In general, I do support games I play a lot. I purchased the starter pack when I started playing, thinking that 25 moonstones to upgrade the professions (mainly cooking and mining) wasn't too bad, until I realized that 25 moonstones only got me 5 additional spaces and the next 5 would cost me 50. I was subscribed for two months because I wanted to support the site and the devs. But I have cancelled my subscription and I won't renew it, even if more perks get added to it.

For one, I don't like subscriptions. I would rather have the option to purchase a set number of months (or a year for a cheaper price) at once in advance and when it runs out, I have to purchase again.

In my head I keep comparing this site with other browser pet and breeding games I have played or am still playing to this day and unfortunately, Lorwolf always comes off extremely greedy and unbalanced in comparison. Yes, you can earn 2 moonstones per day (in shards) if you grind enough. But I don't have the time or energy to grind every day, for a measly 2 Moonstones that don't get me anywhere.
I spent money on the site before I realized how extremely greedy and pay-to-win everything is. Pebbles are worthless. You need moonstones just to make cooking and mining worth it, unless you want to spend the whole day babysitting your small cart and the miniature cooking pot.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not against premium currency, but I'm against extreme use of it. The fact that prices in moonstones double for each expansion you want to make, is beyond reasonable. I also don't like the mole market. To this day, I have never seen cucumbers of any kind. I don't have the luxury to check every 6 hours like clockwork while other items are frequently in the market, most of all items I don't need because I can get them through campaigning or farming.

I'm also not sure, what lorwolf tries to be. Is it about breeding? Then why limit the space in your den so extremely and make new dens so expensive to purchase? (again, moonstone prices going up and up and up with each den) I love the color range and tend to just breed two wolves to see what I get, but I can't really get rid of the pups. They don't sell unless you throw them out for an extremely low price. So I tend to keep them and release the ones I don't like that much. Unfortunately, that means I have to wait for them to grow up, level them up and release them to make it worth it and free up the space for another breeding attempt.
Is it about Lore and the Campaign? Then why start the game out of early access with so little of it? There's only the first chapter. That's not much. Currently, the wolves are capped at lvl 10, but I am pretty sure the next chapter will come with a higher level cap. At least the fact that you are stuck with a permanently empty bar at lvl 10 gives that impression.

There are a ton of things I really don't like about the game and how it develops. The referral update was just one of those. The wild wolves are another point I really don't like. You only get the three starter breeds and the three starter markings with them. So what's the point of hunting them down? I pick them up when I come across a wild wolf while leveling, but they are all boring or downright ugly. The really nice markings, stripes and merle (which I really adore) can only be purchased from the shop - again for moonstones at a high price point. So if I have a wild wolf that would look nice with those markings, it's a ton of grinding or money again, to make them look nice.
Another downside is the CA system. It's nice for people who can draw and have the time to grind the moonstones or purchase them to get a CA token, but they then sell half their CA for Moonstones, meaning that people who already have moonstones get more and more of them.
The pageant I only take part in because of the weekly events. I have neither the money nor the talent or motivation to deck out my wolves in CA, so I never win. It would make more sense to have one category for wolves with CA and one for wolves without, so people who don't have any CA can still have a decent chance.

I tried the arena once, found it boring and grindy, tried the Gauntlet a few times until I realized the best chance to get far in that is by having moonstone-exclusive companions, so now I ignore that one, too. I usually ignore the hunts for the same reason. On lower level the payout is tiny, on higher levels you kinda need moonstone-companions and many of them you can't even get 100% with the currently available wolves and companions. Again I keep wondering: what is the point? I stopped doing most profession-stuff, tbh. The stuff you can craft isn't that great, the leveling process is really grindy, and it is a waste of food and time because there isn't much incentive for me to level them up.

Anyway. Long story short. The game is too greedy for my taste. It's not worth playing it without money at the moment, so I don't pay anymore because I am not willing to support those practices. I get that they need to pay for hosting the site and that it is a small team, but the game is way too unbalanced and small to support the asking price. I won't refer others to this game, and I won't pay for it anymore. I'm actually considering dropping it altogether and checking back in a few months. I've got another game that lets me breed wolves, and it's a ton more balanced and fun.

Dang, I haven't upgraded anything profession wise yet because I was saving up for den slots, that's wild that they get so expensive so quickly, for so little in return. :/

Guess I'm doubling down on my position that they need a major overhaul, with refunds or automatic upgrades for the people that already paid for 'em.

Thanks for your informative post, it was very thorough and gives me a lot to think about.

my feelings changed, i've unsubscribed :( i hope the site pulls out of this <3

I'm a newer player who really loves this game. That being said I do not see myself upgrading my account. Most of the games I play have a lot perks. I do plan to buy Moonstones though.

I have no need for the no ads perk because I use Brave, so I don't see ads. As for the small amount of Moonstones, no point when I can just buy what I need.

I was a subscriber because it was the cheapest way to get a few moonstones. I know the den upgrades and professions upgrades being moonstones have been unpopular, but I was ok with getting a monthly subscription and slowly saving up for the upgrades that way. The site was new and promising at the time and I genuinely enjoyed the gameplay much moreso than other pet sites like Flight Rising. These free to plays always will make you pay in money or time, and I'm ok with paying some money. 5 a month isn't a huge amount.

Now though? Ship is sinking, bro. Arguably it has sunk already.

I am not subscribed because I use an Ad Blocker for all sites, and occasionally pay for premium currency.

The problem with adding more perks to the membership is, that the game is already very unbalanced between free to play and paying players.

What perks could they add, that don't give people who can't or won't pay, the feeling, that they are completely stuck? In another game I play, there is a daily currency you can only get if you are a member. The items you can purchase are then sold to other players for the normal free to play currency, because it is still worth having that. Premium currency is sold for the normal currency by players. The normal currency is used for so many things, you are always looking for more of it.

Pebbles in this game are worthless. So adding a perk like cheaper den upgrades for spaces in your den won't sway anyone. Cheaper upgrade prices in Moonstones or cheaper additional dens might be an option. Maybe the option to have MORE dens if you are a member. But that makes the divide between free and paying players even bigger. You already get moonstones and then you save moonstones due to cheaper upgrade prices? That is bound to make people even less interested if they can't afford a membership.