"Grandfathered" characters (more free stuff!) Official Discussion Thread [Archive]

Isulith

12-08-2011, 09:16 PM

<img src="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/images/en/logos/EQII/EQII_Logo.png" width="350" />Official discussion thread for "Grandfathered" characters (more free stuff!). The original thread can be found here: <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=510914">http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=510914</a>. Please remember to keep your posts constructive!

Vinyard

12-08-2011, 09:21 PM

Absolute great idea! <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> If anyone has anything negative to say about this....I just won't know what to think :p

DavidSpayed

12-08-2011, 09:34 PM

Well, this is all very generous, but why do I have 3 characters on my account that are locked due to too many characters on my account? They have all been on my account for months and/or years.

TitanDamocles

12-08-2011, 09:36 PM

Are you going to undelete the characters I had to delete in order to get under the slot limit to create new ones? <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> That would be cool...

Brook

12-08-2011, 09:43 PM

Its a great idea (and what should have been done from the getgo) but I cant even access half my characters anymore, they are locked because it says I have too many (which I don't).Any plans on helping the people out that deleted characters so they could get under the limit to make new toons?

debent01

12-08-2011, 09:48 PM

Thank you Thank you Thank you!But my characters on my (was) Live Account are locked. How do I activate them then?

Adaeon

12-08-2011, 09:50 PM

I am shocked that you have chosen to do this. Utterly shocked.While I don't expect to be letting our subscriptions lapse anytime soon, I am nonetheless very gratified at this decision.I am almost willing to consider the notion that Smokejumper isn't actually the epitome of evil in MMO producers. Way to shatter my preconceptions <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />In short: Well done.

Griffildur

12-08-2011, 09:50 PM

This will bring some vets back. He said it will happen today or tomorrow, so for now , you can't login.

wsninja

12-08-2011, 09:50 PM

This is great news! I knew i shoulda waited to buy that race pack

Riftsburn

12-08-2011, 09:51 PM

Thank you, SJ. Regardless of what these yahoos say, you're a class act. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />~Amis, not elaborating on who "these yahoos" may or may not be.(All kidding aside, seriously, thank you. The fact that you guys listen to us (even when we're whiny and obstreperous) is one of the biggest reasons I play this game. *thumbs up* )

Niaa

12-08-2011, 09:51 PM

Thank You This is all we asked and deserved !!!!<img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" />

TheSpin

12-08-2011, 09:52 PM

<cite>TitanDamocles wrote:</cite><blockquote>Are you going to undelete the characters I had to delete in order to get under the slot limit to create new ones? <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /> That would be cool...</blockquote>I have had characters restored before after deleting them years ago. I bet there's a decent chance they'll be able to help you.@DavidSpayed.... I guess you are proof positive that some people will never be satisfied. Getting access to 4 of your old characters for free and entering the game as a silver player is pretty amazing if you ask me.

Cloudrat

12-08-2011, 09:53 PM

Hooray!! Now can you go find the rats I deleted?<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> J/k Last thing I need is more alts<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

ranga

12-08-2011, 09:58 PM

<cite>Isulith wrote:</cite><blockquote><img src="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/images/en/logos/EQII/EQII_Logo.png" width="350" />Official discussion thread for "Grandfathered" characters (more free stuff!). The original thread can be found here: <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=510914">http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=510914</a>. Please remember to keep your posts constructive!</blockquote>I have to say that I am most impressed. Tomorrow, I will still be <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Crismorn

12-08-2011, 10:00 PM

Quick and decisive, well done guys and gals.I suggest you guys come up with an idea to try and get in contact with the players who read the previous email, downloaded the patcher, saw everything locked and uninstalled.It wont be easy, but this grandfather solution answers the majority of the problems they had.My suggestion would be to add Grandfathered to the subject line in the emails you send out so it catches their eye and they are more likely to read it and try downloading/logging in again.Great work.

Yunna

12-08-2011, 10:01 PM

Awesome! This is a very reasonable method and it definetely addresses the massive issue of being completely unable to log in to even get a feel for wether or not we want to resub (or buy unlocks).I'll make sure to spread the word to my other communities and maybe lure some vets to (re-)re-try it once the unlock is in effect. If you guys get a firm time on when this goes in effect, please let us know.Thank you for listening and taking steps to address this issue quickly.

Aquittas

12-08-2011, 10:01 PM

I'm a little... stunned. This makes way too much sense... what did you do with SOE?

TheNecroFiend

12-08-2011, 10:03 PM

What does this mean in terms of playbale chracter slots?Does this mean that the option to play them is unlocked and we can use one of our 4 Silver slots to play them?Or does it mean that any character that is grandfathered in can be played regardless.If this means we still have to alocate one of our playable slots will you please give us the option of select which of our characters we get to play. As it is now i have a character that fits the race/class restrictions but I cannot play him because my Silver character slots was automaticly given to characters that dont fit the race/class restrictions.And for those players who missed the cut off date. There should be an option to pick which of their four slots to use. It's going to be annoying if the character they really want to play didn't land in the Silver slot and they have to pay for a character slot just to access the toon they really want to play.

GussJr

12-08-2011, 10:03 PM

<cite>DavidSpayed wrote:</cite><blockquote>Well, this is all very generous, but why do I have 3 characters on my account that are locked due to too many characters on my account? They have all been on my account for months and/or years.</blockquote>This for me too, except only one of my toons is locked...I have been a gold membership subscriber for quite some time now...

Pink_Poodle

12-08-2011, 10:07 PM

My reaction:<img src="http://i.imgur.com/YfjnS.gif" width="356" height="200" />

screenid

12-08-2011, 10:08 PM

WOWVery generous!!!<img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" />

Trennt

12-08-2011, 10:08 PM

what about people who were on exchange servers who bought a freeblood character that were able to play it until this f2p stuff hit and never bought the unlocker for that race who now have those characters locked?

Keikoku

12-08-2011, 10:11 PM

<cite>Fearus@Permafrost wrote:</cite><blockquote>I'm a little... stunned. This makes way too much sense... what did you do with SOE?</blockquote>I have to admit, that I LOL'd quite a bit. I'm quite happy with this change. I knew from the onset that this would be an issue, and I called them on it. I even got told by players that the way they were initially going to do it was a good idea and I should live with it. I'm glad I was proven right.

Goladith

12-08-2011, 10:15 PM

Thank you very much. I'm glad you have listened! I look forward to getting in to the game and seeing if it attrated my attention again and makes me want to spend money.

Bandito

12-08-2011, 10:16 PM

This is great! Although, I already bought the race/class pack for my favorite character. Still, this means I get the rest of my characters!

megaira13

12-08-2011, 10:18 PM

Very cool! I love it! /thumbsup

DavidSpayed

12-08-2011, 10:19 PM

<cite>TheSpin wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>TitanDamocles wrote:</cite><blockquote></blockquote>@DavidSpayed.... I guess you are proof positive that some people will never be satisfied. Getting access to 4 of your old characters for free and entering the game as a silver player is pretty amazing if you ask me.</blockquote>Uh, I have 7 toons, and had paid for an extra character slot for a beastlord. I should be able to play all 7 of my toons and still have an extra slot. I am a full paying customer, not someone who gets 4 slots, thanks for assuming I'm a whining customer. I am only asking for what I already had before the server change, nothing more.I guess you are proof positive that some people should mind their own business.

Fival

12-08-2011, 10:19 PM

I tried to log in about 10min ago and all of my 9 char slots are locked still.

ObianOceanwalker

12-08-2011, 10:20 PM

Nice and 6 hours ago before i started played i spent 1500 SC to unlock my DE and Conjuror to play them you gonna refund SC spent?

Lzert

12-08-2011, 10:21 PM

Is there any chance of a refund of station cash after I paid to unlock the race/class of my character last night so I could play?

Amorie

12-08-2011, 10:22 PM

Well I was a long time player until about a year ago. I heard that eq2 was going f2p so i figured id log in and take a look around. Couldnt log in to any of my toons, So this is a good change.I just find it amazing that I PAID for the original game and all the expansions up to and including DOV and im limited to races and classes. The same as any F2P..We however are not the same. I paid for a game that had all of these classes, character slots, and races when I purchased the game. The $15 a month was the time payed to actually play the game.So why should I or any player that has already purchased the actual game have to pay again?The rest of the F2P restrictions are already steep. Not being able to equip fable/legendary with out a gold membership makes the game pretty much unplayable anyways.It would make more sense for people that actually purchased the game to keep the ability to play any race/class and have 7 char slots. Vets returning to see whats new or changed or roll a new toon might be enough to stir up some good ol memories that would make one consider resubing to the game.Returning to check out new stuff to find road blocks that prevent being able to see anything other than a stripped down game is more likely to click the exit button and go about what they did before they logged in.

EQ2Playa432

12-08-2011, 10:23 PM

<cite>Crismorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>Quick and decisive, well done guys and gals.I suggest you guys come up with an idea to try and get in contact with the players who read the previous email, downloaded the patcher, saw everything locked and uninstalled.It wont be easy, but this grandfather solution answers the majority of the problems they had.My suggestion would be to add Grandfathered to the subject line in the emails you send out so it catches their eye and they are more likely to read it and try downloading/logging in again.Great work.</blockquote>Yes, I think it would be a smart move to email all previous players again who gave up after a day or two because they are all or partially locked. Thanks for doing this SOE.

leguinree

12-08-2011, 10:24 PM

but you can still only play 4 character slots on the silver account? I have a 2nd account that has 5 on it. Can I purchase the other slot or something?

