Skyshard Prices!?

BNOC · June 2019

too expensive

Daedric_NB_187 wrote: »

I think the prices are fair. I bought all the ones I unlocked on my new stamcro, which came out to be about 48 skill points. Not too bad. TBH, I thought they were going to be way more expensive than it already is.

Do I wish they would have made them account wide? Yeah. But they didn't. This is the route they chose. I had the crowns to spend, so I did. It's a convenience thing. And I appreciate not having run all over Tamriel for the hundredth time to get them. If you don't agree with it, don't buy it. Nothing is forcing you to.

When you think about it though, you get 5 skill points for a zone pack that costs 800 crowns.
750 is £5.99 so 800 is £6.40, that means £1.28 per skill point and for you in specific - £61.44.

That's about triple the price of Elsweyr alone and actually, that's cost and a half of the £39.99 Base game + Morrowind + Summerset + Elsweyr + Mount + Elsweyr Digital Content package they're selling.

It's alright if you've got the crowns but you always have to remember that you're paying for them one way or another.

mistermacintosh · June 2019

other

Borderline pay-to-win. Take them out or change the cash price to something in game.

Uryel · June 2019

too expensive

BNOC wrote: »

When you think about it though, you get 5 skill points for a zone pack that costs 800 crowns.
750 is £5.99 so 800 is £6.40, that means £1.28 per skill point and for you in specific - £61.44.

There is slight bias in your calculation, though. You base it on the pack that has the worst per crown value. The more crowns you buy at once, the less expensive the price per crown is. A better way to average the price would be to add all packs crowns and costs, and then average a price per crown from that. That's an average of 160 crowns per euro, rounded up (from 159,99...). Calculation is as follow :

(750 + 1500 +3000 + 5500 + 14000 + 21000 crowns) / (6.99 +12.99 + 20.99 + 34.99 + 84.99 + 124.99 euros) = 160 crowns per euro.

That makes a 800 crowns skyshard pack average at 5 euros, for 5 skill points. That's one euro per skill point, so in that person's case, 48 euros for the skill points.

Of course, that's just an average, if someone forsees the buying of many skushards, they can go for the 21 000 crown pack that costs 121 euros and have a better bang for their bucks... Or the cost per skill point is higer if they purchase small amounts of crowns at a time, as you demonstrated. In the end, that's still quite expensive, but since it's entirely optional and can be obtained for free in the game, I guess the right price is what people are ready to pay...

BNOC · June 2019

too expensive

Uryel wrote: »

BNOC wrote: »

When you think about it though, you get 5 skill points for a zone pack that costs 800 crowns.
750 is £5.99 so 800 is £6.40, that means £1.28 per skill point and for you in specific - £61.44.

There is slight bias in your calculation, though. You base it on the pack that has the worst per crown value. The more crowns you buy at once, the less expensive the price per crown is. A better way to average the price would be to add all packs crowns and costs, and then average a price per crown from that. That's an average of 160 crowns per euro, rounded up (from 159,99...). Calculation is as follow :

(750 + 1500 +3000 + 5500 + 14000 + 21000 crowns) / (6.99 +12.99 + 20.99 + 34.99 + 84.99 + 124.99 euros) = 160 crowns per euro.

That makes a 800 crowns skyshard pack average at 5 euros, for 5 skill points. That's one euro per skill point, so in that person's case, 48 euros for the skill points.

Of course, that's just an average, if someone forsees the buying of many skushards, they can go for the 21 000 crown pack that costs 121 euros and have a better bang for their bucks... Or the cost per skill point is higer if they purchase small amounts of crowns at a time, as you demonstrated. In the end, that's still quite expensive, but since it's entirely optional and can be obtained for free in the game, I guess the right price is what people are ready to pay...

Yeah that's true and I'm sure if you work it out against Eso+ Crowns to cost then it's even less.

You're right that the right price is what people are ready to pay and I suppose only they know if they reduced cost slightly, whether the extra sales would outweigh the loss.

