Minas Morgul Pre-Sale has Begun! Discussion thread

[Celebrawn]

Random is a point of view and entirely subjective. Certain players love boosts, various cosmetics,pets,titles and would gladly pay even more than you to have in their collection. The higher than usual cost might be because of the exclusive content , you cannot get it nowhere else ,so value rises up.

The logic is backwards here. They made the calculation to gouge $130 out of people crazy enough, or with enough spare change to put down on 0's and 1's. THEN they came up with the exclusive carrots to dangle. It's not like a rare baseball card that there are only 100 of in the world, there are as many of these items available as there are people willing to spend that crazy price on them. And apparently there were enough of them for the Mordor expansion to justify doing it again. Not me. I went for the middle version last time, but only the standard this time. The mounts, pets, and cosmetic items are the only extras that I care about. 10 scrolls of empowerment I can get in one run of dailies. Other that that, keep it.

[Palenen]

Pre-Order Collector Founder Lifer here. Since the store, I've spent 100.00+ per year to compensate for a subscription since my return. Many times double that for two characters. The alt remains at 105 now. We as Lifers have the task of buying expansions. No issue there. But I have already allocated the monies for this year for my character and will not be purchasing this expansion. Not really due to the inflated price but mainly due to I have no excitement for what it's turned out to be. Leveling and gearing up is a mainstay but since Mordor, I'm disheartened. I seriously want to believe these designs are not coming from SSG even though they put floating rocks in game.

[oldsneakers]

Unfortunately for some of us American players the expansion can not be bought with American money from American banks????

I tried 6 different times to buy the expansion. Put is two bug reports that the store isn’t working!!

Every time I try to purchase I get the message:
“Payment authorization failed”
I’ve got the money I’ve checked, I can use real life money to buy points in the store, but I can’t purchase the expansion from the store/market outside the game!

I’m getting upset with you Standing Stone!!!

most likely the card's anti-fraud protections are blocking you

[LabadalofDorlomin]

Hey all.... not had time to read all posts as only back for a few hours before away again with work.... so apologies if this has been asked and answered...



So this is the base bundle for 39.99 US

Minas Morgul Expansion Base Edition
Over 250 New Quests
7 New Instances*
Updated Crafting Guilds
Black Book of Mordor Storyline**
New Shelob Raid and more!*
Stout-axe Dwarf Race
Extra Character Slot
Expedition Supplies†
100% XP Boost Scrolls (1hr) x5
Reputation Supply Boost x5

Then for an extra $40 you get the Collectors edition at $79.99 and receive these as extra for your $40

Collectors edition
A Character Level Boost to 120†
Cosmetics of the Great Alliance
Exclusive armour and cloak
Shepherd dog pet
Mount of the Great Alliance
Exclusive Titles "Hero, Past and Present" "Heroine, Past and Present"
10 Scrolls of Empowerment

Then you get the Ultimate fan bundle for another $50 on top of the Collectors edition at $129.99 you get these for your $50 extra paid

Ultimate fan
Cosmetics of the Dead City
Exclusive armor and cloak
Harnessed shepherd dog pet
Mount of the Dead City
New: Cosmetic Weapon Aura
Aura of the Dead City
Exclusive Title "Ablâkhul"
Equippable XP Accelerator for all characters
Exclusive Housing Teleport for all characters
Three Relics for all characters
5000 Virtue XP
20 Scrolls of Empowerment

If this is correct.... then it seems that folks will pay a lot for cosmetics. If you are not a MASSIVE fan of cosmetics with bottomless money pit in your garden... then you are paying +$40 for a level 120 boost and some scrolls...and then on ultimate another +$90 for the same 120 boost along with a house port, a xp accelerator and a few extra scrolls.

This cannot be correct can it?

[Aerlthorn]

"Buy the Expansion, It's less dangerous to you than drinking and smoking." Another GREAT add campaign I'd love to see.

False statement. In each case there is a dangerous factor common who is called addiction with potentially all different negative effect that this implies.

