Thread: A word about the Riders of Rohan Pre-Purchase packs.

Originally Posted by Patrickwg

Any chance you could set up a "sale" if you purchase the ROR quest pack during like the first week you can upgrade to the expansion version when it comes out in the store without paying extra. Would still pay full TP price for it just would pay it in 2 payments. Not sure if purchase history could be worked in with sales or not.

I'll certainly pass this along.

+rep from me even though i already purchased and was fine with the way it was, very good job turbine ^^

As I have just alt-tabbed out of LotRO to wait for my alt lvl 30 LM to craft his 40 something bags of pipe-weed, I hit facebook and saw the post with the link to this forum from the facebook page.

I'd like to just make a point; I have been playing LotRO since late 2009, just after the release of the Mines of Moria expansion pack. I stopped playing for a while for various reasons, but got stuck back in and resubscribed to the game just after it went F2P. One of the things I've noticed is quite a large group of people taking every opportunity to criticise and put down either the developers or the Turbine team in general.

I for one started playing this game because of a love of Tolkien's fantasy world, and in the 3 years that I've been playing I don't think Codemasters or Turbine have put a foot wrong in recreating it. After all, everyone obviously has a different opinion and imagination of what Tolkien's world would be like, but for a company to design a game to allow us to walk around a depiction of it, I think, is an enormous gratification.

My point is that although Turbine put a lot of products in the store for people to purchase, they are still a business and they need to make money. Making the game free-to-play would've obviously decreased their revenue so they had to get it from another source. I'd like to ask the certain people who do moan about each slight thing that Turbine do that they see as "wrong" to just consider that not everyone can be pleased, and to try and find advantageous factors about changes that are made because I, for one, can find many.

Sorry about the long post!

Originally Posted by Sapience

...
Additionally, some players had questions about the instance cluster coming after the launch of RoR...we did want to confirm that we will be releasing a new instance cluster in an update after Rohan launches, and that the cluster will be free to all players who have purchased the Riders of Rohan expansion...

Not wanting to rain on your parade, but why the long delay in this confirmation? Maybe I am being overly cynical, given your handling of Rohan I'm entitled to be, but does the delay suggest there was some resistance in WB/T to including the IC with the pre-Purchase?

My money is staying firmly in my pocket for a while yet.

Thank you!

Looks like time to spend $70 on my other account as well after this better offer.

Thank you!

Thank you for updating us and listing to our feedback!

Thanks for this, this means that I will pre-order as well.

I do hope that Turbine does understand the need for better communication now. We'd rather have the truth than live in a fantasy.

Redemptionbine!

Thanks from me guys too. Now i feel like i did a fair deal

I never doubt turbine or Sap and Cele cause i know how hard they work for this game.I thought it was bad marketing...and it have been corrected. I wont tell you dont do another mistake cause we are humans and mistakes just happened. But its an amazing skill to understand were you went wrong and how you can do it right.And you guys have it. Glad to be here...I feel that Lotro is not just a game ....everybody here is a fellowship Lets go like that to the end of all ;P

I have to say, well done Turbine for listening to your community feedback and acting on it,its a very rare thing and will be appreciated (hopefully).

I have been playing since the start and normally buy the top tier expansion but this is the 1st expansion I was a bit weary of buying, mainly because the so called "freebies" are a bit on the weak side, the statted cloaks for example, may aswel be just cosmetics and the duplicate war steed skin of the "free" horse seemed a bit on the lazy side tbh but adding the turbine points to the packages definately sweetens the deal and makes it more worth while, I have been pushed in the buy it direction a bit more now, I just really wish the "freebies" were a lot better and the information regarding the exclusive Rohan content etc was there.

Thanks again for doing the right thing Turbs!

Thanks, Turbine. You just earned back my support as well.

Becaouse of this I will get the Rider of Rohan expansion!

Thank you Turbine, it's nice to know you're listening to you community!

Been playing seems like forever. Turbine has my $10.00 a month like clockwork for years. My wifes too.
Then they pull this... this garbage!
Only after people stand up and shout, do they do the right thing.

NEWSFLASH: They should have done the right thing from the start! Not after they were caught with their greedy hands in our pockets! Not after they realized they pushed too far with their greed and audacity.

The whole situation is sad. I no longer trust turbine. I love their product, but I dont trust them. And i cant see giving my money to those i no longer trust. It is not "will something like this happen again", but 'WHEN will it happen again?"

Well, I'm kinda new to the game, but I've already bought Isengard, because was a ok price including Turbine points and quest packs.

Now the expansion, I'm glad to see it, really glad, new content, even if I don't have a lvl 75 yet.
But I have to say one thing, release it as a pre-order with in-game stuff now is a good thing, but, I must confess that there's so little info about the ACTUAL new content, there's no numbers about instances, raids, new zones or quests.

And the quest packs on Rohan, well, aside Evendim, I get all the other two in Isengard. I'm not complainning or saying it's bad, because others maybe don't have them yet.

