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Problems with Increased Hoard Packs...

AuthorMessage
Squire
Jun 19, 2009
514
These Hoard Packs I feel have gotten out of control. It's become a big gambling profit, and I will fully explain why. I understand that it says we have a chance to get the new gear, mount, wand, ect.
But my confusion leads to the wishing wells being taken away from the test realm a year ago for gambling. That was gambling a small amount of crowns for in game items from bosses.
These packs are much worse, they make us pay up to 400 crowns for one pack with some items. It is also very hard to get the wished items, making more people spend more money. It literally feels like i'm at a casino when I try and get the items in the hoard packs.
Now please, Don't get me wrong I love the items in these hoard packs, but feel your spending too much time on them rather then player suggestions and worlds at hand. Thank you, and please don't take away the items from the packs, but maybe give us a better chance at getting them or make them available by another way.

Recently I spent 50$ on the newest hoard pack. Never got the hydra mount…. A waste...

Historian
Aug 10, 2009
640
hunteray09 wrote:
These Hoard Packs I feel have gotten out of control. It's become a big gambling profit, and I will fully explain why. I understand that it says we have a chance to get the new gear, mount, wand, ect.
But my confusion leads to the wishing wells being taken away from the test realm a year ago for gambling. That was gambling a small amount of crowns for in game items from bosses.
These packs are much worse, they make us pay up to 400 crowns for one pack with some items. It is also very hard to get the wished items, making more people spend more money. It literally feels like i'm at a casino when I try and get the items in the hoard packs.
Now please, Don't get me wrong I love the items in these hoard packs, but feel your spending too much time on them rather then player suggestions and worlds at hand. Thank you, and please don't take away the items from the packs, but maybe give us a better chance at getting them or make them available by another way.

Recently I spent 50$ on the newest hoard pack. Never got the hydra mount…. A waste...


Everytime a new pack comes out someone cries about it being gambling. If ya dont like it dont buy the packs. KI isnt forcing ANYONE to buy them.

ellie


Geographer
Nov 26, 2011
860
Agreed. I bought probably 50+ dollars worth of hoard packs with nothing helpful...while others brag about getting it on their first try.

Community Leader
Of course you don't HAVE to buy them.

Unless, of course, you want to be able to win a match in PvP against the people who CAN spend crowns. Or unless you want to make up for life's pathetic COMPLETE lack of critical block in the Sword of Kings.

To put out a wand that has more than 50 additional block over the best farmable wand in the game, plus 10% heal boost, and only make it available to people who are willing to keep spending and spending.... to me, that is over the line. Not only that, but as a no trade item you have to spend those crowns on EVERY character that wants it. That's like taking your subscribing players, beating them up and shaking them for all their loose change. Update after update, KI refuses to do ANYTHING to address the PvP communities concerns that have been voiced for SO long, and then they essentially use them and rip more Crowns from their pockets if they want to be able to stay competitive. It's disheartening to see this sort of business practice from what I would like to otherwise think of as a reputable company.

I'll be honest - I don't agree with everything KI has done, and I've had no problem voicing that. But this is the first time I've seriously considered leaving the game in disgust. Making a wand that is SO overpowered that player can no longer be up to par without it, in PvP particularly, and making it crowns only from a hoard pack? In my opinion this game just stepped a toe across that line from "pay to play" to "Pay to win".

For the record: I rarely PvP. I haven't hit the arena in months, and I have plenty of Crowns to spend on this pack, if I wanted to (which I do not because I so disgusted by this pack). I have no horse in this race. I'm just extremely disturbed by what I see going on here. OPTIONAL items should be OPTIONAL. Making a Crowns item so overpowered that no other items can compete makes it, in my opinion, not optional. To me it is VERY similar to the ninja lore spells issue. I would be very happy with the same solution - make these wands drop. Crowns should be for fun items (mounts, cute pets, housing items, item to stitch to, etc) not for gear with stats that change and unbalance the game in steep favor of players with more money.

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Defender
May 19, 2012
191
The only things I find difficult to get from these packs are the permanent mounts. I have been getting a lot of repeat items, however, and when it's an item I can get in game, I feel I've wasted money on it. I've also been getting too much repeat gear. I mean why do I need three of the same tunic? This is a waste of money.

I don't mind the repeat pets though since maybe only one of those repeat pets will actually pick up skills that are useful to me. I don't mind repeat housing items, as long as they are something that doesn't seem silly to have a bunch of them, but three grandfather clocks or five crystal balls? Come on, that's a bit excessive.

