Eso plus or buy?

anitajoneb17_ESO · April 2016

Lysette wrote: »

I have made the calculation for 3 years of subbing using the 6-months sub and crowns value based on the 5500 crowns packages sold at regular prices and DLCs would be in average sold at 2500 crowns. It comes down to that in average the sub costs 1.50€/month more than buying all DLCs and spending as many crowns as are included in the sub. And for these 1.50€/month more I get XP bonus and a crafting bag and have spent 30,000 crowns more on stuff I like other than DLCs - I think it is worth it, at least if you plan to play for some years to come and like crown store items other than DLCs.

Figures for 3 years :

- Subbing for 36 months with 6 month plans = 65.94€x6 = 395.64€
- Buying all DLC with direct crows purchases (1 DLC = 2500 crowns, 4 DLC a year) = 30000 crowns needed = 190,85 €
- Buying all DLC with crowns from subbing. Requires subbing for 20 (30000/1500) months out of 36 months = (3x65.94€)+(2x12.99€) = 223.80€.

Obviously option 2 is the cheapest - especially considering that you can stock up cheaper crowns during sales. But be careful, it doesn't include any pets, mounts, costumes ! If you're not very disciplined you can loose track easily and spend much more than intended.
Option 1 - continuous subbing is the most expensive option - but lets you enjoy the bag and extra crowns for pets and stuff.
Option 3 is a good mix for the bag, but you're not allowed pets and stuff either.

To each his own, I guess. My personal preference goes for option 3 but since I am very disciplined and there are crown sales at -40%, I mostly end up on option 2.

Lysette · April 2016

anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »

Lysette wrote: »

I have made the calculation for 3 years of subbing using the 6-months sub and crowns value based on the 5500 crowns packages sold at regular prices and DLCs would be in average sold at 2500 crowns. It comes down to that in average the sub costs 1.50€/month more than buying all DLCs and spending as many crowns as are included in the sub. And for these 1.50€/month more I get XP bonus and a crafting bag and have spent 30,000 crowns more on stuff I like other than DLCs - I think it is worth it, at least if you plan to play for some years to come and like crown store items other than DLCs.

Figures for 3 years :

- Subbing for 36 months with 6 month plans = 65.94€x6 = 395.64€
- Buying all DLC with direct crows purchases (1 DLC = 2500 crowns, 4 DLC a year) = 30000 crowns needed = 190,85 €
- Buying all DLC with crowns from subbing. Requires subbing for 20 (30000/1500) months out of 36 months = (3x65.94€)+(2x12.99€) = 223.80€.

Obviously option 2 is the cheapest - especially considering that you can stock up cheaper crowns during sales. But be careful, it doesn't include any pets, mounts, costumes ! If you're not very disciplined you can loose track easily and spend much more than intended.
Option 1 - continuous subbing is the most expensive option - but lets you enjoy the bag and extra crowns for pets and stuff.
Option 3 is a good mix for the bag, but you're not allowed pets and stuff either.

To each his own, I guess. My personal preference goes for option 3 but since I am very disciplined and there are crown sales at -40%, I mostly end up on option 2.

Actually it is not, if you compare that they have the same stuff spend crowns on - you have to add another 30,000 crowns for non-subscribers to have the same amount of non-DLC stuff - and then you have paid more. That is why I said, if you like items in the crown store other than DLCs and you want to have the same amount of those, you will have to pay more for it than with a subscription.

Fallen_Ray · April 2016

whoops wrong thread

Lysette · April 2016

Fallen_Ray wrote: »

Splendid Idea and shouldn't be hard to implement. Easier way just to make skills work differently in PVP that's it. We'll have to see if Zenimax considers this. Lately they comply more to crying and whining rather than complying to coherent rational ideas that benefits everyone.

As I got from the transcript of their latest interviews, they make their decisions based on what players do in the game and how much they contribute to the monetary situation of the game. And in this direction they develop the game, and this is why some difficulties are scaled down, where too many players abandon quests or are unable to complete them. So they base their decisions on actual data, it is not just gotten out of thin air.

Fallen_Ray · April 2016

Lysette wrote: »

Fallen_Ray wrote: »

Splendid Idea and shouldn't be hard to implement. Easier way just to make skills work differently in PVP that's it. We'll have to see if Zenimax considers this. Lately they comply more to crying and whining rather than complying to coherent rational ideas that benefits everyone.

