Curse

prism2525 · Aug 30, 2010, 08:56 AM // 08:56

I was just twiddling my thumbs lately about whether to buy or not a couple of storage panes but, as I did my math, it got increasingly hilarious (or not).

storage panes: €8.99 - 20 slots
max 4: €35.96
€0.45 per slot

character slot: €8.99 - 45 slots mule (1.2k for bags)
max 28
€0.20 per slot (Less than half the cost of storage panes)

new trilogy mule account: ~€30
gives 8x character slots: 8x45 + 80slots + Material storage (36)
total of 440 (+36)
~€0.07 per slot (not counting the material storage) (almost 3 times cheaper than character slots and more than 6 times cheaper than storage panes)

It's true that an extra account requires a different e-mail address and some software like GWx2 and such, but even if these discourage you, character slots are always more worth it.

PS: For simplicity's sake I have not included the equipment pack slots are these are restrictive to weapons/armor only and not as easily acquired, but should one account for them, the value of additional storage panes really goes rock bottom.

**Marty Silverblade** · Aug 30, 2010, 09:07 AM // 09:07

No offense, but this is very old news. It is useful for people that are unaware of it though, and there's only a small mention of it on a very large discussion page on the Official Wiki (for 'Vault Box'). Nothing on the non-official. Perhaps someone should edit those pages.

Iuris · Aug 30, 2010, 09:32 AM // 09:32

The only one to judge is Anet's accounting department...

Although I WOULD like to hear some numbers about just how well microtransactions have worked out...

Femmefatal · Aug 30, 2010, 09:45 AM // 09:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by prism2525

I was just twiddling my thumbs lately about whether to buy or not a couple of storage panes but, as I did my math, it got increasingly hilarious (or not).

storage panes: €8.99 - 20 slots
max 4: €35.96
€0.45 per slot

character slot: €8.99 - 45 slots mule (1.2k for bags)
max 28
€0.20 per slot (Less than half the cost of storage panes)

new trilogy mule account: ~€30
gives 8x character slots: 8x45 + 80slots + Material storage (36)
total of 440 (+36)
~€0.07 per slot (not counting the material storage) (almost 3 times cheaper than character slots and more than 6 times cheaper than storage panes)

It's true that an extra account requires a different e-mail address and some software like GWx2 and such, but even if these discourage you, character slots are always more worth it.

PS: For simplicity's sake I have not included the equipment pack slots are these are restrictive to weapons/armor only and not as easily acquired, but should one account for them, the value of additional storage panes really goes rock bottom.

The problem I've always run into is trying to remember which character has what and in which bag on what account. It got ridiculous so buying the storage panes made it effortless. I still have to deal with which character has what and their heroes just on one account.

It would be nice if EVERYTHING STACKED so I could put all my green items of the same type into one box at least.

SpyderArachnid · Aug 30, 2010, 10:58 AM // 10:58

Basically what Femmefatal said. With Storage Panes, you are paying for convenience. All your toons can access it in one place without having to jump from character to character, duel box accounts, or having to remember who has what and where.

It may seem cheaper to get new slots and a new account, but in the end, do you really just want more characters or another account to sift through when you need to make an important sell and you know you have an item, but you have no idea which mule/account has it? It is more difficult to go from character to character then from account to account, just to find one item. With a Storage Pane, it is right there where anyone can see it and it is a simple task of "One sec, let me check the bank".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iuris

Although I WOULD like to hear some numbers about just how well microtransactions have worked out...

I've bought all storage panes, character slots, costumes, makeovers, name changes, etc etc. It has worked out great for me. Even bought my friend's stuff on their accounts as well. I personally enjoy Micro-transactions. It's a way to support a F2P game and help the company, and gives me no advantage over others, but things that I like that are useful to me.

Luminarus · Aug 30, 2010, 11:25 AM // 11:25

TBH, you dont need so many storage accounts etc. Ive got the 4 basic panes + the free bonus one, and I rarely use my storage characters. This is because I dont hoarde crap.