I would love to see treasure cards, reagent, and gardening items taken out of these packs. Actually, what I would like to see is packs made specifically for a category: housing, gear, pets and mounts, gardening, snacks, and treasure cards all separately, so you can purchase only those things you're interested in purchasing and not get a hodgepodge of junk you don't want/need, in order to get those things you want.

It's kind of disappointing to spend almost 20000 crowns trying to get that permanent mount and never getting it, but end up with a ton of other junk you'll never use. This happened to me trying to get that new hydra mount, and it's this sort of thing that makes me think I'll quit spending for crowns in the first place. Yes, I did get some cool pets and even some decent gear, but for the most part, it really was a waste of money.

Perhaps it can be coded into the programming somehow that once you have obtained a certain piece of gear, you won't get it again, or at least give an option of maybe three different pieces of gear, so that you can choose something different the next time. This way if on the rare chance that maybe you do want that item for more than one wizard, you still have a chance to do that, but you also have a chance to opt for something else instead.

A+ Student
Dec 11, 2010
1665
hunteray09 wrote:
These Hoard Packs I feel have gotten out of control. It's become a big gambling profit, and I will fully explain why. I understand that it says we have a chance to get the new gear, mount, wand, ect.
But my confusion leads to the wishing wells being taken away from the test realm a year ago for gambling. That was gambling a small amount of crowns for in game items from bosses.
These packs are much worse, they make us pay up to 400 crowns for one pack with some items. It is also very hard to get the wished items, making more people spend more money. It literally feels like i'm at a casino when I try and get the items in the hoard packs.
Now please, Don't get me wrong I love the items in these hoard packs, but feel your spending too much time on them rather then player suggestions and worlds at hand. Thank you, and please don't take away the items from the packs, but maybe give us a better chance at getting them or make them available by another way.

Recently I spent 50$ on the newest hoard pack. Never got the hydra mount…. A waste...


these packs are merely packs of trading cards

there is a chance of a rare item which you consider when buying it
but there is a chance you will get nothing but commons which you understand

when ya buy a pack ya agree to the items your luck throws at you
you might get it first pack and ya might get it in 100 packs its different for everyone

if hoard packs were gambling the trading cards are gambling

hoard packs= untradable trading cards ( besides tc only item that can be traded)

Survivor
Dec 27, 2008
5
The only problem with the Hoard Packs are the lack of self control when people are buying them. This is in no way considered gambling. You pay a set amount of crowns and you receive however many items are in that pack. Some items are dropped more often than others. KI has explained very clearly that some of the items are rare and have a chance of being dropped. When people go crazy and buy the packs repeatedly not even thinking about anything else except for the "big item" in the pack, that is not being responsible. If you burn through so many crowns and afterward you are disappointed of your results, maybe you should have considered your chances and spent a bit less.

Just remember that KI makes their money when you buy Crowns. What wizards do with those crowns are their decision. It's not like KI is forcing you to buy the packs. Any of the items in the Crown Shop are optional and are not required to play the game at any level. They are just an added perk if you choose to invest in them.

Champion
Jun 16, 2009
415
Spent 20$, only got pet, and guitar. I am dying for that mount so badly o_o

Squire
Jun 19, 2009
514
MamaLookit wrote:
Of course you don't HAVE to buy them.

Unless, of course, you want to be able to win a match in PvP against the people who CAN spend crowns. Or unless you want to make up for life's pathetic COMPLETE lack of critical block in the Sword of Kings.

To put out a wand that has more than 50 additional block over the best farmable wand in the game, plus 10% heal boost, and only make it available to people who are willing to keep spending and spending.... to me, that is over the line. Not only that, but as a no trade item you have to spend those crowns on EVERY character that wants it. That's like taking your subscribing players, beating them up and shaking them for all their loose change. Update after update, KI refuses to do ANYTHING to address the PvP communities concerns that have been voiced for SO long, and then they essentially use them and rip more Crowns from their pockets if they want to be able to stay competitive. It's disheartening to see this sort of business practice from what I would like to otherwise think of as a reputable company.

I'll be honest - I don't agree with everything KI has done, and I've had no problem voicing that. But this is the first time I've seriously considered leaving the game in disgust. Making a wand that is SO overpowered that player can no longer be up to par without it, in PvP particularly, and making it crowns only from a hoard pack? In my opinion this game just stepped a toe across that line from "pay to play" to "Pay to win".

