Character Slot Fee even for your first (only) character?

[TinnySnips]

If you think about it, it gives the player better options.

Your line of thought: "why not charge 12.99 flat out? Because in order to play you need a character"

this is why:
If you ever created more than 1 character you would always pay 12.99 +3.00 a month.

Under the pricing of 9.99 for a sub fee +3.00 for a character fee you are allowed to choose what character you want to main w/o having to pay for the one you aren't currently playing.

You are given the option to choose what character slots you want active instead of always having one autoactive tied to the sub fee.

so i can have this:
Characters:

Hank (not active)
Betty (not active)
Sam (active) +3.00
James (not active)
Jill (active) +3.00
Linda (not active)
Casey (not active)

Sub fee: 9.99

total cost month: 15.99

instead of
Hank (ALWAYS active because tied to subfee)
Betty (not active)
Sam (active) +3.00
James (not active)
Jill (active) +3.00
Linda (not active)
Casey (not active)

Sub fee: 12.99

total: 18.99

The only way this scheme offers more options is if the 1st slot were tightly coupled to the sub. They could charge a flat rate for service + 1 active character slot. There is no need for the tight coupling. A company does not regain the faith of its customers by attempting to fool them with unnecessarily complex pricing schemes.

[ispano]

The only way this scheme offers more options is if the 1st slot were tightly coupled to the sub. They could charge a flat rate for service + 1 active character slot. There is no need for the tight coupling. A company does not regain the faith of its customers by attempting to fool them with unnecessarily complex pricing schemes.

And yet, it's not. 9.99 Subscription, $3 per character (and $1 per extra retainer if they keep that)

I fail to see how it's complex. Regardless of whether the character is the first or fifth, it still costs $3 for that character slot.

[Deminia]

The only way this scheme offers more options is if the 1st slot were tightly coupled to the sub. They could charge a flat rate for service + 1 active character slot. There is no need for the tight coupling. A company does not regain the faith of its customers by attempting to fool them with unnecessarily complex pricing schemes.

Exactly. Especially considering this is a company trying to save face after a disastrous launch.