27 replies to this topic

[raspberry jam]

This idea is simple. A cash shop item. Instead of having to pay a waypoint fee every time you want to teleport somewhere, the idea is to have an option to buy a 30-day ticket. With the ticket you can use waypoints at will for 30 days. Without paying.

Version A of the ticket will last until 30 days after purchase.

Version B of the ticket will last 30 days, but will only count days that you actually log in. If you stay logged in during more than 24 hours it will count as two days. If you log in several times during the same 24-hour period, it will count as the same day (unless you cross the 24 hour limit during one such session, in which case it will count as two days).

Only one of the above versions should be implemented. Also if a different period than 30 days is more appropriate it's ok to have something else.

Eh... Discuss, I guess.

Edited by raspberry jam, 15 November 2012 - 08:35 PM.

[adra12]

WP costs were designed to be one of the gold sinks in the game to remove gold form the economy to control inflation. To have this ticket available would get rid of that gold sink and ultimately hurt the economy which would be worse than the bit of extra money that would be made from people buying gems to acquire it.

I understand what your trying to do with this suggestion but think you should think through the ripple effect it could have some more.

Edited by adra12, 15 November 2012 - 08:52 PM.

[Lonami]

adra12, on 15 November 2012 - 08:51 PM, said:

WP costs were designed to be one of the gold sinks in the game to remove gold form the economy to control inflation. To have this ticket available would get rid of that gold sink and ultimately hurt the economy which would be worse than the bit of extra money that would be made from people buying gems to acquire it.

I understand what your trying to do with this suggestion but think you should think through the ripple effect it could have some more.

I disagree.

I think giving tickets out would make people spend more money.

For example, I never take waypoints with my level 80, but I always use them for travel with my level 38.

If they put tickets, people would spend more money on the ticket than what they spend on travelling now, just because now people avoids waypoints. With these tickets, people would use waypoints much more. Right now, I never use waypoints, only one when I need to get to Orr, and I'm usually always there. With a transit ticket, I would travel around much more. So, from spending 0-2 silver daily, I would spend the ticket's price, much more higher for sure, and the game would benefit from the higher player traffic across the different zones.

Gold sink-wise, it would help remove more gold from the game. However, making it be long-time-based is a bad idea, in my opinion, because people would overuse waypoints and not walk anymore. So, to make it viable, it should be 24h only or x uses only. The 24h version is fine for me. Make it be 10 silver or something like that.

[raspberry jam]

adra12, on 15 November 2012 - 08:51 PM, said:

WP costs were designed to be one of the gold sinks in the game to remove gold form the economy to control inflation. To have this ticket available would get rid of that gold sink and ultimately hurt the economy which would be worse than the bit of extra money that would be made from people buying gems to acquire it.

I understand what your trying to do with this suggestion but think you should think through the ripple effect it could have some more.

Gold sinks do not control inflation, they merely dampen it. You are right in that the gold sink would disappear though.

Anyway, the simple solution would be to make tickets purchasable with gold.

Lonami, on 15 November 2012 - 10:43 PM, said:

I disagree.

I think giving tickets out would make people spend more money.

For example, I never take waypoints with my level 80, but I always use them for travel with my level 38.

If they put tickets, people would spend more money on the ticket than what they spend on travelling now, just because now people avoids waypoints. With these tickets, people would use waypoints much more. Right now, I never use waypoints, only one when I need to get to Orr, and I'm usually always there. With a transit ticket, I would travel around much more. So, from spending 0-2 silver daily, I would spend the ticket's price, much more higher for sure, and the game would benefit from the higher player traffic across the different zones.

Gold sink-wise, it would help remove more gold from the game. However, making it be long-time-based is a bad idea, in my opinion, because people would overuse waypoints and not walk anymore. So, to make it viable, it should be 24h only or x uses only. The 24h version is fine for me. Make it be 10 silver or something like that.

Yeah, the point is to spend a lot in one chunk, and then have free map travel. If the ticket is in the gem store, it's not a gold sink since the gold stays in the economy (it's a gem sink instead).

I thought about a day ticket first, but since waypoint prices change so much while you're leveling, I thought that was a bad idea.

[actionjack]

Gem Sink > Gold Sink.

If well priced, why not.  Good idea.

[Zhahz]

An item like this in the cash shop would feel like one of those "gold barriers" so I doubt it would happen.

Pay cash for gems, sell gems in game for gold = same thing anyways ... without all the extra hassle.

Or you can just play the game (do things that yield coin in some way) and then travel costs are pretty much trivial.

Edited by Zhahz, 19 November 2012 - 03:59 PM.

