Devan Corvel
The Golden Phoenix Inc.
   |
Posted - 2008.10.14 06:20:00 -
[1]
I can see some players' points about giving players something to come back to after being inactive for whatever reason. There is some level of incentive in that.
However, I can't agree with arguments I've seen about long training-time skills somehow justifying ghost training (AKA not paying for an account while the long skill is training), or other such nonsense.
The whole reason that skills increase in training time geometrically is so that you don't have month old characters flying titans. That is how it should be. Setting a long skill training doesn't stop you from playing the game. You can still make ISK, build standing, engage in PVE/PVP, mine, or do any other activity that doesn't directly relate to whatever requires the specific level of the skill you are training.
This whole exercise is the same concept as to why restrictions were placed on trial accounts, such as not being able to transfer ISK to other accounts. People were exploiting the "trial" accounts to make ISK, or do other things, to build up their main account. Nixing ghost training, like restricting trial accounts, is merely the act of a plugging an easily exploited loophole for non-paying players.
I look at long skills as a good thing to train when I know I'm going to be away from the game for a bit (but still paying for my accounts) OR to give me time to run missions, mine, or do whatever is necessary to build up the ISK I'll need to buy the ship or item the long training will allow me to use.
I can't honestly think of good reason why long skill training should be "free" regardless of whether your account is active or not. As a paying player of EVE, who has an alt account, I agree with this move by CCP.
Also, when players are referring to "talking with their wallet", consider this: If you're going to cancel accounts over this, you're implying that you've already make use of this loophole and go a month or more without paying for an account, while still reaping the benefit of skill training. As such You're simply reinforcing the reason for eliminating ghost training: you're saying you feel that you deserve the same character advancement--which, in EVE, is the basically the same thing as leveling--as a paying account...without paying.
That's the whole point of this exercise; to give paying customers value for their money and stop rewarding people who want something just because they feel "entitled" regardless or not they're paying for the game.
And before anyone cries me a river about the economy, falling short of money, etc. I have deactivated, and reactivated both my main and my alt accounts several times for these same reasons. At various times over the last four and a half years since I created my account, I've fallen on my own hard times in the past.
You know what I do when I can't afford a luxury item like an MMO subscription?
I cancel my subscription until I can afford it again.
So STFU and quit whining. EVE is not a requirement of life. If you think it is, you seriously need to get your priorities straight.
|