Just seemed crazy that however we look at it, for 50 skill points, you pay more than the cost of the game, it's DLC's and some other bits.

rootimus · June 2019

other

Shouldn't even be a thing. When you create a new character you should have the option to copy the progress of any of your existing characters (quest progression, level, skillpoints, skyshards - everything). Not everything has to be monetised.

MartiniDaniels · June 2019

too expensive

This is 15000 per shard in gold equivalent, on PC EU. Obviously time spent to earn 15000 gold/50 crowns is notably higher then time to grab skyshard. So this service is for lazy whales, that's all.

burglar · June 2019

other

Skyshards are free.

Honestly... fastest way to get lots of skill points? Level to 50, then to avoid having loading screens, get all skyshards in cyrodiil and complete group events in public dungeons. Then, do daily activity finders. You can have a barebones master crafter who won't die while travelling from the couch to the fridge.

This comment made me throw up in my mouth a little:

mistermacintosh wrote: »

Borderline pay-to-win. Take them out or change the cash price to something in game.

burglar · June 2019

other

rootimus wrote: »

Shouldn't even be a thing. When you create a new character you should have the option to copy the progress of any of your existing characters (quest progression, level, skillpoints, skyshards - everything). Not everything has to be monetised.

I sort of agree, however, allowing too much transfer of progress means less replayability, means things are accomplished too fast, and things get too easy, and the game holds no value. Then people quit.

Honestly, I like it better when games make one character do everything like they did in FFXI and FFXIV. But, people really want to feel like things are easy, so I'm guessing that the gaming industry's solution to that is to fragment the difficulty between characters, making people reach the 'pinnacle' more quickly. Little do those players know that ZOS has trixx0red them, and the real benefits of your hard work come from having multiple characters to do multiple daily quests and whatnot.

Not to get all existential, but a lot of times, we should be thankful for desiring something because it gives us the impetus to keep on keepin on, which is hard to come by for us first world folks.

Michae · June 2019

other

I don't care about this pricing, I'm not gonna buy this upgrades in that state anyway. If it was account wide I might consider it someday but I'm just not that crazy about playing alts to be needing all that skill points.

JKorr · June 2019

FlopsyPrince wrote: »

El_Borracho wrote: »

Just so I understand, people pay money to buy this game, then pay more money to avoid playing the game, then complain that they are given the option to spend more money to avoid playing the game. ZOS, you guys are geniuses!

I simply don't understand the aversion to gathering skyshards as part of leveling an alternate character. You have to level the new character and the new character's skills by playing the game, why not make running delves and hunting skyshards part of it? Its not hard. Its not much more time consuming than running main quest/zone story quests/guild quests to speed level.

I can see it now, ZOS will next offer "Scrolls of Leveling" in the guild store where you can use crowns to buy experience to level your alternate character. And people will complain that it is again too expensive.

Running around needed items like skyshards is grindy, not "playing the game". Technically anything is, but the game could have something that required you to daily run (not ride) between Alinoir and Shimmerine, for example. That would technically be "playing the game" but would add no value. The same is true of collecting skyshards on multiple characters. That grind keeps me from playing much of the game I would rather play.

Strange. I've never thought of getting the skyshards as being "grindy". Of course, I get the skyshards as part of the normal "playing the game" part of actually playing the game. If my character is clearing a delve/dungeon, is there some reason I should NOT grab the shard in there before leaving? While my character is out exploring or traveling for questing purposes, should I NOT grab the shard that's in plain sight 10 feet off the path?

Now if I did the quests and exploring and DID NOT pick up the shards while there and had to go back and re-do all the stuff I just did, that *would* be grindy. Picking them up while playing the game isn't exactly grindy. Unless you're one of the people who only want to pvp, and consider anything pve "grindy".

generalmyrick · June 2019

just right!

Michae wrote: »

I don't care about this pricing, I'm not gonna buy this upgrades in that state anyway. If it was account wide I might consider it someday but I'm just not that crazy about playing alts to be needing all that skill points.

i agree, they should be account wide.