Krowpa

12-08-2011, 10:26 PM

Folks, I am sure you were just excited about the anouncement, but if you had read the whole thing, it says "For any player that previously subscribed to EQII Live servers, or as a Gold or Platinum member on EQ2X, we will also refund all the class/race pack purchases made after 12/06/2011 at 12:01 am and before the time of this posting (12/08/2011, 4:30pm) so that no one loses any SC due to this change."I am pretty sure that means you should expect to be refunded if you unlocked race or class on toons that existed prior to the expansion.Eric

qcchillin

12-08-2011, 10:26 PM

If you are going to do this maybe you should re-think of people like myself who were brought into the game with the refer a friend account. My brother in law nagged me for years to play this game. 45 days ago or so I decided to finally cave in and play. Now because the game is "free to play". I now lose the last 45 days or so of the 200%exp bonus and the "go to" feature given to us. . To be quite honest I am almost to the point of just going back to the other MMO i played before. I am not one in the whole bait people in and switch the final product and thats what i feel has happened to me. I have spoke to live support and basically was told sorry we can do nothing about it. But I find it funny on your web site that later on down the road you plan to have another form of the refer a friend accounts going again.I find it almost sick that a company who offers a promotion to give you something for 90 days and then take it away because they feel they can, due to the game now being free. Well here is the thing, I am a paying customer not a FTP member. To me as a consumer I feel like i just got poo'd on.And this is the same response i gave to the live support after telling them at live support of my feelings I said what would you do if you just went out and bought a car, and they told you have 1 year of free GPS. and 6 months later they said oops sorry we are no longer offering this promotion and took it from you. how would you feel? his response. was i am not sure how to answer this question. I know i would be a bit upset personally. This may seem small to some but to me its just the same.Thanks for your time

Raknid

12-08-2011, 10:26 PM

I commend you with much vigor for doing the right thing!!!!I think with the gift bag goodies and this you have achieved the status of "overwhelming generosity"!! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" />Well done.

Ralphina

12-08-2011, 10:27 PM

will i get a re found i hade to pay get my toons un lock to play ?

RavenwolfB

12-08-2011, 10:28 PM

Excellent, looking forward to playing my still locked chars and getting the SC back I spent yesterday trying to unlock as much as I could lol.

Finora

12-08-2011, 10:31 PM

Great move SOE. I know some of my returning guildmates will be thrilled. =)

TheSpin

12-08-2011, 10:32 PM

<cite>DavidSpayed wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>TheSpin wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>TitanDamocles wrote:</cite><blockquote></blockquote>@DavidSpayed.... I guess you are proof positive that some people will never be satisfied. Getting access to 4 of your old characters for free and entering the game as a silver player is pretty amazing if you ask me.</blockquote>Uh, I have 7 toons, and had paid for an extra character slot for a beastlord. I should be able to play all 7 of my toons and still have an extra slot. I am a full paying customer, not someone who gets 4 slots, thanks for assuming I'm a whining customer. I am only asking for what I already had before the server change, nothing more.I guess you are proof positive that some people should mind their own business.</blockquote>If your issue is completely unrelated to the topic of the thread, why post it at all? Sounds like an issue specific to your account that has to be fixed with /petition if you are already a gold member. It has nothing to do with grandfathered characters.@ObianOceanwalker... he said there would be refunds where applicable I think.@Fival... it'll probably take a while before they get the granfathered characters enabled, he said one or two days in his post.@soulspite... your issue is probably pretty uncommon and might need to be determined with a /petition.

PlaneCrazy

12-08-2011, 10:33 PM

<cite>SmokeJumper wrote:</cite><blockquote>Hi, folks,We’ve been listening to you since we launched the Free-to-Play service across all servers. One of the most frequent issues is from folks that used to play EQII Live and are now coming back to the Silver membership level and becoming very confused because they’ve never played under those restrictions. “Why can’t I play my characters? Why are they locked?”Of course, the reason is because those players are returning to a Silver membership (which is free of charge) and those older characters are often locked behind the Silver membership race/class restrictions. There are two easy ways to get around those restrictions: Upgrade to Gold, or buy the race/class packs.But, we don’t really want to force those decisions on returning players. It’s not a fun experience to come back to something that seemed exciting (F2P) and then get hit with a bill as soon as you arrive, just for the privelege of using your current characters.So here’s what we’re going to do.*Every* character that was created before 12/06/2011 at 12:01 am will be grandfathered in without race or class restriction. This means that regardless of your membership level, you will be able to play any character created before 12/6 without paying for race- or class-pack unlocks.For any player that previously subscribed to EQII Live servers, or as a Gold or Platinum member on EQ2X, we will also refund all the class/race pack purchases made after 12/06/2011 at 12:01 am and before the time of this posting (12/08/2011, 4:30pm) so that no one loses any SC due to this change.Of course, this doesn’t affect new characters created from now onward. If you are playing at Silver or Free membership levels and want to create a *new* character, you’ll still be subject to the regular membership class and race restrictions.We think this should make a lot of folks happy and we’ll get this done as soon as humanly possible, either today, or first thing tomorrow.See you in-game! Enjoy!</blockquote>Wow!I'm literally stunned that you guys actually listened to us for once (and acted fast on it!)Thank You, this change will at least make me want to log in and goof around now and again. Looks like i get 4 silver slots plus the 2 I bought, so at least 6 of my 9 toons will be available.Heck, who knows.... if I find myself enjoying the game again, I may just bite on the next SC sale and buy the expansion. I figure in that scenario, I'll be OK with playing casual and spending a few bucks here and there to unlock my armor and spells without having to commit to a monthly sub again.Once again.. Thanks SJ and crew.

Zehl_Ice-Fire

12-08-2011, 10:35 PM

Thank you for listening to our feedback! This is a great decision. I am very relieved about it since I have been pondering my personal future with EQII.

Lzert

12-08-2011, 10:37 PM

<cite>Krowpa wrote:</cite><blockquote>Folks, I am sure you were just excited about the anouncement, but if you had read the whole thing, it says "For any player that previously subscribed to EQII Live servers, or as a Gold or Platinum member on EQ2X, we will also refund all the class/race pack purchases made after 12/06/2011 at 12:01 am and before the time of this posting (12/08/2011, 4:30pm) so that no one loses any SC due to this change."I am pretty sure that means you should expect to be refunded if you unlocked race or class on toons that existed prior to the expansion.Eric</blockquote>Wow, guess I should read more closely! Thanks for pointing that out Eric.

Juravael

12-08-2011, 10:49 PM

I like this idea and think it will bring even more folks back long-term.

Demio

12-08-2011, 10:53 PM

I have a question regarding the coins I had on these older character. I understand the needs to have restrictions. If I had say 100plat on these old character and I logged in and get hit with the restriction what happens to the plat? Does it get kicked into a bit bucket and lost forever? Or does it come back when and if I decided to subscribe as a gold member again?Bed enough to log in and find that you are a level 80 NUDE ogre and can not equip any gears or weapons. So I look like an overgrown child running nude with a cape on his back. thank god I can actually enter my basement house in the caster guild.

Silversnow

12-08-2011, 10:58 PM

Plat just gets frozen. You will be unable to earn any more money beyond the limit. Throw it into fuels or other characters till you are under the limit so you can still gain more.

Deveryn

12-08-2011, 10:59 PM

Awesome news! I have a question from friends thinking of coming back. What happens to skills that were already mastered?

Mikoooo

12-08-2011, 11:00 PM

<cite>Ogren@Unrest_old wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>SmokeJumper wrote:</cite><blockquote>Hi, folks,We’ve been listening to you since we launched the Free-to-Play service across all servers. One of the most frequent issues is from folks that used to play EQII Live and are now coming back to the Silver membership level and becoming very confused because they’ve never played under those restrictions. “Why can’t I play my characters? Why are they locked?”Of course, the reason is because those players are returning to a Silver membership (which is free of charge) and those older characters are often locked behind the Silver membership race/class restrictions. There are two easy ways to get around those restrictions: Upgrade to Gold, or buy the race/class packs.But, we don’t really want to force those decisions on returning players. It’s not a fun experience to come back to something that seemed exciting (F2P) and then get hit with a bill as soon as you arrive, just for the privelege of using your current characters.So here’s what we’re going to do.*Every* character that was created before 12/06/2011 at 12:01 am will be grandfathered in without race or class restriction. This means that regardless of your membership level, you will be able to play any character created before 12/6 without paying for race- or class-pack unlocks.For any player that previously subscribed to EQII Live servers, or as a Gold or Platinum member on EQ2X, we will also refund all the class/race pack purchases made after 12/06/2011 at 12:01 am and before the time of this posting (12/08/2011, 4:30pm) so that no one loses any SC due to this change.Of course, this doesn’t affect new characters created from now onward. If you are playing at Silver or Free membership levels and want to create a *new* character, you’ll still be subject to the regular membership class and race restrictions.We think this should make a lot of folks happy and we’ll get this done as soon as humanly possible, either today, or first thing tomorrow.See you in-game! Enjoy!</blockquote></blockquote>How about the slot retriction? If we created 6 characters before 12/06/2011, are they all playable or only 4 of them?

TheSpin

12-08-2011, 11:02 PM

I'm pretty sure the 4 slot restriction remains. I think the point is to at least allow you into the game for free without starting a new account or deleting characters.

krutoi

12-08-2011, 11:06 PM

Great News! Gratz to SOE for doing this <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />two questions: - will this just affect the US servers or will it be for overseas ones as well (Russia in particular)?- without getting into the whole mathematical debate about how many slots we should be entitled to, if for some reason we have locked slots it would be *HUGE* if we could select which ones got activated by purchasing a new slot. As it stands, if I have three of them locked and the one I want the most is at the top I would need to either delete the other two or pay to unlock all three.

Demio

12-08-2011, 11:07 PM

I am concerned about the refer a friend account setup. I have two account that were linked. Are they going to stay linked? I had the special mounts from the refer a friend on each account as well. I did not see the mount under character or in the bags.

PlaneCrazy

12-08-2011, 11:07 PM

<cite>Mikoooo wrote:</cite><blockquote>How about the slot retriction? If we created 6 characters before 12/06/2011, are they all playable or only 4 of them?</blockquote>It's still a 4 slot restriction, so only the last 4 that you logged in will be available. But if you bought any additional character slots in the past, they will be available as well.

VW_Factor

12-08-2011, 11:11 PM

Any idea when this is going to happen. I am not going to delete any of my 6 90's to get a "free slot" to create a character that I may be allowed to come back and try EQ2 as F2P. My wife's toons, who knows.. Her account doesn't have toons whatsoever anymore. Before we go resubbing and junk back to the game, we'd like to at least get a little game time in.. Yanno, enjoy the F2P game, that we spent thousands of dollars and hours on over the years.