For the record: I rarely PvP. I haven't hit the arena in months, and I have plenty of Crowns to spend on this pack, if I wanted to (which I do not because I so disgusted by this pack). I have no horse in this race. I'm just extremely disturbed by what I see going on here. OPTIONAL items should be OPTIONAL. Making a Crowns item so overpowered that no other items can compete makes it, in my opinion, not optional. To me it is VERY similar to the ninja lore spells issue. I would be very happy with the same solution - make these wands drop. Crowns should be for fun items (mounts, cute pets, housing items, item to stitch to, etc) not for gear with stats that change and unbalance the game in steep favor of players with more money.


Thank you. This is exactly what I mean folks. IT changes gameplay and pvp, and even if you're willing to spend, no matter how much you spend, there is that chance you never get it. Not to mention that instead of spending more time on other updates and pvp, they spend it on these packs.

these packs are merely packs of trading cards

there is a chance of a rare item which you consider when buying it
but there is a chance you will get nothing but commons which you understand

when ya buy a pack ya agree to the items your luck throws at you
you might get it first pack and ya might get it in 100 packs its different for everyone

if hoard packs were gambling the trading cards are gambling

hoard packs= untradable trading cards ( besides tc only item that can be traded)


Ah, but see, trading cards costs at no expense and it depends who your trading with. You also have the chance to see what their trading you and see if it's a fair trade. These Hoard Packs are mysterious, with very low chances of getting what you want. While knowing this, again, I feel like i'm at a casino. When you don't get it, you think, "maybe this time I will!"

I noticed this pack also has pip burn which can be a mess in pvp. One piece of the gear gives it to you, and one of the chest plates has 555+ life towards yourself. Even farming for some of the most best gear cannot go up to this amount.
I'm now speaking for people who also can't invest more money than their already paying monthly or yearly. It just comes down to unfairness, and I understand life isn't fair, but this is ridiculous.

Delver
Oct 05, 2010
248
The problem that I see with packs is that the best items ( wands and now the gear too because it gives the most energy which is great for mass pet trainers and mass gardeners ) are available only in packs. And now these items are no trade? KI expects us to waste all our crowns endlessly throwing it at them I'm sorry but the direction that KI is going with this game is just going to destroy it.

Survivor
Aug 24, 2010
7
Darkest Mask, not to lessen the concern that KI has made the best gear in the game available only to their most wealthy players, but they did confirm that the wand being no trade is an unforeseen issue that they intend to fix. Thank you for addressing that issue so quickly, KI. :)

A+ Student
Dec 11, 2010
1665
grvy123 wrote:
hunteray09 wrote:
These Hoard Packs I feel have gotten out of control. It's become a big gambling profit, and I will fully explain why. I understand that it says we have a chance to get the new gear, mount, wand, ect.
But my confusion leads to the wishing wells being taken away from the test realm a year ago for gambling. That was gambling a small amount of crowns for in game items from bosses.
These packs are much worse, they make us pay up to 400 crowns for one pack with some items. It is also very hard to get the wished items, making more people spend more money. It literally feels like i'm at a casino when I try and get the items in the hoard packs.
Now please, Don't get me wrong I love the items in these hoard packs, but feel your spending too much time on them rather then player suggestions and worlds at hand. Thank you, and please don't take away the items from the packs, but maybe give us a better chance at getting them or make them available by another way.

Recently I spent 50$ on the newest hoard pack. Never got the hydra mount…. A waste...


these packs are merely packs of trading cards

there is a chance of a rare item which you consider when buying it
but there is a chance you will get nothing but commons which you understand

when ya buy a pack ya agree to the items your luck throws at you
you might get it first pack and ya might get it in 100 packs its different for everyone

if hoard packs were gambling the trading cards are gambling

hoard packs= untradable trading cards ( besides tc only item that can be traded)


recap same day i posted the above ( wow it got admitted in fast)
i bought a couple crowns to test this pack and you wont believe what the 3-4 pack had in it

a HYDRA MOUNT
yes a hydra mount and so early in buying that pack

some peoples luck is just off while others are born with a gift of luck

i cant help ya decide whether the pack is worth it to you or not but remember this
if at first ya dont succeed try try try again
and
lots of luck now go
kings isle hoard packs are fun
new world one step more

that last one was a haiku poem written by me about hoard packs
they are fun little gimmicks but people dont see how fun it is
everytime i buy a pack it has something fun in it to use or decorate my houses with
and the pets ^-^ i looooove them they are just so cute and i started to collect the special variety pets like wyverns, foo dogs ( finished), and new beast pets ( those little dragons look so cute but i have none :( )
remember the point of the packs is to allow ki to get more money thus they have more funding towards new worlds and expansions
like i said before its trading cards not gambling
( although ya cant trade these items besides tc from them so its like a downgraded trading card pack)

