Alina Phoenix. Even though some people are not thrilled with your first response on this thread, I have to say that was the most honest and straightforward thing I have ever heard by a representative of any game.... Ever.
Yes guys we pay to win and I knew that from the start, as I can imagine most of you did too. I don't spend a fortune here but I do spend a few dollars here and a few dollars there when I want to. I enjoy the game and I choose to spend some of my expendable-leisure income in this virtual world. Also as started before, nobody forces us to do that.
Having non-paying players can be great if they are organized among each other or along side some big players in a decent coalition. 30 or 40 extra guys dropping their daily build into a pan or cap makes a difference for sure. Everybody can have fun at whatever level they choose to play at.
Can they challenge the biggest and baddest guys in the game? No. Those guys put in the funds needed to keep the servers up, the game in development, and the marketing active. They are the reason the game is even online at all.
You want a totally fair to play game? Try Fortnite or something else completely skill / hardware based to win. Personally I play more interactive games like that on my gaming PC, and I leave Sparta up on my laptop beside me. I can also log onto here for a quick gaming fix when I am at work or otherwise away from home. Sparta is my chill game.
Plarium has a direct-payment for additional services business model, which allows us to get ahead of the curve, but it also keeps the game functioning. The skill based games rely totally on advertising, and if they are not incredibly popular they go under quickly. These guys have been rolling along for several years now, so they obviously got something right.
Now the real question. Is the payment system totally fair? Well take it into perspective...
The best deals I have been given resulted from taking massive losses, or from being inactive with purchasing and just generally logging in. Those good deals are designed to get players back on their feet from one of the above situations. They are not meant to be a fixed price model.
Yet does that still seem fair? Probably not, but it creates a development curve that keeps things at least somewhat balanced compared to regular / heavy spenders. If those top players had been getting the best deals possible at all times they would be exponentially stronger than they are currently. Thus making any advantages you purchase as a infrequent / moderate spender much less valuable.
If it still bothers you, just do what I do. If I don't like the offers then I simply don't buy them. If you wait a while they will eventually send you the better deals if you can't justify paying a bigger price for instant gratification. Holidays and other special events are also a great time to take advantage of some of the better offers they have.
Lastly, I will give a bit of advice for people who do choose to pay into the game. Budget your Drach! Spend it on things that will have long term value. Some examples would be your resource generation buildings, artisans for faster construction, upgrade sketches, walls and towers, ect... Focus on permanent things that will reward you over time and develop a city that can build and sustain a large army.
If you choose to spend your coin in a more fleeting manner then don't blame the payment system for being broke. Some people can afford to play that way and others will make mistakes while they are inexperienced. Either way this game is designed for long term play and how you choose to do that is the real strategy in this game.
