Curse

coolsti · Feb 28, 2006, 07:37 AM // 07:37

Oh no!!! I can see the chaos and problems and complaints now! Anet pay attention to this:

A player who already owns GW buys Factions and is in such a hurry to set it up and get it working, that the player doesn't pay attention to all the instructions and warning about whether to "link" the two games on the same account or set up Factions on a separate account. The player is in such a hurry, the player sets up Factions as a separate account not realizing:

1) that he/she would rather have had the two games merged on one account and

2) that it is NOT POSSIBLE to change things once the accounts have been set up.

Lets face it, people are impatient, inattentive, or just plain dumb. There are bound to be many who will make this mistake. And so Anet is definitely going to be bombarded with lots of players who made this mistake and oh so much would pretty please like to be able to change the way they set up Factions anyway.

Hmmm, what is Anet going to do about this? Smart would be a way to allow us to delete the separate account completely losing all characters and equipment and to let us re-set it up as a merged game.

Sagius Truthbarron · Feb 28, 2006, 07:50 AM // 07:50

What? Why would you have to delete one of your characters to try the 2 new ones if they give you 2 new slots? You just make the 2 new ones.

I think alot of the people complaining are just trying to start revolts so they can get a free meal. I mean, if you have a N/me, a W/R, a Mo/Me, an Ele/Me, Rt/N, A/W, why on earth do you need a Mesmer and a Ranger primary?

There is no need to delete anything. Are you buying Factions to play a Mesmer and Ranger primary? Frankly, having a Primary class deosn't do a -thing- for you except give you different armor options and the ability to get 13-19 in stat points for your primary attributes.

Guess how many slots I use? 3. 1 N/, W/ and PvP slot. I'm not even that big in PvP either. I have played every class on primary PvE except Mesmer, but I just don't see a need to have one of each type, giving them all little special names and pretending they are my children and at the thought of deleteing the one I made a week ago "OMG! NOES, I COULDN'T DELETE LITTLE SALLY!"

It has nothing to do with Capitalism/Communism/Third Reich/Socialism/Whatever you want to call what you don't like. I played a game that only gave you 5 slots (6 classes with no class mixing, but near the end of the game the choice to change to a different class, which could lead you ending up with 2 of the same class type, pretty much forever unlesd you wanted to erase your work). I never even thought about it untill now.

I haven't played many MMORPGs, but I know some others do that, don't they?

Some of you say you are using all 4 slots on your account, but you complain about not being able to have 8 slots without a merged account. Why do you need skills/upgrades unlocked on it then? You're obviously not using your PvP slot at all, and you obviously don't PvP very much (unless all 4 of your characters have enough green items, etc, to keep switching builds alot).

I just don't think they need to accomidate every person that wants to have 2 or so of each type of character. Just don't merge your accounts, you obviously aren't going to use your skill unlocks anyway. What's the big deal?

You survived with only -4- this long, right? I don't recall having 8 (which would be equal to the current demands, wanting 4 instead of the required 2).

Tekish · Feb 28, 2006, 07:56 AM // 07:56

I've been intentionally silent about ANet's constant stubbornness regarding character slots since the beginning. I had assumed that when the time came for an expansion, they would work things out, allowing you the necessary space to explore everything the game (and expansions) had to offer. And while I'm not surprised with this recent character slot announcement, I still don't understand ANet's reluctance to provide the player with the necessary means to explore all facets of the game (PvE).

But that's not even what really bothers me. Take for example, my situation. My current account utilizes all of the current slots (3 PvE, 1 PvP). It is fully UAX, and ranked. This took me a long time to accomplish, and it's something that I don't plan to do over again with a new account. So, right off the bat, that limits my options to a joint account, or to not buy the expansion at all. I happen to like Guild Wars, and have been interested in Factions since it was announced, so I'd rather not abandon it altogether. However, the joint account offers nothing more than 2 extra slots, no additional storage space or other features to speak of, yet still subtracts 2 slots from and retails for the same price as a new factions account.

I don't know how much value ANet puts on the ability to have old PvE accounts travel to Factions' new areas, but to me, at least, it doesn't warrant the intentional crippling of existing GW accounts (because we very well know their database and network is more than capable of a few extra bytes per account). Maybe if factions was offered at a cheaper price for existing GW owners I could understand. But as is, I can't help but feel like I'm getting pushed around now that ArenaNet has already taken my money from the first game. I don't particularly like that.

