PREMIUM CURRENCY DETAILS (Super store and Warbonds)

[Brock Stones]

I have been seeing too many people not fully grasp things appropriately (and to be fair arrow head didn't make it easy and obscures some of the details) and I just wanted to compile this in one place to make it easier.

#1.) Only helmets and capes are cosmetic in the game. ALL armors have 2 things. A passive ability and armor STATS. There is no "heavy, "Medium", and "light" armor types explicitly like some thought from the armour trailer. It's got modular stats:

https://vxtwitter.com/helldivers2/status/1752723443055800716

(Not sure why almost all the stats are maxed out but hey)

What this means is that pre-order armors, super earth armor, and super store armors, all have passives and stats. They are NOT entirely cosmetic. Now, the community managers did clarify that there is no super store armor that exclusively has some passive ability (Like the "Servo-Assisted" passive here) BUT that doesn't mean the specific combination of stats AND the passive aren't exclusive. I would bet that to differentiate themselves and have the armors not be duplicates aside from aesthetics armors that share the same passives will likely have different armor stat profiles (Increased mobility but reduced armor rating for example).

This is especially worrying since the super store rotates their content every 48 hours with only 4 items available for purchase (better than darktides 2 weeks but the more content they release the worse this gets).

From the community manager:
https://discord.com/channels/1102970375731691612/1201932640031354980/1201946855806603274

" But there won’t be any passives that will only be on super store items "

https://discord.com/channels/1102970375731691612/1201932640031354980/1201946941500706907

"We gotta make the armours feel unique and different to play :) And passives is a way of doing just that"

This also means that certain armour passives are STILL locked behind premium pay walls because the unique passive could be behind warbonds AND super store, but not "free" content. Just not super store exclusive.

#2.) There is a difference between the super store and the warbonds. The super store currently only has helmets, capes, and armor. Warbonds have the same plus primary and secondary weapons, as well as grenades. Stratagems currently aren't available in either. But (importantly) COULD be in either:

" Q. Will Warbonds contain stratagems? A. No. New stratagems will be added to the stratagem menu and be unlockable through in-game play. We may add them to Warbonds or SuperStore in the future."

https://discord.com/channels/1102970375731691612/1202994703994331238/1202994706481680404

Potentially adding stratagems themselves to the super store is very worrying, and should be to you as a consumer.

I have seen rumors going around that it's just a "discount" that is rotating through, but that is UNTRUE. It is just like darktides rotating cosmetic store front (except not just cosmetics).

https://discord.com/channels/1102970375731691612/1102973812179488798/1201931763664814100

" The Warbond and the rotating store are separate systems. The Warbond is static and contains a set of items that you can unlock at your leasure. The rotating store is a supplementary system that rotates through a different set of items. "

#3.) Warbonds are also not just cosmetic. They contain new weapons. You cannot change your weapon appearance in any way (just like the first game) and you cannot change your armor appearance in any way (no transmog, skins, re colours, etc.). Everything you equip, you equip as is.

https://discord.com/channels/1102970375731691612/1201932640031354980/1201954139488387214

" We don’t have weapon cosmetics planned at the moment "

Which means, if you see something like this in a warbond (behind premium currency):

https://vxtwitter.com/helldivers2/status/1754127782659936659

There is only one incendiary shotgun in the warbond, and in the game. That's it. Using the premium currency only "unlocks" the capability for you to purchase things inside the warbond. Using money doesn't skip that grind. It's the same in the end whether you grinded the premium currency or bought it to unlock the warbond. Still need medals afterwards. Warbonds, based on the FAQ, are going to come out every month.

#4.) Premium currency. Yes you can earn it in game. Yes there's no daily, weekly limits or sign ins. You get it right away after completing points of interest even if you die or even fail the mission. All players get it at the same time. If someone joins late, they do not get it. Just like samples from the first game. Apparently there is no difference in Premium currency rates across different difficulties.

However, they have been silent on the rate you can get the premium currency. And by all logic, if there's a pressure release valve that opens when you spend money... than there must be something in the game to create that pressure to justify using the pressure release valve. If the rate of earning the in game currency is fast; than no sucker is going to spend money on the super store and warbonds. And the million super credit question about the expected rate hasn't been shared.

