Crown crates not worth it without more DLCs

ChaosWotan · March 2017

I have partly defended the crown crates earlier, but now discovered that there will be no new DLC until Morrowind, in three months. And we haven't had any proper questline DLC since DB and TG. From this perspective one can argue that paying a 100 dollars to get crown gems in order to purchase an apex mount is not worth it if ESO doesn't create new quest DLCs every 3-4 months.

Using a hundred bucks on purchasing gems that can be used to buy one apex mount only makes sense, one can argue, if you have finished 70-80 percent of the game. Before that the game itself will provide enough new experiences that regular mounts should be enough to keep you happy.

If 70-80 percent of the game is already finished, it may feel worth it to get a slightly new experience, in the form of upgrading mounts and characters, giving them the coolest gear, armor and look. But when it costs a hundred dollars to purchase one apex mount, that insane price is only "justified", at best, if you play ESO so often that it's a daily hobby more or less.

But here's the problem: if you play ESO every day, it will not take very long before the rest of the game, the 20-30 percent left of it, is finished. So purchasing a $100 apex mount at the end of the main game only makes sense if ESO creates new quest DLCs every 3-4 months, or else you are wasting hundred bucks on a game that is almost finished.

It's not a complete waste, because you can use the new mount if you wait perhaps 5-7 months until a new proper questline DLC is released. But then it takes only a few weeks to finish that DLC too, and then you have to wait a long time again to play the game.

In other words, casual gamers don't need apex mounts because the game itself will give them enough dopamine kicks, but hardcore gamers and no-lifers don't need the apex mounts either, unless ESO starts to deliver what it seemed to promise: new questline DLCs every quarter.

And remember: if we enthusiasts keep buying apex mounts, ESO might get the impression that they can earn more money by selling crown crates instead of creating proper quest DLCs.

Turelus · March 2017

No one needs an apex mount, however people want an apex mount.

That's why Crates are working as intended.

I'm pretty sure that ZOS has different design teams behind world building and content creation and the Crown Store, one will not detract from the other apart from what is rewarded in game (less mounts, skins etc.)

ZOS have also already moved to a new business model of one paid expansion every year, so they'll get money from those expansions for content.

ChaosWotan · March 2017

Damn, I was not aware that ZOS has changed to only releasing one paid expansion once a year. If I had known that, I would not have used so much money in the crown store. Well, that's the nature of the gaming business... Time to find another mmo then. Will still have ESO as my favourite mmo, but if ZOS doesn't deliver, then no point giving them money.

Turelus · March 2017

ChaosWotan wrote: »

Damn, I was not aware that ZOS has changed to only releasing one paid expansion once a year. If I had known that I would not have used so much money in the crown store. Well, that's the nature of the gaming business... Time to find another mmo then. Will still have ESO as my favourite mmo, but if ZOS doesn't deliver, then no point giving them money.

no, they will do 3 DLC as well. However one yearly update will be a expansion not covered by sub, which is valued at base £60 so far (meaning more revenue on top of crowns/subs). One DLC is confirmed to be a dungeon DLC.

Full information here: http://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/2017/02/01/welcome-to-2017

Sorry for any confusion or misinformation.

ChaosWotan · March 2017

Ah, you got me worried and disappointed there for a bit

But ESO, please deliver more content. I and many others will buy it all.

Turelus · March 2017

ChaosWotan wrote: »

Ah, you got me worried and disappointed there for a bit

But ESO, please deliver more content. I and many others will buy it all.

As said, they are, four sets of content a year. Three included in ESO+ or purchased via Crowns and one which is a separate game purchase yearly.

The only reason it seems light on content right now is the last two major updates have not been new zones but rather revamps or additions to the current game.

Pops_ND_Irish · March 2017

Another same o same o

Khenarthi · March 2017

I do not see the correlation between crates and DLC? Maybe I'm just having a dumb moment.

