5000 Crowns for the upcoming assistants. Worth it ? ^^

rotaugen454 · March 2016

About the only place I can see it being really useful is while grinding CP in Rhkindaleft, as the ride back is pretty far from there and a pain to get back to the main grinding spot. I seriously wonder if that is what this is targeted at?

TheValkyn · March 2016

BomblePants wrote: »

It is such an extreme amount of money that I can only come to the conclusion that zos are testing the community to see exactly just how much we are willing to pay for desirable items/features....

There's this concept called subtlety. It pisses off fewer people and attains the same goal. Their business decisions are just foolish.

Abeille · March 2016

BomblePants wrote: »

It is such an extreme amount of money that I can only come to the conclusion that zos are testing the community to see exactly just how much we are willing to pay for desirable items/features....

We will definitely know if they introduce other kinds of assistants in the future for a lower price ^^

I hope they introduce more that are quest rewards too, like the TG one (if only she wouldn't walk around permanently on stealth...). Someone suggested some time ago an assistant that would let your vampire character feed on them, and I found that suggestion pretty interesting (whoever made that suggestion, if you are reading this, speak up you beautiful person, you!). To be honest, I am more interesting on characters that add to my roleplaying experience than ones that provide services. Like, I would like to have Walks-Softly as an assistant even if he didn't do anything but make remarks on what I'm wearing.

NewBlacksmurf · March 2016

Judas Helviaryn wrote: »

So we have multiple loading screens while walking from one side of any given major town to the other, and ZOS releases convenience items to avoid half of the reason to go to towns at an exorbitant price as they get worse? Sounds like a patch job turned into a scam by the marketing team to me.

I'm deeply disappointed in ZOS.

The only team I've never had a problem with so far is the Art Team. Those guys are awesome.

Well that was true for me until the made my females characters look like men in the chest artwork changes.....now there is only Gina and Jessica....

cjwilke_ESO · March 2016

No way would I spend 5000 ($25-50 depending on the deal you got on crowns) crowns on anything in the crown store other than a huge or collectors edition DLC. I can port into a town for free in less than a minute and unload my stuff if I need to. I think Zenimax is way overpricing most items in the Crown Store and would likely make a lot more money by selling stuff at reasonable prices likely to a lot more people. Black Desert is the same way and is turning off a lot of people as a result ($50 for an outfit, etc.).

Usara · March 2016

Tyrion87 wrote: »

I have a request to OP: please edit your first post by adding the link to the poll in which people were voting for/against 5k-crowns-worth-assistant.

http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/256386/at-5000-crowns-each-will-you-buy-the-new-assistants

[Edited to remove discussing moderator action]

@Tyrion87

Done.

Strider_Roshin · March 2016

Lol it's such a joke. If you guys have that much money to *** away, go right ahead. It's such a rip off. I wouldn't even spend 2500 crowns on it.

DerAlleinTiger · March 2016

I still like the one line from the article: "If you've been lucky enough to use the services provided by Pirharri the Smuggler, an assistant available exclusively from completing a specific quest in Thieves Guild, then you know how useful she can be."

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Nice one, ZOS! Real funny!

To answer the OP's actual question... NOPE! I wasn't even really thinking about it too much before they announced the price, even less now. If they were 1000 to 1500, I'd have been really hard-pressed to not get the banker. But for 5K? Nah. I'll save that for whenever the Akaviri motif is added to the Crown Store. (Aaaaaany day now, ZOS...)

Usara · March 2016

@DerAlleinTiger

Yeah, it was more a rhetorical question, since I guess most of us agree than 5k is not worth the small convenience

starkerealm · March 2016

Here's the thing, I've bought $50 purchases in MMOs before. In Star Trek Online, I've done that multiple times. Here's the thing, every single time I've spent that much money, it's been for more than one item that is flat out inferior to already freely available in game services.

In STO 5k Zen will buy me a three ship pack. It's how I bought the Vesta three ship pack. It's how I bought the Escort Carriers pack (one T6 ship in each faction). I don't remember which other three ship packs I own, but, point is, it provides me with something unique, that I use all the time, and gives me more options on how to play the game.

For ESO the nearest equivalent would be selling 3 new classes. (Since your ship is basically a class choice in STO).

