Minas Morgul and VIP

[LordoftheTechs]

Do VIPs get the expansion automatically (free)?

[Erionor]

Do VIPs get the expansion automatically (free)?

I suspect not. As this is an expansion, not a quest pack, I imagine it will need to be purchased by all who wish to play it.

[Cordovan]

No, the Minas Morgul Expansion is not free to VIPs or Lifetime Subscribers.

[Arnenna]

Do VIPs get the expansion automatically (free)?

Quest packs are included for VIP's, expansions are not. so no, VIP will not enable a player to play Minas Morgul as it's an expansion.

[Digaloo]

Apart from the periferel stuff (e.g. 500 LP per month, and extra slots in the auction etc.) the main reason to be VIP is to get the quest packs free.

If we are not going to get Minas Morgul quest pack free with VIP then what's the point of being VIP!

[SjsharksBoy]

Apart from the periferel stuff (e.g. 500 LP per month, and extra slots in the auction etc.) the main reason to be VIP is to get the quest packs free.

If we are not going to get Minas Morgul quest pack free with VIP then what's the point of being VIP!

Yes, and there is no Minas Morgul Quest Pack to give, right now it is only sold as an Expansion.

This is the way that it has worked for every single Expansion before it.

[Arnenna]

Apart from the periferel stuff (e.g. 500 LP per month, and extra slots in the auction etc.) the main reason to be VIP is to get the quest packs free.

If we are not going to get Minas Morgul quest pack free with VIP then what's the point of being VIP!

Minas Morgul isn't a quest pack, it's an expansion, like Mordor, E Rohan, W Rohan, Isengard, Mirkwood and Moria.

You will be able to purchase Minas Morgul with points, just not until March. They introduced that when Mordor hit. I agree with you, it's wrong, as you've paid for your points via your sub, but plenty of people haven't paid for points, but have obtained them through ftp low level deed grinding. Not really fair on those that paid though, and indeed, raises questions for those that do pay, as to why they bother paying - resulting in loss of paying customers. So SSG need to find a way to distinguish between the two IMO and allow those that paid for points, to buy expac content at the time of launch.

But hey, I said all this when it happened at Mordor launch, and they took no notice then either.

[istvana]

The entire business model is unusual. Most games allow subscribers to play all content as of the date they subscribe including past expansions. Or alternatively all content other than the most recent expansion. Much simpler for the player but I assume SSG still generates significant revenue from sale of past expansions to subscribers. Otherwise they would switch to the more usual model.

Makes entire sense to me that if you do not want to pay cash you have to wait quite a while for the content.

As a VIP I consider LOTRO points fungible. The ones I got by subscribing are the same as the ones I got doing deeds. I disagree with the suggestion that VIPs be able to get Minas Morgul for points ahead of other players.

Sure many free players are "freeloaders" but without them Middle Earth would be far less populated and many of us (VIP or Premium) who pay real money would decide the game was too empty and leave.

[Arnenna]

The entire business model is unusual. Most games allow subscribers to play all content as of the date they subscribe including past expansions. Or alternatively all content other than the most recent expansion. Much simpler for the player but I assume SSG still generates significant revenue from sale of past expansions to subscribers. Otherwise they would switch to the more usual model.

Makes entire sense to me that if you do not want to pay cash you have to wait quite a while for the content.

As a VIP I consider LOTRO points fungible. The ones I got by subscribing are the same as the ones I got doing deeds. I disagree with the suggestion that VIPs be able to get Minas Morgul for points ahead of other players.

Sure many free players are "freeloaders" but without them Middle Earth would be far less populated and many of us (VIP or Premium) who pay real money would decide the game was too empty and leave.

That's a valid point, but weighed up against many who pay, deciding to stop paying because their paid for currency is deemed useless - resulting with no game at all due to shortage of funds, I know which one I'd prefer.

[Lord.Funk]

Personally I rather pay for sub + the expansions and get the lootboxes and such removed from the game. Everythig earnable within the game from gameplay with such a model.

That would be the old models where devs felt the preassure to release good content and even cosmetics and such within the game to create happy customers willing to buy the game, expansions and sub. If they create a bad game and no new stuff in the game and people would stop subbing, as well as stop buying the expansions.

But that is obviously not how corporations see it in the world 2019. Mobile games and corporations like EA, Activision etc has lead the way here, as well as customers supporting stuff like lootboxes by buying them or the keys. Corporations have to report to their investors and they won't volontarily drop their golden goose models unless forced to by regulations. Simple as that.

This is the reality us gamers now live in and we have little choice but to accept it or find a new hobby. *sigh*

Yes, there are some games out there that have better models, but not always the type of games and gameplay You personally might like, so again few options or none in many cases.

It surley have sucked alot of the fun out gaming. Us gamers that have been playing since decades since our childhood have seen the downward spiral and it's depressing to say the least.

[istvana]

((It surley have sucked alot of the fun out gaming. Us gamers that have been playing since decades since our childhood have seen the downward spiral and it's depressing to say the least. ))

Alas this is true. I have been playing for decades and that was starting long after childhood.

I hoped that ESO could help revive the subscription model but they bailed out on it very fast.

I hope that Pantheon will give some of we old-timers an EQ-based subscription game but who knows whether that will work.

[scorrp10]

Speaking of EQ, it has a far better sub model. Free accounts have access to all content up to 3rd xpack prior, and once you buy the latest xpack, you got access to everything.
Rather than restricting content, being free in EQ puts a damper on player power. Cannot wear higher tiered gear, cannot cast higher ranked spells, cannot use best mercs, cannot earn additional alternate abilities.

Back to OP: LotRO expacs always worked this way. I.e. last expac was Mordor and no VIP got it free. But all VIPs got free North Strongholds, Iron Hills/Ered Mithrin, Vale and Gladdenmere.