[raspberry jam]

Zhahz, on 19 November 2012 - 03:58 PM, said:

Or you can just play the game (do things that yield coin in some way) and then travel costs are pretty much trivial.

They are trivial, yet it feels annoying to have to pay them. Compare this with buying a month card for bus or subway vs. paying for each ticket when you go.

[garethfedwards]

I wouldn't buy them... unless the tickets are sold by asura dressed up as old bus coductor

Very good idea tbh

Edited by garethfedwards, 19 November 2012 - 04:29 PM.

[raspberry jam]

garethfedwards, on 19 November 2012 - 04:29 PM, said:

I wouldn't buy them... unless the tickets are sold by asura dressed up as old bus coductor

Very good idea tbh

Right back at ya, who would sell such tickets if not for an asura ticket office ahah

[Xunlai Agent]

I think this is a fantastic idea and the ticket should be purchasable both with gold or gems as required. I hope ArenaNet stumbles across this post and considers it!

[Perm Shadow Form]

1g for 30 day free way points?
I'd pay.

[raspberry jam]

Perm Shadow Form, on 17 December 2012 - 02:15 PM, said:

1g for 30 day free way points?
I'd pay.

Well, possibly it would not be exactly 1 gold. But yeah, basically that's the idea.

[creed3737]

I guess Anet would make them more expensive than the instant banker, black lion trader etc, as in most cases they are used instead of waypointing back and spending gold so it might make them redundant.

On the whole though, good idea. I have not spent on the gem store yet, I would be tempted with this however.

[Green]

Lonami, on 15 November 2012 - 10:43 PM, said:

I disagree.

I think giving tickets out would make people spend more money.

Spend more RL money in the cash shop sure.

Lonami, on 15 November 2012 - 10:43 PM, said:

Gold sink-wise, it would help remove more gold from the game.

The only way this would be possible is if folks paid for the gems to buy the ticket with in game gold. With the exchange rates at this time is more likely folks would buy the gems with a credit card. So yes in fact the way point gold sink would be impacted, followed by the entire player base having to pay more than what they do now for TP goods.

Even if folks did use in game gold to buy the ticket, it would defeat the purpose! They would still be paying game currency to travel, just all up front, and would likely pay more for a ticket than the their totally monthly costs of way point travel. It would be like buying a monthly bus pass for a city you plan to visit for one week.

garethfedwards, on 19 November 2012 - 04:29 PM, said:

I wouldn't buy them... unless the tickets are sold by asura dressed up as old bus coductor

Very good idea tbh

raspberry jam, on 17 December 2012 - 02:41 PM, said:

Well, possibly it would not be exactly 1 gold. But yeah, basically that's the idea.

Sorry to offend, but lol freaking LOL!!

Required rant - Anyone who does not believe that gold sinks are absolutely necessary in MMO's (especially GW2 and the fact folks can get in game gold via gems) really don't get it and you should stop posting IMO, just saying.

And I'm still loling

Edited by Green, 17 December 2012 - 03:13 PM.

[raspberry jam]

creed3737, on 17 December 2012 - 02:48 PM, said:

On the whole though, good idea. I have not spent on the gem store yet, I would be tempted with this however.

lol I'm doing Crystin Cox' job better than she is? haha

[Burch84]

raspberry jam, on 17 December 2012 - 03:03 PM, said:

lol I'm doing Crystin Cox' job better than she is? haha

No you are not doing a better job - traval is just fine lets move on to something else, way too many post about traval, now you are suggesting I use real money to traval - no way.

[raspberry jam]

Burch84, on 17 December 2012 - 03:10 PM, said:

No you are not doing a better job - traval is just fine lets move on to something else, way too many post about traval, now you are suggesting I use real money to traval - no way.

You are using real money to travel right now. Gold is gems is real money.

[Burch84]

raspberry jam, on 17 December 2012 - 03:13 PM, said:

You are using real money to travel right now. Gold is gems is real money.

Gold is play money and I do not have to use real cash to play the game, gem are not needed.

[I'm Squirrel]

It's a good idea, but honestly, i'm sick of timed cash-item consumables, they're way too overused in this game.

I think waypoints should just have set prices, not made to scale by level. It would make much more sense that way...
Low levels would actually be exploring instead of waypoint--> waypoint--> waypoint--> waypoint--> etc..
And high levels 70-80 wouldn't be pondering whether they should spend silver on waypoints or save silver by walking the whole way. There are already tons of goldsinks in the game IMO.

[raspberry jam]

Burch84, on 17 December 2012 - 03:23 PM, said:

Gold is play money and I do not have to use real cash to play the game, gem are not needed.

You can buy gems using gold you doofus.

