[Screenshot] 50% "Experience Booster" - ZOS, can we get a confirmation or further details?

Makkir · April 2015

Got to look at how competitive players can be with say 100 CPs compared to someone with 10. If there is a huge disparity then yes I am all for it. I get to play maybe 3 hours a week, it's not encouraging to wait about 4 years for me to have enough CP to be competitive (exaggerating). I have a long history (since EQ) of moving away from the MMOs that are centered around gear acquisition and time consumption in order to be competitive...they're not healthy (you can interpret that in a number of ways).
I loved Star Wars Galaxies because it was not centered around raid content but instead player content...which is one of the reasons I ended up playing ESO. I know this might sound a bit off topic but the point I am trying to make is you have to look at the flow of the game and how players are progressing in a free to play environment. If a new player has years to catch up to the rest of the player base, then it's not really encouraging in terms of retention. The exp pots help the casual players get on equal playing ground. If you argue this game is skill based (Meaning a skilled VR14 in purples can fare in Cyrodiil just as well as a VR14 player in yellow gear) then the exp pots aren't really a big deal with any adverse affects on the game.
I think you want to keep new players feeling encouraged.

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO · April 2015

fromtesonlineb16_ESO wrote: »

It's really depressing how LOTRO went for an excellent MMO based on the most in-depth 'franchise' in existence to the grubby little affair it is now, as you say a classing pay-to-win .. except there hasn't been an 'end-game' worth that term since SOM's Dol Guldur raid and that was hardly awe-inspiring with only 3 boss fights.

Ya for me LOTRO peaked at Isengard. After that it was all downhill. I am a lifetime subscriber and founder of lotro. I never play it anymore.

Makkir · April 2015

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

fromtesonlineb16_ESO wrote: »

It's really depressing how LOTRO went for an excellent MMO based on the most in-depth 'franchise' in existence to the grubby little affair it is now, as you say a classing pay-to-win .. except there hasn't been an 'end-game' worth that term since SOM's Dol Guldur raid and that was hardly awe-inspiring with only 3 boss fights.

Ya for me LOTRO peaked at Isengard. After that it was all downhill. I am a lifetime subscriber and founder of lotro. I never play it anymore.

Yeah I stopped playing too when I decided as a bachelor that I wanted to have real girls over at my house
;0) haha

Attorneyatlawl · April 2015

Ysne58 wrote: »

Attorneyatlawl wrote: »

Ysne58 wrote: »

I fail to see how any xp potion is not pay to win over time. I know that ZOS has chosen to define them as a convenience item, but really they appear to be much more than that to me.

That's because they indeed are not convenience items but rather paying for faster power gains .

Thanks for backing up my reading skills. If it were just allowing the people who are way behind to catch up, that would be a different story, but they will be available to anyone who can come up with the crowns.

Any time

, no offense was intended as I'm sure you know but rather just expanding for people who don't understand this concept.=)

Makkir wrote: »

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

fromtesonlineb16_ESO wrote: »

It's really depressing how LOTRO went for an excellent MMO based on the most in-depth 'franchise' in existence to the grubby little affair it is now, as you say a classing pay-to-win .. except there hasn't been an 'end-game' worth that term since SOM's Dol Guldur raid and that was hardly awe-inspiring with only 3 boss fights.

Ya for me LOTRO peaked at Isengard. After that it was all downhill. I am a lifetime subscriber and founder of lotro. I never play it anymore.

Yeah I stopped playing too when I decided as a bachelor that I wanted to have real girls over at my house
;0) haha

Sounds like a personal problem with managing your leisure time vs work life vs socialization and the interactions of the three.

Makkir · April 2015

Attorneyatlawl wrote: »

Pay to win mechanisms aren't a given, but as mentioned before, speaking up that you'd be glad to shell out as the game crashes for a p2w setup doesn't help discourage it. One of the most blatant and recent examples is Archeage in North America of this happening. ESO would do the same as the slide went faster, just as with other pay for power shifts.

Not sure who you are trying to convince but I played ArcheAge from Launch until like November-ish (Right before TS trees were added to pay shop) and that cash shop contained a lot of BS that destroyed the game. The way you are speaking about that game to the naive here is pretty misleading. That game was destroyed with all the other stuff they offered in the cash shop, not exp potions, and not to mention they don't call it HackAge for nothing. I don't think anyone here is specifically arguing that buying all you need from a shop is not detrimental to the game..i think they're asking specifically for exp potions..which yes should not also contribute to Champ Pt gains.

