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Wyrom Says EbonGate Shopping Pass Will Be For Account

Wyrom: “You know what… Shopping passes will be account-wide. I’ll make it work.”

http://bit.ly/2gI9XUS

Category: Paid Events: Adventures, Quests, and SimuCoins
Topic: Ebon Gate Festival

Date: 09/04/2017 01:35 PM CDT
From: SIMU-WYROM
Subj: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
Here is the Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing information for 2017.

Ebon Gate will launch October 1st, beginning with just the storyline aspect of the grounds. The move from Feywrot Mire to Caligos Isle will be explained during this time. Once you arrive on Caligos Isle, you will be able to explore at your leisure. Shops will be open for early browsing, but wares will not be on sale until roughly 9pm ET on October 6th when shopping, games, and other activities will open up.

This year, we’re trying something new, which we’re pretty excited about. We are moving away from the box office, and that means the main grounds will be open to all players at all times. We are breaking up the cost into an à la carte style event, so you buy into the level you choose to. This was to address some of the concerns we’ve heard over the years and to help manage expectations of the event overall.

Ebon Gate pricing is going to be broken up into three parts: shopping, raffles & services, and games. I tried to convey this during our sneak peak at SimuCon, but we weren’t 100% ready to announce all the details then. GM Haliste also has been working on this more thoroughly than I have and knew more about it. Some of the recent threads that came up about the cost were left a bit incomplete because we wanted to make sure we can deliver what we publish. It’s better to announce accurate information, rather than reaction information (which is something we fall victim to a lot). This is part of us trying to communicate better with our community.

At SimuCon, I mentioned games would be similar to the Duskruin Dig in that you purchase the items from the SimuCon store. The original plan was for a shovel to be offered in the store with a time-based usage (and not a number of DIG uses). After the initial response though, we felt this was just going to be too confusing to explain if you had to buy the actual shovel from the store. The reason for moving to a time-based shovel is this is the first year we’re going to be offering digging for nearly the entire month. Typically, digging and games are only available for a little over a week (two in Platinum).

The price breakdown is as follows:
* Shopping Pass: 1000 SimuCoins / Event Duration
* Raffles & Services Pass: 3000 SimuCoins / Merchant Week
* Games and Digging Pass: 1500 SimuCoins / Week

This means you can buy into the level of Ebon Gate that you choose to. Some players have mentioned in the past that there are aspects of the event that they have no interest in or never can line up their schedule for. Now you can make that choice for yourself. You can pick up a service pass only if you know you’re getting a service under this new model. You can pick up a game pass only when you actually want to dig. You can pick up a shopping pass only if you find items you actually want to buy.

We also have a new activity called Deep Sea Diving. This is a brand new venture that has a pricing model similar to Duskruin/Delirium (roughly 100 SimuCoins per entry), but is not necessary to attend to enjoy Ebon Gate. Much like Delirium Manor was at Ebon Gate 2016, this is a companion piece to Ebon Gate. The difference is this is fully integrated with Caligos Isle, and it isn’t a standalone event. Deep Sea Diving has new mechanics and some fun nostalgic areas to explore!

Ebon Gate will mostly cost silver once inside, but we will be introducing a new currency for the Isle called seashells. These seashells will be useful for a handful of shops at Ebon Gate (similar to Delirium), as well as some services. We’ll also have some things available for tickets, for those that saved some from a previous year.

Some changes this time that are happening are the cost of shovels and games. Prior to Ebon Gate 2012, digging was 2000 silver and the older games were between 1000 to 5000 silver. In 2017, digging will once again be 2000 silver per shovel, and the various games will start at 1000 silver.

