Companion upgrading is expensive.

shiningxarmor · December 2013

I got my Man-At-Arms to level 15, and for him to go further, I have to spend 300k astral diamonds, and that only gets him to level 20? Completely ridiculous. :l

jorifice1 · December 2013

Just wait till you see how much it costs to go all the way to Purple...........
Let's just say that it would be MUCH cheaper to just buy a Zen Store Companion and be done with it.
Better yet, get one of the Packs and get a Companion that unlocks for every Character on your account. The Feywild Slyph is a Purple and you get some other nice stuff with it. The Ranger one is a Blue. There are many others.

beckylunatic · December 2013

This is why most people don't bother with it. Far too expensive for what you get.

bioshrike · December 2013

You are better off converting those ADs to Zen and waiting for a companion you like to go on sale, or to check the AH for one that you like.

If you convert those ADs to Zen, it'll only amount to something like 670 Zen - which isn't enough to buy a green companion, so in a sense, it's not that bad of a price. Now, if we're talking about trying to take a white 2G companion all the way to 30, then it's a whole 'nother conversation - that is just insanely expensive...

ulkaur · December 2013

In case someone missed it let me rephrase the important bits...

Completely ridiculous
Just wait till you see how much it costs to go all the way to Purple.
MUCH cheaper to just buy a Zen Store Companion and be done with it.
Better yet, get one of the Packs and get a Companion that unlocks for every Character on your account.
This is why most people don't bother with it.
You are better off converting those ADs to Zen and waiting for a companion you like to go on sale, or to check the AH for one that you like.

Now, if companions were account-wide, and the upgrading cost dealt with it account-wide, it would be a different story.

But don't take my word for it. I'm sure more people feel the same way.

bendalek · December 2013

ulkaur wrote: »

In case someone missed it let me rephrase the important bits...

Completely ridiculous.

I agree, your post is, COMPLETELY!

Have you actually done the sums? It is in fact on slightly dearer to convert a White Companion to Purple Companion than to buy a Purple Companion outright. And that doesn't include gear, runes and training and whether or not the Z-Store ones even have the abilities you want.

This will probably be deleted but, Cryptic or more probably PWE have set the AD price, of upgrading so that it isn't in fact different, if it were, then there wouldn't be ANY upgrade versions of free companions, just Z-Store ones, yet there is ... many!

There is also the fact that new players probably don't have the Z or AD to buy a Purple Companion outright, but you get a white one for free. And they level up with that companion, so in general a lvl 25 FREE companion is better value, than a lvl 1 Purple.

The advice you SHOULD be giving people is IF and only IF the upgraded version has abilities you think you want, then their is NO REASON not to. if on the other hand you check the character sheet for ALL companions and decide that a Z-Store one is better value, then by all means, purchase it outright.

bioshrike · December 2013

Going from green to white might be worth it if you want to unlock the 3rd costume for a standard 2G companion, and get a little more effectiveness from them. Beyond that, it's definitely *not* worth upgrading them...

imsmithy · December 2013

If you think that 300k to upgrade a companion is bad then I suggest that you don't look to see how expesive it is to upgrade a mount , you would probably have a cardiac arrest...

sternerr · December 2013

It's been discussed over and over like hundred times, someone at Cryptic or PWE or who's in charge just thinks it's a good business idea to pretty much lock down entire mechanics behind the paywalls, this and crafting. Maybe it actually is, maybe it isn't. Lowering the companions price will make opening lockboxes less lucrative, and key sales are the main revenue driver. Basically say thanks to people who like to gamble with their money.

knightfalz · December 2013

bendalek wrote: »

The advice you SHOULD be giving people is IF and only IF the upgraded version has abilities you think you want, then their is NO REASON not to.

This is more the case to be sure, especially if the companion has a wanted active bonus and even more so if that active bonus isn't offered through another route such as a boon.

shiningxarmor · December 2013

Are there any other companions you can buy that AREN'T zen store companions other than the 5 in Protector's Enclave? I have all of those already and working my way to 15 with each of them (Well just the wizard, cleric and sell sword) and I still think 300k AD is a bit much since getting that much AD takes quite a bit of farming. And then at higher ranks well it's just nuts. You'd have to save all your AD up and then some just to get one upgrade. I just find it to be complete HAMSTER. Besides, zen costs real money, while AD you can just earn, so why not lower the AD prices of the companions that you can just outright buy with gold?

shiningxarmor · December 2013

imsmithy wrote: »

If you think that 300k to upgrade a companion is bad then I suggest that you don't look to see how expesive it is to upgrade a mount , you would probably have a cardiac arrest...

