Why do people buy packs?

CeliaZ - Sanctuary
CeliaZ - Sanctuary Posts: 901 Arc User
edited November 2010 in General Discussion
Let's say you want a lunar weapon. Why would you buy a pack for that? Isn't it cheaper to buy it directly from other people? Or if you wanna do it with RL money, wouldnt is be cheaper to sell the gold and buy your weapon?

Let's say you want money. Why would you buy packs and 'hope' for something good to get money? Isnt that a very unreliable source of income? And are you really making profit when you get 1 10mil item every 100 packs? Wouldnt you make more profit to just sell the gold you charged or maybe grinding/merchanting/whatever?

If everyone would feel the same way I do, wouldnt all the packs be gone then?

Im so confused.
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Post edited by CeliaZ - Sanctuary on
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Comments

  • Kupuntu - Sanctuary
    Kupuntu - Sanctuary Posts: 3,008 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Well, look at it like this. Some dude gets 50 gold. 50 gold would be around 25m, not enough for Lunar weapon. Instead, they just buy packs thinking they have a chance of getting something worth more than that 25m.

    Also, gambling addiction.
    100% F2P player. Started PW: March 2007, Quit PW: March 2011.
    pwcalc.com/e7016929e7b204ae "Pure axe" 8k HP multipath BM, last one of my kind.
  • CeliaZ - Sanctuary
    CeliaZ - Sanctuary Posts: 901 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Kupuntu - Sanctuary wrote: »
    Well, look at it like this. Some dude gets 50 gold. 50 gold would be around 25m, not enough for Lunar weapon. Instead, they just buy packs thinking they have a chance of getting something worth more than that 25m.

    Also, gambling addiction.

    That makes sense, but isnt it sad that people use RL money to 'gamble' for pixels, and even get addicted to that?
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  • Paramedic - Dreamweaver
    Paramedic - Dreamweaver Posts: 1,801 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    why people play lottery and gamble?
    BUILD EFFICIENCY CALCULATOR: pwi-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=1129681

    AGGRO MECHANICS: pwi-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=481682

    GAME IS DEAD wiki-article: pwi-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=938282
  • BarbLord - Raging Tide
    BarbLord - Raging Tide Posts: 378 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Theres always newbies, people who just can't stop with gambling
    This why people stil buy packs
  • Silest - Sanctuary
    Silest - Sanctuary Posts: 816 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    I buy them for the tokens(regular tokens..not Perfect tokens of best luck).. yeah I know I could just buy them from players...but I'd rather use my coin for other things besides that.
  • CeliaZ - Sanctuary
    CeliaZ - Sanctuary Posts: 901 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Silest - Sanctuary wrote: »
    I buy them for the tokens(regular tokens..not Perfect tokens of best luck).. yeah I know I could just buy them from players...but I'd rather use my coin for other things besides that.

    Yes but how about, charge zen, sell gold, buy tokens of players and even keep some coins? You get tokens + profit and you are not buying packs.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • KrittyCat - Dreamweaver
    KrittyCat - Dreamweaver Posts: 1,273 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Heck, I bought 20 Lucky Corals last night just to get some tokens before servers went down, and I got a Rapture Chest...can't beat that, eh?
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  • SerenityMare - Dreamweaver
    SerenityMare - Dreamweaver Posts: 2,211 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Kupuntu - Sanctuary wrote: »

    Also, gambling addiction.

    ^ This...
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  • Heartstone - Dreamweaver
    Heartstone - Dreamweaver Posts: 1,338 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    i do randomly buy a few. so far only profit as long its tiger packs and not the crappy other ones lol.
    I'm sorry for misspelling / mistyping and grammar b:surrender

    102 - Archer - Heartz
  • MrHanky - Harshlands
    MrHanky - Harshlands Posts: 477 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Kupuntu - Sanctuary wrote: »
    Well, look at it like this. Some dude gets 50 gold. 50 gold would be around 25m, not enough for Lunar weapon. Instead, they just buy packs thinking they have a chance of getting something worth more than that 25m.