[Aelbryht]

Hey all.... not had time to read all posts as only back for a few hours before away again with work.... so apologies if this has been asked and answered...

[snip]

If this is correct.... then it seems that folks will pay a lot for cosmetics. If you are not a MASSIVE fan of cosmetics with bottomless money pit in your garden... then you are paying +$40 for a level 120 boost and some scrolls...and then on ultimate another +$90 for the same 120 boost along with a house port, a xp accelerator and a few extra scrolls.

This cannot be correct can it?

It can be and is, sadly. As per a post from one of the other Minas Morgul threads:

Not any worse than Mordor pricing.

I bought that - saying it was overpriced. And I bought this. People like me that are irrationally loyal to the game keep them in business and justify the pricing.

I picture the dev team popping some champagne open in the office when they read comments like that.

[LabadalofDorlomin]

I picture the dev team popping some champagne open in the office when they read comments like that.

I don't see it as popping the cork at all.... They need folks to buy the higher tier models for the game to progress but when we are talking about adding items that don't cost thema single penny because they are already designed and can be added therefore seemingly for no cost... it is mad to not offer the two higher tiers to anyone who isn't that mad on cosmetics...

Why not add 1x of each of the valars bound to account for tier 2 and x2 of each for the tier 3 ultimate edition?
Why not x50 scrolls for t2 and x100 scrolls for t3 .... bound to account.
Why not add mount pick box x2 for tier2 and x4 for tier3?

To be honest, I would possibly buy the ultimate tier if it had all the ingredients to make and level up an imbued weapon and imbued class item to level 120 level ready to use with the level 120 boost.

As it is, again you will use the level 120 boost and be without a weapon and have to grind months to get it to max and to me that negates any use of any of the valars whatsoever and therefore offering boosts is pathetic as indeed is this current expansion price to offering effort.

[Vanyaerunanethiel]

I don't see it as popping the cork at all.... They need folks to buy the higher tier models for the game to progress but when we are talking about adding items that don't cost thema single penny because they are already designed and can be added therefore seemingly for no cost... it is mad to not offer the two higher tiers to anyone who isn't that mad on cosmetics...

Why not add 1x of each of the valars bound to account for tier 2 and x2 of each for the tier 3 ultimate edition?
Why not x50 scrolls for t2 and x100 scrolls for t3 .... bound to account.
Why not add mount pick box x2 for tier2 and x4 for tier3?

To be honest, I would possibly buy the ultimate tier if it had all the ingredients to make and level up an imbued weapon and imbued class item to level 120 level ready to use with the level 120 boost.

As it is, again you will use the level 120 boost and be without a weapon and have to grind months to get it to max and to me that negates any use of any of the valars whatsoever and therefore offering boosts is pathetic as indeed is this current expansion price to offering effort.

Incorrect,False,Wrong taken to the extremes. Of course one will posses the weapon nor she/he is required to grind endlessly. The will boost their character to coop up with latest expansion,experience story content much more rapidly plus it offers access to gigantic amount of content , to mention entering any zone,class tomes and other goodies.

It's not all about weapon and grind, Those focused on story content,lore ,exploration and caring not for instances do not more than 3rd age weapon. Landscape progression is ultra easy. You cannot limit yourself to grind only. Boosts have and always will have their uses. So according to your logic let's never buy a boost if it does offer half or fully maxed 2nd or 1st age Legendary weapon or 50 crystals and 200+ scrolls of emp? Maybe you want an Ultimate Aria of Valar which will cost 20,000 and them to handle everything amp-ed without you invest effort at all. Sigh.

It saddens me how many players focus on sole aspect, "there is no balance", "the grind is horrendous", "one skill is bad", "no new PvMP zone" bugs,performance problems and immediately everything else must collapse. Typical.

[Valakircka]

Incorrect,False,Wrong taken to the extremes. Of course one will posses the weapon nor she/he is required to grind endlessly. The will boost their character to coop up with latest expansion,experience story content much more rapidly plus it offers access to gigantic amount of content , to mention entering any zone,class tomes and other goodies.

