Llydia

Wow! There are some great items up for auction this year! I'll try to spread the word.

... after I finish placing my bids, of course.

Another two big steps in the right direction.

1) Thank you for showing this is still on the radar and in active table discussion. I had begun to fear it was being ignored in favor of more positive topics.

2) I like all of the improvements mentioned. Kudos for creative a hybrid offering on the ATOs, where in-game is possible but probably more convenient to purchase from the Paragon Market - exactly as the Paragon Market was presented to be.

I'm still not in favor of random drops using real money unless the packs are at 20 points or less because the odds do not balance out the content unless everything included is desired - which the multiple threads have shown is not so for the majority of vocal forumites. On the other hand, I understand you wanting to introduce another desirable option to increase revenue. That's the long-term goal of any business.


* 2A) Of all the solutions presented in the various threads to date, my favorite for new costumes pieces (and any other highly sought items that will be part of the Super Packs) is to also make them available in the Paragon Market via bundles and a-la-carte for VIP only. It allows Premiums to try and get the pieces via Super Packs, or subscribe for the right to cherry pick their items.


Thank you for working hard in this and everything else to make the City Of Heroes game our favorite that all players can enjoy, support, and happily talk their friends' ears off about.

Thank you for the highlights, Von Krieger!

Now with bonus hat...

Took up the dare (Thank you, Fireheart, DarthDelicious, & Quietus!) to make a matching VIP hat. Sized extra large as was the scarf, plus a puff ball on top (easy to snip off if it turns out to be too much).



I like reversible hats.



Today I'm thankful for the encouraging and overwhelmingly creative place that is the City Of Heroes community. Thank you, everyone!

Well, it's not a clanket, but it is a bonus hat...

Basic design, standard size, featuring an accent star. Colors are reverse of the scarf: Gold body, yellow star.



I like to make hats reversible.



Today I'm thankful for the encouraging and overwhelmingly creative place that is the City Of Heroes community. Thank you, everyone!

Thank you for the highlights and screenshots, VK!

Here's what came of yesterday's reading and pondering every forum post I could find related to Super Packs.

If I am wrong understanding factors involved, please correct me.



Purpose

Super Packs are intended by Paragon Studios to increase income via consumable items and offer exclusive content while introducing a new element into the market.

These three objectives are not bad. In fact, they could be a great way to expand interest in the game. The only major problem I see is that attempting all three at once is too much too soon.

Here's my idea on how to introduce Super Packs so that they can be welcomed by the community and be a success for The Powers That Be.



Phase 1

The prerequisite is to update the market using the good ideas for consumable market items in the UNofficial: Repeat Purchase Store Items thread. Have the average price of items to be 25 Paragon Points. By having such low prices the items become pocket change, encouraging impulse buying. Prevent exploits by modifying the in-game stats on the individual items such as cooldown and recharges as needed, plus make the items non-tradable and non-sellable. Also, descriptions need to be expanded so that the players can know what an item is without resorting to out-of-game references.

Introduce the first Pack into the Paragon Market using only existing consumable items plus small set of merits (uncommon), no guarantees as to what is included. In tribute to the consumable nature of the items included by random roll, call it the Snack Pack. Price the Snack Pack at 20 Paragon Points. Allow unwanted cards to be returned for 2 Paragon Points.

Yes, this is 5 random items for less than the cost of an average regular item. The point is to make the Snack Pack a very enticing option. Let it introduce random rolls into the Paragon Market to players who would otherwise stick to predetermined purchases. Something that players will want to grab while logging into the game.

To promote the launch of this new element, for the first week it goes live have a market item redeemable for a free Snack Pack. VIP, Premium, and Free players can "purchase" this free Snack Pack once per Account.

For further ongoing exposure, when a player checking out of the Paragon Market has items totally 400 Paragon Points or more, include an opt-in gift on the confirmation screen for a free Snack Pack. Let VIPs have a toggle option to hide the gift, while Premium players are offered the gift every time.



Phase 2

Once the Snack Pack and random rolls are an accepted part of the game after 3-4 months, introduce the Super Pack.

This Super Pack contains new costume sets (no duplicate drops), ATOs, consumable items, larger set of merits (rare), guarantee at least one rare item, and pretty much everything as currently planned for the Super Pack. Include a streak-breaker for a drop to occur each for costume sets, ATOs, and other rare/very rare items after 4 purchases without those drops; meaning that in the first 5 Super Packs a player purchases there is a guarantee for at least 1 costume piece, 1 ATO, 1 larger set of merits, etc. All items are Account locked, still non-tradable and non-sellable.