I honestly don't see a problem offering 50% Exp potions to players, as long as that doesn't include champion exp gains.

Varicite · April 2015

Makkir wrote: »

I honestly don't see a problem offering 50% Exp potions to players, as long as that doesn't include champion exp gains.

I don't think anybody has a problem w/ this.

It's just that I don't think anybody who has played this game for a length of time actually believes that will be the case.

There's money to be made, and ZOS isn't in the habit of saying no, even if that means completely misleading their player base.

Attorneyatlawl · April 2015

Makkir wrote: »

Attorneyatlawl wrote: »

Pay to win mechanisms aren't a given, but as mentioned before, speaking up that you'd be glad to shell out as the game crashes for a p2w setup doesn't help discourage it. One of the most blatant and recent examples is Archeage in North America of this happening. ESO would do the same as the slide went faster, just as with other pay for power shifts.

Not sure who you are trying to convince but I played ArcheAge from Launch until like November-ish (Right before TS trees were added to pay shop) and that cash shop contained a lot of BS that destroyed the game. The way you are speaking about that game to the naive here is pretty misleading. That game was destroyed with all the other stuff they offered in the cash shop, not exp potions, and not to mention they don't call it HackAge for nothing. I don't think anyone here is specifically arguing that buying all you need from a shop is not detrimental to the game..i think they're asking specifically for exp potions..which yes should not also contribute to Champ Pt gains.

I honestly don't see a problem offering 50% Exp potions to players, as long as that doesn't include champion exp gains.

Xp potions not affecting champion point gains would be silly but not ultimately harmful, so I have not argued those are unacceptable and I don't think anyone here has taken that stance. However, xp potions that did affect champ gains would be the equivalent of the whole thunderstruck trees thing on the cash shop in Archeage, as there those sold for fast gold you bought power with, while here an xp potion boosting champion gains would get you more power, faster, just by playing.

farrier_ESO · April 2015

Once the first player maxes CP, these pots will just be catch-up pots, like a pure-XP pot would be now.
They stop being P2W at that point.

Lionxoft · April 2015

farrier_ESO wrote: »

Once the first player maxes CP, these pots will just be catch-up pots, like a pure-XP pot would be now.
They stop being P2W at that point.

Catch up mechanics shouldn't be placed in the cash shop.

andrantos · April 2015

Lionxoft wrote: »

Catch up mechanics shouldn't be placed in the cash shop.

As much as I would love my ESO experience to be as pure as possible. The game is B2P now and would love to see continued development efforts. As such, I accept that items such as EXP potions will simply be necessary. Sadly, there are those players who wouldn't wince once at buying an EXP potion but balk at the idea of subbing.

At the end of the day, I ask myself, are these really so bad? Not really. You still have to put in the time to take advantage of the boost. Doesn't impact my enjoyment of the game because someone decides to invest in boosts. You already have players who play all day, every day - you'll never be able to keep up with them.

If I am content with knowing I'll always be steps behind a more regular player (very many steps at that), why get all worked up over being potentially some steps behind someone who is playing with boosts?

Averya_Teira · April 2015

Lionxoft wrote: »

farrier_ESO wrote: »

Once the first player maxes CP, these pots will just be catch-up pots, like a pure-XP pot would be now.
They stop being P2W at that point.

Catch up mechanics shouldn't be placed in the cash shop.

Why not ? ZoS needs to make money, and I don't see how a player catching up to another harms anyone in any way except maybe some Epeens -_- ?

I mean, sure player A with a limited amount of time will be able to MAYBE catch up with player B who plays a lot more, but player A still won't have the time to commit to raids or meaningful long term PvP, so player B still ''wins'' if that makes player B feel better lol...

Varicite · April 2015

Averya_Teira wrote: »

ZoS needs to make money, and I don't see how a player catching up to another harms anyone in any way except maybe some Epeens -_- ?

The principle of your wallet making your character stronger STAT-WISE than other characters who are doing a comparable amount of work is harmful to the game's already waning integrity.

andrantos · April 2015

Varicite wrote: »

Averya_Teira wrote: »

ZoS needs to make money, and I don't see how a player catching up to another harms anyone in any way except maybe some Epeens -_- ?

