The Buy Silver button

[Dallane]

On the one hand, a newbie pack sounds interesting. But on the other hand, it would remove a few of the early milestones like getting enough silver for that first nail, or working for the skills or silver to acquire your first iron tools. I'm not sure if we want to take away from any of that early development.

I think it would be a bad idea to take that experience away.

[ShadowTani]

People already have the opportunity to kill that achievement and experience by buying silver directly. It's nice you have more soul than the average economist though, I like that, but don't babysit your customers too much now. The newbie pack if designed right might be a lot more starting experience friendly than them going for the silver instead (is another reason why I recommended to NOT add silver to the pack). Many will probably go for the silver in addition (or only), but at least you'll provide an alternative.

The iron tools was a suggestion, not what I see as a requirement for such a pack (though I know many would appreciate it; if not metal tools maybe something in between those and the beginner tools that where exclusive for this pack? Like I said, be creative ). The inspirational potion and claim thing is the only things I personally see as a must. Anything else is really up to you guys to put together as you see fit, I'm sure you can balance it a lot better than what I could. Either way, obviously a newbie pack is best added before expecting a larger influx of players, it's success rely solely on the rate of new players. If you add it later or don't manage to attract a large enough crowd it won't do so good. So considering it should be done now, not later. That train WILL leave soon.

• The reason for the potion is that there are going to be a lot of enthusiastic beginners that will be running out of inspiration in the beginning until they've built up their rates. The cash shop isn't offering anything to take advantage of this very boring situation. And the few players that sell such potions seems to price them way above a beginners budget.
• The claim is because the community veterans is a group of assholes (me included) that would rob a beginner blind before they had the chance to collect enough silver for a claim. Obviously this isn't good in terms of establishing that essential first impression that would help more people establish roots with the game, which is critical for the long-term success of the game. Ensure smiles in the beginning, let the tears come later.

And in case there where doubts, the inventory-containers was a separate suggestion from the newbie pack. x3 (I really really want this, and is more of a vanity OCD-organizer item than an actual requirement to enjoy the game, so is well suited for the item shop in that regard I think)

[Lusewing]

The problem is that a lot of new players who have played free to play games before are going to think that in order to get an advantage and suvive they will HAVE to buy a newbie pack from the store. Plus once population starts growing even more we will likely see more small time raiders hitting newbie claims and loseing stuff you have made is very diffrent from losing stuff you have paid for. During the early part of the game its less pay to win and more pay to get raided since most of the pack sturctures all have a very recognisble skin.

There is also the fact that the sooner newplayers learn to mannage what they study, as well as find out that reaching 'the next level' is not all there is to the game, the better.

[ShadowTani]

The problem is that a lot of new players who have played free to play games before are going to think that in order to get an advantage and suvive they will HAVE to buy a newbie pack from the store.

"Free" in F2P games have always been as relative as relative can be - the game needs revenue to stay alive. Also, everything in the item shop already give an advantage; the only way this isn't a double-moral is if you're opposed to an item shop entirely. But that wouldn't be very realistic, no? As long as you actually don't need it to succeed it should be fine in my opinion. That some players feel they need the advantage is an entirely different matter, but people fool themselves like that all the time and is why silver is such a popular commodity. That is their responsibility however, it's their money; the responsibility of the developer on the other hand is to ensure products that is desirable is available. If you don't like how the system works you're free to join me in my support for alternative economic models.

Plus once population starts growing even more we will likely see more small time raiders hitting newbie claims and loseing stuff you have made is very diffrent from losing stuff you have paid for. During the early part of the game its less pay to win and more pay to get raided since most of the pack sturctures all have a very recognisble skin.

It's why I was suggesting items that is meant to be used sooner rather than later and items the person is more likely to carry on their person instead of storing in a box. I dunno, Pick-pocketing just seems less commonly done than actual raids to me, but I could be wrong. The devs would know this better. I still think the lack of such a pack is a badly missed opportunity, but I digress.

There is also the fact that the sooner newplayers learn to mannage what they study, as well as find out that reaching 'the next level' is not all there is to the game, the better.

If this is an issue then it's an issue that should be dealt with in the tutorial.

[Nikixos]

I'm gonna kill everyone with my hyper overpowered lady's hat
From what i can see the game doesn't need a newbie pack to increase revenue, if anything that would hurt the player's experience, it has been stated many times that MM tried to delete the option to pay your win in when they revamped their store

[HolyLight]

A good way to impliment newb pack, with specific items.

Can only be purchased once per account
The items weight 0kg
The items cannot be moved from youre inventory/traded
The items have no floor graphics, they vanish if KO'd

The newb pack can consist of inspritional items, and refreshers Maybe eough to cut off lets say 6h worth of game time or something for a small price of $5 (maybe the inspritionals can be tailor made to gain specific skills but if used wrongly can be pretty worthless)(another learning curve for salem)

If the pack is wrongly used they just wasted $5, and the devs can gian cash shop tears.

[trungdle]

A good way to impliment newb pack, with specific items.

Can only be purchased once per account
The items weight 0kg
The items cannot be moved from youre inventory/traded
The items have no floor graphics, they vanish if KO'd

The newb pack can consist of inspritional items, and refreshers Maybe eough to cut off lets say 6h worth of game time or something for a small price of $5 (maybe the inspritionals can be tailor made to gain specific skills but if used wrongly can be pretty worthless)(another learning curve for salem)

If the pack is wrongly used they just wasted $5, and the devs can gian cash shop tears.

You realize how OP that pack would be? Also it is against the general direction of "no item left behind"
I DO like newb pack, it gives more income, helps noobs, generate more !!fun!! and helps looters.

[ShadowTani]

From what i can see the game doesn't need a newbie pack to increase revenue

They may not be struggling, but considering they can not fit things like Steam Greenlight into their budget I'm quite certain it wouldn't hurt for them to have a bit bigger revenue buffer. Not saying Steam Greenlight is a good idea even if they could afford it though, that's an entirely different debate altogether, I'm just pointing it out.

if anything that would hurt the player's experience, it has been stated many times that MM tried to delete the option to pay your win in when they revamped their store

As I stated earlier, if they design the pack right, then such a pack will be less detrimental to a players experience than them buying silver outright. None of my suggestions is within the pay 2 win territory. My suggestion for the newbie pack was in the territory where it smooths out and speeds up the time it takes a player to get properly established in the game. If done right it could prove very healthy in regards to establishing a more consistent playerbase that is also willing to invest in the game.

But of course, I know the games reputation as an elitist game, and it'll take more than a newb pack to correct that. But I'd be damned if it's at least not a start.

[Dallane]

John already explained why they aren't using steam.

[TotalyMeow]

they can not fit things like Steam Greenlight into their budget

It has nothing to do with budge. Steam just isn't for us.