"I am not able to pay real money, so for that reason I don't have a chance to get one" is p2w and also unfair, in my opinion.
Then by your opinion, it's P2W.
Putting an item in a lock box that costs money and giving it an insanely low drop rate does not create a level playing field. It creates a situation where (on average) only those that spend a considerable amount can get the item. Yes, there are is the situational anomaly of the person that buys 1 pack and gets the ship, but on average, getting a ship from a R&D pack is a significant financial investment, far more so then buying from the C-Store.
I know what you'll say - "Everyone has the same statistical chance." And that's correct, but they all have the same infinitesimal chance which means that to have any real chance of getting the item, multiple purchases are required in order to get enough chances to have a realistic shot at 'winning.' Putting all the rhetoric aside, we both know that on average, 'winning' one of these ships will cost a sizable amount of money, likely upwards of $100+. To try and pretend that's a 'level playing field' is frankly laughable.
Would I call it 'Pay to Win?' No, just because this ship isn't necessarily more powerful then anything available for Zen or even free from Events (The Rezreth, built correctly can be a top performer and was completely free, same with the Nandi.) But while I don't call it 'Pay 2 Win' I hardly consider it a level playing field.
On average, the T6 Connie will only be available to those willing to spend a very large amount of money trying to win it. Those that have the money to spend will have an obviously better chance of getting the ship. That, or they have to be really good at generating EC in game and hope someone will sell them one.
I'm not complaining or crying over it.. in fact, I get it. I understand how these things work and why they're necessary. I don't like it, but I accept it. Even though I accept it, I'm not going to insult everyones intelligence and try and pretend it's fair for everyone, because it's clearly not.
Like i said in response to another poster, its qualitative not quantitative. It's a question about whether there is a chance, not about how big the chance is compared to something else.
And that is why we won't agree on this topic, because we disagree here. It's both things combined, not just one. Giving everyone the same, very small chance, does not create an equality. It clearly gives a sizable advantage to someone who can afford to purchase multiple chances. Now, if everyone had the same chance, and everyone was limited to 3 tries, then your theory of equality is correct. You cannot simply dismiss the quantitative side of the equation, that doesn't work.
If a ship was in the c-store and cost 15k zen, I dont think it would be fair to say that everyone had a chance to get one. People who paid for 15k zen or who managed to grind out that much zen worth of dil would have a 100% chance of getting one, and everyone else would have no chance at all.
The first thing here is to understand that there is no situation outside of 'free for everyone' that gives every single person the same exact chance. That's not the issue, it's about creating the most opportunity for the vast majority. A fixed price is obviously the most balanced provided that price is within reason. There will always be someone who can't afford the price, and that situation will occur in any solution outside of 'here, everyone have one for free.'
I'm not worried about trying to find a solution that gives everyone the exact same chance because I know that's impossible. But there are other, more balanced solutions outside of just making something so expensive that most people can't afford it. There is a line between making something 'rare' and putting it completely out of reach of the average player.
I understand your side of the argument, I just disagree with the fundamental principals on which your argument is based.
The problem with this is that there are many more ships that are desireable and can be made rare. A T6 Sovereign for example, why not putting them in a prize box as well? All your points remain valid. And after that a T6 Nova perhaps? Or a T6 Nebula, T6 Vor'cha?
Your points are entirely arbitrary since they apply to every popular ship out there.
Here's how I see it. They need to finance their console port who's success is anything but sure. Or in other words, they probably won't use most of the money made out of this T6 connie promotion to create new actual content.
Sovereign is a faction service ship like all the rest in the c-store. It's a t5 ship that will get the t6 treatment same as all the other ones. It's symmetry, each one treated exactly the same.
An endgame version of a starter ship that is made by the magic of time travel to be somehow a ship of the line is not a normal thing. It's broken symmetry. It's probably the most exotic ship they've ever put into sto.
Where's the magic line then? They can put temporal T6 Constitutions, Mirandas, Ambassadors, Stargazers and Oberths in prize boxes but not ships that already got their T5 version?
The Excelsior isn't much younger than the original Constitution class but she got her T6 c-store version nonetheless.
