Ellie Durant

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Achilleos
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Ellie Durant

Post by Achilleos »

I'm wondering Coops whether you would consider adding the Licences, bonds and buildings that Ellie sells into the Ce Store so they are also available to purchase with real cash ?.
Reason I'm asking is because I'm almost at the stage where I can take my settlement to level 7 but I'm reluctant to do so as parting with 750000000 credits wipes me out completely,and that's before buying any specialist buildings.
My goal in the game at the min is to craft my own top spec star base so I need an abundance of credits, just purchasing the schematics alone is a massive cost and as I rarely do combat there is a ton of resources that need to be purchased from gbm too, and then there would be the bidding process for deployment when crafted.
I appreciate this game is about choices and that you also need patience and I'm probably sounding like a spoilt kid sulking because he wants it all, lol - but I cant see that it would be detrimental to the game to have this as an option.
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Coops
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Re: Ellie Durant

Post by Coops »

It's a tough one for sure...

Three years ago I'd have said no without any thought on the subject. These days I struggle to meet the Server payments each month so extra support is a tempting thing...

But....

I've always tried to keep some level of balance in the Store. Most of the items can be gained in one way or another outside the store, even if its just competition rewards like this Easters basket, or the ones at Xmas or even By One Get One Free etc.

I'm unclear on adding Licenses etc to the store and therefore seek fellow player guidance and thoughts on this one...

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Mark3430
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Re: Ellie Durant

Post by Mark3430 »

I'm not sure about this one, on one hand it'd be a good way to source more server cost support but on the other it'd make it far easier (albeit I'm guessing it'd be quite expensive) to level a sett to the very high levels, I think depending on pricing this might become the go to way to get them and I'm guessing part of the reason for the cost in the first place is to make it a huge investment in-game and to get credits out of player's accounts.

Then again you can pretty much already get most of the stuff needed for Genesis Plots, Corporations, PM Ships, high-end implants, etc. and even some of the more basic Settlement stuff is already there so it's probably not that bad of an idea, so long as location licenses and such aren't put there as that would be about the closest to paying to win as you could get in CE I think.

TL;DR: Ok idea as long as location licenses and such stay in-game only and prices are balanced compared to the huge in-game investment.
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Mechwarrior
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Re: Ellie Durant

Post by Mechwarrior »

I like the idea, but agree with Mark.

In the long term, if it becomes the norm for players to buy a licence etc to assist in the level up well and good. To me it will just mean that over time a SB isnt the number one item that players can aim for, as the dev team will get together and add in another gal that reqs something else that players must spend time obtaining

I can understand that the aim of the game was planned long ago - but as with all good plans - they change upon contact

In ths case, contact is with the players and if they (us) believe or wish the focus to move in another direction - so be it

If it pulls in funds and allows the game to run along nearly the same lines I think its a good thing....

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The Wolf
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Re: Ellie Durant

Post by The Wolf »

I too like the idea, however as mentioned above, I also have reservations about putting the licenses in the store.

I think the buildings & bonds are fine to have in the store.
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falconner
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Re: Ellie Durant

Post by falconner »

Hi,
Agreed with most here, Coops is really good with maintaining a balance, that is core doesn't really feel like a p2w game, but as long as location licences aren't put up in the store, the bonds and buildings I see no problems with in the store.
Cheers!
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Elkhorn
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Re: Ellie Durant

Post by Elkhorn »

Does it have to be either or? Couldn't the licenses, bonds, etc. be available in BOTH places. It's like I CAN build Genesis buildings but, if I am in a hurry I'll buy it from the CE Store. Same thing with most items for sale in the store. With the exception of the Pimp Your Ship Items, everything is available in both places.
The other thing to consider is sometimes expansion is a rich Captains game. The credit squeeze is part of what make CE so playable. You need to run those extra missions to generate credits...or in the case of alien tech talas. You need one more level to fit the nifty new Cargo Expander, etc.
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Moonblade
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Re: Ellie Durant

Post by Moonblade »

I think putting buildings in CE store is fine but allowing people to buy settlement licences and bonds would be a step in the wrong direction for a game that has been very well balanced so far in respect of what can be purchased with real money.

Imagine the following scenario : A settlement spot opens up in one of the high traffic systems. Johnny Cash has no in game credits saved up as he has spent credits on various aspects of the game. Johnny Be Good have worked diligently to build up his in game credits with the sole purpose of buying a good settlement licence. Johnny Cash sees the open spot first. He didnt plan or save for it. Oh well, no problem, I will buy it in CE store. Johnny Be Good loses out.

This might sound trivial, but after a few years these settlements in the sought after locations brings in billions.

Achilleos, I think you are one of the great players of CE. Currently you are simultaneously undertaking 2 of the biggest challenges of this game. Building a starbase and advancing a settlement to level 7. Ouch ! Surely this must come at a price and shouldnt be something that is easily obtainable ?

I'm all for any change that financially supports CE but I think putting up settlement licences for sale in CE store is going into pay 2 win territory.
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Achilleos
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Re: Ellie Durant

Post by Achilleos »

Thanks for the compliment Moonblade :-), Although respectively I cant really agree with the pay to win comment, I'm not aware of any end game in CoreExiles where you can become the winner.
Having read these comments I actually do agree though that settlement location licences shouldn't be available in the store as that would make things a little biased and also NOT make available a starbase deployment licence. However I cant see a problem with purchasing the level seven licence and bond as you already own the settlement and there are many other requirements in getting to that stage that require work and effort that cant be purchased with real cash.
I have no problem with putting all in the work gathering the resources,earning the credits and having the patience to gain my expansion goals at all, that's all a great challenge in itself and very rewarding when you get there. The main issue I think is that the most likely scenario for me here is that I will work massively hard for most probably a few years to get the starbase crafted only then to find I will never be able to deploy it as I will never have the credits to bid for the deployment licence.
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Re: Ellie Durant

Post by pikolinianita »

you could introduce "Ellie Bonds" into CE store, worth 100M each. Player could buy licenses/buildings/other stuff with them. And "second bond" for that guy in Yam.

Anyway, you can always ask fellow players to buy gift certificates for game cash (well, it was allowed some time ago), so "bonds" could be unnecesary work. Not expanse ones, though, as it would save a lot of clicks (trading with aliens for Tl).
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