Merchants are tentatively scheduled for the following weeks in eastern time:
– Platinum: Friday, October 13, 9:00 PM – Friday, October 20, 8:59 PM
– Prime: Friday, October 20, 9:00 PM – Friday, October 27, 8:59 PM

Lastly, I’ll briefly mention we are discussing the exchange of alternative currencies. We are not ready to release any information about this, but when exchanges are possible, it will only be a one-way route into two of our currencies. You will not be able to exchange tickets into bloodscrip, but you would be able to convert bloodscrip into tickets. This isn’t pertinent to Ebon Gate, but it does impact the event planning.

We will have more information for you in the coming weeks.


Wyrom, PM


Date: 09/04/2017 01:43 PM CDT
From: EICHERJ
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
*Grabs his pitchfork and torch*

He’s a witch! Burn him!

That’s not bad at all. Thanks Why-Rum?


Date: 09/04/2017 01:44 PM CDT
From: FUDGEHJ
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
Good stuff. I like it.

Glad to know digging remains silver based. It really DID sound like it wasnt going to, at the Con.

Berbels shrilly exclaims, “Ise takings hims tos secretses lairses!”

Berbels grabs you and drags you east.


Date: 09/04/2017 01:50 PM CDT
From: TIGGEREYE
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
Thanks for the info! Sounds very reasonable. Are the passes one per account or character?

___________________________________

The flamepoint sand kitten hisses at a patchwork flesh monstrosity.
… 9 points of damage!


Date: 09/04/2017 01:52 PM CDT
From: SIMU-WYROM
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
>>Thanks for the info! Sounds very reasonable. Are the passes one per account or character?

Per character.


Wyrom, PM


Date: 09/04/2017 01:55 PM CDT
From: CHULAK
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
That… is quite reasonable and now I can calm down and only bemoan the fact that I just get 1 week of vacation and can’t stay up 20 hours a day digging all month. Though I will miss my unlimited use shovel from Feyrot, I look forward to what Caligos holds in it’s earthen core.

Speaking in Faendryl, Jahosk says, “You will now be known as Blade Durakar, the Palestra.”


Date: 09/04/2017 01:55 PM CDT
From: ATALYCUS
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
so prizes in deep sea diving will be better value and better jackpots then in the digging and games i am guessing?

I do like the changes except the deep sea diving as it’s another delirium/summit/dig for me.

Still looking forward to eg even with the changes. Thanks for the info on eg


Date: 09/04/2017 01:57 PM CDT
From: BARDLADY
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
seashells = sand dollars


Date: 09/04/2017 02:08 PM CDT
From: CHULAK
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
>>seashells = sand dollars

I was just telling the Hand of the Arkati discord that this was going to be how I referred to the seashell currency from here on out.

On another point, with the games and all – Will the prizes be drawn from the same hopper for both Deep Sea Dive and the digging/silver games at EG? Are the odds of winning comparable to prior years or is there anything you can tell us about the odds? What sort of items should we expect from the prizes?

Thanks!

Speaking in Faendryl, Jahosk says, “You will now be known as Blade Durakar, the Palestra.”


Date: 09/04/2017 02:10 PM CDT
From: KITHUS
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
I hope you don’t mind clarifying a few things. Overall this looks very good but I want to make sure I’m understanding it correctly.

First off, the merchant/services pass. Realistically we only have to buy one for each instance we want to participate in correct? Is this something we have to activate and time correctly? Is it a matter of if I redeem this pass in Plat I’m good for the merchant week in Plat? If a merchant shows up outside the scheduled week in Plat do I need another services pass for that new week?

For the overall cost, assuming I only need one merchant pass, I could expect it to be roughly 7000 simucoins if I wanted to shop, attend merchants and have two weeks of digging/games? Are these passes (unredeemed) going to be transferable in game? Is there going to be anything in place to keep someone with a shop pass for shopping for someone without? Will a lack of shop pass keep you from getting into certain shops and, as a result, prevent you from meeting certain merchants despite having a merchant pass?

On the diving game, is this the only way to obtain sea shells or will they be available through digging and other games? Will this game pull from the same “high end” hopper as the other games/digging? What services and items, if any, will be solely locked behind the sea shell wall?

