In response to: Unluckiest player alive or ridiculous drop rate for Flamebrand?

[Growwle]

This new gaming model may eventually result in laws to protect consumers. The iPad has a lot of games that cause little kids to pay "free" and then the parents get a surprise bill.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/foru...n-Smurfberries
http://www.azfamily.com/video/yahoo-...128329453.html

I get around this by turning off in-game purchases on my kids' IOS devices and telling them that they have to ask me if they want to purchase anything in-game. I do not give them the password to my iTunes account, so I am the only one who can make these purchases. The parents who got the big bills, just need to be better parents. Also, never link any games to your bank account, or high-limit credit cards, use gift cards, or pre-payed credit cards, then, if there are no funds, the purchases won't go through.

[Noobified]

I think STS should offer two options: 1. The cheaper "chance of getting x" option and 2. The more expensive "sure thing" option.

For example:
1. For 25 platinum, you'll have a chance at getting a Flamebrand.
2. For 150 platinum, you'll can just buy one outright!

C'mon, STS. This isn't a casino. Give people who don't want to waste time and money gambling in DL and let them buy what they want at a premium price while letting those on a limited budget have a crack at it as well. The way it is now, even if a player finally gets the item they want after 20 tries, the possibility of player resentment is there given the excessive money they've spent, hence the original thread that was created. Otherwise, if you want your players to gamble, just create a new game called "Casino Legends".

[Lamchild]

If there were non plat gear that were equivalent or similar in stats and looks, I would not go as far as trying 23 times to get it. Its not hard to understand why I would try to go as far as trying 23 times to get the most powerful and best looking weapon in game. Not sure about future updates, but as of now, all the dropped weapons are crap compared to the Flamebrand. By the way, thanks to STS support on replying promptly but I'm deeply disappointed on the "cut and paste" "tough luck" answer. I've spend of money and time playing all 3 of your games (3 x 66 on PL, 3 x 41 on SL, 2 x 20 on DL both on LB). On PL and SL, you can still be cool and have the best gear in game if u spend time farming. But on DL as of now, you can only achieve that if you have plat and good luck. I'm sad to say that although i'm on LB and have all the best vanity outfits in game, I still wouldn't be satisfied. I'm refusing to buy plats until there is a resolution or may just move on to another game with more "ethical" ways of making money. Many of us may agree or not agree with this is how I see it. I've been playing mmorpg games since Ultima Online (and yes, Lineage II as well) which hints how old I am lol. I manage a well established business in real life and I can afford to buy plats to make the game more enjoyable but that doesn't mean that I don't have to feel good about spending it.

[Slant]

if u dont get
ur gonnna click till you get
there has to be a way around this

[Mohawkski]

I spent 50 bills trying to get the fire brand weapon didnt get it and it does suck maybe what they should do is when they see u made more than 3 purchases they should give u the item that u r tryin to get in the first place....sounds like a win win to me

[Vixenxgirl]

I know wha u r talking about I send about 50 bucks on just trying out the grab box and I got nothing I'm so mad that it was a waste of money even though I really like the game a lot it's awesome but having to lose 50$ on the grab box sucks and I didn't get any legendary weapon and some other people I know get it on there 1st try I think it sucks that we spend so much money on the game and not get anything back in return. I'm guess that since we r the one who r picking the boxes we get the bad luck and then someone else does it after us and they end up getting it on just one try

[Deathpunch]

I know wha u r talking about I send about 50 bucks on just trying out the grab box and I got nothing I'm so mad that it was a waste of money even though I really like the game a lot it's awesome but having to lose 50$ on the grab box sucks and I didn't get any legendary weapon and some other people I know get it on there 1st try I think it sucks that we spend so much money on the game and not get anything back in return. I'm guess that since we r the one who r picking the boxes we get the bad luck and then someone else does it after us and they end up getting it on just one try

Other than the fact that you don't have to buy the boxes and you did get something in return, just not what you wanted, your argument is valid.

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Sent from my HTC Evo 3D

[Rare]

For example:
1. For 25 platinum, you'll have a chance at getting a Flamebrand.
2. For 150 platinum, you'll can just buy one outright!

Great idea

[Conradin]

That's like saying you have to be 21 to buy baseball cards, ya don't know if you'll just get crap or good stuff. How about make the "you might not get this item" larger on the screen.

[Dragonrider023]

The last post from the dev said "Thanks for the feedback and sorry to hear about your run of bad luck

Please drop our support team a line at support@spacetimestudios.com with the details.

Thread closed."

Does this mean we can get refunded if we drop a ton of plat and not get legendaries?

I definitely don't think there should be randomization for items when there is real money involved. Frankly, it's a form of gambling, and plays in to that same impulses.

In any case, if you are refunding people for loses then I would like a refund too.

That reminded me of a person who got fire weapon at first try

[Blaquehaaart]

That's like saying you have to be 21 to buy baseball cards, ya don't know if you'll just get crap or good stuff. How about make the "you might not get this item" larger on the screen.

It's not like buying baseball cards. "Good stuff" in the context of trading cards is purely based on subjective worth. This would be the case if the grab box consisted of vanity items. However, the gems and weapons you receive give you an intended and quantitatively measured advantage over the game mechanics.

Playing the grab boxes is the only way to achieve these weapons, there is no alternitive. In most cases people specifical play for the chance to win the legendary item. It very much is all or nothing stakes...and it is a gamble.