If its sellable, I keep it (and by sellable I mean easy sell at about 10-15k or higher). If its something im gonna use (dyes/tomes) I use one pane for them, if its weapon mods i either sell em (good ones only), or use on heroes/merch. Runes use or merch. Minis, one per character toss/sell the rest.

Ive known lots of people that hoarde, and they waste so much time and effort to sell or find the one thing that I dont think its worth it. In the time it takes them to find the 500g item, I could have farmed taht much easily.

Hyperventilate · Aug 30, 2010, 11:26 AM // 11:26

This is old, old, old old news. I remember all the rage threads on Guru when they first announced the storage panes.

I bought the panes. I much prefer being able to conveniently access all my stuff without being forced to switch and swap.

thelessa · Aug 30, 2010, 12:17 PM // 12:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hyperventilate

This is old, old, old old news. I remember all the rage threads on Guru when they first announced the storage panes.

I bought the panes. I much prefer being able to conveniently access all my stuff without being forced to switch and swap.

I Totally agree, I bought them too, I put what I use most in them and still store stuff on mules. Wish there were a few more panes lol

Deviant Angel · Aug 30, 2010, 12:23 PM // 12:23

Anyone with an IQ above room temperature should be able to figure out that the storage panes aren't the most economical (or logical) way to gain more space. I'm a packrat with a touch of OCD, but I was able to resist the urge. It's just not worth it to me.

I may cave in and buy them if Anet runs a massive sale, but I'm not holding my breath!

Anon-e-mouse · Aug 30, 2010, 12:39 PM // 12:39

A-net, does NOT believe in MICRO transactions, as the amounts they charge testify, $10 is NOT now and never has been a micro transaction... end of..

Calling them micro transactions is an insult to other games who are doing it properly.

Riot Narita · Aug 30, 2010, 12:46 PM // 12:46

*Sigh*. Some people STILL don't get it.

Storage panes are for extra convenience. Character slots and accounts are for raw storage space.

Nobody bought panes for raw storage space. Because everybody was ALREADY buying accounts and char slots for storage, long before panes became available... and they all knew the deal.

If you want convenience, and are prepared to pay for it, you can have panes.
If you want raw storage space, but don't need the convenience, you can have accounts or char slots.

Panes are not fail. They do what they're meant to, distinct from char slots or accounts. The only valid gripe I see is with the price of their convenience. I'm sure they'd sell a lot more if the price was lower. Long overdue for a "sale" IMO.

FengShuiDove · Aug 30, 2010, 01:08 PM // 13:08

I bought 'em. I like 'em. Some others do to. Some don't. That's literally the entire argument.

Lillium · Aug 30, 2010, 01:14 PM // 13:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anon-e-mouse

$10 is NOT now and never has been a micro transaction... end of..

Calling them micro transactions is an insult to other games who are doing it properly.

Depends where you're getting your definition.

Quote:

micropayment is a financial transaction involving a very small sum of money. PayPal defines a micropayment as a transaction of less than 12 USD,

Wikipedia
vs.
Dictionary

Quote:

An electronic commerce transaction of very low value. It may refer to charging just a few cents or even a fraction of a cent for a transaction such as an information lookup.

Personally, I'd kinna side with PayPal's definition, as theirs is more practical for use.

On topic, I have hording tendencies and only have two extra character slots (which were to fill out a collection of all 10 classes, not primarily for storage). Having more space only delays a purge of junk, and as we all know most stuff you get is crap not worth selling. So huge storage cleanings just feel more disappointing with more space since you throw a higher number of items out (that you should have tossed right after ID'ing).
If the storage panes ever went on sale for about $6 or less I'd grab a few for convenience, but otherwise more storage space is overrated.

TheodenKing · Aug 30, 2010, 01:24 PM // 13:24

Cost per slot is only one consideration in your economic research. Others have already mentioned convenience. I will also add that (purging, selling, merching, condensing, salvaging, allocating to heroes, etc) will allow you to spend less real money, and ultimately spend more time playing.

