The Cost of History
In our ever-evolving world, the price of goods and services only seems to just go one way… up. The cost of running the club is invisible to many members, but it has started to take its toll on the Club Leadership. For years, many of us on the Dark Council have discovered that there is a price tag well beyond what time we spend. Some of the expenses we've seen include Web Servers, Game Servers, Graphic Designers, Comic Book Artists, ever increasing Coding requirements, and (Ashia, skip to the next paragraph) the girls hired to pose for pictures in GM reports.
As you can see, there’s a lot of funding moving around, and lately the price of running the club has begun to extend past even the coffers of the Dark Council. We reviewed several options to see how we could continue providing a great service to members and still be able to pay back those individuals who donated some of their hard earned money to the Club. Luckily, one of the submissions of the Dark Crusade Advertising Campaign Event has provided us with the perfect source of funding and the solution to our predicament: Micro Transactions.
Starting today, we have our very own premium currency, called Antei Credits. Every one of you has received a complimentary amount of 50 Antei Credits, which can be spent as you see fit. As the system fully comes online your Antei Credit Balance can be topped up through your administration panel through various means such as Google Wallet and Paypal. We are examining various credit cards as well, however due to the associated fees we know for certain we will not be able to support transactions from American Express cards.
Now I’m sure you’re all wondering what you can do with these Antei Credits. Allow me to explain.
- Always wanted that next promotion, but the time in rank requirement still has you a year away? Now you bypass time in rank with a few ACs. Of course, higher ranks will be worth a higher amount of ACs, but we’re sure they’re priced competitively!
- Want to finally surpass that person above you in the Prestige Ranking? Purchase a Scroll of the Supporter or two for 100 ACs each and earn yourself a hefty Prestige Bump.
- Only need three more CFs for your next GMRG rank but hit the Diablo 3 CF weekly cap? Just spend some Antei Credits and you can get a one week exemption from the CF cap!
- Want to compete for a Guardsman Position and accessory, but not GMRG X yet? Buy a pass for the Quarter! Note: This is only available for GMRG members and will not increase your GMRG Rank, just allow you to compete for Guardsman assignments.
- Can’t wait for a legacy title? Legacy Title Unlocks are only 250 Antei Credits! (Sith Lord Titles will not be for available for ACs)
- Does your house or clan need more members? Purchase an extra member assignment in each rotation for 6 months! Its an expensive perk so get your unit together, pool those ACs, and make sure that next member is yours!
- Custom Robes and Sabers will henceforth be accessible to any rank through Antei Credits. We will also introduce the concept of purchasable Custom Accessories.
- For a fee of 250 Antei Credits uploading an avatar is accessible to any rank, without restrictions. The Herald will also provide custom avatars for a AC fee depending on the level of detail you are looking for.
- A Quarterly Brotherhood Lottery will be held. Only 200 tickets will be sold for the small cost of 100 Antei Credits each. The winner of the Lottery walks away with 15000 Antei Credits! Buy a few tickets and it could be you!
- Double-post a comment like a Noob? No problem. For 75 AC’s that DP gets deleted with none the wiser.
Of course, more features and ways for you to spend your money ACs will be coming shortly! Here’s a few sneak peaks:
- Wrote an awesome ACC post but forgot about that minimum word count? Purchase a single post word count pass and you’re back in the running! This will go live as soon as the ACC launches.
- The Great Jedi War Draft! Everyone knows that a Great Jedi War is coming up, highly skilled members in your unit are worth their weight in ACs! Prior to a start of a major Club Event members will be able to flag themselves as “Mercenaries” and their services during the event will be contracted to the highest bidding House or Clan! Contract terms will be able to be set, like “Must earn at least 3 Novae” for full payment”! A great way for some high performing members to rack up a few extra ACs while still having a blast during a major Event. Start saving now, you never know who you’ll be able to draft onto your team!
- Rites of Combat Gaming Platform Purchase: Ever wished you could earn CFs by playing Madden 25 or FIFA 14? For a moderate amount of Antei Credits you can earn a certain amount (TBD) of CFs for each hour of gameplay! Gaming with another DJB member will be required, both DJB members playing must purchase this perk. It will likely be sold on a “per hour” basis.
For some time, we have been looking for ways to both enhance member’s experiences and lessen the financial burden carried by the Dark Councilors. This program, which has been in development for the past several months, does pose some serious changes to the way that the Brotherhood operates, but it is one that both the Dark Council and the Star Chamber feel is more than warranted at this juncture. It may be a polarizing solution, and we all recognize that, so we have put in a lot of thought as to what and how we can help make it that the so called ‘free-to-play’ members are not overly disadvantaged when stacked against those who have a bit more expendable income. Early iterations of this proposal had the capacity to literally buy yourself promotions, which we all felt was a exceptionally unfair, and not at all in vein of what we were looking to accomplish with the Brotherhood.
I stress that this is not a monetization campaign, as all of the proceeds will go to server maintenance, code and art support. This is also only the first version of this program, and we will probably need to make adjustments as time goes by to make sure that the implementation and balance is maintained. So please bear with us as we iron the kinks (and I am sure there will be a few) out.
Thanks again, and have fun!
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I put my 50 Creds towards a warbanner with tits.
Kkthx.
For only $4400 I can be GM!
