I'm not entering into who said what to whom. I do want to say that I disagree with the thread title and beginning post. I understand that some people may feel that way. I happen to like the Spire.
When I first heard about it I was skeptical. But it has proven beneficial to my cities, all the way from my tiny Chapter 3 town (I couldn't wait to make Chapter 3 so I could access it and pull myself out of the hole Inno leaves new people in to perish) to my cities in Halflings. I'm sane in how I use it. I have only completed the first and second levels. Usually I only complete the first. The first two weeks was a learning curve in how to best fight and handle negotiations. But once I got it down I found the fights are not that hard except for the occasional one that is set up so you can't win it. And the negotiations are doable as long as you make sure you have enough goods, gold, and supplies on hand to spend. I rarely have to spend diamonds to clear a negotiation and I always have a surplus of diamonds at the end of the Spire because I won't overextend myself and I win diamonds along the way. I use the Spire in events for both spell fragments and CC spells. It has been a wonderful addition to my game play. I have gained a lot of good from the Spire. Do you know that if you win the Moonstone Library and some of the other set buildings that the library produces a tier 1 good, spell fragments, and a combining catalyst? The little set buildings that connect to it produce tier 2 goods and supplies or mana, and seeds, depending on your city level. I think that is wicked awesome.
I fretted over the plan to make the Spire Multi-player. But now that I understand what they have done and how it works, I can't see a reason anyone is complaining about it. It is like the manufacturing challenges. You get prizes for doing what you normally do anyway. There is no downside to it that I can see. If you are playing the Spire then your points for clearing chests goes to the fellowship pool. Every person in the fellowship who plays has their points automatically added to the total. There is no effort on anyone's part. It is done automatically. I think the only thing that will be difficult for some people is clearing enough chests to reach the highest level of prizes attained by the fellowship. I can see some people in a FS not being able to get all the rewards. And I think that is kind of sad. But then again, it goes by effort expended. So I don't know. I like the FAs and tourneys were everyone gets a prize who participates. I wish the Spire was like that, too. But overall, I think the new addition to the Spire is going to be great. Who doesn't want more prizes?
I remember playing when there were no wishing wells or portal profits to help out. Things used to take a lot longer without time boosts, too. We win diamonds in the MA and in the Spire. There are more event buildings that supply diamonds as well. The Inno devs are bringing some good things to the players. Sure, this current event is lame. And there are too many events too close together. But the Spire? No. I really enjoy the Spire and hope it stays.
That's my two cents. Thanks for the Spire, Inno!