As I got from the transcript of their latest interviews, they make their decisions based on what players do in the game and how much they contribute to the monetary situation of the game. And in this direction they develop the game, and this is why some difficulties are scaled down, where too many players abandon quests or are unable to complete them. So they base their decisions on actual data, it is not just gotten out of thin air.

that wasn't meant for this thread...

emily3989 · April 2016

What I don't understand is, if they really want to focus on increasing subs:

The merchant is a la cart 5,0000 crowns
The moneylender is a la cart 5,000 crowns

but then they add a crafting bag and make it ESO+ exclusive.

Hey, it's their company, but you would have thought the previous two would have been sub-exclusive as well. Also that way you would not have thousands QQing about how you can't repair with them or access the guild bank, since only subs would have felt it anyway.

Lysette · April 2016

Fallen_Ray wrote: »

Lysette wrote: »

Fallen_Ray wrote: »

Splendid Idea and shouldn't be hard to implement. Easier way just to make skills work differently in PVP that's it. We'll have to see if Zenimax considers this. Lately they comply more to crying and whining rather than complying to coherent rational ideas that benefits everyone.

As I got from the transcript of their latest interviews, they make their decisions based on what players do in the game and how much they contribute to the monetary situation of the game. And in this direction they develop the game, and this is why some difficulties are scaled down, where too many players abandon quests or are unable to complete them. So they base their decisions on actual data, it is not just gotten out of thin air.

that wasn't meant for this thread...

It was a remark regarding the last comment, which was "Lately they comply more to crying and whining rather than complying to coherent rational ideas that benefits everyone." That is not what they are doing, they base their decisions on actual data.

Slurg · April 2016

I was going to weigh in but saw the OP made a decision back in post #11 on the first page. I see this is turning into another soapbox thread.

(Stepping out of thread now.)

Fallen_Ray · April 2016

Lysette wrote: »

Fallen_Ray wrote: »

Lysette wrote: »

Fallen_Ray wrote: »

Splendid Idea and shouldn't be hard to implement. Easier way just to make skills work differently in PVP that's it. We'll have to see if Zenimax considers this. Lately they comply more to crying and whining rather than complying to coherent rational ideas that benefits everyone.

As I got from the transcript of their latest interviews, they make their decisions based on what players do in the game and how much they contribute to the monetary situation of the game. And in this direction they develop the game, and this is why some difficulties are scaled down, where too many players abandon quests or are unable to complete them. So they base their decisions on actual data, it is not just gotten out of thin air.

that wasn't meant for this thread...

It was a remark regarding the last comment, which was "Lately they comply more to crying and whining rather than complying to coherent rational ideas that benefits everyone." That is not what they are doing, they base their decisions on actual data.

Yeah that's what I've seen so happenning:

"ZOS buff me, nerf me, buff me again, nerf him how!, now nerf me twice" And they buff, nerf, nerf, buff, give and take.

"ZOS I got an Idea! How about you apply skill changes only in pvp areas, make a favorites skill list so we dont have to surf the whole skill trees when we decide to change skills." And they reply with the soothing sound of crickets rock & rolling in the middle of the night.

I'm not saying they aren't doing their job. I'm sure they are the game itself has me in it's grasp. Just saying the the nerf/buff ping pong game they have with it should stop and a redesigning plan for very well balanced classes where no class over powers the other should come into place, I hope it has!! Wall of text I know... I write alot, don't speak so much.

Eocosa · April 2016

I personally go with ESO+ as I feel it's a great deal! I typically buy an occasional mount or something here and there so my crowns often go to that and I still get access to all the DLC as well as extra xp for my Alts.

With the addition of crafting bags I feel it's an even greater value I feel!

I'm not saying it is the best financial choice to make, I'm sure buying crowns on sale and saving for DLCs is the best bang for your buck, but I figure during a given month if I simply refrain from buying two shots or 3-4 drinks when I go out it more then covers an entire month of ESO+

Also if you sub (well realistically even if you don't!) you can come to the forums and badger people who don't for "not supporting the game bro!" And "without me you wouldn't even be playing playah!" Etc! (Obviously just joking here, but I'm always amused by the sun/nonsub fights)

Or on the same thought if you don't sub (or even if you do realistically) you can call all eso+ benefits p2w!

anitajoneb17_ESO · April 2016

Lysette wrote: »

anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »

Lysette wrote: »

I have made the calculation for 3 years of subbing using the 6-months sub and crowns value based on the 5500 crowns packages sold at regular prices and DLCs would be in average sold at 2500 crowns. It comes down to that in average the sub costs 1.50€/month more than buying all DLCs and spending as many crowns as are included in the sub. And for these 1.50€/month more I get XP bonus and a crafting bag and have spent 30,000 crowns more on stuff I like other than DLCs - I think it is worth it, at least if you plan to play for some years to come and like crown store items other than DLCs.

