A Permanent XP Boost, Playtime Incentive, and Dilithium

leviathan99

What if...

Each day, upon refining the dilithium cap, XP gains increased 2.5x?

Cryptic certainly isn't opposed to 2.5x XP based on this event provided that it boosts how much people play. So since we know that's on the table, it seems to me that the method of delivery is up for negotiation.

Resets when the refinement cap resets.

Now... What about someone who doesn't plan on hitting the cap on a given day? Maybe your playtime is short?

An option to hit a button that immediately causes your refinement to cap for the day in exchange for starting the 2.5x XP early.

Basically, "I'm willing to put off dilithium refinement to another day to get the XP boost now."

I think some variation of this would be workable and healthy for the game. It gets people who play longer some satisfaction. For people who play less or on schedules or are satisfied with their refined dilithium levels (which can improve exchange rates and generate sales if they forego some), then they can jump straight in.

Now, what about people with vast reserves?

Well, with a system like this, you might be able to raise or remove the refinement cap altogther and make "capping off" refinement a voluntary activity in exchange for XP boost.

This might actually optimize playtime and spending and progress in a bunch of ways which I don't entirely feel like mapping out in detail right now. Intuitively, though, it seems like it could make economic sense from a few different directions as it turns payment into a "catch up" mechanism.

thecosmic1

It is not a bad idea. Of course I would rather see them either A: lower the XP requirements from 50 to 60 and for Spec Points or B: add more playable Content so that post 50 seems less grindy.

I assume Cryptic's "fear" is that the Power Gamers will have their Trees filled in a few months and then have absolutely no reason to keep logging into the game - as they are working under the theory that the more someone is in-game the greater the odds they can entice someone to spend a few dollars.

leviathan99

thecosmic1 wrote: »

It is not a bad idea. Of course I would rather see them either A: lower the XP requirements from 50 to 60 and for Spec Points or B: add more playable Content so that post 50 seems less grindy.

I assume Cryptic's "fear" is that the Power Gamers will have their Trees filled in a few months and then have absolutely no reason to keep logging into the game - as they are working under the theory that the more someone is in-game the greater the odds they can entice someone to spend a few dollars.

I think there is that. I've gathered playtime is also a crude market share measure. If they know average playtime for competitors, they can construct an estimate or market share using time as a proxy for spending, recognizing that it's imperfect.

I just think XP boost as "dessert" and refinement as "veggies" has a certain logic to it, as long as you deal with people who are maxed out on skill trees somehow.

You can have veggies. You can skip to dessert. Skipping to dessert means you won't get to ask for more veggies for the day though.