I do not abhor the idea of the Crown Store. I was already buying plushies and nendoroid type figures (which I really don’t care for at all) to get pets in game so the idea of paying for additional content doesn’t concern me.

What does concern me, however, is the possibility that crown store items will replace gameplay goals and be relegated to fluff items which will make the usefulness of the Crown Store wane and will lead to lower profits for ZOS. I think there is a way to integrate Crown Store items into ESO gameplay that will not only encourage players to keep playing ESO but will also encourage those playing to buy crown store items.

ZOS should have some Crown Store items unlockable through quests within ESO. The item will be in the store, but won’t be purchasable. Looking at the item will either tell the player how to unlock the item through in game quests or will give the player the option to add a quest to their journal from the Crown Store.

Example:

The Knights of the Eight (precursors to the Knights of the Nine) exist in ESO. There could be full armor set costumes in the crown store for purchase, but only AFTER you complete the Trials of the Eight. There could be 4 different armor set costumes.

• Page of the Eight (Unlocked after completing 2 of the 8 trials)
• Squire of the Eight (Unlocked after completing 4 of the 8 trials)
• Knight of the Eight (Unlocked after completing 6 of the 8 trials)
• Lord of the Eight (Unlocked after completing 8 of the 8 trials)

If in the crown store, the player will receive a quest to visit a specific NPC in game in order to begin the trials. This will be added to their journal and they can visit the NPC whenever they wish.

Players that find the same NPC in game can start the trials without visiting the crown store and when they unlock the costumes in the crown store they will be informed in-game. This doesn’t mean, however, that there are no rewards for the trials. Each trial could reward one of the following crusader Relics:

• Greaves of Akatosh
• Cuirass of Dibella
• Sword of Arkay
• Mace of Zenithar
• Gauntlets of Stendarr
• Bow of Mara
• Boots of Kynareth
• Shield of Julianos

While these items together will provide the player with an (almost) complete set of armor the different pieces shouldn’t have a cohesive style. They will provide the player with stat bonuses as a reward for completing the trials and the mismatched nature of the items will give the players an incentive to buy the costumes from the Crown store to publically show their accomplishment.



This integration could also be achieved by providing players with the Crown Store item upon purchase which in turn allows them to participate in the in-games quests. Page of the Eight costume allows a player to go on the Page Trials, Squire of the Eight allows a player to go on the Squire Trials... etc.

This is the sort of synergy that will make the Crown Store more than a place where players feel they are being asked to shell out cash for in-game items. This type of integration could make the Crown Store a magnificent boon to players and to the overall RPG experience of ESO.

Thoughts?