No Portcrystal in Battahl - but this is how Pay-for-Convenience works

[Vince]

I've been making a case that these microtransactions are a bane, but for a different reason than you hear most.

There's generally 2 groups: 1.) the people that think it's scummy that Capcom sells this crap in an already expensive singleplayer game and 2.) the people who defend Capcom by saying you can "just ignore" the store because the items can either be acquired ingame or are worthless anyway.

I'm in group 3: No matter how trivial the content of the store looks, I argued that we can never know how much more inconvenient Capcom made the game for players who don't use the store.
Until I reached the main city of Battahl.

Now I have perfect ammunition against these f'ing microtransactions, because it is 100% obvious that Capcom DELIBERATELY removed the Portcrystal from Bakbattahl. That's right, for those who haven't gone there yet: the main city doesn't have a portcrystal. To me, this is the #1 argument against the store because this is how Pay-for-Convenience works: it simply makes the main game INconvenient on purpose.

WARNING: If we don't collectively fight this trend, our future PC games will be "free to play" where crafting a weapon takes 8 hours unless you use some currency that costs real life money. I hope you enjoy your mobile games, because that's what this industry will turn into unless we have some f'ing dignity and don't give in to these shenanigans.

/rant

[TneX]

As others have said, by this point you should have 2. You would have a point if by this point we couldn't find any at all, there was no way to find one ingame without paying.

I get the hate on microtransactions, and I agree, it shouldn't be a thing. But I disagree that those who say just ignore it are defending capcom. The reason people say to just ignore it, is because in this particular case, it really is that simple. It doesn't feel like the game would be any different if microtransations didn't exist, and I'm pretty sure there still would be no portcrystal at Backbattahl.

It's weird that there isn't a portcrystal there by default, but I see no evidence that it has anything to do with microtransactions. It is a non-issue really, because you get one right before the quest to go there starts. It's like the game is telling you, you will need this, put it down when you get there.

[Vince]

Originally posted by Taiji:

Originally posted by Vince:

I get what you're saying, but I beieve I shouldn't drop a portcrystal there to begin with. I only have 2 (maybe if I look up guides I can find more but w/e). I have one in the Elven village and one at the Sphinx already...

Don't get me wrong though アゼム, I'm not saying that this is so incredibly inconvenient I can't for the life of me get over this. I'm just saying that it's an inconvenience obviously injected by Capcom for the purpose of seling the DLC Portcrystal. And that's a cancer growth we have to burn away.

So by your own admission, you do not know how many portcrystals you can get by playing the game, but you chose to assume the situation you found yourself in is due to DLC.

Does this mean that, when you find out you can get more port crystals by playing the game, you will need to find something else to blame on the DLC?

It seems like that is what you are setting out to do.

What if I find it inconvenient to search for more portcrystals? Inconventient enough to instead just swipe my card and get said portcrystal in the shop? Aha, they got me! And so many others for sure. Other devs will see this, and our next games will be just a tad more inconvenient... and a tad more... and a tad more. A few years from now --> unplayable unless you spend money or wait for hours for some core game mechanic to do its thing.

It's not a complex thought. Just chew on it a bit.

[Zerfyx]

Originally posted by Vince:

Originally posted by Taiji:

So by your own admission, you do not know how many portcrystals you can get by playing the game, but you chose to assume the situation you found yourself in is due to DLC.

Does this mean that, when you find out you can get more port crystals by playing the game, you will need to find something else to blame on the DLC?

It seems like that is what you are setting out to do.

What if I find it inconvenient to search for more portcrystals? Inconventient enough to instead just swipe my card and get said portcrystal in the shop? Aha, they got me! And so many others for sure. Other devs will see this, and our next games will be just a tad more inconvenient... and a tad more... and a tad more. A few years from now --> unplayable unless you spend money or wait for hours for some core game mechanic to do its thing.

It's not a complex thought. Just chew on it a bit.

