Constructive Feedback on Stealth Nerf of Expert Packs

Premium packs was the way for andromeda points, not expert, i dont see money relation here, if someone was buying experts with Andromeda, then he loosed alot. Expert and Premium was almost same UR per Credits before patch, ppl loved experts cuz 2 packs for 100k = double consumable. 

Have never bought Andromeda points and do not plan to - it's just a game, after all, thus having or not having certain virtual gun is not a big deal.

Tried (just for lulz) to buy some Bioware Points back in ME3 times (not much, within $10 or something about) though :-))

I've purchased points in the past but now I just can't justify it. Historically, I don't play a ton and saw $10 an easy justification given an hour of my time is worth far more. Now, with the newness of the game itself wearing off, and my drive to keep playing a bit tempered with other games... Ya, kinda a dumb move on EA's part. They should have thought this one out a bit more.

But these decisions are often made by people that don't play games and think somehow a demotivation move will increase profit. Fact that this was done so close to other depressing news is absolutely stupid... Someone isn't thinking things through.

Never have, never will.

I can't stand the pay-2-win model and refuse to support it. If only others thought the same way this ridiculous trend would end.

STOP PAYING REAL MONEY FOR PIXELS!!! The price of the game is enough.

Was the drop rate for UR's really all that different for ME3 (barring weekly and individual challenges)? I mean, it does make sense that Premium Packs would be the way to go to get UR's; though losing out on more consumables does suck. If the goal for most people here was a maxed out manifest, I'm pretty we're in it for the long haul.

With that said, it could have been alleviated if Bioware offered us the same Weekend Challenges that we had in ME3. Even if they don't want to make a wholly unique event, they could just make it so that if we play - and extract - from a certain amount of APEX missions per week, we get rewarded with a pack containing a UR card. And while I'm doubtful of this becoming a thing at this point, there is still the item store possibility (though at most, it would be for characters). When I saw that we would be rewarded an advanced pack from completing the tutorial, I got my hopes up that completing challenges would net us packs. Sucks that that one challenge is the only case of it though.

I'd be lying if I said I would stop playing on account of maxing UR's being a long-run endeavor. I still plan on sticking around for new characters and gear. Hopefully, if Platinum difficulty drops, it'll help speed things along. Platinum difficulty released in July 2012 for ME3 MP; four months after ME2's release. Maybe it might be the same for us.

More important to me at this point is them addressing the CTD, Network disconnects, and consumable economy. There are still assault rifles that need to be looked at as well... And cyclonic modulators should just give a flat additive bonus to shields dammit! >_<

This change most likely will hurt AP sales for other reasons as well. Unless you're in the microscopically tiny percent of people shelling out thousands to max your manifest with real money, you're just looking for a boost. Expert packs cost more per rare unlock, but with the timer, were better for UR. Premium packs were cheaper per rare, but no timer for UR. So each was clearly serving a perpose. If you're looking to boast your rares, buy premium packs. If you're looking for UR, buy expert packs.

By removing the timer, they've effectively removed the incentive to purchase packs with real money after your rares are maxed. If your looking for a boost and you know that there is a significant chance that you may not get anything for your money, how likely are you to spend it versus if you are guaranteed at least one UR per every 10 packs you bought? This seems to be the definition of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Assuming this is the case, then it's a pure money grab then. They could have added the timer to the premium to make it equivalent to the expert pack (1 every 5) without removing it from the expert. Instead, they essentially doubled the price.

Even money wise, they still would have been better off leaving as it was, since expert packs are more expense cost ratio wise then premium packs.

For reference the UR drop rate in ME3 was 7.5% per slot. Derived by a massive data gathering project and later confirmed by data-mining by MGamerz.

For MEA we have all been focused on the UR drop rate per pack and no one has yet started to analyze the per slot drop rates.

I have never bought Andromeda points, or any kind of microtransaction in almost any game, ever. In Andromeda, despite I do feel it too grindy at times, it would cut the progression feeling for me, so it would be a bad choice. I don't see myself playing for months if my manifest is full and no more content released.

In ME3MP I could play hunreds of hours unlocking new stuff non stop, and I like that. Just in Andromeda they made it too grindy, with the character cards mainly.

But I am very glad people spend on Andromeda points, since they theoretically help support the game etc.

If this change is widespread (because let's be honest, only a few of us, ME freaks roam here xD) I see people playing less, and spending less cash on packs. Very negative nerf this one!

If you enjoy fattening the pockets of greedy incompetent fucks that care nothbig about the quality of their game by all means go ahead.

I planned to spend a little cash every payday if the game was worth a damn but it basically was a beta. I know the gaming industry is about making money BUT with some studios you can tell they actually want a quality product. Bioware had been completely incompetent with this MP, not knowing SP effected MP difficulty, and not knowing or caring about the mechanics of their own RNG system. So you've got a terrible series of incompetence and you have an opportunity to retain or win some fans back by maybe doing something like a community event that awards an UR or even saying we're increasing the drop rates to attract more play. Instead they decide to shit on us by fucking the drop rates up more. Why would anyone pay these people at this point? They're too stupid or too greedy to support any longer.

#1 can justify any money spent on anything. So you are absolutely right.

People should not make fun of people spending money on MEAMP. 
We, men, waste money one way or other under label of having fun.

To be honest, I purchased super deluxe pack.

That`s already like spending $40 for 20 premium pack.
I am not happy about it though... because I didn`t know I was purchasing beta version of the game.