Cons of a new char slot

[KBern]

TheSpin wrote:

Fewer character slots means encouraging people to upgrade to station pass or buying a second account.  That's the viewpoint of SoE.

They just added new character slots within the last 6 months and I don't think they intend on adding more right away.

Yep it is all about the mighty $$.

They know by now the altaholics all have 6 filled slots.  They also know the same altaholics will want to play a Sarnak just to try the new newbie content.

They are going to wait it out to see how many they can get to drop $$ to buy a new slot.

[Vonotar]

Saurakk@Guk wrote:

TheSpin wrote:

Fewer character slots means encouraging people to upgrade to station pass or buying a second account.  That's the viewpoint of SoE.

They just added new character slots within the last 6 months and I don't think they intend on adding more right away.

Yep it is all about the mighty $$.

They know by now the altaholics all have 6 filled slots.  They also know the same altaholics will want to play a Sarnak just to try the new newbie content.

They are going to wait it out to see how many they can get to drop $$ to buy a new slot.

You do know we get 7 slots now... don't you?I can't find the link (have a horrible suspicion it was an Allakazam interview, or even worse, buried in a report of an interview at fan faire) but there is a technical limitation caused by the present launchpad program (i.e. not everquest itself).The launchpad belongs to a different branch of SoE and therefore not easily upgraded to cope.

[Vonotar]

FOUNDor at least a partial reference

Q&A:

• Since we're getting a new race, will we get another character slot? Scott Hartsman says they'd like to, but that decision involves the Station and it gets into lawyers and contracts. It's not that it's impossible, but it's time consuming and prohibitive.

LinkI know i've seen more info on these forums, but there are so many people bleating for an extra slot that every search parameter I can think of just produces page after page of request threads and not the thread i'm looking for.

[UlteriorModem]

Lawyers ?

What the...

[Killerbee3000]

didnt you know that for every newborn universities produce 3 lawyers?

[Freddy101]

StormCinder wrote:

Freddy101 wrote:

StormCinder wrote:

This has been asked and answered dozens of times.  All decisions are business decisions.  There is no technical limitation.  Any such expansion can be accomplished for a price.  I'm sure SOE has dozens of people doing the cost/benefit analysis of expanding the char slots.  They decided it's not in their business interest to do so.

People who say it's not worth buying an expanded account or an extra account:  that's YOUR business decision.  I would love a Ferrari F430, but I'm not willing to pay for it.  If/when they decide to upgrade my Corvette at no additional fee, then I'll consider it.  Until then, I'm keeping my $285,000 (and I believe I'm not the only person to feel this way--ARE YOU LISTENING FERRARI?)  I should be allowed to drive every model of car out there.

They made their business decision, now you make yours.

SC

Your analogy is horribly flawed. I own a ferrarri but the tires aren't being held hostage in fact I get to experience all the thing ferrari has to offer for the price tag. If I wan't luxeries that's a different matter. I don't feel being able to create one of each character class avalible is a luxury. In fact. the dealership gave me about 10 k in free options to entice me to purchase. See the difference? If you don't you need to live your life another 30 years or so before you will understand. At least in my opinion.

Are you seriously saying that being able to play an online video game is NOT a luxury??  You have a seriously skewed view of the world.  Must be a Pepsi-generation thing I'll never understand.

Kids.

SC

I am a lot older then the pepsi generation by at least 25 years. Your still floundering away with your selective reading comprehension.

A video game is marked in my budget as an entertainment expense not a luxury. I do believe though that the pepsi generation may consider it a luxury so you've dated yourself a bit there. Either way the original point you conveniently glossed over was that me asking to be able to create one of each class type in the monthly fee is not in my opinion above and beyond or a luxury but an entitlement. I know that word really scares the p.c. conditioned generation especially in north america but I don't create reality it just is what it is.