On the passes being per character. Typically one of Platinum’s EG perks is the ability to get a “full account” ticket for the base ticket price. Is there any chance we will be seeing the passes extended to full account for Platinum? Will we be seeing services/raffles/auctions/etc that are restricted by race or profession?

Finally a few questions on digging, the real reason we’re all here. Will there be unlimited shovels sold this year? Will previous unlimited shovels continue to function, provided we purchase a pass? Are we going to see a comprehensive list of what is available in the high end hopper for both digging/games and diving before the event so we can make educated decisions about where to spend our entertainment dollars?

One last thing. When does the pre-EG event with the chance to get passes out of boxes start?

Keith/Brinret/Eronderl

Keith is correct
-Wyrom, APM

Keith is correct.
-GameMaster Estild

Date: 09/04/2017 02:13 PM CDT
From: LEIGO2
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information

Will service pass include automated services like the w/p/s we saw with bloodforge?


Date: 09/04/2017 02:15 PM CDT
From: JOEKUPS
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
Thank you for the detailed information. I agree that this all seems very reasonable and I look forward to EG now with as much anticipation as I had last year. If you could just get me a week off work again that would be great.

Wyrom says, “Ordim is the reason savants won’t be coded as well.”


Date: 09/04/2017 02:18 PM CDT
From: PEREGRINEFALCON
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
>> Ebon Gate will mostly cost silver once inside, but we will be introducing a new currency for the Isle called seashells. These seashells will be useful for a handful of shops at Ebon Gate (similar to Delirium), as well as some services. We’ll also have some things available for tickets, for those that saved some from a previous year.

Overall this seems pretty reasonable Wyrom. I will note that it is a big price hike compared to prior years for people (like myself) that like to attend with multiple characters but I’ll simply adjust how I participate this year to address that issue.

Will seashells be earned via digging and games, similar to tickets earned last year, or something else?

Can we expect that likely high demand / rare services such as the smithy (padding / weighting service) will be available via these seashells or something else?

Thanks!

— Robert

You gesture at a colossal glaes-covered meteor.
The scream of tortured metal echoes around you as the lightning bolt strikes a colossal glaes-covered meteor.


Date: 09/04/2017 02:24 PM CDT
From: DOUG
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
Well, boo.

I might just have to attend.

Dammit!

Doug


Date: 09/04/2017 03:50 PM CDT
From: LUNATUNES
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
Thank you for the update Wyrom, and I’ll echo what others have indicated in saying it seems quite reasonable. Those of us who are not really big SC users will find that the monthly bonus SCs actually make it relatively inexpensive to attend EG 🙂 Two thumbs up!

Looking forward to more teasers!

/seo, wheels and skulls department/


Date: 09/04/2017 04:31 PM CDT
From: WARLORD1871
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
This seems like a price increase over full account access for premium, especially if you might be after the class only raffles. For that matter it was like 10 bucks more per char on the box office before. Now 30 bucks a character? Especially if you might be after the class only raffles.
In the past you had trouble keeping the hopper full for even one week of games. How are you planning to keep it full for a whole month? Does it get refreshed every week? If not it seems doubtful to maintain value.

Also if every single purchase is per character are spinners still going to be per account? Or will you be shifting them to per character? So far the pricing model seems like a nerf to premium accounts and a boon to MA’ers.

Fyrentennimar

Quote: “Jaynah says, “This is more fun than rolton tipping and blood eagle ridin combined.””


Date: 09/04/2017 04:38 PM CDT
From: WARLORD1871
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
Also what is the word on the replacement for the necrop?

Fyrentennimar

Quote: “Jaynah says, “This is more fun than rolton tipping and blood eagle ridin combined.””


