New Player Woes, feedback to Devs

[SacredMeower]

I'm a new player of DDO. I watched a video of some really fun D&D stuff these people did, and became interested in D&D because of it. Trying out the game, seeing how old it was, that actually was part of the charm to me. The systems are different than other MMOs I've tried, I could buy a cat character to play, there were numerous things that made me want to play.

I also immediately subscribed to VIP, because I thought that meant I got to play all the content. I did a lot of base stuff, but was bummed and surprised to learn when I went to play this very early mission pack, that it had to be purchased separately and I was unable to play it.

I know the game needs to make money, but when I went to look at the "expansion" packs, they were priced very much, let's say "uncompetitively." When a huge game like ESO releases new expansions, they always have this "catch-up" pack that has every single previous expansion in it for a very reasonable price. The price of the expansions here outweigh the amount of content in them. Not only that, but it's especially frustrating as a new player to hear I could have got some of these expansions for free, but because I'm a new player, I miss out on getting to get and use the codes that gave people that free stuff. There's like one current active free code to give me a minor XP boost potion.

I don't want to have to buy an overpriced expansion that was given away for free to everybody, and I'm out of luck because I'm a new player. So I'm not going to, but I'm always thinking about it and how I have content I can't access in what isn't that big of a game (comparatively) to begin with. I even bought a starter pack, and I'm happy with that pack, but it only came with an Adventure I would have got as part of VIP anyway.

I understand that sales come along at certain times, but what about all the players that come along between those times? And the sales still won't make up for all the missed free stuff. There are many things that current players *should* get free that people should miss out on, but entire "expansion packs" and Gold Companions are kind of a big deal. I just missed a huge free bunch of stuff with the "DUNGEONCRAWL" code along with a whole bunch of expansion packs for only 99 Points each. That feels very bad, that there are no new codes for people coming in now to give us access to some of this stuff for free as well. I'm definitely willing to pay reasonable amounts, which is why I have purchased a horse and a starter pack I didn't really need along with subbing to VIP. But the usual prices for these packs are somewhat unreasonable, especially considering I just missed getting a bunch for either free or next to nothing.

You should be doing things all the time to pull in and keep in new players. Right now, during the time I started, there is nothing like that going on. Maybe it's just a few month lull and I simply started at the wrong time, but it would be nice if there was NO wrong time to start. If there always was a way to get a *good* deal bundle to catch up on the full list of expansions.

There should always be some codes going for early expansions to get free, even if you had to be VIP to use them. Maybe even set up a system where paying for VIP earns you free expansions over time, without grinding. That's another issue, though, and I'm just here to talk about the new player experience at this very specific time. New players really always should have some nice coupon codes to use (all players new or old, but still around and able to be used forever in the future for new players, that is). If we came in to *something* free for packs, it at least wouldn't be that huge of a letdown to think about.

 

[Dergex]

So, once a year around the anniversary of the game they tend to send out a coupon code that unlocks a LARGE amount of non expansion content for players. It's a permanent unlock. In addition to this the past 3-4 expansions have DEEP discounts. From 25-75% off. Everything before that is sold in the DDO store for around $1 each.

There is definitely a catch up mechanic, I just wish more new players knew about it ahead of time.

Also, things are fairly affordable provided you mainly just do the standard pack and not any of the collector stuff.

 

[Coffey]

Everyone new to DDO could potentially be a Whale of a customer.

 

[saekee]

welcome to the game!

No the devs do nothing at all for new player retention—been here for years, seen billions of thoughtful threads and posts (made a few of my own), all ignored, not even an acknowledgment.

BUT look at the good side. Think of it as joining an exclusive club that paradoxically has a player base that will go way out of its way to help you.

 

[cocopufff]

There is definitely a catch up mechanic, I just wish more new players knew about it ahead of time.

TBH, having a catchup mechanic that procs once a year and isn't even guaranteed to proc ever again isn't... brilliant for new player retention.
No amount of "we have a few random times where it's better" fixes the fact that in most instances, it's actually laughably bad. ESO, a much more modern game, lets you buy every single expansion INCLUDING the most recent one for a total cost of $60 (I saw it on sale for $40 at one point,too.) That move would cost you $200 from DDO--likely more, as the next expansion rolls out. And that's not including the cost of subscribing or else paying a ludicrous amount for the adventure packs, too.

Oh, and if you subscribe to their membership, you get access to all the expansion content except the most recent one and 1650 of their currency (which costs about the same to buy.) Like... the shops are a world apart in terms of how much they give you for your money.

The code is a great thing that should definitely exist 100% of the time, because without it, the paywall is absolutely going to scare off a crap ton of new palyers.