Breakfast Topic: WoW rewards for game loyalty
by Dan O'Halloran 
Nov 21st 2007 at 8:00AM
Delaney at the Casual WoW blog posted an interesting question the other day. Many long running MMO's offer Veterans Rewards. These are in-game items granted to players based on how long they have had an active subscription. Why doesn't WoW do this?City of Heroes offers wings, kilts and trench coats among other items (see video in link above.) Everquest II just granted its long time subscribers an item that reduces the maintenance costs of player housing and also offers potions that increase experience gain for short periods of time.
I think we can all agree that WoW should offer something similar to long time players. The question is, what should it be? A special mount? A new tabard? Sparkly particle effects? Let us know what you think.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Smllshinyant Nov 21st 2007 8:17AM
I like the idea of getting good items for being with the game for a long time. Unfortunatly i'm a new user, I have been playing for about a month now. And there is such a large gap between those who are loyal long term fans, and us new starters that i think blizzard are aware of how daunting it is as a new starter. with all these high ranked players around, but at lest i can aim for these, one level at a time.
But time i cant compete with. It would not put me off either way and i always like to see nice new items(Which is just about all of them after only a month).
freelancerbob Nov 21st 2007 8:19AM
I think the main reason they don't is to keep new people coming. There are people out there on servers now who rolled 3-4 months ago who are BETTER players than people who rolled at the start, further progressed, yet who get no respect just because the other guy ran naxx.
The problem with rewarding veterans, even if it's PURELY COSMETIC, is that, at the same time, it punishes new blood who cannot ever catch up.
I know I look down a little on people who have no rank from the old pvp system, or who don't have the tabard from the BC pre-opening event.
At that, I guess we DO have veteran rewards, that tabard will never be available in game again.
Justin Wood Nov 21st 2007 8:20AM
I enjoyed the veteran rewards in EQ2, but they were even better in EQ1. You would actually get abilities for each level of veteran, and some of them were extremely useful for raids but they had long cooldown timers(some were 24 hours).
At this point, I would be satisfied with anything. Doesn't really matter if it is for aesthetics or if it is useful. They could give out mounts, special pets, tabards. On the more useful side they could offer extra daily quests or maybe some kind of items you could use in pve & pvp that are expendable.
Just give us something Bliz!
Shanker Nov 21st 2007 8:31AM
Something I'd love as a long time player is extra character slots. I've already filled up my slots with various alts and mules I've made over the years and it'd be great to be able to make a few extra characters on my current server. This shouldn't impact new players much since they probably won't need the extra slots yet. Maybe just 1 slot for every year that you've been subscribed, so that newer players will eventually have access to them would be good.
4STR4STALeatherBelt Nov 21st 2007 8:36AM
This was already discussed in:
http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/11/18/happy-birthday-wow-wheres-mah-cake/
However, I'll copy and paste what I said there to here, with a few additions to flesh out the arguement a little.
"It's complete and utter bullshit. They give the awesome little items such as the Fishing Chair and the BBQ Grill to the card playing tards (Not all of whom will play the fucking game itself for christ sake!), but not to veterans. These are of course just examples of possible rewards. Tabards/Titles are also obviously possible along with numerous other ideas.
Star Wars Galaxies had a lot wrong with it while it was good, but the veteran reward system was simply excellent. Every 3 months you unlocked new items, but you could also choice the old ones aswell, one at a time ofc. It let you really customise what you wanted for sticking with the game. Not all of it was combat related, infact most of it was decoration/housing related.
That's 2 things SWG did right that WoW hasn't even bothered with; Player Housing and Vet Rewards. Minigames to a lesser degree. No, SWG wasn't the first to do these things, but it doesn't change the fact they did them WELL."
Seriously, I want more little things that make the game interesting. Instead of events that occur once a year (Brewfest items, Xmas Items, etc) being the only options for such things there should be more available to the players.