The principle of your wallet making your character stronger STAT-WISE than other characters who are doing a comparable amount of work is harmful to the game's already waning integrity.

This couldn't be any more false. Yes, the boosts will facilitate faster exp gain and therefore faster levels, more CP quicker, etc... but how does this harm your experience? Think about it, how does it really harm your experience?

Yes, it's less pure because someone can drop some cash for a temporary boost in his/her character's progress. How does that harm your experience?

And let's be realistic, if someone was dropping cash on these boosts regularly enough to stay far ahead of most of the pack, do you really want to be -that- player? Skilled players probably have better things to spend their money on. Players who already play all day, every day would be wasting their money. And the casual player who dabbles in a boost now and then isn't likely going to have any advantages STAT-WISE over the more skilled or more dedicated player base. And should the boosts allow a casual player to keep up with the more dedicated crowd... who... cares...

And for the player whose sole purpose in life is to have the most CP, have the best stats, plays all day, every day.... like I said... do you really want to be -that- player.

Basically, my point is, I think you have far grander things to worry about than these boosts.

Varicite · April 2015

andrantos wrote: »

Varicite wrote: »

Averya_Teira wrote: »

ZoS needs to make money, and I don't see how a player catching up to another harms anyone in any way except maybe some Epeens -_- ?

The principle of your wallet making your character stronger STAT-WISE than other characters who are doing a comparable amount of work is harmful to the game's already waning integrity.

This couldn't be any more false. Yes, the boosts will facilitate faster exp gain and therefore faster levels, more CP quicker, etc... but how does this harm your experience? Think about it, how does it really harm your experience?

Yes, it's less pure because someone can drop some cash for a temporary boost in his/her character's progress. How does that harm your experience?

And let's be realistic, if someone was dropping cash on these boosts regularly enough to stay far ahead of most of the pack, do you really want to be -that- player? Skilled players probably have better things to spend their money on. Players who already play all day, every day would be wasting their money. And the casual player who dabbles in a boost now and then isn't likely going to have any advantages STAT-WISE over the more skilled or more dedicated player base.

And for the player whose sole purpose in life is to have the most CP, have the best stats, plays all day, every day.... like I said... do you really want to be -that- player.

Basically, my point is, I think you have far grander things to worry about than these boosts.

I'm pretty sure I said very clearly that it harms the integrity of the game, not me personally.

Now, I'll probably end up leaving eventually if it keeps going down the same path, as this is literally the very beginning of cash shop implementation, and heralds more to come.

They already said they wouldn't make it P2W and that was yet another lie in a growing list of lies from ZOS, and your argument is how does being lied to by the developer numerous times effect me personally?

/shrug

I guess I'd say that eventually, not wanting to feel like a doormat will win out and I'll walk. Not that it matters, but hey, you asked how it would effect me personally.

Ysne58 · April 2015

Attorneyatlawl wrote: »

Ysne58 wrote: »

Attorneyatlawl wrote: »

Ysne58 wrote: »

I fail to see how any xp potion is not pay to win over time. I know that ZOS has chosen to define them as a convenience item, but really they appear to be much more than that to me.

That's because they indeed are not convenience items but rather paying for faster power gains .

Thanks for backing up my reading skills. If it were just allowing the people who are way behind to catch up, that would be a different story, but they will be available to anyone who can come up with the crowns.

Any time , no offense was intended as I'm sure you know but rather just expanding for people who don't understand this concept.=)

Makkir wrote: »

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

fromtesonlineb16_ESO wrote: »

It's really depressing how LOTRO went for an excellent MMO based on the most in-depth 'franchise' in existence to the grubby little affair it is now, as you say a classing pay-to-win .. except there hasn't been an 'end-game' worth that term since SOM's Dol Guldur raid and that was hardly awe-inspiring with only 3 boss fights.

Ya for me LOTRO peaked at Isengard. After that it was all downhill. I am a lifetime subscriber and founder of lotro. I never play it anymore.

Yeah I stopped playing too when I decided as a bachelor that I wanted to have real girls over at my house
;0) haha

Sounds like a personal problem with managing your leisure time vs work life vs socialization and the interactions of the three.

