Good evening everyone,
We hope you're having a great week and enjoying our recent updates.
We've heard concerns from some players regarding the new Ashtals in Chantra Pass Premium, with some calling it "Pay to Win." We'd like to clarify the situation. After reading the points outlined below, we hope you'll gain a better understanding of the matter.
As management, our goal is to provide you with new content to enhance your experience. Let’s take a look at what we aim to offer:
Leveling Up
After so many years, it’s safe to say that most players no longer enjoy classic grinding. That's why we don't prioritize increasing the level cap at regular intervals, avoiding the need for players to spend excessive time grinding. We don't plan to go beyond level 120, and since we're aiming to release level 120 in about two months, this is no longer a card we can play.
New Items
With HH, we're releasing new armors, weapons, and unique accessories. We believe the difficulty in obtaining these items is at an ideal level. Currently, the main focus for players will be acquiring these new items. For this reason, we won’t be able to rely on this strategy for quite some time.
New Stones
Since Archonia launched (2.5 years ago), no new stones have been released, so we decided to introduce the new Ashtals first. Ashtal is an item that needs to be used in multiple quantities, meaning every player will need more than one. Like all other content, we wanted to manage its production so it the server wouldn't be flooded within a few weeks. Right now, players can obtain the new Ashtal from the Level 113 reward and the Chantra Pass, and we will add new ways to acquire it over time.
We may also consider releasing new stones like next level Scion and Combined Stone in the future.
New Consumables
We believe we've reached the limit with consumables such as Novice's Potions, Elixirs, Foods, and On/Off Wings & Cloak. We don’t see adding more consumables as a viable option, as it could overwhelm the players.
New Events/Game Modes
This is an area we have consistently worked on and created content for since the beginning.
When you consider each of the points above, releasing the “New Stone” was the most logical move at this stage. Now I can hear you asking, “Why do I have to buy Chantra Pass Premium for this? Isn’t this pay-to-win?" Let us explain why:
● This isn’t pay-to-win because you can obtain it without paying. Currently, you can get it through level-up rewards, and in the future, through other means.
● Even if the “pay” part was mandatory, it wouldn’t be enough for the “win” part. How much of an advantage do you think you’ll gain from +10 All Stats? Even if you used it on all your gear, you'd only use it 12 times, gaining an extra +120 All Stats. And with current production possibilities, no player could achieve this in a short time, even if they spent a fortune.
● The reason it’s tied to the Chantra Pass is simple: Archonia is managed by a team that includes two full-time developers, one full-time graphic designer, two GMs, and one admin. All of these people receive actual salaries for the work they do. Beyond this, the financial investments made in Archonia are at a level no one would have imagined. So, this isn’t a “greedy” move—it’s a necessity to ensure sustainability from a financial standpoint. If we were greedy, we would set high CC shop prices like Codemasters and Webzen did, forcing you to buy Lens+ and Compound Potions daily. For 2.5 years, we have given away items for free that, in the original game and on other servers, were sold for high prices, sacrificing a significant amount of potential revenue. And considering Archonia’s expenses and investments, it hasn’t yet reached the point of being a “profitable” business. And price of Chantra Pass will be 10€ for 30 days with the next season. Its 15€ for the current one because it started on the middle of the month and will last for 50 days.
● The fact that the new Ashtal is currently priced at 4k CC in the market is purely an economic issue. Every newly released item starts at a very high price and stabilizes over time. As we mentioned earlier, Ashtal will also be available through other means. However, one important point we’d like to make is that we don’t want Ashtal to become a source of income for some players. We want to use it as a motivation for players looking to strengthen their equipment. Our main goal is to make the time spent playing valuable.
Your suggestions and feedback are always very valuable to us, but we ask that you consider not only the player’s perspective but also the management’s perspective when providing feedback. If one of us doesn’t exist, neither can the other.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Kind regards, Furkan.