The One Fund Cloak

[lynlai]

This cloak to raise awareness of The One Fund costs 100 TPs. Will the TP proceeds from the sale of this cloak be donated in actual funds to The One Fund? I did not see any information about there the proceeds from the sale of this cloak will go.

Edit: I understand I can put the code BOSTON and get 10 free cloaks. I was wondering if I didn't use the code an spent the 100 TPs would Turbine be donating the funds.

Sapience answered on LOTRO FB page: we did explore that route, but it was complicated and would have taken a great deal of time. We wanted our players to be able to show their support as many had asked about something along these lines. We encourage everyone who wishes to help to make a donation to onefundboston.org we have done so individually as employees and Turbine is in the process of making a donation as well. - Sapience

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Leaving this info in this post in case anyone else has the same question.

[Cordovan_]

Players can enter the coupon code ‘Boston’ to receive up to ten free cloaks per account.

[Sapience]

This cloak to raise awareness of The One Fund costs 100 TPs. Will the TP proceeds from the sale of this cloak be donated in actual funds to The One Fund? I did not see any information about there the proceeds from the sale of this cloak will go.

Using the code BOSTON when you check out allows you to 'purchase' up to 10 cloaks for free. The 100 point value is there to prevent the store from choking on the item.

We investigated making the item for sale with proceeds going to The One Fund, but the timing and process behind doing that proved to be prohibitive (it would have taken a great deal of time). We want to get an item out to players who had been asking us if there was something hey could do to show support and do so in a timely manner. So we created the cloak, created the coupon code to make it free, and ask that if you wish to make a donation to The One Fund you do so via http://onefundboston.org

Turbine will be making a donation to The One Fund, as many of us have individually.

[Lagunast]

Great campaign from Turbine. I will definitely wear the cloak. God bless all Boston victims

[Laerien]

Great, thanks for this iniciative!.

I used the code Boston and bought up to 10 for free. The cloack comes in a ligh blue giftbox bound to account. Very collectible.

/edit a part that can be misunderstood.

[Sapience]

This is a thread about charity and comfort.

If you wish to advance a personal agenda here I wold strongly advise against it.

[Eartholloth]

This is a thread about charity and comfort.

If you wish to advance a personal agenda here I wold strongly advise against it.

I agree & thanks for the cloak. It is very nice even though it's not in pink. LOL

[Razorlan]

The picture shows only a hooded cloak. Any chance you might consider a version without a hood, also? I love the cloak, but hoods make me feel claustrophobic.

[Polymnie]

Using the code BOSTON when you check out allows you to 'purchase' up to 10 cloaks for free. The 100 point value is there to prevent the store from choking on the item.

Perhaps you could set the TP cost to a ludicrous amount, such as 1 million, to make it more clear that the intent is for players to acquire the cloaks using the coupons.

[Taimor_D]

Although I regret the fact that terrorist attacks do happen all around the world, I'm inclined to say that it's a bad idea to bring this topic into the game.
It has literally nothing to do with MiddleEarth or the Lord of the Ring!

[Orivien]

first thing i did when logging into game today was getting me the cloak. next thing was seeing a guy passing by who was wearing it too.
it's no-bind, you don't even have to get 10 of them, but when it disappears from the store, i really do hope there won't be such silly players that will post this cloak to auction for stupid prices and try to profit from it.

[Cerridwen]

Two of mine are wearing the cloak, hard to match the colours but, hey, it's got a unicorn head on the back with runes above it...and it's free; how can I pass that up? I would have preferred hoodless but I'm not going to complain about this free cloak.

[kidnova78]

Although I regret the fact that terrorist attacks do happen all around the world, I'm inclined to say that it's a bad idea to bring this topic into the game.
It has literally nothing to do with MiddleEarth or the Lord of the Ring!

Seeing as how Turbine is based in Boston, this one is a little more personal. If you don't agree with it then simply don't participate.

[Nasty8]

Although I regret the fact that terrorist attacks do happen all around the world, I'm inclined to say that it's a bad idea to bring this topic into the game.
It has literally nothing to do with MiddleEarth or the Lord of the Ring!

Sometimes, real-life transcends video games. This is one of those times.

And it's hardly the first time Turbine has ventured close to the fine line that is "lore-breaking". I'd invite everyone to think about and support the victims of the attacks, rather than nitpick a noble cause.

[twittfounder]

This is not a challenge or agenda -- just a suggestion and observation:

I've had kinnies ask me if buying the cloak w/ TP points was part of the donation. I responded with what has been posted here and encouraged them to use the link to the donations. But because there is a charity involved AND a price -- the actual customer reaction is that buying it supports the charity.

I understand the possible challenges of having the proceeds from the cloak go directly to the fund -- however the implementation of it makes it appear as if Turbine could be profiting from the sales of the cloak. Which is apparently NOT the intent. I fully support the charity and the cause and think it is commendable that Turbine is acting on something quickly and implementing it in game.

