of money in the ingame store for things i believe i got a good deal on so yes i m fine with certain MT when i feel they are reasonably priced and not something ripped from the game just to make money (Bioware DLC ie) or specifically engineered to make a continuous drain on your wallet like consumable items otherwise unobtainable ingame. And I absolutely hate monthly fees. Guess why i stuck with GW for the last 6 years?

Microtransactions have a very thin fine line that each person defines for them self so dont go bitching at people who cant or dont consider something a worthwhile investment of their hard earned money.
In my case instead of wasting 45$ on some mercs for a game i barely play anymore i can go get a new game that is gonna last me at least a month. Also for example: EOTN didnt cost that much.

And i m gonna say it again just for you in my sarcastic way

:
Greedy bastards. Well still the least greedy ones of the bunch. For now... at least.

A11Eur0

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2005

W/

05 Mar 2011 at 02:15 - 168

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riot Narita

You only need 1 free char slot.

You use it to roll PvP char whatever profession you want, and register it as a mercenary. Then delete the char and do it again, as many times as you need.

So...one mercenary slot, reroll a necro 8 times, I get 8 available extra necro heroes? I don't think that's the way it's supposed to work.

Apparently it does, so that cuts it down to $55 IF I want to use PVP-only characters. It also means I don't get access to elite armor (unless I unlock it for PVP use), correct? So what's the point other than having 7 heroes of the same profession?

The flexibility is there, but if you want to make your mercenaries special, you need to shell out even more $$$. Otherwise your mercs are just carbon copy drones.

One more thing...reading the wiki and seeing the quotes...first one listed: "Your[sic] Dead!"

For the love of all things...you people at Anet are making how much money? And you let something so utterly retarded pass? I guess I'll wait until you fix both the prices AND your monumental grammatical bed-shitting before I give you some cash.

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

05 Mar 2011 at 02:22 - 169

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonicTHI

@bhavv
Maybe YOU dont know how much MMOs cost to run on life support or economics and business in terms of "sell to more people for less" and how to keep your customers happy.
And apparently you also have no clue what F2P and B2P is and how GW was originally designed to do all those things you so wonderfully described without an ingame store.

I am aware of FTP vs BTP, and of Anets original business model.

What we saw was that the expansion only model didnt work for GW. After the 3 campaigns and expansion, there was pretty much nothing more that could be added without further ruining the game and spreading the player base out even more. The B2P expansion only model failed a long time ago, and Anet had to change to microtransaction because they arent putting out anymore expansions for the game.

Other games that sell quests and expansions for money sell very little content for a significantly more value than a full expansion of GW costs. If you havnt played DDO yet, you get a small quest pack that takes about 30 mins - 1 hour to complete for around 1/3 of the cost of a full GW campaign, which is hardly as good value as what you get from this game.

And I think that most customers are very happy with the 7 hero update. Its a very small number of people who are so unpleasable that they feel the need to blast the idea of optional mercenaries in the cash store.

I have no problem with microtransactions that only provide a visual benefit, and the majority of people playing this game dont either. Its really not as big a problem as a few people are making it out to be on these forums.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonicTHI

Greedy bastards. Well still the least greedy ones of the bunch. For now... at least.

So feel free to go and make an MMO that has absolutely no fees, microtransactions, or income of any kind except for the initial purchase price, and keep it alive and as well supported as GW has been for almost 6 years.

Qing Guang

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2008

California

Lucid Spirits [LIFE]

N/A

05 Mar 2011 at 02:27 - 170

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhavv

Tell me one single MMO that is cheaper to play than GW with as much content?

I can't tell you an MMO, but once again I bring up my LoL example. As an online multiplayer game it still needs balancing and server maintenance, and Riot's been great about constantly updating the game (there have been 3 new champions released and some fairly important changes made since I started playing just a few weeks ago). AND it's completely free to play, unless you want skins or are too lazy to earn the IP to get your champions - and those are more reasonably priced than most of what you can get in GW's shop. And yet somehow, they're able to keep running the game.

Also, you're failing to take into account that more people might be willing to get things in GW's cash shop if they weren't so expensive. I would have gladly bought a makeover pack and mercenary hero slots if they were better priced, and I know many others would have as well.

But hey, they'll keep charging us higher prices so long as there are people willing to pay them.

