The players present were overjoyed and couldn't wait to open the faction shop interface.
Compared to version 2.0, the variety of faction goods has increased a hundredfold, with all kinds of equipment, materials, and items available. Because the legion collaborates with many conglomerates, Han Xiao has deepened these partnerships and negotiated with the leaders of these conglomerates to open their commodity channels to legion members. This is equivalent to using the goods from these conglomerates to enrich his own faction's commodity library, essentially acting as a middleman to profit from the price difference.
As a result, as long as the items are not too rare, they can be purchased directly from the Legion Shop, which greatly enhances the Black Star Army's logistical capabilities.
Over the course of seven years, Han Xiao also integrated a large number of blueprints and vigorously built up the Logistics Department. With the support of strong economic strength, he established numerous military factories and production lines for the Logistics Department and cultivated a group of professional talents. The legion's independent productivity was extremely strong, and it stockpiled tens of thousands of types of mechanical equipment, including many high-level rare equipment, pink equipment, and orange equipment.
All supplies and equipment are provided to all legion members; as long as you have money, you can arm yourself to the teeth.
The Black Star Army's standard armor has also undergone several improvements over the past seven years, incorporating technologies from various intermediate armors to enhance its performance. This armor, known as the "Black Star Army Seventh-Generation Individual Armor," has been deployed on a large scale to lower- and middle-ranking legion members and is divided into more than a dozen models, including offensive, defensive, and Reconnaissance armor.
Most players' armor is outdated; compared to the armor of the current seventh generation, it looks like a crudely made handicraft.
Looking at the faction shop list, the players present were excited, especially professional players like Frenzied Saber and Hao Tian who didn't care about money.
As long as you participate in the battle, all good items, including orange-tier equipment, will be 50% off!
This is a golden opportunity, don't miss it!
Players had accumulated some savings in version 2.0, and with such a rare opportunity for a discount, they could afford to buy more powerful equipment, instantly casting aside any thoughts of thrift.
What's the point of saving money? Isn't it so you can spend it when the time is right?
Enough is enough!
Without exception, every player present applied through the Phillip subroutine to participate in the military operation two weeks later.
Phillip processed the requests extremely quickly, approving all the players' applications in no time. Han Xiao then issued the pre-prepared tasks.
[Faction War Mission [Black Star Counterattack]]
[Mission Introduction: Section Zero has prepared a large-scale counterattack military operation, and you, as a glorious Black Star warrior, have participated in this expedition.]
[Mission Requirements: Follow the Black Star Army fleet and participate in battle as ordered]
[Reward: Black Star Army Favorability +500, unlocks subsequent Secret War campaign missions]
The players only glanced at it briefly before turning their attention back to the faction shop, where, sure enough, everything was half price.
Everyone was overjoyed and wanted to dance with joy.
Han Xiao issued this task to guide players, since he couldn't issue the main quest himself. So, through the reward introduction, he let players know that participating in the battle would unlock the subsequent quests of the Secret War main storyline, reassuring them, increasing their interest in participating, and reducing the number of people who chose to slack off.
In his previous life, it was Section Zero assigned players to participate in the battles, but since he left behind so many players, this task now falls to him.
This large-scale military operation was not proposed suddenly. Han Xiao knew that the players would return during this period, and he had begun preparing for this large-scale counterattack two months ago. He had waited until now to bring the players into the Secret War.
Although players have accumulated a lot of experience and money in version 2.0, Han Xiao now requires an exorbitant amount of money to level up. The experience accumulated by players in the previous version is not enough. It is necessary to enrich the players, otherwise the Mission Settlement Card that players have accumulated will be useless.
As soon as the new version was released, Han Xiao couldn't wait to guide players to join the battle, so that players could earn experience by completing campaign missions as soon as possible. Only by increasing players' spending power and making them all richer could he earn more. His approach has always been aimed at mutual benefit and a well-off society for all.
In other words, the chives are not fully mature yet and need to be fertilized.
Moreover, Han Xiao was well aware that with the increased level cap in the new version, players' first choice would inevitably be to level up. As a result, players' desire to spend would decrease. How to stimulate domestic demand and get players to willingly open their wallets to spend was a difficult problem.