Date: 09/04/2017 04:50 PM CDT
From: WARLORD1871
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
Further not only is it costing more than an all access, premium can only log in one character at a time. That means paying 30 bucks per character and not even having equal access to someone with a regular accounts and paid for the 30 buck accesses. Same price less reward/access. Not really fair pricing.

Fyrentennimar

Quote: “Jaynah says, “This is more fun than rolton tipping and blood eagle ridin combined.””


Date: 09/04/2017 05:30 PM CDT
From: SIMU-WYROM
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
>>On another point, with the games and all – Will the prizes be drawn from the same hopper for both Deep Sea Dive and the digging/silver games at EG? Are the odds of winning comparable to prior years or is there anything you can tell us about the odds? What sort of items should we expect from the prizes?

Not going to focus on answering specifics about the event itself, but just to give a generalized answer here, odds for games and digging are exactly the same as last year. Deep Sea Diving (DSD) is completely new and not something we can easily compare to. Some games may have different prizes, but the majority of feeders are the same across Ebon Gate.

>>First off, the merchant/services pass. Realistically we only have to buy one for each instance we want to participate in correct? Is this something we have to activate and time correctly? Is it a matter of if I redeem this pass in Plat I’m good for the merchant week in Plat? If a merchant shows up outside the scheduled week in Plat do I need another services pass for that new week?

Yes, these are per character per instance. Yes, more information on the passes will be available in the coming weeks, but you will REDEEM these passes.

If a merchant shows outside the merchant week, it will be included, but this should NOT be happening outside special circumstances.

>>For the overall cost, assuming I only need one merchant pass, I could expect it to be roughly 7000 simucoins if I wanted to shop, attend merchants and have two weeks of digging/games? Are these passes (unredeemed) going to be transferable in game? Is there going to be anything in place to keep someone with a shop pass for shopping for someone without? Will a lack of shop pass keep you from getting into certain shops and, as a result, prevent you from meeting certain merchants despite having a merchant pass?

The passes will not be attuned until you REDEEM them. We’ve never prevented anyone for shopping for others in the past, we’re not about to start.

Read the original post for a bit more clarification on buying things. Anyone can browse, so it’s safe to assume anyone can enter a shop.

>>On the diving game, is this the only way to obtain sea shells or will they be available through digging and other games? Will this game pull from the same “high end” hopper as the other games/digging? What services and items, if any, will be solely locked behind the sea shell wall?

Hold off on game specifics. This post is purely about dates and pricing.

>>On the passes being per character. Typically one of Platinum’s EG perks is the ability to get a “full account” ticket for the base ticket price. Is there any chance we will be seeing the passes extended to full account for Platinum? Will we be seeing services/raffles/auctions/etc that are restricted by race or profession?

Platinum announcements will happen on the Platinum side next week.

>>Finally a few questions on digging, the real reason we’re all here. Will there be unlimited shovels sold this year? Will previous unlimited shovels continue to function, provided we purchase a pass? Are we going to see a comprehensive list of what is available in the high end hopper for both digging/games and diving before the event so we can make educated decisions about where to spend our entertainment dollars?

Shovels are attuned to the area they were made for, which means Feywrot Mire shovels have expired. This is actually the case with all shovels, so if you have any from last year, they won’t work.

If we offer more unlimited shovels for the new area, it will be provided later when we start doing teasers.

>>One last thing. When does the pre-EG event with the chance to get passes out of boxes start?

You said finally in the paragraph before it, so I can’t answer this question.

>>Will service pass include automated services like the w/p/s we saw with bloodforge?

All services are with the service pass.

>>Further not only is it costing more than an all access, premium can only log in one character at a time. That means paying 30 bucks per character and not even having equal access to someone with a regular accounts and paid for the 30 buck accesses. Same price less reward/access. Not really fair pricing.

Not really sure I follow what you’re saying. You are always limited to one character in at a time. Premium gets a better bulk rate of SimuCoins and more SimuCoin Rewards. The multi-character access tickets were not very sustainable and expectations were a bit unreasonable. And 3000 SimuCoins does not equal $30, keep that in mind.