Arielle Nightshade

12-08-2011, 11:12 PM

<cite>TheSpin wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>TitanDamocles wrote:</cite><blockquote>Are you going to undelete the characters I had to delete in order to get under the slot limit to create new ones? <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /> That would be cool...</blockquote>I have had characters restored before after deleting them years ago. I bet there's a decent chance they'll be able to help you</blockquote>The only reason I could see them not being able to help you is if your server had merged with another one. I had a couple of characters on the old Venekor that I deleted after much agonizing - and of course my crew came back and wanted to pvp once the server was merged with Nagafen. When I asked CS if it was possible to restore the deleted toons, they said it would have been if I'd gotten the restoration prior to the server merge. Once merged, the older deleted toons were no longer available. It made perfect sense to me, and although I was sorry to not be able to get them back - could see the technical reason why not.This would be the only reason they wouldn't be able to help you...is my experience. Otherwise, CS will do what they can.And P.S. Really awesome decision on behalf of the management. I'm surprised, quite frankly. It doesn't affect me personally, but does kind of restore my lost faith a little <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Cuora

12-08-2011, 11:13 PM

Great move! /cheers! I think it will bring back many more players <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />.

TheNecroFiend

12-08-2011, 11:16 PM

<cite>Ogren@Unrest_old wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Mikoooo wrote:</cite><blockquote>How about the slot retriction? If we created 6 characters before 12/06/2011, are they all playable or only 4 of them?</blockquote>It's still a 4 slot restriction, so only the last 4 that you logged in will be available. But if you bought any additional character slots in the past, they will be available as well.</blockquote>I see this as a huge problem. There should be some mechanism in place that allows players to choose which of their 7 characters they can play. Whats the point of being able to play your old toons if the one character you really want to play, wasn't one of the last four toons you logged into years ago.

PotatoeGuru

12-08-2011, 11:19 PM

<cite>Ogren@Unrest_old wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Mikoooo wrote:</cite><blockquote>How about the slot retriction? If we created 6 characters before 12/06/2011, are they all playable or only 4 of them?</blockquote>It's still a 4 slot restriction, so only the last 4 that you logged in will be available. But if you bought any additional character slots in the past, they will be available as well.</blockquote>Except that's not what's happening -- or at least at the moment for some of us. Prior to AoD launch, I had nine toons (normal seven plus two bought slots) on a recurring 3-month sub that's been active on various plans since about a month after launch. I bought a new slot last night to roll a beastlord, but the toon with the oldest log in (6 days) was locked when I logged back in a few hours later.I've submitted a ticket and remain hopefuly, but there are still issues that need to be addressed.

TheSpin

12-08-2011, 11:24 PM

<cite>TheNecroFiend wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Ogren@Unrest_old wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Mikoooo wrote:</cite><blockquote>How about the slot retriction? If we created 6 characters before 12/06/2011, are they all playable or only 4 of them?</blockquote>It's still a 4 slot restriction, so only the last 4 that you logged in will be available. But if you bought any additional character slots in the past, they will be available as well.</blockquote>I see this as a huge problem. There should be some mechanism in place that allows players to choose which of their 7 characters they can play. Whats the point of being able to play your old toons if the one character you really want to play, wasn't one of the last four toons you logged into years ago.</blockquote>You know, I ultimately agree with you. I think they should have written some code to allow you to choose which characters to keep available. I think there must be some kind of complicated codewriting issue that makes this difficult because it would have help many many problems over the last year or two.However, I think this may just be a case of 'don't look a gift horse in the mouth'.

CorpseGoddess

12-08-2011, 11:34 PM

<cite>TheNecroFiend wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Ogren@Unrest_old wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Mikoooo wrote:</cite><blockquote>How about the slot retriction? If we created 6 characters before 12/06/2011, are they all playable or only 4 of them?</blockquote>It's still a 4 slot restriction, so only the last 4 that you logged in will be available. But if you bought any additional character slots in the past, they will be available as well.</blockquote>I see this as a huge problem. There should be some mechanism in place that allows players to choose which of their 7 characters they can play. Whats the point of being able to play your old toons if the one character you really want to play, wasn't one of the last four toons you logged into years ago.</blockquote>If you log one of your available characters in the game, you should be able to /camp charactername from there. Then, no matter which four characters show up on the characters show up on the launch pad, you *should* be able to get to your others. This might require testing.

Grobi

12-08-2011, 11:44 PM

great move , i would be even happy if i had to choose one but all thats crazy good ! thx a ton

balder_a

12-09-2011, 12:00 AM

This is great news. I wish I knew this info yesterday, just before deleting most of my characters - including the warden and shadowknight!

MithrilLady

12-09-2011, 12:05 AM

<cite>Isulith wrote:</cite><blockquote><img src="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/images/en/logos/EQII/EQII_Logo.png" width="350" />Official discussion thread for "Grandfathered" characters (more free stuff!). The original thread can be found here: <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=510914">http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=510914</a>. Please remember to keep your posts constructive!</blockquote>When is this going to happen? I signed in today (12/8/11) and the character I created with a full subscription about a year ago was still locked out! Not to mention all her goodies are not available!

Marnus

12-09-2011, 12:09 AM

Even though this doesnt affect me, I'm happy to see you doing this for folks who choose to go f2p-it was very generous of you guys<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I will continue to be a paying subscriber though, because even with the grandfathered class race unlocks, the other restrictions i'd have to unlock would cost way more, and then theres the fact id lose my station access perks, my extra slots, etc. Anyway, i still think it was nice of you to do this for those that used to play, wanted to come back, but couldnt afford it, you certainly didnt have to do it, and i think you have a lot of very happy customers now<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

simianthief

12-09-2011, 12:41 AM

While some people will have a lot of characters due to slot restrictions or what-have-you, this is WOWSERS. Um, carry on and well done Smokejumper, if that is your real name. *suspicious looks*

Quicksilver74

12-09-2011, 12:45 AM

Awesome change. Smart and kind.

Absyntheea

12-09-2011, 01:00 AM

Doesn't really affect me, since I plan on staying gold... very cool move though!

Articwind

12-09-2011, 01:03 AM

<cite>Deveryn@Crushbone wrote:</cite><blockquote>Awesome news! I have a question from friends thinking of coming back. What happens to skills that were already mastered?</blockquote>All skills stay at the level you had when you were a subscriber. So if you are all mastered out and decide not to pay, you'll still be all mastered out. They DO NOT remove your skill/spell levels.

krutoi

12-09-2011, 01:04 AM

Woohoo! CS fixed my locked slots <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />If any of you think you are missing slot allotments due to having toons on both live and extended, just submit a ticket - worked for me...

Enna

12-09-2011, 01:04 AM

This is the most amazing "Frostfell" gift yet - many, many thanks! <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Velox

12-09-2011, 01:05 AM

Thanks.. Great solution... Very responsive ( I was mid discussions with support right at time this was announced <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> and seeing as how its free mostly anyway.. I have no complaints.... Now just need to wait for A of D to go sale somewhere ( ie like 20 bucks <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Thanks Dave!

Calathiel

12-09-2011, 01:07 AM

This is really absolutely fantastic news guys!! Thanks so much for listening to all of us and being awesome <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /> It was difficult staring at my old toon the past day or so and thinking it would be a while before I could afford to play her, so this was a nice suprise!Really loving the EQ2 team (and game) right now! Keep on rocking!!

PlaneCrazy

12-09-2011, 01:38 AM

<cite>Streppoch@Guk wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>TheNecroFiend wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Ogren@Unrest_old wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Mikoooo wrote:</cite><blockquote>How about the slot retriction? If we created 6 characters before 12/06/2011, are they all playable or only 4 of them?</blockquote>It's still a 4 slot restriction, so only the last 4 that you logged in will be available. But if you bought any additional character slots in the past, they will be available as well.</blockquote>I see this as a huge problem. There should be some mechanism in place that allows players to choose which of their 7 characters they can play. Whats the point of being able to play your old toons if the one character you really want to play, wasn't one of the last four toons you logged into years ago.</blockquote>If you log one of your available characters in the game, you should be able to /camp charactername from there. Then, no matter which four characters show up on the characters show up on the launch pad, you *should* be able to get to your others. This might require testing.</blockquote>Well, they closed that loophole a long time ago (shortly before they started selling extra slots I believe) Seems some people who had the 10 slots for the all access subscription were able to still play all 10 even after they dropped down to the regular 7 slot standard sub.However, it may work again. I'll have to try it in the morning.

Kucerakov

12-09-2011, 01:43 AM

Any idea when this will go live? All my toons are still locked. Been a long time sub player and looking forward to this.

Cyliena

12-09-2011, 01:46 AM

<cite>Kucerakov@Mistmoore wrote:</cite><blockquote>Any idea when this will go live? All my toons are still locked. Been a long time sub player and looking forward to this.</blockquote>Looks like with tomorrow's patch.

CorpseGoddess

12-09-2011, 01:47 AM

<cite>Ogren@Unrest_old wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Streppoch@Guk wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>TheNecroFiend wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Ogren@Unrest_old wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Mikoooo wrote:</cite><blockquote>How about the slot retriction? If we created 6 characters before 12/06/2011, are they all playable or only 4 of them?</blockquote>It's still a 4 slot restriction, so only the last 4 that you logged in will be available. But if you bought any additional character slots in the past, they will be available as well.</blockquote>I see this as a huge problem. There should be some mechanism in place that allows players to choose which of their 7 characters they can play. Whats the point of being able to play your old toons if the one character you really want to play, wasn't one of the last four toons you logged into years ago.</blockquote>If you log one of your available characters in the game, you should be able to /camp charactername from there. Then, no matter which four characters show up on the characters show up on the launch pad, you *should* be able to get to your others. This might require testing.</blockquote>Well, they closed that loophole a long time ago (shortly before they started selling extra slots I believe) Seems some people who had the 10 slots for the all access subscription were able to still play all 10 even after they dropped down to the regular 7 slot standard sub.However, it may work again. I'll have to try it in the morning.</blockquote>Ah, I wasn't sure. A couple of weeks ago I had an odd bug where, for some reason, I could only see four out of my bajillion characters at the character login screen; it was the same four every time, no matter what. I tried the login-/camp character thing and it worked for me. A few days later, all my toons magically reappeared at character select. Not sure what was up, but I do know that the camp was working as of at least two weeks ago.

underOATH

12-09-2011, 01:52 AM

Smokejumper I want to give you a hug. Thank You! Now can we discuss buying a lifetime unlock for all spells and armor/weapons and I will be very happy.

Gaftep

12-09-2011, 02:11 AM

Thank the gods of Norrath!! I hope this cuts down on a lot of the whining (even if I've done my small share).

Friyja

12-09-2011, 02:22 AM

<cite>Gaftep@Everfrost wrote:</cite><blockquote>Thank the gods of Norrath!! I hope this cuts down on a lot of the whining (even if I've done my small share).</blockquote>Now you are dreaming. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" />Any official word on when this goes live? As of ten minutes ago my characters were all still locked and my SC spent yesterday to unlock stuff had not yet been refunded.

