TOPIC: Monday newsletter...

Well for me, the difference in including/not including is about $750, as I was greatly contemplating picking up the mithril set. But just making those available would resolve that issue for me.<br />But I can understand the collector point of view, however the set bonuses argument was pretty solid.

Eh. I don't see the appeal but then again I've got enough variety to have a work around for most things. Not to mention there are some incredibly cheap pot alternatives. The ability to get old URs would have me cherrypicking powerful options rather than set completion.

I think there is a great work around to keep ALL customers happy...<br /><br />IF the expectations are that annual sets are just around for one year...fine, the work around is to re-print the tokens...Some of the stuff that was on wooden tokens has been re-printed on chip versions for example (and both collectors and new players are happy).<br /><br />Same thing can happen with the SET TOKENS...<br /><br />If the SET TOKENS are such a big draw, keep re-printing 1-2 parts of the set evey few years.  OR even more fun - create a new "Collectors Dream" set where all of the SET TOKENS are in the pool as far as the URs go...just try to have a unique symbol on them so they count as a member of a different set than what some of the lucky collectors have in hand already.  The Collectors Dream set might be a good keep around set - something that is re-printed every year and just added to as new tokens rotate in...???

I thought that was always the idea. That sets would recycle over time. The thing is that we've only had 3 years worth of tokens so far and it seems there would be no reason for a recycle for at least another year. I could see the '11 set bringing back some of the '07 set items. That would make a lot of sense since you could do one a year with a break year in between.<br /><br />So sets that started in '07 should have been something like:<br /><br />'07: part 1, '08 part 2, '09 part 3, '10 break, '11 part 1, etc<br /><br />Sets that began in '08 and '09 would be offset by a year or two.<br /><br />Really though, I don't see why people care all that much about sets since they really don't feel like chase items to me given that the set bonuses have been balanced pretty well. They're nice, but hardly game changing. Personally, I would prefer seeing more options within sets rather than reprints of old set items but that runs the risk of creep and balance breaking.

I'm with ya H - the only set that I drooled over was the Dragon Scale set...most if not all of the others so far are not playing to my usual class of CHAR.<br /><br />As a collector, I'd just like to see the sanctuary of the annual set preserved...re-print, but don't re-release just because the coffers have a few extras.  I wonder if those extra URs should spice up the Treasure Boxes at the event...or even be given out by a wandering NPC in the Tavern...there are lots of options!

Like I said, I could see jeff using it to incentivize token purchases as he has done in the past. The revenue stream comes first after all. Letting every 1k worth of purchases choose one 'older' UR isn't a horrible idea. Ideally that would be incentive enough for some people to buy more but also would be small enough that it wouldn't completely upset vets and the value of older tokens.<br /><br />There are other ways to use those older UR stickers as bait. Putting them in treasure boxes is one option. I prefer some form of monetizing them though. Partly that's because I'm a person who always has his eye on the bottom line. If you can suck out more revenue where there's no major disruption or downside, you should do it. If I was Jeff, I would have already done something like a pick-a-token whozit.<br /><br />2 pulls for $1 or 15 pulls for $5. It's filled with older tokens not from the current year. Toss in a HoP or AoW or something if you still have around or a wish ring to function as a chase item. Buy one of those big bingo tumblers that normally hold balls and put the tokens in that. Set it up and have it manned in the tavern. You can also toss in all the miscellaneous crap TD has collected back over the years. Not the tokens handed in for trade since that will skew too much toward commons but old ingredients, leftover combos, etc. People may not be willing to buy a pack of tokens for $10, but almost everyone will throw away a buck or two if you make it look like a carnival game. You could raise a good amount of dough doing this and if you work the ratio right, you won't even flood the market too much.

I hope the sets don't keep getting reprinted, because I think TD is much better off printing almost exclusively new URs each year, with the very rare reprint. Instead of reprinting existing set items, much better to print new items for those sets or entirely new sets. <br /><br />Of course, it might be cool in 5 or 10 years to reprint a set or two, once there are a bunch of new collectors.

The issue with the sets is that they weren't announced at the time of purchase.  Something needs to be done to cover the lapse.  Jeff's solution was to offer older tokens as the PYP because the community reacted harshly to the idea of reprinting even when Jeff promised he would reprint the token the next year.<br /><br />There are two sets that fall into this category Jeff, you've forgotten about the Ring of Elemental Command set (Ring of Fire Elemental Command).<br /><br />I think Jeff's solution allowing older tokens being chosen as a PYP is OK, though there is a cost associated with it to the buyer.  (they may be required to buy more $250 sets to get the extra PYP(s) needed to get the older token(s); assumes that one has a set number of PYPs (from this year's set) that they want).<br /><br />As far as diluting the rarity, only reprinting does that.  Offering the old tokens as PYP or via eBay or via auction or via treasure draws doesn't change the number that are available.<br /><br />I'm fine with anyone being able to get access to (all of the) older tokens.  It might even increase sales for those that are new to the collecting business.

<br />As far as diluting the rarity, only reprinting does that.  Offering the old tokens as PYP or via eBay or via auction or via treasure draws doesn't change the number that are available.<br />

<br /><br />Eh? I think you might want to rethink that.

It will. A little bit but nothing like<br />A reprint would do.

re-printing = item has different SET symbol.<br /><br />Rarity is preserved.