Offering a 50% discount to participants is Han Xiao's way of stimulating players' spending desires.
A large number of players formed a surging crowd, leaving the square and heading straight for the Logistics Department, while browsing the shop list, looking for their favorite equipment or items.
"One set of standard armor, and one piece of pink-plated armor too!"
"We've struck it rich! This is a huge windfall!"
"I didn't expect this kind of benefit at the very beginning of the version. Is it to improve our combat power so that we can protect ourselves in the war, or is the guild leader just being kind to us?!"
Over 100,000 players nearly overwhelmed the Logistics Department, all coming to place orders and pick up their goods.
Besides individual players indulging in excessive shopping, some guilds have started organizing people and friends to crowdfund.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Let's pool our money and buy something big!"
Jupiter, the Gods Guild, was excited and planned to use the guild's activity funds to raise money to buy several sets of mining equipment and mining ships. He planned to bring along peripheral members of the guild to mine resources and provide the guild with a steady stream of profits.
Professional players like Frenzied Saber prefer high-quality rare equipment, taking money from guilds and clubs to buy pink and orange gear.
These 100,000+ players were like they'd taken an aphrodisiac, their spending desires soaring to unprecedented heights. They went on a shopping spree, carrying bags full of new equipment. Although their wallets were emptied, everyone's face was beaming with a happy smile.
I saved half the money, so happy!
Meanwhile, Han Xiao returned to his office and checked the legion's back-end financial revenue.
"In less than half an hour, we earned 2.7 billion Enas..." Han Xiao clicked his tongue in amazement. Even though the Black Star Army was now wealthy, this was still a considerable sum. It turned out that each of the more than 100,000 players spent an average of nearly 20,000 Enas. Although the goods were all discounted by 50%, after deducting the cost, this wave of profit was still several hundred million Enas.
With the Black Star Army's current production capacity and inventory, satisfying all players' needs is a piece of cake.
Han Xiao didn't resort to the tactic of raising prices first and then offering discounts. This time, he genuinely offered a 50% discount. Having mastered the technology patent, his profit margin was still very high even after the discount!
Players aren't stupid; they remember the prices from the previous version. Besides, Han Xiao isn't short of money right now, so there's no need to ruin the players' goodwill for such a small gain. He needs to let the players feel real benefits.
Han Xiao's goal wasn't to make money this time. He stimulated players' spending desires mainly to empty their wallets. Then, through long-term discount events, he created an urgent need for players to earn money, making them work harder in battles. In this way, he could indirectly make them gain experience, and so on, in an endless cycle... Draining players' wallets would ignite their fighting spirit!
A mature leek must learn to fertilize itself!
"These players have spent all their money, it's about time they started..." Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips.
In reality, emptying players' wallets was just the prelude to Han Xiao's scheme; the real harvest had only just begun!
Logistics Department.
With their savings dwindling to less than three digits, the players happily upgraded to new equipment, feeling it was well worth the money. Still wanting more, they opened the faction shop to see if they could snag any more bargains.
Many players were tempted by the powerful equipment that remained exorbitantly priced even after the discounts, but unfortunately, they still couldn't afford it. They had to stop daydreaming and reluctantly look away to see if there was any cheaper equipment. It was then that many realized that the faction shop had much more knowledge than in the previous version.
Upon closer inspection, many players were immediately astonished.
The faction shop surprisingly has all the basic and Advanced Knowledge of the five superpower systems: martial arts, mechanics, magic, superpowers, and telekinesis!
It even includes some High-End Knowledge!
Everyone clearly remembers that in version 2.0, the knowledge of the five major professions of the Black Star Army was incomplete.
In fact, basic and advanced professional knowledge can be acquired simply by spending money. With the Black Star Army's financial resources, Han Xiao managed to acquire all the low-level professional knowledge for all professions in seven years, and even bought a considerable amount of High-End Knowledge.
The Black Star Army has grown to its current size, with countless members representing all professions. The purpose of purchasing so much knowledge is to facilitate the training of its warriors.
However, in the eyes of players, this has extraordinary significance. Players from other star systems have to cultivate the favor of their professional mentors and increase their contribution points in different factions in order to learn their professional knowledge, which is quite troublesome.