Here? Nope. 5k for a banker? No. 5k for a vendor who won't even perform basic repairs? I don't think so. If these were at 1.5k, then, okay, that's pricey, but manageable. But, for what they provide? These are absolutely not worth it.

DaveMoeDee · March 2016

flguy147ub17_ESO wrote: »

That is almost $40 for a freaking assistant? WTF, i preorder new releases from Best Buy and it cost me 38 bucks plus tax. This might be the biggest ripoff i have ever seen in a video game. One assistant cost as much as i pay for entire games. Crap i bought this game on sale for $40 in December plus it gave may something like 8000-9000 crowns with it. But one assistant is 5000 crowns which is equivalent to almost $40?

More like $22. Just make sure you only buy crowns when they are on sale 5500 for $24.

starkerealm · March 2016

DaveMoeDee wrote: »

flguy147ub17_ESO wrote: »

That is almost $40 for a freaking assistant? WTF, i preorder new releases from Best Buy and it cost me 38 bucks plus tax. This might be the biggest ripoff i have ever seen in a video game. One assistant cost as much as i pay for entire games. Crap i bought this game on sale for $40 in December plus it gave may something like 8000-9000 crowns with it. But one assistant is 5000 crowns which is equivalent to almost $40?

More like $22. Just make sure you only buy crowns when they are on sale 5500 for $24.

Even at $25, that's pretty hard to stomach.

rubherducky · March 2016

I really wanted to get these assistants. I honestly did. I stalked the forums every day waiting for a price tag.

Are you kidding me Zenimax?

It's not happening anymore. That is disgustingly expensive.

IrishGirlGamer · March 2016

No, not in my book. Just no.

Sorry, Zenimax.

UrQuan · March 2016

Since the mods decided to close the thread and let it sink where people wouldn't see it, here's how the poll on this topic is currently looking:

For anyone who hasn't voted, since you won't find the poll at a quick glance here's the link to it for your convenience:
http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/256386/at-5000-crowns-each-will-you-buy-the-new-assistants/p1

BomblePants · March 2016

I'm not disappointed because I can't get the assistants - but I'm disappointed to learn how much they are prepared to charge us (for what is actually a sub par feature).

Also, I hope this isn't going to be the 'price' of things to come....

starkerealm · March 2016

BomblePants wrote: »

I'm not disappointed because I can't get the assistants - but I'm disappointed to laarn how much they are prepared to charge us (for what is actually a sub par feature).

Also, I hope this isn't going to be the 'price' of things to come....

Oh, if everything is going up to these kinds of prices, I'm done giving ZoS money.

Thevampirenight · March 2016

starkerealm wrote: »

Here's the thing, I've bought $50 purchases in MMOs before. In Star Trek Online, I've done that multiple times. Here's the thing, every single time I've spent that much money, it's been for more than one item that is flat out inferior to already freely available in game services.

In STO 5k Zen will buy me a three ship pack. It's how I bought the Vesta three ship pack. It's how I bought the Escort Carriers pack (one T6 ship in each faction). I don't remember which other three ship packs I own, but, point is, it provides me with something unique, that I use all the time, and gives me more options on how to play the game.

For ESO the nearest equivalent would be selling 3 new classes. (Since your ship is basically a class choice in STO).

Here? Nope. 5k for a banker? No. 5k for a vendor who won't even perform basic repairs? I don't think so. If these were at 1.5k, then, okay, that's pricey, but manageable. But, for what they provide? These are absolutely not worth it.

6000 zen for the tier six scimaters =( well I bought them for sto, they look nice I like the teir six looks

But thing of it is, perfect world is a greedy corperation, you can get them for free but you have to grind lots of dil, and lots of it and you can only refill 8000 a day, with each charater so you have to have a lot of characters to do it with.
The fastest method is to just pay for them with real money which I did.

For elder scrolls online I don't see them needing to charge 5000 for the banker, at the very least 2500 crowns, this would encourage people to buy crowns since most don't likely sub at all and just do it this way. They will buy both assistants for 5000 crowns if the price for both was 2500 for both which would be fair and thats what a typical mount will cost.
I would want them to add them for 2500 each I would like to buy both of them, but 5000 crowns is kinda steep for my liking.
If they want to make good money off of them then the 2500 crowns would be the right price for both.
People want having easy merchant and bank access and it would a good investment for them to add them for both 2500 crowns, people do not want to pay 5000 crowns when they are saving them up for other cool stuff that could be limited =(

Krist · March 2016

I voted on it, and while I may not buy both, I am totally okay with the price where it is, and WOULD buy both if I wanted them. I think this is a luxury item and should be priced as such. If you do not wish to spend your crowns on this, then don't. Some of us have the subscription and our crowns just build up, so this gives us something to spend them on that would be unique, and a group can actually use them, not just the one person.