Imaginos

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

05 Mar 2011 at 07:15 - 171

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonicTHI

Now for me it aint that big of a deal since i m mostly done with GW1 but it seems microtransactions have infested ArenaNet and it looks like its only gonna get worse in GW2 where you ll apparently be paying for consumables so you ll be able to have the look you want on your armor. Not to mention most probable level cap increases and gear creep with expansions so you can do it all over again.

Greedy bastards. Well still the least greedy ones of the bunch. For now... at least.

Yes and this makes me seriously consider not buying GW2.

More microtransactions that aren't micro are going to come. It's the NCSoft way it seems.

Bristlebane

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2008

Mo/

05 Mar 2011 at 07:22 - 172

I rather pay a no-monthly-fee game with optional microtransactions,
than a pay-to-play where those fees are baked in and forced down on you every month.

Lasai

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2009

R/

05 Mar 2011 at 07:35 - 173

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bristlebane

I rather pay a no-monthly-fee game with optional microtransactions,
than a pay-to-play where those fees are baked in and forced down on you every month.

Or pay a monthly sub to SOE and still see the best costume art, mounts, and fluff items go to their phony RMT sales card packs or cash store anyway.

Bristlebane

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2008

Mo/

05 Mar 2011 at 07:54 - 174

Looking how much a typical Pay-to-play game costs, it's usually around $13-15/month depending on if you pay 1-6 months ahead.

5 years of Guild Wars at $13/month would have then costed you $780.. and that is excluding the cost of the game itself (you don't get them for free from monthly-pay games either).

Now for that $780, what could you have done with that money instead.. and is the occational $10-30 in the ingame such a big deal considering how how money you saved anyway?

Second, for the countless of hours you spent playing Guild Wars, what else would you do in your free time? Watch movies, go to the bar, go shopping, gym, ..., ... basically everything costing you money. Instead let's be fair and try pick free alternatives you would do in the last 5 years .. go out in nature? pick flowers? play the guitar?

Whiplashr

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

05 Mar 2011 at 11:59 - 175

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhavv

Or maybe you simply dont understand how much MMOs cost to run. It has nothing to do with greed or milking money out of people. Anet is a business, they have wages to pay, families to feed, and MMO servers to maintain.

Then they should have done a better job of managing their finances and releasing GW2. It's not my fault if they are struggling right now.

GW was originally released and billed as a free to play (monthly) game. I am glad you are happy to sit back and let them turn it into something else, and gladly hand over more and more money to them, and rationalize about it all day... but I'm not going to do that.

Quote:

Tell me one single MMO that is cheaper to play than GW with as much content?

Irrelevant. That is not what this game ever was. It's not what it started as, or was billed as.

It's changed, and continues to change. In ways that screw the end user. You are rationalizing.. hard core.

Quote:

If you cant stand microtransactions, then you should either be playing a fee based game instead, or single player ones.

Or I can point out that a company put out a game on a promise of free to play, new expansions every 6 months.. and then totally abandoned that model just two expansions in.. and started a sequel that won't truly allow me to continue my work on my existing chars (Hall monument crap is worthless).

It's sad the way this game changed the way it has since release, but even sadder to watch people bend over backwards to support and encourage their greedy bullshit.

If they have money woes, they should have done a better job of managing their business, or got GW2 out by now. It's not my problem. I was sold a game as a certain setup, and now they want to keep changing that, and trying to grub more and more money. They have betrayed the initial honorary "contract" between they and their customers.

It's wrong. I'm sorry you are happy to accept it, but I'm not.

please spare me your rationalizing.

makosi

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

"Pre-nerf" is incorrect. It's pre-buff.

Requirement Begins With R [notQ]

Me/

05 Mar 2011 at 12:09 - 176

Quote:

Originally Posted by pingu666

can you access merc's on a low level character?. thats a pretty big advantage for early content

I can confirm that you can use mercs at low levels. My lvl 3 mules can acquire 3 lvl20 mercenaries in Kamadan.

That would make the lengthy process of getting to the mainland of Elona a helluva lot quicker and easier for Elonian-born characters.

thelessa

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

Texas

Purple Puzycats

R/Mo

05 Mar 2011 at 14:16 - 177

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bristlebane

I rather pay a no-monthly-fee game with optional microtransactions,
than a pay-to-play where those fees are baked in and forced down on you every month.