I love this club. <3
That's a glitch, Halc. I thought we took that out of the backend. I'll get jam3z on it.
Can I send my creds to Tarax so he can have 2 boobs on his banner?
Great report, Muz! I look forward towards investing into my Dark Brotherhood future!
This is a cool idea -- I wish I could collapse the Credit Balance pane in Admin. It's huge, bright orange, and only relevant to me when I want to click on it, so right now it's a bit distracting...
I like this idea. So long as people can't buy ranks. As someone who has spent way to much time at the same one i would not like to see people who have not put in the effort and time others have being able to drop some cash to achieve it. I like the Custom Sabers but feel like the Robes are rare and should stay that way.
I like this idea. So long as people can't buy ranks. As someone who has spent way to much time at the same one i would not like to see people who have not put in the effort and time others have being able to drop some cash to achieve it. I like the Custom Sabers but feel like the Robes are rare and should stay that way.
Looks like someone can already invest 75 creds to remove a double post :P
FUCK YOU BIOWARE
Seems like my mouse likes to think one click is two. Oh well it will make muz think he is important because the comment section has lots of numbers in it lol
Seems like my mouse likes to think one click is two. Oh well it will make muz think he is important because the comment section has lots of numbers in it lol
Seems like my mouse likes to think one click is two. Oh well it will make muz think he is important because the comment section has lots of numbers in it lol
GG Vynn...
Ok while I think some carry the same sentiment as I do to do anything we can for this club, I am worried about attracting new members and if they see a "Price" tag, they might not join. Is this a requirement or a "donation" drive? I don't want us to lose potential members.
As for Tarax banner with boobs. like the movie Paul - Three Tits? Awesome!
MOAR
How much to turn Halc's text and background the same shade of green?
Is there an option to pool credits together so Halc can be GM? $4400 is a bit steep for a single person.
Brimestone, the club is still free. Everything you can get with your ACs is purely optional (unless you simply MUST have more CFs and CANNOT wait for the cap to reset)
Think swtor, you can play it for free, but if you want to run faster, or do more than a little PVP each month, you can pay a little bit to suite your needs.
In all seriousness, I'd totally drop ten bucks on custom robes. :P
Kaz, right now there are only plans for credits to be able to be transferred for a unit purchase.
But seriously though: CFs for Madden. Kthnx.
No, Wally. CFs for Yu-gi-oh. Imagine it, believe it, live it, do it.
Gay. Madden bro.
So with all the goodies you can purchase with real cash now, I'm guessing that rules out those options for the secret development credits now
the robe link and saber link both go to the robe purchase submission.
ROFLMAO, all this is a bit earlier than I would have thought. Still though I applaud Muz, the SCL, and anyone else in on creating this. :p
1) I laughed.
2) 327680 credits for DJP? Nice.
3) It concerns me that nobody has said the word April yet. :P
Can we pool Antei Credits for custom House Robes?
It's a damn shame that this is an april fools joke. It would be hilarious if most of this, such as the lottery, the word count posting, all that was real. And useful too. Ranks would be pretty fracked up.
Good one guys.
April what? Its March 30th
I love how everyone jumped at this like it was a real thing. You all are cute :P It's probably Muz's way of saying "I love all of you, you gullible bastards" :P
For the sake of the argument, lets say it's not in fact an April Fools joke. I'm divided on this. Yeah robes, gfx goodies and all that would be cool, but promos? even time invested? Nah man. And that's exactly why I know it's an AF joke. :P
The damndest thing is... some micro-transacting might actually be really good for the club. Robes and sabers before due is cool, but promos and members not so much. Theoretically it could work, but as an NPO, the Brotherhood would have to show zero balance at the end of the fiscal year (if I understand NPO correctly) so there'd be some work involved.
If nothing else, a bit of marketing research in the guise of an April Fool's prank with some fairly optimistic results.
Arguably, HOU started as an April Fools' Day joke :P
In my honest opinion, it's not in the spirit of the club. Implementing this system as a reward system which rewards you with Cash for medals is alright (but that's gonna be possessions anyway), but not as a system for real cash. it ruins the point, I think. The Club needs cash, good, everyone donate 10 bucks, that's it. Just my 2 cents.
Well played, Muz. Well played. :P
I actually thought this was actually the beginnings of the possessions system on the site.
Well played, indeed.
Micro transitions defeat the entire purpose of a volunteer club and could be, arguably, the worst thing we ever did for the health of the club. I'll go on record here saying it first :P.
This does bring up a very important point though.
#CFs4SportsGames!
Also, James, TechCrunch copped your idea. You should sue them: http://techcrunch.com/2014/03/31/introducing-crunchcoin/
(Ours is much funnier, of course)
This is probably the most well written, elaborate April Fool's joke I've ever read. Good job!
Well played sir well played. I thought at first it was the real deal but after reading all the diffrent things realized otherwise. I honestly was expecting the return of skynet.
Amen. Happy April Fool's though everyone.
I LOVE april fools day. So much fun to find all the jokes!!!! thank you Muz for yet another year of Laughs!!!!!
Goddammit so much, Muz.
Lol. I am thinking too much like a chiss. I was actually looking into this as a actual incorporated system and thinking of how it works out
Gj muz, you fooled this chiss
Beautiful. Nice work DC folks :D
Great job Muz!!.. But seriously.. how much for EQ3? O.o
lol enjoyed that