    Also, gambling addiction.

    also if no 1 bought them who would you be buying this lunar weapon fromb:question
    b:bye
  • Mendolin - Sanctuary
    Mendolin - Sanctuary Posts: 1,092 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    MrHanky - Harshlands wrote: »
    also if no 1 bought them who would you be buying this lunar weapon fromb:question

    ^ what he said....

    god forbid someone actually having to farm it....
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  • Akyeno - Heavens Tear
    Akyeno - Heavens Tear Posts: 22 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    CeliaZ - Sanctuary wrote: »
    That makes sense, but isnt it sad that people use RL money to 'gamble' for pixels, and even get addicted to that?

    Well then feel sad for the people that gamble on a regular basis for things like the lottery, cars, beer.

    But back on the subject, buying packs can be a lot more profitable that buying gold and selling it. Like was said above, You spend 50 dollars in gold, which is about 30mil depending on gold prices(please correct me if I am wrongb:surrender). Now the person has a choice, either sell it right away for immediate results, or buy packs and make and additional 80mil or more on what they get, plus the opportunity to get good items required for some more advanced gear.
  • Silest - Sanctuary
    Silest - Sanctuary Posts: 816 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    CeliaZ - Sanctuary wrote: »
    Yes but how about, charge zen, sell gold, buy tokens of players and even keep some coins? You get tokens + profit and you are not buying packs.
    For the amount I need, I am better off opening my own. Instead of losing money that I just gained from trading.
  • Magic_Seeker - Sanctuary
    Magic_Seeker - Sanctuary Posts: 39 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    - It's part of the Human Race to feel the need to gamble - Now theres your reazon.


    Obviously Companies know that.
  • _DarkSeph_ - Sanctuary
    _DarkSeph_ - Sanctuary Posts: 2,294 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    People don't buy packs aiming to get a specific item, like a lunar weapon. People buy them purely for the fun of gambling. If they get lucky they get a rapture chest or scroll of tome or lunar weapon. They can then either use it, or sell it off and then buy the specific item they desire. If they don't get lucky they trade in their tokens for something useful.

    Not everyone is mathematical minded, they don't really care what the logical outcome is as long as they're having fun.

    That said I've bought maybe 10-15 packs tops in my life.
  • MrHanky - Harshlands
    MrHanky - Harshlands Posts: 477 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Mendolin - Sanctuary wrote: »
    ^ what he said....

    god forbid someone actually having to farm it....
    ya cause 3mil a run for a max of 9-10 essence depending on route during regular drops is worthwhile and i say max the dirty bosses have dropped 3 mirages on me countless times
    b:bye
  • CeliaZ - Sanctuary
    CeliaZ - Sanctuary Posts: 901 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    _DarkSeph_ - Sanctuary wrote: »
    People don't buy packs aiming to get a specific item, like a lunar weapon. People buy them purely for the fun of gambling. If they get lucky they get a rapture chest or scroll of tome or lunar weapon. They can then either use it, or sell it off and then buy the specific item they desire. If they don't get lucky they trade in their tokens for something useful.

    Not everyone is mathematical minded, they don't really care what the logical outcome is as long as they're having fun.

    That said I've bought maybe 10-15 packs tops in my life.

    Okay thank you, that is exactly what I was looking for. :)
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  • mortie
    mortie Posts: 1 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Some people that buy them have a good use for the regular tokens that come out, but like the chance of getting something nice (not necessarily the top end items, but items such as perfect token of best luck or platinum charms as well). If you sell the gold for money and buy the tokens you have no chance at getting anything nice. If you sell the gold in order to buy a lunar weapon, you will only have that lunar weapon and none of the other tons of items you would've gotten from opening packs.

    You won't have the fun of opening them either. Gambling is fun b:victory

    Not that I've ever bought or opened a pack, but it seems people enjoy it a lot. I have bought similar items in a different game though, and it was a blast.
  • Axelire - Heavens Tear
    Axelire - Heavens Tear Posts: 286 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Why do people buy packs? Get rich quick.
    KrittyCat - Dreamweaver wrote: »
    Heck, I bought 20 Lucky Corals last night just to get some tokens before servers went down, and I got a Rapture Chest...can't beat that, eh?

    Okay, so 100 million coins isn't really 'rich' endgame, but clearly someone's *** is already bought by the company.

    KrittyCat, will you cite your I got a Rapture Chest out of 20 Lucky Corals every time there is a thread about packs? By my count you've already done it twice.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • KrittyCat - Dreamweaver
    KrittyCat - Dreamweaver Posts: 1,273 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Twice? Really??

