Eternal Bond - Standard Plan and Gold Plan

[Uielyave]

Winning as a term may be subjective, but usually within MMOs the "Pay To Win" as a term means being able to buy things that put you ahead of others in terms of competitive play. Such as if you were able to purchase (with real money) an amazing weapon that could increase your damage more than an item available in the game. In a sense, putting you forward on "Leader Boards" faster in actual competitive game play.

Winning as a term may be subjective, but usually within MMOs the "Pay To Win" as a term means being able to buy things that put you ahead of others in terms of competitive play. Such as if you were able to purchase (with real money) an amazing weapon that could increase your damage more than an item available in the game. In a sense, putting you forward on "Leader Boards" faster in actual competitive game play.

Obtaining an exclusive mount or mini pet that does nothing but appeal to aesthetics ..Its not really appealing to the widely accepted term of "Pay to Win". Being as there doesn't seem to be such a thing as "Pet and Mount collector's Leaderboards". Save for..maybe WoW where pet battling exists, but I haven't played it in a while.
Regardless, thing is, this is not ultimately affecting your gameplay as a whole.
I agree that if the Gold marriages somehow get better benefits later on, that may be a bit controversial. But I can't really see it as such right now. Also i doubt people with gold marriages get "first dibs". I think it's a first com first serve basis for scheduling.

[Amused]

Winning as a term may be subjective, but usually within MMOs the "Pay To Win" as a term means being able to buy things that put you ahead of others in terms of competitive play. Such as if you were able to purchase (with real money) an amazing weapon that could increase your damage more than an item available in the game. In a sense, putting you forward on "Leader Boards" faster in actual competitive game play.

It doesn't matter what it "usually" means. The reality of the situation is that there is no single absolute definition of "pay-to-win", but if we're going by the definition of the words used (which we should) pay-to-win DOES count when it comes to mounts, minions, or any other cosmetic item that is put into the cash shop.

The only acceptable things to charge real money for are things like server transfers, name changes, and appearance changes.

[Uielyave]

It doesn't matter what it "usually" means. The reality of the situation is that there is no single absolute definition of "pay-to-win", but if we're going by the definition of the words used (which we should) pay-to-win DOES count when it comes to mounts, minions, or any other cosmetic item that is put into the cash shop.

The only acceptable things to charge real money for are things like server transfers, name changes, and appearance changes.

By that definition, Name changes and Appearance changes shouldn't be either. because those would be considered "Strictly Cosmetic".

[Numenor1379]

It doesn't matter what it "usually" means. The reality of the situation is that there is no single absolute definition of "pay-to-win", but if we're going by the definition of the words used (which we should) pay-to-win DOES count when it comes to mounts, minions, or any other cosmetic item that is put into the cash shop.

The only acceptable things to charge real money for are things like server transfers, name changes, and appearance changes.

LOL, you cannot "win" at collecting items unless those items are in limited supply that will never be increased. Only in that case could collecting mounts/minions/vanity items be considered "winning" as you'd be depriving someone else absolutely of ever obtaining that item. You have it, they can never get it. *ding* You win.

However, given that there are no limits to the number of minions/mounts/vanity items the Eternal Bond system has, there is no way to "win". All you can say is that you get to collect it... along with everyone else who pays for the items.

Pay to Win, by it's very nature, does not apply to anything that does not get you ahead of other players in any fundamental way. To get ahead of other players in FFXIV, you'd either have to receive better gear, an ability that is better than any attainable in game, or limited supply items that will run out eventually and not be purchasable in the future. None of which are in the Bond system... ergo, it is not Pay to Win.