Is the games unfair?

[Twenty-Nine_Rooks]

There has been much talk lately, both in-game and on the forums, about how the game lends a distinct advantage to those who can afford Cash Shop Items, and those who cannot.

The biggest advantage of the Fiesta Store, probably, is the opportunity to enhance your weapons and armor all the way to +9. However, now that the servers are getting a bit older -with exception to Epith- +9 gear is now readily available for purchase, albeit at a high in-game cost.

I think that the game favors the clever, rather than the rich. I know many who have made several gold in cash, as well as several more in items, just by working their production skills and taking the time to make money

While other items in the shop like Charms and HP/SP extenders can give a big advantage too, the only reason I see to use these items is for PvP. Tier 2 & 3 scrolls are becoming widely available, and are adequate to use under almost any circumstance.

Case -in- point: This is me soloing GGK at Lv 44 with no relevant cash shop Items, just an EXP boost and a Drop rate Boost.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg210/twentyninerooks/GGKItems.jpg

Yeah, take that GGK!

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg210/twentyninerooks/GGK1.jpg

The fight starts to get tedious here:

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg210/twentyninerooks/GGK2.jpg

GGK: "Look, look at my uber-axe. It is, like, bigger than you. Mwahaha!"

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg210/twentyninerooks/GGK3.jpg

PWNED

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg210/twentyninerooks/GGKPWNED.jpg

Now, while some gratz may -in fact- be in order here, I'm not writing this thread to just say: "ohhh Look at how awesome I am". I'm writing this to make a point that I think is important, that if you have the in-game money, there is very little you cannot do.

I know many who have been able to solo GGK. In fact, my Guildie Leman_Russ did so at Lv 44 with a hybrid-build fighter, which is much more difficult than with a cleric.

Besides, I think it is rather ridiculous to be able to solo strong Bosses like GGK. I mean, really, how strong do you need to be anyways?

Personally, when I party people I'd rather party with with people that are fun to hang out with, rather than those with enhanced gear. Maybe some prefer to party you because of your gear, but then again, would you really wanna party with people like that?

[smitske]

it is loike this now, but when i played actively, there were no abbyses to get easy pod recepie scrolls from, and i was poor ><
its a whole lot easyer now.

[Draco_Zandros]

Most of the cash shop items appear to be mostly appearance orientated, clothes and houses. Sure some add a few points here and there but nothing major. Only advantage some cash shop items really give is in time, iron bag enables you to stay out farming for longer, drop rate increase means it takes less time to get drops, xp increase reduces how long it takes to level.

If you haven't a problem with putting the time in you don't need any cash shop items.
Only things I've bought so far are an iron bag for my main and 4 beauty coupons (though some of the outfits are getting tempting)

[Serric]

Do cash shop items give players advantages over other players? That depends on your point of view. So far, all cash shop items are either stat bonuses, exp bonuses, outfits, facial features, and, if you’re lucky, red/blue miles for +9 gear. In a guild war or PVP arena, a lvl 50 pure end fighter decked out in max +9 gear will have an advantage of an identical fighter in non +’d gear, this is true. However, many players, myself included, can get +9 gear without red/blue miles – we just can’t make them ourselves XD

Now, please keep in kind this is not a PVP based game. I came from one which I loved… a F2P game with decent graphics and a fun pet system. However, it was PVP – there was no option for non PVP. Even if I set my stance to friendly, it meant I could not attack but could be attacked (pointless?). now THEY had cash shop items that gave genuine disadvantages to non-paying players. Those willing to pay a little got strong. Those willing to pay a lot got god-like – enough to kill many players in a single hit. The balance of the game went right into the trash bin – you simply could not compete if you did not pay. Furthermore, when you died, you dropped non-equipped gear and gold. This made it intolerable to me and I left a few good friends behind.

My point is, the cash shop here, I feel, does not give an ‘unfair advantage’ to those who opt to pay over those who don’t. They get perks, bonuses and the like, but they are not so overpowered with cash shop items as to tip the balance of the game like in my previous example.

To date I have seen nothing offered in the shop that would be seen as adding an unfair advantage. However, don’t confuse that with jealousy. When someone sees another player decked out in +9 gear, crowns, etc. they may feel jaded – not to put too blunt a point on it, that’s tough. Just as in real life, when your neighbor buys a Mazaratti and you’re taking the bus you can’t claim your neighbor is being unfair. That’s life – we deal with it and roll on the best we can, having fun along the way.

In short – as long as A) this game is primarily non-PVP and B) the cash shop doesn’t sell epic gear or passage to “secret” or private areas, there is no advantage, and even if that were to happen what advantage is the cash shop player getting, exactly? Perks yes, advantage over another player, no.

Just my 2 cents.