Hey Everyone,
I wanted to transparent with everyone regarding my recent experience, particularly because protecting fairness in the Aetolian community was reference. As a 17 year customer of Iron Realms (specifically Aetolia) this is customer review of my experience and account so the Aetolian community can set proper expectations for the future.
Big changes were made in Aetolia as of recent with the removal of Producer Tiur and so far his replacement Ictinus has done an outstanding job and put his best foot forward in curating recent events.
Separate from the event category I want to be transparent with everyone regarding my recent experience and this account will be valuable for you in setting expectations moving forward.
First (1) I'm going to relay the facts of what happened and second (2) I'm going to share my opinion of the decision.
- Tiur produced the last auction and posted details of each item in the announce posts.
- These items were bid on by the Aetolian community with the trust and expectation that they will do what Iron Realms said they would do.
- A producer change occurred and Ictinus replaced Tiur as producer of Aetolia.
Next section is where my experience comes in.
- The details of the Environment Token was one of the items listed in Announce 3202
Special Room Environment
We'll set up rooms in your house with a special environment. The list available via BUILDING
ENVIRONMENTS is something like 12% of the actual ones. If nothing matches your idea, we'll make another.
- I attempted to redeem my environment token in order to create an airship observatory. The talisman currently recognizes airship as an available aetolian environment. Also it is referenced in Aetolian history through HELP DREIKATHI.
- I spoke with Ictinus and he said that the redemption of this item for an airship is no longer the direction that he wishes to take Aetolia and offered a full gold refund for my auction purchase.
- I mentioned that winning an auction item requires more investment than the value of gold that I spent. (I.E. Credit purchases, promo purchases, in-game hours selling goods, and in-game time and effort spent positioning myself to win something in the auction.
- Alternatively, I suggested that we change the environment token into a special artifact of my choosing or a relic piece token that was also offered in the same auction.
- The answer was no. And the most I can get for Iron Realms selling me something that I am not able to use with how they intended is even gold.
Facts are provided above, my opinion regarding this matter below:
There are numerous people throughout the history of Aetolia who have received special things that others haven't. In all fairness I believe it's okay for everyone to receive special things - we are not all the same and the experience we all receive can be different. For instance Mazzion having a blue name on QW and becoming an Ankyrean before level 200 is something that he received and I believe the same type of "special" treatment that he's able to receive should be awarded to all Aetolians - not just a select few. There's other aetolians that fit into this category, but his are just obvious.
Aetolia is already a small community and it costs Aetolia a lot more to lose consistent revenue on a 17 year customer than simply changing an environment token into a relic piece token. What I've suggested allows me not to be able to use an item that Iron Realms offered me and convert it into something that costs Aetolia nothing. Maybe 45 seconds typing on a keyboard. But instead opts to have an unhappy loyal customer.
That's pretty harsh to treat a paying customer of 17 years - with such a hard no and non-negotiating type of position. I'm not asking for a lot - but fair treatment. I didn't hire Tiur and I didn't entrust Tiur to run Aetolia, but I involved myself within the game and financially supported it. So there should be some leniency when it comes to this decision.
In my opinion I don't think it's good business, but it's out of my control.
Thank you.
P.S.
This is what HELP CASTLES said before I pointed it out via email.
"No floating castles, no towers of fire, etc. Those types of things _can_ be done,
but they must be arranged privately with Ictinus, and will not be cheap."
This section has been changed to after my email:
In terms of what your castle looks like, that is essentially up to you, but it must be, at best,
minimally magical. No floating castles, no towers of fire, etc. Those types of things _can_ be done, but they must be arranged privately with Ictinus, will not be cheap, and must still remain
appropriate to Aetolia's setting, lore, and environment.
Special requests are always at the Producer's discretion, and if something is deemed to be beyond the scope of appropriate housing, it will likely not be approved.