Again, it is a luxury. Is 5k kind of high? Yes, but not too high.

Reorx_Holybeard · March 2016

The way I see it is I already have a free assistant (the fence) but never use it simply as it is not worth it. The coming two assistants seem to have similar limitations so even if they were free/very cheap I doubt I would use them.

Tevalaur · March 2016

I have been eagerly awaiting the release of the banker assistant. I also purchased points (before and during the sale) to save up for the TG DLC and the bank assistant. I was pleasantly surprised the TG pack with mount was only 4,000 crowns, and hoped the assistant would be 1k-2k crowns (although I suspected a strong possibility they'd be more like 2k-3k).

With the price finally announced, I am in a dilemma. I've been VERY EAGERLY awaiting this release (just ask my girlfriend, lol). But the sticker-shock is taking a toll.

Sure, it would be convenient to auto-loot containers and deposit any mats that come from them when my inventory fills... but after working so hard to increase inventory space on my main character, I don't think it's THAT convenient. I think at the 5k crown price tag I'm likely to just go back to town every few adventures or continue the habit of destroying the least valuable/smallest stack in adventures when I reach the point of being full.

So while I'm not absolutely set with the "no way will I buy it" crowd you have certainly given me second thoughts... There's no way that I'm going to just instantly buy the banker upon release as I'd originally planned. In fact, I do find it highly unlikely at this point that I'd actually plop down 5k crowns to get this feature at all.

DLC may be worth such a high cost -- if it's fun, engaging, and visually pleasing. Crown motifs and in-game convenience items are not worth such a steep price tag in my opinion. Pricing the assistant at more than double the price of the DLC seems backwards.

Usara · March 2016

UrQuan wrote: »

For anyone who hasn't voted, since you won't find the poll at a quick glance here's the link to it for your convenience:

My convenience ? You won't charge 5k crown now, will you ?

starkerealm · March 2016

Thevampirenight wrote: »

starkerealm wrote: »

Here's the thing, I've bought $50 purchases in MMOs before. In Star Trek Online, I've done that multiple times. Here's the thing, every single time I've spent that much money, it's been for more than one item that is flat out inferior to already freely available in game services.

In STO 5k Zen will buy me a three ship pack. It's how I bought the Vesta three ship pack. It's how I bought the Escort Carriers pack (one T6 ship in each faction). I don't remember which other three ship packs I own, but, point is, it provides me with something unique, that I use all the time, and gives me more options on how to play the game.

For ESO the nearest equivalent would be selling 3 new classes. (Since your ship is basically a class choice in STO).

Here? Nope. 5k for a banker? No. 5k for a vendor who won't even perform basic repairs? I don't think so. If these were at 1.5k, then, okay, that's pricey, but manageable. But, for what they provide? These are absolutely not worth it.

6000 zen for the tier six scimaters =( well I bought them for sto, they look nice I like the teir six looks
But thing of it is, perfect world is a greedy corperation, you can get them for free but you have to grind lots of dil, and lots of it and you can only refill 8000 a day, with each charater so you have to have a lot of characters to do it with.
The fastest method is to just pay for them with real money which I did.

Yeah, I've actually got an LTS in STO from way back at launch, which means they give me five bucks for free a month. I also grabbed the T6 bundle when it was 20% off, so, technically 4800 Zen, rather than 5 or 6k.

EDIT: To put this in perspective, I've probably spent close to $500 on ships in STO.

wolfydog · March 2016

It would be hard for me to spend 5000 crowns on anything except maybe a major expansion pack. ESO is like one of the most casual MMO's out there already. Theres really no need to be able to summon a banker at all.

SlayerSyrena · March 2016

5000 is way too much for us poor players ... ;__;

UrQuan · March 2016

Usara wrote: »

UrQuan wrote: »

For anyone who hasn't voted, since you won't find the poll at a quick glance here's the link to it for your convenience:

My convenience ? You won't charge 5k crown now, will you ?

