Losing access to DLC when your subscription lapses

Rosveen · January 2015

IMO it makes keeping the sub pointless. If I buy them, I'll always have access to them, no matter what happens. If I don't and choose to pay the sub instead, I lose everything the day my sub ends - because I'm having financial troubles and can't renew for a time, or simply because I changed my mind and decided I prefer F2P after all. So I go into it knowing I have to stay subscribed forever or else I'll eventually end up with nothing. I'm not comfortable with this kind of commitment.

Thoughts? Comments? Am I not seeing some hidden value here? I feel that people who keep the sub should be entitled to keep the content released during their sub even after it ends. I know we can keep the items we earned, but still, entire zones will disappear from our map when our sub ends...

Asgari · January 2015

Rosveen wrote: »

IMO it makes keeping the sub pointless. If I buy them, I'll always have access to them, no matter what happens. If I don't and choose to pay the sub instead, I lose everything the day my sub ends - because I'm having financial troubles and can't renew for a time, or simply because I changed my mind and decided I prefer F2P after all. So I go into it knowing I have to stay subscribed forever or else I'll eventually end up with nothing. I'm not comfortable with this kind of commitment.

Thoughts? Comments? Am I not seeing some hidden value here? I feel that people who keep the sub should be entitled to keep the content released during their sub even after it ends. I know we can keep the items we earned, but still, entire zones will disappear from our map when our sub ends...

Champion system = Account wide xp gain

P2W = +10% XP gain

......

Rydik · January 2015

Its not clear, i suppose all dlc you have before sub ended will stay, just no new dlc after, but just an opinion, dont remember info about this.

Feidam · January 2015

Think of the eso plus as renting the content with extra perks. So if the sub ends yes you'll have to buy the DLC. However, if you start the sub again it all comes back. You'll have two differant ways to access the content. Player preference will decide which is the better deal for them.

Kevingway · January 2015

If I see they're churning out ridiculous amounts of paywalled content in a short amount of time, I'm leaving. I have the same fears you do and would like to keep access to all content, so I'll probably end up purchasing the DLC as it comes out. The fact that these are released in "Packs" concerns me, but we'll see what's behind that word. Purchasing the content should, in theory, be cheaper than a monthly sub. I hope the price of the DLC won't rival expansion prices of $60 per bit of content. I'm willing to pay up to $20 for content that isn't released monthly.

If monthly, forget it.

Gidorick · January 2015

That's a REALLY good point.... that would seem you get more value if you buy the DLC as it's released.

firstdecan · January 2015

This is not confirmed, but you'll probably pay for access to DLC with "crowns," and you'll get crowns from the pay store. So your sub will get you a certain number of crowns every month, or you can just buy the crowns when you want them. The crowns are then exchanged for the DLC.

So for example - If Craglorn will be considered a DLC, people who don't pay for it would only have access to the the regular levelling zones. You'll need to pay to get access to Craglorn, nirncrux items, and the higher tiered gear that comes out of Craglorn.

So, either Zeni will be producing new content with no incentive to play it, or the game has just gone B2W

Rosveen · January 2015

Rydik wrote: »

Its not clear, i suppose all dlc you have before sub ended will stay, just no new dlc after, but just an opinion, dont remember info about this.

Do I lose all items and rewards earned from DLC if my ESO Plus membership ends?
No. You will lose access to the DLC areas and quests should your membership lapse (unless you purchase the DLC separately in the Crown Store), but you will keep all items and rewards earned through the content.

So we don't get to keep it.

Princess_Asgari wrote: »

Rosveen wrote: »

IMO it makes keeping the sub pointless. If I buy them, I'll always have access to them, no matter what happens. If I don't and choose to pay the sub instead, I lose everything the day my sub ends - because I'm having financial troubles and can't renew for a time, or simply because I changed my mind and decided I prefer F2P after all. So I go into it knowing I have to stay subscribed forever or else I'll eventually end up with nothing. I'm not comfortable with this kind of commitment.

Thoughts? Comments? Am I not seeing some hidden value here? I feel that people who keep the sub should be entitled to keep the content released during their sub even after it ends. I know we can keep the items we earned, but still, entire zones will disappear from our map when our sub ends...

