Heroforge introduces microtransaction model with Daggerheart collaboration

[Imaro]

I'm trying to figure out why new features costing additional money is a bad thing.

What new features are you receiving for the payment? I was under the impression this was paying for assets... which is exactly what the sub is supposed to cover...

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I'm trying to figure out why new features costing additional money is a bad thing.

They're not new features. They advertise how they add new content weekly. This new stuff appears to all be just the same kind of stuff they already offer. (They already have ape and frog people, for instance, although with different models.)

I'm not outraged by this, but I'm also not yet a HeroForge customer. (I am continually pondering buying an expensive bronze mini of my gnome illusionist character.)

I do think that, barring this kind of customer reaction, it was going to spread throughout the system pretty fast.

That said, there are weird gaps in the HeroForge line-up, and if it takes having Outgunned or Mothership or someone collaborate with them to fill in the gaps, it's probably a long-term win for the customers who can afford all the DLC.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Hero Forge should just have offered their customers generic monkey, plant, and frog men.

They have generic monkey and frog men. I was actually using one to build a possible character for my FLGS' upcoming Daggerheart games when I saw that there was a second, Daggerheart-specific, frog man model.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

That seems a weird thing to be mad about. Just go with the better alternative. That is like being mad at Apple because Samsung phones exist (or vice versa).

You need to check out the comment sections on Gizmodo some time.

 

[Reynard]

They're not new features. They advertise how they add new content weekly. This new stuff appears to all be just the same kind of stuff they already offer. (They already have ape and frog people, for instance, although with different models.)

I'm not outraged by this, but I'm also not yet a HeroForge customer. (I am continually pondering buying an expensive bronze mini of my gnome illusionist character.)

I do think that, barring this kind of customer reaction, it was going to spread throughout the system pretty fast.

That said, there are weird gaps in the HeroForge line-up, and if it takes having Outgunned or Mothership or someone collaborate with them to fill in the gaps, it's probably a long-term win for the customers who can afford all the DLC.

I wonder if there is something happening behind the scenes where the cost for the branded DLC is intended to offset license costs? Do any non-licensed elements come with an additional cost?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I wonder if there is something happening behind the scenes where the cost for the branded DLC is intended to offset license costs? Do any non-licensed elements come with an additional cost?

If that's the case, they should probably have said so. You will never get a certain percentage of angry customers back.

 

[humble minion]

Do any non-licensed elements come with an additional cost?

To the best of my knowledge, no. A subscription gets you everything, except the new Daggerheart stuff.

They have generic monkey and frog men

Yeah, the legacy frog and monkey faces are still there, though the new stuff expands a lot in them. HF has been updating their older assets a lot in the past year or so, more detail, higher resolution, less chunkiness as 3d printing capabilities have improved. The old ones will remain available as legacy pieces, but i suspect theyre unlikely now to ever be updated to work fully with the new face customisation engine etc.

 

[jolt]

I think the anger is more along the lines of: As alternatives show, it's possible to have a successful business model that doesn't make it seem like you're overcharging your customers; so why does it feel like so many services are overcharging their customers? As a result, the justification for increased charges ends up feeling more like an excuse than a reason.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

why does it feel like so many services are overcharging their customers?

Cory Doctorow has entered the chat

 

[Reynard]

Cory Doctorow has entered the chat

I think it is important to remember that enshittification isn't just about increased prices, it is about worse service in order to enrich investors at the expense of customers. I can't say whether that is happening here, since I am not a customer, but so far anyway it sounds more like a simple revenue stream increase. That's not necessarily the same as enshittification.