Figures for 3 years :

- Subbing for 36 months with 6 month plans = 65.94€x6 = 395.64€
- Buying all DLC with direct crows purchases (1 DLC = 2500 crowns, 4 DLC a year) = 30000 crowns needed = 190,85 €
- Buying all DLC with crowns from subbing. Requires subbing for 20 (30000/1500) months out of 36 months = (3x65.94€)+(2x12.99€) = 223.80€.

Obviously option 2 is the cheapest - especially considering that you can stock up cheaper crowns during sales. But be careful, it doesn't include any pets, mounts, costumes ! If you're not very disciplined you can loose track easily and spend much more than intended.
Option 1 - continuous subbing is the most expensive option - but lets you enjoy the bag and extra crowns for pets and stuff.
Option 3 is a good mix for the bag, but you're not allowed pets and stuff either.

To each his own, I guess. My personal preference goes for option 3 but since I am very disciplined and there are crown sales at -40%, I mostly end up on option 2.

Actually it is not, if you compare that they have the same stuff spend crowns on - you have to add another 30,000 crowns for non-subscribers to have the same amount of non-DLC stuff - and then you have paid more. That is why I said, if you like items in the crown store other than DLCs and you want to have the same amount of those, you will have to pay more for it than with a subscription.

Which is why I put it in plain figures, because you were comparing apples with oranges and it wasn't very clear what you did and did not include in your calculation.

My calculation is based on "access to all DLC for 3 years" ONLY.
People who want extra stuff from the crown store will have a different equation and result.
But not everyone wants crown store stuff. I have plenty of guildies who sit on thousands of crowns because they're not interested in the stuff there. I'm not very much interested in pets and costumes either, so the extra crowns of continous subbing are not of any "value" for me.

nimander99 · April 2016

I buy all DLC's and sub and use excess crowns for costumes, mounts, pets etc...

LOTRO taught me a valuable lesson involving DLC's, always buy them outright, that way when your sub lapses (as they always do for one reason or another) I'm not locked out of content.

Plus I like to support my favorite game.

Pomaikai · April 2016

If you craft, then this shouldn't even be a question. You subscribe. The crafting bag will be a huge quality of life item.

Dustile · April 2016

anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »

But buying "raw crowns", outside from special sales where they are cheaper, is mathematically a bad deal.

You don't do math good.

rotaugen454 · April 2016

Dustile wrote: »

anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »

But buying "raw crowns", outside from special sales where they are cheaper, is mathematically a bad deal.

You don't do math good.

Yeah, get gud at maths!

GeertKarel · April 2016

I bought 2 months eso+ for 10 euro on kinguin and per month you get 1500 crowns.

anitajoneb17_ESO · April 2016

Dustile wrote: »

anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »

But buying "raw crowns", outside from special sales where they are cheaper, is mathematically a bad deal.

You don't do math good.

Demonstrate that I'm wrong, please.

Commish · April 2016

I really like the game.
It's the first online game I was willing to pay for, (I always played console or system). Since I really like the game I pay for the subscription.
It may be odd to say but it's like taxes being one of the prices we pay to live in a free society.
My subscription is a price I am willing to pay to keep a game around that I really enjoy, irrespective of whether or not its the absolute best value as it helps insure a revenue stream for a company and allows them to plan.
I do sometimes think about buying the DLC too, but that has more to do with what is bundled with it than it is owning the DLC.

Schemering · April 2016

for me its eso plus, access 2 all content and Lysettes argument for spending crowns on nice/convenient things is a good one

phaneub17_ESO · April 2016

Some of us choose not to do ESO Plus for crafting and daily writs. If you have the base game with 10/10 in crafting your daily writs and surveys halt at Craglorn which gives you get a hefty amount of potent/fortified nirncrux supply; you'll still receive Ruby material in the mail from hirelings however. If you get the Thieves Guild DLC or subscribe to ESO Plus, then your 10/10 in crafting your daily writs will require Ruby mats instead and goes to Wrothgar. There are far more zones in the game to gather Void mats that are mostly devoid of other players. Ruby mats however are limited to a couple of zones, and those places are heavily populated.