How many people actually coutinue to play the grab boxes after they get the legendary item? I'd dare to guess the number is vastly smaller for those that do as compared to those that don't.

[Rare]

It's not like buying baseball cards. "Good stuff" in the context of trading cards is purely based on subjective worth. This would be the case if the grab box consisted of vanity items. However, the gems and weapons you receive give you an intended and quantitatively measured advantage over the game mechanics.

Playing the grab boxes is the only way to achieve these weapons, there is no alternitive. In most cases people specifical play for the chance to win the legendary item. It very much is all or nothing stakes...and it is a gamble.

How many people actually coutinue to play the grab boxes after they get the legendary item? I'd dare to guess the number is vastly smaller for those that do as compared to those that don't.

In the end its all based on "subjective" worth. Period. Is it worth enough for you to spend real life money on an arrangement of pixels with arbitrary digital numbers associated with them? In reality, the baseball card has more quantitative worth than the firebrand does.

Trust me, you can make due without it. I have and many others. Its a luxury you're "gambling" on.

[Blaquehaaart]

In the end its all based on "subjective" worth. Period. Is it worth enough for you to spend real life money on an arrangement of pixels with arbitrary digital numbers associated with them? In reality, the baseball card has more quantitative worth than the firebrand does.

Trust me, you can make due without it. I have and many others. Its a luxury you're "gambling" on.

Legendary weapons are not based on subjective worth. They are backed by quantive stats that cannot be rivaled by any weapon that's farmed, and it directly effects the game mechanic and gives you a measurable advantage.

It wouldn't be a problem if the grab boxes consisted of vanity item, because it would be a subjective argumet.

The only thing subjective about the legendary weapons is how they look. Never-the-less, if flamebrand was an animation of a fish, instead of two flaming swords, it would still be the best weapon in the game because it stats reflect it.

[Rare]

Legendary weapons are not based on subjective worth. They are backed by quantive stats that cannot be rivaled by any weapon that's farmed, and it directly effects the game mechanic and gives you a measurable advantage.

It wouldn't be a problem if the grab boxes consisted of vanity item, because it would be a subjective argumet.

The only thing subjective about the legendary weapons is how they look. Never-the-less, if flamebrand was an animation of a fish, instead of two flaming swords, it would still be the best weapon in the game because it stats reflect it.

Fact is, its still a game. No matter how real you think it is, it is far more subjective than any tangible thing.

You can make the argument all day long. But what it boils down to is that you are spending money on a game with no real tangible benefit. It is not a necessity to own a firebrand to play or be good at this game. If you feel it is, I'm sorry for that. But that is your subjectivity.

Every single thing in this game is based on subjective "worth". The mere fact that it is worth so much more to you than me shows how "subjective" it is.

Sent from my cm_tenderloin using Tapatalk

[Blaquehaaart]

Fact is, its still a game. No matter how real you think it is, it is far more subjective than any tangible thing.

You can make the argument all day long. But what it boils down to is that you are spending money on a game with no real tangible benefit. It is not a necessity to own a firebrand to play or be good at this game. If you feel it is, I'm sorry for that. But that is your subjectivity.

Every single thing in this game is based on subjective "worth". The mere fact that it is worth so much more to you than me shows how "subjective" it is.

Sent from my cm_tenderloin using Tapatalk

Ummm...a weapon that does 50 damage will hit harder than a weapon that does 45 damage. There is nothing subjective about that it is based on a quantifiable measurement.

Subject worth is qualitative. It's like saying a red shirt is better than a blue shirt, it is a quality based on form.

The weapons in the game are functionally driven by base stats, there is absolutely nothing qualitive about how it operates.

Part of my argument is that weapons that can only be purchased with platinum exceed the base stats of weapons farmed in game. Based on the inavalibility of not being to aquire weapons of equal stats through in game play the only option to aquire these weapon is though a randomized game, and because there is no alternative, it forces a player to play a randomized game in order to obtain that weapon. However, because there is no alternative, for some, it becomes a game of all or nothing stakes, which very much constitutes a real life gamble, for real life money.

The grab boxes in this game is not the same as buying a pack of trading cards. The value of trading cards boil down to subjective worth. Yes, some people play for the firebrand because it's cool and they want it as a vanity item. However, based on the base stats of the item, the lack of an alternative, and the method to achieve the item is very much a gamble...and if it's a gamble for some, the game very much is a form of gamble.

A gamble is a game of stakes to acquire an advantage.

The stakes is platinum, which is bought with real money. The advantage is the legendary item. What makes the stakes higher is that there is no other way to obtain it, so it's actually even worse because it is a forced gamble.

[Odemus]

I understand the business mode dictates that the small percentage of players who do pay real money will have to spend exponentially more than a retail subscription mmo to make up for the vast majority of players who pay nothing but I have to agree that spending close to $100 to get a firebrand or pestilence weapon at lvl 21 or earlier seems a bit outrageous. I was lucky to get mine for $40 but I know a couple people in my guild who have paid more without any luck. I happily spent close to $300 on SL but at least I always knew what I was getting. Here, not only is it a huge gamble, but your gear will be obsolete once they raise the level cap and you'll be crossing your fingers all over again. I'm not complaining but that is my opinion.

[Rare]

...but your gear will be obsolete once they raise the level cap and you'll be crossing your fingers all over again.

This is the whole reason I think this it is absurd to spend any great amount of money on it. If it were vanity... sure.

[Takezaki]

Hi, my name is Takezaki and I got both my legendary weapons on the first package I bought.