In essence everything good in this game must be bought with cash. Completely ridiculous. It's more of a pay to play game than a free to play.

knightfalz · December 2013

shiningxarmor wrote: »

In essence everything good in this game must be bought with cash. Completely ridiculous. It's more of a pay to play game than a free to play.

Because there is no way to earn AD in the game without spending money...

denverralphy · December 2013

knightfalz wrote: »

Because there is no way to earn AD in the game without spending money...

Technically, yeah... but earning 1.5Mil AD to upgrade a companion to purple (or buy a Zen companion) isn't exactly a walk in the park.

orsogufo · December 2013

ulkaur wrote: »

Completely ridiculous

Totally agree

adinosii · December 2013

Well, I disagree a bit. The fact is, for some players, upgrading the companions is actually relatively cheap - let's say that you are decked out in R9 enchants, and want to get a boost to your stats. You can upgrade your R9 to R10, or you can upgrade a stat-boosting companion.....and sometimes boosting the companion actually turns out to be cheaper - at least if you are starting from a green companion - white->green is not worth the AD.

bendalek · December 2013

You know, I could walk from home to he local shopping mall, but it's to hot outside and that's it's ssooo far ...

I could ride a bike, but that's a lot of effort, and it's still hot! ...

I could catch a bus, that's only a couple of dollars, but, I have to wait an hour for the bus, and it takes a long circuitous route to get there ...

Or, I could spend 20,000 dollars plus and by a car, it's quick I can park right outside the mall, I don't have to wait, and it's air conditioned ... but ...

That's like a 10 gazillion percent markup !!!! What is this Pay to Shop?????

**** those car companies are ripping me off!!!!

tickdoff · December 2013

300,000 to go from white to green
500,000 to get to blue
750,000 to get to purple.

1,550,000 AD to get from white to purple.

Way to expensive.
1.25 million to get from green to purple, also too expensive. And at a conversion rate of 400 AD per zen that is 3125 zen. Just buy a companion instead of upgrading.

Only time it *MIGHT* make sense is going from a blue to purple, but even then 750,000 AD is 1875 zen. Not exactly chump change.

pers3phone · December 2013

The prices are insane for a PvE only, one in five accessory, with a active bonus of limited importance. I have bought a dancing blade and an archon and rest whatever was cheap, blink dog, wererat, and stone ofc. Not upgrading ANY, unless they open some dungeon where I can farm AD like in CN back in the days.

I can't care less if I fall behind in damage even 5 mils in a dungeon. Even 15 mils. I will still not upgrade them at this price, ever.

You want the upgrades to be cheaper? I suggest that you also do what I do and don't touch the upgrade button.

And the prices will drop, even if it will take a while.

burkaanc · December 2013

but most purple pets have trash stats, so u have to get rare or uncommon

khimera906 · December 2013

bendalek wrote: »

You know, I could walk from home to he local shopping mall, but it's to hot outside and that's it's ssooo far ...

I could ride a bike, but that's a lot of effort, and it's still hot! ...

I could catch a bus, that's only a couple of dollars, but, I have to wait an hour for the bus, and it takes a long circuitous route to get there ...

Or, I could spend 20,000 dollars plus and by a car, it's quick I can park right outside the mall, I don't have to wait, and it's air conditioned ... but ...

That's like a 10 gazillion percent markup !!!! What is this Pay to Shop?????

**** those car companies are ripping me off!!!!

Just brilliant.

bendalek · December 2013

tickdoff wrote: »

300,000 to go from white to green
500,000 to get to blue
750,000 to get to purple.

1,550,000 AD to get from white to purple.

Way to expensive.
1.25 million to get from green to purple, also too expensive. And at a conversion rate of 400 AD per zen that is 3125 zen. Just buy a companion instead of upgrading.

Only time it *MIGHT* make sense is going from a blue to purple, but even then 750,000 AD is 1875 zen. Not exactly chump change.

