Very conflicted about the cash shop...

[Quesse]

The subscription fee doesn't automatically entitle all players to use all FFXIV-related services and features free of additional charge.

But it should.

[Hurlstone]

Must we really fall into mindless name calling and other such obscenities, rather then try and keep the debate civil? Why must there be so much venom and unbound anger?

[HulveinBlitz]

Must we really fall into mindless name calling and other such obscenities, rather then try and keep the debate civil? Why must there be so much venom and unbound anger?

Because this is the internet.

[KuroganeAre]

It depends on what specific items they put in, if they don't take everything that you can get in game and put it on the cash shop and leave plenty of items for DOL to make gil on, then there is no problem.

[Heskett]

But it should.

But it doesn't. That's ultimately SE's decision. Their game. Their rules. Don't like it? Don't support it.

[Dwill]

Hahaha, this is a hilarious derailing tactic that I always love to see. Not really, they're irrelevant if they're outwith the realm of feeling, they are there to provoke a feeling, thereby aligning your sympathies with his cause. In any case THIS is genuinely irrelevant as he offered a new analogy. Stop trying to find ways to ignore a person providing rational argument.

You not liking the argument doesn't make it irrelevant. If anything, you trying to garnish sympathies to your cause by using an improbable scenario just make you seem like you actually have no sane arguments. People know your made up scenario isn't happening and they don't have to feel anything for you and rightly so.

But it should.

It shouldn't. Not everything is free nor is anything made for everyone to have, no matter the want for it. Developing content costs money and people buying certain items from a cash shop can easily increase development funding for content that is outside of it. If anything, it will be good for the health of the game.

Edit:

Ummm... says who? And on what authority?

And let me ask you this... All the people who create this content in the first place are being paid. Where do you think the money to pay them is coming from?

Here's a hint: They're already paying a monthly sub.

We have already paid them to create this content - months and months ago in the case of the halloween pumpkin hats. The money they get from us, at least in part, goes toward continuing development of the game - including the creation of content, items, etc. That content includes the Sleipnir mount, the minions, etc. Those people are paid to create that content, with the money we are paying them through our subscriptions. We already have, and continue to pay for it. Every month.

Yet they're asking us to pay for it... again.

Now, maybe where you come from, it's customary to charge someone again for something they already paid for. And maybe you're a-okay with that. Where I come from, though, that's called double-dipping, and it's not ok.

Beyond the blind fanboy-grade devotion to any and every decision Yoshi-P makes which pervades these forums, I have no idea how people can be "okay" with this. But here you people are, lined up to defend it.

Unreal.

Says Square Enix via the User Agreement you agreed to (Read the huge letters):

4.1 FINAL FANTASY XIV Subscription Fees. In order to access SQUARE ENIX's servers to play the Game, you must agree to a recurring subscription ("Subscription") with a minimum subscription term of 30 days, and pay a recurring subscription fee ("FFXIV Subscription Fee"). Square Enix may offer different subscription plans in its sole discretion. Further, Square Enix may offer you the chance to purchase additional features for your FFXIV Service Account, which we call "Add-ons" or "Options." Add-ons may be subject to either additional recurring fees or one-time fees. A "Recurring Fee" is a fee that will be charged on a recurring basis until you terminate your subscription. A "One-Time Fee" is fee that is only charged once. All fee rates will be posted at http://sqex.to/ffxiv.na.fees and any changes to Recurring Fee rates will be posted with 30 days' advance notice and notice will be provided to the Game community. Square Enix may change fee rates at any time in its sole discretion, and will use reasonable efforts to notify you at least 30 days in advance of any changes to any Recurring Fees. All FFXIV Subscription Fees are billed in advance. All FFXIV Subscription Fees are non-refundable, with the limited exception in Section 4.7 below.

[Heskett]

Yet they're asking us to pay for it... again.

Do you have a gun to your head? Have they taken your family hostage? I thought for sure all of this was optional.

[Folsom]

Ummm... says who? And on what authority?

Are you asking that philosophically or literally? Because the literal answer is painfully obvious and the same as it would be for any person or entity that chooses how it wants to sell its products.

[Nimras]

The odin mount should've been an obvious drop from the ex primal fight, now its a cashshop exclusive. monthly sub + paywalled content makes me feel.. well, about as excited about the game as when I almost burned out and quit during my atma farming days.

[ZReport]

I think you're missing the problem here; it seems as though they're no longer providing these past items during the seasonal events like before. There was no listed NPC selling past items for this new Halloween event like they did before - b/c they're selling them in the cash shop.

NO MORE PAST EVENT CONTENT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN GAME - only in the cash shop.

If that's their prerogative, then so be it. Nothing in game is ever promised or entitled to us at all as players; they will do as they see fit with armor and equipment. Thankfully this change only applies to glamour and seasonal items, which hold otherwise no other in-game value.