ChaosWotan · March 2017

Khenarthi, the point is that paying 100 dollars for one apex mount only makes sense, from my perspective at least, if you are playing the game very often, but you can't play it very often if 1) you have only 20-30 left of the game, and 2) ESO doesn't provide new questline content every quarter.

Now, if you can easily afford to buy one or more apex mounts in any case, just because you want it, at the beginning of the game, or half-way through it, then go for it, but it will be very expensive, and not "necessary" at all, since the game itself, at that level, will provide tons of new events and experiences that will keep newbies and casual gamers happy.

Personally I only bought the apex mount because I have 600+ cp and wanted something new and fresh in the game to look at, but having such an expensive mount is not much fun actually if you have no new quests where you can use it. And that's why apex mounts are not worth it without new quest DLCs.

Turelus · March 2017

The items in the store are not meant to be directly effecting of the enjoyment of content, they're more an expression of your personality.

Think of Crown Store cosmetics more as the clothes you wear, sure you could just wear grey sweatpants and a white tshirt and do everything you plan about the same, but most people want to express themselves in a way special to them, so they wear the clothes they feel good in or display imagery they enjoy.

That was a horrible analogy wasn't it?

Nutshotz · March 2017

Hold up. So morrowind isn't covered by the sub?

ADarklore · March 2017

As others have noted, they drop a new DLC every quarter, however, much of their time last year was spent creating One Tamriel, then finally bringing us the much demanded 'player housing'. Yet, you must also keep in mind that earlier last year they said they would be releasing more 'small' DLC game packs... after-which they gave us 'Shadows of the Hist' which only involved two new Dungeons, there were no new quests or anything.

With the announcement of the one paid "chapter" each year, it makes me wonder if the other free DLCs are going to be these type of smaller 'game packs' like Shadows of the Hist instead of actual quest-based DLCs? I hope not.

Turelus · March 2017

PeaNutShotz wrote: »

Hold up. So morrowind isn't covered by the sub?

ADarklore · March 2017

PeaNutShotz wrote: »

Hold up. So morrowind isn't covered by the sub?

WHERE have you been? No, Morrowind is a PAID 'chapter', akin to an EXPANSION which is not counted as a traditional DLC, and must be purchased separately as it will not be available in the Crown Store. They will have one of these 'chapters' each year that must be purchased separately.

cjthibs · March 2017

How does buying crown crates, or dropping 100 bucks on shiny reskins, have anything to do with content at all?

There's some funny mental gymnastics going on here...

ChaosWotan · March 2017

Turelus, I see your point ofc, but at 600+ cp I personally have discovered that I buy new cosmetic things in the crown store and hunt for new motifs because that is the primary way, for me at least, to get something new and fresh in the game when one has finished most of it.

I'm trying to squeeze the last drops of dopamine out of ESO now, but having a relatively spectacular mount is rather pointless without new content the next 3 months.

Stopnaggin · March 2017

Khenarthi wrote: »

I do not see the correlation between crates and DLC? Maybe I'm just having a dumb moment.

Me neither. I don't remember not being able to use a mount until Morrowind being announced. While crown crates bring in revenue, it was never promised that it would be used to make new content either. Now I understand we want new content, and we have it on the horizon. Also we have had 2 major updates in between content. Also 2 festivals and I believe a 3rd coming as well. So it not like they aren't putting effort into the game.

Personally the crates haven't bothered me one way or the other, I will buy them every once in a while, but nothing in there is a necessity. It's a small distraction every once in a while. A little extra income for ZOS, and so far it appears it's working.

Turelus · March 2017

ChaosWotan wrote: »

Turelus, I see your point ofc, but at 600+ cp I personally have discovered that I buy new cosmetic things in the crown store and hunt for new motifs because that is the primary way, for me at least, to get something new and fresh in the game when one has finished most of it.

I'm trying to squeeze the last drops of dopamine out of ESO now, but having a relatively spectacular mount is rather pointless without new content the next 3 months.