It's not all about weapon and grind, Those focused on story content,lore ,exploration and caring not for instances do not more than 3rd age weapon. Landscape progression is ultra easy. You cannot limit yourself to grind only. Boosts have and always will have their uses. So according to your logic let's never buy a boost if it does offer half or fully maxed 2nd or 1st age Legendary weapon or 50 crystals and 200+ scrolls of emp? Maybe you want an Ultimate Aria of Valar which will cost 20,000 and them to handle everything amp-ed without you invest effort at all. Sigh.

It saddens me how many players focus on sole aspect, "there is no balance", "the grind is horrendous", "one skill is bad", "no new PvMP zone" bugs,performance problems and immediately everything else must collapse. Typical.

no no no nothing should colapse but yes the grind is horrible!!!
i used to have 5-6 raid ready alts on lvl 75 and now i have none cos i hate grinding every 5 lvls!
they promised that LIs will lvl with us but they introdused the scrolls and the star lyts !
if you ask me the PvP is unbalanced yes, creeps should drop like flies, the correct thing is 10 creeps needed to kill a freep with basic landscape armor!
skills are not that bad and i never had really big issues with the bugs!
when i m paying for something i expect to have the full package with not extra payments for things that should be included, i dont have a prob to pay for a store only item tho.
yes i love lore and at the moment i m focused on it, i wont raid cos of the grind!
yes i agree with the Labadaofdorlomin above, there should be more things for those prices!!!
my suggestion is a package where the client would be able to sellect what things want to buy!
i dont care for the glowing outfit or horse, i dont care for the stout "race", i dont care for the XP!
i might need the lvl 120 boost item in case i want to speed lvl a toon and i really want the scrolls to reduse a bit my grind!
why should i pay for things i dont need??????

[Nathrien_Estelenlaer]

The logic is backwards here. They made the calculation to gouge $130 out of people crazy enough, or with enough spare change to put down on 0's and 1's. THEN they came up with the exclusive carrots to dangle. It's not like a rare baseball card that there are only 100 of in the world, there are as many of these items available as there are people willing to spend that crazy price on them. And apparently there were enough of them for the Mordor expansion to justify doing it again. Not me. I went for the middle version last time, but only the standard this time. The mounts, pets, and cosmetic items are the only extras that I care about. 10 scrolls of empowerment I can get in one run of dailies. Other that that, keep it.

If you break it down using LP, and I'm going to round up the numbers, the $130 saves quite a bit of money spent in the store:

Minas Morgul Xpac: 2500 LP value (when it hits the store)
Stout-axe Race: 1000 LP
Aria of the Valar: 6700 LP value (Based on the 105 boost price. I haven't seen the 120 boost price yet)
Steeds: 4000 LP value (2 account-wide steeds w/WS cosmetics included, each typically go for 2000-2500 LP in the store. Going to use the lower value here.)
Scrolls of Empowerment: 6000 LP value (20 scrolls at 300 LP each, based on the LP value and NOT the MC value)
+100% Exp Boosts: 600 LP (based on the discounted bundle of 5)
Cosmetic gear: 3000 LP value (2 complete sets, based on the 1500 LP Recovered Armour of Barad Guldur bundle price, which is lower overall. Other 6-piece sets with individually purchased pieces runs roughly 2100 LP)

Before you assign value to the other things like the rep boosts, virtue exp, relics, etc., you're already dancing around 23800 LP. And the cheapest LP package that almost covers that is the $200 one. That's a savings of roughly $70.

I did some math first to see what it actually saves in the long run prior to purchasing anything and these were the numbers, within a reasonable margin of error, that I used.

Whether or not it's worth it? That's up to the player to decide.

[Valakircka]

btw, does anyone knows what the "Ablâkhul" title means?
is it in Khzuzdul? looks like ......

