BalticBlues wrote: »

Ashryn wrote: »

I was happy to pay a sub all these years and help keep this game going so that those 'other people' could play it free. [...] It wasn't an event that was held to benefit the poor 'other people', now was it?

As all Chapter events, first it is an event to SELL more of the chapter.
This time the biggest event bonus for buyers might be getting another DLC for free.
So this certainly is not a event for "free" content and "poor" people at all.
This is an event so that more people are buying the chapter and "keep this game going".
This way you will also benefit, even if the free DLC might be not good enough for you.

BalticBlues wrote: »

Perhaps some people already forgot what real life is about?
Life is about making other people happy.
Then getting this happiness back is better than anything else...

Alphawolf01A wrote: »

News flash! Real life doesn't work that way.

I can assure you it works exactly this way.
You probably will not find the job/love/passion of your life until you understand that.
Because you will not have happy customers/partners/kids until you do so.

You know I'm happy for others who this is way more useful for than myself too, but it's okay for subscribers it's not useful to be disappointed and not feel the same. It doesn't necessarily translate to how they feel about others irl. Games are something many of us do for self care and get a bit selfish while doing anyway, without it really having an impact on irl.

GoodFella146 wrote: »

Nice to see those loyal to ESO Plus get punished. I know it's not technically being punished but it still feels that way.

Maybe if dlc is really bad it's a punishment. Other than that though, whether you sub or not you didn't own it before.

The dlc is a nice reward, even more for non eso+ player

I most likely wont have any use for it due to eso+ but im happy for those who needed it

So the mystery reward is the next DLC? When I already have two ESO+ accounts? Sheesh. OK, no more running around Blackwood on alts to get that silly achievement.

I’m done with this event. Don’t want the hellfire house anyway. And, besides, there’s that other you-know-what to play…

From my perspective: Murkmire not only gave decent story quests but also Blackrose Prison, which increases the DLC's longevity. It appears Deadlands doesn't have any arena, trial or equivalent, so what is left there after completing all quests? I don't think they're equivalent in value, and frankly, it's underwhelming.

Roztlin45 wrote: »

Well, we get a free dlc. Complaints about a free gift!?! Sub or no sub, we got something. We complain about zos's short. Comings and most are legit..but a give away. Gee's

Unless you sub year round in which case you get nothing.
Its a dlc most will complete in a week and never go back to unless there's an event for it.

Elvenheart wrote: »

Blacknight841 wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

As a subscriber I feel like I should be outraged, but honestly I'm just indifferent.

That’s because deep down, you knew something like this was coming.

Looking back, isn’t it rather funny/sad now what we were all speculating the surprise would be? A new companion? Sweetwater Cascades? A two person mount? Me, I suggested it might finally be a way to hide armor slots or to let our companions wear visible headgear. What were we thinking?? 🤣

PS-But I am very happy for anyone this DOES benefit.

I agree with all of that! If this had been an extra surprise or portrayed as part of the Blackwood promotion, I think that would have gone over much better — I certainly wouldn’t have minded! Others getting free stuff doesn’t take away anything from me and I can be happy for them. It is the matter of raising expectations and then disappointment. Would I have asked for more than the other rewards? No, and ultimately, I refocus on since I was happy with what I was getting before and enjoying my Blackwood experience, I should go on with doing so. But raising expectations for an incredible amazing reward for the whole community is a letdown then because you are given to expect something that is not. And for me, it was moreso the fact that loyal subscribers were not considered at all that bothered me. I was not counting on the reward being something that would interest me personally (although one hopes) but I was counting on it being truly for everyone who participated in the event because that is what I understood to be advertised. And no, the whole rent-but-now-you-own thing does not apply. It’s a service that we pay to access in different ways. If you don’t subscribe at all or only sporadically and this benefits you, great! It is only the way in which it was done that I wished to call ZOS’s attention to and what it communicates to players, or at least how it felt to me and I think many others. I hope that anyone who takes the time to read this can understand this. I am not asking for more, nor wishing that anyone else would get less. It is really about the marketing, communication and whether that leaves one with hope raised to be disappointed or feeling like a valued customer or not. That is all.

Paulytnz wrote: »

I'm kind of confused here.....

So are you guys telling me that if I didn't have ESO+ and without this new "Free DLC" - that, I otherwise wouldn't have access to the Deadlands zone and last half of the story?

It was like that for all the years. Chapter purchase never granted any dlc's. It's separate content drop.

colossalvoids wrote: »

Paulytnz wrote: »

I'm kind of confused here.....

So are you guys telling me that if I didn't have ESO+ and without this new "Free DLC" - that, I otherwise wouldn't have access to the Deadlands zone and last half of the story?

It was like that for all the years. Chapter purchase never granted any dlc's. It's separate content drop.

Well I didn't know, I get ESO+ for the other benefits so it never was an issue. This really feels like a crappy system if I am tbh. You have to pay twice for a chapter for the full story and all the content.

GW2 gives you the whole damn thing and it's a lot more content!

I think I now understand why they say things like "you are the best community in any MMO" in their streams lol. The best in letting them do things like this to us.

That's not a low blow, stab or anything at the game or ZOS either, just an observation. I do like the game and all, just a little shocked at this is all. Just wow really.....

Meh,I would have prefered to have last year's dlc for free rather or a free dlc of choice.
The Reach was interesting & nice,Deadlands isnt my cup of tea.

Thanks for nothing again.

Free DLC pretty neat in case I ever stop subbing. Don't think I'll get the collector's edition. Looking forward to the cascading box as well.

Not minding the grind on a few characters, marketing trick or not, I'm in for the fun, area is pretty packed right now.
Next to the fun, there are coffers to fetch. So, having a good time here.

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Nchuleftingth wrote: »

Out of the 3 categories of players here, only one of them actually wins.

1) Free players.
2) People who buy the DLCs and chapters but aren't subscribers.
3) ESO+ subscribers.

As far as I can tell, the only one here who wins in the scenario presented before us here is 2.
Free players don't get anything unless they shelve out for Blackwood, so, no reward. ESO+ subscribers don't get anything they wouldn't have gotten originally. So technically, there's also no reward.

Ergo, it's pretty underwhelming for 2/3. You made a pretty big deal about this being a cool, "mystery reward."

Again, just my 2 cents.

It's beneficial to...
*New players who entered this chapter for this chapter
*Mostly Free players (no sub, pick and choose chapters/dlc to own) who don't own Blackwood but are interested (it's effectively 20 dollars for both Blackwood and Waking Flame RN. That's 10 dollars each. Many buyers unwilling to pay at 40 bucks will do this price)
*ESO+ subscribers that do let sub lapse

I think if they thought this prize wasn't gonna get them more money because it benefited a lot of people, then it wouldn't be happening, imo. This makes buying Blackwood for the first time a fantastic deal. 20 dollars for both Blackwood and Waking Flame.

it brings sales to a point, i have multiple accounts (another topic) but i typically only get new content at release on one of them and i wait till they either become DLC or go on sale to buy on the others. For Summerset and Greymoor i bought additional copies of the chapters just so i could gain access to the houses, one of which they sold later in the crown store. you can do the conversions on that to IRL funds. So if we are going to go with a value added model a house would have been additional value, that would have paid for itself.

ultimately its their choice on what to do. All i hope is that in the future they learn that if they are going to hype a "Mystery Reward" that they make sure that its something that will benefit all categories of players. Otherwise, just include it in the outline.

BalticBlues wrote: »

Perhaps some people already forgot what real life is about?
Life is about making other people happy.

I wish ZOS thought life was about making paying customers happy.