Crown Crates Distribution of Items

GrandMaster

So I have taken the plunge and purchased crown crates too many times and have gotten disappointed way too many times. I will admit that some of the items are cool and it saddens me that you need to pay with money to get them in a game we're paying $15 a month for but let's talk about how the items are distributed. I don't know percentages because I don't have that kind of time but why are common rewards, Poisons and potions of some sort? So we have an extremely high chance of having most of our rewards almost useless to many, non-rewarding to some, and useful to some. Then the next category is Fine rewards which I would assume has a high chance but less than common rewards and this category is mount riding stuff, dyes, food, and a repair kit. Then even less of a chance for the next category which is Superior rewards which is cosmetics. Then Epic rewards which is even less of a chance which is usually filled with non-combat pets, xp scrolls and research stuff. If you're lucky enough to get past this section, now you're in the Legendary reward category which some of the stuff people really want like skins, housing items, maybe a barely ok mount etc... Now if you're even luckier, you might get something from the APEX reward category which is nicer mounts. If you're lucky enough to get past this section, now you might get the mount you actually want from the Radiant Apex Reward category. Now let's say you don't get what you want or anything useful, then you might earn enough Crown Gems you can only get from buying crown crates and destroying the *** you didn't want or all the duplicates, just to earn enough to get something that is decent.
I think I got lost in this post because it ticks me off how predatory this system is of giving you just enough to get you to pay more. Almost feels like I'm gambling. I guess I am. LOL

Kiyakotari

https://www.crowncrates.com/

VaranisArano

Its basically gambling, in a video game, and not for real money, so it doesnt fall under legal definitions of gambling.

Predatory? Yes.
Extremely low percentage of good rewards? Yes.

The kicker? Because its not legally gambling, ZOS doesnt even have to release the official odds. You have to rely on players to track their odds.

ManwithBeard9

Crown Crates are crates of consumables (potions, poisons, ect) with a rare chance at something more. You get exactly what you paid for.

GrandMaster

Well I'm sure they will never update the definition of gambling to take into account the unethical practices because the people who make the changes stand to benefit by not changing it. Anyways, thanks for that link about crown crate item percentages.

GrandMaster

$45 for consumables is pretty steep if you ask me. I guess ManwithBeard9 doesn't seem to see the problem or any problem for that matter. But everyone does have a right to their view point and I should support yours as well.

FrancisCrawford

Since ZoS used to be more generous with free crown crates, I saved up 400 gems to get exactly the mount I wanted. I also spent 40 on an Artic Rime skin for my vampires, and now have 169 or so gems left over.

This is with never buying a crate.

But really that's all I've gotten from the crates I care about. There's the occasional costume I like and use, but those tend to also be available through the crown store. There are a couple of headbands I use on one character each that probably came in some crown crate. And that's pretty much it right there. Almost entirely, the value I get from them is the gems.

Avariprivateer

VaranisArano wrote: »

Its basically gambling, in a video game, and not for real money, so it doesnt fall under legal definitions of gambling.

Predatory? Yes.
Extremely low percentage of good rewards? Yes.

The kicker? Because its not legally gambling, ZOS doesnt even have to release the official odds. You have to rely on players to track their odds.

It actually is gambling, just one step removed, as Crowns cost money with a varying but averaged conversion rate. Legally bitcoin and others are commodities but they still have value and are used in monetary transactions.

It has also been suggested that crown crates are not gambling because it cannot be cashed out but that applies to some lottery prizes.

VaranisArano

Avariprivateer wrote: »

VaranisArano wrote: »

Its basically gambling, in a video game, and not for real money, so it doesnt fall under legal definitions of gambling.

Predatory? Yes.
Extremely low percentage of good rewards? Yes.

The kicker? Because its not legally gambling, ZOS doesnt even have to release the official odds. You have to rely on players to track their odds.

It actually is gambling, just one step removed, as Crowns cost money with a varying but averaged conversion rate. Legally bitcoin and others are commodities but they still have value and are used in monetary transactions.

It has also been suggested that crown crates are not gambling because it cannot be cashed out but that applies to some lottery prizes.

Crown Crates don't fall under the same legal rules for gambling as, say, lottery tickets, slot machines, and casino games. Neither are they as restricted as sweepstakes.

Its a pretty big deal that people are pushing to get that changed so that loot boxes of various types can be properly regulated.

So, colloquially, yeah, Crown Crates are gambling.
Legally? Not yet.
Its a rather important distinction that explains why ZOS can sell Crown Crates with practically no restrictions and no oversight even though, on the face of it, we are totally gambling for a chance at what we want.

Iccotak

I paid for 20 crown crates - got one mummy mount and one new moon wolf mount along with multiple repeated rewards
that was upward of $70-$90. Feel cheated.

Crown crates would be less of a problem if the prices were 25%-50% reduced or at least had monthly crown crate sales.
It's constant issue with Crown store - ZOS is trying to hook a whale but they would get more overall if things were cheaper as more people would be buying stuff

TelvanniWizard

Scam crates are a scam. Period.

Reistr_the_Unbroken

I’m upset that we can’t purchase the radiant apex cause there’s actually one mount I actually want, the planemeld coarser but no way am I spending $100+ dollars for the .0003% chance of getting something else. If it were available in the crown store itself that would’ve been great.