However, within the Black Star Army, players can learn knowledge for five professions, meaning they don't need to switch factions or find mentors. The Black Star Army handles all the professional knowledge, saving a significant amount of energy and time—an advantage that players in other star systems don't have!
What surprised players the most was that not only did they gain more professional knowledge, but they also didn't have to spend any money!
In the previous version, learning new skills cost money. Now, learning new skills in the shop does not require spending Enas; it only requires faction contribution points and experience!
While the experience cost for learning knowledge remains the same, the required faction contribution points have also been reduced by half!
"Knowledge is free?!"
"This doesn't make sense! Why is knowledge free now? Didn't we lose money buying knowledge in the previous version?"
"Wait, I've found the reason!"
When in doubt, ask Phillip. Some players are quick to act, opening the internal program to ask, and quickly getting the answer.
As the Black Star Army expanded, it established training camps in various locations. In order to train legion members on a large scale, it changed the exchange model for professional knowledge—no more tuition fees were charged. Legion members could apply to learn professional knowledge as long as they accumulated enough contribution points.
This system applies not only to players but also to NPC members; it's essentially the Black Star Army's onboarding training course.
Everyone suddenly realized the extent of the Black Star Army's power and influence. The star cluster-level organization was indeed different from what it used to be, with its generous spending and well-established system.
"So, this is also a benefit for us?" Apart from a few people who felt they had wasted their money and were upset, everyone else was overjoyed.
"So, in the future, learning will be free, only requiring faction contribution points?!"
"Holy crap, that's a steal!"
"As expected of a growth-oriented faction, the treatment is amazing!"
Most players felt relieved, personally experiencing the tangible benefits brought about by the Black Star Army's development over the past decade.
In terms of faction benefits, the Black Star Army far surpasses all other factions that players from other star systems have ever joined!
Oh, happiness!
"The three consecutive tutorial quests just now rewarded me with a lot of faction contribution points, which can be used to learn several new skills. I haven't even finished learning Basic Knowledge yet."
"Hehe, I've spent all my money, but learning is free."
"Faction contribution points are also discounted by 50%! This is an insanely generous perk, such a steal!"
Driven by the mentality of "why not take advantage of a good deal?", many players with potential points were excitedly learning about their chosen professions.
As players purchased this knowledge, Han Xiao's depleted experience bar began to slowly grow.
"It's finally here..."
Han Xiao let out a long sigh of relief, feeling completely refreshed.
This is exactly what he needs!
The reason for eliminating tuition fees for professional knowledge was to harvest experience from players on a larger scale. Since this system also had to take into account other non-player members, Han Xiao replaced it with a system where knowledge is obtained by exchanging contribution points.
For regular members, experience is a non-tangible resource. If there are no contribution requirements, it's like giving it away for free, which would cause serious problems. This is the bottom line for maintaining the faction system.
To encourage players to use the experience they had saved for leveling up to learn new knowledge, Han Xiao gave players three tutorial quests, providing them with a wave of faction contribution points. He also used a 50% discount to stimulate players' spending desires and empty their wallets.
After players have spent all their money, they will inevitably want to take advantage of the 50% off event, still wanting more. At this point, if players discover that learning knowledge is free and contribution points are also discounted by 50%, a significant number of players will get carried away and use their experience points to learn knowledge. The reason it's called "getting carried away" is because knowledge can actually be learned anytime, but Han Xiao needs to harvest a wave of players' experience points in a short period of time.
He'd been holding back for ten years; he couldn't take it anymore!
Considering the need to maintain the value of faction contribution points as a secondary currency and prevent "inflation," Han Xiao didn't give players too many contribution points for free... Otherwise, he would have loved to cram 10,000 contribution points into players' heads, directly pushing them to the [Revered] relationship, letting them learn as much as they wanted, not only draining their money but also their experience, leaving them with nothing!
"But it's better to harvest slowly, leaving some experience for the players, so that they can reach B level quickly. The leeks can't be even rooted out..."
Han Xiao knew he couldn't force things to grow too fast.
Watching his experience bar surge at a long-awaited rate, he licked his lips, his face filled with emotion.
Seven years have passed, and I can finally fill this insatiable little slut's experience bar!