I've been reading with great interest all the discussions surrounding the upcoming Stronghold. Sadly I am of the same opinion as most other posters that it will simply change the advantage that Pay-to-Win players have from offence to defence.
Regardless of how the Stronhold affects the balance of the game, three very apparent points have arisen from the Stronghold discussions:
1. Nexon wants to make as much money as possible, and retaining troop tactics is a very good way for them to do this.
2. The non pay-to-win players (the majority of players) want the ability to remain competitive without having to have the biggest wallet on the battlefield.
3. Whoever at Nexon designs and implements these new game features does not play the game (and if they do, they have unlimited crowns, which is exactly the same as not playing it at all) The dock and and University are perfect examples of a lack of awareness for how the game is actually played by the majority of its player base.
I have no problems with points 1 & 2 - Nexon needs to make money in order for the game to survive, and like most other players I believe that at least some part of the game should be an even playing field. It is point 3 that I think Nexon needs help with. I would love to hear everyone's ideas for how Nexon can increase their ingame revenue streams but keep the game viably competitive for non pay-to-play players. Let's help them out with revenue generating ideas that enhance the game, rather than spending our time criticising their current efforts to make money. Keep Nexon's wallet happy and they're more likely to keep us happy
Before I note a few ideas I have, I personally believe that wars should be completely skill based - no extra bought troops. Allow as many card troops as people want for multiplayer attacks but leave wars as the one part of the game where it truly is a level playing field.
A few ideas off the top of my head;
- Allow people to buy multiple estates (a limit of say 5, with each one getting more expensive than the last)
- Add some buildings into the "treasure" tab - temporary buildings or wonders that cost crowns and last, say a week, then disappear.
- Add a section to the store where people can buy purely decorative features to their base to customise it. Statues, fountains, a zoo etc - they have no effect on your base other than looking nice and showing off that you bought them.
- Add a blessing that speeds up your workers by 10% (thereby decreasing construction times) it lasts a day and costs 200 crowns
- Allow players to request help from alliance members to speed up the construction of a building - in essence requesting crowns in the same way we currently request troops
- Create an optional monthly subscription package: any player that wants to can pay $x a month for say a bronze, silver or gold subscription. Obviously the perks you get increase as your subscription package does: more monthly crowns, extra citizens, maybe even an exclusive nation?
Regardless of how the Stronhold affects the balance of the game, three very apparent points have arisen from the Stronghold discussions:
1. Nexon wants to make as much money as possible, and retaining troop tactics is a very good way for them to do this.
2. The non pay-to-win players (the majority of players) want the ability to remain competitive without having to have the biggest wallet on the battlefield.
3. Whoever at Nexon designs and implements these new game features does not play the game (and if they do, they have unlimited crowns, which is exactly the same as not playing it at all) The dock and and University are perfect examples of a lack of awareness for how the game is actually played by the majority of its player base.
I have no problems with points 1 & 2 - Nexon needs to make money in order for the game to survive, and like most other players I believe that at least some part of the game should be an even playing field. It is point 3 that I think Nexon needs help with. I would love to hear everyone's ideas for how Nexon can increase their ingame revenue streams but keep the game viably competitive for non pay-to-play players. Let's help them out with revenue generating ideas that enhance the game, rather than spending our time criticising their current efforts to make money. Keep Nexon's wallet happy and they're more likely to keep us happy
Before I note a few ideas I have, I personally believe that wars should be completely skill based - no extra bought troops. Allow as many card troops as people want for multiplayer attacks but leave wars as the one part of the game where it truly is a level playing field.
A few ideas off the top of my head;
- Allow people to buy multiple estates (a limit of say 5, with each one getting more expensive than the last)
- Add some buildings into the "treasure" tab - temporary buildings or wonders that cost crowns and last, say a week, then disappear.
- Add a section to the store where people can buy purely decorative features to their base to customise it. Statues, fountains, a zoo etc - they have no effect on your base other than looking nice and showing off that you bought them.
- Add a blessing that speeds up your workers by 10% (thereby decreasing construction times) it lasts a day and costs 200 crowns
- Allow players to request help from alliance members to speed up the construction of a building - in essence requesting crowns in the same way we currently request troops
- Create an optional monthly subscription package: any player that wants to can pay $x a month for say a bronze, silver or gold subscription. Obviously the perks you get increase as your subscription package does: more monthly crowns, extra citizens, maybe even an exclusive nation?