Like I said. My car purchase came with many perk offers to entice me to buy. I wonder how many cars they would sell by comparison were they to instead of adding incentives and enticements simply tell you up front the base price doesn't include the seat covers or heater/airvents, radio, back and side windows, carpeting, that annoying passenger side mirror apparently nobody uses these days and etc since in reality they are just luxuries that aren't required to drive the car to get from a - b. Something tells me they would be turning away more customers then they do with the incentives they currently offer, exactly like soe unwittingly does in their confused misconceptions about how to squeeze more form their [obviously from the above posters indications] dim and groomed customer base.

[karrani]

Heh heh.  Every person is entitled to 24 char slots...heh heh heh!!!

[Freddy101]

Banedon@Antonia Bayle wrote:

FOUNDor at least a partial reference

Q&A:

• Since we're getting a new race, will we get another character slot? Scott Hartsman says they'd like to, but that decision involves the Station and it gets into lawyers and contracts. It's not that it's impossible, but it's time consuming and prohibitive.

LinkI know i've seen more info on these forums, but there are so many people bleating for an extra slot that every search parameter I can think of just produces page after page of request threads and not the thread i'm looking for.

Lol I had to comment on scott's comments. I just love the new trend you see in company's across the board where one division will claim to be handicapped by the other. It makes the ability to wash off problems so much easier these days the bad man can even be a part of the same corporate umbrella and somehow they consider it a valid argument and the consumers go along with it. Lol I really need to drop about 30 years of my life and sell to the consumer minded people I see running rampant in todays north american society you are all just groomed and ripe for the picking indeed. At least back in the day companies and figure heads would pretend or evne try to to functionally be more sincere or at least have way better or even plausible excuses. In this day and age more and more I notice it doesn't even seem to matter what they say as they just white wash issues with the most assinine excuses imagineable. Oh and did I mentioned my company I own's vp is suing my wife on their own behalf because she didtn get dinner on the table and my income suffered as a result which effected their take? I tried to explain it to the wife but somehow she just didn't understand even though I have nothing to do with it? Right, well reason you didnt' hear that is because I don't operate that way  nor should soe.

[Freddy101]

karrani wrote:

Heh heh.  Every person is entitled to 24 char slots...heh heh heh!!!

Mmmm yum, I need this consumer in my store. Now! Let me guess, they offer a course in university these days on how to be a proper consumer? Chuckles. That must be right after the credit card/candy store vendors you see on the way into the university doors. Well, maybe some things are just beyond understanding for some. Just glad I am not a professional and well groomed consumer. I suppose aspiring to something, heck anything, is better then nothing though so good on you guys. The economy needs that good consumer attitude anyway so I am all for it not against it. I was just attempting to share a bit of wisdom on obviously welded ear holes. I will leave you to your thread and by all means go out of your way to support a flawed position that only serves to bleed you of more of you hard earned money. It's what makes the world go around after all. Your essentially a little matrix battery how cool for you

[karrani]

Freddy101 wrote:

karrani wrote:

Heh heh.  Every person is entitled to 24 char slots...heh heh heh!!!

Mmmm yum, I need this consumer in my store.

I am guessing you have not reached the age where you understand sarcasm.

[UlteriorModem]

karrani wrote:

Freddy101 wrote:

karrani wrote:

Heh heh.  Every person is entitled to 24 char slots...heh heh heh!!!

Mmmm yum, I need this consumer in my store.

I am guessing you have not reached the age where you understand sarcasm.

OH the Irony !

[Facemak]

I played EQ for over 5 years and adding new characters on new servers kept me continuously in the game.  EQ 2 with the slot limitations, server variety limitations (although I did come back to play on PvP for a few months) kept me from subscribing for more than 2-3 months at a time.  When I get bored with my existing characters, I find it entertaining to start up a new char and have some lowbie fun.   I may be rare example, but you would think me stopping my sub every 3 months for 6 months at a time is not good economics.  If you want people to pay for station pass, make it unlimited chars (virtually) and allow people to play more than one game at at time.

[liveja]

Freddy101 wrote:

A video game is marked in my budget as an entertainment expense not a luxury.

I'm wondering: what's the difference? A luxury is something you don't need to survive, & the last I heard, "entertainment expenses" are not needed for survival.

Either way the original point you conveniently glossed over was that me asking to be able to create one of each class type in the monthly fee is not in my opinion above and beyond or a luxury but an entitlement.