FlopsyPrince · June 2019

too expensive

Iluvrien wrote: »

FlopsyPrince wrote: »

Tasear wrote: »

SirAxen wrote: »

When things start popping up on the Crown store for super cheap you will know the game is dying.

Nah people wanted it. They begged for years for it.

What we got was not what most of us asked for.

And yet it is what more than one person predicted in, and based on, the request threads.

I know it was predicted, but the claim was that it was what was asked for. This is not what was asked for by any means.

FlopsyPrince · June 2019

too expensive

JKorr wrote: »

FlopsyPrince wrote: »

El_Borracho wrote: »

Just so I understand, people pay money to buy this game, then pay more money to avoid playing the game, then complain that they are given the option to spend more money to avoid playing the game. ZOS, you guys are geniuses!

I simply don't understand the aversion to gathering skyshards as part of leveling an alternate character. You have to level the new character and the new character's skills by playing the game, why not make running delves and hunting skyshards part of it? Its not hard. Its not much more time consuming than running main quest/zone story quests/guild quests to speed level.

I can see it now, ZOS will next offer "Scrolls of Leveling" in the guild store where you can use crowns to buy experience to level your alternate character. And people will complain that it is again too expensive.

Running around needed items like skyshards is grindy, not "playing the game". Technically anything is, but the game could have something that required you to daily run (not ride) between Alinoir and Shimmerine, for example. That would technically be "playing the game" but would add no value. The same is true of collecting skyshards on multiple characters. That grind keeps me from playing much of the game I would rather play.

Strange. I've never thought of getting the skyshards as being "grindy". Of course, I get the skyshards as part of the normal "playing the game" part of actually playing the game. If my character is clearing a delve/dungeon, is there some reason I should NOT grab the shard in there before leaving? While my character is out exploring or traveling for questing purposes, should I NOT grab the shard that's in plain sight 10 feet off the path?

Now if I did the quests and exploring and DID NOT pick up the shards while there and had to go back and re-do all the stuff I just did, that *would* be grindy. Picking them up while playing the game isn't exactly grindy. Unless you're one of the people who only want to pvp, and consider anything pve "grindy".

I have 8 characters on the US server and 5 on the EU. I mostly run solo. I have the following choice when spending some play time:

1) Run more quests, perhaps in a zone where I have not done all the quests or even one where I haven't been recently.

2) Figure out which character I want to run for SkyShards in a zone that has some left. I then have to run around picking up skyshards instead of following interesting quests.

3) Run a main quest line in a given zone realizing it is not that efficient to get skyshards that way, but I will get a few over time.

This is a major annoyance as I seek to max the crafting of all my alts. I am fine with running quests multiple times and I do desire to complete the "do all quests" achievement on one character (at least), but I am kept from that because I have to go to where skyshards are until I max those out for my alts.

Something like this rubs salt in my wounds, since it is overpriced for the value while dangling it in front of me. It is also per character, which makes it even more overpriced.

Though even account-wide is not really account-wide since the NA and EU servers are separate. The loading screens talk about "account-wide" in many places, but they are lying. I don't have my NA mounts on the EU, for example, even though it is the same PS4 account. Nor do I have my housing.

I would have plenty of game to play for my characters without facing the skyshard grind, so arguing it is necessary is ignorant.

Paazhahdrimaak · June 2019

other

Iluvrien wrote: »

Shouldn’t be available for sale in the first place.

I agree with this.

But i think they should be more expensive and not available on a character until they hit champion levels

darthgummibear_ESO · June 2019

too expensive

50 crowns per, making the average zone cost 800 crowns, which is conveniently just enough to make you buy the next tier of crown pack. The cheapest is 750.

idk · June 2019

just right!

Wow. Only 42% suggest they are two expensive. Since many of those would have said they were two expensive regardless of the price it seems Zos priced these very well.

Marginis · June 2019

other

I mean, I'm okay with them being in the crown store for those that want them there. I got all mine without spending a cent because it wasn't an option at that time in the first place. So... any price is really fine considering they weren't available before at all for crowns in my opinion.

