This what happenes when i post from a cell phone. Apologies.
Iksar said:Nephele said:I've started to reply to this thread a few times now, but always stopped myself. However, I feel compelled to offer my opinion, so I won't stop this time :)
Full disclosure: I'm a VIP pledge currently and have been for some time. I don't think that should influence anyone else in their decision on how much to pledge but I want to be transparent about it, because I'm going to talk about why I pledged as much as I did. There are really two reasons that I pledged to Pantheon.
1) I believe in the vision for Pantheon, and personally I am hoping for it to be somewhat of a spiritual successor to Vanguard. I also believe that the industry needs worlds like that right now, to help remind everyone of what MMORPGs can really be if we allow them to fulfill their potential.
2) With very few exceptions, I have been very impressed with the people in this forum community - just about everyone I have interacted with tends to have their hearts in the "right" place, even when we disagree, and I can't help but be moved by the passion I see in many posts and threads.
So, I wanted the game to succeed for myself personally, for the industry as a whole, and for us as a community. Given that I can't code my way out of a paper bag, and VR doesn't really need a volunteer designer, the best way for me to help Pantheon achieve that was to simply pledge as much as I was comfortable with. Believe me, If I could have pledged more without wreaking havoc on my own personal finances, I probably would have.
"Perks" never entered into the decision.
Even today, two years later, I don't think of myself as any different from anyone else here. I pledged the money that I did, simply because I had that much money available to pledge. It doesn't make my happiness or my opinion any more valuable than someone who only has $25 to pledge.
What matters isn't how much money you pledge, it's the fact that you're willing to put something in to help support the game. The "perks" you get from pledging are just an acknowledgement for that contribution. The real reward of any pledge is going to be seeing Pantheon succeed and grow for years to come. I can guarantee you that the people at VR appreciate each and every supporter they get, regardless of how much money that person puts in - because each supporter is another person who believes in what they're trying to do.
So, my advice to everyone who's on the fence about upgrading their pledge is to not think about the perks so much. Instead, think about what it means for Pantheon. More money in pledges helps VR hire additional developers and artists to move the project along faster. THAT is the real reason to pledge, no matter what tier you're looking at.
Regardless of how much any of us pledge, we will ALL be there, side by side, on launch day when the servers open. That's the day we're all really waiting for. That's the stage that matters most. Not alpha, not beta, but the actual retail launch - the day when we can log into Pantheon and start showing the world that this kind of MMORPG can succeed and grow.
I would encourage everyone to decide for themselves how much they're comfortable pledging, and not to overthink things beyond that. Don't view pledge tiers as some kind of rank. Don't view them as an investment you need a return on. Just look at them as a way to help Pantheon get to launch faster, because that is the best pledge reward of them all.
Hear, hear! Well said as always and I agree 100%.
sorry to post again, but this says it all. perks are perks. i pledged so Brad could make Pantheon my next MMO.
I took the plunge. However, I must stress to those that are eager to just jump in to play the game, this is not what you want. Alpha testing is NOT fun, and I wouldn't recommend it if you want to see what the game has to offer. So, please don't let that make your decision for you. I'd compare it to trying raw dough rather than biscuits. Most things don't work or are not implemented. It's a labor of love. I tried Vanguard, and I disliked it. That was a finished product at the time. I'm not one to kick a man when he's down, but it had problems. Aradune admits the early mistakes that were made, and that litte bit of humility has truly earned my respect. EQ1 was lightning in a bottle. You'll never capture that magic again even in a billion lifetimes. All you can do is move on and try to improve on what came before. With that said, Champion level is not for everybody. I urge everyone to please support the game in any way you can. However, if you hope that you can experience the game early by doing this, you are sorely mistaken. What you can test will scarcely resememble the final game. I have looked at what is offered by the Champion level, and I'm willing to gamble on it. I have no shame in saying I believe in this game more than any MMO I've ever played since EQ. For me, this is the true EQ2. I would gladly go down with the ship if it ever came to that. Brad, we've all got high hopes for you and your team. You've proven yourself to be a man of conviction. I look forward to the boring, broken and repetitive tasks you have for me in order to help make your game something special on launch day. :) I know alpha testing is not your game, but it's important to get to that final product.