If playing the game is too inconvenient, I'd say you should stop.

[lumina]

I've found multiple free port crystals in the first easy area. Your argument is silly... There is no chance I'd buy these micro transactions. You can also choose not to. I don't get the crying.

[lumina]

Originally posted by Vince:

Originally posted by Taiji:

So by your own admission, you do not know how many portcrystals you can get by playing the game, but you chose to assume the situation you found yourself in is due to DLC.

Does this mean that, when you find out you can get more port crystals by playing the game, you will need to find something else to blame on the DLC?

It seems like that is what you are setting out to do.

What if I find it inconvenient to search for more portcrystals? Inconventient enough to instead just swipe my card and get said portcrystal in the shop? Aha, they got me! And so many others for sure. Other devs will see this, and our next games will be just a tad more inconvenient... and a tad more... and a tad more. A few years from now --> unplayable unless you spend money or wait for hours for some core game mechanic to do its thing.

It's not a complex thought. Just chew on it a bit.

Then that's your choice, and your fault. This game has more travel options, that are easier to get, then the first game did on release. They've made this stuff easier as you claim it's all a scam to force you to spend money because you have 0 self control in life.

[mykidsnamedme]

Originally posted by Vince:

I've been making a case that these microtransactions are a bane, but for a different reason than you hear most.

There's generally 2 groups: 1.) the people that think it's scummy that Capcom sells this crap in an already expensive singleplayer game and 2.) the people who defend Capcom by saying you can "just ignore" the store because the items can either be acquired ingame or are worthless anyway.

I'm in group 3: No matter how trivial the content of the store looks, I argued that we can never know how much more inconvenient Capcom made the game for players who don't use the store.
Until I reached the main city of Battahl.

Now I have perfect ammunition against these f'ing microtransactions, because it is 100% obvious that Capcom DELIBERATELY removed the Portcrystal from Bakbattahl. That's right, for those who haven't gone there yet: the main city doesn't have a portcrystal. To me, this is the #1 argument against the store because this is how Pay-for-Convenience works: it simply makes the main game INconvenient on purpose.

WARNING: If we don't collectively fight this trend, our future PC games will be "free to play" where crafting a weapon takes 8 hours unless you use some currency that costs real life money. I hope you enjoy your mobile games, because that's what this industry will turn into unless we have some f'ing dignity and don't give in to these shenanigans.

/rant

Drop one there AND it's actually part of the lore if you pay attention

[Vince]

Originally posted by TneX:

As others have said, by this point you should have 2. You would have a point if by this point we couldn't find any at all, there was no way to find one ingame without paying.

I get the hate on microtransactions, and I agree, it shouldn't be a thing. But I disagree that those who say just ignore it are defending capcom. The reason people say to just ignore it, is because in this particular case, it really is that simple. It doesn't feel like the game would be any different if microtransations didn't exist, and I'm pretty sure there still would be no portcrystal at Backbattahl.

It's weird that there isn't a portcrystal there by default, but I see no evidence that it has anything to do with microtransactions. It is a non-issue really, because you get one right before the quest to go there starts. It's like the game is telling you, you will need this, put it down when you get there.

Nice. I think you're the first human being that replied to me. Jesus Christ.

Anyway, you say you find it weird there isn't a portcrystal there by default. Why? Don't you then agree that it might be because of the DLC; that it might be that Capcom made it inconvenient on purpose which is why your brain strikes it as weird?

The stupid thing of all of this when I look at all the reactions, is that I don't even really care that much that there isn't a portcrystal there. It's just so f'ing obvious to me WHY there isn't. You see, I'm not burnt out yet at all and I don't care about traveling back and forth and maybe finding some more portcrystals that makes it all just fine for me. But I'm a patient guy; a dad who just loves to sit down, run around and kill some ogres after the kids have gone to bed.
Doesn't mean I don't see a cancer growing in front of my eyes though. It's written on the wall.