SirAxen · June 2019

just right!

Tasear wrote: »

SirAxen wrote: »

When things start popping up on the Crown store for super cheap you will know the game is dying.

Nah people wanted it. They begged for years for it.

I was meaning more in general terms. Most people don't realize that.

laksikus · June 2019

just right!

El_Borracho wrote: »

@FloppyTouch I'm not disagreeing that the price is laughably high. I also agree that skyshard hunting can be a grind. But

laksikus wrote: »

El_Borracho wrote: »

FlopsyPrince wrote: »

El_Borracho wrote: »

Just so I understand, people pay money to buy this game, then pay more money to avoid playing the game, then complain that they are given the option to spend more money to avoid playing the game. ZOS, you guys are geniuses!

I simply don't understand the aversion to gathering skyshards as part of leveling an alternate character. You have to level the new character and the new character's skills by playing the game, why not make running delves and hunting skyshards part of it? Its not hard. Its not much more time consuming than running main quest/zone story quests/guild quests to speed level.

I can see it now, ZOS will next offer "Scrolls of Leveling" in the guild store where you can use crowns to buy experience to level your alternate character. And people will complain that it is again too expensive.

Running around needed items like skyshards is grindy, not "playing the game". Technically anything is, but the game could have something that required you to daily run (not ride) between Alinoir and Shimmerine, for example. That would technically be "playing the game" but would add no value. The same is true of collecting skyshards on multiple characters. That grind keeps me from playing much of the game I would rather play.

You get over 50 skill points just by leveling to level 50. You get at least 5 more through the basic main quest. You get anywhere from 3-6 more skill points by doing a zone story quest. It takes about 2-3 zones to level up to 50, so conservatively, that is 10 more skill points for a total of 65, and that is without counting the bonus skill points you get at level 25 or 30 or whatever.

With 10 skills and 2 ultimates, that's 24 skill points. Racial passives are another 9. Throw in 2 for persuasion and intimidation and we are up to 33. Which leaves over 30 points for passives to fill. And this is all without grabbing a single skyshard. In fact, this would likely entail actively avoiding grabbing skyshards on quests you are doing for leveling.

Exactly how many skill points do you need from skyshards on your alternate? Are you trying to make every character a master crafter? If so, great, its your game. But that is an unnecessary luxury. Just as buying skyshards is an unnecessary luxury. Therefore, you should be prepared to pay unnecessary prices for it.

Its really no different than paying gold to teleport in the game instead of riding another 10 seconds to a wayshrine with your mount. Except you are using real money to gather something that would take, what, 30-45 minutes to run through a zone? A zone you are likely grinding exp on to level that new character anyway...

lets see what my nb needs on skillpoints other than crafting skills and for 1 pvp and 1 pve build only:

22 skills+morphs: 44 skill points
12x2 class passives: 24 skill points
11x2 Weapon passives: 24 skill points
Armor passives: 21 skill points
Guild passives: 21 skill points
alliance war passives: 12 skill points
racials: 9 skill points
Medicinal Use: 3 skill points

thats on total 158 skill points

So, again, you are talking about a luxury. Only this time it is enough skill points to be able to transition one character between PVE and PVP without having to respec. One that can go from DW/Bow to 2H with a whole new set of skills and fully stacked in all armor passives. Which is about as necessary as it would be to have multiple master crafters.

I fail to understand your outrage. Should this be free? Because you also fail to suggest a reasonable price in order to avoid the horror of having to gather enough skyshards so you can run a character that can do everything in every part of the game. All while defending paying real-world money to avoid respecing your character so you can avoid spending in-game gold to do so. Which is the most confounding part of this debate.