I'm not trying to be overly dramatic here. I just fear that more faction ships will have their T6 version put into an expensive prize box. And once more, Cryptic would be able to calm everybody down by simply stating that they had to do it this way and that they don't intend to put anymore faction ships into promotional prize boxes.
this is why i barely login to sto and swtor anymore,ftp has just messed up the whole mmorpg dynamic.
in the old days you paid your sub and you had access to EVERYTHING,for some reps,drops or mounts you had to really had to make an effort (anyone remember the ol' school grind for Reins of the Winterspring Frostsaber,yeah i went thru that and im damn proud),now on top of the sub you need to spend real money...that is why im not supporting either of these games.
sad that the gaming comunity is going along for the ride,taking shortcuts and just buying themselves content when it should be freaking earned not bought.
p.s sorry my bad,i put ships in the same bag as content when they barely qualify as glorified mounts...
I'm not upset about this promotion in any way. In fact I'm glad that the original Enterprise has finally been added to the game. But I don't agree with this argument (depending - see below).
Your price estimate is in the ballpark at 15,000 zen or around 900k EC or 6 million dil. But putting it in a lottery box does not make it any more or less possible for people to get it unless you are saying you could open 1 or 2 boxes and get it. If that's the argument then I'll stop right there and not waste any more time. Otherwise there's no difference whether they put the pricetag at 15,000 zen or a billion EC on the exchange, or converting 6 million dil to zen to buy it from the store if it's there and bound. It is equally easy or difficult to obtain.
Maybe you are saying it's better for players because they have plenty of ec but no dil and need it to be on the exchange to buy it? This is something I can't relate to but it may be a valid point.
However, the reason it is put in the lottery is because:
a. some people have absolutely bs amount of money and happily spend thousands on a game - in many cases way more than the 15,000 zen price estimate/market value. and
b. some people who don't have bs amounts of money have gambling addictions. I don't think exploiting such people would be something Jean-Luc would do. The rest of these argurment are interesting and nice, but this is the real reason. And I don't find it very pretty.
NOW, if you're saying that the zen store price would be 25,000 then okay, yes I agree with you, it is more fair/egalitarian to put it in the lottery. Now we are talking 10 million refined or 1.5 billion ec. That's a solid year of refining the cap on 4 characters for one item.
It remains appalling to me, however, that anyone would spend $250 on a single optional ship in a game.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard: "We think we've come so far. Torture of heretics, burning of witches, it's all ancient history. Then - before you can blink an eye - suddenly it threatens to start all over again."
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."
As you said in your OP, it's the fairest way to do it for everyone involved, including the company that runs the server we all enjoy playing on without having to pay a subscription for.
It may be good for business that specialty items are given out by the RNG at a specified percentage level, but for those players who spend thousands of dollars and receiving nothing, this because a major issue. At some point, Cryptic/PWE will have to come up with a better way for players who spend that amount of money to obtain these special ships, or these players will cease spending money on the game and leave. There really needs to be a monetary threshold that a player can meet for the ship to be dropped after X amount of attempts. Most likely it would be high, but it needs to exists so that these players who spend that amount of money are compensated.
Did you actually just use the phrase: "...for those players who spend thousands of dollars and receiving nothing..."(SIC)
Really?
You received whatever it is that you paid those "thousands of dollars" for. There's nothing that ever stated - implicitly or explicitly - that you were entitled to anything beyond that purchase, so you are not entitled to anything, so people should stop expecting it or asking for anything more.
I would think that Cryptic/PWE out of gratitude for spending X (a very high amount) amount of dollars on the game, specifically when it comes to special promotions, that the promo item would be available to the purchaser at least once. Yes, it is true that people are technically buying the R&D packs or what ever the typical item the promo is attached to and that is what they are getting in addition to whatever is typically attached to the item, but a "Thank You" RNG win for those players who purchase high amounts of the product would leave a more positive experience that the player would be more likely inclined to participate in the future rather than closing her/his wallet and walking away. After all, it is paying players that keep this game afloat and thriving.
Rare and desirable are not linked traits. I have found many of the C-store ships desirable and many of the rare ships to not be desirable.
Now after 6yrs of "I want a max level Connie!" Cryptic has put a desired ship in a rare slot just because it's desired in the hope to make more profit. I assume they've done the math and calculated that they will get more from these RNG-spawned ships than putting them in the C-store.
Sometimes I think I play STO just to have something to complain about on the forums.
"I am not able to pay real money, so for that reason I don't have a chance to get one" is p2w and also unfair, in my opinion.
Then by your opinion, it's P2W.