" Q. What's the target earnable SC rate? How long should a player need to play to unlock the things they want?
A. There are two ways you can earn Super Credits (SC) in HELLDIVERS 2. The first is by progressing through Warbonds, and the second is by finding SC on missions. We’ve balanced the game to let you have more than enough SC to get one Warbond for free after you’ve completed HELLDIVERS MOBILIZE, which is the Warbond that comes with the base game. As for how long it takes to progress through a Warbond, it’s based on what we think is most balanced and fun for players based on our extensive testing. If you unlock items too slow, it can feel grindy, and if it’s too fast, you get overwhelmed. We hope you will agree that the current balance feels good and fair, and we would love to get your feedback as we continue balancing and improving HELLDIVERS 2 over time."

https://discord.com/channels/1102970375731691612/1202994703994331238/1202994717776941166

Different people have interpreted this differently since the first warbond "Helldivers mobilize" gives you packs of super credits (the premium currency) as to whether the warbond itself, when complete, gives you all the "SC" needed to purchase the other steeled veteran warbond, or if what you get from mobilize PLUS expected grind rate by the end will give you enough. Either way, it is common practice in games with premium currencies to offer some sort of way to get a little bit of the currency to get them to familiarize themselves with the store and purchase something. It's doubtful (to me) future warbonds will have any SC packs let alone ones as generous as the "helldivers mobilize" one. Otherwise, we yet again have to ask, if the premium currency is handed out so easily you can chain moving from one warbond to the next without spending a penny... why would anyone purchase the premium currency packs?

From what we have seen:

Capes and helmets: ~100 SC
Armour: ~300SC
Warbond: ~1000 SC*
*The community managers have said that warbonds will vary in price depending on how much content is in them but we don't know if this is an average price, lower end, or high end warbond.

Since warbonds are released every month apparently, we are looking at 1000 SC per month needing to be farmed if you want to stay on top (and not purchase anything from the super store). Depending on the rate it could be awful or not. If it takes 100 hours to farm 1000 SC than the currency being "earnable" in game really just rings hollow, and if this is the bottle neck in what to grind for, players will optimize their play time to farm for this specific resource, especially since it's not cosmetic only.

#5.) Why does this matter?
Because as consumers you don't have much power after you purchase the content and after you've passed the refund window. If you want to ask for change, the time to do it would be now. If Darktide had launched with the crafting as it is now at launch, I would have refunded the game. I wouldn't have purchased it in the hopes that the pressure would change something.
What would I hope for here? Ideally for the premium currency to truly only be used for cosmetic options. Cosmetic armors, transmogs, weapon cosmetics, stratagem cosmetics, ship cosmetics, etc. Locking actual content (guns, grenades, maybe stratagems) behind premium currency, and having a FOMO rotating shop, are not consumer driven designs. Even if the SC premium currency is earned at a reasonable rate at launch, that doesn't mean it will stay that way. Once you have purchased the game, you are at their whim. If next year warbonds cost 5000 SC and a cape costs 500 that's the way it is. Darktide cosmetics went up and stayed that way. Meaning the premium currency you did buy was devalued. I would prefer Helldivers 1 business model of DLC packs. Get them on sale.

I doubt arrow head is going to redesign everything a week to launch, and I do want this game to succeed, and I loved the first one, but I think by pointing these out before hand we have a chance of SOMETHING at least. And even if I don't change anything here in the long run, I at least want people to know what they're getting into. Pre-order the game if you want, but do it so you can refund it after the release once the SC earnable rates are finally information in the hands of the consumer.

[NaRf]

Ok..

[BaconX]

There's nothing FOMO as of right now, and by definition, the currency are not premium, and nothing will be lock behind anything that you need to pay, yet.

Keyword being yet, because they can be shady and bump up the price of items so much that it would take a ridiculous amount of time, but they will have to live with the chaos and consequence that will ensue.

I'm getting the game because I like these type of games and I have friends to play it with, but I have no plan on paying an extra penny beyond the base price. If I can earn the credits in a reasonable manner, then I will just play the game like normal and get unlock the items naturally. If we get to the point where SC is no longer earnable in a timely manner, I think I would probably gotten my money's worth by then, but I would be very disappointed with this dev team and likely will not purchase anything from them ever again. Devs must remember that every action carry consequences, what benefit them now will be their demise in the future.

It's good to be wary, but the two hour refund period will not matter if they change the drop rate of super credits or increase the price of the warbonds and super store a year from now. I think if any prospect of the live service bother anyone, just wait until after the release to make your purchase.

