A simple idea. Perhaps completely, totally -wrong-, but an idea nonetheless.
A 100 Energy usable item that increases the rate of Mist Energy regeneration for one week, so that full Mist regeneration would occur in 16 hours as opposed to 22.
The idea is that free players would sacrifice one day of play (100 Mist Energy) in order to be able to play more the rest of the week, while pay to play users could use it to soften crafting energy blows.
I don't have much time, so I'll be brief:
The cost is too cheap for the effect; the energy spent is sure to be gotten back through the normal use of the item.
Instead, if you want to try balance it, the price should be more significant.
Although, I don't think this idea would go through. I don't really have time to mull it over and give my own view, sorry.
Also note: You're lucky; Asuka actually bothered to give you a reason for disagreeing. Usually, it's just something like 'ohlookanotherenergyqqer', or worse.
Someone's in a good mood today. Relatively.
If you got the time to come on every 16 hours. (Do note that jobs and school affect this ability entirely) then I really don't feel mist is the problem....
If you got the time to come on maybe an extra time or two and just want to be sure you'll have the mist to play, then this isn't such a horrible investment.
Besides, this doesn't exactly EXPAND the mist tank. So if the person doesn't actually get online like clockwork every 16 hours and start doing rooms within 15 minutes of logon, they'll be losing that profit.
Let's also take into account what will likely be the most profitable of methods to use the alts.
Farming KoA like any old optimizer.
So, let's say you run 3 alts, bash vana with only mist twice per alt per 16 hours on each alt. Let's hope you stagger this properly. Say it takes 6 hours total for them to farm KoA. So, now you get 200 ce per alt (rough estimate) and have 10 hours to do all those real life things. I'm sorry, but I don't see that working much to the favor of the player. As I get enough trouble attempting a log on within 24 hours. Let's say you can though.
Normal optimizer uses 3 alts (because they decided to invest money in two p2p accounts and have a 3rd mist alt.) and they log in every 22 hours to perform the same 6 hour job. Providing them a 16 hour window to perform whatever they like.
Normal Optimizer: 168/22~7.64 runs of alts
7.64 x 600ce = 4584ce + ~66 tokens (~55-60k cr; 705-769ce) = 5289-5353ce/week
Mr. alt optimizer on mist cruncher: 168/16= 10.5 runs of alts
10.5 x 600ce = 6300ce + ~93 tokens (~75-80k cr; 962-1026ce) = 7262-7326ce/week
P.S. Normal optimizer could run a part time job with the same hours. Alt optimizer on mist cruncher could do a full-time job.
Let's take into account how much stress this could cause the player:
Running their schedule on a 16-hour/ 32-hour oriented program in place of a 22 hour. (This is proven to cause insomnia, depression, fatigue, etc.)
Being better off working for minimum wage at some part time job and buying the ce profit from mist cruncher out of a single hour of work. (derp)
Having to also potentially deal with random parties that die often or soloing everything. (drawing from profit)
Burning themselves out on SK. (obviously won't be optimizing so much if they quit)
All of this for a profit of ~1973 ce more than the normal optimizer/week.
Which with a part-time job at min. wage... I work only ~1.25 hours and can get a 3500 ce pack for $10 per week.
At which point, I would say that the person working their alts so hard kinda just deserves their little reward.
This could have been solved by just saying this item should be un-tradeable and last 2 days.
It's actually quite a good idea. The difficulty lies in the balancing of it.
Obviously it shouldn't be purchasable solely using mist energy, since that would circumvent the purpose of elevator passes somewhat, but having a 7-day Mist Attractor for about 150-200 energy, with regeneration time being 66% of the original might work. That would give 1000 mist in the time that about 760 mist would regenerate, meaning value for money over that time if all the energy generated is used up. (The added CE cost is to prevent them from being spammed on crafting alts.)
I'm not so good with the numbers, but the idea is sink in energy to get a faster regeneration rate.
The problem lies within the balancing.
Say...
If it's pay thru cash, then ONLY P2P players would gain benefit.
If it's pay thru crowns, then both types of players would benefit.
If it's locked for P2P players, then ONLY F2P players would gain benefit.
In any other interpretation...
Say...
Price Currently: (F2P) 2-3k crowns and (P2P) 2-3.5k crowns or 1.75 US Dollars or if that's too much, lessen.
If many P2P players would buy a lot, then prices will inflate.
Obviously it shouldn't be purchasable solely using mist energy, since that would circumvent the purpose of elevator passes somewhat, but having a 7-day Mist Attractor for about 150-200 energy, with regeneration time being 66% of the original might work. That would give 1000 mist in the time that about 760 mist would regenerate, meaning value for money over that time if all the energy generated is used up. (The added CE cost is to prevent them from being spammed on crafting alts.
I can't compute much but it's true.
Since P2P players go with elevator passes, F2P players would go for [name of usable].
Might work if it's at an affordable price, Cash or Crowns.
I'd say that 150 energy was reasonably affordable, since you only have to spend 50 CE to get one.
It's just to prevent P2Pers with numerous mist accounts from taking advantage of it for ragecraft purposes. (Sure, some will probably still use it for that purpose, but since there is some cost of CE, it isn't effectively 'free' - much like the 30-day trinket slots.)
Soo, in exchange of 100 energy one day you get 200 energy more per week compared to regular regeneration?
- Make alts
- Buy and apply
- Craft, do alt runs, buy stuff with mist discount
- ????
- Profits
Exploitable.