I, on 17 December 2012 - 03:23 PM, said:

It's a good idea, but honestly, i'm sick of timed cash-item consumables, they're way too overused in this game.

I think waypoints should just have set prices, not made to scale by level. It would make much more sense that way...
Low levels would actually be exploring instead of waypoint--> waypoint--> waypoint--> waypoint--> etc..
And high levels 70-80 wouldn't be pondering whether they should spend silver on waypoints or save silver by walking the whole way. There are already tons of goldsinks in the game IMO.

The problem with that is that if the goldsinks are going to do anything at all, they need to be at least what they are around level 60-70. Few low-level characters can afford that.

I agree on there being too many goldsinks.

Edited by raspberry jam, 17 December 2012 - 03:25 PM.

[Craywulf]

raspberry jam, on 17 December 2012 - 03:13 PM, said:

You are using real money to travel right now. Gold is gems is real money.

You're only thinking that way if you buy gems to convert them into gold. It simply isn't necessary to buy gems.

[raspberry jam]

Craywulf, on 17 December 2012 - 03:29 PM, said:

You're only thinking that way if you buy gems to convert them into gold. It simply isn't necessary to buy gems.

If you want gems it's necessary to buy them. But you can pay with $$$ or you can pay with gold. Either way, since travel is paid for with gold in-game, why not make a 30 day ticket that you can buy with gold? I'd be fine with that, no gems would be needed.

[Burch84]

raspberry jam, on 17 December 2012 - 03:13 PM, said:

You are using real money to travel right now. Gold is gems is real money.

Burch84, on 17 December 2012 - 03:23 PM, said:

Gold is play money and I do not have to use real cash to play the game, gem are not needed.

raspberry jam, on 17 December 2012 - 03:26 PM, said:

You can buy gems using gold you doofus.

Which is gold is real money, gems are real money?  No Cold hard cash is real money anything in game is play money.  No need for a ticket, game is just fine.

[Humfly]

Rubbish idea, nearly as bad as having waypoint charges in the first place.

Gold sink arguments are irrelevant. A need for gold sinks isn't justification for having bad gold sinks.

Waypoint charges are a bad gold sink because they reward players for not doing fun things like travelling to where you would prefer to be or to people you would prefer to play with. They reward players for doing tedious stuff like always traveling via the mists to LA to the closest azura gate to where you want to be. When going to Frost gorge I even portal across Holbrek first because it saves an additional 15c.

If portalling willy nilly across the world is conisdered to be abusive or perhaps unrealistic then limit it to one free portal per 5 minutes or something like that.

If Anet want more $ selling gems they should reduce the cost of many of the gem shop items. An average player permanently using one of the boosters would be paying 4 times a WoW subscription to do it - crazy expensive.

[Craywulf]

raspberry jam, on 17 December 2012 - 03:33 PM, said:

If you want gems it's necessary to buy them. But you can pay with $$$ or you can pay with gold. Either way, since travel is paid for with gold in-game, why not make a 30 day ticket that you can buy with gold? I'd be fine with that, no gems would be needed.

Want and necessity are two very different things. You already have the option to buy gems with real cash, and convert them into gold. But it isn't necessary to play the game nor should their be a need for 30 day waypoint ticket.

It defeats the entire purpose of having a gold sink. Just to clarify...a gold sink is not the same as gem sink or real money sink, because not everyone is buying gems.

[raspberry jam]

Humfly, on 17 December 2012 - 03:52 PM, said:

Waypoint charges are a bad gold sink because they reward players for not doing fun things like travelling to where you would prefer to be or to people you would prefer to play with. They reward players for doing tedious stuff like always traveling via the mists to LA to the closest azura gate to where you want to be. When going to Frost gorge I even portal across Holbrek first because it saves an additional 15c.

If portalling willy nilly across the world is conisdered to be abusive or perhaps unrealistic then limit it to one free portal per 5 minutes or something like that.

Exactly this. With a 30 day transit ticket, you would not need to do all the tedious stuff, you could go directly to the waypoint you want. Yes you'd pay for it, but you're paying anyway.

Craywulf, on 17 December 2012 - 03:58 PM, said:

Want and necessity are two very different things. You already have the option to buy gems with real cash, and convert them into gold. But it isn't necessary to play the game nor should their be a need for 30 day waypoint ticket.

It defeats the entire purpose of having a gold sink. Just to clarify...a gold sink is not the same as gem sink or real money sink, because not everyone is buying gems.

As I said, I'd be fine if the ticket was purchasable with gold instead of gems.

[davadude]

This would honestly give me a reason to buy gems or invest my money in a better way.  Agreed to the max.

[BLONDE WENCH]

The Guild Wars version of a 30-Day MetroCard... hmmmm.