a) What happens to those people who rely on the exchange as their sole means of acquiring zen, assuming they do not do surveys, how else do you expect them to get zen if they do not have the means to do so?
Based off of this scenario, you are saying the game cannot enjoyed in its entirety without purchasing items with zen. The game is free, and playable without having to purchase items with zen. If someone does not have the means to purchase zen items, they are not prevented from playing the content, or enjoying the game in the pure Free 2 play fashion.
b) OP, you mentioned that players shouldn't use alts for farming dilithium. Why do you feel this way, when the cap on refining it is 8000 per day? Would you rather have people who can't buy zen with real money and convert it to refined dilithium resort to having to wait 5-7 days to get a piece of reputation gear? Upgrade their gear? That's what you are suggesting.
You are speaking of reducing the time gates. That is why I have suggested the ability to purchase dilithium through the C-store, for those who cannot purchase zen will have the better sense of accomplishment when they saved up the dilithium to purchase the rep item, or upgrade their gear.
If you read my first post, removing of the exchange will help get rid of the stress of grinding, and bring back the enjoyment of the game.
I came up with a suggestion after hearing some talk in various zones, I felt I would share it.
Last night, a couple of players were stating that they felt overburdened with the "tax" dilithium completion requirements Cryptic is putting on their ability to gather dilithium. The phrase "No taxation without representation"was thrown around.
Based off of the above comments, and others I have seen over the past few months, it dawned on me that players see dilithium not as a commodity to be used to improve game play, but as income both in and outside the game. Everyone knows at least on player who uses back channels to exchange keys, ships, etc for Real life currency, others who look forward to using dilithium to exchange for zen so they can get the next new zen ship.
It is has also has been mentioned to overcome the monumental grind for dilithium, players have resorted to skipping school, work, and important family functions. Players have even gone so far to skirting the TOS to employe means to gather even more dilithium over normal game play.
The root of all evil in this is the dilithium exchange. Removing the dilithium exchange completely and replacing it with players ability to purchase dilithium directly from the C-store in prepackaged set amounts would eliminate just a sample of the issues listed above and more.
I understand this suggestion will not be accepted by a number of members currently playing this game, and I accept the personal attacks from those who no longer play, but frequent the forums on a regular basis.
I cannot assume any positive or negative benefits to Cryptic by doing this, I do not work for the company, and will not presume to know Cryptic's business plan. I can only offer my insight based on my consumption of this video game.
i just collected dili. from all my toons that i gather in last week, 800k. so no, dilitium is not a problem..... explore the game.
New Lunar Republic
"Where monsters rampage, I'm there to take them down! Where treasure glitters, I'm there to claim it! Where an enemy rises to face me, victory will be mine!" -Lina Inverse
My stress in this game does not come from the Dill exchange but from lack of xp. Personally I'm thinking most people in the game feel the same way. Your idea of killing the exchange completely I do not and will not ever support that. It is the one good thing left. I use Alts for Dillithium its easier for me to get the Dil I need when I need it, and I use the exchange to transfer it between characters. Killing the exchange would kill the game, as because the Refinement cap is 8500 per day (With Fleet mine), it would then force me into the stress you say you are trying to eliminate.
You want to cut down on the stress from Grinding? Tripple the XP accross the board for everything, I think that would be a place to start.
I doubt if PWE/Cryptic would notice much of a difference if they were to remove the dil exchange, after all the same people buying the zen to stick on the exchange would still be buying it. They would just get their dil from the store instead of the exchange, and for a better rate.
One would think so but, not really as the exchange can yield better results!
The OP's proposal is sure to be controversial, but it isn't without merit.
People forget that even unpopular changes can increase quality of life.
For example, the change to mark turn ins and the dil event -> it was bad for committed min-maxers, but good in the long run for everyone, since people don't feel the need to wait for dil events to turn in their marks, and can instead use them as they get them.
Removing the uncertainty of the dil exchange could be a good thing for people, it could reduce people's anxiety and give them a better quality of life.
The yellow part, like always is a joke, they could easily turn them in any time of the year to begin with, it's just some people preferred doing both!
Turning them in during the year and, when the event came around, because it isn't difficult to keep racking up more than one ever needs!
It's like saying "Why should Cryptic have any kind of sale on in game items?" Because without them, it would make your $ - zen purchases seem more valuable all year long and, not just during the sale!!!
Who would that be kidding?
Imagine if this applied to everything in life?
No raises/promotions/bonuses, because we want you to feel like your hard work is valuable all year and, not just when a raise/promotion/bonus comes around!
I just recently got a Dauntless, all with dilithium exchanging.
With your suggestion, the ONLY way for me to have gotten that Dauntless is to give Cryptic $20 or so, instead of "buying" someone else's $20 using dilithium.
Not everyone is too keen on opening up their own wallets for 1 game item, but are more than willing to use in-game resources they probably aren't using for anything else.
The exchange is the reason why I really like this game's F2P system, and removing it with nothing but the excuse of "dilly is evil and you don't NEED to have a Dauntless to have fun!" Is just supporting P2W..