But the best part? The zones from which they are offering to sell skyshards are the smallest and easiest to gather them from. Its not Cyrodiil, its Stros M'Kai and Bleakrock

so instead of getting one char for pve and pvp you recomend to level 2 chars through main quest+ 2 zones to get 2 crippled builds that cant use its fullest potential cos you cant unlock half the passives.

and what outrage? i simply stated my skill points.
I think the cost is just right. I would never buy it cos i need to grind mage guild/psijic anyway, and i just pick up skyshards while doing that.

and where did i defend anything? nowhere unless you count my next sentence.

Yes buying skyshards is worth it for certain people and i can understand them. playing the same stupid quests for the 15th character is just plain stupid if you just want to get it to endgame status. eg endgame trial pve or pvp. I would rather spend more time doing what is fun (pvp) than doing the same easy and boring content again (mainquest)

El_Borracho · June 2019

other

FlopsyPrince wrote: »

El_Borracho wrote: »

@FloppyTouch I'm not disagreeing that the price is laughably high. I also agree that skyshard hunting can be a grind. But

laksikus wrote: »

El_Borracho wrote: »

FlopsyPrince wrote: »

El_Borracho wrote: »

Just so I understand, people pay money to buy this game, then pay more money to avoid playing the game, then complain that they are given the option to spend more money to avoid playing the game. ZOS, you guys are geniuses!

I simply don't understand the aversion to gathering skyshards as part of leveling an alternate character. You have to level the new character and the new character's skills by playing the game, why not make running delves and hunting skyshards part of it? Its not hard. Its not much more time consuming than running main quest/zone story quests/guild quests to speed level.

I can see it now, ZOS will next offer "Scrolls of Leveling" in the guild store where you can use crowns to buy experience to level your alternate character. And people will complain that it is again too expensive.

Running around needed items like skyshards is grindy, not "playing the game". Technically anything is, but the game could have something that required you to daily run (not ride) between Alinoir and Shimmerine, for example. That would technically be "playing the game" but would add no value. The same is true of collecting skyshards on multiple characters. That grind keeps me from playing much of the game I would rather play.

You get over 50 skill points just by leveling to level 50. You get at least 5 more through the basic main quest. You get anywhere from 3-6 more skill points by doing a zone story quest. It takes about 2-3 zones to level up to 50, so conservatively, that is 10 more skill points for a total of 65, and that is without counting the bonus skill points you get at level 25 or 30 or whatever.

With 10 skills and 2 ultimates, that's 24 skill points. Racial passives are another 9. Throw in 2 for persuasion and intimidation and we are up to 33. Which leaves over 30 points for passives to fill. And this is all without grabbing a single skyshard. In fact, this would likely entail actively avoiding grabbing skyshards on quests you are doing for leveling.

Exactly how many skill points do you need from skyshards on your alternate? Are you trying to make every character a master crafter? If so, great, its your game. But that is an unnecessary luxury. Just as buying skyshards is an unnecessary luxury. Therefore, you should be prepared to pay unnecessary prices for it.

Its really no different than paying gold to teleport in the game instead of riding another 10 seconds to a wayshrine with your mount. Except you are using real money to gather something that would take, what, 30-45 minutes to run through a zone? A zone you are likely grinding exp on to level that new character anyway...

lets see what my nb needs on skillpoints other than crafting skills and for 1 pvp and 1 pve build only:

22 skills+morphs: 44 skill points
12x2 class passives: 24 skill points
11x2 Weapon passives: 24 skill points
Armor passives: 21 skill points
Guild passives: 21 skill points
alliance war passives: 12 skill points
racials: 9 skill points
Medicinal Use: 3 skill points

thats on total 158 skill points

So, again, you are talking about a luxury. Only this time it is enough skill points to be able to transition one character between PVE and PVP without having to respec. One that can go from DW/Bow to 2H with a whole new set of skills and fully stacked in all armor passives. Which is about as necessary as it would be to have multiple master crafters.

I fail to understand your outrage. Should this be free? Because you also fail to suggest a reasonable price in order to avoid the horror of having to gather enough skyshards so you can run a character that can do everything in every part of the game. All while defending paying real-world money to avoid respecing your character so you can avoid spending in-game gold to do so. Which is the most confounding part of this debate.