Tigress

12-09-2011, 02:29 AM

Great plan to make all characters playable for pre-existers! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" />Questions:(1) Is this regarding ONLY characters' classes & races for silver/bronze accts? OR.... does it include the slot problem? i.e., characters created after the 11.10.2011 cutoff that meet the class/race but were "locked due to beyond slot allotment", are they now playable?(2) if it does include the slot dilemma, then is it safe to delete OR when you delete will that slot be lost forever? (i have slot counters and i really dont want to level testerfive, extraone, etc.)thank you.

CuCullain

12-09-2011, 02:31 AM

Hmmm, a solid move, I might DL the game and look around.1. I had more toons than Silver has slots, what decides which will be the unlocked ones?2. I have a ton of plat, if I log in and it is on my character, what happens.. in the bank?3. I had a 5 room sexy house, any changes to it or how I can use it?4. I had a house from LoN that was free, will it be there?5. All my gear was fabled.. so I will be naked right?6. I had a ton of vet rewards, are those all gone?7. I bought all games up to and including Sentinal's fate, what won't I have acees to?8. Lets say one of my locked toons is a race that is not free, is he still grandfathered in once I unlock his character slot through SC?

Articwind

12-09-2011, 02:38 AM

<cite>Faush@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>Hmmm, a solid move, I might DL the game and look around.1. I had more toons than Silver has slots, what decides which will be the unlocked ones?2. I have a ton of plat, if I log in and it is on my character, what happens.. in the bank?3. I had a 5 room sexy house, any changes to it or how I can use it?4. I had a house from LoN that was free, will it be there?5. All my gear was fabled.. so I will be naked right?6. I had a ton of vet rewards, are those all gone?7. I bought all games up to and including Sentinal's fate, what won't I have acees to?8. Lets say one of my locked toons is a race that is not free, is he still grandfathered in once I unlock his character slot through SC?</blockquote>1. The order you last logged in.2. You keep it, you just can't get any more until you go below the limit for free accounts.3. No change4. It's still there5. Yep. You can buy unlockers thought, Last I checked they were 150 SC for 5 charges.6. Nope. All still there.7. The only content you won't have access to is the expansions you have yet to buy. You don't have to buy quests or zones like LotRO.8. If they were made before the date specified they are grandfathered. As soon as you unlock the slot you can play them. Hint: Don't buy a slot until you use all your free LDoN booster packs. I got two free slots in those as well as a few other goodies.

Keshra

12-09-2011, 02:43 AM

Love, love, love that this is going to happen! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /> Thank you so much!Having been laid off recently, dropping from Gold to Silver is the only way I can still get my EQ2 fix until I can afford the subscription again. This will at least unlock 3 of what's left of my characters -- I had to delete the other 3 today (Dec. 8th) just to get an open slot to recreate something I can play since all of my characters were locked because of race/class combinations. If there's some way we can be granted a choice as to which of our several characters to set as the four available to play, then it may be worth it for me to pester CS about restoring the 3 I just deleted, since they were created several months ago and would have qualified to be grandfathered in. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" />

Friyja

12-09-2011, 02:49 AM

<blockquote><cite>Faush@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>Hmmm, a solid move, I might DL the game and look around.1. I had more toons than Silver has slots, what decides which will be the unlocked ones?2. I have a ton of plat, if I log in and it is on my character, what happens.. in the bank?3. I had a 5 room sexy house, any changes to it or how I can use it?4. I had a house from LoN that was free, will it be there?5. All my gear was fabled.. so I will be naked right?6. I had a ton of vet rewards, are those all gone?7. I bought all games up to and including Sentinal's fate, what won't I have acees to?8. Lets say one of my locked toons is a race that is not free, is he still grandfathered in once I unlock his character slot through SC?</blockquote>1. The order you last logged in.2. You keep it, you just can't get any more until you go below the limit for free accounts.3. No change4. It's still there5. Yep. You can buy unlockers thought, Last I checked they were 150 SC for 5 charges.6. Nope. All still there.7. The only content you won't have access to is the expansions you have yet to buy. You don't have to buy quests or zones like LotRO.8. If they were made before the date specified they are grandfathered. As soon as you unlock the slot you can play them. Hint: Don't buy a slot until you use all your free LDoN booster packs. I got two free slots in those as well as a few other goodies.</blockquote>Clarification on #7: All pre- DoV content is now included for free, for everybody. Most (ish) new content will be DoV content for the next year (ish,) so you would need DoV to play through that content as well. Some stuff, like the new Freeport, is considered base content and available to everybody. The in-game store price for DoV was recently lowered to 1499 SC.Comment on #8: So incandescent is my rage that it would set you afire. I've been burning through LoN boosters trying to get the Freeport house and I haven't gotten anything but junk.

Alenna

12-09-2011, 02:53 AM

<cite>Streppoch@Guk wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>TheNecroFiend wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Ogren@Unrest_old wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Mikoooo wrote:</cite><blockquote>How about the slot retriction? If we created 6 characters before 12/06/2011, are they all playable or only 4 of them?</blockquote>It's still a 4 slot restriction, so only the last 4 that you logged in will be available. But if you bought any additional character slots in the past, they will be available as well.</blockquote>I see this as a huge problem. There should be some mechanism in place that allows players to choose which of their 7 characters they can play. Whats the point of being able to play your old toons if the one character you really want to play, wasn't one of the last four toons you logged into years ago.</blockquote>If you log one of your available characters in the game, you should be able to /camp charactername from there. Then, no matter which four characters show up on the characters show up on the launch pad, you *should* be able to get to your others. This might require testing.</blockquote>Not anymore they fixed that exploit sometime last year IIRC

Ilavatar

12-09-2011, 02:54 AM

Well done, SOE!Of course, we had to ignite a firestorm to get your attention but at least it brought in the Smokejumper.

stormsoul

12-09-2011, 03:13 AM

I have, in the past, been consistently unimpressed with many of the decisions made by SOE regarding customers and things like this.This time, I've got to hand it to you. This was well done, and appreciated.Of course from a business standpoint, its a good idea even if you lose out on a few unlocks. Trying to get word out and bring people in, you need the people here to be positive about it. And people coming back for this great new 'free' game dont want to log in and see a long list of 'Locked' characters.It's a very good choice, and well done, I'm impressed. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Zapperz

12-09-2011, 03:29 AM

uhm all of my characters are still locked an they were all created before dec 6 ? so when are they gonna unlock them

Articwind

12-09-2011, 03:32 AM

<cite>Ardwulf@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>Comment on #8: So incandescent is my rage that it would set you afire. I've been burning through LoN boosters trying to get the Freeport house and I haven't gotten anything but junk.</blockquote>Lol.Then you will really hate me when I tell you that I got not one but two Blades houses, two mounts, two character slots and about a half dozen useless pets.In fairness I did have 68 packs to go through, and most of my stuff came in the last 20 so maybe you will get lucky. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

EndevorX

12-09-2011, 03:35 AM

i cant log in on Seliri & he was made 5-24-2010 :{pls fix :{

Siodenne

12-09-2011, 03:35 AM

Thanks for this I will actually log on again and see how much unlocking my gear and whatnot is going to cost me before I decide whether to stay or not. I applaud this move. It's hard these days to justify throwing money at something you've already paid for several times over in expansions etc, huzzah!

Friyja

12-09-2011, 03:50 AM

<cite>Seliri@Nagafen wrote:</cite><blockquote>i cant log in on Seliri & he was made 5-24-2010 :{pls fix :{</blockquote>For pete's sake, read the thread. Hotfix will make the change tomorrow.

Bronadui

12-09-2011, 04:02 AM

GOOD JOB!You made my family very happy, my nephew can play with us on his dirge now <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

WastedChances

12-09-2011, 04:32 AM

Just wanted to say thanks, SOE.

edwin12342

12-09-2011, 04:33 AM

Awesome move guys!!!!you made meh and others immensley happy..will resuscribe for sure now! i wandered away for a month or to to play that game called EVE...but there was no foolin myself i missed eq2 every day <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />i'm sure people still going to gripe and moan just about other stuff now. but this wasvery generous of you guys and im sure you will see the rewards.

Urrano

12-09-2011, 04:44 AM

it was like waking up from a coma and been told by the docs you own em cash for your heart, lungs, pockets, shirt off your back and if you want to spend money its gonna cost you money. i might be tempted to have a tinker with my ratonga <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> i stopped plouging SC in after race then class restrictions and quit to desktop.

Skuz

12-09-2011, 04:56 AM

Oh hell, SOE you caught me by surprise....Could you re-instate all the characters I had created ages ago & then deleted in disgust last night, pretty please?(or tell me how I go about getting them back at least)I never expected this & was angry that the chars I had before were locked & my eq2x characters were nowhere to be seen, so I deleted most of them.

OwoceLasu

12-09-2011, 05:15 AM

Great Idea! But I delete most of my chars two days ago how can i bring it back? I deleted them for some f2p space.

theriatis

12-09-2011, 05:19 AM

Hi,i'm still gold, but this is a good thing for everyone who wants to come back, thank you for that decision.Best Regards,theriatis.

Banedon_Toran

12-09-2011, 05:26 AM

Anybody who deleted character /petition and CS will be able to get them back.CS can also move your characters around if you have the wrong ones locked (due to slot limit) as a one-off, it's good business for them as your more likely to buy a slot later if you can still see your characters preserved and waiting.

Sharann

12-09-2011, 06:08 AM

Awesome news! This will encourage vets to return to this wonderful game <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" /> Great decision!

Filimon

12-09-2011, 06:47 AM

Good afternoon, you make please still that characters of veterans still had things and masters, let there will be an interdiction for reception of new epic things and masters, for creation of subjects of the master. Let possibility will be high-grade to play with these restrictions at least one character an account (for choice the player).It would be fair. Otherwise than the veteran who has entered into game will be engaged - to stand in a guild hall?I am your subscriber since 2006... Now for the objective reasons I can not regularly play, but it would be desirable to have possibility sometimes to come into favourite game.

Dragoneyes

12-09-2011, 06:49 AM

Nice to hear this<img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" />Now all you need to do is lower the AoD cost and I'd imagin the sales will go up even more as there is a heck of a lot of players on my server that have not bought AoD due to the cost ..