I totally agree, you do not have to buy anything from the store if you don't want to, these micro transactions let them keep the game free to play for us and it allows them to update the game for free. It is not like they are selling weapons or armor via the store.

inscribed

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

05 Mar 2011 at 15:40 - 178

The way I see it, I hadn't spent any money Guild Wars since EOTN released back in, what, 2007 or 2008? I don't have any problem spending 30$ now on an extra character slot and the 3 pack merc heroes, especially considering how much time I've spent playing and enjoying this game over the years.

ogre_jd

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2008

Canadia

W/

05 Mar 2011 at 15:56 - 179

Quote:

Originally Posted by makosi

I can confirm that you can use mercs at low levels. My lvl 3 mules can acquire 3 lvl20 mercenaries in Kamadan.

That would make the lengthy process of getting to the mainland of Elona a helluva lot quicker and easier for Elonian-born characters.

Only if you don't mind having Koss, Dunkoro, Melonni, and/or Talkhora underleveled, of course. (same reason why, despite used to love having a Dervish Hero in my party at all times, I never used MOX for anything other than making the trip to Boreal Station for max armor and the EotN itself for Gwen)

Of course, once you hit the Isles, Keys and Blacktide, it's good - though not nearly as much of an advantage since you're already L15 or so.

Essence Snow

Unbridled Enthusiasm!

Join Date: Nov 2009

EST

DPR

05 Mar 2011 at 16:41 - 180

Quote:

Originally Posted by makosi

I can confirm that you can use mercs at low levels. My lvl 3 mules can acquire 3 lvl20 mercenaries in Kamadan.

That would make the lengthy process of getting to the mainland of Elona a helluva lot quicker and easier for Elonian-born characters.

What about in presearing or Cantha? Are ppl able to use lvl 20 merch heros in pre to breeze through the new quests or anywhere n the game for that matter?

tealspikes

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2009

05 Mar 2011 at 17:48 - 181

I don't understand what's new here? This game has had purchasable advantages for a very long time. You can buy storage slots which IS a gameplay advantage. Compare someone who owned vanilla prophecies to someone who bought all the expansions. You have no heroes, 1/4 of the skills, can only trade for consumables. No serious PvP team would pick you up if you did not purchase the all of the skills. That's about as pay2win as it can get - mercs are nothing by comparison.

Hanok Odbrook

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2005

Tyria

Real Millennium Group

Mo/N

05 Mar 2011 at 18:01 - 182

I don't have a problem with Micro-transactions at all. I would rather pay a voluntary fee to keep the game running than be locked into another monthly bill. However, I do think the MH slots are a bit over-priced for what they offer at the moment. I would be all over this if the MH's came fully equipped and were allowed to use any and all the skills (including PvE) that the parent character has available.

To prevent exploits, simply make the runes and weapons on the MH non-salvagable, as Hero armor already is. If you want to re-spec the MH, delete it, re-spec the parent, then re-register.

Hanok

Test Me

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2008

E/

05 Mar 2011 at 18:05 - 183

With the price for 8 mercenary heroes we'll probably buy GW2. Does it really compare?

makosi

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

"Pre-nerf" is incorrect. It's pre-buff.

Requirement Begins With R [notQ]

Me/

05 Mar 2011 at 19:01 - 184

Quote:

Originally Posted by Essence Snow

What about in presearing or Cantha? Are ppl able to use lvl 20 merch heros in pre to breeze through the new quests or anywhere n the game for that matter?

For you character to use mercenaries, you must talk to a Mercenary Registrar. There's one in Kamadan but I'm not sure about Shing Jea and I'm certain there isn't one in pre.

So Elonian chars have very early access to them.

Charlie Dayman

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2009

Trifecta Luminati [TRI]

W/

05 Mar 2011 at 19:14 - 185

I'll probably hold off until they have a sale - hopefully around the anniversary birthday. But that just gives me time to level up more characters and make em' look good.

One question though, are you able to edit the skills of your mercenaries? Sounds like a dumb question, but I'm still a little hazy on that.

Verene

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jan 2009

[SOTA]

D/

05 Mar 2011 at 19:21 - 186

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Dayman

I'll probably hold off until they have a sale - hopefully around the anniversary birthday. But that just gives me time to level up more characters and make em' look good.

One question though, are you able to edit the skills of your mercenaries? Sounds like a dumb question, but I'm still a little hazy on that.

Yes. You still have to set them up and rune and equip them like you would any other hero.

Markaedw

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

N/

05 Mar 2011 at 19:42 - 187

I just thought of something. Since you can now buy heroes, will Anet ever make the third rit, sin and mes heroes? And since I have never been in a situation wher I said "I wish I had 1 more hero to win", I'm not paying even $10 for one more.