I'm sorry, but could you please explain what you mean by the above statement? I'm having a hard time parsing it. Are you, for instance, saying you're "entitled" to 24 characters? That would seem to be the case, since you explicitly distinguish between a "luxury" or "above & beyond" & "entitlement". Are you sure you know what the word "entitlement" means? Because I'm not sure it means what you maybe think it means.

I know that word really scares the p.c. conditioned generation especially in north america but I don't create reality it just is what it is.

Well, truth to tell, I do get pretty concerned when people use the word "entitlement" incorrectly.

I'm all for more character slots, & I think it would make good sense to allow for another slot for ROK, but I certainly will not go claiming I'm "entitled" to one, or comparing the addition of one more slot to the side & back windows on my car.

[KBern]

Banedon@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Saurakk@Guk wrote:

TheSpin wrote:

Fewer character slots means encouraging people to upgrade to station pass or buying a second account.  That's the viewpoint of SoE.

They just added new character slots within the last 6 months and I don't think they intend on adding more right away.

Yep it is all about the mighty $$.

They know by now the altaholics all have 6 filled slots.  They also know the same altaholics will want to play a Sarnak just to try the new newbie content.

They are going to wait it out to see how many they can get to drop $$ to buy a new slot.

You do know we get 7 slots now... don't you?I can't find the link (have a horrible suspicion it was an Allakazam interview, or even worse, buried in a report of an interview at fan faire) but there is a technical limitation caused by the present launchpad program (i.e. not everquest itself).The launchpad belongs to a different branch of SoE and therefore not easily upgraded to cope.

Bah so my counting was off but my point is still the same.  Basic math challenges me!

[EvilCheeseWedge]

It's really quite simple: World of Warcraft gives you 10 characters per server, or 50 characters total.  Everquest II competes with World of Warcraft.  To compete successfully, it should offer something comparable.  Maybe even better.  I'm new to Everquest 2, but I'm a long time Warcraft veteran.  I only have two main characters (each on their own account), but a variety of alts.  I'm not concerned about the number of slots in EQ2, but I have to admit, it is a bummer that I won't be able to roll a character just for the sheer fun of it.  There is no truly good reason for this limitation in Everquest 2 (sorry, but additional accounts, and Station Access don't cut it) - it's a business decision that was made at some point, and it's really too bad.  Because the real winners here are the business, and not the players.  While Sony is in this to make a buck that doesn't mean there can't be some middle-ground where a) consumers are happy and getting a good value and b) Sony is making a buck.  You might be happy with your lack of character slots, but when compared to the competition (Warcraft) you have to acknowledge you are not getting the good value.  We've already established it's not a technical limitation, so at that point, what's really holding Sony back from giving us 10, 15, 20 character slots?  Personally, I would gladly pay a one-time fee for more character slots.

[Kaycerzan]