I'd never charge that much for convenience! That would be a ridiculous price for convenience!

Usara · March 2016

UrQuan wrote: »

Usara wrote: »

UrQuan wrote: »

For anyone who hasn't voted, since you won't find the poll at a quick glance here's the link to it for your convenience:

My convenience ? You won't charge 5k crown now, will you ?

I'd never charge that much for convenience! That would be a ridiculous price for convenience!

superZ · March 2016

I don't see enough people purchasing these guys at 5000 each for the price to stay that high. Even if the price never permanently falls, just wait for them to go on sale. That WILL happen eventually.

IrishGirlGamer · March 2016

Gidorick wrote: »

Thornen wrote: »

Flaminir wrote: »

Ok... so it seems to be that the vast vast majority are all of the same voice... that the assistants in their current state are not even worth considering at that crazy price (Basically the cost of two entire DLC's... just for a couple of NPC's to put it into perspective).

SO I'll pose you this question...

What could ZoS do to the NPC's which would make you consider them better value???

(Note... BETTER value... 5000 crowns is still WAY too high whatever they do!)

I'll start with the obvious one...
Make the merchant able to repair armor

Make them cheaper than an actual game for one ffs. I'm over it Zos has proven to me that they only value me as a dollar sign so yeh my wallets closed from here on out. If they want me to support this game like I've stupidly done so far then they need to start earning it.

What, the FREE 1500 crowns per month isn't enough @Thornen ? It'll only take 7 months of saving if you want to buy both!

/sarcasm

It's quite clear why they priced it like this. ZOS cares nothing for the longevity of this game. They only care about how much they can squeeze out of the player base to post on the next quarter profit and earnings statement.

I was hoping this wasn't the direction the game was going. I've been a subscriber since I bought the game almost two years ago. I really liked the idea of this game, despite not liking MMOs at all.

But @Gidorick is right and I can no longer deny the reality of what Zenimax is doing here. Bugs remain unfixed, either because they don't have the resources to fix them, the knowledge to fix them, or they simple have allocated their resources towards things that they can sell in the Crown Store. And I don't think it's all about the quarterly profits; I think it's more about meeting the bottom line.

@ZOS_GinaBruno has to be paid. @ZOS_JessicaFolsom has to be paid. All Zenimax employees have to be paid. Power and computers and infrastructure cost money. How many units of the game can they be selling right now? How much will the TG DLC make for them? Are they even making enough money to meet their bottom line?

They dumped the mandatory sub model and for what? Did it improve the game? Did it pay off for them? I don't know the answers to these questions and, outside of Zenimax, I doubt anyone knows for sure. But when I see something like this, I have to wonder if they're even making enough to pay the electricity.

My two closest friends in the game cancelled their subs six months ago. They play for free now. They don't buy anything in the crown store and they don't buy crowns. Zenimax is making no money off them. None.

I get nothing for being a subber but a few crowns per month (and an almost unnecessary experience boost), which I've used to purchase DLC. Now I own the DLC and if I cancel my sub, guess what? My gaming experience doesn't change because all I'm getting for my sub is those few crowns. And other than bank space and DLC, I've only bought a few mounts (horses) from the Crown Store.

To top it off, Zenimax keeps making decisions like this. And what was once an attractive, enjoyable gaming experience for me become less so with each passing month.

And it isn't like people at Zenimax don't care. I like to think @ZOS_GinaBruno cares a great deal if players like the game. Maybe a lot of people at Zenimax care. But if they can't meet their bottom line, and the Crown Store is their primary source of income, then you're going to see more and more stuff like this in the store.

Artjuh90 · March 2016

BomblePants wrote: »

It is such an extreme amount of money that I can only come to the conclusion that zos are testing the community to see exactly just how much we are willing to pay for desirable items/features....

yep, just see howmany people still bought the EP outfit for 2k crowns. if you continue to whale you get *** up *** like this. that's why i don't buy overpriced vanity items that are priced way higher as they used to be. outfits 700 crowns max. mounts 1.5k max. if the community would actually join in this we force ZoS to overprice everything and milk the community. because that's what their are doing and people are still falling for it....

EDIT: had to add though, maybe they are trying to price some things so high so other items look cheap. Community don't fall for it....