I wasn't offended, at least not by you. The ZOS devs thinking I'm stupid enough to believe that these are mere 'convenience' and not pay to win is what offends me.

gurluasb16_ESO · April 2015

This is a slippery slope and we must pull the brakes.
Xp pots are ok.

But what's next? Race-change potion?
Appearance change potion?
Faction change?

The latter two shouldn't be in a cash shop but ingame.
The first one shouldn't be there at all.

Enodoc · April 2015

Varicite wrote: »

They already said they wouldn't make it P2W and that was yet another lie in a growing list of lies from ZOS, [...]

A lie is a false statement with intent to deceive. I fully believe ZOS considers XP pots as no more than a convenience and not pay-to-win, because someone who doesn't pay can still get the same amount of XP, therefore they have not made a false statement and should not be accused of lying. People are throwing out accusations against ZOS that they lied about this that and the other, when all that has really happened is those people don't agree with some decisions ZOS has made.

Regarding XP pots, because there is a cap on CP (no matter how arbitrary it is, it's still there), the advantage that someone pays for is not permanent, and only a permanent advantage would be considered P2W by ZOS.

maryriv · April 2015

whvice wrote: »

-> makes leveling progression slow as snail to the point players (not you, but like, other players (they exist!)) start feeling depressed/demotivated about playing the game

-> introduces happy pills in the form of real-money exp boosters

= players rejoice + "they heard our pleas" + "praise Zenitharmax" + "best game ever" + "10/10 non-stop improving since release 1 year ago"+ investors throwing their hands up high like they're on a roller coaster

BRILLIANT

Problem, Reaction, Solution. 'Tis the way of the New World Order.

Averya_Teira · April 2015

gurluasb16_ESO wrote: »

This is a slippery slope and we must pull the brakes.
Xp pots are ok.

But what's next? Race-change potion?
Appearance change potion?
Faction change?

The latter two shouldn't be in a cash shop but ingame.
The first one shouldn't be there at all.

In what game exactly did you see a faction/race change mechanic IN GAME lol ? Even appearance change in game is usually a barbershop where you can't change ALL of your features.

Maybe it's me, but I have NEVER seen a race/faction change that wasn't sold for real currency, in any game.

Ysne58 · April 2015

Enodoc wrote: »

Varicite wrote: »

They already said they wouldn't make it P2W and that was yet another lie in a growing list of lies from ZOS, [...]

A lie is a false statement with intent to deceive. I fully believe ZOS considers XP pots as no more than a convenience and not pay-to-win, because someone who doesn't pay can still get the same amount of XP, therefore they have not made a false statement and should not be accused of lying. People are throwing out accusations against ZOS that they lied about this that and the other, when all that has really happened is those people don't agree with some decisions ZOS has made.

Regarding XP pots, because there is a cap on CP (no matter how arbitrary it is, it's still there), the advantage that someone pays for is not permanent, and only a permanent advantage would be considered P2W by ZOS.

Just because ZOS defines xp pots as convenience doesn't make ZOS right. I don't know whether the claim that they would never change from Ptp to another payment model is an outright lie. At the very least it's deceptive. We still don't know how xp pots are gong to be introduced, but this is at least borderline Pay to Win.

maryriv · April 2015

Ley wrote: »

Ever think maybe they nerfed the grinding locations because they didn't want to promote that kind of game play?
The fact that players are determined to find a grind that gets them there faster and without having to play actual content is our own fault, is it not? We're so obsessed with finding the simplest, most mindless way of doing a few simple actions over and over, that result in the most exp per hour, that we end up ruining the game. Not to mention, they did reduce the amount of exp required to gain vet levels by a considerable amount. You also failed to point out the recent increases to Trial and Cyrodiil exp. Can I put away my tinfoil hat now?

Then why is v10 grinding still the best XP in game?

BesMaster · April 2015

developers seem so frightened by community reaction that will not impose xp potions.

DDuke · April 2015

Enodoc wrote: »

Varicite wrote: »

They already said they wouldn't make it P2W and that was yet another lie in a growing list of lies from ZOS, [...]

A lie is a false statement with intent to deceive. I fully believe ZOS considers XP pots as no more than a convenience and not pay-to-win, because someone who doesn't pay can still get the same amount of XP, therefore they have not made a false statement and should not be accused of lying. People are throwing out accusations against ZOS that they lied about this that and the other, when all that has really happened is those people don't agree with some decisions ZOS has made.

