Introducing our VIP Loyalty Reward Program!

[l_remmie]

A VIP subscription has to give monthly small things. And then reward bigger things in due time.
Now it gives neglectable things after long times. It's thoroughly underwhelming, it's bad press for something that should be all upside.

The reward bag needs to be a little better and needs to be every month.

1. Extra 500 points is ok, perfect even.

2. The bag is insultingly bad, it needs to be slightly better and be a monthly VIP reward from month X onwards.
Maybe swap this to month 4 or something.

300 sentient XP is a cruel joke. That needs to be at least 2500.
The flawless gem should be a +0 lesser heart. (+0=QoL, +1=actual Power)
The rest is ok. It doesn't have to be jackpot.

3. 1 character slot isn't much but neither is 3 months.

4. 10% Durability ward should be a permanent VIP thing. It's neglectable. Find something new. Maybe a VIP teleport trinket.

5. Find something new. Maybe a permanent hireling. (lvl10-12ish rogue would be welcome)

6. Cool, like it.

7. Artisan XP boost should be a permanent VIP bonus. 10% is fine. Everything who likes cannith crafting has 300+ already.
The jokertokens are excellent. Should be a 5-10% chance.

Jokertokens should be introduced to regular play at 1-2%.

8. Greater bag is decent. Add some more store stuff instead of the hearts you can get for tokens/seeds.

9. 1% is a cruel joke again. 3% is absolute minimum. That's buy 33 get a 34th for free. It's still literally unnoticeable in gameplay.

10. Find something new, maybe a VIP vendor to buy stuff for excessive amounts of Platinum or tokens of the twelve etc.

11. Make it 10 (and then 10 again)

12. Cloud is cool.

 

[Drakos]

So some of these additional VIP benefits are only available to perpetual VIP accounts?

Ok, you claim them after X amount of subbing, then you have access to them but only while you maintain your subscription. If your sub lapses you loose access until you re-subscribe again and your X counter picks up where you left off. So, although you still retain the benefit (ex; lightning trail, mount, etc...) you cannot access them while your subscription is lapsed.

 

[Aelonwy]

Ok, you claim them after X amount of subbing, then you have access to them but only while you maintain your subscription. If your sub lapses you loose access until you re-subscribe again and your X counter picks up where you left off. So, although you still retain the benefit (ex; lightning trail, mount, etc...) you cannot access them while your subscription is lapsed.

Yes you sub for a year to access the privilege to lease the Stormcloud Mount. The lease is the perpetual sub. It may be in your Mount Stable but unless you are an active VIP you cannot use it; you do not actually own the Mount. Exactly like the extra VIP character slots, that become unavailable when your sub lapses. But at least you get the option to purchase new slots completely so you don't loose access to those characters forever as a Premium player.

Someone said Rent-a-Cloud and now I can't get that thought out of my head, because its particularly apt, except you had to develop a line of credit with Rent-a-Cloud (the full year of subscription) before they would allow you service.

 

[Griglok (Karatemack)]

Unpopular opinion...

VIP will now have amazing benefits over time including:

• +10% XP (Sometimes this is increased to +25%)
• Skip 1 Quest per Saga (HUGE VALUE especially while leveling)
• 40 Shared Bank slots (30 for the Shared Bank Vault + 10 additional from new VIP program)
• 8 Extra Character Slots (6 standard + 2 additional from the new VIP program)
  • Each of these characters can be used as bank toons and come with inventory + bank slots expanding storage
• 6,500 DDO points each year (enough for an ottos)
• +10% item durability
• +10% faster movement speed in public spaces
• +1% named loot drop chance (Cordovan implied this could increase in the future as well.)
• Weekly free gold roll (15 AS worth of gold roll per week = 780 AS value each year)
• Exclusive Lightning Trail Cosmetic effect + Exclusive Cosmetic Mount
• +10% crafting XP and Crafting Material Tokens for your choice of collectibles
• Ability to swap spells unlimitedly
• A number of consumable items PLUS other benefits such as auction limit, gold storage, etc.

Put another way... if SSG released a Supporter Pack that included 10 Storage Slots, a new cosmetic mount, a new cosmetic effect, 3 raid bypass timers, a +20 heart, a 12 hour sov pot, a 12 hour discovery pot, 500 ddo store points, 2 character slots and a pot for +10% crafting xp would I pay $99 for it? For me- the answer is YES! And for the same price I get all the benefits of VIP that I already enjoy today.