Of course that is IF the Z-Store bought Purple companions have the powers you want or need. I'm not aware of ANY Z-Store companion that does the same job as the humble CD ... Well ... Bugger, now what do I do? ... If I take my White CD onto any map above about lvl 30 it's insta gibs for her ... Hang on, If I upgrade her and she gets more HP and more Rune/Equipment slots, she might last longer in the field ... hmmm

My PURPLE CD survives quite happily on "The Bridge" with my GF and any map I've so far been able to access, so for me, it was worth the upgrade ...

See how that works?

zebular · December 2013

. . . . . The Mount & Companion AD Sink is a Good AD Sink with a horrendous price. It's good in it is one many want to use but set at a price that most will not. Therefore, the AD Sink is a failure for what it is intended. Seriously, these AD prices need to be dropped across the board on almost everything. More does not sell more. Less sells more.

. . . . . If the prices on upgrading companions and mounts were cut in half, I'd be tempted to and probably would end up upgrading every single one of them... and I am a collector! A MAD collector. As the prices are now, I do not even think twice about upgrading them. For the answer is; "No frilling way!"

khalith01 · December 2013

I do believe we should be able to get one companion to epic level as a reward for leveling. Please note, I am NOT asking for a full crew of epic level companions, I think we should get at least get one though.

jintortle · December 2013

Buy a Rust Monster. 300k atm on AH. Goes to lv 30. Good Value.

elricthedull · December 2013

Okay this is my two cents, depending on the exchange rate to get the cat it costs a 833,000 AD. At 400:1 exchange rate that is ~ 2080 zen, the Ioun Stone of allure is 2000 Zen, these are both approximately 20 dollars and roughly the same price for a BLUE companion. So at the very minimum you should look at changing the price to upgrade companions to take this into consideration. The total cost to go from white to blue should be about 850,000 zen or two investments of 425,000 AD. Plus say 1000 zen to go to purple which should be a whopping 425,000 AD, for a total of 1,175,000 AD. Also, the Ioun stone and the cat are arguably the BEST pets in the game and as such they should be more expensive. So, in reality I think a set rate of 200,000 AD per level would be appropriate for an AD sink, and make it somewhat affordable for people to upgrade their companion.

ortzhy · December 2013

zebular wrote: »

. . . . . The Mount & Companion AD Sink is a Good AD Sink with a horrendous price. It's good in it is one many want to use but set at a price that most will not. Therefore, the AD Sink is a failure for what it is intended. Seriously, these AD prices need to be dropped across the board on almost everything. More does not sell more. Less sells more.

. . . . . If the prices on upgrading companions and mounts were cut in half, I'd be tempted to and probably would end up upgrading every single one of them... and I am a collector! A MAD collector. As the prices are now, I do not even think twice about upgrading them. For the answer is; "No frilling way!"

5 lvl 30 companions would cost u around 7.5 mil and u get around 20% bonus dmg if u go on glass cannon route. Not a bad price considering that from lvl 7 to lvl 10 u pay around 20-30 mil on all enchants for only a 10% dmg increase. My problem is that i cant trade them between my alts, and i see no reason why i cant do that

leinahtanwc · December 2013

I just upgraded my green pet to purple... I swear if I get shafted again a week later, this is going to HAMSTER me off...

Already happened when I raised enough zen via AD and got the Purple mount - 2 weeks later, patch, zen price reductions, etc.... I think I spent 1500 more zen then anyone else did.

zebular · December 2013

leinahtanwc wrote: »

I just upgraded my green pet to purple... I swear if I get shafted again a week later, this is going to HAMSTER me off...

Already happened when I raised enough zen via AD and got the Purple mount - 2 weeks later, patch, zen price reductions, etc.... I think I spent 1500 more zen then anyone else did.

. . . . . Wow, you must not like shopping then. Prices always fluctuate in any economy and virtual ones are no different. Just because you payed more doesn't mean the rest have to. You bought the luxury at an inflated price while I, personally, will not until prices are reasonable. That was your choice just like it was mine to buy active companion slots and then have them become free months later. I rarely buy things unless they are on sale or are reasonable, that's my choice just as it was your choice to pay full price for things instead of waiting for a sale price or prices to be reduced.

Companion upgrading is expensive.

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