Regarding XP pots, because there is a cap on CP (no matter how arbitrary it is, it's still there), the advantage that someone pays for is not permanent, and only a permanent advantage would be considered P2W by ZOS.

"Epic awesome armour stronger than what most other people have isn't P2W, because you can get it in game also! (Written on a fine print: 0.0000000000001% drop chance)"

You said it yourself pretty well:

A lie is a false statement with intent to deceive.

Misdirection & lies are what ZOS has done a stellar job with so far.

Hey, subscribe to our game, content ever 4-6 weeks!
We have no plans of going B2P/F2P
Coming soon: Wrothgar, Murkmire & Imperial City!

Need I go on?

They will mislead & lie in order to get $$$, in this case with "convenience" XP Boosters, and this comes at a time when they should work to return player trust, instead of the other way around.

Varicite · April 2015

Enodoc wrote: »

A lie is a false statement with intent to deceive. I fully believe ZOS considers XP pots as no more than a convenience and not pay-to-win, because someone who doesn't pay can still get the same amount of XP, therefore they have not made a false statement and should not be accused of lying.

ZOS knows full well that they have tied XP directly to character stats and that XP potions therefore allow players to gain stats 50% faster than other players as long as they keep their wallet open.

You have a lot less faith in their intellect than I do if you think that they can't make this very simple connection.

I suppose you'll tell me next that in February, just before the Crown Store launched, when they stated implicitly that the Explorer's Pack wouldn't be on the Crown Store and then renamed it to the Adventurer Pack and put it on the Crown Store, that was also not an attempt to deceive us.

Well then, hey, I've got a bridge to sell you, buddy.... : )

Attorneyatlawl · April 2015

Averya_Teira wrote: »

gurluasb16_ESO wrote: »

This is a slippery slope and we must pull the brakes.
Xp pots are ok.

But what's next? Race-change potion?
Appearance change potion?
Faction change?

The latter two shouldn't be in a cash shop but ingame.
The first one shouldn't be there at all.

In what game exactly did you see a faction/race change mechanic IN GAME lol ? Even appearance change in game is usually a barbershop where you can't change ALL of your features.

Maybe it's me, but I have NEVER seen a race/faction change that wasn't sold for real currency, in any game.

Maybe you are newer to the mmorpg genre, then

. Some past games indeed allowed changes in appearance, etc via in game means. The same was also true of factions and races just as it is here: make a new character and reroll instead of asking to bypass having to play the game to make such a major change you want for your character. Unfortunately people begged to pay to take shortcuts, and now we're sitting here with 60% champion point gain pay to win mechanics looming in ESO, which would run the game down pretty quickly from all past examples.

And just like in the past, some still are demanding to be allowed to pay up, not that it would do themselves much good since you still need skill to make use of the power, which if they had skill they'd have it already anyways. The only actual effect these would have would be to make the skilled and powerful even more skilled and powerful, while the average or so player would plod along but not really gain much out of their purchases then get ticked they're being butchered and outperformed by an even wider margin on pve leaderboards, dungeons, cyrodiil battles, small scale pvp, etc.

Enodoc · April 2015

DDuke wrote: »

You said it yourself pretty well:

A lie is a false statement with intent to deceive.

Misdirection & lies are what ZOS has done a stellar job with so far.
Hey, subscribe to our game, content ever 4-6 weeks!

We have no plans of going B2P/F2P

Coming soon: Wrothgar, Murkmire & Imperial City!

Upheld. Update 6 was only 4 weeks late, if you consider it was 2 updates in 1 and would therefore take 12 weeks.
I fully believe that was ZOS' intention. ZeniMax Media had other plans, and I don't blame ZOS for that.
They are still coming soon. Soon is entirely subjective.

None of these were promises anyway, they were just intentions. I don't think they can be accused of lying when they never promised anything.

Varicite · April 2015

Enodoc wrote: »

DDuke wrote: »

You said it yourself pretty well:

A lie is a false statement with intent to deceive.

Misdirection & lies are what ZOS has done a stellar job with so far.
Hey, subscribe to our game, content ever 4-6 weeks!

We have no plans of going B2P/F2P

Coming soon: Wrothgar, Murkmire & Imperial City!