Wyrom, PM


Date: 09/04/2017 05:34 PM CDT
From: PEREGRINEFALCON
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
Are you willing to consider changing this over to account based vs. character based?

I like to bring different character to different merchants, etc. because… different characters like to do different things. Sure there is a small mechanical benefit when there are profession or skill based raffles but there are also RP benefits in allowing different characters to participate in various facets of the event.

I’m fine with one service per ACCOUNT when it comes to merchant services (so we don’t see people logging in eight different characters one after the other for a specific merchant) and you can only have one character logged in at a time on an account when it comes to raffles. It just provides more flexibility and allows me not to try and pile everything on a single character for various services I might be interested in. Also makes my life easier on the shopping end of things – individual characters (on the same account) can then buy the things they are interested in vs. having to designate a ‘shopper’ and pass everything out at the end or as I go.

Thanks for considering the request.

— Robert

You gesture at a colossal glaes-covered meteor.
The scream of tortured metal echoes around you as the lightning bolt strikes a colossal glaes-covered meteor.


Date: 09/04/2017 05:57 PM CDT
From: ATALYCUS
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information

last year it was one account and you could pay extra for each person you brought. I think i brought two characters on the same account and paid 10 dollars extra?


Date: 09/04/2017 06:00 PM CDT
From: WARLORD1871
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
>>Further not only is it costing more than an all access, premium can only log in one character at a time. That means paying 30 bucks per character and not even having equal access to someone with a regular accounts and paid for the 30 buck accesses. Same price less reward/access. Not really fair pricing.

>>Not really sure I follow what you’re saying. You are always limited to one character in at a time. Premium gets a better bulk rate of SimuCoins and more SimuCoin Rewards. The multi-character access tickets were not very sustainable and expectations were a bit unreasonable. And 3000 SimuCoins does not equal $30, keep that in mind.

It was supposed to read a person with two regular accounts can now pay the same price and get more access, While I on my premium account pays the same price to get two characters access who can’t even log in at the same time. We have to pay the same simucoin price, but we get less use for our money out of it.

Fyrentennimar

Quote: “Jaynah says, “This is more fun than rolton tipping and blood eagle ridin combined.””


Date: 09/04/2017 06:06 PM CDT
From: LTLPRPRINCESS
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
Uh… costume contest?

#bardlife


Date: 09/04/2017 06:06 PM CDT
From: CLUNK24963
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
So can I still visit the old ticket office, pay up for three or four characters, or do I have to first determine who is going, what they want, and then go shopping for those specific things?

For me the limiter is time, if I spend time figuring out how to get in before spending time to figure out where things are at in the new setup, and spending time figuring out when to be there, then setting aside time to actually navigate the quagmire of getting ready to have fun, then that limits the time to actually play.

Please?

Clunk

(Buy your swords at CBD weapons in Zul Logoth.)


Date: 09/04/2017 06:14 PM CDT
From: ARCHSENEX
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
>> For me the limiter is time, if I spend time figuring out how to get in before spending time to figure out where things are at in the new setup, and spending time figuring out when to be there, then setting aside time to actually navigate the quagmire of getting ready to have fun, then that limits the time to actually play.

You’ll have several days to orient before the games and shops open up (no purchase necessary during orientating period), and 3 weeks to orient before the merchants show up. Also, unless you’re trying to get character attuned raffles, you can just buy stuff for any character.


Date: 09/04/2017 06:39 PM CDT
From: MEKK1
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
>Per character.

@Wyrom Can you make the shopping passes account bound at least? Save us the tedium of buying everything on 1 character then parsing it out later?

http://i.imgur.com/lsWPzG9.gif


Date: 09/04/2017 06:56 PM CDT
From: MEKK1
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
Not account bound I meant account wide.

http://i.imgur.com/lsWPzG9.gif


Date: 09/04/2017 08:01 PM CDT
From: SIMU-WYROM
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
We’ll discuss some options, but the multi-character access tickets we sold for the last handful of years weren’t very sustainable when it came to merchant services.


