Introducing our VIP Loyalty Reward Program!

[Tarrith]

One update: We will be doing away with the requirement that you remain VIP in order to summon/use the trail or mount, once you've acquired it, it's yours.

My question is. Why did it take the backlash from whole DDO community for the DDO Devs to come to the realisation that this was a bad idea.
It's not as if they haven't received this sort of response with the previous offering. I really suggest as a community manager you watch Strimtoms take on the whole VIP Rewards systems and take some leafs out of the book from not only LotRO which as Strimtom has pointed out is way more generous than DDO's offering but also other games with much larger player bases.

P.S. Why IS LoTRo's cosmetic system better than DDO's considering it came out before DDO's?

 

[mikarddo]

It seems like a horrible unbalancing perk to me, yes. It's fine to be able to change spells in public areas, but spontaneous spellcasters have to have a cooldown, or they're destroying prepared spellcasters.

Well, they've been destroying generalist spellcasters for a while with their design (ahem, equipment, ED mantles designed for specialists, etc.), but that perk would be the last nail in the coffin.

That VIP spontaneous spellcasters can change spells faster than non-VIP ones, ok (although in my opinion VIP should not give advantage to the classes themselves, that is not QoL, that is giving power to the class), but not without cooldown, devs.

I doubt I will use it often on my sorc - but I agree that it is a silly change of the rules and should not be added.

 

[Jack Jarvis Esquire]

I currently play Premium and only go VIP for a month to do some TRs for the XP bonus.

So none of this will buy any additional loyalty to VIP from me.

I don't know if I'm the target market for this programme, or how representative my situation and motivation is, but fwiw, what would buy my loyalty to VIP would be to enable toons to close the gap to TR to 20 using an Otto's box. i.e. starting the TR at a Level that enables capping to 20 using the stone plus pot.

If this were gated at 6 month's VIP membership and lost upon exiting VIP, requiring further 6 month's gating to restore it if lost, you'd effectively entrap me.

I would happily pay VIP and maintain that in order to access the effortless (*cough* we'll ignore the horrors of inventory management) TRing. I'd also happily continue to pay for boxes and pots to feed my habit.

To paraphrase Bill Clinton, I never had se...

Sorry, wrong one, I mean, it's the EXPERIENCE, stupid...

Gate additional xp benefits to VIP loyalty and I'm in. The rest is just fluff to me.

 

[woq]

I doubt I will use it often on my sorc - but I agree that it is a silly change of the rules and should not be added.

A truly realistic VIP reward that money buys - exemption from rules!

Sorc pov: Superior creature, that is I. Bow, puny wizard peasants! Acknowledge my superior spontaneous might! Your meager trickery is now mine to wield! For the small prize of 9.99$/month. There there, buddy. I know. But you know, You too can establish your alpha nature on your inferiors by embracing spontaneous life! If you keep at it diligently like a proper peon VIP spontaneous overlord for a year, you can do it from atop a cloud. Available soon (+ a year) from now! Special deal, only for You my friend. And Your friends, if you can sell it to them first. Only for the greatest and best minds! Ah, now where was I. Oh, puny wizards! Silly, silly creatures.

Wizard pov: Shakes fist in defiance! Thinks about it while putting every point of intelligence to work. Shakes head in disbelief, and starts the slow walk of sadness towards the Reincarnation Grove while reaching for the wallet that is inexplicably down for maintenance.

 

[Jack Jarvis Esquire]

That's funny Woq!

Agree though, the Sorc change is wrong-headed.

There seems to be a lot of stuff that undermines what should be features that support class unique strengths. As a general point, I'd like to see that trend abandoned and indeed reversed.

 

[DBZ]

Blood of dragons are easy to hoard i don't think its that op

 

[paddymaxson]

I think some of the rewards being absolute trash is actually very funny.

10% chance to avoid item wear is an especially good one. 10% chance to avoid bringing yourself down from the plat cap. *chef kiss*

It's not convinced me to resub anyhow.

 

[Lazuli]

Blood of dragons are easy to hoard i don't think its that op

Your hoard will empty quickly if you use them several times a day, or even one a day. No, there should be a cooldown. It is enough that the devs design only for the specialists, denying the generalists the use of their entire spellbook, that they also give the specialists the book of a generalist would be the last straw.

 

[DBZ]

Yes i did grind a 100 for that sorc pass that never comes lol should get me some fun be the next hammer comes

And you still can't even make an acid sorc at cap either lightnings still pretty meh maybe that will change but doubt it

 

[Ambitious]

What happens if you are vip and don't claim your reward during a month? Do you automatically get all the due rewards the next time you claim? Or do you have to claim twice (thrice, etc...) the next month? Or even worse, is it forfeit?

 

[Phoenicis]

What happens if you are vip and don't claim your reward during a month? Do you automatically get all the due rewards the next time you claim? Or do you have to claim twice (thrice, etc...) the next month? Or even worse, is it forfeit?

https://forums.ddo.com/index.php?posts/117050/

 

[Spook]

What happens if you are vip and don't claim your reward during a month? Do you automatically get all the due rewards the next time you claim? Or do you have to claim twice (thrice, etc...) the next month? Or even worse, is it forfeit?

No you can only claim one reward a month as it currently stands so you will delay your rewards by however many months you forgot to claim

 

[Drakos]

The cutoff is starting the 1st of each month, so if you aren't VIP at the start of the month, you'll receive the immediate reward and then be eligible to claim the first regular gift on the 1st of the next month. The specific minute timing I don't have for you at this time, but we'll endeavor to get more specific about the timing as we get closer to May 1st, since it is relevant this first time around in particular.