Nightstriker

12-09-2011, 07:06 AM

what the *$&% is this

Dragoneyes

12-09-2011, 07:09 AM

<cite>Nightstriker@Nagafen wrote:</cite><blockquote>what the *$&% is this</blockquote>its prity easy to understand ..so maybe you need a few more coffiees and go read it again

MyaVex

12-09-2011, 07:26 AM

Dont get me wrong I think this is a very generous gift from SOE, but I have a problem, my characters dont looked locked anymore (no lock symbols) but when i click play it tells me my account is too low and I need to upgrade to be able to buy the class packs for these characters, is that right?

instant

12-09-2011, 07:28 AM

Will you also undelete the characters I deleted in a (failed) attempt to get a character playable as well?

MyaVex

12-09-2011, 07:34 AM

Oh by the way I'm on Splitpaw

BWLeeEllison

12-09-2011, 07:50 AM

Just need to know when we get our toons unlocked <img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

darwich

12-09-2011, 08:25 AM

quite shocked really.. didnt expect this at all... Really a nice step for SOE... and smokes team. Of course what im not shocked at is people still complaining that they didnt get enough free..

Takyana

12-09-2011, 09:24 AM

I'm glad that I checked the forums and found this. You should've seen my face when I logged in and discovered that my old characters were locked... I didn't know if I should laugh or enter nuclear launch codes... Some of us vets spent a lot of money and sank insane hours into our characters over the years. I think this is a great way to bring old players back.EQ1 vet, bought EQ2 vanilla at launch in 04, Rise of Kunark in 07, and Sentinel's Fate last year... Heck, I've still got a ton of SC from my last Live subscription. It would appear that I may actually use it now. When my characters unlock, I'll be shopping for new marketplace items.Many thanks!

Sariis

12-09-2011, 09:39 AM

Thanks Sony for listening to us old folk......I have one question, last night I had to delete 5 characters to free up a slot to even get a character to play....Would it be possible to undelete these now that you have announced the ability to play old characters??

TheSpin

12-09-2011, 09:49 AM

<cite>Filimon wrote:</cite><blockquote>Good afternoon, you make please still that characters of veterans still had things and masters, let there will be an interdiction for reception of new epic things and masters, for creation of subjects of the master. Let possibility will be high-grade to play with these restrictions at least one character an account (for choice the player).It would be fair. Otherwise than the veteran who has entered into game will be engaged - to stand in a guild hall?I am your subscriber since 2006... Now for the objective reasons I can not regularly play, but it would be desirable to have possibility sometimes to come into favourite game.</blockquote>I see that you used some kind of a translator. It didn't do a very good job.I think what you are talking about is the Gear and Spell limitations on the characters that will be unlocked.Master spells that you already know will still be master quality. In order to scribe a new master you have to unlock it with a token on the marketplace.Gear that is legendary or higher will not be equippable until it is unlocked.In order to unlock a full set of gear for a character the cost is about 600 SC. Gear unlockers come in packs of 5 for 150 SC.

Banedon_Toran

12-09-2011, 09:54 AM

<cite>TheSpin wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Filimon wrote:</cite><blockquote>Good afternoon, you make please still that characters of veterans still had things and masters, let there will be an interdiction for reception of new epic things and masters, for creation of subjects of the master. Let possibility will be high-grade to play with these restrictions at least one character an account (for choice the player).It would be fair. Otherwise than the veteran who has entered into game will be engaged - to stand in a guild hall?I am your subscriber since 2006... Now for the objective reasons I can not regularly play, but it would be desirable to have possibility sometimes to come into favourite game.</blockquote>I see that you used some kind of a translator. It didn't do a very good job.I think what you are talking about is the Gear and Spell limitations on the characters that will be unlocked.Master spells that you already know will still be master quality. In order to scribe a new master you have to unlock it with a token on the marketplace.Gear that is legendary or higher will not be equippable until it is unlocked.In order to unlock a full set of gear for a character the cost is about 600 SC. Gear unlockers come in packs of 5 for 150 SC.</blockquote> Alternatively ask your guildies for help in making a set of mastercrafted armor, sure it won't be as good as raid-fabled but it will get you back in the game and let you try out new stuff while deciding about spending that 600SC

Misterbucket

12-09-2011, 10:03 AM

Bravo Sony! See you in game!

Ilavatar

12-09-2011, 10:17 AM

I'd just like to say, again, to SOE: well done! If this is managed well, it should inject huge amounts of new energy into the game as the vets return.It should also pay off well for you at SOE. Casual players don't want to pay the monthly fee because they can't afford it in terms of time or money. This way they can still pay to get the upgrades they want without the pressure of the monthly fee.I hope you guys at SOE market the heck out of this new change because you really dropped the ball on the first try. You angered a lot of people but I think most of them will probably come back -- if you let them know about it.Those who think SOE is being generous don't understand the economics of F2P. They'll make their money back on SC upgrades. And the players will benefit from having lots more people in the game.For serious players and raiders, Gold is still the way to go but, if it's done right, Silver could be really good for everyone.*IF* it's done right. You guys at SOE saved it this time. Make sure you keep in mind your target market of Silver players - casual players many of whom are willing to pay to unlock things in increments (at least that's where SOE will make its money with them).

Raknid

12-09-2011, 10:34 AM

<cite>Ogren@Unrest_old wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Streppoch@Guk wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>TheNecroFiend wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Ogren@Unrest_old wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Mikoooo wrote:</cite><blockquote>How about the slot retriction? If we created 6 characters before 12/06/2011, are they all playable or only 4 of them?</blockquote>It's still a 4 slot restriction, so only the last 4 that you logged in will be available. But if you bought any additional character slots in the past, they will be available as well.</blockquote>I see this as a huge problem. There should be some mechanism in place that allows players to choose which of their 7 characters they can play. Whats the point of being able to play your old toons if the one character you really want to play, wasn't one of the last four toons you logged into years ago.</blockquote>If you log one of your available characters in the game, you should be able to /camp charactername from there. Then, no matter which four characters show up on the characters show up on the launch pad, you *should* be able to get to your others. This might require testing.</blockquote>Well, they closed that loophole a long time ago (shortly before they started selling extra slots I believe) Seems some people who had the 10 slots for the all access subscription were able to still play all 10 even after they dropped down to the regular 7 slot standard sub.However, it may work again. I'll have to try it in the morning.</blockquote>You know. I would suggest that they turn this back on for a week or so that the vets can arrange the four cahracters they want as the last signed in, but I know there will be some other jarkasse who doesn't need to do this but takes advantage (exlploits) it anyway and then whines and cries because THEY can now not access their characters.I am trying to remember where that epileptic seizure warning pop comes in. Does it pop up before character select if you are logging in your account on a new computer? Also, you know how when you have zero characters there is a popup that says create a character, I wonder if they could use a similar mehansim to have a pop for people to select their active characters?

Raknid

12-09-2011, 10:39 AM

<cite>Ardwulf@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Seliri@Nagafen wrote:</cite><blockquote>i cant log in on Seliri & he was made 5-24-2010 :{pls fix :{</blockquote>For pete's sake, read the thread. Hotfix will make the change tomorrow.</blockquote>If we get lucky it wont work for him...lol.

Katz

12-09-2011, 10:44 AM

This is wonderful news. I have three people I may be able to talking into trying out the f2p now. They weren't interested in starting a new account and their old toons were all the wrong race/class combos.

Ealthina

12-09-2011, 11:04 AM

This is great new... I freely admit I am one of the more vocal critics here and of the issue at hand. I would like to extend a hearty thank you. I totaly agree to playing under silver restrictions I just felt slighted that I could not acces such an ld toon I had previously put years into. This deffinatly ensures I will keep playing and will more then likely resub in the future.

Flynnaz

12-09-2011, 11:04 AM

<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">I hope this is somewhat related. I would like to see the 31 day with a active account restriction lifted for a weekend or for a single toon. I started EQ2 when it launched, was active until last year, then went to EQ2X when it launched, went silver last month. My main toon is on a server that all of my guild mates and friends are not on anymore. With all my history, and going gold, buying AOD, I wonder way I have to wait 31 days since I went gold to transfer to a server where I can enjoy this great game with my friends? I would like to know why this restriction even exists, it costs $25.00 to transfer, is that not a heavy price to pay in the first place?

Flynnaz

12-09-2011, 11:07 AM

I am sorry for the white backgroud of my post, I do not mean to do that <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

TaishiFoxie

12-09-2011, 11:08 AM

This is great news. However, what about us who created characters on EQ2X and had to pay for them and had a Live account before EQ2X existed? now that we're moved back to the Live servers, everyone else gets free characters but us! We still had to pay for those that were on EQ2X and effectively wouldn't have had to pay for them had we known and waited for you to move this package to Live since we already had an account on Live that was previously paid for and most likely still had characters on it, as mine does. What about the refunds for that? In my opinion we should be entitle to that as we should have had free characters due to the change and having to pay for EQ2X characters when effectively we could have had them free is kind of unfair.

Ahlana

12-09-2011, 11:24 AM

<cite>TaishiFoxie wrote:</cite><blockquote>This is great news. However, what about us who created characters on EQ2X and had to pay for them and had a Live account before EQ2X existed? now that we're moved back to the Live servers, everyone else gets free characters but us! We still had to pay for those that were on EQ2X and effectively wouldn't have had to pay for them had we known and waited for you to move this package to Live since we already had an account on Live that was previously paid for and most likely still had characters on it, as mine does. What about the refunds for that? In my opinion we should be entitle to that as we should have had free characters due to the change and having to pay for EQ2X characters when effectively we could have had them free is kind of unfair.</blockquote>You started on EQ2X knowing teh restrictions... thus it is not applicable to you that you recieve a refund.Vets had no way of knowing the game would ever merge, let alone go F2P all servers and what race/class combos were right years ago.So in short, do not hold your breath

darwich

12-09-2011, 11:26 AM

<cite>TaishiFoxie wrote:</cite><blockquote>This is great news. However, what about us who created characters on EQ2X and had to pay for them and had a Live account before EQ2X existed? now that we're moved back to the Live servers, everyone else gets free characters but us! We still had to pay for those that were on EQ2X and effectively wouldn't have had to pay for them had we known and waited for you to move this package to Live since we already had an account on Live that was previously paid for and most likely still had characters on it, as mine does. What about the refunds for that? In my opinion we should be entitle to that as we should have had free characters due to the change and having to pay for EQ2X characters when effectively we could have had them free is kind of unfair.</blockquote>always some that wont be happy... gimme gimme gimme... if we had known japan would bomb pearl harbor we COULD have had more aircraft in the air, we COULD have moved our ships out of the harbor, etc etc..IF holifield had known tyson would bite his ear off, he COULD have not done the match or worn ear protection... etc. etc.. etc..