Based off of this scenario, you are saying the game cannot enjoyed in its entirety without purchasing items with zen. The game is free, and playable without having to purchase items with zen. If someone does not have the means to purchase zen items, they are not prevented from playing the content, or enjoying the game in the pure Free 2 play fashion.
Yet it is the zen purchases that pays for the game. If you get rid of the exchange and so the ability for people to change dil->zen it means less zen sales. Less zen sales means less money and less money means the game getting worse.
Thank you for pointing this out, I forgot about that one. That would be another reason to close the exchange, alts should not be used for farming, IMHO.
Max. One-Hit: 114,966 (Quantum Torpedo - Salvo II (Federation Typhoon Class Battleship))
Agreed, Many...MANY.......MANY Players use the exchange as a way to get Zen, that is how this game is "Free to play" for the most part...and quite frankly That zen is NOT free, somebody, someplace had to buy it..They traded it for Dil, Dil we worked hard for, We should be able to trade dil for zen and vice versa, we should be able to use our alts as "farmers" We STILL have to put in the time and effort regardless... I'm glad you people that are against it are in such a great financial situation you can drop thousands of $$$ to make up for all of us poor folk leaving the game because people like you pushed against the free and FAIR system. I'm going to end my comment on this short because I am upset and I say what is on my mind. :mad:
gotta love the conspiracy theorists here...nothing beats a good conspiracy. It just shows that people have 0 knowledge and 0 data and 0 understanding, so they come up with their own explanation, which involves some evil entity behind it all. and the most gullable sheeps simply feed on it...conspiracy theories are some form of modern day religion, at least certain aspects are very similar.
I came up with a suggestion after hearing some talk in various zones, I felt I would share it.
Last night, a couple of players were stating that they felt overburdened with the "tax" dilithium completion requirements Cryptic is putting on their ability to gather dilithium. The phrase "No taxation without representation"was thrown around.
Based off of the above comments, and others I have seen over the past few months, it dawned on me that players see dilithium not as a commodity to be used to improve game play, but as income both in and outside the game. Everyone knows at least on player who uses back channels to exchange keys, ships, etc for Real life currency, others who look forward to using dilithium to exchange for zen so they can get the next new zen ship.
It is has also has been mentioned to overcome the monumental grind for dilithium, players have resorted to skipping school, work, and important family functions. Players have even gone so far to skirting the TOS to employe means to gather even more dilithium over normal game play.
The root of all evil in this is the dilithium exchange. Removing the dilithium exchange completely and replacing it with players ability to purchase dilithium directly from the C-store in prepackaged set amounts would eliminate just a sample of the issues listed above and more.
I understand this suggestion will not be accepted by a number of members currently playing this game, and I accept the personal attacks from those who no longer play, but frequent the forums on a regular basis.
I cannot assume any positive or negative benefits to Cryptic by doing this, I do not work for the company, and will not presume to know Cryptic's business plan. I can only offer my insight based on my consumption of this video game.
you dont understand the game here.
eliminating the diliexchange would make 99% of the playerbase dissappear.
cause 99% of the players dont reach for anything that costs ingame dilithium. they dont need it.
they want store items for as few dollars as possible, and they would never buy ONE SINGLE **** of the zenstore for 30dollars as a whole. they sell their dilithium to the "i need all epiiiiiic" guys gambling away their dilithium, and thereby substitute their own zen-purchases by like 80% of the price.
i never payed more than 5dollar for a ship of the store overall. if the exchange disappeared, i would:
buy far less, or nothing at all, cause i wont get more money in reallife for spending it here (and im not willing even if i HAD more money, 30 real dollars for a digital pixel ship?! no sry sir) play less, or stop playing at all, cause i ****in dont need dilithium at all in case there wouldnt be any echange value for it ...
(i think that a rather big amount of players is handling these things as i do, while only 1% of the playerbase really DO use dilithium for upgrades to epic)
and thatwould ultimately kill the palyerbase away, towards those 1% "all epic" guys want to distinguish from --> also their need to buy much from the store would lower.
conclusion: you dont understand anything about, WHY there is an dili-zen exchange at all ;-)
So you're saying let people buy Dil off PWE with their Zen, and let those who play and earn it but not pay go without Zen? Lousy idea. Why? Because people will quit playing. Less people around will make paying customers less likely to spend as much time ingame, or even quit altogether, leading to a worse game.
i wouldnt even buy one piece of dilithium. that why im selling mine for zen ... i just want store items, and im happy that there are like 1% gambler addicts here, that substitute my zen purchases by about 80% ;-)
thank you all for this ;-)
the OP is just assuming, everyone wants epic gear ... actually 99% dont care, but are happy that 1% does care, but doesnt know why ;-)
99% of the people farm dilithium to get their hands on store items for as few dollars as possible.
the game would be instantly dead if the exchange would dissappear, and people are asked to buy a single damn pixel-mass for 30dolalrs ...
unless they'd drop store prices dramatically (like to 1/4th of current), this game would be an online desert area the next day.
There is no 'free to play' game that doesn't offer a way to get the real $$$ currency. It just depends how generous. STO used to be very generous. Now they tighten the belt.