I just thought of something, I will buy them if they can be set with pvp style armor and weapons. A full Dragonhart team would be fun.

ogre_jd

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2008

Canadia

W/

05 Mar 2011 at 20:23 - 188

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verene

Yes. You still have to set them up and rune and equip them like you would any other hero.

...which is why I won't be bothering to buy any. Odds are that there aren't any setups that'll be more effective than what we can do without Mercenary Heroes (ie, setups that would require 4 of a specific primary rather than 3), the professions that currently have only two representatives don't really need three since the existing ones are rarely used anyways (EDIT: Whoops, forgot about Rits having only two, but I find that two's more than enough to cover all the best spirits as it is that I really have no need for a third), and all of my characters are far enough along that they have more than enough Heroes already to get things done with.

Verene

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jan 2009

[SOTA]

D/

05 Mar 2011 at 22:07 - 189

Quote:

Originally Posted by ogre_jd

...which is why I won't be bothering to buy any. Odds are that there aren't any setups that'll be more effective than what we can do without Mercenary Heroes (ie, setups that would require 4 of a specific primary rather than 3), the professions that currently have only two representatives don't really need three since the existing ones are rarely used anyways (EDIT: Whoops, forgot about Rits having only two, but I find that two's more than enough to cover all the best spirits as it is that I really have no need for a third), and all of my characters are far enough along that they have more than enough Heroes already to get things done with.

I bought the three-pack myself, not because I wanted extra heroes of a specific profession (if you really want a third Rit, then make a R/Rt hero, I've been using Jin as a spirit spammer as long as I've had her as a hero because I didn't have Razah or Xandra), but because if I don't have to look at Olias or Dunkoro or Norgu but instead can use my girls, then why not? I like it because of the cosmetic possibilities, and I like being able to go out with a full girl-power team

Plus pretty much everyone that uses Discord/Sab uses one of their Necros as a Ritualist anyway. And two Mesmers is already such overkill in terms of damage mitigation that a third would pretty much be pointless.

Dark-NighT

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2006

Stygian Veil

Shoop Da Woop [Lolz]

N/Mo

05 Mar 2011 at 22:22 - 190

Got myself the 3 pack, really the best deal if you ask me, one thing anet needs to do is remove the female monk grunting while in battle, i now use my female monk as merc along with tahlkora and the grunting is just a bit to much.

Yeh i could use dunk, but i want to keep him as prot hero and not switch runes all the time to make him use healing prayers effectively, and no Ogden is not an option, ugly chap is not comin in my party.

Kunder

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2010

05 Mar 2011 at 22:56 - 191

Someone with 5 mercs should test out 7x psychic instability builds. I want to see it.

Firebaall

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2006

06 Mar 2011 at 01:20 - 192

I'm having fun with it.

Necro doom:

Although, fun 5 necros, and 2 mesmers was more practical:

I'm sure there's some better builds to use, but this is steam rolling hard.

Qing Guang

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2008

California

Lucid Spirits [LIFE]

N/A

06 Mar 2011 at 04:12 - 193

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linksys

Sounds like a good plan. I may do that too, wait for a sale.

Yeah, that sounds like a plan. Because I always have wanted my mez and derv couple to be able to play together, or, for that matter, my mother/daughter monk/ele team.

FoxBat

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Amazon Basin [AB]

Mo/Me

06 Mar 2011 at 04:21 - 194

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firebaall

I'm sure there's some better builds to use, but this is steam rolling hard.

Ironic that it's really a 3 nec 2 rit build.

Damn Rock Gin

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2010

06 Mar 2011 at 11:07 - 195

The price is too steep for most people, I think they would have made much more money if they would have dropped the price a little bit.

I will probably just buy only 1 because of the high price.

I am not clear on the following however:
If I buy a merc and add it to my character, then delete that merc, is that merc still available to use on my character? In other words, can I use that single merc slot to create several mercs for use with my character? However, I am sure that I will only be allowed to add one at a time to my party.

It seems like it would be a big headache to just switch the armor/runes,
I would hope this is made easier.
I think the merc should grab whatever the character it represents is wearing at the time, including runes and the characters weapon. The runes on a merc could be non-accessable to prevent people from selling a rune twice.
OR
Whatever change is made to the merc, rune wise, is made directly to the character. If you remove the rune from your merc, it also is removed from your character.