If I'm entitled to 24 characters, why not 48? Why not enough character spaces so that I can play each combination of race, class, and starting alignment without ever having to delete my alts?You're entitled to a combination of what's offered, and what you pay for. If you do not feel you are getting you're money's worth, you stop paying for it. Quote:"Either way the original point you conveniently glossed over was that me asking to be able to create one of each class type in the monthly fee is not in my opinion above and beyond or a luxury but an entitlement."Unfortunately, this is only your opinion, and while you are, by law, entitled (oO. proper usage!) to have your own, individual opinion, that does not translate into what anyone else cares about.  Nowhere does it state, prior to purchase, that you are allowed to create any number of characters you wish. While I shall be ignorant and not actually look for the fact to back up my next statement, which is ~ In fact, I do believe that any documentation you could consult prior to purchase would tell you the maximum number of characters allowed by a single account. Quote:"I played EQ for over 5 years and adding new characters on new servers kept me continuously in the game.  EQ 2 with the slot limitations, server variety limitations (although I did come back to play on PvP for a few months) kept me from subscribing for more than 2-3 months at a time.  When I get bored with my existing characters, I find it entertaining to start up a new char and have some lowbie fun.   I may be rare example, but you would think me stopping my sub every 3 months for 6 months at a time is not good economics.  If you want people to pay for station pass, make it unlimited chars (virtually) and allow people to play more than one game at at time." You do have virtually unlimited characters. In fact, you have unlimited characters. If you're bored with that character, delete it and start anew. That's basically what you're doing anyway. There's no reason Sony should have to support 25 characters for yourself and people like you because you just can't bring yourself to delete that level 30 character you have no interest in playing, but don't really feel like deleting. As for server limitations, I don't know what you're talking about. From open PvP up there is a server choice for everyone.  Unless you're implying that people should be able to log their character on to any server they want, which quite frankly, very few games have ever supported, and less been successful with.  As for economics, you are one subscription out of hundreds of thousands. As much as we all like to believe we're important, it would take numbers bordering on six digits for Sony to really care what people have to say, and even then they may not. This company is a juggernaut. For every one of you that quits, 3 or 4 others are paying out in some other way.I'll go on record as saying that I think a new slot should be opened up for ever race or two that is added, but only because this is an aging game with a large population of people who don't have toons to delete that AREN'T relatively high level. In fact, if there were any factor that was going to go into deciding how many character slots one has, I think it should be that once you have all slots filled with 50 to 60th lvl+ characters, THEN you get a new slot, because that shows you're not going to fill the character screen with 10-hours played toons.

[willnotuse]

Wingrider01 wrote:

Anobabylon@Befallen wrote:

Personally, i think every NEW account should come with 4 character slots (same as it was at release) and that everyone would be able to purchase permanent character slots for a flat fee of $5 per slot up to 20 slots.  Station access should start with 6 character slots and be expandable up to 30 slots.  More than 30 characters on one account is ludicrous and if you HAVE to have more characters than that you can always buy another copy of the game.  But this way, the only people who get mass quantities of character slots are those who really want them and are willing to pay for them and the rest of Norrath can sit cozied up with their 4 and 6 slot accounts laughing at those of us who are altoholics and cant ever seem to get a character leveled because we are too busy flipping through alts.

If they ever do this billing nightmare it would more then likely be monthly reoccuring rather then a flat fee.

Most of it's automated.  So shouldn't be a problem.  For a reference GemStone IV (and III prior) used a base amount and you had three options above that.  One was to pay $2 per extra character.  Another was paying, I forgot the amount, more to have extra features in the game like bigger bank storage, access to Four Winds, etc.  And the third option was Platinum which was pure role-play with greatly enhanced GM involvement with daily storylines, invasions and so forth.It works better than most want to admit.  SoE has a similar setup and it would be easy for them to add the per character slot pricing in.  There are  alot of us who simply see no benefit to access to additional games as per Station Pass.  However, we do see a nice incentive to pay for extra slots.

[bigsigh]

SOE are too thick to understand that happy customers are the best customers. Hell will freeze over before I pay for Station Access just so I can have more slots. I despise their greed, and as a previous poster noted, I wager many have taken this stupid limitation as 'the last straw'.No-one but SOE could release expansions with new races, yet not add a new slot. My loyalty to SOE can't get much lower, though I am sure they will find ways to lower it

[StormCinder]

bigsigh wrote:

SOE are too thick to understand that happy customers are the best customers. Hell will freeze over before I pay for Station Access just so I can have more slots. I despise their greed, and as a previous poster noted, I wager many have taken this stupid limitation as 'the last straw'.No-one but SOE could release expansions with new races, yet not add a new slot. My loyalty to SOE can't get much lower, though I am sure they will find ways to lower it " width="15" height="15" />

As long as you keep paying your sub, your loyalty level is not relevant.

SC

[VladisSar]

SOE simply been greedy.

EQ1 at release had far less races and classes, yet it came with 8 char slots on each server.

eq2 came with double number of classes nad few extra races and only 6 slots.