Putting an item in a lock box that costs money and giving it an insanely low drop rate does not create a level playing field. It creates a situation where (on average) only those that spend a considerable amount can get the item. Yes, there are is the situational anomaly of the person that buys 1 pack and gets the ship, but on average, getting a ship from a R&D pack is a significant financial investment, far more so then buying from the C-Store.
I know what you'll say - "Everyone has the same statistical chance." And that's correct, but they all have the same infinitesimal chance which means that to have any real chance of getting the item, multiple purchases are required in order to get enough chances to have a realistic shot at 'winning.' Putting all the rhetoric aside, we both know that on average, 'winning' one of these ships will cost a sizable amount of money, likely upwards of $100+. To try and pretend that's a 'level playing field' is frankly laughable.
Would I call it 'Pay to Win?' No, just because this ship isn't necessarily more powerful then anything available for Zen or even free from Events (The Rezreth, built correctly can be a top performer and was completely free, same with the Nandi.) But while I don't call it 'Pay 2 Win' I hardly consider it a level playing field. On average, the T6 Connie will only be available to those willing to spend a very large amount of money trying to win it.
I disagree. In my opinion, if you have a chance to get it, especially one with a barrier to entry as low as a single promo pack, then it's fair to say that everyone has a chance to get it.
At the very minimum, everyone has a 1/100 chance of getting the ship. That's good enough for me.
Like i said in response to another poster, its qualitative not quantitative. It's a question about whether there is a chance, not about how big the chance is compared to something else.
If a ship was in the c-store and cost 15k zen, I dont think it would be fair to say that everyone had a chance to get one. People who paid for 15k zen or who managed to grind out that much zen worth of dil would have a 100% chance of getting one, and everyone else would have no chance at all.
This is an argument with 3 prongs, 3 premises. If we are going to accept premise 1, that its good to have rare and desirable stuff, then we have to ask, "how can the ship be rare and desirable?"
Either it can be difficult to obtain based on an RNG mechanic, or difficult to obtain because of a very high price.
One of the options is fair to everyone, since everyone has a chance, the other option isn't.
A qualitative analysis is inherently unfair to anyone seeking a detailed analysis which you seek to provide. A quantitative basis provides easy evaluation of benefits and costs. A qualitative basis leaves facts to be treated subjectively, which can mislead the reader and cause them to not act in their best interests. Hence, a quantitative analysis is desired. The fact that everyone has a chance does not change the fact that the chanceboxes are pay-to-win, in contradiction to your assertion that it is not.
Notably, in real life goods and services are often offered at fixed price points to prospective buyers. This lets them decide whether acquiring, say, a given good is in their best interests or if they are better off using their resources differently. This is considered fair because it allows consumers to make a benefit/cost analysis quite easily. Even if the item is rare, old and desirable, this is considered a fair way to sell it. A 15000-zen Constitution, even if per-character, would have been a fair option for Cryptic to take, although not necessarily in their best interests.
It may be good for business that specialty items are given out by the RNG at a specified percentage level, but for those players who spend thousands of dollars and receiving nothing, this because a major issue. At some point, Cryptic/PWE will have to come up with a better way for players who spend that amount of money to obtain these special ships, or these players will cease spending money on the game and leave. There really needs to be a monetary threshold that a player can meet for the ship to be dropped after X amount of attempts. Most likely it would be high, but it needs to exists so that these players who spend that amount of money are compensated.
Did you actually just use the phrase: "...for those players who spend thousands of dollars and receiving nothing..."(SIC)
Really?
You received whatever it is that you paid those "thousands of dollars" for. There's nothing that ever stated - implicitly or explicitly - that you were entitled to anything beyond that purchase, so you are not entitled to anything, so people should stop expecting it or asking for anything more.
I would think that Cryptic/PWE out of gratitude for spending X (a very high amount) amount of dollars on the game, specifically when it comes to special promotions, that the promo item would be available to the purchaser at least once. Yes, it is true that people are technically buying the R&D packs or what ever the typical item the promo is attached to and that is what they are getting in addition to whatever is typically attached to the item, but a "Thank You" RNG win for those players who purchase high amounts of the product would leave a more positive experience that the player would be more likely inclined to participate in the future rather than closing her/his wallet and walking away. After all, it is paying players that keep this game afloat and thriving.