Price the Super Pack at 80 Paragon Points. Allow unwanted ATOs and other rare/very rare items to be returned for 10 Paragon Points; unwanted common/uncommon cards are still returnable for 2 Paragon Points.

Costume sets, ATOs, and other rare/very rare items are exclusive for limited durations. After a few months, add new costume sets as Super Pack items and re-release the old costume sets for direct purchase in the Paragon Market. Some players have also suggested that VIPs can purchase the rare/very rare items as direct purchases in the Paragon Market while Premium players can only purchase them through the Super Pack. Release the ATOs and other rare/very rare items (except merits) as VIP-only direct purchases for three weeks every three months -or- one week every month.

For ongoing exposure, when a player checking out of the Paragon Market has items equal to or more than 1200 Paragon Points, include an opt-in gift on the confirmation screen for a free Super Pack. Still enforce the VIPs toggle option to hide the gift, while Premium players continue to be offered the gift every time.



Prevention

There is a very real concern of valued players that their addictions would be uncontrollable with desirable content obtained via unrestricted random drops. To prevent involuntary overspending, have a maximum purchase limit of 12 Packs per day applied per Account.

As an additional safety measure, allow players to set an option for a voluntary max-purchase limit of 5 Packs per day per Master Account. Each purchase allowance is on a 20-hour cooldown timer, similar to Tip Fame points.



Solution

The keys to the success of this strategy are promotions, low cost, and limited access.

The #1 selling strategy is free samples. That's why during the busiest retail hours already crowded store aisles are further clogged by tables where sales people offer free handouts which vary from a mouthful of pizza bites to a squirt from lotion testers.

By having the Pack prices so low, those who enjoy expendable items will get to spend plentifully and become a second form of advertisement as other players in game ask, "Whoa! What was that you just did?" Those who would not normally buy temporary items will feel freer to experiment on the pocket-change items. And those who would not buy consumable items at that price would certainly never be tempted by a higher price, so they are not lost revenue. Additionally, because the consumable items are electronic their strength is in quantity sold rather than a higher-priced few.

Finally, by having limited access to the rare/very rare items outside of the Super Pack, it encourages participation without making the highly-sought favorites be prohibitively exclusive.



TL;DR Goals

Those who would never buy a random Pack for any price will be able to directly purchase what they want in bundles and a-la-carte.

Those who would enjoy the option of random Packs can enjoy the plentiful variety and lucky chances.

Paragon Studios will get paid for their content either way.

And with items being Account restricted, there is no threat of RMT exploiters.

Did I miss anyone?

/e clap

Congratulations, Ashcraft! Well deserved!

Finally nailed the reason the reason why current repeatable rewards are not appealing to me at the current prices.

I don't want to be sold items of high value again and again and again. If I value something, I'm going to invest in it. If I am investing, I want something that will endure and will likely second-guess the purchase until I talk myself out of it.

Instead of trying to be talked into regularly buying a "whopper", sell me "chips" and "fries" - impulse extras at use-spare-change impulse prices. Things that will add bonus flavor without lasting intrinsic value.

Like chips and fries, the items have to have high repeatability for short duration (or long duration for short repeatability), so that by the time it runs out I'll want to grab another bag.

The voting results are in!

Hat -A-: 22 points

Hat -B-: 26 points

Hat -C-: 35 points

Write-ins for FPS Hat: 9 points

I really like some of the ideas for how Super Packs can become a welcome contribution to City Of Heroes.

You have gotten me thinking about a potential solution that would be win-win for everyone (well, except for RMTers) ...

Voting results are currently...

Hat -A-: 9 points

Hat -B-: 25 points

Hat -C-: 26 points

Another idea is to have themed Super Packs.

Super Pack A has a collection of attack temporary powers.

Super Pack B has a collection of various temporary powers: One personal buff, one debuff, one melee attack, one ranged attack, one wild card.

Super Pack C has various temp boosters (5 use each): XP increase, Windfall, mission teleport, etc.

Super Pack D has event unlockable costume pieces, invention recipe costume pieces and limited-use (say 60 minutes) vanity pets: Hellenic Sandals, Piston Boots, German Shepherd Pet, MVAS, etc.

Super Pack E has uncommon/rare/very rare enhancement recipes and ATIOs. Each pack guarantees an ATIOs and at least one other rare.

Super Pack F has salvage. At least two are rare/very rare, and at least one of those is Incarnate rare/very rare.

What other Super Pack consumable themes would work well in sets of 5?