[LabadalofDorlomin]

Incorrect,False,Wrong taken to the extremes. Of course one will posses the weapon nor she/he is required to grind endlessly. The will boost their character to coop up with latest expansion,experience story content much more rapidly plus it offers access to gigantic amount of content , to mention entering any zone,class tomes and other goodies.

It's not all about weapon and grind, Those focused on story content,lore ,exploration and caring not for instances do not more than 3rd age weapon. Landscape progression is ultra easy. You cannot limit yourself to grind only. Boosts have and always will have their uses. So according to your logic let's never buy a boost if it does offer half or fully maxed 2nd or 1st age Legendary weapon or 50 crystals and 200+ scrolls of emp? Maybe you want an Ultimate Aria of Valar which will cost 20,000 and them to handle everything amp-ed without you invest effort at all. Sigh.

It saddens me how many players focus on sole aspect, "there is no balance", "the grind is horrendous", "one skill is bad", "no new PvMP zone" bugs,performance problems and immediately everything else must collapse. Typical.

I'm not sure why you keep quoting my posts... I must be in your head...... and that is a scary thought

You have just said that I focus on a sole aspect when you yourself do exactly the same thing. Go figure [confused face]

It is undeniable that the offerings are for folks who love the dressing up game.... but there is little for anyone else, not at least in the terms of paying another 90 bucks.

I like the idea just above of being able to choose what you want.... here is 100 credits... here is a cost list... when you purchase you can spend your credits and receive your own choice. Job done... more ultimate versions sold

Cost to SSG? Very little in terms of item sales lost from the store because I can only speak in my small circle, but I do not buy scrolls from the store but certainly would use my credits from a expac sale to go for scrolls over a new hauberk or boots.

[LabadalofDorlomin]

btw, does anyone knows what the "Ablâkhul" title means?
is it in Khzuzdul? looks like ......

I heard on chat someone say "Strong Ruler" but I have no idea beyond that hearsay...

[Demosthenes11]

I'm not sure why you keep quoting my posts... I must be in your head...... and that is a scary thought

You have just said that I focus on a sole aspect when you yourself do exactly the same thing. Go figure [confused face]

It is undeniable that the offerings are for folks who love the dressing up game.... but there is little for anyone else, not at least in the terms of paying another 90 bucks.

I like the idea just above of being able to choose what you want.... here is 100 credits... here is a cost list... when you purchase you can spend your credits and receive your own choice. Job done... more ultimate versions sold

Cost to SSG? Very little in terms of item sales lost from the store because I can only speak in my small circle, but I do not buy scrolls from the store but certainly would use my credits from a expac sale to go for scrolls over a new hauberk or boots.

Good point.

[TTempest]

If you break it down using LP, and I'm going to round up the numbers, the $130 saves quite a bit of money spent in the store:

Minas Morgul Xpac: 2500 LP value (when it hits the store)
Stout-axe Race: 1000 LP
Aria of the Valar: 6700 LP value (Based on the 105 boost price. I haven't seen the 120 boost price yet)
Steeds: 4000 LP value (2 account-wide steeds w/WS cosmetics included, each typically go for 2000-2500 LP in the store. Going to use the lower value here.)
Scrolls of Empowerment: 6000 LP value (20 scrolls at 300 LP each, based on the LP value and NOT the MC value)
+100% Exp Boosts: 600 LP (based on the discounted bundle of 5)
Cosmetic gear: 3000 LP value (2 complete sets, based on the 1500 LP Recovered Armour of Barad Guldur bundle price, which is lower overall. Other 6-piece sets with individually purchased pieces runs roughly 2100 LP)

I see 2 problems with this. 1 is the fact that you're building the argument on already inflated prices and 2. is the fact that some people don't want a lot of things in this bundle and others are just pure filler or worthless.
Best example I get from reading your post is the Scrolls of Empowerment. Doing a daily set of Minas Tirith dailies can give you 6.5 scrolls for only about 30 minutes of your time. So it would take you 3 days to get those 20 scrolls or roughly 1.5 hours of your time. 6000 LP is about 60$. This means you are paying 60$!!! for something you can get by playing the game CASUALLY for 30 minutes every day for just 3 days! I can manage it even when I'm busy with work.

