(Repost from r/elderscrollsonline):
http://www.reddit.com/r/elderscrollsonline/comments/3acsef/message_to_zenimax_online_studios_regarding/
Hello fellow ESO players,
I am writing this post in response to the addition of
Experience Point Scrolls in the Crown Store for 1000 crowns. These scrolls last for 2 hours and grant a player 50% more experience gain and champion point gain from all sources.
Let me first state that I am a veteran player that has been and continues to be subbed to this game. I have no issue with the idea of the crown store or any of the previous additions to the store but this recent addition clearly goes
under the category as Pay-to-Win (P2W). Below, I will list my reasons for this opinion.
The central issue with the scroll is that the 50% buff applies to Champion Point gain.
This is inherently game breaking and P2W. Players can purchase 5 scrolls for 1000 crowns and essentially pay to make their character have improved stats over other players. You can now buy something with money that gives you a clear advantage versus other players.
This scroll will know break in-game mechanics such as the following:
1. PVE Leaderboards will now be broken by players with hundreds and possibly thousands of champion points who will be able to complete Trials at a faster time and thus getting higher leaderboard positions, higher weekly scoring positions and receive great rewards from using money to buy their way to improved player stats, giving a P2W advantage.
2. PVP will now become unbalanced with players using the scrollto gain clear advantages over other players in combat. With the increase to Champion Point gain, players who choose to purchase it from the crown store can receive huge amounts of Champion Points to invest into their characters and thus making them exponentially stronger than other players who choose not to or cannot afford 1000 crowns.
3. Overall, the increase to champion point gain by a whopping 50% for 2 hours no longer can be classified as a convenience item and thus puts Zenimax Online Studio in an awkward position. Previously, you stated that the only thing that would be in the Crown Store would be convenience items NOT PAY TO WIN items. This is clearly stated by Matt Firor in the announcement video for ESO:TU:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RxYZLOS5JwBut you have turned back on this statement by:
1. Making the 50 % exp gain apply to Champion Point gain
3. More importantly, you now sell this scroll in the Crown Store and thus allowing people to pay real cash to directly make their characters stronger in all facets of the game and thus gain a clear and game breaking advantage.
This now has the potential to truly ruin this game permanently if this issue is not fixed by Zenimax Online Studios. It has the possibility, if not addressed, to ruin player progression, give unfair advantages to players who pay with cash over other players, and truly kill the game for many players who bought into your statement that the B2P switch would still keep the integrity of the game despite having no sub.
This legitimately has the potential to destroy the community that has been fostered in this game since Day 1.Now that I have stated my issues, I want to make some clarifications and post solutions.Contrast between Experience Point gain vs Champion Point gain
Personally, I have no issue with the fact that their is a 50% exp gain. As a player with a VR14 character, I dont want to have to go through all of the questing again to get to VR14 again. So, this potion/scroll allows me to spend my in game gold or real money in order to level my character faster so If I want to, I can experience end-game content faster.
That is why I want to make a distinction between flat experience gain increase and champion point increase. The Champion Point part of this potion/scroll is what truly makes it game breaking. While I might be able to pay cash to get an advantage over other players in getting to V14, that level can be fairly attainable by players and does not give an unfair advantage in Cyrodiil or in trials in comparison to other players.
Now I want to present solutions to this issue.
Possible Solutions/Fixes to this mechanic
Here are my list of solutions:
1. Eliminate the Champion Point gain from the potions/scrolls
This would 100% fix the entire P2W issue and would prevent players from getting unfair amounts of CP over other players. For me, this is the exact fix required that would fully amend all of the issues I presented.
2. Nerf the Champion point increase gain from 50% to 10%
This would make the Champion point gain less game breaking and would only give a small increase in the gain instead of the huge 50% one that currently exists.
3. Increase the cost of the scroll in the Crown Store
This would make it more expensive and would thus deter players from spending huge amounts of cash to gain an unfair advantage.
That pretty much sums up what im seeing right now. If you have any other additions or points, feel free to bring them up!
I hope you guys at Zenimax Online Studios take the time to read this and review the system the way it currently stands. Fixing this issue immediately would reestablish trust between the publisher and the community because at the moment, I've definitely lost some faith in you guys in terms of keeping promises over P2W.
Best,
Forza