[Dave]

Just use a trainer. It'll give you unlimited RC (9 billion), and all the port crystals and wake stones you want. Screw the in app purchases. They have no business on PC gaming.

[Vince]

Originally posted by lumina:

Originally posted by Vince:

What if I find it inconvenient to search for more portcrystals? Inconventient enough to instead just swipe my card and get said portcrystal in the shop? Aha, they got me! And so many others for sure. Other devs will see this, and our next games will be just a tad more inconvenient... and a tad more... and a tad more. A few years from now --> unplayable unless you spend money or wait for hours for some core game mechanic to do its thing.

It's not a complex thought. Just chew on it a bit.

Then that's your choice, and your fault. This game has more travel options, that are easier to get, then the first game did on release. They've made this stuff easier as you claim it's all a scam to force you to spend money because you have 0 self control in life.

I did a hypothetical there, kid. I'm not paying for DLC ever, only real expansion packs. But there's enough kids out there with daddy's CC, or ppl who just cba, that go swipe swipe swipe because of these shenanigans.

[MinaSagas]

Ride cart to checkpoint town. Dismiss your pawns and brine your main pawn. Pass through the gate. Run solo to Bakbattahl (solo because Pawns will aggro everything). Don't fight enemies. Takes like 5 minutes.

Originally posted by Vince:

Originally posted by Taiji:

So by your own admission, you do not know how many portcrystals you can get by playing the game, but you chose to assume the situation you found yourself in is due to DLC.

Does this mean that, when you find out you can get more port crystals by playing the game, you will need to find something else to blame on the DLC?

It seems like that is what you are setting out to do.

What if I find it inconvenient to search for more portcrystals? Inconventient enough to instead just swipe my card and get said portcrystal in the shop? Aha, they got me! And so many others for sure. Other devs will see this, and our next games will be just a tad more inconvenient... and a tad more... and a tad more. A few years from now --> unplayable unless you spend money or wait for hours for some core game mechanic to do its thing.

It's not a complex thought. Just chew on it a bit.

You don't have to "search for portcrystals" you get one fulfilling the first few parts of the main quest (after attending the Coronation).

Here's also a non-complex thought: you don't have to play video games if you don't like them. The less people who play a game, the more a game studio sees their playerbase dwindles and the more willing they are to change. The MTX were visible since before launch and Capcom has been doing MTX for at least a decade. If you felt that strongly about them, you shouldn't have bought the game.

[RollClassic]

Okay real talk, I have I think 4 port crystals and I can buy at least one (maybe more didn't look) from the NPC who sells them for dragon rocks and I haven't even been tasked with going to Battahl yet I just walked around the gate and went there for fun...

[Obviously Logic]

I bet you hold B to sprint everywhere too. If the ONLY way to access a city was through microtransactions, then I'd have an issue. But you can walk there and back as many times as you like, and literally acquire and place a port crystal earned in game there. So wtf are you even on about.

[Kashra Fall]

Originally posted by Vince:

Originally posted by TneX:

As others have said, by this point you should have 2. You would have a point if by this point we couldn't find any at all, there was no way to find one ingame without paying.

I get the hate on microtransactions, and I agree, it shouldn't be a thing. But I disagree that those who say just ignore it are defending capcom. The reason people say to just ignore it, is because in this particular case, it really is that simple. It doesn't feel like the game would be any different if microtransations didn't exist, and I'm pretty sure there still would be no portcrystal at Backbattahl.

It's weird that there isn't a portcrystal there by default, but I see no evidence that it has anything to do with microtransactions. It is a non-issue really, because you get one right before the quest to go there starts. It's like the game is telling you, you will need this, put it down when you get there.

Nice. I think you're the first human being that replied to me. Jesus Christ.

Anyway, you say you find it weird there isn't a portcrystal there by default. Why? Don't you then agree that it might be because of the DLC; that it might be that Capcom made it inconvenient on purpose which is why your brain strikes it as weird?

