Salutations, travelers. Have the devs have ever posted something or discussed how they’re going to handle purchased cosmetics? If not, is it something that’s been discussed internally at all? I’m something of a PoE “vet” and I can clearly see some monetary parallels between PoE and Last Epoch that worry me. As it stands I think the shop is fine, I don’t mind that it’s kinda like PoE but I think it should be more unique than it is. Their currency is exactly the same value as PoE’s currency and their cosmetics are just as expensive as well. This is a problem.
I don’t mind $20, $30, $40 supporter packs at all–I prefer them, but Last Epoch’s packs don’t upgrade, don’t have much in them, don’t give you the value of your purchase in LE’s currency (i.e. $20 pack should give you 200 points), and their individual cosmetics in the shop are overpriced. LE isn’t PoE so I have no idea why they would blatantly rip PoE’s monetization formula and apply it to LE.
Here’s the thing, there aren’t that many people that buy cosmetics on PoE and there aren’t many that want to because it would literally cost $150+ to get a decent looking armor set and skill gem MTX. Are you kidding me? More people would buy MTX if they didn’t cost as much as their car payment so what is there to lose? The devs stand to gain a happier community for sure. Maybe they don’t want people to buy MTX. Why are they charging $5 for a portal skin? Why are they charging $20 for a tiger pet? I WANT to buy cosmetics and support the devs but I won’t if it remains daylight robbery.
The only slightly redeeming quality of LE’s cosmetics is the fact that you can equip them on multiple characters. It’s so refreshing to properly own cosmetics and be able to reapply them to other characters without having to click “reclaim” and worry about the characters that I just stripped naked, and then reapply said MTX back to the character I just took it off of whenever I want to play that character. This is my concern and it’s the reason I felt the need to make this post.
If LE is going to commit to scalping their MTX and follow the PoE monetization formula to a “T”, does that also mean they intend to make MTX character exclusive at some point (like PoE) or will we always be able to equip purchased cosmetics on all characters at any given time without reclaiming them from another character? If I buy a weapon skin will I need to buy a second copy of that skin to equip on a dual wielding character? I don’t want to invest any money until I find out for sure what LE’s plan is and I would encourage others to do the same.
I think this game is cool and it has earned its place as one of my favorites so I don’t want it to copy any other games mistakes. I want LE to be LE–not Great Value PoE with equally expensive and unfair cosmetics.
Post script: I realize I’ve strayed from a big part of my concern in the initial few hours of this discussion. Yes the prices are alarming, but I want to emphasize that I’d also like to hear from you about being able to equip cosmetics on one character at a time like PoE. I’m not attacking anyone, I like the game and the devs, I’d just like to challenge their reasoning and what seems to be the path they’re taking as far as MTX are concerned. Of course more civil, less sarcastic discourse is encouraged. I understand that in challenging the mainstream ideas there will be some intellectual friction, but we’re all LE enjoyers so lets try to treat each other like it.
Disclaimer: I can’t interact as much as I’d like because I’m new to the forums.
Edit: paragraph spacing
Edit: forgot to add “Edit: paragraph spacing” in my first edit lol.
Edit: Added post script, please read all necessary info