This Loyalty Rewards Program encourages you to log in once per month in order to claim your reward, and is set up to reward some of our most loyal players. You won't lose progress on your reward list if you don't speak to the NPC each month, but you'll receive the next reward when eligible. So, if you last claimed the fourth reward, next time you'll get the fifth.

I'm sorry to have to point this out, but the highlighted text is pure BS. I showed my loyalty by paying my monthly fee, I shouldn't have to watch my account like a hawk to get what I'm pre-paying for. I shouldn't have to insure I go to a specific in-game person like clockwork to insure I get my stuff.

At best the stuff should be auto-granted to all eligible active accounts on the 1st of the month. At worst, I should get all the stuff I haven't "picked up" since my last reported check-in with my pay-gate parole officer, er I mean the in-game PC.

This is feeling more like a job than an actual game. Report in to a specific in-game person on time each month or loose out on / get delayed access to, stuff I supposedly paid for with my monthly subscription.

I am sorry to have to say this, but I've been paying for this game since it went live (was in late beta) and this insulting "upgrade" to VIP is only the second thing that has made me want to stop supporting the game in 18 years (the first being the horrible original raid loot system where only one person in the raid group got the special loot and the raid leader got to choose who).

I think my loyalty has been said in $$ many time over, I shouldn't have to "check in" on a regular schedule to get my rewards. If this is how my loyalty (read thousands of dollars over the last 18 years not even counting the money spent in the game store) is rewarded, perhaps I don't want to be a "loyal fan" any more.

 

[Drakos]

Agree with this completely, the VIP program is completely for those that are and will remain VIP’s.

It is not there for half-baked wannabe’s, who want some benefit and then want to become not VIP afterwards. I am taking it that most of these FTP citizens have never had access to a true VIP club in life, as to truly understand it you need to first understand the what VIP stands for and is represented by.

A VIP is a “Very Important Person”, a VIP club exists because the VIP’s are willing to pay extra money to have access to things that those that aren't willing to pay wont have. If you decide to not continue to pay to be a VIP you lose your access to such said VIP club.

If you dont pay you are simply not entitled, if you cant pay you are definitely not entitled(if you managed to scrap up enough funds to pay for the club for one year, you still lose all your benefits the next year when you cant pay and you are simply forgotten at the club). It is amazing all the preaching and entitlement running around here for those that claim they are VIP’s and deserve VIP benefits when they simply are renting their VIP status when they are truly just FTP.

Mic Drop

You're wrong. I have been a loyal paying customer for 18 years, and this is not for me. If the items were auto distributed based on the sub and not "delayed" if I have to miss a scheduled check-in, then it isn't a reward.

There is NO reason I shouldn't get what I'm paying for because I can't make a specific check-in. Lets say, for example, I am in the hospital for 3 months and can not login. Now my three months that I paid for are wasted since I couldn't check-in and I'm three months behind on my pre-paid rewards because I was hospitalized.

 

[Drakos]

Although as club members we appreciate your time at the club during hardcore seasons, we must make you aware that we have long time standing VIP members that continuously support our club and in return we provide those said members with additional benefits. We do in fact provide you with the opportunity to become a continuos member at the club if you so choose at which point we will also provide you with such said benefits.

I hope this conveys our position as a club and we hope you will consider being a permanent member in the future.

Supporting the club is not synonymous with visiting it every day. HARD STOP. I agree that those who don't maintain a sub, should be stimmed while their account is inactive. I vehemently disagree in the "must check in with the in-game contact" each month to maintain maintain my position in the que. I paid for all the months, I should get them as they come out even if I don't have the ime or inclination to log on for some time. As long As I maintain the sub I should get each month as it comes out not delayed for my check-ins.

 

[Drakos]

There is no "Year 1" and "Year 2" in regard to the VIP Loyalty Reward program. This is a VIP log in reward program that awards something once per month and currently has 12 months of benefits before it cycles back to the first reward. While the list of rewards will change over time, this isn't a yearly calendar style list.

Way is it tied into login? I paid my money weather I logged in of not.

 

[Griglok (Karatemack)]

Here's my hot take: Griglok talks about the new VIP Loyalty Reward Program

There is a lot to love about this new program, especially with the changes which will allow you to keep the trail and mount once you've unlocked them even if you don't maintain VIP status.

 

[Warsaga]

Why are the bonuses for completion of a month? What is gained from this except frustrating the player base because they have to wait?

I wonder if this is to prevent chargebacks. Maybe theres a 30window where players could chargeback that SSG is trying to circumvent? Idk, its just a really messed up system imo.

 

[Glorious]

They are complaining because they dont like the idea of a two tier society in DDO, all hail the VIP’s we subscribe and we are proud of it and we are thankful for all the extras we get for our status as such VIP’s permanently.

There are a boatload of "tiers" of players in DDO already and that 's both fine and not new. You can easily identify some by special mounts they are running around on, they bought higher cost packs, some which came with good bonuses. Others are obviously decked out in earned Reaper and/or Hardcore gear and benefits there are lots of tiers. Sort of like the swag tables at conferences. Sometimes you get a sticker and sometimes you get a hoodie.
VIP is really about the XP bonus and other stuff already inherent in there. This is extra stuff on top of what vip really is geared towards, levelling faster.

 

[Dude]

Way is it tied into login? I paid my money weather I logged in of not.

Because it's a business metric.