Aldo wants more

Academy Page

Join Date: Dec 2008

Glesga, UK

06 Mar 2011 at 12:39 - 196

I sincerely hope that the trend towards micro transactions like these doesn't increase and spill into GW2. I know that Anet has to justify costs etc but at the prices they are quoting for the luxury of mercing your team, it surely marginalises both players and Anets benefit. Just to add in that I personally have no need or interest in buying a merc pack but might have had the price been realistic. I've already bought char slots both for myself as storage and in order to support the devs.

Apart from that my feedback for the build on the whole is positive if a bit worried what GW2 holds as far as micro transactions go. Free to play MMO in my mind, is just that. When options appear in the game store that actually affect gameplay rather than just cosmetic appearance then the can opens and worms spill everywhere.

ogre_jd

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2008

Canadia

W/

06 Mar 2011 at 13:59 - 197

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aldo wants more

I sincerely hope that the trend towards micro transactions like these doesn't increase and spill into GW2.

If you think these prices are bad, go look at what some subscription games charge in their cash shops and what they charge for.

novawhiz

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2006

A/

06 Mar 2011 at 16:07 - 198

Quote:

Originally Posted by distilledwill

Yeah Nova - you wanna chill the hell out. If you don't want merc heroes, then don't buy merc heroes. Its the same for everyone, they aren't forcing anyone to do it

lol? what a stupid argument. If they added a new sword to ingame Store that cost $60 but had damage 66-88 instead of 11-22 would you say "if you dont want to buy the sword, then dont buy it. They aren't forcing you."?

And yes, i am mad. Im mad that i cant bring 4 mesmers or 7 warriors or 7 monks without paying $45. We shouldn't have to pay extra fees to be able to unlock all the capabilities of PvE.

If they had released some new "Tyrian Mercenaries" that were ?/? and anyone could bring without paying then i would be fine with this. That way the paying of money would be for nothing more than skins for your heroes. But right now, the only way to be able to use every combination of hero proffessions you want is to pay $45.

Its not like its even just $10 or some small price. Its the cost of another game just to unlock all the capabilities of hero-play in this game.

So yes, im sorry i am disappointed in anet.

ogre_jd

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2008

Canadia

W/

06 Mar 2011 at 18:16 - 199

Quote:

Originally Posted by novawhiz

lol? what a stupid argument. If they added a new sword to ingame Store that cost $60 but had damage 66-88 instead of 11-22 would you say "if you dont want to buy the sword, then dont buy it. They aren't forcing you."?

And yes, i am mad. Im mad that i cant bring 4 mesmers or 7 warriors or 7 monks without paying $45.

Why would you want to? Seriously, is there any even vaguely effective team composition that you need to have more of each primary than already exists in the current Heroes and which can't be just as effective as a secondary? (though I definitely want another Ritualist, Assassin and Mesmer to even out the non-Mercenaries at 3 each)

And, frankly, the "What if they put an obscenely unbalanced weapon in the store?" argument doesn't hold water as that would actually make a *huge* difference in team effectiveness in all areas of the game, unlike Mercenary Heroes (which only really give a boost to Elonian characters from levels 1-10, and a very slight flexibility advantage for Elonian and Tyrian characters from 10-20 who would normally be stuck with MOX, Ogden, Vekk and Gwen for level 20 Heroes, if they don't get run through EotN content, anyways. Canthan characters get no advantage at all)

shinta_himura

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2006

D/

06 Mar 2011 at 18:41 - 200

"Why would you want to?"

Not a legitimate argument. The fact is that now people who pay real money have access to AI teams with 4 or more heroes of the same profession. People who do not pay real money can only make AI teams with 3 or less heroes of the same profession. There is nothing you can do as a non-paying player to change this. With things like skill unlocks, non-paying players are still somewhat equal to paying players because both sides are capable of getting every skill in the game for their PvP characters.

Do you still fail to see this blatant fact? Will you still argue that this is not a sleight against the community? Please, don't, because I think anyone with enough sense here is tired of the NCSoft/Anet "They can do no wrong!" bandwagon.

All you need to do is look how far we've come from the inception of microtransactions in this game. It has been a process of phasing things in. At first the playing field was still completely even, if you paid money you got to skip some grinding and what not, but non-paying players were still able to get all of the same things. Phase two, costumes. Now non-paying players are on a lesser playing field, they are denied certain aesthetic features. Phase 3, character make-overs and name-changes. Still aesthetic, but they were highly requested, highly useful features.

What you're seeing is just a glimpse through the keyhole into what Anet intends to turn GW2 into. GW1 is currently just a laboratory to test how far they can push microtransactions.