Burakku

12-09-2011, 11:32 AM

I'm confused, I came back after it going F2p, and saw my characters were locked, so I paid for a gold membership, logged in and played on my old toons (nearly 5 years old). I come back this morning, see this annoucement, think cool! But darn why did i just p2p when it would've been free if I would've waited a day, o well we win some and lose some. I log in, see that I have NO membership besides f2p and now my toons are locked again. Even though i paid my 14.99 to play. I checked my CC bill, sure enough the charge is on there, but I still can't play... this is unacceptable.

Ealthina

12-09-2011, 11:35 AM

<cite>Burakku wrote:</cite><blockquote>I'm confused, I came back after it going F2p, and saw my characters were locked, so I paid for a gold membership, logged in and played on my old toons (nearly 5 years old). I come back this morning, see this annoucement, think cool! But darn why did i just p2p when it would've been free if I would've waited a day, o well we win some and lose some. I log in, see that I have NO membership besides f2p and now my toons are locked again. Even though i paid my 14.99 to play. I checked my CC bill, sure enough the charge is on there, but I still can't play... this is unacceptable.</blockquote>Well not really because not only are your toons unlocked you have 100% access to ALL features.. I will have my old Fae Templar back, but I still have Silver restirictions otherwise...which im fine with.

Burakku

12-09-2011, 11:46 AM

<cite>Cheesers@Mistmoore wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Burakku wrote:</cite><blockquote>I'm confused, I came back after it going F2p, and saw my characters were locked, so I paid for a gold membership, logged in and played on my old toons (nearly 5 years old). I come back this morning, see this annoucement, think cool! But darn why did i just p2p when it would've been free if I would've waited a day, o well we win some and lose some. I log in, see that I have NO membership besides f2p and now my toons are locked again. Even though i paid my 14.99 to play. I checked my CC bill, sure enough the charge is on there, but I still can't play... this is unacceptable.</blockquote>Well not really because not only are your toons unlocked you have 100% access to ALL features.. I will have my old Fae Templar back, but I still have Silver restirictions otherwise...which im fine with.</blockquote>no no no no , you missed it. My toons were unlocked for one day. Now they are locked again. I paid to play when i came back yesterday, and was allowed one day, now i am unable to log in on the toons i was able to log in on yesterday. Its strange.....

Ahlana

12-09-2011, 11:49 AM

<cite>Burakku wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Cheesers@Mistmoore wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Burakku wrote:</cite><blockquote>I'm confused, I came back after it going F2p, and saw my characters were locked, so I paid for a gold membership, logged in and played on my old toons (nearly 5 years old). I come back this morning, see this annoucement, think cool! But darn why did i just p2p when it would've been free if I would've waited a day, o well we win some and lose some. I log in, see that I have NO membership besides f2p and now my toons are locked again. Even though i paid my 14.99 to play. I checked my CC bill, sure enough the charge is on there, but I still can't play... this is unacceptable.</blockquote>Well not really because not only are your toons unlocked you have 100% access to ALL features.. I will have my old Fae Templar back, but I still have Silver restirictions otherwise...which im fine with.</blockquote>no no no no , you missed it. My toons were unlocked for one day. Now they are locked again. I paid to play when i came back yesterday, and was allowed one day, now i am unable to log in on the toons i was able to log in on yesterday. Its strange.....</blockquote>Your issue needs a petition

Ealthina

12-09-2011, 11:49 AM

<cite>Burakku wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Cheesers@Mistmoore wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Burakku wrote:</cite><blockquote>I'm confused, I came back after it going F2p, and saw my characters were locked, so I paid for a gold membership, logged in and played on my old toons (nearly 5 years old). I come back this morning, see this annoucement, think cool! But darn why did i just p2p when it would've been free if I would've waited a day, o well we win some and lose some. I log in, see that I have NO membership besides f2p and now my toons are locked again. Even though i paid my 14.99 to play. I checked my CC bill, sure enough the charge is on there, but I still can't play... this is unacceptable.</blockquote>Well not really because not only are your toons unlocked you have 100% access to ALL features.. I will have my old Fae Templar back, but I still have Silver restirictions otherwise...which im fine with.</blockquote>no no no no , you missed it. My toons were unlocked for one day. Now they are locked again. I paid to play when i came back yesterday, and was allowed one day, now i am unable to log in on the toons i was able to log in on yesterday. Its strange.....</blockquote>AHh yea.. been up 26 hours. I miss a lot. Check after the hotfix that is about to occur.. Then I'd /petition for sure.

HaCkHaCkER

12-09-2011, 11:52 AM

this is fantastic, but what about the toons i deleted 2 days ago because this was not even on the radar.can they be restored?

Wookin

12-09-2011, 11:54 AM

Thank you!

Burakku

12-09-2011, 11:57 AM

<cite>Ahlana wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Burakku wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Cheesers@Mistmoore wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Burakku wrote:</cite><blockquote>I'm confused, I came back after it going F2p, and saw my characters were locked, so I paid for a gold membership, logged in and played on my old toons (nearly 5 years old). I come back this morning, see this annoucement, think cool! But darn why did i just p2p when it would've been free if I would've waited a day, o well we win some and lose some. I log in, see that I have NO membership besides f2p and now my toons are locked again. Even though i paid my 14.99 to play. I checked my CC bill, sure enough the charge is on there, but I still can't play... this is unacceptable.</blockquote>Well not really because not only are your toons unlocked you have 100% access to ALL features.. I will have my old Fae Templar back, but I still have Silver restirictions otherwise...which im fine with.</blockquote>no no no no , you missed it. My toons were unlocked for one day. Now they are locked again. I paid to play when i came back yesterday, and was allowed one day, now i am unable to log in on the toons i was able to log in on yesterday. Its strange.....</blockquote>Your issue needs a petition</blockquote>on hold with SOE as we speak. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> what is a petition though?

Plastic

12-09-2011, 12:17 PM

I wish I knew this because I deleted some char I really dint want to delete in order to make room for my BM

leguinree

12-09-2011, 12:26 PM

<cite>Articwind wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Faush@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>8. Lets say one of my locked toons is a race that is not free, is he still grandfathered in once I unlock his character slot through SC?</blockquote>8. If they were made before the date specified they are grandfathered. As soon as you unlock the slot you can play them. Hint: Don't buy a slot until you use all your free LDoN booster packs. I got two free slots in those as well as a few other goodies.So, if I am understanding this right--I have 4 chars to play. If I buy a free slot I can play a 5th char that is all ready there and rolled? </blockquote>

Cusashorn

12-09-2011, 12:49 PM

Unlocking my Human Monk isn't going to make up for being forced to live with only 4 platinum to my name, 2 bag slots, and all of my legendary and mythical gear being forcibly unequipped and not usable unless I pay for that. This really needs to be an All or Nothing deal.

Siodenne

12-09-2011, 12:53 PM

Gear is locked and our mythical class specific weapons we quested so hard for?

Niriel

12-09-2011, 01:03 PM

Good news to hear, but my main char has been robbed last year, so he does not have any gear or money left.Maybe I will play with some other char, but this hurts a little - don't get me wrong, this was not Sonys fault, altough it was a little funny to get a bill about 4 days of playtime. The day I saw this mail I logged in to try if my account is really activated - because I did not play for al half year - and I could log in just to see that my main char has nothing left.The funny thing is the guild bank has still some valueable stuff left and since I'm the leader of the guild there was full access to all stuff <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Maybe we see later ingame, I have to wait till the hotfix takes affect on my account.RegardsNiriel

MyaVex

12-09-2011, 01:14 PM

Can someone help me I'm not sure if I'm doing something wrong or if my eq is wrong or I've understood it wrong, I still cannot use any of my chars that ive had for years on splitpaw server, it says entering game then tells me i dont have the right class or race pack , yet they dont have the lock icon next to their name like they used to have yesterday.

Niriel

12-09-2011, 01:19 PM

just wait for the hotfix to take affect. I think the hotfix runtime is longer than they expected.I will try again tomorrow.

MyaVex

12-09-2011, 01:20 PM

ahh ok thank you, so nice to just have a reply <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />, i thought uk splitpaw was fixed earlier today but maybe its not worked for me yet <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />, ill try again later <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

TaishiFoxie

12-09-2011, 01:36 PM

<cite>Ahlana wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>TaishiFoxie wrote:</cite><blockquote>This is great news. However, what about us who created characters on EQ2X and had to pay for them and had a Live account before EQ2X existed? now that we're moved back to the Live servers, everyone else gets free characters but us! We still had to pay for those that were on EQ2X and effectively wouldn't have had to pay for them had we known and waited for you to move this package to Live since we already had an account on Live that was previously paid for and most likely still had characters on it, as mine does. What about the refunds for that? In my opinion we should be entitle to that as we should have had free characters due to the change and having to pay for EQ2X characters when effectively we could have had them free is kind of unfair.</blockquote>You started on EQ2X knowing teh restrictions... thus it is not applicable to you that you recieve a refund.Vets had no way of knowing the game would ever merge, let alone go F2P all servers and what race/class combos were right years ago.So in short, do not hold your breath</blockquote>fyi I am a vet and no I did not know it was going to merge and did not start on EQ2X. Someone clearly didn't read what I wrote.

Mitsukage

12-09-2011, 01:42 PM

I am very excited with this decision! I had played since launch, moved on WoW when that arrived. I had come back to take a look at the previous F2P, but was disappointed that i could not use any old characters. I came back for the new F2P saw my old characters but could not justify paying to unlock them. I had only one slot to play with (deleted my previous F2P toon) just to see how it plays.I will be happy playing my heritage toon from EQ1 <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Cusashorn

12-09-2011, 01:43 PM

^ But it's not your heritage toon from EQ1. It's your toon from EQ2. Even if you try to justify that your high elf is still the same character, they're not. :p

Kirianna1

12-09-2011, 01:44 PM

<cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>Unlocking my Human Monk isn't going to make up for being forced to live with only 4 platinum to my name, 2 bag slots, and all of my legendary and mythical gear being forcibly unequipped and not usable unless I pay for that. This really needs to be an All or Nothing deal.</blockquote>Wait.. what? You want to access all of that, everything, for free? It wasn't enough they lifted the race/class restrictions? But now you just want full 100% access to the game on your character and pay nothing? I'm just trying to understand....