Upheld. Update 6 was only 4 weeks late, if you consider it was 2 updates in 1 and would therefore take 12 weeks.

I fully believe that was ZOS' intention. ZeniMax Media had other plans, and I don't blame ZOS for that.

They are still coming soon. Soon is entirely subjective.

None of these were promises anyway, they were just intentions. I don't think they can be accused of lying when they never promised anything.

1) Kinda depends on what you'd call "content". "Fun new stuff that you'd want to play" is how ZOS described it. Since launch, there have only been Upper and Lower Craglorn for content. The rest has just been bug fixes, tweaks, and rebalances. So no, not upheld. At all.

2) ZOS partnered w/ a company that specializes in nothing but converting games to a free-to-play model. This was June of last year. They knew exactly what was going on for a full 6 months before even mentioning it to their player base. During this time, they continued to deny that there were any plans to convert the game. "That they knew of". Right.

There's plenty of other times where ZOS has intentionally misled their player base ("Adventurer's Pack", stealth speed stacking, etc).

A lie is a false statement w/ the intent to deceive. They didn't need to "promise" anything, all they had to do was tell us something that was intentionally misleading, which they have done on numerous occasions.

Anyway, this is off-topic.

Averya_Teira · April 2015

Blackmoon777 wrote: »

BigM wrote: »

Blackmoon777 wrote: »

it is just to take your $$$, and champion system is designed for long grind (years), so u will pay to have advantage (more champion points) and u will pay alot, difference in power betwen player who has 200CP is drastic, it is 100% pay to win,
i think we sould vote if we want ANY exp boosters in crown shop or not ,simply YES / NO

i say NO exp boosters!

LOL for you! You really think they care what our vote is?

thx for your LOL !

anyway

if they dont care about what we think (as u said) it is even better to vote! i just want to see 90% of players choosing NO (i dont want exp boosters) and if they implement it anyway it will be clear what is their policy

The thing is, if they really made a vote - an ingame vote, not on the forums as a very low percentage of players come to the forums - you'd be surprised by the huge amount of players who would/will buy those XP pots lol.

Oh, no one will say it here on the forums because they fear what others will write about them, but I can garantee you that a lot of the people yelling about them right now in this thread are the ones who will buy lots of them when they are available lol...

Attorneyatlawl wrote: »

Averya_Teira wrote: »

gurluasb16_ESO wrote: »

This is a slippery slope and we must pull the brakes.
Xp pots are ok.

But what's next? Race-change potion?
Appearance change potion?
Faction change?

The latter two shouldn't be in a cash shop but ingame.
The first one shouldn't be there at all.

In what game exactly did you see a faction/race change mechanic IN GAME lol ? Even appearance change in game is usually a barbershop where you can't change ALL of your features.

Maybe it's me, but I have NEVER seen a race/faction change that wasn't sold for real currency, in any game.

Maybe you are newer to the mmorpg genre, then . Some past games indeed allowed changes in appearance, etc via in game means. The same was also true of factions and races just as it is here: make a new character and reroll instead of asking to bypass having to play the game to make such a major change you want for your character. .

Sorry, but that's not a race/faction change, that's called an alt... And I want you to NAME a past MMO where you could change your WHOLE appeareance and race/faction for gold if you are so confident it exists. You basically just proved my point, there are no past games who allowed those changes for in game currency...

Nightscar · April 2015

Omg you guys are still bitching about this hahha
You ALL realize that ZOS is a business right... ROFL
There not a charity people who work on the game have families to and they need to eat..
If it was up to you guys the game would be all free with tons of updates and no cash shop lol...
Good old "self entitled" generation is at full swing I see...
You all are gunna have a rude awaking when life hits you in the face...

Varicite · April 2015

Nightscar wrote: »

Omg you guys are still bitching about this hahha
You ALL realize that ZOS is a business right... ROFL
There not a charity people who work on the game have families to and they need to eat..
If it was up to you guys the game would be all free with tons of updates and no cash shop lol...
Good old "self entitled" generation is at full swing I see...
You all are gunna have a rude awaking when life hits you in the face...

None of what you said has anything to do w/ anything.

Strange that Planetside 2 still seems to be putting food on the table and has never been P2W.

Also has TONS more players while everything actually is absolutely free.

I'm not saying to do that here, but saying that you have to introduce P2W tactics into a game for it to sell at all is just silly.