Quote Originally Posted by Tupsi View Post

Actual game content vs a Wedding that largely does nothing is on two different levels.
You know that beating T13 actually 'does nothing' too right? Your life isn't somehow better because you can claim 'I beat T13' Sure, you might feel personal accomplishment, and your character might get some new shiny's but the SAME can be said of accomplishing anything else in this game, another game, or really anything else you could do with your free time. Furthermore, the same sense of accomplishment/growth you gain from something like raiding, others in this game might get from other activities, such as growing and building a successful FC w/ a house....or leveling all their classes to 50 and being a master gatherer/crafter...or roleplaying...or really anything. And it IS a MMORPG...so having some folk who their sole focus in the game, and enjoyment is based on Roleplaying is not only abnormal....but part of the initial intention behind these types of games. I mean, isn't the great-granddaddy of most of these types of games basically Dungeons and Dragons...that was all roleplay/imagination. Sure, you can skip the roleplay aspect , and many of us do, but it doesn't make it 'lesser' because many overlook it....by that logic, less focus should be on endgame/coil because so few actually participate in it/care to. (Seriously, it'd be interesting to see the stats on how many players consider themselves Roleplayers/enjoy roleplaying vs. How many even currently have access to Final coil...I suspect, more roleplay).

So back to the 'just because it's not important to you' thing.

But really, all that can be shown for your time spent in this game is maybe some personal relaxation and sense of accomplishment....nothing tangible actually ever happens...ever. Nothing that could actually carry over to your real life.

Now really, is it a big deal that you have to purchase the 'Premium' Wedding package?

Well...maybe; maybe not.
First, it depends on the cost.
Then, it depends on what that extra money actually gets you/what opting out of it doesn't get you.
Then it also depend on how long you'd have to wait in order to use the service once you purchase it. Currently, if you buy something of the Mog Station, you actually can use it right away...but it sounds like Bonding Ceremonies are likely going to need to be scheduled...days, if not months in advance. This leads down a tricky path of 'what happens if...' problems... Like what if I buy the Gold Plan, but my wedding can only happen 6 months later and my partner is by that point stationed oversea's w/o access to the game. (this will happen to someone...I can already hear these posts).

And then there's the 'what exactly does our Sub entitle us to?'/Why is x something considered 'extra' and sold on the cash shop but not 'y'
I'm not necessarily disagreeing that some of the items supposedly offered in the 'Gold' package shouldn't cost more....as player bonding shouldn't only happen because someone wants a cool mount. But why sell it as part of the bonding at all...why not just sell the darn mount for people to purchase, why tie it to the bonding? I mean, if we're 100% honest about things, there are likely folk who'd happily slap down the money for this mount who DON'T want to be bonded...so SE would actually stand to make more money off of it, and likely angered less people (because patch 2.4 at least got most of the anger over selling mounts/minions out of the way).

The clothing options, they probably should have been somehow a part of the game...either as a rare craft/map drop...or even you can pay a lot of in-game gil for them if you so desire (SE keeps saying we need gil sinks).

Lastly, I think why some people are up in arms is because, this is borderline 'selling content'. As it is sounding like, those who purchase a wedding package also gain more customization options outside of dresses/mounts and a minion. And to some, sure, this happening for a virtual wedding isn't a real big deal, but if it becomes more normal...it could be.

Like what if they started selling the hildibrand questlines?
Or what if they started selling access to the Savage versions of coil?

Neither would be 'pay to win'...they can control the actual 'pay to win' stuff with drops by making sure that the drops from this content are the same/only vanity (because again, it sounds like your side thinks 'vanity is okay' to sell)

But since, Hildibrand technically only drops what a minion? and Savage Coil mode currently drops the exact same stuff normal mode does, it wouldn't be a far stretch, if this whole 'sales of Gold Plans' goes well for SE to consider other types of 'Premium Side content' to market in such a manner....or for them to include a basic version in game...but for the real experience, give us more money.