Even if there are difficulties implementing the direct hook up to donations: is it possible to include -- IN THE VERY description of the item -- -- use the coupon code "boston" to receive it for free? and include the URL to make donations? How about clarifying the statements that the donation Turbine will make will be based on the sales of the item -- surely those are tracked.
To reiterate: this is a wonderful idea and charity -- and I'm happy to see it. I'm just trying to help clarify and ask questions that have already occurred in an attempt to make the implementation less questionable.

[Sapience]

T How about clarifying the statements that the donation Turbine will make will be based on the sales of the item -- surely those are tracked.

Because it would not be accurate. As I mentioned we did explore that route and there were a great many hurdles, legal entanglements, and processes that would be required and it would have taken a very long time to sort it all out. So we created an item that we give away (10 free with the coupon). The store has a requirement of a price and we set it based on not wishing to topple the store over by making it 1 point.

[ShadowPet]

Although I regret the fact that terrorist attacks do happen all around the world, I'm inclined to say that it's a bad idea to bring this topic into the game.
It has literally nothing to do with MiddleEarth or the Lord of the Ring!

I have to agree.

While this was a horrific event and I would be happy to lend my support outside the game --- in the forums, through Twitter, Facebook, whatever --- there is no Boston in Middle Earth. Seriously too much real life creeping into the game.

[husaragi]

thank you guys for the cloak! I love the idea, and the cloak design is nice....but once again /sigh...a hooded version only. =( I have one on all 6 of my multiboxers, but a hoodless version of every cloak design would be outstanding. I am not at all a fan of hooded cloaks in the game =(

[Crell_1]

Because it would not be accurate. As I mentioned we did explore that route and there were a great many hurdles, legal entanglements, and processes that would be required and it would have taken a very long time to sort it all out. So we created an item that we give away (10 free with the coupon). The store has a requirement of a price and we set it based on not wishing to topple the store over by making it 1 point.

A few questions:
1. If the price was intended not to topple over the store, why not set it to 9999TP as has been done with some DDO items in the past?

On one of my accounts, I accidentally managed to purchase it twice for TP, which wouldn't be a big deal to me, if I knew it had an impact on the actual donated amount by Turbine.

2. How long will this offer be available in the lotro store? I dont exactly have time to go rushing around to all the servers I'd like to have a copy of the cloak on and purchase it (Even if the code did let us get 29).

[Wartober]

I think the cloak is a nice thing, and in fact the only "problem" with the whole program is that we can't pay for it and have the proceeds go to the victims. Its enough Turbine was nice enough to put the cloak in there and for free.

Saying the cloak shouldn't be in there, its against the lore, whatever. It just means its time for you to get up from your computer, go outside, move around, and breath in the real world.

[Darlgon]

Great idea, and bravo also for linking a charity to donate to, for those that keep asking about Turbine donations. Dont put it on Turbine, do it yourself. Sometimes finding a reliable charity and not a fraud organization to help victims is a pain. Thanks for doing the prescreening.

However, 10 cloaks? Just need one to put into wardrobe and then have as a cosmetic on all my guys. Or does it have stats that I dont see in the advertising.

[Yicky]

It isn't always about the game. It is about the company. Being that Turbine is based out of the Boston area, they feel it is needed to help support the victims of Boston as well as the city itself. Boston gave us Turbine. They want to give something back. Not only that, but who knows, maybe some Turbine employees were directly effected by the bombing. Maybe some employees or employee's family or friends were injured or effected. They are simply saying thank you by giving something back to you by supporting the cause.

The fact that there is no "boston" in middle earth is irrelevant. While you are playing, people are hurting, dying, and suffering. That to Turbine and most people, is more important than nit picking a location in a game.

[husaragi]

Great idea, and bravo also for linking a charity to donate to, for those that keep asking about Turbine donations. Dont put it on Turbine, do it yourself. Sometimes finding a reliable charity and not a fraud organization to help victims is a pain. Thanks for doing the prescreening.

However, 10 cloaks? Just need one to put into wardrobe and then have as a cosmetic on all my guys. Or does it have stats that I dont see in the advertising.

the 10 is just TB going way overboard on generosity lol. its not bound, its cosmetic only, no stats. one is sufficient for each account if you plan on just using the wardrobe to share it with your other toons =)

if you have toons on that account on multiple servers, then the 10 will get you a cloak for your other servers on that account as well.

[Crell_1]

However, 10 cloaks? Just need one to put into wardrobe and then have as a cosmetic on all my guys. Or does it have stats that I dont see in the advertising.

Your wardrobe is not multi-server, nor does everyone have a wardrobe.

[Frisco]

The price in TP should definitely have been something that would make us think that something was up. Or why not just send it to every player in the mail if the intent was to raise awareness?

To price it at 100TP is pretty shady.

When I open the Turbine Store, the first thing that popped up for me? The cloak. Nowhere in the description does it say that there's a free code. One could be forgiven for assuming that proceeds would go to charity, which they do not.

Leaves a poor taste in my mouth.