I think that idea sets a dangerous precedent and would in effect dismantle the equal opportunity of players to acquire one of those "rare and desirable" items Druk described. See, I could buy hundreds of R/D packs and not get a single ship (though the odds are around 1/100). I could also buy just one pack and win a ship on my first try. Granted, those who pump enough cash/ec/etc have a better chance of getting the desired item than someone who opens a single pack, but there are cases of people spending 2-3k on kelvin lockboxes and not receiving a single T6 ship.
There should absolutely not be any consolation prize for those who choose willingly to spend money on promos/lockboxes. "Hey, you spent 500 dollars or more on r/d packs and didn't receive a single T6 ship, here's a chance to get one anyway" undermines the fairness of the system, formalizing a tiered player community of have/have nots.
If they really want a ship THAT bad, funnel money not into r/d packs, but into high-value items to sell for ec, allowing them to purchase the ship on the exchange. They have a 100% success rate. Ultimately, players choose where their money goes, and the onus is on them to make "wise" decisions -- they can gamble on promo packs, or they can wait a few more days/weeks/whatever to earn enough ec to buy the ship.
This game is F2P, so a formal tier of have/have nots already exists. In fact, this was already done with the T6 Nagus so we really can't expect what you say to be accurate.
Remember the interests of the Exchange Mega-Sellers. That is behind that type of analysis. Fortunes are to be made by those. Look at the analysis from that motivating factor.
'But to be logical is not to be right', and 'nothing' on God's earth could ever 'make it' right!'
Judge Dan Haywood
'As l speak now, the words are forming in my head.
l don't know.
l really don't know what l'm about to say, except l have a feeling about it.
That l must repeat the words that come without my knowledge.'
It may be good for business that specialty items are given out by the RNG at a specified percentage level, but for those players who spend thousands of dollars and receiving nothing, this because a major issue. At some point, Cryptic/PWE will have to come up with a better way for players who spend that amount of money to obtain these special ships, or these players will cease spending money on the game and leave. There really needs to be a monetary threshold that a player can meet for the ship to be dropped after X amount of attempts. Most likely it would be high, but it needs to exists so that these players who spend that amount of money are compensated.
Did you actually just use the phrase: "...for those players who spend thousands of dollars and receiving nothing..."(SIC)
Really?
You received whatever it is that you paid those "thousands of dollars" for. There's nothing that ever stated - implicitly or explicitly - that you were entitled to anything beyond that purchase, so you are not entitled to anything, so people should stop expecting it or asking for anything more.
I would think that Cryptic/PWE out of gratitude for spending X (a very high amount) amount of dollars on the game, specifically when it comes to special promotions, that the promo item would be available to the purchaser at least once. Yes, it is true that people are technically buying the R&D packs or what ever the typical item the promo is attached to and that is what they are getting in addition to whatever is typically attached to the item, but a "Thank You" RNG win for those players who purchase high amounts of the product would leave a more positive experience that the player would be more likely inclined to participate in the future rather than closing her/his wallet and walking away. After all, it is paying players that keep this game afloat and thriving.
I think that idea sets a dangerous precedent and would in effect dismantle the equal opportunity of players to acquire one of those "rare and desirable" items Druk described. See, I could buy hundreds of R/D packs and not get a single ship (though the odds are around 1/100). I could also buy just one pack and win a ship on my first try. Granted, those who pump enough cash/ec/etc have a better chance of getting the desired item than someone who opens a single pack, but there are cases of people spending 2-3k on kelvin lockboxes and not receiving a single T6 ship.
There should absolutely not be any consolation prize for those who choose willingly to spend money on promos/lockboxes. "Hey, you spent 500 dollars or more on r/d packs and didn't receive a single T6 ship, here's a chance to get one anyway" undermines the fairness of the system, formalizing a tiered player community of have/have nots.
If they really want a ship THAT bad, funnel money not into r/d packs, but into high-value items to sell for ec, allowing them to purchase the ship on the exchange. They have a 100% success rate. Ultimately, players choose where their money goes, and the onus is on them to make "wise" decisions -- they can gamble on promo packs, or they can wait a few more days/weeks/whatever to earn enough ec to buy the ship.
This game is F2P, so a formal tier of have/have nots already exists. In fact, this was already done with the T6 Nagus so we really can't expect what you say to be accurate.
The Nagus was a notable exception, granted, but what would F2P have to do with the tier system? People who pay subscriptions/LT really are not at an advantage. I could, if I choose to do so, inject enough of my own money into the game and be on par with anyone using the subscription model.