 

[Fingaforn]

To sum it up in one word, disappointment.
Contributing to the players' general opinion, yes, the rewards in general are not worth it and can be improved a lot.
I myself have been a VIP in the past and I was waiting for this moment to sign up for 1 year of VIP, but it looks like I'm going to continue as it is, because I still don't see any advantage.
GIT GUD SSG

 

[Aelonwy]

Put another way... if SSG released a Supporter Pack that included 10 Storage Slots, a new cosmetic mount, a new cosmetic effect, 3 raid bypass timers, a +20 heart, a 12 hour sov pot, a 12 hour discovery pot, 500 ddo store points, 2 character slots and a pot for +10% crafting xp would I pay $99 for it? For me- the answer is YES! And for the same price I get all the benefits of VIP that I already enjoy today.

Yes but after paying that $99 you would ALWAYS own those things not be leasing them or leasing access to them.

I bought the second support bundle and I enjoy my items from it... for as long as the game continues. I don't have to pay again each month to continue to use my mechanized pseudodragon for instance.

That is the difference.

 

[Lazuli]

Yes you sub for a year to access the privilege to lease the Stormcloud Mount. The lease is the perpetual sub. It may be in your Mount Stable but unless you are an active VIP you cannot use it; you do not actually own the Mount. Exactly like the extra VIP character slots, that become unavailable when your sub lapses. But at least you get the option to purchase new slots completely so you don't loose access to those characters forever as a Premium player.

Someone said Rent-a-Cloud and now I can't get that thought out of my head, because its particularly apt, except you had to develop a line of credit with Rent-a-Cloud (the full year of subscription) before they would allow you service.

Yes, it's ridiculous. If they put it only as an activated perk while the subscription is active, it should be active from day 1. But since the problem is that the subscription is leaking everywhere due to their greed with expansions, they should give it permanently without restrictions.

There are a few people who continue to say that the subscription price has not gone up in years. Wake up, it has done it, because content that was previously free for VIPs, now VIPs have to pay for it separately.

The problem they have created by modifying the Turbine model without modifying the subscription is:

-Lack of value for a new player. In Turbine's time, the subscription covered everything you needed to play; The xpacks were few, and they had very useful extras to a new player, such as turbine points and experience manuals. Currently there are too many xpacks, so the prize for xpacks + VIP is enormous, and if they only buy VIP very soon see that the veterans are playing the content of the expansions...

-For veterans: in Turbine's time there was already some discomfort that the subscription was of little use for the veteran who had everything, but it was useful for people who wanted to have all the content without worrying about buying it piecemeal. Now, the subscription no longer completes that function of providing all the content and VIP veterans are forced to buy one xpack per year in addition to the subscription.

Let's see, SSG, you want people to pay twice, so give things that make them want to pay twice. If you want money in exchange for nothing, you are not going to get anywhere.

Speaking of fiscal irresponsibility...

 

[canicus]

I haven't read all the posts, so I am curious - Is there anyone who will (re)start a VIP subscription because of these bonuses? I know some people are happy with what we are getting, but is this moving the needle at all?

 

[Onyxia2016]

I think this needs to be put back in the oven, because it is a half baked idea.

 

[Griglok (Karatemack)]

Yes but after paying that $99 you would ALWAYS own those things not be leasing them or leasing access to them.

I bought the second support bundle and I enjoy my items from it... for as long as the game continues. I don't have to pay again each month to continue to use my mechanized pseudodragon for instance.

That is the difference.

I'm fine with them stacking these bonuses over time and making there be a clear benefit to keeping VIP active. That's how VIP should work IMO.

 

[Volarr]

IMO We are so lucky to have this Game to play. It is like this.

I play the Free version: You're playing for free, you were also given a free code for almost all content that many others have payed for. Content you would have never had unless you to payed for it moving you to a Premium account. IMO (prepaid for any downtime)

Or I Play the Premium version: You play for free except when you wish to purchase items or content to further your game. you also were given a free code for almost all content. That code saved you money IMO (prepaid for any downtime)

( Lastly. I play a ( VIP version: ) You are paying for extra privileges or perks more content is unlocked for you. You are always compensated in some way for downtime. )

Congratulations to all the VIP's out there here is even more compensation for you.

 

[Volarr]

Just remember this in the downtimes.

 

[Aelonwy]

I'm fine with them stacking these bonuses over time and making there be a clear benefit to keeping VIP active. That's how VIP should work IMO.

And that's fine you are absolutely entitled to your own opinion. I guess mine is that VIP should be mostly about QoL features, some time savers. I don't want to earn/purchase access to a cosmetic but then have to rent it forever. A polite but adamant no thank you.

 

[dur]

This brings up a point:

Sounds unacceptable if true.

As an AS Reroll for month we're meh about offering.

Cordovan already addressed:

Sadly they aren't free. They cost your monthly sub fee, and some mandate you pay that fee in perpetuity to keep.

Or pay to have. What you claim, you have, as long as you're VIP. You have to be active VIP to have bene's. ie, extra bank goes away as soon as you're not VIP.

• +1% named loot drop chance (Cordovan implied this could increase in the future as well.)