Mechwarrior Online.
But it's bad in so many ways, failing even that basic principle of F2P is not a noteworthy achievement.
I think in TOR you can't get the currency, but you can stil use in-game currency to buy from players. I don't know if there is anything in the TOR store that can't be sold.
Star Trek Online Advancement: You start with lowbie gear, you end with Lobi gear.
Comments
Based off of this scenario, you are saying the game cannot enjoyed in its entirety without purchasing items with zen. The game is free, and playable without having to purchase items with zen. If someone does not have the means to purchase zen items, they are not prevented from playing the content, or enjoying the game in the pure Free 2 play fashion.
You are speaking of reducing the time gates. That is why I have suggested the ability to purchase dilithium through the C-store, for those who cannot purchase zen will have the better sense of accomplishment when they saved up the dilithium to purchase the rep item, or upgrade their gear.
If you read my first post, removing of the exchange will help get rid of the stress of grinding, and bring back the enjoyment of the game.
i just collected dili. from all my toons that i gather in last week, 800k. so no, dilitium is not a problem..... explore the game.
OMFG!!! I totally died laughing!!!!!!!!!
"Where monsters rampage, I'm there to take them down! Where treasure glitters, I'm there to claim it! Where an enemy rises to face me, victory will be mine!" -Lina Inverse
You want to cut down on the stress from Grinding? Tripple the XP accross the board for everything, I think that would be a place to start.
Fleet leader Nova Elite
Fleet Leader House of Nova elite
@ren_larreck
One would think so but, not really as the exchange can yield better results!
The yellow part, like always is a joke, they could easily turn them in any time of the year to begin with, it's just some people preferred doing both!
Turning them in during the year and, when the event came around, because it isn't difficult to keep racking up more than one ever needs!
It's like saying "Why should Cryptic have any kind of sale on in game items?" Because without them, it would make your $ - zen purchases seem more valuable all year long and, not just during the sale!!!
Who would that be kidding?
Imagine if this applied to everything in life?
No raises/promotions/bonuses, because we want you to feel like your hard work is valuable all year and, not just when a raise/promotion/bonus comes around!
No sales
No interest on investing
Etc.
Praetor of the -RTS- Romulan Tal Shiar fleet!
With your suggestion, the ONLY way for me to have gotten that Dauntless is to give Cryptic $20 or so, instead of "buying" someone else's $20 using dilithium.
Not everyone is too keen on opening up their own wallets for 1 game item, but are more than willing to use in-game resources they probably aren't using for anything else.
The exchange is the reason why I really like this game's F2P system, and removing it with nothing but the excuse of "dilly is evil and you don't NEED to have a Dauntless to have fun!" Is just supporting P2W..
Yet it is the zen purchases that pays for the game. If you get rid of the exchange and so the ability for people to change dil->zen it means less zen sales. Less zen sales means less money and less money means the game getting worse.
Nothing wrong with the current system.
aut vincere aut mori pro imperio
either to conquer or to die for the Empire
you dont understand the game here.
eliminating the diliexchange would make 99% of the playerbase dissappear.
cause 99% of the players dont reach for anything that costs ingame dilithium. they dont need it.
they want store items for as few dollars as possible, and they would never buy ONE SINGLE **** of the zenstore for 30dollars as a whole. they sell their dilithium to the "i need all epiiiiiic" guys gambling away their dilithium, and thereby substitute their own zen-purchases by like 80% of the price.
i never payed more than 5dollar for a ship of the store overall. if the exchange disappeared, i would:
buy far less, or nothing at all, cause i wont get more money in reallife for spending it here (and im not willing even if i HAD more money, 30 real dollars for a digital pixel ship?! no sry sir)
play less, or stop playing at all, cause i ****in dont need dilithium at all in case there wouldnt be any echange value for it ...
(i think that a rather big amount of players is handling these things as i do, while only 1% of the playerbase really DO use dilithium for upgrades to epic)
and thatwould ultimately kill the palyerbase away, towards those 1% "all epic" guys want to distinguish from --> also their need to buy much from the store would lower.
conclusion: you dont understand anything about, WHY there is an dili-zen exchange at all ;-)
i wouldnt even buy one piece of dilithium. that why im selling mine for zen ... i just want store items, and im happy that there are like 1% gambler addicts here, that substitute my zen purchases by about 80% ;-)
thank you all for this ;-)
the OP is just assuming, everyone wants epic gear ... actually 99% dont care, but are happy that 1% does care, but doesnt know why ;-)
99% of the people farm dilithium to get their hands on store items for as few dollars as possible.
the game would be instantly dead if the exchange would dissappear, and people are asked to buy a single damn pixel-mass for 30dolalrs ...
unless they'd drop store prices dramatically (like to 1/4th of current), this game would be an online desert area the next day.
Mechwarrior Online.
But it's bad in so many ways, failing even that basic principle of F2P is not a noteworthy achievement.
I think in TOR you can't get the currency, but you can stil use in-game currency to buy from players. I don't know if there is anything in the TOR store that can't be sold.