Forums - Chronicles of Elyria

11/28/2019 2:55:47 AMLongest Night Approaches!

Caspian

Owner
2121 Posts
July 2014

As the tribes of Elyria count down the months to the Longest Night, each prepares for the coming winter in their own unique way. The Brudvir spend their Winterswatch fortifying their holdings against winter and the threat of raids, while the Kypiq ward off the Sunsleep with raucous displays of light and festivity. The Hrothi observe the coming of the Longest Night by recognizing the virtue of charity; providing gifts, packaged together in a bundle to be opened one at a time. Sometimes simple, but often quite elaborate, these packages contain all the seasons’ small gifts, cunningly stored together.

We hearken to this tradition with the Elyrian Longest Night Calendar. Inside each calendar-shaped gift-box is a collection of 18 different items, one for each month of the three-year long, Longest Night. Items in the box are composed of a random assortment of past promotional items, including some higher ticket items. In addition, each gift-box contains three unique items, only available in the Longest Night Calendar!^[1]

The Longest Night Calendar goes on sale Friday, November 29th and will be available for a reduced price of $60 USD (20% off) from Friday through Monday before returning to its normal price of $75 USD on Tuesday. The Longest Night Premium Calendar (Ltd. Supply) will go on sale for $75 USD on Friday through Monday, before returning to its regular price of $95 USD on Tuesday! What’s the difference? The Longest Night Calendar has a minimum value of $175 (with a max. of over $200), while the Premium Calendar has a minimum value of $275 in promo items (with a max. over $300)!

Longest Night Calendar Mechanics

Beginning Wednesday, December 11th and going until Tuesday, December 31st, each Longest Night Calendar held in the inventory of an account with an Elyrian Package or higher will deposit an item into the user’s inventory every Elyrian month (every 28 hours) with a value ranging from $6 USD to $30 USD, while each Premium Calendar will deposit an item ranging from $10 USD to $40 USD. If a calendar is purchased after the start of the event, all unclaimed items from the gift-box will be deposited into the holder’s account during the last opening on the eve of December 31st.

As a final note, there’s no limit to the number of gift-boxes that can be held in your inventory, and both the items found inside the box, as well as the gift-boxes themselves are all giftable!

Note: Each box contains a limited number of items. Transferring the box to another does not replenish any previously “opened” items.

The Season of Gifting

'Tis the season of gifting! We’re pleased to announce that Gift Cards will once again be making their way to the store on Friday, November 29th and will remain in the store until December 31st before returning to hibernate in the vault.

^{[1] Promotional items may appear in future Kickstarterversaries.}

11/28/2019 5:43:57 AM #16

Taolaen

Member
Rank 9
9 Posts
February 2018

I think the defining difference this time is that: previously I’ve purchased things that I want to use in game, and some of them have had surprises attached (the rare ingredients, for instance). That’s all well and good, I got what I wanted, the rest is unimportant to my transaction. This is a pile of mystery items that, while given an arbitrary monetary value that promises the sum total to be higher than the purchase price, without knowledge of even what MIGHT be in the box you can’t tell me that the items received will carry the same value for every player. Were I to purchase this and not find value in the items, I’d be disappointed. That’s the gamble.

The road less traveled means I've more to make from it.

11/28/2019 5:44:23 AM #17

Noslim

Member
Rank 10
530 Posts
July 2016

Posted By Zyzax at 11:26 PM - Wed Nov 27 2019

If these are the "loot boxes" that you're afraid of, I'm not sure what to say.

In video games, a loot box is an in-game purchase consisting of a virtual container that awards players with items and modifications based on chance. -Source whatis.techtarget.com/definition/loot-box

Is that not what is described by "Items in the box are composed of a random assortment of past promotional items, including some higher ticket items."?

If you need more info on why this concerns some... -Google Why do gamers hate loot boxes

To me personally, it's meh... but why flirt with it? Anything remotely close to lootboxes/pay to win/community favoritism etc etc should be avoided like the plague but here we are...

FC: 261B36 Recruitment: Forum Post

11/28/2019 6:11:11 AM #18

Zairick

Member
Rank 9
124 Posts
November 2016

I kinda feel disappointed. I know this might be a bit different then a "loot box" but it's not strengthening the community and not building out the world. It just feels like an empty gift. Like when someone buys you something expensive but then another person knits you some thick socks. Sure the expensive thing was nice for a few days but I still have the socks my mom made for me long ago. This feels way to corporate for a season that's supposed to bring people together both in game and across the world. Maybe just give everyone a basic calendar not even with items in it but with photos of the team in seasonal attire with captions and funny supprises. Something that can't be bought or sold or traded. Nothing that has any real value to it except to show us the team we all believed in from the beginning.

Luna server. Brudvir, Mayor/Shipwright/Lumberjack/Hunter. Kingdom Vornair, Duchy Dawn's Reach, county Penhook Bridge, Town: Amber Harbor, Currently, have 2500 EP at my disposal to develop my business. Friend Code: AB0DD0

11/28/2019 6:51:09 AM #19

Caspian

Owner
2121 Posts
July 2014

The concept of purchasing an item with an heir of mystery to it is not new. It's seen in everything from Easter eggs to Advent Calendars to Collectible Card Games. And there's nothing inherently wrong with it. There's a feeling of excitement to opening up something to discover what's inside. And when done with honesty and integrity, can be a fun and enjoyable experience.

This year we decided to create the Elyrian version of an Advent Calendar, offering an approximate 1:3 ratio of cost to value (on average) to ensure that no matter what came from the calendar it was something worth the cost people paid for it. In addition, we're guaranteeing three new items that are themselves worth nearly half the price of the standard calendar.

Our intention is that people either buy the calendars for someone else, so they can experience the gift of receiving a unique item each day, or that they buy them for themselves, enjoying the daily surprise, keeping the individual items or using them as stocking stuffers for others.

In the interest of ensuring people could make an informed decision about whether the experience of getting the items was worth the value to them, we've disclosed the minimum and maximum value of each item in the box, the combined minimum value of every item in the box, and now even the average. So at this point, it's up to each individual to determine whether there's value for you in purchasing these.

We appreciate our backers and players. You, the community, have been our steadfast supporters and we aim only to entertain. Our goal for these calendars is to create a fun and exciting opportunity to send and receive gifts that come with an air of mystery.

To those that view it as such, we hope you enjoy! Good luck in getting the items you want. If you don't get the items you want, gift them to others and enjoy the holiday spirit.

Regardless of how you feel about the Longest Night Calendars, we hope you receive plenty of gifts from within the community, and from us to you, we wish you a heartfelt happy holidays!