All I want to say is that I will wait, first to have any real info about the expansion content, not this in-game features, which for me don't really matter. Second, the price is ok but not ok if you know what I mean, so yes, not buying anything till the actual release and if buy, will buy the Base edition, cause the only things would interest me, the quest packs, don't have anything really new you compare with Isengard. Maybe the only thing was the 6th bag, but that, for sure, will be in the store later.

But thanks for the update

I had already pre purchased the Legendary addition and im a lifer, but have to say its great news that Turbine have listened to there players and acted on feedback. Im still hoping for account wide mounts especially from the turbine store as 2k points per char per mount is bit much, even if made it 3k fro mounts to be account wide, and the riding speed a passove skill so all mounts used ur highest, would see alot more diversity of mounts and people buying the stor bought mounts for the exta speed boost.

YAY FIX! thanks turbine for this i might preorder now

I will add my thanks here as well...... Thank you for listening to the community, for being clear and concise, and being exactly what we expect from the creators of this wonderful game...


And there is already 5 pages of posts here, in a couple hours, echoing my thoughts on how good communication and being reasonable to your faithful customers can get you far more trust....

Thanks Turbine for hearing on your customers. That's a nice surprise.

Thank you for a refreshing change in movement!

With all the outcry going on the past few days, I think this deserves a huge pat on the back for the people behind Turbine that pushed for this change. It's nice to feel a certain sense of value in a community that many here have spent a considerable amount of time by the months and years! We are here to appreciate the good company as well as the art and work behind all that is your creation.

People do put a certain sense of trust and hold you to a certain level of integrity as we should being the consumers for so long. We rely on you to be innovative while still keeping the consumer's standpoint in consideration.

With that, Turbine please promise to always take care of your community from the get go!! We will return the favor!!!

Again, thanks for listening and understanding!

:-)

Thank you Turbine I'll buy the expansion soon.
I'll have to put aside some money.

Whilst I'm pleased to see Turbine have listened to our complaints I can't say it has rebuilt any of my trust in the company. I didn't rush to pre-order this year after what happened with RoI and clearly I feel justified in doing so. Will I pre-order now? I'm honestly not sure as I still don't think it's particularly good value for money and the whole affair has left a bad taste in my mouth. What I do know for sure is that if I'm still around next year I certainly won't be pre-ordering right away and that I won't be purchasing any future Turbine games.

Originally Posted by Silber

Making the game free-to-play would've obviously decreased their revenue

This has been one of the player attitudes that has irritated me the most throughout this as it is quite simply untrue. The game makes more money now than it ever did as a subscription only MMO and being owned by Warner Brothers they are clearly not short of funds. However, even if this were not the case Turbine would still need to earn our support regardless of their financial situation.
-Esty

Good to see some feedback from turbine on this.
now if only we could see a blue name or 2 in the hunter forums.....

Thank you very much for the added bonuses to the expansion.

I am still a bit disappointed that the extra bag space is only available to the highest price preorder. I can't really justify spending $70 just to get a special horse and an extra bag at this point. I'd be more likely to preorder one of the lower cost expansion packs if the 6th bag slot was attached to them. For the moment, I'm just going to wait and see what I can afford and if it's worth it on my tight budget.

Anyway, was trying to be nice about it. I hope my post comes across that way.

I don't know everyone is immediately jumping at their counter-offer. We could probably get another 1,000 tp if we just work at it for another week or so. Stay strong people.

True credit goes to the player community that refused to buy the overpriced quest pack and made their displeasure known. Sales may have been strong, according to Sapience, but if the sales were on pace with RoI there would have been no change made by Turbine. The (assumed) huge gap between sales at the same time, plus all the forum posts detailing why people weren't buying forced their hand and they had to do something or watch a complete disaster hit their bottom line.

Admitting a mistake isn't easy, but the actions taken to make amends go a long way. I hope someone thunks the entire marketing department for such a boneheaded move in the first place, and if the same decision maker is still in place next year that s/he has learned a valuable lesson.

With this change chances are that I will spend cash on the expac, tho I will wait to see all the updated details and satisfied reports in the forum.

While I think its a bit over the top to start saying "thanks buddy, you really have my interests at heart" to a corporation (which has obviously made this change to increase sales), I'll join in and say that now I'll buy also, I didn't want to pay money only to have to buy again an instance cluster 2-3 months (I guess) later. I had firmly committed to giving you nothing and just grinding the TP for it, now though I'll buy it, and the $70 version too.

This would have been my first xpac I didn't buy, I hope the lesson remains fresh in the memory for the next one.

Already said thanks for the TP's!

BUT!

Any chance of some more info about the exclusive Rohan content that comes with the legendary pack or even any news on upgrading the "freebies" too? As $70 is a bit... :O



For future ref: Asking people to buy something with no real info about it = BAD!

Originally Posted by Namesse

True credit goes to the player community that refused to buy the overpriced quest pack and made their displeasure known...