"I am not able to pay real money, so for that reason I don't have a chance to get one" is p2w and also unfair, in my opinion.
Then by your opinion, it's P2W.
Putting an item in a lock box that costs money and giving it an insanely low drop rate does not create a level playing field. It creates a situation where (on average) only those that spend a considerable amount can get the item. Yes, there are is the situational anomaly of the person that buys 1 pack and gets the ship, but on average, getting a ship from a R&D pack is a significant financial investment, far more so then buying from the C-Store.
I know what you'll say - "Everyone has the same statistical chance." And that's correct, but they all have the same infinitesimal chance which means that to have any real chance of getting the item, multiple purchases are required in order to get enough chances to have a realistic shot at 'winning.' Putting all the rhetoric aside, we both know that on average, 'winning' one of these ships will cost a sizable amount of money, likely upwards of $100+. To try and pretend that's a 'level playing field' is frankly laughable.
Would I call it 'Pay to Win?' No, just because this ship isn't necessarily more powerful then anything available for Zen or even free from Events (The Rezreth, built correctly can be a top performer and was completely free, same with the Nandi.) But while I don't call it 'Pay 2 Win' I hardly consider it a level playing field.
On average, the T6 Connie will only be available to those willing to spend a very large amount of money trying to win it. Those that have the money to spend will have an obviously better chance of getting the ship. That, or they have to be really good at generating EC in game and hope someone will sell them one.
I'm not complaining or crying over it.. in fact, I get it. I understand how these things work and why they're necessary. I don't like it, but I accept it. Even though I accept it, I'm not going to insult everyones intelligence and try and pretend it's fair for everyone, because it's clearly not.
Comments
Then by your opinion, it's P2W.
Putting an item in a lock box that costs money and giving it an insanely low drop rate does not create a level playing field. It creates a situation where (on average) only those that spend a considerable amount can get the item. Yes, there are is the situational anomaly of the person that buys 1 pack and gets the ship, but on average, getting a ship from a R&D pack is a significant financial investment, far more so then buying from the C-Store.
I know what you'll say - "Everyone has the same statistical chance." And that's correct, but they all have the same infinitesimal chance which means that to have any real chance of getting the item, multiple purchases are required in order to get enough chances to have a realistic shot at 'winning.' Putting all the rhetoric aside, we both know that on average, 'winning' one of these ships will cost a sizable amount of money, likely upwards of $100+. To try and pretend that's a 'level playing field' is frankly laughable.
Would I call it 'Pay to Win?' No, just because this ship isn't necessarily more powerful then anything available for Zen or even free from Events (The Rezreth, built correctly can be a top performer and was completely free, same with the Nandi.) But while I don't call it 'Pay 2 Win' I hardly consider it a level playing field.
On average, the T6 Connie will only be available to those willing to spend a very large amount of money trying to win it. Those that have the money to spend will have an obviously better chance of getting the ship. That, or they have to be really good at generating EC in game and hope someone will sell them one.
I'm not complaining or crying over it.. in fact, I get it. I understand how these things work and why they're necessary. I don't like it, but I accept it. Even though I accept it, I'm not going to insult everyones intelligence and try and pretend it's fair for everyone, because it's clearly not.
And that is why we won't agree on this topic, because we disagree here. It's both things combined, not just one. Giving everyone the same, very small chance, does not create an equality. It clearly gives a sizable advantage to someone who can afford to purchase multiple chances. Now, if everyone had the same chance, and everyone was limited to 3 tries, then your theory of equality is correct. You cannot simply dismiss the quantitative side of the equation, that doesn't work.
The first thing here is to understand that there is no situation outside of 'free for everyone' that gives every single person the same exact chance. That's not the issue, it's about creating the most opportunity for the vast majority. A fixed price is obviously the most balanced provided that price is within reason. There will always be someone who can't afford the price, and that situation will occur in any solution outside of 'here, everyone have one for free.'
I'm not worried about trying to find a solution that gives everyone the exact same chance because I know that's impossible. But there are other, more balanced solutions outside of just making something so expensive that most people can't afford it. There is a line between making something 'rare' and putting it completely out of reach of the average player.
I understand your side of the argument, I just disagree with the fundamental principals on which your argument is based.