The stupid thing of all of this when I look at all the reactions, is that I don't even really care that much that there isn't a portcrystal there. It's just so f'ing obvious to me WHY there isn't. You see, I'm not burnt out yet at all and I don't care about traveling back and forth and maybe finding some more portcrystals that makes it all just fine for me. But I'm a patient guy; a dad who just loves to sit down, run around and kill some ogres after the kids have gone to bed.
Doesn't mean I don't see a cancer growing in front of my eyes though. It's written on the wall.

I'd say the reason why, is because unlike verdun, where every race can come and go as they please. The beastren are more of an "Enclosed." people and secluded themselves in the desert. Sure, they have people coming and going that know the backroads, but to actually get into the city, or region normal, you need a permit. How silly would it be if it had a port crystal where the wealthy bypassed the system and just used a ferrystone?

So I went with that mentality and respected their wishes (In my head.) and just run there. Just a brisk jog through the cavern from the checkpoint, or if you have the permit, a brisk jog from the checkpoint. I still haven't put down more than 1 port crystal and I've found 3.

[TneX]

Originally posted by Vince:

Originally posted by TneX:

As others have said, by this point you should have 2. You would have a point if by this point we couldn't find any at all, there was no way to find one ingame without paying.

I get the hate on microtransactions, and I agree, it shouldn't be a thing. But I disagree that those who say just ignore it are defending capcom. The reason people say to just ignore it, is because in this particular case, it really is that simple. It doesn't feel like the game would be any different if microtransations didn't exist, and I'm pretty sure there still would be no portcrystal at Backbattahl.

It's weird that there isn't a portcrystal there by default, but I see no evidence that it has anything to do with microtransactions. It is a non-issue really, because you get one right before the quest to go there starts. It's like the game is telling you, you will need this, put it down when you get there.

Nice. I think you're the first human being that replied to me. Jesus Christ.

Anyway, you say you find it weird there isn't a portcrystal there by default. Why? Don't you then agree that it might be because of the DLC; that it might be that Capcom made it inconvenient on purpose which is why your brain strikes it as weird?

The stupid thing of all of this when I look at all the reactions, is that I don't even really care that much that there isn't a portcrystal there. It's just so f'ing obvious to me WHY there isn't. You see, I'm not burnt out yet at all and I don't care about traveling back and forth and maybe finding some more portcrystals that makes it all just fine for me. But I'm a patient guy; a dad who just loves to sit down, run around and kill some ogres after the kids have gone to bed.
Doesn't mean I don't see a cancer growing in front of my eyes though. It's written on the wall.

Yes, I said I found it weird, and that is because there is already one at Vernworth and at Harve Village, and so I would expect there to be one at the other big city, especially since there is one at Harve.

I think you are overreacting and jumping to conclusions by saying that this is because of microtransations. The reason for that is what I already mentioned, you can find plenty of portcrystals by that point, and you get one right before the quest to go there starts, so I really can't see how that is behind it.
I think the reason is more that the game is trying to force you to engage with the system - if for any reason you haven't used a portcrystal by now, here is a perfect opportunity to do so.

[RollClassic]

Originally posted by Obviously Logic:

I bet you hold B to sprint everywhere too. If the ONLY way to access a city was through microtransactions, then I'd have an issue. But you can walk there and back as many times as you like, and literally acquire and place a port crystal earned in game there. So wtf are you even on about.

People who never played the first game and don't realize there's what... 3 static portcrystals in the entire game? Starter town, capital, and DLC area. The rest you have to place and it's an even longer run in DD1 and they were a lot harder to get. Oh AND you had escort quests that always started from a quest board, so if you didn't have a crystal placed already haven fun trekking across the map 50 times while defending NPCs that can't fight at all lmao.

People buy games because of advertising not knowing anything about how they play and then get mad and want the game changed to fit them instead of the people who already liked the first game and enjoy these slower paced adventure-exploration RPGs.