Then you have other filler items that they always give, these are just like the pens and pencils you get at some rally to promote a company or something. I can't speak for others but most people already have inventories full of these, when they don't even use them. Not to mention the 5k Virtue LP which MUST be a joke. When you can get this again just by doing some dailies for a couple minutes.

I could also mention how some people don't want to valar characters, don't care about cosmetics or don't care about the new race. I get that those are personal choices and this is a bundle, but I would prefer to see these things seperately sold as well. For example, I myself have an interest in the cosmetics. I don't want a "60$" Valar and "60$" Bundle of Scrolls of Empowerement inflating the price of something I want.

[Altair6]

If you break it down using LP, and I'm going to round up the numbers, the $130 saves quite a bit of money spent in the store:

All through your breakdown you use the term value when what you actually mean is cost. Value is subjective and this is why some people feel the packs are over-priced. They obviously feel some or all of the individual items are over-priced or of no (zero) actual value to them at all - cosmetics, for example.

Not disputing your price breakdown. I'm sure the figures are correct.

[mr_toad]

Look at it this way. If the tiers are basically the same as they were for Mordor a couple years ago, they must have been enough of a financial success for SSG to offer their equivalents again for the MM expac. It is entertaining to read all the complainers in this thread though. I guess with an expac coming out the usual doom and gloom of the game ending, failing, blah blah blah can't work, so complaining about getting ripped off for something you don't have to pay is the next, best gripe?

[Ariwen55]

most likely the card's anti-fraud protections are blocking you

Problem solved
Thank you Standing Stone for taking care of my problem!
Truly appreciated!

[Moondog548]

I picture the dev team popping some champagne open in the office when they read comments like that.

The anonymous owner and the publisher Daybreak maybe, but the dev team- no way.

The dev team is busy with their heads down trying desperately to get the expansion content workable and out the door on time and trying not to think about the constant threat of layoffs.

[Arnenna]

Why is Ultimate and Premium advertising 3 x exclusive titles and 2 x exclusive titles?

Hero of . . . .
Heroine of . . .

That's just one title, depending on the character gender.

[greviousharm]

there are hundreds of posts in this thread so my answer might be in them. But i cannot bring myself to read them all. I see the Expansion drops at the end of October but buying it with points is not available til March of next year. Why do those of us who are VIP or Lifers have to wait to use our points? Its easier for me on a limited budget to use points *lifetime sub here* thats it just curious.

PS if what I read is incorrect I apologize

[Ballie]

Why is Ultimate and Premium advertising 3 x exclusive titles and 2 x exclusive titles?

Hero of . . . .
Heroine of . . .

That's just one title, depending on the character gender.

Pre and post op. Coming to the store soon.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the twitch stream:

Valar 120 seems not to be auto completing a load of old quests and deeds thankfully but the concept of giving you an already Imbued LI seem odd. How about if you have 10 slots taken up already? Other benefits might make it a viable advancement to use up to 119, not least VXP and promotion points.

If I'm making an ILI I'll have the legacy scrolls I want already harvested for replacement before the imbue process.

However you look at it an ILI is a huge investment and to have it start with random legacies is a non starter. Without resources it can be worse than the pre imbue. Will they have delving and remembrance included?

Fixing it to suit your game play will be 50 MC per legacy so will they come with 7 open slots to assign and a bunch of IXP to make it better than a non-imbue?

[SSG_RedPanda]

Why is Ultimate and Premium advertising 3 x exclusive titles and 2 x exclusive titles?

Hero of . . . .
Heroine of . . .

That's just one title, depending on the character gender.

You get them on all your characters. You can choose which one to use.

[FoxFire]

You get them on all your characters. You can choose which one to use.

Well now... that's just totally going to trigger a certain demographic.

[Ballie]

Well now... that's just totally going to trigger a certain demographic.

Roll over Tolkien. Is my titles page going to increase substantially?