Ixxat

12-09-2011, 01:45 PM

So yweah, I deleted some of my characters due to the slot limit. Will those be restored? I'm waiting for my 1500 SC to be refunded to unlock one of my grandfathered characters as well... hopefully this happens soon. Otherwise this was a great idea.

Mitsukage

12-09-2011, 02:02 PM

<cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>^ But it's not your heritage toon from EQ1. It's your toon from EQ2. Even if you try to justify that your high elf is still the same character, they're not. :p</blockquote>What I meant is my EQ2 toon that got it's heritage crap from EQ1 (Name/Some heirloom item) and my claimed junk from launch<img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Morgania434

12-09-2011, 02:06 PM

Hopefully I can answer a few questions here:1. I used to have a gold sub on EQ2X , During that time I received the free blood race due to buying DOV. I went to a silver membership in october. Yesterday I had no access to that character. Today it is unlocked <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />2. I have received refunds for both the silver memberhship fee and for buying my Fury class unlocker.So, if you have characters you cannot access due to being "locked" but in the PAST at ANY time you had a subscription on ANY server, you will get them "grandfathered" in for free!Now, since i have 2 more characters (lol) I can spend my money unlocking characters slots INSTEAD of character slots+race+class <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />AWESOME MOVE SOE! Thank you!!

danaplato

12-09-2011, 02:08 PM

i have had my char's on my account since 2005.but all r locked can some one tell me why please.

Cusashorn

12-09-2011, 02:13 PM

<cite>Jayda@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>Unlocking my Human Monk isn't going to make up for being forced to live with only 4 platinum to my name, 2 bag slots, and all of my legendary and mythical gear being forcibly unequipped and not usable unless I pay for that. This really needs to be an All or Nothing deal.</blockquote>Wait.. what? You want to access all of that, everything, for free? It wasn't enough they lifted the race/class restrictions? But now you just want full 100% access to the game on your character and pay nothing? I'm just trying to understand....</blockquote>I don't think it's fair that I should NOT be allowed to use the all the legendary gear and the Mythical Epic weapon I spent so long to obtain just because I came back into the game. If I were, all that gear would be locked away, and I wouldn't be able to use it again unless I paid to do so. What about the hundreds of platinum my character has? Suddenly I'm not allowed to have more than 4 platinum on me or in my bank at any one point, so what happens to that? Being stuck with only using 2 bag slots? What happens to the other 4 bags I have? What about all the gear and stuff that's in them? Where do they go? I can't put them in the bank because those are full of bags too.I wouldn't care if, at the next level increase, I'd find myself only being able to use Mastercrafted gear and Adept spells, but my character is what it is because of all the hard work I put into it as a subscriber. What I currently have, should not be taken away. Place the restrictions further down the road when the game expands it's levels and gear, but don't stop me from using what I've already earned.

Banedon_Toran

12-09-2011, 02:17 PM

<cite>HaCkHaCkER wrote:</cite><blockquote>this is fantastic, but what about the toons i deleted 2 days ago because this was not even on the radar.can they be restored?</blockquote> Not from this forum, no. By sending in a petition, yes!

Falconae

12-09-2011, 02:36 PM

Just in case anyone is following this, splitpaw is still not fully done...chars are showing as unlocked but are not playable yet.will keep checking....

Faerless

12-09-2011, 02:46 PM

Ok, so this was a clever ploy in an attempt to 'bait' former subscribers back into the game but I personally find it somewhat insulting. I just logged in my 80 Necro only to find her naked and unable to wear any of the hard earned gear that would help her still be a viable toon. Seriously, ALL other restrictions remain in place? Why would I (or anyone) want to play a higher level character who can't wear gear above Treasured quality, etc. I mean, c'mon, seriously? Seriously, No.

Detor

12-09-2011, 03:05 PM

<cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>Being stuck with only using 2 bag slots? What happens to the other 4 bags I have? </blockquote>Everybody was suppose to come back as silver, so they'd have 4 bag slots but for whatever reason (that still hasn't been fixed) most people are logging in to find themselves at bronze/free level. Contact customer support and they'll now give you silver membership.Will the refund for class/race packs happen automatically or do we need to contact customer support about that? Just wondering because I have a ticket in already where about $90 worth of Station Cash purchases went *poof* overnight between the 7th and the 8th and if I need to mention class/race packs I should just throw it in with the current ticket.

SOE-MOD-02

12-09-2011, 03:07 PM

This post has moved: <a href="/eq2/posts/preList.m?topic_id=499962&post_id=5677877" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">/eq2/posts/preList.m?topic_id=49996...post_id=5677877</a> Bypassing the filter is not permitted.

Adolpho

12-09-2011, 03:09 PM

This is all well and good - but I still question why I should have to pay for certain class/racial packs in the future that I had already obtained when I PAID FOR expansions previously that specifically granted those particular classes and races. All of this information is already on our accounts - which expansions we've purchased and whatnot. Why are we going to be forced to pay a second time around for the exact same content we had previously paid for?

Zhenobia

12-09-2011, 03:10 PM

Just confirming, splitpaw not working for me either

alisonmaya

12-09-2011, 03:18 PM

For those who are Gold members and had this issue, it's a patcher thing. I had only one character and she was locked until I realized my EQ2 icon was running EQ2 directly and not the patcher, so I ran from the patcher...it updated...and all my toons were there. Or you could run the patcher from the website and get the updates, either way after updating all my toons were there.

Kirianna1

12-09-2011, 03:39 PM

<cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Jayda@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>Unlocking my Human Monk isn't going to make up for being forced to live with only 4 platinum to my name, 2 bag slots, and all of my legendary and mythical gear being forcibly unequipped and not usable unless I pay for that. This really needs to be an All or Nothing deal.</blockquote>Wait.. what? You want to access all of that, everything, for free? It wasn't enough they lifted the race/class restrictions? But now you just want full 100% access to the game on your character and pay nothing? I'm just trying to understand....</blockquote>I don't think it's fair that I should NOT be allowed to use the all the legendary gear and the Mythical Epic weapon I spent so long to obtain just because I came back into the game. If I were, all that gear would be locked away, and I wouldn't be able to use it again unless I paid to do so. What about the hundreds of platinum my character has? Suddenly I'm not allowed to have more than 4 platinum on me or in my bank at any one point, so what happens to that? Being stuck with only using 2 bag slots? What happens to the other 4 bags I have? What about all the gear and stuff that's in them? Where do they go? I can't put them in the bank because those are full of bags too.I wouldn't care if, at the next level increase, I'd find myself only being able to use Mastercrafted gear and Adept spells, but my character is what it is because of all the hard work I put into it as a subscriber. What I currently have, should not be taken away. Place the restrictions further down the road when the game expands it's levels and gear, but don't stop me from using what I've already earned.</blockquote>Ok, so why should you get to come back, and get all that for free, while the rest of us have to pay? You don't have access to it because you aren't paying for the *rest* of the game. It wasn't "taken away". It's just not available to you as a FREE member. If you want those things back, resub to the game, just like you would have had to before all these changes. If you want to actually play the character you created, that you paid for, there is NOTHING stopping you. Sony didn't promise to make this game free for everyone with no restrictions. Not once. Just because you paid in the past, doesn't mean you should just now get everything for free NOW. I don't. Why should you? If I were to cancel my membership, I'd lose all that stuff too. Makes sense.... The FULL game with ALL features is NOT nor has it ever been free!That said, if you don't have the money or don't want to pay Sony anything, there are still ways to play the game now. Not as a paid member, no, but you do have the option to play at least. Sony unlocked the races/classes to vets. Now you want all your gear and plats too... If they do that, then why would ANYONE ever pay to play this game? And then there'd be no game to play... eventually.

Darkravyn

12-09-2011, 03:53 PM

Is there any way to choose which 4 characters we have access to? I don't seem to see a rhyme or reason as to why certain ones were picked. It locked one of my very first ever made (back in 2005) and one I made last year lol

Traksimuss

12-09-2011, 03:57 PM

Yes, only 4 of my 7 characters were unlocked. Even if last character I created in 2010.

wickedss99

12-09-2011, 03:59 PM

did anyone else log in and notice they didn't get their sc back yet? Is this an oversite? Or do I need to petition it?

selyk

12-09-2011, 04:01 PM

I have been a paying subscriber to EQ2 for roughly 7 years and have several lvl 90/300 DoV fabled characters. I did not nor plan to purchase the AoD "expansion" and just recently began contemplating cancelling my account. I researched the possibility of downgrading my account to a bronze/silver and had decided it wasn't worth it due to the restrictions placed on the bronze/silver accounts. This announcement has made me slightly curious to continue playing, however I have a couple of questions:Obviously I purchased the DoV expansion (and all others previously), if I were to switch to a bronze/silver account would I lose access to the DoV content, gear, and AA abilities that I've already paid for?If the answer to the above question is 'NO', if I were to purchase enough gear unlockers to unlock all of my DoV fabled gear... would I be able to wear it if I was on a non-gold subscription?Although I appreciate SOE's attempt to "make good" with returning players and the class/race locking problem, however "grandfathering" an account should go a bit further. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect SOE to just give the game away... but at the same time, I've been a loyal subscriber and now if I were to downgrade my subscription I would be treated the same as if I had never played before.And yes I realize if it weren't for the F2P option I more than likely wouldn't be playing at all, just trying to gather information on my options prior to deciding what I'm going to do.Thanks

SlawSlayer

12-09-2011, 04:05 PM

Wow!! This is fantastic news! Thanks for doing this I have to say I really am impressed with how great EQ2 has become lately. The staff has really restored my faith in this IP. I'm even starting to believe SmokeJumper that EQ2 really is the best MMORPG out there. Keep this up guys and You'll be getting more money out of me than if I had a paying sub lol. I like supporting a company when I like the direction they are going in.