[Brock Stones]

Originally posted by BaconX:

There's nothing FOMO as of right now, and by definition, the currency are not premium, and nothing will be lock behind anything that you need to pay, yet.

Keyword being yet, because they can be shady and bump up the price of items so much that it would take a ridiculous amount of time, but they will have to live with the chaos and consequence that will ensue.

I'm getting the game because I like these type of games and I have friends to play it with, but I have no plan on paying an extra penny beyond the base price. If I can earn the credits in a reasonable manner, then I will just play the game like normal and get unlock the items naturally. If we get to the point where SC is no longer earnable in a timely manner, I think I would probably gotten my money's worth by then, but I would be very disappointed with this dev team and likely will not purchase anything from them ever again. Devs must remember that every action carry consequences, what benefit them now will be their demise in the future.

It's good to be wary, but the two hour refund period will not matter if they change the drop rate of super credits or increase the price of the warbonds and super store a year from now. I think if any prospect of the live service bother anyone, just wait until after the release to make your purchase.

I agree the SC earnable rate is the big deciding factor but it is not guaranteed to be fair even at launch. And different people have different ideas of "reasonable" to keep up. Is that 2 hours a week? Or 20 hours? How much is reasonable?

Rotating store does qualify as FOMO. For example, darktide has a rotating cosmetic store where cosmetics do come back... but certain cosmetics haven't come back in over a year. If what you want shows up once a month even in rotation, that justifies a "fear of missing out" especially if the rotation cycle is hidden. If it was public information "Yogurt armor is back feb 28th-Feb 30th) then sure. It's the fact when it will rotate is unknown and could be very long. Or, since it's a 48 hour rotation, if you only play weekends, you may never see it when it does rotate in.

[BaconX]

Originally posted by Brock Stones:

I agree the SC earnable rate is the big deciding factor but it is not guaranteed to be fair even at launch. And different people have different ideas of "reasonable" to keep up. Is that 2 hours a week? Or 20 hours? How much is reasonable?

Rotating store does qualify as FOMO. For example, darktide has a rotating cosmetic store where cosmetics do come back... but certain cosmetics haven't come back in over a year. If what you want shows up once a month even in rotation, that justifies a "fear of missing out" especially if the rotation cycle is hidden. If it was public information "Yogurt armor is back feb 28th-Feb 30th) then sure. It's the fact when it will rotate is unknown and could be very long. Or, since it's a 48 hour rotation, if you only play weekends, you may never see it when it does rotate in.

Sure, all of that is warranted, but you don't need to play the game to just log on to check the super store to see what's on the rotation. That would take 5 minutes at most with all the loading.

As for SC rate at launch, all we have right now are their words that it will be "fair". That is the only information we have right now so I think 2 hours is enough to check to see how much SC one can make in a single mission vs the price of the store. Though it's very reasonable for people to just wait for someone to make a finding on it and there will probably be videos of it relatively quick. Personally, my definition of "fair" is pretty generous so as long as it's not like 10-20 hours for a single item in the store, I'll be okay.

There's no reason to fear anything or be scare of anything just yet, just wait until there are concrete info on the drop rate.

[NaRf]

The game isnt even released yet... But somehow you go off on this rant.

[Brock Stones]

Originally posted by NaRf:

The game isnt even released yet... But somehow you go off on this rant.

Is collecting quotes from community managers and FAQs and promotional materials... A "rant"?

[Brock Stones]

Originally posted by BaconX:

Originally posted by Brock Stones:

I agree the SC earnable rate is the big deciding factor but it is not guaranteed to be fair even at launch. And different people have different ideas of "reasonable" to keep up. Is that 2 hours a week? Or 20 hours? How much is reasonable?

Rotating store does qualify as FOMO. For example, darktide has a rotating cosmetic store where cosmetics do come back... but certain cosmetics haven't come back in over a year. If what you want shows up once a month even in rotation, that justifies a "fear of missing out" especially if the rotation cycle is hidden. If it was public information "Yogurt armor is back feb 28th-Feb 30th) then sure. It's the fact when it will rotate is unknown and could be very long. Or, since it's a 48 hour rotation, if you only play weekends, you may never see it when it does rotate in.

Sure, all of that is warranted, but you don't need to play the game to just log on to check the super store to see what's on the rotation. That would take 5 minutes at most with all the loading.

