Subscription thoughts

1) Plans for an annual 12 month subscription. Saving a few dollars off month to month and providing Portalarium some up front cash.

2) Plans for a "lifetime" subscription. $499 for a lifetime subscription? We need some surety the game will be around 5+ years but would be a great option.

3) Plans for increased subscription, $15 per month gives the same rewards as the $9 but also provides double crafting and adventure xp while the subscription is active. When double is given out as a bonus, you receive 3 times the amount. (controversial but think of the chaos).

4) $20 per month same as plan 3 but also provides 50% reduction for up to (3) property rental costs on the account.

5) $30 per month includes all the benefits of plan 4 but also a random developer sending a bikini shot of themselves to your email monthly. This plan is the best value!

 

1 and 2 sound reasonable. The rest are the big nono!

 

I much prefer a simple system where higher priced tiers just get you more cotos.

Adding double xp and tax reduction is going to far for me. I'm already not a fan of the frequent double xp (if i'm a sub and double xp is on, do i get quad xp).

 

Exp bonus for subscribers?!... NO!

 

I really don't want to see @Chris in a bikini.

 

I want a Darkstarr bikini shot! *drools*

 

I am totally against bonus exp and tax reductions. People already call this game P2W, add in bonus exp and tax reductions and you just officialised the game as P2W. Extra cotos, obsidian potions, or cosmetics? That would be perfect

 

To keep people enrolled I'd like to see a 6 month item exclusive to rewards members and maybe a 12 month one. Like a special pet, outfit, instrument, etc.

 

Or special hair!

Or *gasp* a brush that allows you to change hairstyles (perhaps within limits?)... If I have long hair I don't understand why I cannot braid it or make a ponytail or bun on my own, without the help of the "new me"-NPC. I can do it IRL no problem. When you end the subscription, the brush is gone.

 

I thought in fairness to Option 5, I'll start with one of myself.



(Ok, not really me but strikingly similar if you remove the cigarette, tattoos, and chest hair.)

 

*blinds himself

 

I consider this P2W and I would lobby hard to keep it out.

 

I'm not sure they should add additional tiers at all, but if they do I like shawn's idea of just having additional cotos/obsidian potions and leave it at that.

 

I'll do $500 a month for early access to the new taming stuff!

 

The intention is good, but I really never want to see anything in a subscription, donation scheme or even one-off store purchase that directly benefits players in terms of game advantages, in equipment that is 'better' than what is available to all the other players, or 'boost' to the skills and/or skill gain you can get in return for cash. Cosmetics, and titles, don't bother me at all since what matters is what people are, and can do, rather than how they look whilst doing it

There's also a problem if you come up with a long-term but big initial price scheme, whilst a lot of us can find $7-10 or the equivalent in the monthly budget, $499 is going to be a big reach for many. Now if we can choose such a 'pre-payment' of subs, so we can do it at a time when we can find the cash, that seems fine, as long as what you get from paying that up front is no different from what those people paying per month get. Building another split between players is not a good idea, we have seen enough rancor in the past over the ones that already exist. We don't need more of that.

 

Many MMOs offer Lifetime subscription options. They benefit the company due to upfront cash, keep players logging in and part of the community since they are lifetime members. Lifetime subs benefit the players because they start to save money over subscription costs, typically 5 years is the point where players start to come out ahead.

Many MMO's sell XP potions to get experience and levels faster than someone not paying. This in fact is common in nearly every MMO in existence. While I understand not everyone has the money to pay for experience boosters, so too not everyone has the TIME to spend in game to grind endlessly. Providing an option is the most fair.

My theory in an MMO there are two currencies impacting player power and progression, time and/or money. Skill has far less influence over your abilities in most MMOs, including SOTA than the time you spend. Adding a money option balances out those with a lot of time but little money with those who have money but little time. For those with both excess money and time, I hate you, not really congratulations on a successful life!

What is 100% fact, SOTA has NOT been as successful as planned. Time to change things up to ensure a long and successful future for OUR game.

Anymore disagreement and I'll be forced to post more of my bikini pics. Go ahead punk, make my day!