    Thought this was the first time...

    *Goes searching for other post*
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    (Signature credit to NowItsAwn)

    Survivor of Snow-Mageddon 2010, "The Great Earthquake" of 2011, and Sandy 2012 b:victory
  • Axelire - Heavens Tear
    Axelire - Heavens Tear Posts: 286 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    KrittyCat - Dreamweaver wrote: »
    Meh...just bought 20 Coral Packs before the server went down and got a Rapture Chest, lol...Not sure what I'm gonna do with it yet...but that was all I got...

    Can't wait for the Tiger Packs to be back and better than ever! *KrittyCat screams like a school girl in glee*

    10 char
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  • KrittyCat - Dreamweaver
    KrittyCat - Dreamweaver Posts: 1,273 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    That was before I even knew what it was worth, lol..and forgive me for forgetting something like that minuscule post on 45 minutes of sleep...b:surrender

    Guess I'm just gonna have to get used to it. b:sad

    And I'm sorry...but "bought by the company"? I do believe that I spend my own money on the game, and it's not really all that much that I spend. I played F2P for over a year (started on Sanctuary in May '09), so now I feel like I can contribute to others enjoying the game F2P.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    (Signature credit to NowItsAwn)

    Survivor of Snow-Mageddon 2010, "The Great Earthquake" of 2011, and Sandy 2012 b:victory
  • JanusZeal - Heavens Tear
    JanusZeal - Heavens Tear Posts: 3,852 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    I don't agree either MrHanky with the high and mighty notion that farming directly for **** is always the best route. I just think that if you can see through their obviously mistaken anger, it would be more directed at how increasingly difficult PWI makes it for the non-paying player. Of course, people shoot themselves in the foot by wanting everything now instead of being patient. This mentality is no different than the person who buys their gear with zen either via packs or coins/tokens/TOBL.

    The reason I think people buy packs is because a) they see other people doing it and thus get notoriety, especially with nifty red messages sent across the entire game (the will to be exclusive and impress others is, I think, the largest reason), b) they are the types who simply like gambling, and opening packs anticipating something is much like pulling the lever of a slot machine in Vegas, c) actually is directly opening packs anticipating getting specific gear, usually a spread of certain items, whether it be something they want/need, or opening stuff because they're lucky and are trying to profit off of it.

    The people who do C are in a severe minority but there are some merchants who go through a spread of opening packs and getting extremely lucky. They turn around, sell that stuff, buy more packs with it, then open more, get lucky, and profit some more. Eventually their luck runs out, so if they're smart they will know when to maybe turn their profits in a direction that isn't as volatile as far as cost<->revenue is concerned.

    The people in A are a majority. This coincides with, over the last 6-10 months, popularizing of deicides and TT100 fists. More people see others getting those, they willingly fork over lots (I bought my LGI-W for 65m, all from farming and selling a bunch of my ****, and made a 2 socket deicide with it, then made it to +5 with perfs and sold it to an idiot for 110m which I turned around and farmed another 45m and used toward buying TT100 fists).. and the notion is because they see so many with them, they feel they MUST have those, and that this is a standard for any -int class. Therefore people's expectations of what one should have rises upon so many getting these. Along with the expectations rising comes the notoriety of your name being seen with red messages, and people pursuing to great lengths getting elite gear. Because the standard of what players have has risen, what is considered rare or elite is also risen, so people end up buying more packs anticipating this, as well as spending more toward such gear.

    B is pretty simple and covered by gambling issues.
  • Axelire - Heavens Tear
    Axelire - Heavens Tear Posts: 286 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    KrittyCat - Dreamweaver wrote: »
    That was before I even knew what it was worth, lol..and forgive me for forgetting something like that minuscule post on 45 minutes of sleep...b:surrender

    Guess I'm just gonna have to get used to it. b:sad

    And I'm sorry...but "bought by the company"? I do believe that I spend my own money on the game, and it's not really all that much that I spend. I played F2P for over a year (started on Sanctuary in May '09), so now I feel like I can contribute to others enjoying the game F2P.

    Correct, moderators are not allocated sleeping time, or sympathy.

    I'm surprised you didn't catch on what I meant by "bought by the company". Let me make it clearer with an example.