Tainek · Feb 28, 2006, 08:14 AM // 08:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sagius Truthbarron

What? Why would you have to delete one of your characters to try the 2 new ones if they give you 2 new slots? You just make the 2 new ones.

I think alot of the people complaining are just trying to start revolts so they can get a free meal. I mean, if you have a N/me, a W/R, a Mo/Me, an Ele/Me, Rt/N, A/W, why on earth do you need a Mesmer and a Ranger primary?

There is no need to delete anything. Are you buying Factions to play a Mesmer and Ranger primary? Frankly, having a Primary class deosn't do a -thing- for you except give you different armor options and the ability to get 13-19 in stat points for your primary attributes.

Guess how many slots I use? 3. 1 N/, W/ and PvP slot. I'm not even that big in PvP either. I have played every class on primary PvE except Mesmer, but I just don't see a need to have one of each type, giving them all little special names and pretending they are my children and at the thought of deleteing the one I made a week ago "OMG! NOES, I COULDN'T DELETE LITTLE SALLY!"
2).

As a secondarys you dont have access to the primary (fast cast, expertise) attributes, and these are very important to both the ranger and the mesmer (only a ranger can trap, and fast cast is essential for shut down, even more so in PvP)

if primary class meant nothing, we'd all have warriors. GG

Grimm · Feb 28, 2006, 09:45 AM // 09:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by d3kst3r

I think we need more benefits from linking. I mean why have 6 account slots when you can have 8?

Despite it being against the EULA, I know many people who are planning to sell their original Guildwars accounts in order to buy Factions. If ArenaNet isn't going to give us more bonuses from linking then I feel that lots of people are just going to keep selling the previous chapter and using the money to buy the next chapter. This way ArenaNet will stand to lose a lot of money.

Why the hell would you do that? You're so attached to your characters that you need more slots so you can make more without deleting this, so you're going to sell your account and lose your characters breaking the EULA in the process? Yeah, that makes sense.

Grimm · Feb 28, 2006, 09:49 AM // 09:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark of Rodgort

all i can say is all the unlocking i did wont be able to put in use coz im planning to use the 2 slots for primary ritualist and primary assassin. thus i once again will have no space for a pvp character. I just want a freakin space for a pvp char. Anet coudlve made it 6 roleplaying/pvp and 1 pvp

How is the ArenaNet's fault? You knew you had four slots when you made four PvE characters, and knowing that you will have two more slots, you're chosing to fill both of them up too. If you don't have a PvP slot it's your fault. Plenty of people (myself included) saved a slot for PvP characters.

Akaraxle · Feb 28, 2006, 09:52 AM // 09:52

Shush, we aren't paying a monthly fee and we still get monthly fee quality -- or even better, if you consider we're not spread through a hundred servers.
A small limitation like that doesn't bother me: besides, most players (3 PvE, 1 PvP) are getting 2 more slots to try the new professions, so I don't see the problem.

Maxiemonster · Feb 28, 2006, 09:57 AM // 09:57

Woohoo, finally enough to have all original Guild Wars proffesions, and the same problem as in the original problem: 2 spots to left for all proffesions. Laaaaaaame!

Thom · Feb 28, 2006, 09:58 AM // 09:58

I really never got this whole argument about needing 8 character slots mostly because the plot was boring the second time around I couldn't stand starting again. There are enough slots to unlock every profession and have a pvp slot without ever changing secondaries. The potential loss here is possibly some PvP armor and customized unique weapons. The loss is really marginal for the average player. If you really want to deck out 6 characters with top gear, give Anet their proper due and pay another 50 dollars...you will be spending 500 hours minimum on the second account if getting top gear is what you are after. 50 dollars is ten hours working at McDonalds or a cell phone bill... stop complaining.

I've state before that Anet risks higher levels of account sharing from casual users (who drive the business side of things), so they are being generous giving two slots. You will have access with 6 characters to all the high level areas in both Faction and Prophecies on a single account... that is a 50% access increase. No one will be forced into the dreaded Ri/A class choice. Single account storage will be up more than 50% for the pack rats out there.

Anet really doesn't need to bend over backwards for those of us insane enough to be posting on forums regularly. Odds are we would buy Faction just like we pretended to like "The Matrix Reloaded" if you catch my drift. We have all sunk enough time that the extended content alone is worth the full price. It is a segmented market... they can afford to offer us less because we value the product more. Selling Guild Wars to me is like selling tuperware to a housewife, I can't get enough of it no matter how stupid I feel sometimes.