I am just doing achievements right now and dailies for motifs, however this is also prime time for me to not play the game (as bad as that sounds) and I spent all of last week enjoying Torment Numenera.

If you have other games go play them now before Morrowind and come back fresh for that, just because this is a persistent game doesn't mean you have to spend all your free time on it. There is much more to be gained from a rich experience of a new story.

Also I did start a new character on ESO which whilst running the same content again gives you something fresh to do and a reason to think about what nice new mount that character will use and what pet you want on them.

jbjondeaueb17_ESO · March 2017

By the way, if you look at their own website, One Tamriel and Homestead are listed as update, not DLC.
So they're saying it themselves, the last DLC for almost a year was Shadow of the Hist.

ChaosWotan · March 2017

Turelus, I got 11 toons, nine vet alts, 7 master crafters

. So I have really tried to get as many new experiences out of ESO as possible.

Regarding some of the other comments to my original post, it seems like my OP was too long and complicated for some readers to get my point. I could have just written:

At 600+ cp I feel it's a waste of money to use $100 on an apex mount when I have no new content where I can use the mount, until ESO releases a new DLC or expansion.

So just downloaded Elite Dangerous. Time to space out

Stopnaggin · March 2017

ChaosWotan wrote: »

Khenarthi, the point is that paying 100 dollars for one apex mount only makes sense, from my perspective at least, if you are playing the game very often, but you can't play it very often if 1) you have only 20-30 left of the game, and 2) ESO doesn't provide new questline content every quarter.

Now, if you can easily afford to buy one or more apex mounts in any case, just because you want it, at the beginning of the game, or half-way through it, then go for it, but it will be very expensive, and not "necessary" at all, since the game itself, at that level, will provide tons of new events and experiences that will keep newbies and casual gamers happy.

Personally I only bought the apex mount because I have 600+ cp and wanted something new and fresh in the game to look at, but having such an expensive mount is not much fun actually if you have no new quests where you can use it. And that's why apex mounts are not worth it without new quest DLCs.

But here's the thing, people like myself who are above cp cap, and done all the quests, still play the game. I create new toons all the time and level with friends or just for the hell of it. I have never used a mount on a quest, it mode of transportation. Personally I collect all the senche mounts, and will eventually get the one from the new crates. Not because of questing but because of preference. I also have all the non combat senche pets.

I don't get them to impress anyone, I get them as a personal preference. How many do I really need, just 1. How many do I have, all of them. Was it some big waste of money? That depends on the person, I don't view it that way. I mean I can only use one mount at a time. But if I decide to switch I can.

As far as no new content vs revenue from the crates. I would point to 1T and Homestead. While they aren't content they were both major updates, free updates. They took resources to make and very few people showed praise for their work, even though these were much needed 1T, and Homestead much asked for.

New content will be nice, and it has been announced, not going to get into the plus argument, another topic all together. I would also like to state that I would rather have new content that isn't broken on release, instead of rushed content that is broken.

Turelus · March 2017

ChaosWotan wrote: »

Turelus, I got 11 toons, nine vet alts, 7 master crafters . So I have really tried to get as many new experiences out of ESO as possible.

Regarding some of the other comments to my original post, it seems like my OP was too long and complicated for some readers to get my point. I could have just written:

At 600+ cp I feel it's a waste of money to use $100 on an apex mount when I have no new content where I can use the mount, until ESO releases a new DLC or expansion.

So just downloaded Elite Dangerous. Time to space out

Don't forget EVE Online is free now for Alpha Clones, they're limited in what they can do but I would highly recommend that MMO for anyone who likes spaceships. I've done a solid 8 years there myself and it's only ESO being more casual which took me away from it.

ChaosWotan · March 2017

Yes, read about both Eve and Elite, and decided to try Elite first because it's more of a first person flight experience, I read. But the mods don't like discussions here about other games, so better stop before thread gets closed.