Champion system = Account wide xp gain

P2W = +10% XP gain

......

Okay, so we'll earn points faster. As long as there's a cap and diminishing returns, it's not totally broken. In any case, it's meaningless for me because I'm a slow player and I'll always be behind anyway. So if I'm not buying XP or DLC, am I just paying for monthly crowns? That's the only permanent thing I seem to get out of this.

Imryll · January 2015

Has this been explicitly stated? I would like some clarification about what subscribers get to keep and what what they lose if/when they drop their subscription. It does seem like a major disincentive to subscribe if you lose access to older DLC if you subscribe for awhile and then take a break. As someone who already avoids combat and opening chests on characters she hopes to level to keep from leveling too fast, most of the subscription bonuses already seem like negatives to me. If subscribing also places future access to new areas at risk, it really seems like something I wouldn't want to do.

Leeric · January 2015

You would have to buy the DLC via crowns for it not to expire with your sub.

Tankqull · January 2015

Feidam wrote: »

Think of the eso plus as renting the content with extra perks. So if the sub ends yes you'll have to buy the DLC. However, if you start the sub again it all comes back. You'll have two differant ways to access the content. Player preference will decide which is the better deal for them.

problem is renting the DLC instead of bying it with the given "perks" is pure garbage.
1500 crowns for shiney items ... nah
10% more gold xp(ingeneral) nothing to whine about if you dont have it

paying 15$(purchasing the dlc will cost between 10 and 20$ at every other price the consoleros will abuse ZOS guts through their throats) instead 45 $(3 months of subscription until the next content extension is released) for the dlc hmmmmmmmmmmm

danno8 · January 2015

Usually it ends up being more cost effective to just by the content as it is released.

If they release $20 DLC every 8 weeks (which I believe is very optimistic, probably more like 3-4 months) it becomes much cheaper to buy it a la carte since monthly sub is $15/mo.

I mean a sub can cost you $180 dollars/year. A normal mmo would have to release 3 $60 expansions to equal that cost a la carte. Not bloody likely.

But it is different for everyone. Depend on if you find the other benefits worth it, if you use the store (and your allotment of monthly crowns) to buy fluff.

Also you can save up your crowns to buy the DLC. Another option.

I know in LotRO, I ran several scenarios and in the end it was cheaper to cancel my sub and just buy the content I wanted. It also allowed me more mobility to play other games as I never had the "locked down" feeling that can come with a sub.

We shall see.

danno8 · January 2015

Imryll wrote: »

Has this been explicitly stated? I would like some clarification about what subscribers get to keep and what what they lose if/when they drop their subscription. It does seem like a major disincentive to subscribe if you lose access to older DLC if you subscribe for awhile and then take a break. As someone who already avoids combat and opening chests on characters she hopes to level to keep from leveling too fast, most of the subscription bonuses already seem like negatives to me. If subscribing also places future access to new areas at risk, it really seems like something I wouldn't want to do.

As soon as you re-sub, you get access to everything again.

It is really simple, ESO Plus (subscribers) get access to everything. Period. Stuff you have acquired from any DLC area you get to keep and use even if your ESO Plus (sub) lapses.

M_Taylor40 · January 2015

I asked for clarification on this during the stream but got no replies. Take the following example:

I pre-ordered the physical Imperial Edition and had it since launch, due to starting a new job the day of launch, I didn't get the time to play until August when I subbed for 6 months. My sub will end around the time this goes B2P and I would probably keep it going as I really enjoy the game and want to support it.

So lets say I sub to ESO Plus for a further 12 months, in that time I'll have spent around £90 in fees and got access to the DLC. But then I cancel my sub but still play, I no longer have access to the DLC I've effectively paid money for and must buy access to it again? That seems completely unfair and is really forcing me to look at just buying the DLC as and when I feel like playing it.

A fairer system would be to allow me to keep access to the DLC that was released during my sub, but not access to DLC released afterwards. That way I'm still getting access to what I've paid for and not being penalised for subbing in the first place! Obviously a system would need to be designed to avoid abuse by people subbing once every 6 months to get access to the DLC but surely something can be implemented that's better than this.