    *KrittyCat buys 20 Lucky Corals from the boutique - spending his own money*
    KrittyCat gets a Rpature Chest - "Can't wait for the Tiger Packs to be back and better than ever!"
    A thread discussing packs is posted.
    *KrittyCat comes in and posts..."
    KrittyCat - Dreamweaver wrote: »
    Heck, I bought 20 Lucky Corals last night just to get some tokens before servers went down, and I got a Rapture Chest...can't beat that, eh?
    KrittyCat - Dreamweaver wrote: »
    Meh...just bought 20 Coral Packs before the server went down and got a Rapture Chest, lol...Not sure what I'm gonna do with it yet...but that was all I got...

    Can't wait for the Tiger Packs to be back and better than ever!

    [Translation]

    I love packs, I love PWE. b:dirty Guys, stop complaining and go open more packs, 'cause I need more sleep. b:sad

    [/Translation]
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  • KrittyCat - Dreamweaver
    KrittyCat - Dreamweaver Posts: 1,273 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Lol, love the translation. However, I just noticed people posted threads...I wasn't really thinking about what I had posted before, and I like to input something on threads where I have something to input. Again, sorry for the redundancy, I'll try to avoid things like that in the future. ^^
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    (Signature credit to NowItsAwn)

    Survivor of Snow-Mageddon 2010, "The Great Earthquake" of 2011, and Sandy 2012 b:victory
  • Solandri - Heavens Tear
    Solandri - Heavens Tear Posts: 2,843 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    _DarkSeph_ - Sanctuary wrote: »
    Not everyone is mathematical minded, they don't really care what the logical outcome is as long as they're having fun.
    ^ This. If everyone were mathematically logical in their thinking, Las Vegas wouldn't exist.

    Either you can set about trying to pass laws attempting to protect people from their own irrationality. Or you can just accept that that's the way they are, and accept the changes they cause to the world (RL or in-game) around you.
  • Axelire - Heavens Tear
    Axelire - Heavens Tear Posts: 286 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    KrittyCat - Dreamweaver wrote: »
    Lol, love the translation. However, I just noticed people posted threads...I wasn't really thinking about what I had posted before, and I like to input something on threads where I have something to input. Again, sorry for the redundancy, I'll try to avoid things like that in the future. ^^

    Redundancy is not the issue. I'm not sure whether you genuinely have no clue what my point is, or you're just trying to lamely defuse/divert the issue.

    Anyway, for those who have leveled their comprehension skills higher than level 1 my point is made. b:bye
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  • RoidAbuse - Sanctuary
    RoidAbuse - Sanctuary Posts: 1,066 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    Axelire - Heavens Tear wrote: »
    Why do people buy packs? Get rich quick.



    Okay, so 100 million coins isn't really 'rich' endgame, but clearly someone's *** is already bought by the company.

    KrittyCat, will you cite your I got a Rapture Chest out of 20 Lucky Corals every time there is a thread about packs? By my count you've already done it twice.

    OMG!! He mentioned it TWICE?!?!? Let's jump him and execute him!
    To say he's been "bought" by PWE just because he mentioned what he got from coral twice is a stretch.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    Making "non-trash-talkers" show their true color. RAGE ON! b:laugh
  • ElderSig - Dreamweaver
    ElderSig - Dreamweaver Posts: 1,247 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    RoidAbuse - Sanctuary wrote: »
    OMG!! He mentioned it TWICE?!?!? Let's jump him and execute him!
    To say he's been "bought" by PWE just because he mentioned what he got from coral twice is a stretch.


    I think Axelire is just mad the person he voted for didn't become mod (whoever that is)
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • Axelire - Heavens Tear
    Axelire - Heavens Tear Posts: 286 Arc User
    edited November 2010
    RoidAbuse - Sanctuary wrote: »
    OMG!! He mentioned it TWICE?!?!? Let's jump him and execute him!
    To say he's been "bought" by PWE just because he mentioned what he got from coral twice is a stretch.

    He didn't just say, I got a rapture chest from 20 Lucky Corals. If thats all he said, I would've had no ammunition. Learn to read please.

    ElderSig - Dreamweaver wrote: »
    I think Axelire is just mad the person he voted for didn't become mod (whoever that is)

    *pops bubble* I didn't vote.
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