StonedCat.3518

No. There is no such limit. You're assuming that ArenaNet will not add more skins to the pool. I can guarantee that they will making the odds of getting "the one you want" lower. People absolutely have the right to gamble - but then GW2 should be rated M (or even AO) and clearly labelled as a gambling product, not just a video game. Like online poker.

By the end of 2018 it'll be 50+ tries. The insidious part is that this train never stops.

I don't mean to judge but it sounds like you hated this change, then went ahead and spent at least 800 gems on contracts anyways :( This is why we're screwed. I think this will be profitable enough for ANet to leave it in. Proper legislation for this kind of gambling in games can't come soon enough.

I've noticed a few comments basically saying that 1/30 is not that bad of odds and 400 gems per roll is not terrible as a result. Even granting this is true at the moment - what do you think the situation will look like in a year? ArenaNet will be adding more new mount skins throughout the year. Your odds of getting the skin you want will be decreasing the whole time, unless you spend the ~$100 now and get all the current skins immediately. This exact situation is playing out in Overwatch. Each new or repeated special event adds new items to the mix. Unless you're playing 20-40 hours a week to keep up with the new items you're screwed in the long run. (But at least in Overwatch you can save up gold and buy the skin you want).

This has been a brutal year for companies shoving gambling mechanics into otherwise promising games. I hope legislators come down on the practice like a ton of bricks in the near future. Not only is adding gambling-like mechanics to games exploitative of anyone who's struggling with gambling problems already, but it also feels sleazy as hell. Up until now GW2's buyable loot boxes were either low-value (Black Lion Chests) or could be avoided by trading (dyes). The mounts are the first full-on "you have to gamble premium currency to get what you want" system in the game which is why I think everyone is so upset. Personally, I find it very disappointing. Path of Fire was such a good expansion and I was thoroughly enjoying it but this addition leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I was expecting paid mount skins - I wasn't expecting this. Have I been deprived of anything? No. But it feels really sleazy and I've lost a lot of trust in ANet as a result.

Making desirable items loot-box-only is putting gambling in games - full stop. No it's not gambling according to the law, but I really hope it will be ruled as such in the near future. In the meantime anyone prone to gambling addiction should head for the door. Whether you call this predatory or not depends on your perspective, but I'd call it such. I think the word is popular recently because of how many 2017 games have adopted loot boxes as a moneymaking strategy. What's really sad is that Guild Wars 2 started out as the "alternative" MMO with fresh new ideas. I guess the best they can muster now playing follow-the-leader to the likes of EA and Activision.