If this cannot be implemented, then can the DLC be bought outright with the crowns that are earned by having an active sub so in those 12 months I'll accrue 9000 crowns from just being subbed, can I then use these if I unsub to buy access to the DLC?

I want to support the game by subbing but if it seems like I'm getting a better deal by unsubbing and just buying the DLC outright then that's what I'll do!

p_tsakirisb16_ESO · January 2015

I bet also the moment your sub ends you will be restricted to blue gear only.....

Korah_Eaglecry · January 2015

This is actually the reason Im thinking about moving over to PS4 in June. As Ill be able to simply purchase the DLCs and not worry about anyone having a +10% advantage or that the DLC access wont disappear if I decide I need to go F2P for a month here and there.

Atleast with the PS4 version Im more likely to play with my friends and for the most part everyone will be on equal footing. Atleast outside of DLC access.

LariahHunding · January 2015

I am going to PS4 ASAP. The network functionality and voice chat, easier connections with friends.

MornaBaine · January 2015

My concern is, say I stay subbed. I play in the DLC areas that are accessible to be because of my sub. Of course, I get loot from that area. Will some of that loot be exclusive to that area/content? Probably. So what happens if my sub runs out? Will I lose the loot/armor.etc that I already got from those now inaccessible areas?

UrQuan · January 2015

MornaBaine wrote: »

My concern is, say I stay subbed. I play in the DLC areas that are accessible to be because of my sub. Of course, I get loot from that area. Will some of that loot be exclusive to that area/content? Probably. So what happens if my sub runs out? Will I lose the loot/armor.etc that I already got from those now inaccessible areas?

From the FAQ:

FAQ wrote:

Do I lose all items and rewards earned from DLC if my ESO Plus membership ends?
No. You will lose access to the DLC areas and quests should your membership lapse (unless you purchase the DLC separately in the Crown Store), but you will keep all items and rewards earned through the content.

LonePirate · January 2015

M_Taylor40 wrote: »

If this cannot be implemented, then can the DLC be bought outright with the crowns that are earned by having an active sub so in those 12 months I'll accrue 9000 crowns from just being subbed, can I then use these if I unsub to buy access to the DLC?

@M_Taylor40

Yes.

Cuyler · January 2015

I think it's too early to tell. We do not know what the real value for crowns is yet. what we do know is you get 1500 crowns for each month subbed. If the membership is $15 that equals 100 Crowns/$1 through the subscription.

What they haven't said is what the price is for crowns when not subbed. It's possible the subs get a reduced crown price and unsubbed, crowns could cost more like 50/$1 or 75crowns/$1. That would give incentive to sub. I'm just speculating however, but if history is any example they will try to *** the non-subscribers for all they have.

UrQuan · January 2015

Cuyler wrote: »

I think it's too early to tell. We do not know what the real value for crowns is yet. what we do know is you get 1500 crowns for each month subbed. If the membership is $15 that equals 100 Crowns/$1 through the subscription.

What they haven't said is what the price is for crowns when not subbed. It's possible the subs get a reduced crown price and unsubbed, crowns could cost more like 50/$1 or 75crowns/$1. That would give incentive to sub. I'm just speculating however, but if history is any example they will try to *** the non-subscribers for all they have.

Even if the subscription works out to 100 Crowns/$1, and the cost of Crowns without a sub is the same, there's still an incentive to sub, as that way you get the crowns for the same price plus you get to play the DLC without paying Crowns for it.

But I agree, it's too early to tell, and we'll only know more when we know the cost for purchasing Crowns, and how many Crowns DLC et al costs.

marcmyb14_ESO · January 2015

Rosveen wrote: »

P2W = +10% XP gain

......

REALLY? really? +10% xp gain is P2W? Nooooo. No it isn't. Pay to win is a game like LOTRO where, if you're on "creep" side, you have to BUY YOUR SKILLS because it takes FOREVER to rank up and that's the only way you get your skills. Not to mention you also have to BUY THE CLASSES. On "freep" side, you have to buy TRAIT SLOTS, SKILL SLOTS, along with zones, questpacks, etc.

THAT is pay to win. With ESO's new system you pay for an advantage. And not even a real advantage. You just pay to get things faster. It's convenience. Two completely different things.