But the best part? The zones from which they are offering to sell skyshards are the smallest and easiest to gather them from. Its not Cyrodiil, its Stros M'Kai and Bleakrock

You are leaving out crafting.

Yeah, it is not required for each character, but it is a allowed for all characters, so I am playing the game that way and it takes a lot of skill points to max those.

Agreed. I am leaving out crafting. Just as I am leaving out the other option of maxing out PVE and PVP skills on a single alternate character. But most players don't make every character a crafter, PVE and PVP world beater, etc.

I have nothing against people buying skyshards. I'm not some sort of purist who thinks grinding is virtuous. But if you are going to go above the basics for an alternate, the two options are grinding and buying. Until this month, the only option was grinding. And now there is the option to buy.

I have 5 characters. One is a master crafter and a tank. One is a PVP only character. One is a VMA sorc. One is a fresh out of the wrapper necro. The last is my DPS main. It would take forever to grind all skyshards to max all out. It would now cost a lot of money to do the same. So I don't and I live with it and I could care less. It can be done. In fact, for a very long time as this buy skyshards option just happened.

Simpy put, buying a skyshard is a luxury, optional, bonus, whatever you want to call it. Just because it is offered doesn't mean it has to be cheap or free. For instance, riding training. Now, you want to talk about a grind...

FlopsyPrince · June 2019

too expensive

El_Borracho wrote: »

Agreed. I am leaving out crafting. Just as I am leaving out the other option of maxing out PVE and PVP skills on a single alternate character. But most players don't make every character a crafter, PVE and PVP world beater, etc.

...

Simpy put, buying a skyshard is a luxury, optional, bonus, whatever you want to call it. Just because it is offered doesn't mean it has to be cheap or free. For instance, riding training. Now, you want to talk about a grind...

That is irrelevant. Crafting is a key part of the game. Sure it isn't required, but neither is any other area. It is a grindy part and I can live with that, but adding skyshards makes it more grindy than is necessary to be active. That happens of course, but makes it more likely for an altoholic like me to get fed up with the game.

I am nowhere near that now, but that is what did WoW in for me at the end of Mists. I hope it doesn't happen here.

Vrienda · June 2019

too expensive

If they were 100 crowns a pack and account wide then maybe I could justify buying them. But I still think they shouldn’t be for sale. Skyshards should be account wide.

Goregrinder · June 2019

cheap!

Iluvrien wrote: »

Shouldn’t be available for sale in the first place.

Pretend it's not, and go farm them manually like normal.

GLP323b14_ESO · June 2019

other

Feels like P2W to me.

karekiz · June 2019

other

Let us get them gifted

Iluvrien · June 2019

other

Goregrinder wrote: »

Iluvrien wrote: »

Shouldn’t be available for sale in the first place.

Pretend it's not, and go farm them manually like normal.

I’ve been doing the latter on five characters. So far.

The former? You do realise how creeping monetisation affects us all, right?

max_only · June 2019

just right!

I wish I could find the thread before they were released with some console folk rejoicing and planning on buying them all.

Goregrinder · June 2019

cheap!

Iluvrien wrote: »

Goregrinder wrote: »

Iluvrien wrote: »

Shouldn’t be available for sale in the first place.

Pretend it's not, and go farm them manually like normal.

I’ve been doing the latter on five characters. So far.

The former? You do realise how creeping monetisation affects us all, right?

Yeah, players that don't pay anything beyond the entrance fee get to keep playing the game because players like me are fronting all your ride costs.

FlopsyPrince · June 2019

too expensive

max_only wrote: »

I wish I could find the thread before they were released with some console folk rejoicing and planning on buying them all.

I never saw that thread. All the ones I saw had people saying they would likely be too expensive. A few may have thought them worth a lot of Crowns, but few enough that none stick in my mind.

I wouldn't be surprised if those who claimed they would buy them all even at a higher price were trolling.

Jhalin · June 2019

other

Iluvrien wrote: »

Shouldn’t be available for sale in the first place.

Ditto