Pack rats have a hard time being willing to let go of the ten cool r9 swords they have sitting on their mule, even though their warrior already has 6, and their warrior heroes on all their characters already have good ones. For these players, getting organized and a little more "spartan" would save them some real cash.

*Darcy* · Aug 30, 2010, 01:45 PM // 13:45

Some of us (cough, cough) bought all the panes for the convenience and wish more were allowed.

LifeInfusion · Aug 30, 2010, 02:49 PM // 14:49

Well I would definitely get a character slot sooner than a Storage Pane. I have 3 characters for those monster trophies, and it makes sorting by campaign easy. A character slot allows you to make more PvP characters, and if you don't reroll the main profession it means more birthday presents.

I have a second account with a collector's edition of nightfall (it was on sale at the time) for the sake of selling stuff while I play and also to hold all the gold items I collect on the main account. (The main reason why I even have it, but also to hold more than 1mil gold since I don't deal with things >100K.) In Guild Wars 2 there will be no such incentive since there is an auction house.

At the very least I encourage people with 3 campaigns + EOTN to buy one slot (two if you need to have a rerolling character), since it allows you to have every profession without rerolling.

Skyy High · Aug 30, 2010, 02:52 PM // 14:52

You need another player (or GWx2) to transfer items from one account to another. Storing stuff on extra characters requires you to log in and out and move stuff around between storage and your mule(s), plus if you don't know exactly where it is it's a pain in the ass to find. If you buy a storage pane, you just need to walk up to storage and, hey, there are your extra slots. Is that so hard to understand?

Also, old argument is ooooooooooooooooooooooold.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anon-e-mouse

A-net, does NOT believe in MICRO transactions, as the amounts they charge testify, $10 is NOT now and never has been a micro transaction... end of..

Games that have smaller transactions generally require you to buy "e-gold" or whatever first, because charging $1 on a credit card is just not profitable. ANet decided against that system, for whatever reason, but it does mean that they aren't constantly nickel and dime-ing us on tiny cosmetic things.

Verene · Aug 30, 2010, 03:21 PM // 15:21

Wasn't this hashed to death back when they released them?

If you don't like it, don't buy it. Some people like the convenience they offer and are willing to pay a bit more for that.

Me, I have two accounts, eleven characters on one (none are mules, though, just one of each profession and one in pre-sear), and 6 on the other (half of which are mules), and have bought an extra pane on my main account. Why? because it's a hell of a lot more convenient than loading up Gwx2 or sifting through a dozen characters every time I'm looking for something.

Quaker · Aug 30, 2010, 03:23 PM // 15:23

As has been said, this is old news.
Many of the people who talk about this forget that not everyone has all 4 storage panes already. No matter how many character slots you have, it is always nice to have extra storage panes in Xunlai storage for the reasons that people have given here. If you only have one campaign (or even if you have all campaigns), buying extra panes is the best way to increase your "readily available" storage.
For storage that doesn't need to be accessed readily - like to store your collection of bows - character slots are the way to go.

For the purposes of on-line gaming, micro-transactions can be thought of as "buying the game a piece at a time" rather than trying to affix some arbitrary real-money value to it.

gremlin · Aug 30, 2010, 04:59 PM // 16:59

I went for the extra characters for storage, not as convenient as extra storage panes but the extra space, ability to do more zaishen missions not to mention the birthday mini makes then worthwhile.

I originally had 3 extra mules that did nothing but store stuff now they play just enough to be able to farm and do zaishens.

That in turn lets me store far more weapons and armour than I could ever reasonably need, I started with small weapon packs and am gradually replacing them with large ones.

As for forgetting who carries what that gets easy with a little organisation and a note pad.
Halloween items on one, Wintersday bits on another and so on

Weapons are stored by class though I do have far to many and should salvage or sell them.

Frequently used items are kept in main storage for convenience,I admit to being a pack rat but I am an organised one.