Hero
Jun 08, 2009
793
I hate to always quote the technical statistics on this kind of thread:

The Hoard Packs are claimed to grant you 7 of their items. No matter what, you get 7 of their items. Thus, a Hoard Pack is not a rip-off, not a really necessary thing to win PvE or PvP. Some of their gear may be good, but it often isn't extremely good. So, to all of the posters here: Do not feel your money is wasted. But it is up to you to continue buying Hoards.

Squire
Jun 19, 2009
514
To all of you who don't get my main point in this thread: Kingsisle has been making Hoard Packs pretty much every three weeks. It racks in so much money they aren't stopping production. They don't really listen to our suggestions anymore either. PvP has remained a mess, and yes, these hoards make it worse. Why not give us new areas, give us actual in game gear, instead of making us pay 400 crowns for 7 cards with a rare chance of good gear.

You may or may not know this, but there's beginning to be a group of people who are trying to get the message to Kingsisle of these hoard packs and how their affecting the community through You Tube. All we want is to show Kingsisle how much the players mean to them and that our suggestions for in game things instead of the usual crown items, are what makes this game run.

They keep making expenses higher in this game when we're already paying monthly.

I am not whining or complaining. I am defending my opinion as well as many others, and trying to help this game.

Survivor
Nov 28, 2009
1
i have spent more money on trying to get this mount than on anything else in the game now lets be real give us a better chance cause i have talked to people and it only took them a few times and i have tried about 100 times literally and got nothing mount wise period so what the heck

Adherent
Jul 03, 2010
2634
jeffery4148 wrote:
i have spent more money on trying to get this mount than on anything else in the game now lets be real give us a better chance cause i have talked to people and it only took them a few times and i have tried about 100 times literally and got nothing mount wise period so what the heck


Consider this - if no one won the mount no one else would buy the pack but if a certain amount win the mount to are able to show that it can be done others will spend endless crowns on getting what the "Jones" have.

Altho I do not buy packs or much at all with crowns, I do thank you because I believe it is your money that helps make my game play better.

Defender
May 19, 2012
191
Honestly, I don't care that I didn't get that rare mount despite spending so much on these packs. I know it's not a guarantee. My complaint is that they put items I can get in game from quests or drops. If I am going to spend real money on these packs, I would like to see the items be unique to crown purchases. I ended up with 7 or 8 crystal balls. We get crystal balls from a low level quest as a reward. Why do I want to spend my real money on these?

I ended up with three grandfather clocks. What am I supposed to do with so many of these clocks? Put one in every room of my castle? Hardly.

I have gotten so many reagents from these packs that are so common in game, like cat tails and diamonds. Please, take these common reagents out of these packs. I don't want to spend my real money on them.

This is why I said in my comment above that I am considering not purchasing any more crowns. I can't see throwing my money away on this 'junk'. Again, I would like to see these packs to be specific to type of item. Clothing, Mounts, Pets, Reagents, Snacks, Housing, Gardening...keep it all separate as I really seriously doubt I will purchase anymore packs until this is done.

As for KI not 'requiring' that we purchase these packs...well, if you want decent gear up to level 50+, you really need to. Stats on the crown gear are soooo much better than what you can get in game, so when people say things about KI not 'requiring' you to purchase crown gear...they obviously don't know what they are talking about. My storm wizard is wearing the sultan's outfit, and her fizzle rate is atrocious, but when I tried to switch her to in game gear, her fizzle rate went right out the window, it was so bad. I see this as a problem, as obviously if she wasn't wearing crown gear, game play would be nearly impossible on her, which makes spending crowns 'essential' if I want to be able to play her.

I say KI needs to fix the fizzle rate on storm wizards and make in game gear viable. My life wizard is wearing in game gear and can solo bosses that my storm wizard needed help with. What happened to storm being more powerful than other schools? I don't see this. Her spells may be more powerful, but that's only if she can get them to go off in the first place.

No, I see horde packs as being essential, especially if you play a storm wizard. I think I am going to get a full in game outfit for my storm wizard, best I can find on the bazaar for her level, and compare the stats and post them here so you can see what I'm talking about. I will look for the same stats the crown gear gives, to keep it fair.

Defender
May 19, 2012
191