Wyrom, PM


Date: 09/04/2017 08:17 PM CDT
From: MEKK1
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
I meant the shopping passes only. Not the merchant/raffle passes. Just to cut some tedium.

http://i.imgur.com/lsWPzG9.gif


Date: 09/04/2017 08:24 PM CDT
From: SIMU-WYROM
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
You know what… Shopping passes will be account-wide. I’ll make it work.


Wyrom, PM


Date: 09/04/2017 08:26 PM CDT
From: MOURNE
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
>You know what… Shopping passes will be account-wide. I’ll make it work. -Wyrom

Thaaaaank you.


Cendadric says, “Hmm, a most impressive weapon of note. I’ll give you 27 silver coins for it.”
You think to yourself, “This deal is getting worse all the time.”


Date: 09/04/2017 08:52 PM CDT
From: KITHUS
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
Thanks Wyrom. Now about that pre-EG passes in boxes event.

Keith/Brinret/Eronderl

Keith is correct
-Wyrom, APM

Keith is correct.
-GameMaster Estild

Date: 09/04/2017 08:59 PM CDT
From: MILO6
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
Really excited about this and I can’t wait to explore the new area.

No complaints about the pricing from me.

It’s probably a bit early but will there be some sort of scavenger hunt contest?


Date: 09/04/2017 09:00 PM CDT
From: VICIMER
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
Y’all are being way too agreeable. I need more rancor.

**********************
A quick flick of Wyrom’s wrist sends a dagger into flight!
The thorny barrier surrounding you blocks Wyrom’s attack!
One of the vines surrounding you lashes out at Wyrom, driving a thorn into his skin! Wyrom flinches slightly.


Date: 09/04/2017 09:32 PM CDT
From: MEKK1
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
>I need more rancor.

http://www.thecantinacast.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Rancor.jpg


Date: 09/04/2017 10:22 PM CDT
From: PEREGRINEFALCON
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
>> You know what… Shopping passes will be account-wide. I’ll make it work.

Thank you!

— Robert

You gesture at a colossal glaes-covered meteor.
The scream of tortured metal echoes around you as the lightning bolt strikes a colossal glaes-covered meteor.


Date: 09/04/2017 10:56 PM CDT
From: WARLORD1871
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
>>We’ll discuss some options, but the multi-character access tickets we sold for the last handful of years weren’t very sustainable when it came to merchant services.

They were still per account, i’m confused what made them unsustainable. Also we couldn’t bring more than one in at a time.

Fyrentennimar

Quote: “Jaynah says, “This is more fun than rolton tipping and blood eagle ridin combined.””


Date: 09/05/2017 06:25 AM CDT
From: LORDEVARIN
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
With regards to merchant passes, people getting a service at a merchant, logging out, logging into the next character, running back to the same merchant to get another over and over was likely the unsustainable aspect. The added cost of the upcharge wasn’t worth the strain on the merchant trying to work for as many as possible.


!>tell child to be quiet
The child cries, “I don’t wanna!”


Date: 09/05/2017 10:33 AM CDT
From: DAID
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
Really gotta try to get the basic calendar out earlier. I submitted an event for my CHE one day before this (the October deadline) and it’s the only Saturday of merchant work. Guess I’ll bother Elidi to change my calendar submission.


Date: 09/05/2017 11:04 AM CDT
From: DOUG
Subj: Re: Ebon Gate Dates and Pricing Information
Hmm. . . I’m sure this is likely ‘known’, but this issue is likely to become more problematic.

With the advent of core GM-game activities occurring about once every two months, maybe we should consider blocking out the GM-led months completely, and focusing the House activities in the ‘tweener’ months? That’s if the schedule holds.

Doug

 

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