PSO2 on west XBOX (and PC too, apparently?) confirmed on Microsoft E3

[Kondibon]

The thing Shoterexx was trying to say is that it doesn't matter if it's mostly cosmetics, it's still gambling in the sense that you aren't always going to get what you want. You can make the argument that the scratch bonus exists, but considering the price of the scratches, that's like 6k yen for ONE.

You could also bring up the fact that stuff is tradable, but that just rolls back around into gambling because there's guarantee that you'll get anything valuable enough to get what you want, and some people buy scratches just to sell the items, which can vary wildly in price.

[Totori]

The AC shop/scratch over here would be 100% fine, we have 10000 dozens of games that runs the game micro transaction model, just PSO2 does it the best with it being mostly just cosmetic options, and not touching gameplay balance in the slightest.

So that isn't really an issue, or has it ever been when I can pop in Dragalia Lost, or Even Brave Exivus, and be offered to buy their in game currency.

[Kondibon]

Yeah, the only thing I could see being an issue are the ability and element changers, or similar stuff being in it, but that's easy to fix.

I personally have mixed feelings about cosmetic gachas in general, because on one hand I can just buy the thing I want from players, but on the other hand it promotes and profits off of unhealthy behaviors.

[Flatflyer]

AC scratch is still wayyyyyy more tame compared to the lootboxes we have in other games, like, there are MULTIPLE ways to go around the whole "rolling the scratch" thing. You can either just put in enough to get the "choose a guaranteed item anyways" or you can literally just buy it off of player shops for in-game currency. You are in no way forced to "get lucky" like a normal lootbox system requires you to.

I've personally NEVER done a single scratch ticket in this game and I've gotten every single outfit I liked off the player shops, I have never felt the need to roll one ever, because the game has completely reasonable alternative ways to get the outfits and stuff from those tickets through other means.

[Kondibon]

I really want to stress that my issue with that kind of stuff isn't with whether or not I can get what I want, it's entirely with the way it essentially profits directly off people gambling for virtual items, regardless of who ultimately gets the items.

[ArcaneTechs]

The AC shop/scratch over here would be 100% fine, we have 10000 dozens of games that runs the game micro transaction model, just PSO2 does it the best with it being mostly just cosmetic options, and not touching gameplay balance in the slightest.

So that isn't really an issue, or has it ever been when I can pop in Dragalia Lost, or Even Brave Exivus, and be offered to buy their in game currency.

This was my main point, thanks

[vantpers]

Give me every aspect of p2w factors in this game then that you feel they need to remove, ill wait

Supply of important affix items is limited by scratch even if you can just buy it with meseta from others. Making money requires shop pass or you will hate yourself for spending so much time scratching fun. Premium weakpoint is 20% while non-premium is 15% and you can't get that 5% in any other way. Similarly PP drink for premium can give you both PA damage up and PP restoration up if I remember it correctly. Ares NT and its pot on Austere can't be used revved up to full potential without paying for mags. Multishipping relies on ship transferring so you can move the rares around and even buy low sell high going from one ship to another. SG for triggers since non paying users won't really be able to buy everything out. Some premium drop rate from whatever it was. Going over character limit for free players to get more weeklies.

That's all I remember for now.

EDIT: Of course also multiple class trees you will need if you want to play two classes as both main and sub for a lot of combos like Hu and Fi, and minor things you can do with them like having mobbing/bossing tree that lets you optimize at least a tiny bit.

[Totori]

None of those listed are really game changers though, they are if anything small time savers. It's not hard to get a shop pass from fun, hell you will basically get one in about 40 pulls which with the 10 is a few seconds away. The extra 5% of damage isn't going to magically make you on a higher than the sky level of play. Sure you'll do like just a *Small* tad of more damage, you can also just use the Team tree for some more stat boost, as most people just end up ignoring that when they do small amounts of play. As for the drink boost, they are also pretty small increases if anything.

Heck going over the character limit for more meseta is even more tedious, I can barely stand to do about 3 of my characters dailes, if you realllly, wanna get more meseta you could always just multi account, have that account share Meseta between you all. SInce you can just set Monomates or some small throw away item into your player shop, and place about 500 for a mil each, you'll have easy money transfer now.

For getting the shop pass, you will automatically get one now, from the Arks Missions if scratching for FUN is too much.

As for multiple skill trees, it's slightly annoying but that's the issue with the balance of using a skill tree, they hand out free skill resets like candy, anytime a single change is made. I think I have around 40+.

But my point in all of this is the fact, the AC shop gives you not a single advantage in terms of gameplay, you are only going to be saving time.

[Polychrome]

Except its not especially since they hand you a "pick what you want" pass after scratching so many times,

Real casinos have comps that give you a certain amount of store credit (for the hotel, buffet, etc.) at their resort based on the amount of real money you blow. Not unusual.

the rates arent even against you since thats when your own mental gymnastics come into play and another reminder you DONT need to scratch to play this game or have great gear either. Justify it all you want, putting money in for pure aesthetics that doesnt effect gameplay and is your own personal choice to do so.

Now hold your horses. I'm not the OMG LOOTBOXES RUIN WORLD type. I just believe in Occam's razor and calling things what they are. The conversation is more honest that way, and I can praise PSO2 for the fact that they handled gachas better than most games.

The few scratchers I indulged in with the Japanese version were fun. So is a real world casino in its own way. Everybody gets their kicks a little differently. I appreciated that PSO2 didn't engage in the usual crap that made you feel like your chances were better winning the lottery. Doesn't make it any less gambling. It just means you don't have to ruin your wallet or go without if an item comes out that you want, and it's easy enough to buy off others.

[vantpers]

None of those listed are really game changers though, they are if anything small time savers. It's not hard to get a shop pass from fun, hell you will basically get one in about 40 pulls which with the 10 is a few seconds away. The extra 5% of damage isn't going to magically make you on a higher than the sky level of play. Sure you'll do like just a *Small* tad of more damage, you can also just use the Team tree for some more stat boost, as most people just end up ignoring that when they do small amounts of play. As for the drink boost, they are also pretty small increases if anything.

Assuming talk about Endless whatever or other hard to perform feats, these kind of 5% damage buffs go a long way. People trying for Forever Loner don't skip team tree buff because it's less than 5% damage, they always take it because that amount of damage makes or breaks TA. At the top level where winning is getting the best time, and boss has you use weak drink, you pretty much need premium on top of all those "small" real money transactions that go a long way in helping you complete your ultimate affix.

Heck going over the character limit for more meseta is even more tedious, I can barely stand to do about 3 of my characters dailes, if you realllly, wanna get more meseta you could always just multi account, have that account share Meseta between you all. SInce you can just set Monomates or some small throw away item into your player shop, and place about 500 for a mil each, you'll have easy money transfer now.

I don't think it's exactly "supported" by Sega. Even worse if Sega flags your account for weird high volume monomate sales mistaking you for some gold seller but since you're a gaijin you can't talk your way out of it.

For getting the shop pass, you will automatically get one now, from the Arks Missions if scratching for FUN is too much.

Wasn't it one day single use pass from doing main mission? Hardly sufficient.

As for multiple skill trees, it's slightly annoying but that's the issue with the balance of using a skill tree, they hand out free skill resets like candy, anytime a single change is made. I think I have around 40+.

40 passes is nothing that lets you main two classes that sub each other and require different trees for sub and main. Similarly a tree for bossing and mobbing quest would be switch more often too.

But my point in all of this is the fact, the AC shop gives you not a single advantage in terms of gameplay, you are only going to be saving time.

Half the game according to timers put everywhere and endless titles or the whole TA category is about saving time. You do get advantages there.