I love all the "poor student" posts. I was a poor undergraduate and I remember how much I spent on beer each month. The day 50 dollars breaks your budget is the day that you should quit Guildwars and get either a job or another degree. Poor us, spending hundreds of hours on our asses with a video game which costs us cents on the hour. Cable TV costs more than Guild Wars.

Deleting characters isn't like cutting off your left arm. The only thing of real value you may lose is perfect customized weapons. It takes <30 hours to level a character and get top stats gear. If you spend the same amount of time in game as I have, 30 hours is't all that much percentage wise.

Bottom line: Pricing and allocation of slots is done to maximize profit. If you fall into the class of people who would need more than the allocated number of slots, you are very likely willing to pay more for the extra slots. Please don't whine about getting your monies worth when you've played hundreds of hours over several months for the cost of 2 DVDs or a dinner out for two.

Raxxman · Feb 28, 2006, 10:12 AM // 10:12

Problem i see is this doesn't affect casual gamers at all.

Someone like me who only has one major character, has no need for additional slots and will buy factions for all the new goodies.

This has a much greater affect on the 'hardcore' gamers. The ones who want to do everything. Now without the monthly user fee hardcore gamers are not important for ANet, except for their loyalty in buy new material.

The thing is, if Thom is indeed correct and ANet wishes to stamp down on account sharing between casual gamers, wouldn't the process of allowing people to pay for additional slots completely solve this problem?

cheers

Thom · Feb 28, 2006, 10:24 AM // 10:24

Reasonable point. Administration costs could be an issue... more complicated your structure the higher your costs and the harder it is to support your retailers. Also possible is the larger step could allow for more profit... many people may want two more slots but will buy four without another choice.

My brothers played the same account for a bit, but now there are 2 accounts at my family's home. I can't say what would happen if there had been the option to get my youngest another slot on his brothers account. I know there are many families with the father playing casually and the kids playing etc, so this isn't exactly uncommon. Account sharing may only be a small part of the explanation, but realize that each additional slot is cutting into Anet profits.

Vilaptca · Feb 28, 2006, 10:26 AM // 10:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolsti

Oh no!!! I can see the chaos and problems and complaints now! Anet pay attention to this:

A player who already owns GW buys Factions and is in such a hurry to set it up and get it working, that the player doesn't pay attention to all the instructions and warning about whether to "link" the two games on the same account or set up Factions on a separate account. The player is in such a hurry, the player sets up Factions as a separate account not realizing:

1) that he/she would rather have had the two games merged on one account and

2) that it is NOT POSSIBLE to change things once the accounts have been set up.

Lets face it, people are impatient, inattentive, or just plain dumb. There are bound to be many who will make this mistake. And so Anet is definitely going to be bombarded with lots of players who made this mistake and oh so much would pretty please like to be able to change the way they set up Factions anyway.

Hmmm, what is Anet going to do about this? Smart would be a way to allow us to delete the separate account completely losing all characters and equipment and to let us re-set it up as a merged game.

Adding a key to your account is NOT even close to the same thing as making a new account. Only the stupidest of people would make this mistake.

There will not be many people making this mistake.

RBK · Feb 28, 2006, 10:36 AM // 10:36

You know it’s funny, in the second or third post someone said, yes now people will stop arguing…

Well some much for that aye. People are still moaning at the lack of character slots. Personally I think 6 is plenty I only currently use three of my four slots, two of them being PvE. I’m going to buy factions and I’m going to merge my account because I want my characters form the previous game to see the new factions. I think it would be cool to run around with a pre-built character, I will make and assassin and a ritualist eventually and I will enjoy building them up also.

Which leave me with another free slot, just get over it please. Stop arguing over character slots. I think what Anet have chosen to do is fine. At the end of the day you could have a monthly subscription … Anet need to make there money as well don’t they? Come on people be fair!

Gonzo · Feb 28, 2006, 11:12 AM // 11:12

2 pve, 1 pre, 1 pvp
1 pre factions 1 factions pve

I see no problems as of yet.

Numa Pompilius · Feb 28, 2006, 11:17 AM // 11:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by seut

4slots chapter1 stand alone + 4slots chapter2 stand alone = 6slots combined install

full price chapter1 + full price chapter2 = 6/8 benefit
wasn't the first law of marketing: keep your EXISTING customers happy?

They aren't? You get full access to both contintents for 6 chars, instead of access to one continent with 4 chars.

As she (should have) put it, 8x50% is less than 6x100%.