Where's the magic line then? They can put temporal T6 Constitutions, Mirandas, Ambassadors, Stargazers and Oberths in prize boxes but not ships that already got their T5 version?
The Excelsior isn't much younger than the original Constitution class but she got her T6 c-store version nonetheless.
I'm not trying to be overly dramatic here. I just fear that more faction ships will have their T6 version put into an expensive prize box. And once more, Cryptic would be able to calm everybody down by simply stating that they had to do it this way and that they don't intend to put anymore faction ships into promotional prize boxes.
in the old days you paid your sub and you had access to EVERYTHING,for some reps,drops or mounts you had to really had to make an effort (anyone remember the ol' school grind for Reins of the Winterspring Frostsaber,yeah i went thru that and im damn proud),now on top of the sub you need to spend real money...that is why im not supporting either of these games.
sad that the gaming comunity is going along for the ride,taking shortcuts and just buying themselves content when it should be freaking earned not bought.
p.s sorry my bad,i put ships in the same bag as content when they barely qualify as glorified mounts...
Only if you except the idea that a ship must be rare in order to be desirable.
I don't.
Your price estimate is in the ballpark at 15,000 zen or around 900k EC or 6 million dil. But putting it in a lottery box does not make it any more or less possible for people to get it unless you are saying you could open 1 or 2 boxes and get it. If that's the argument then I'll stop right there and not waste any more time. Otherwise there's no difference whether they put the pricetag at 15,000 zen or a billion EC on the exchange, or converting 6 million dil to zen to buy it from the store if it's there and bound. It is equally easy or difficult to obtain.
Maybe you are saying it's better for players because they have plenty of ec but no dil and need it to be on the exchange to buy it? This is something I can't relate to but it may be a valid point.
However, the reason it is put in the lottery is because:
a. some people have absolutely bs amount of money and happily spend thousands on a game - in many cases way more than the 15,000 zen price estimate/market value. and
b. some people who don't have bs amounts of money have gambling addictions. I don't think exploiting such people would be something Jean-Luc would do. The rest of these argurment are interesting and nice, but this is the real reason. And I don't find it very pretty.
NOW, if you're saying that the zen store price would be 25,000 then okay, yes I agree with you, it is more fair/egalitarian to put it in the lottery. Now we are talking 10 million refined or 1.5 billion ec. That's a solid year of refining the cap on 4 characters for one item.
It remains appalling to me, however, that anyone would spend $250 on a single optional ship in a game.
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."
I would think that Cryptic/PWE out of gratitude for spending X (a very high amount) amount of dollars on the game, specifically when it comes to special promotions, that the promo item would be available to the purchaser at least once. Yes, it is true that people are technically buying the R&D packs or what ever the typical item the promo is attached to and that is what they are getting in addition to whatever is typically attached to the item, but a "Thank You" RNG win for those players who purchase high amounts of the product would leave a more positive experience that the player would be more likely inclined to participate in the future rather than closing her/his wallet and walking away. After all, it is paying players that keep this game afloat and thriving.
Now after 6yrs of "I want a max level Connie!" Cryptic has put a desired ship in a rare slot just because it's desired in the hope to make more profit. I assume they've done the math and calculated that they will get more from these RNG-spawned ships than putting them in the C-store.
A qualitative analysis is inherently unfair to anyone seeking a detailed analysis which you seek to provide. A quantitative basis provides easy evaluation of benefits and costs. A qualitative basis leaves facts to be treated subjectively, which can mislead the reader and cause them to not act in their best interests. Hence, a quantitative analysis is desired. The fact that everyone has a chance does not change the fact that the chanceboxes are pay-to-win, in contradiction to your assertion that it is not.
Notably, in real life goods and services are often offered at fixed price points to prospective buyers. This lets them decide whether acquiring, say, a given good is in their best interests or if they are better off using their resources differently. This is considered fair because it allows consumers to make a benefit/cost analysis quite easily. Even if the item is rare, old and desirable, this is considered a fair way to sell it. A 15000-zen Constitution, even if per-character, would have been a fair option for Cryptic to take, although not necessarily in their best interests.
This game is F2P, so a formal tier of have/have nots already exists. In fact, this was already done with the T6 Nagus so we really can't expect what you say to be accurate.
l don't know.
l really don't know what l'm about to say, except l have a feeling about it.
That l must repeat the words that come without my knowledge.'
That's what I meant.
Yup, same here.