Yes.

12345

Originally Posted by Anglacon

Been playing seems like forever. Turbine has my $10.00 a month like clockwork for years. My wifes too.
Then they pull this... this garbage!
Only after people stand up and shout, do they do the right thing.

NEWSFLASH: They should have done the right thing from the start! Not after they were caught with their greedy hands in our pockets! Not after they realized they pushed too far with their greed and audacity.

The whole situation is sad. I no longer trust turbine. I love their product, but I dont trust them. And i cant see giving my money to those i no longer trust. It is not "will something like this happen again", but 'WHEN will it happen again?"

Yes, they should have made a better decision right from the start. Nothing they do will change that. However, taking community feedback like they did and directly (and retroactively) implementing it does go a long way. I don't think it's fair to say that one cannot work to correct a mistake, even if they can't fully make up for it.

Originally Posted by bastiat1

I don't know everyone is immediately jumping at their counter-offer. We could probably get another 1,000 tp if we just work at it for another week or so. Stay strong people.

Now who's being greedy?

Originally Posted by Sapience

As most of you know, last week we launched the Riders of Rohan pre-purchase program. While initial sales have been strong and overall response has been positive, we have been paying very close attention to feedback from our community, where some concerns have been raised.
...

It feels good to do the right thing, doesn't it?

I'm now planning on pre-ordering the Legendary Edition on both of my accounts.

Humm, thanks.

Originally Posted by Sapience

As with Isengard, the cluster is included with the expansion, though it will ship in a later update. It will not be free if you do not purchase the Rohan expansion.

Wasn't there stated a few years ago that VIP-players shouldn't pay anymore for this game? I.e. lifetime included this as well. Have I missed something in the contract when I bought lifetime, or did the view of Turbine change to lifers/VIPs? As far as I know the U5-instance cluster wasn't available with RoI (either pre-order/order). If you buy RoR with TP, will you be able to play then, or is this a lie?

If it's true that the contract stated we shouldn't pay, I would not appreciate it, that VIP's are practically being cashed here. This isn't intentionally what I paid for, and I think more people would share my opinion, bare the Turbine-lickers that are praising you Sapience as a god. Big mistake to be honest, to get the store running and F2P.. As Cryss said, it's been going down since the term ''Pay to Win''. I reckon you should put that instance cluster when RoR comes out, otherwise you will lose a lot of players with Guild Wars 2. And as far as I know:

At Turbine we have always made it a point to listen closely to our players

Am I right or am I wrong?

And why are people even ''thanking''? For the bloody 1K - 2K tp we get while buying the expansion, in which we get up to 10 levels and there's nothing at all to do? Comeon, think instead of following the mass.

"We finally realised how rubbish the expansion was for the price, so have some TP to make up for it."

As one of those more than a little miffed at the exclusion of the instances, I want to be equally vocal in thanking Turbine for listening to the community and responding appropriately. Since I was an early adopter (before the instance crises) of two Legendary RoR editions, I want to give you my hardy thanks. You made my day.

It is very good news for lots of people and I am glad they changed the offer.
What I wonder now, what about lifetimers.
I know VIP wont get the instance pack for free, are lifetimers included aswell and will not get it for free?

Greets

Originally Posted by Tolgaring

Wasn't there stated a few years ago that VIP-players shouldn't pay anymore for this game? I.e. lifetime included this as well. Have I missed something in the contract when I bought lifetime, or did the view of Turbine change to lifers/VIPs? As far as I know the U5-instance cluster wasn't available with RoI (either pre-order/order). If you buy RoR with TP, will you be able to play then, or is this a lie?

If it's true that the contract stated we shouldn't pay, I would not appreciate it, that VIP's are practically being cashed here. This isn't intentionally what I paid for, and I think more people would share my opinion, bare the Turbine-lickers that are praising you Sapience as a god. Big mistake to be honest, to get the store running and F2P.. As Cryss said, it's been going down since the term ''Pay to Win''. I reckon you should put that instance cluster when RoR comes out, otherwise you will lose a lot of players with Guild Wars 2. And as far as I know:



Am I right or am I wrong?

And why are people even ''thanking''? For the bloody 1K - 2K tp we get while buying the expansion, in which we get up to 10 levels and there's nothing at all to do? Comeon, think instead of following the mass.

VIPs get enough TP per year granted (6,000) to purchase the expansion, so you don't have to pay real money if you are good about saving your points. The RoI instance cluster and Draigoch raid were available for TP eventually. The total cost of the RoI quest pack, instance cluster, and Draigoch raid was 5995TP, if I remember right.

So glad for this news! Makes my $70 purchase more worthwhile. You have made a lot of people happy!

As a lifetimer/VIP myself I am wondering why people ever thought they would be getting the content associated with a boxed expansion for free.

Thank you for seeing reason and making the Instance cluster included in the price of the expansion, like it should have been all along. Please don't try to pull #### like that again. With that settled, I will now go ahead with my pre-order.