Now 3 years after and 3 new races later- we only got 1 extra slot. - which means we still 1 slot BEHIND eq1 of day 1

personaly i am nto getign Kunark expansion- there is nothing there for me. I don't have any chars beyond lev 60, and i won't be making a Sarnak since  i have no where to put him

[Caipira]

bigsigh wrote:

SOE are too thick to understand that happy customers are the best customers. Hell will freeze over before I pay for Station Access just so I can have more slots. I despise their greed, and as a previous poster noted, I wager many have taken this stupid limitation as 'the last straw'.No-one but SOE could release expansions with new races, yet not add a new slot. My loyalty to SOE can't get much lower, though I am sure they will find ways to lower it " width="15" height="15" />

This isnt the thread to argue the value of a staion pass, but it does give you a lot more than just some extra character slots.  I have a station pass and use it to its fullest.  How else would I have personally known how bad Vangaurd was/is!

[VladisSar]

Caipira wrote:

bigsigh wrote:

SOE are too thick to understand that happy customers are the best customers. Hell will freeze over before I pay for Station Access just so I can have more slots. I despise their greed, and as a previous poster noted, I wager many have taken this stupid limitation as 'the last straw'.No-one but SOE could release expansions with new races, yet not add a new slot. My loyalty to SOE can't get much lower, though I am sure they will find ways to lower it " width="15" height="15">

This isnt the thread to argue the value of a staion pass, but it does give you a lot more than just some extra character slots.  I have a station pass and use it to its fullest.  How else would I have personally known how bad Vangaurd was/is!

true enough. but problem is that EVERYTIME question of limited char slot comes up, someone always itching to stand up and say "go get station pass if you want char slot" - and just makes me angry.

Station Pass is for playing more than 1 game at a time along with number of other features. But its NO WAY a solution to inherted eq2 char slot limit problem.

[LaurnaRose Fauldorn]

VladisSar wrote:

SOE simply been greedy.

EQ1 at release had far less races and classes, yet it came with 8 char slots on each server.

eq2 came with double number of classes nad few extra races and only 6 slots.

Now 3 years after and 3 new races later- we only got 1 extra slot. - which means we still 1 slot BEHIND eq1 of day 1

personaly i am nto getign Kunark expansion- there is nothing there for me. I don't have any chars beyond lev 60, and i won't be making a Sarnak since  i have no where to put him

We started w/4 character slots, not 6.  Either way though its very sad considering the possibilities. 

• 18 current (soon to be 19) races
• 24 current classes

Really ... 7 character slots?  Wow ....

[Swifthand]

I thought it was ridiculous only having 4 character slots when EQ2 first went live. I figured in tiem SOE would be forced to add new slots since I was sure they'd add new races to play in the future. 3 years later and 3 new races later, they added a total of 3 more slots in an existing account with a total of 7 slots. Personally, I still believe it's ridiculous that EQ1 allowed ((()) slots on each server whereas EQ2 only allows 7 per account. Then people say, "If u want more slots, purchase the station pass for 15.00 more a month. That way u get 12 total slots"  Here's what I say to that.    S U C K   I T. I will NEVER pay 15 extra dollars just to have the priviledge of gaining an extra 5 character slots that we should already have!!! And NO I wont create characters on the stupid test server. I'd love to see SOE allow 8 characters per server just like it was in EQ1. If they cant do that, then allow 8 characters on Two servers of your choice each with a total of 16 characters.. If people need more than 16 characters then they need a life lol. But, some people like me have friends, family, and girlfriends who want to try the game. This is why I was forced to delete 3 of my characters because I had to many. Allowing them to create characters on a different server for kicks and giggles would have been great.

With new races, new classes that may come with the next expansion, SOE is gonna have to add more character slots, otherwise ppl will [Removed for Content], complain, and pout over being forced to delete characters they love just to make a new character. Personally, thats not right. This is EQ2, which may be a different game than the original EQ, but it still uses its name, zones, mobs, etc. Which means we should have at least been allowed to have 8 slots instead of 7 on launch day,,, instead we had 4. Hopefully soon SOE will add more slots for everyone so we'll all be happy Half elves

[Azubi]

One more character slot is not game breaking , essentially it would be a happier playerbase. 

You can try another class , help out a new guildie or friend with quests and leveling , sure you can mentor as well , but if they need help with a healer or tank etc.. it may be helpfull.