I understand the recent swell of new accounts has tested the framework of the mechanics but in the end, there were options and ones that were more favorable to the player. Beyond the inevitable grumblings of dissatisfaction in change of any variety, there aren't many ways this can be laid out that doesn't look like a cash grab in my honest opinion.
Adjust the loot table percentages, remove the 'exploited item(s)', even lessen the over all payout value. They could have increased the credit cost of the potions even, but instead they remove the lower cost option which brings value to the newer players and leave us with a cost factor at almost $6/ day or roughly 1$ per chest IF we are to pay the cost to progress at a reasonable rate.
Having to buy the opportunity to have a chance at additional rewards at that price-point isn't going to stimulate growth. I mean, it will help lighten the load on the servers though, whether it be sooner or later it's going to drive newer players away and put a less favorable light on this game in particular. At the end of the day, this is just my opinion and regardless of the posts, there will still be people spending money no matter the cost, and that is all that matters for the investing parties.
In retrospect, however... I guess the price of DEC may go up with the inevitable forcing use-case of the in-game currency token amirite?! ;)
Man, I don’t know if I’m projecting because I’m just in a mood or if you intentionally drenched that in sarcasm, so if I’m misinterpreting let me know…
Having said that, I think perhaps you’re right about everything you stated above, and should go build your own hit sensation from the ground up and handle bumps in the road however you think is best.
Regarding DEC pricing, it likely won’t have much of an impact, since everyone knows the cost of using it there, and there’s a warning that pops up for people who may not know.
However, the price of DEC is pretty set to be in its current range for a while. There’s a lot of in game usage for it about to roll out.
Before I wrap this up, though, I feel it’s appropriate to say I feel like I was in your position once.
I’ve seen changes that looked like nothing more than a redirection of resources to the devs at the players’ expense, and each time when I looked into it I saw there was a valid reason for it, so I’m approaching this from the perspective of someone who’s been proven wrong enough to just stfu and let these guys pay me to play their fucking game. Take that for whatever it’s worth to you.
This is finally, only the beginning.