How did I miss that?

n yeah, what may be getting lost here is what VIP already has. Not to say that as a 17+ year VIP, I *don't feel a bit sore..

 

[Volarr]

1. Your progress is preserved, so you'd pick up where you left off when you resubscribe. If you've already picked up that month's reward, the next reward will be available upon the start of the next month.
2. This isn't a question, but thank you for the feedback.
3. No.
4. Yes, when this starts existing VIPs will receive the immediate "month zero" gift.

i would remind everyone the yearly Rate for Vip is the best option which would make these questions mute.

 

[Lazuli]

Unpopular opinion...

VIP will now have amazing benefits over time including:

• +10% XP (Sometimes this is increased to +25%)
• Skip 1 Quest per Saga (HUGE VALUE especially while leveling)
• 40 Shared Bank slots (30 for the Shared Bank Vault + 10 additional from new VIP program)
• 8 Extra Character Slots (6 standard + 2 additional from the new VIP program)
  • Each of these characters can be used as bank toons and come with inventory + bank slots expanding storage
• 6,500 DDO points each year (enough for an ottos)
• +10% item durability
• +10% faster movement speed in public spaces
• +1% named loot drop chance (Cordovan implied this could increase in the future as well.)
• Weekly free gold roll (15 AS worth of gold roll per week = 780 AS value each year)
• Exclusive Lightning Trail Cosmetic effect + Exclusive Cosmetic Mount
• +10% crafting XP and Crafting Material Tokens for your choice of collectibles
• Ability to swap spells unlimitedly
• A number of consumable items PLUS other benefits such as auction limit, gold storage, etc.

Put another way... if SSG released a Supporter Pack that included 10 Storage Slots, a new cosmetic mount, a new cosmetic effect, 3 raid bypass timers, a +20 heart, a 12 hour sov pot, a 12 hour discovery pot, 500 ddo store points, 2 character slots and a pot for +10% crafting xp would I pay $99 for it? For me- the answer is YES! And for the same price I get all the benefits of VIP that I already enjoy today.

Extra storage/slot is a trap when you stop being VIP.

Oh enough points for an otto after a YEAR, how exciting. If it weren't for the fact that there are hundreds of past lives just for one character and the alts are becoming more and more strangled every day... please xD. (Points is one of the few good perks of the suscription, but let's not exaggerate by saying that it is something spectacular).

1% loot chance? That's not even noticeable.

No, gold rolls don't equate to 750 AS, they don't give those AS. I would never spend that amount of AS on roll golds, the results on rolls are worse than poor. I have more than 4K shards in my account, and please, it would be a stupid way to waste them to use them on gold rolls. The gold rewards are terrible. To get a good reward, all the planets and stars in the universe have to ally themselves and dance the conga.

Ability to swap spells unlimitedly? This is a mistake. They are destroying the biggest advantage that generalist casters have over specialists. Hey, I imagine they think they haven't destroyed them enough yet with their loot design and EDs, there are still people who play them.

Item durability? LOL.

Mount and cosmetic that you have to wait months (a full year the cloud) to use and it disappears when you stop the subscription? Please, this is a bad joke.

Gold storage? LOL. You have the same gold storage as a premium, and what would it be used for anyway...

Crafting XP? That should be a permanente VIP benefict. Something that helps to newbies. We veterans have the crafting maxed and bored. I have 4 crafter toons lol

The only good things about the subscription currently, and after the new program starts, are 10% xp, 500 points/month and skip a saga quest. Is that worth what they ask for the subscription? Many people believe not, hence the discomfort among their clients.

Of what they offer us now, of value there is, in my opinion, 500 points ONE month, ONE leg raid bypass (lol), and ONE heart +20 or XP pot that would only be worth for one character (disappointing - my alts are already quite penalized with all the hellish grind they've put in, I don't need a VIP program that only benefits one character, thanks.). Very sad.

----

And in answer to your question: No. I wouldn't buy a chest like that. I haven't bought any of the other they've already released either, I don't see the value. But in Turbine times I was always a VIP, and with SSG when I stopped being one it was because they had exhausted my patience.

 

[waxinglyrical]

They've got a year to figure out the next rewards.

They've had over a year to figure out these rewards, so set your expectations accordingly.

 

[Volarr]

They are persistent for as long as you remain VIP, and if they do persist on the list long enough for you to be able to earn them more than once they will indeed stack, so you'd get a +2% named loot drop chance.

Cordovan Sadly. No matter what SSG does to enhance their gameplay some will always cry about it. I apologize for them I really am ashamed of some of my co-players.

 

[Cordovan]

Quick note after conferring with folks today: We'll be updating the Sentient XP offered in the VIP Bag of Many Things. The current number is in error.

 

[FaceDancer]

Glad to hear that! I get berated by my sentient kobald gem if I feed it stuff that small.