Or, if you feel that, yes, 8x50% IS more than 6x100%, don't link your accounts.
If you've got two computers you can probably still exchange items between your accounts by teaming up with avatars from your other account on the Isles of Conflict (which, AFAIK, is shared between Canthar and Kryta).

* Why not 8 slots?

Partly probably to keep hoarding down a bit, by limiting storage-space, partly to not create expectations of getting 4 new slots every expansion. There'll be an expansion ever 6 months, I don't think the character slots will keep increasing indefinitely.

No, we can't create AND KEEP all combinations of professions. We never have, and it'll become harder every expansion. Again, if there's two new professions each update, the number of combinations quickly becomes unmanageable to keep (with 5 professions we had 20 possible combinations, with 7 professions it's 42, at 9 professions the number of possible primary/secondary combinations will be 72).

coolsti · Feb 28, 2006, 11:34 AM // 11:34

GW is a world full of complainers! Why aren't people now satisfied that we get two new character slots instead of one when combining accounts? That sounds fair to me. Two new character professions = two new character slots.

It may cost you two additional character slots to combine accounts rather than keep them separate for the same amount of money. But then look what you lose (look what you gain by combining accounts): If you have built up a Chapter 1 PvE character to a high level with nice armour and nice weapons you will be allowed to play that character everywhere at any time by combining accounts.

As a compensation to NOT being able to do this, Anet is letting people who insist on keeping separate accounts two additional character slots.

Nightwish · Feb 28, 2006, 11:45 AM // 11:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by lg5000

Imagin JUST getting factions.. you now have 8 professions and only 4 slots.

I belong to those who'd love to have a pvp only slot ontop of my pve chars though.. having played all professions through pve, I now have 4 characters for pve and none for pvp (unless I take my pve char into pvp). With two new classes and 2 slots I'll have a pvp slot right up till I finish playing either assassin or ritualist through the pve side of things..and then.. I dunno, depends if I like the profession or not I guess.

Yes..those getting Factions alone will only have 4 slots opposed to 8 professions but they also paying less than returning customers.

Newcomers pay 1X dollars get 4 slots.

Existing customers pay 2X dollars get 8 slots.

Linking both accts is optional, hence, if we want the benefits of it, we have to pay a certain price. Even as a moderate player, I cant see myself being able to train up 5 pve chars, let alone 7..

I wonder if people will be asking for 15 char slots if one day anet produces that many professions :P

seut · Feb 28, 2006, 12:29 PM // 12:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numa Pompilius

They aren't? You get full access to both contintents for 6 chars, instead of access to one continent with 4 chars.

As she (should have) put it, 8x50% is less than 6x100%.

Or, if you feel that, yes, 8x50% IS more than 6x100%, don't link your accounts.

This formula is pure marketing smoke. Only a tiny minority will replay the low level content of the other chapter. I don't see my Ritualist reaching Lion's Arch with lvl15 and then run back to Ascalon to own lvl3 charr.
Installing gw:f as a standalone would result in an account with 4character slots for 8professions with access to only 90% of the skills of the core classes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numa Pompilius

* Why not 8 slots?

Partly probably to keep hoarding down a bit, by limiting storage-space, partly to not create expectations of getting 4 new slots every expansion. There'll be an expansion ever 6 months, I don't think the character slots will keep increasing indefinitely.

The hoarding argument is a little weak. Many people already have a secondary account and those will have the future possibility to make a guild with extra guild-storage on their secondary. Btw. aren't pack rats paying customer as well?

Do i want 4 extra slots with every chapter? No, i would be happy with one pve slot for every primary profession plus an exclusive pvp slot.

The solution to satisfy people who want a little more char slots? Make them pay. I would gladly give 10euros for another slot, but that would destroy Anet's 'no monthly fee and no hidden costs' mission statement.

cagan · Feb 28, 2006, 12:45 PM // 12:45

How would offering slots for money ruin the 'no fee and no hidden cost' statement?
You woudln't be forced to buy slots, so, theres no monthly fee in that .. and nothing is hidden, its a optional extra at that point.

Sekkira · Feb 28, 2006, 12:46 PM // 12:46

Personally I doubt ANYONE would mind having only 2 new slots IF there was a way of obtaining more, such as maybe buying a new copy of factions and linking it again to obtain 2 more or perhaps purchacing character slots for a reasonable price considering paying for a whole new game which you just bought, just for 2 slots seems a bit pricey.

ArenaNet NEEDS to give us this option at least.