Dustile · April 2016

[/quote]

Demonstrate that I'm wrong, please. [/quote

Sure, First, two things. One, it is ALWAYS CHEAPER to buy crowns then to sub. Two, the ONLY reason to sub is for benefits.

Subing to get crowns is more expensive. If you don't care about missing out on the extras from subbing then never sub. It is indeed cheaper to just buy crowns. Subing to get corwns to buy DLC later is more expensive then had you just bought the DLC outright.

Lets say I want all DLC's

All DLC's purchased with crowns $65 + extra 1,000 crowns for w/e you want

All DLC's Subing to acquire crowns $75 + NO extra crowns.

So if you want items and DLC and don't mind missing benefits it is cheaper to just buy crowns. However you must buy them 3000 at a time or more for it to actually be chaeper.

rotaugen454 · April 2016

anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »

Dustile wrote: »

anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »

But buying "raw crowns", outside from special sales where they are cheaper, is mathematically a bad deal.

You don't do math good.

Demonstrate that I'm wrong, please.

2 years of subbing versus buying...

1 year sub = $360
You also get 36,000 crowns.

You can buy all DLC for 9500 crowns. To buy it all and have the extra 36,000 crowns like in subbing means buy 45,500 crowns. Total cost ( at $0.007273 per crown) is $331 AND you own all this DLC. If you buy crowns on sale, yes the difference is much larger. It's the bag that makes it worthwhile.

Lysette · April 2016

rotaugen454 wrote: »

anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »

Dustile wrote: »

anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »

But buying "raw crowns", outside from special sales where they are cheaper, is mathematically a bad deal.

You don't do math good.

Demonstrate that I'm wrong, please.

2 years of subbing versus buying...

1 year sub = $360
You also get 36,000 crowns.

You can buy all DLC for 9500 crowns. To buy it all and have the extra 36,000 crowns like in subbing means buy 45,500 crowns. Total cost ( at $0.007273 per crown) is $331 AND you own all this DLC. If you buy crowns on sale, yes the difference is much larger. It's the bag that makes it worthwhile.

You just forgot a little thing - 9500 crowns for those DLCs, which are out already .- and what is with those 8 DLCs, coming out in those 2 years, which I estimate to cost 20,000 crowns. Then did you take into account, that a subscriber is using it's 36,000 crowns on other stuff than DLCs - so you have to take those 36,000 crowns to spend on other stuff for a non-subscriber as well into account to be on even level, when it comes to having access to things.

Now this looks bad for the non-subscriber, doesn't it?

And a subscriber pays 4x66€ = 264€ for all of this (using 6-months subscriptions)

anitajoneb17_ESO · April 2016

Dustile wrote: »

Sure, First, two things. One, it is ALWAYS CHEAPER to buy crowns then to sub. Two, the ONLY reason to sub is for benefits. .../...However you must buy them 3000 at a time or more for it to actually be chaeper.

See ? So it's not ALWAYS cheaper. It's only cheaper under very specific conditions, which are to buy crowns in big bulks.
You said it yourself.

anitajoneb17_ESO · April 2016

rotaugen454 wrote: »

anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »

Demonstrate that I'm wrong, please.

2 years of subbing versus buying...

1 year sub = $360
You also get 36,000 crowns.

You can buy all DLC for 9500 crowns. To buy it all and have the extra 36,000 crowns like in subbing means buy 45,500 crowns. Total cost ( at $0.007273 per crown) is $331 AND you own all this DLC. If you buy crowns on sale, yes the difference is much larger. It's the bag that makes it worthwhile.

Lol... you make a demonstration based on TWO YEARS but take the price of only the four available DLC, whereas you have no clue what future DLCs will be priced at during two years. Too many conditions and assumptions to make your calculation universally valid.

And yes with crowns on sales things are different but I had mentioned that myself.

GrumpStump · April 2016

nudel wrote: »

I do both. Subscribe to buy DLC. :P
Initially I subbed in order to use the subscription crowns to purchase all existing DLC. Now, with crafting bags coming, I'll probably just maintain my sub and still use the crowns for DLC. It may seem redundant, but I like to actually 'own' a game/ software so if there ever comes a time where I can't afford the sub for a few months, I can still play.

My exact thoughts. I sub and buy everything.....just in case.

GrumpStump

rotaugen454 · April 2016

Lysette wrote: »

rotaugen454 wrote: »

anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »

Dustile wrote: »

anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »

But buying "raw crowns", outside from special sales where they are cheaper, is mathematically a bad deal.

You don't do math good.

Demonstrate that I'm wrong, please.