I'm not saying the card geeks shouldn't get anything, but to the degree they do now compared to the rest of us, it's utter bullshit. Give them a card related title or tabard. (I'd lol at them but that's beside the point.)
amg Nov 21st 2007 11:12AM
While rewards for long timers would be cool, I don't think WoW needs to do this. They offer other ways to get cool swag, continual improvement of the game, on going changing events, and a solid game.
I'll take that over swag.
Todd Nov 21st 2007 9:45AM
I'm sick of all the tabards, sheesh. How about a belt enchant?
hpavc Nov 21st 2007 8:43AM
Was this article was written by a WoW player?
WoW has a decent number of limited items that anyone can get if they play the game during a time period. Do you have a Piglet non-combat pet? Perhaps an AD tabard? Can you make a festival dress? Sure some items are annual, which is nice for alts. The various winter xmas related craft stuff. Santa hat and pumpkin bags?
Jesus how many headless horseman posts did people have, while not veteran there are plenty of special events. There is plenty of 'i got that back when' stuff.
Definately better than I bought LOTRO preorder and I got this cloak to show off that is now quite stale and not useful.
Were all these items overlooked or did the guy want a specific 'since beta' tabard or nothing?
Safety Dancer Nov 21st 2007 8:47AM
I would rather have a title like "Old Timer" or "Veteran" just to see who is, for lack of a better word, a n00b (in the sense of playtime) and who is experienced. There is plenty of time I was in a pug and the shaman was like "I have res?" Or a dr00d that was like "Were in combat I can't res in combat!"
Ashwin Nov 21st 2007 4:24PM
An excellent idea for keeping players hanging around.
ThorinII Nov 21st 2007 9:10AM
http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/11/18/happy-birthday-wow-wheres-mah-cake/
HELLOOOOO!?!?!?! This place has more repeats than TV these days.
aehaar Nov 21st 2007 9:11AM
I think a two tiered system would be appropriate. One tier based on time since character creation. A second tier would be based on /played time. In no case should either tier include gear or items that could be considered useful. These rewards should be show-offs pure and simple, titles, tabards, and pets. I would like to see an item, [Old Mans Cane] given out to anybody that has been playing since 2004 or before though (this doesn't include me).
bob Nov 21st 2007 9:33AM
I want that chair. It should be a high level fishing reward instead I have to spend more money on a card game that I would in subscription fees if I played wow for the next five years. Total BS. Make the chair a fishing reaward!
Dave Nov 21st 2007 9:28AM
2 words: Beta invites.
Phorx Nov 21st 2007 9:41AM
Along with all the "shinies" that could be offered like mounts and tabards that are just re-skins of existing items they could also put in a collection of rewards that are just free versions of other things in game.
For example a 20-slot bag is something that most players don't have due to cost premium over the 18-slot ones, but would be a nice thing to have for a veteran. Personally I don't think 2 free bag slots is OP, but others may argue that.
rafe.brox Nov 21st 2007 9:43AM
I'd be satisfied with a silly "Old Codger" (okay, "Venerable Hero") title, but, to be completely honest, I get more questions about the panda bear pet (one of the three original special edition companions) than anything else.
Naix Nov 21st 2007 9:42AM
54743573454564356 Gold!
Ernoldsame Nov 21st 2007 9:44AM
@10
Yes, you reminded me about another benefit that is only available to long-time subscribers...access to the PTR.
Would be nice to go on there every now and then to test specs or talent builds. (been playing 6 months)
My only objection to rewards like this are they give another excuse for people to boast "I woz ere b4 beta, man, U R noobz". Much like is done with the old PvP titles at present. Also, it takes no skill or commitment to the game to have an account inactive for 18 months - so what does it prove?
For bragging rights, a simple character creation date on the Armory would suffice - then we could really tell who has been playing since day one.
Ernoldsame
Spadron Nov 21st 2007 9:49AM
@7: You're the reason they shouldn't introduce them.
Theadrick Nov 21st 2007 9:57AM
I would be happy with a title or a tabard (or both)
I've been playing WoW since the first stress test beta, and have been following its development since 2001.