A suggestion for the next Bonus Weekend

[Old Duck]

Make experimental effects FREE (no material cost) for a weekend.

I actually don't mind grinding materials for a specific effect that I know I want, but there are probably dozens of effects that I would like to "experiment" with, but the material cost to try all these effects is greatly prohibitive. For example, I've never used the effect that allows some weapon damage to penetrate shields and strike the hull. It sounds great in theory, but I have no idea how it actually works in practice. That's just one of many examples of things I'd like to try but just don't have time to grind materials for, especially since I would be "throwing away" one effect to try the next.

I think this would draw a lot of people back into to the game regardless of their play style (there are effects for just about everything), and it might keep many of us playing for quite awhile as we discover these effects and use them in new and interesting ways. Anyway, just an idea!

 

[Rob At Work]

I play World Of Tanks (A LOT) and they do this almost every weekend and have specials during the week also. The single biggest improvement they ever made in this regard was giving advance notice of upcoming features, ie we know whats happening when in June and what to do to prepare for it.

In ED terms if you stated for example that engineer X was going to be doing updates at a discounted rate (be sure to be clear which materials LOL) peeps that are interested would grind all week and plan for it, it can become quite engaging after a while. The secret to this approach is knowing what attracts your player base and getting the frequency right.

It's risky though as getting it wrong is like committing Harry Carry

 

[Maro-Val]

I play World Of Tanks (A LOT) and they do this almost every weekend and have specials during the week also. The single biggest improvement they ever made in this regard was giving advance notice of upcoming features, ie we know whats happening when in June and what to do to prepare for it.

In ED terms if you stated for example that engineer X was going to be doing updates at a discounted rate (be sure to be clear which materials LOL) peeps that are interested would grind all week and plan for it, it can become quite engaging after a while. The secret to this approach is knowing what attracts your player base and getting the frequency right.

It's risky though as getting it wrong is like committing Harry Carry

Not possible with Frontier. If they manage to announce the correct materials needed, they will mess up at something else that no-one could ever imagine lol.

 

[Mugur]

I think the best promotion would be to have a certain engineer taking fish for a week-end for everything. Or Iron, or something like that.