Make Shroud of Memory Available for Everyone

People who've subbed most of the way through the life of this game, even through times when they didn't need to, but continued to, specifically to get the content sooner along with the free gifts, would probably have paid for the expansions when they came out too. But, what do I know, I'm just a guy who did what was asked and didn't try to cheat the system.

I paid money for it myself. And Shadow of Revan.

But then again my reasoning is based on practicalities.(0)

To recap: the things people keep asking for were offered as incentives to encourage people to stay subscribed during the release phase of Chapters X to XVI of KotFE. The incentive-value of such a thing is based largely(1) on it being available only that way. If one of these incentives is later made available some other way (notably by a simple CM purchase, or even an overt cash buy on the web site), that will weaken this incentive-value for the next thing. That's all.

(0) Noteworthy point: I subscribed anyway so I could play the KotFE chapters as they were released.(1) The gifts were a bonus on top of that. If they hadn't been offered, I would have subscribed anyway. But some people might have been undecided, and those items could have swayed them toward actually subscribing.

(1) Yes, there is a secondary value that remains if these things are known to be released later, no matter how they are rereleased. That secondary value is "I can have it *NOW* rather than waiting an extra year", and is augmented by the knowledge that it might be available later some other way. See also note (0) and why I subscribed anyway.

At what point was that a limited time only exclusive offer? I believe it actually came out at 20$, but it has always been available for purchase one way or another.

10?? Wasnt it like 20,-? Im sure it was more and yeah it sucks that back then I played for the expansions, just to get early access, now a new player pays 13,- Euro once, then unsubs and has EVERYTHING we payed so much for in the game.

I am not complaining, its just silly how it is now.

I take a fairly dispassionate approach to this subject. Is Bioware going to actually do another long subscriber rewards program that requires many months of continuous subscription? If they are, then I think there's merit to the argument that making Shroud of Memory available via the Cartel Market would disincline people from subbing for new rewards. It wouldn't make economic sense for BW. But if they're not going to do another long rewards program, then old rewards seem like resources they could use to generate more revenue through CM sales. However, maybe people who subbed for a long stretch might be upset by that and unsub? Would that end up making or losing money for BW overall? SWTOR seems like a game that doesn't have a huge amount of resources to work with, so I'm in favour of whatever makes most economic sense for BW.

Personally, I wouldn't take that as a reason to unsub(1), but then my reason for opposing rerelease of these things is based on the same practical consideration as yours, and is NOT based on "I got it, you don't, neener neener neener".

(1) There might be other reasons to unsub, but not that.

lol "I have done several mass shootings". Talk about unfortunate phrasing.

But to clarify, my post wasn't about defending this particular user. It's pretty clear even his post here seems fishy.

I am simply categorically against the "muh exclusives"-type elitism that the replies to his post exhibited. First of all, people can ask for whatever the hell they want (whether they'll get it is an entirely separate matter). Secondly there is not one iota of negative effect upon anyone else if these requests are granted. And no, don't start in with "muh trust relationship", as if EA/BioWare have been saints about consumer trust in other cases. There is nothing special in giving a company money at x time that entitles one to hoard content if there is demand for that content and the company is willing to fill that demand. Also, you (hypothetically speaking, not singling you out just because I'm quoting you) don't make that call, in case that wasn't obivous. And filling that demand does nothing to take away the content you've already gained, or the time you've had it for that no one else can catch up to.

Just as people are allowed to voice their opposition to whatever they want. Kinda like how you are opposed to us being able to oppose your need for something you don't deserve.

People came on to the forums to brag that they were going to unsubscribe all through KotFE and that they would only subscribe at the end and still get the full story (forgive me if I'm wrong in thinking you were one of those people). To counter this, Bioware offered up some incentives to stay subscribed. Stay loyal, keep subscribing and be rewarded. Telling people it's OK to unsubscribe and that they can cry on the forums and still get the rewards for staying subscribed would probably hurt the game a little.

Not least because as soon as a precedent is set, these whiny threads will become 1000 times worse as every man and his dog come on to claim that they deserve things that they didn't earn.

You oppose me asking for something that doesn't affect you in the least? Yeah that sounds decent of you.

And while yes, your voice is as free as mine on here, the amount of people I see piling on these requests and tearing the ones asking to pieces over them every single time kind of changes what's allowed to be voiced, in practice. So while I have the patience/interest to be here, consider me the opposition to your opposition. In the interests of being fair and all.

Also lol @ "deserve".

You have yet to say how this bragging (or the intent and possible action behind it) affected you personally.

As for hurting the game, please. They offered shinies last year that maybe helped tip some people into giving them money. How does offering (the same shinies) this year, for money, hurt the game if, said shinies still work as an incentive? Generate cash, require no effort to so much as reskin models, yep, that's certain doom alright. Promotions can be recurring without being RUINEDFOREVER. Hey, did you hear they're bringing back teh McRib? But wait, it was on for a limited time last year! Oh the horror!*

And I'm sorry for you but precedent is already changing. The KOTOR speeder was offered again, despite being a subscriber reward before. That's part of why I'm back actually. I had a huge grin on my face when I saw that. I've been coasting the latter part of this year with pretty low interest in this game. But then I saw that, poked around a bit more, saw they were releasing Hexid (yet another thing some people are arguing against) so I came back. I also picked up some nice shinies from direct sale that were previously being held hostage by hoarders. So, yeah, good times. Stay the course BW. Give people what they want.


*as far as I know, they're not actually bringing back the McRib. Sorry if you got excited. But they did in the past, so point stands.

Yes, DESERVE, as in:

to merit, be qualified for, or have a claim to (reward, assistance, punishment, etc.) because of actions, qualities, or situation

Specifically, to have a claim the those subscriber rewards because of their actions to ensure that they were subscribed at the appropriate time, as opposed to those who did NOT ensure that they were subscribed at the appropriate time.