As for SC rate at launch, all we have right now are their words that it will be "fair". That is the only information we have right now so I think 2 hours is enough to check to see how much SC one can make in a single mission vs the price of the store. Though it's very reasonable for people to just wait for someone to make a finding on it and there will probably be videos of it relatively quick. Personally, my definition of "fair" is pretty generous so as long as it's not like 10-20 hours for a single item in the store, I'll be okay.

There's no reason to fear anything or be scare of anything just yet, just wait until there are concrete info on the drop rate.

Sure, you could login every day or 48 hours to check the store, but you can see why that's an insidious tactic right? The more times people login the more chances they spend money. And why are they logging in every day to check the store? Because they're afraid they'll miss something. I still think that's FOMO. And it's annoying to do. I don't like rotating content in any game, and if you have a bunch of games you play that all do it, those 5 minutes add up. And sometimes you are too busy with life to even boot up your PC/console.

I think it's still an anti-consumer design. Consumers dont benefit at all from a rotating store front vs a catalogue.

[Wixa]

The fact remains that devs are dodging the question about SC earn rate and SC pricing. We will have to wait and see at launch day, I just hope it's not horrendous.

[NaRf]

Originally posted by Brock Stones:

Originally posted by NaRf:

The game isnt even released yet... But somehow you go off on this rant.

Is collecting quotes from community managers and FAQs and promotional materials... A "rant"?

So you just follow the marketing and not ofc your own first hand experience? Good for you, I guess.... Btw I dont give a F about SC and all that BS, Im just interested in is the game fun to play, and I will experience that first hand.

[Brock Stones]

Originally posted by Wixa:

The fact remains that devs are dodging the question about SC earn rate and SC pricing. We will have to wait and see at launch day, I just hope it's not horrendous.

Agreed. It's worrying that, despite "extensive testing" they aren't able to share what should be an easy average or an easy floor to ceiling amount per mission.

[Brock Stones]

Originally posted by NaRf:

Originally posted by Brock Stones:

Is collecting quotes from community managers and FAQs and promotional materials... A "rant"?

So you just follow the marketing and not ofc your own first hand experience? Good for you, I guess.... Btw I dont give a F about SC and all that BS, Im just interested in is the game fun to play, and I will experience that first hand.

Will you still have fun if it will take you 100 hours to grind for the mech warbond? Will you have fun if you need to spend another $20 to unlock it and see others with it?

[NaRf]

Originally posted by Brock Stones:

Originally posted by NaRf:

So you just follow the marketing and not ofc your own first hand experience? Good for you, I guess.... Btw I dont give a F about SC and all that BS, Im just interested in is the game fun to play, and I will experience that first hand.

Will you still have fun if it will take you 100 hours to grind for the mech warbond? Will you have fun if you need to spend another $20 to unlock it and see others with it?

Many games have a grind.... Do you call all those out? My opinion is if Im enjoying playing the game, then the rewards will come. If it isnt the case, I will be here in these forums saying such and more then likely being told Im a troll/hater and etc.... Damn (Im sorry I hate to do this, but) You played 454 hours in Darktide...... Dont try to judge me and wanting some fun from a game.

[Brock Stones]

Originally posted by NaRf:

Originally posted by Brock Stones:

Will you still have fun if it will take you 100 hours to grind for the mech warbond? Will you have fun if you need to spend another $20 to unlock it and see others with it?

Many games have a grind.... Do you call all those out? My opinion is if Im enjoying playing the game, then the rewards will come. If it isnt the case, I will be here in these forums saying such and more then likely being told Im a troll/hater and etc....

If the grind is awful... Yes. Darktide crafting being one.

Surely you must think there's a ceiling no? To grinding? 3000 hours to unlock one gun? That can by bypassed with $30? Surely there's some limit, some worth to your time and money that you would say is "too much".

[dargo]

Thanks for the very informative post, extremely concerned about the devs not confirming anything regarding the grind with 100% certainty and that you had to go diving in the Discord for it.

[Thorp]

I ponder if the rotating equipment will have alternative stats. Similar to Splatoon where gear has their normal stat in the shops but on the app, there is a list of items that rotate every day (12 hours?) which have their normal stat changed to a random stat. Splatoon 3 has an updated version in which the player can swap the primary stat by spending enough points (stat chunks) rather than praying the app rotation has what they want.