2 years of subbing versus buying...

1 year sub = $360
You also get 36,000 crowns.

You can buy all DLC for 9500 crowns. To buy it all and have the extra 36,000 crowns like in subbing means buy 45,500 crowns. Total cost ( at $0.007273 per crown) is $331 AND you own all this DLC. If you buy crowns on sale, yes the difference is much larger. It's the bag that makes it worthwhile.

You just forgot a little thing - 9500 crowns for those DLCs, which are out already .- and what is with those 8 DLCs, coming out in those 2 years, which I estimate to cost 20,000 crowns. Then did you take into account, that a subscriber is using it's 36,000 crowns on other stuff than DLCs - so you have to take those 36,000 crowns to spend on other stuff for a non-subscriber as well into account to be on even level, when it comes to having access to things.

Now this looks bad for the non-subscriber, doesn't it?

And a subscriber pays 4x66€ = 264€ for all of this (using 6-months subscriptions)

I counted having the same crowns afterwards as a sub. I used the standard monthly because I thought consoles didn't get a 6 month plan. IF they stay with a DLC per quarter from now on going forward, it is cheaper to sub than buy at the normal rates, which is why I would stock up on crown sales if I went that route. Plus you still have all the DLC if your sub stops. I will keep subbing, as I have for the last two years.

Asherons_Call · April 2016

anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »

Dustile wrote: »

Sure, First, two things. One, it is ALWAYS CHEAPER to buy crowns then to sub. Two, the ONLY reason to sub is for benefits. .../...However you must buy them 3000 at a time or more for it to actually be chaeper.

See ? So it's not ALWAYS cheaper. It's only cheaper under very specific conditions, which are to buy crowns in big bulks.
You said it yourself.

You should only buy crowns when they are on sale, and buy them in bulk. You must learn to be smart and beat the system folks.

The whole argument of buying crowns vs subbing isn't really something that should be compared though. Subbing gets you perks plus crowns. Buying crowns gets you crowns. It's apples and oranges. The crowns you get from subbing cost more per dollar because the perks are rolled in with the price.

I get the best of both worlds. I sub and I buy one or two of the 5500 crown packages when they are on sale only.

rotaugen454 · April 2016

I'm gonna buy 33,000 crowns at the next sale just in case they make The Bag a store item, but continue my sub. Then I can go on a mount/pet/costume spree if they don't .

Lysette · April 2016

rotaugen454 wrote: »

Lysette wrote: »

rotaugen454 wrote: »

anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »

Dustile wrote: »

anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »

But buying "raw crowns", outside from special sales where they are cheaper, is mathematically a bad deal.

You don't do math good.

Demonstrate that I'm wrong, please.

2 years of subbing versus buying...

1 year sub = $360
You also get 36,000 crowns.

You can buy all DLC for 9500 crowns. To buy it all and have the extra 36,000 crowns like in subbing means buy 45,500 crowns. Total cost ( at $0.007273 per crown) is $331 AND you own all this DLC. If you buy crowns on sale, yes the difference is much larger. It's the bag that makes it worthwhile.

You just forgot a little thing - 9500 crowns for those DLCs, which are out already .- and what is with those 8 DLCs, coming out in those 2 years, which I estimate to cost 20,000 crowns. Then did you take into account, that a subscriber is using it's 36,000 crowns on other stuff than DLCs - so you have to take those 36,000 crowns to spend on other stuff for a non-subscriber as well into account to be on even level, when it comes to having access to things.

Now this looks bad for the non-subscriber, doesn't it?

And a subscriber pays 4x66€ = 264€ for all of this (using 6-months subscriptions)

I counted having the same crowns afterwards as a sub. I used the standard monthly because I thought consoles didn't get a 6 month plan. IF they stay with a DLC per quarter from now on going forward, it is cheaper to sub than buy at the normal rates, which is why I would stock up on crown sales if I went that route. Plus you still have all the DLC if your sub stops. I will keep subbing, as I have for the last two years.

Well, it is a little different - I'll show you. To have access to the same content as a subscriber, a non-subscriber has to invest

9500 crowns for the DLCs which are already out
20000 crowns for the DLCs which will be released in those 2 years
36000 crowns to spend on other things, which the subscriber can buy with his crowns

totals to 65500 crowns to have equal access (just not the crafting bag) which cost 416.81€ seen in 5500 package prices.

So the non-subscriber has to pay 416.81€ to have access to the same content like a subscriber, who pays 264€.

q.e.d.