Darkravyn

12-09-2011, 04:09 PM

<cite>selyk wrote:</cite><blockquote>I have been a paying subscriber to EQ2 for roughly 7 years and have several lvl 90/300 DoV fabled characters. I did not nor plan to purchase the AoD "expansion" and just recently began contemplating cancelling my account. I researched the possibility of downgrading my account to a bronze/silver and had decided it wasn't worth it due to the restrictions placed on the bronze/silver accounts. This announcement has made me slightly curious to continue playing, however I have a couple of questions:Obviously I purchased the DoV expansion (and all others previously), if I were to switch to a bronze/silver account would I lose access to the DoV content, gear, and AA abilities that I've already paid for?If the answer to the above question is 'NO', if I were to purchase enough gear unlockers to unlock all of my DoV fabled gear... would I be able to wear it if I was on a non-gold subscription?Although I appreciate SOE's attempt to "make good" with returning players and the class/race locking problem, however "grandfathering" an account should go a bit further. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect SOE to just give the game away... but at the same time, I've been a loyal subscriber and now if I were to downgrade my subscription I would be treated the same as if I had never played before.And yes I realize if it weren't for the F2P option I more than likely wouldn't be playing at all, just trying to gather information on my options prior to deciding what I'm going to do.Thanks</blockquote>I'm not much help with the rest of that question but I just tested and I was able to zone into the great divide with no problem as a previous subscriber with an inactive account. Also I still had 300 AA's to assign so both of those are looking good unless something changes =)

Traksimuss

12-09-2011, 04:10 PM

What is also slightly annoying, unlocked 4 characters are random. My oldest character is locked, and latest is unlocked.I see no logic in all that. I also wonder if in bank my couple of plats will be gone now or not... don't want to check yet as I don't want to know the answer.

Riftsburn

12-09-2011, 04:11 PM

<cite>wickedss99 wrote:</cite><blockquote>did anyone else log in and notice they didn't get their sc back yet? Is this an oversite? Or do I need to petition it?</blockquote>I was wondering the same thing. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Elspith

12-09-2011, 04:13 PM

<cite>selyk wrote:</cite><blockquote>I have been a paying subscriber to EQ2 for roughly 7 years and have several lvl 90/300 DoV fabled characters. I did not nor plan to purchase the AoD "expansion" and just recently began contemplating cancelling my account. I researched the possibility of downgrading my account to a bronze/silver and had decided it wasn't worth it due to the restrictions placed on the bronze/silver accounts. This announcement has made me slightly curious to continue playing, however I have a couple of questions:Obviously I purchased the DoV expansion (and all others previously), if I were to switch to a bronze/silver account would I lose access to the DoV content, gear, and AA abilities that I've already paid for?If the answer to the above question is 'NO', if I were to purchase enough gear unlockers to unlock all of my DoV fabled gear... would I be able to wear it if I was on a non-gold subscription?Although I appreciate SOE's attempt to "make good" with returning players and the class/race locking problem, however "grandfathering" an account should go a bit further. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect SOE to just give the game away... but at the same time, I've been a loyal subscriber and now if I were to downgrade my subscription I would be treated the same as if I had never played before.And yes I realize if it weren't for the F2P option I more than likely wouldn't be playing at all, just trying to gather information on my options prior to deciding what I'm going to do.Thanks</blockquote>First off, as a previous subscriber you will never be bronze. Your account would default to Silver if you cancelled your subscription.Regarding gear- yes if your account goes to silver you would need to buy Unlockers to wear your current gear but that would be a permenant unlock for those pieces... any further gear you obtained would also need to be unlocked.Any master spells you had with sub will still be there... you do not lose spells If you default to Silver.Coin limit would be 18 plat at level 90 for a silver account- any monies you have over that amount would not be taken away, you would just not be able to gain more until your account goes below the limit.Any expansions purchased (DoV, AoD) by you would not be lost. Also any character slots, etc that you purchased or received via LON would also still be available.As far as being treated different, there is really no need for this unless you group with elitists or trolls. You can unlock gear, spells and be just as competitive.

wickedss99

12-09-2011, 04:15 PM

from what I understand they unlocked the most recently played toons.

Elspith

12-09-2011, 04:27 PM

<cite>wickedss99 wrote:</cite><blockquote>from what I understand they unlocked the most recently played toons.</blockquote>yes.... and if on a Silver Membership that would be the most recent '4' characters... unless.... you purchased character slots OR got some from LON.

selyk

12-09-2011, 04:31 PM

<cite>Elspith wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>selyk wrote:</cite><blockquote>I have been a paying subscriber to EQ2 for roughly 7 years and have several lvl 90/300 DoV fabled characters. I did not nor plan to purchase the AoD "expansion" and just recently began contemplating cancelling my account. I researched the possibility of downgrading my account to a bronze/silver and had decided it wasn't worth it due to the restrictions placed on the bronze/silver accounts. This announcement has made me slightly curious to continue playing, however I have a couple of questions:Obviously I purchased the DoV expansion (and all others previously), if I were to switch to a bronze/silver account would I lose access to the DoV content, gear, and AA abilities that I've already paid for?If the answer to the above question is 'NO', if I were to purchase enough gear unlockers to unlock all of my DoV fabled gear... would I be able to wear it if I was on a non-gold subscription?Although I appreciate SOE's attempt to "make good" with returning players and the class/race locking problem, however "grandfathering" an account should go a bit further. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect SOE to just give the game away... but at the same time, I've been a loyal subscriber and now if I were to downgrade my subscription I would be treated the same as if I had never played before.And yes I realize if it weren't for the F2P option I more than likely wouldn't be playing at all, just trying to gather information on my options prior to deciding what I'm going to do.Thanks</blockquote>First off, as a previous subscriber you will never be bronze. Your account would default to Silver if you cancelled your subscription.Regarding gear- yes if your account goes to silver you would need to buy Unlockers to wear your current gear but that would be a permenant unlock for those pieces... any further gear you obtained would also need to be unlocked.Any master spells you had with sub will still be there... you do not lose spells If you default to Silver.Coin limit would be 18 plat at level 90 for a silver account- any monies you have over that amount would not be taken away, you would just not be able to gain more until your account goes below the limit.Any expansions purchased (DoV, AoD) by you would not be lost. Also any character slots, etc that you purchased or received via LON would also still be available.As far as being treated different, there is really no need for this unless you group with elitists or trolls. You can unlock gear, spells and be just as competitive.</blockquote>Thank you, that answers my questions!As for the plat, is that per account or per character? If I have 4 lvl 90 toons would that make my limit 72 plat (18 x 4)?

shadowess

12-09-2011, 04:38 PM

*Frustated* i log into to find out that my SC was not refunded for buying the class pack for a character that would have been grandfathered in. Ten I spend an hour with live support about why I am supposed to be refunded.... even copied the GM's post from here, only to have live support tell me that I was grandfathered in without needing the class pack, yea well no duh it should have been grandfathered in but I bought the class pack on the 7th and grandfathering post wasnt made till the 8th. But live support just wanted to keep argueing that i was grandfathered in..... So probably no chance of seeing my 750 SC back and see that SOE support is still just as clueless as when I bought the game and subscribed months back.

shadowess

12-09-2011, 04:54 PM

I just got this email after talking with live support for an hour, thought i would pass it along for others that are wondering too.Ok, I was just informed that the "Grandfather" should have been resolved and that the refund for race/class pack has yet to be implemented. They are still working on the script to fix that issue. Unfortunately at the moment you will just need to wait until they push the script. I apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your continued patience.Please let me know if you have any other questions or issues and I will be happy to assist you. Thank you.Your reference number for this contact is: xxxxxx-001379Oliver D.Customer Support Representative

wickedss99

12-09-2011, 04:58 PM

<cite>shadowess wrote:</cite><blockquote>I just got this email after talking with live support for an hour, thought i would pass it along for others that are wondering too.Ok, I was just informed that the "Grandfather" should have been resolved and that the refund for race/class pack has yet to be implemented. They are still working on the script to fix that issue. Unfortunately at the moment you will just need to wait until they push the script. I apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your continued patience.Please let me know if you have any other questions or issues and I will be happy to assist you. Thank you.Your reference number for this contact is: xxxxxx-001379Oliver D.Customer Support Representative</blockquote>Thank you for this.

Dekedar

12-09-2011, 05:39 PM

Good call, SoE.

danielle1973

12-09-2011, 05:51 PM

<cite>Jayda@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>Unlocking my Human Monk isn't going to make up for being forced to live with only 4 platinum to my name, 2 bag slots, and all of my legendary and mythical gear being forcibly unequipped and not usable unless I pay for that. This really needs to be an All or Nothing deal.</blockquote>Wait.. what? You want to access all of that, everything, for free? It wasn't enough they lifted the race/class restrictions? But now you just want full 100% access to the game on your character and pay nothing? I'm just trying to understand....</blockquote>It would be nice to be able to use the equipment we already earned and paid for through our monthly subscriptions. Sure, I can play my level 90 Fae Warden...but all her equipment was fabled or higher, so now she's naked.Things we already earned should not be restricted, in my opinion.

Psychotique

12-09-2011, 05:57 PM

Thank you so much SOE for listening to your players, both current and returning!After spending numerous dollars for the expansions and monthly subscription from launch to when I quit playing 1 yr ago, this is definitely a relief that I don't have to spend anymore money to play the characters I already feel I paid for. I have always enjoyed my time in EQ2, but had to leave due to not being able to afford the monthly subscription anymore.Thanks again for listening to us the players!

Rijacki

12-09-2011, 06:07 PM

<cite>Elle@Unrest wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Jayda@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>Unlocking my Human Monk isn't going to make up for being forced to live with only 4 platinum to my name, 2 bag slots, and all of my legendary and mythical gear being forcibly unequipped and not usable unless I pay for that. This really needs to be an All or Nothing deal.</blockquote>Wait.. what? You want to access all of that, everything, for free? It wasn't enough they lifted the race/class restrictions? But now you just want full 100% access to the game on your character and pay nothing? I'm just trying to understand....</blockquote>It would be nice to be able to use the equipment we already earned and paid for through our monthly subscriptions. Sure, I can play my level 90 Fae Warden...but all her equipment was fabled or higher, so now she's naked.Things we already earned should not be restricted, in my opinion.</blockquote>$7.50 one time charge to get one item for each equipment slot 'unlocked' with 4 extras for future items. 21 slots, $1.50 per unlock pack for 5 items.Yes, if you wanted to do that for each character for which you have Silver access it could get pricey (21slots x4= 84slots total = 17 unlock packs @ $1.50 = $25.50 with a one unlock left over), but it's still only one time.

instant

12-09-2011, 06:17 PM

<cite>Elle@Unrest wrote:</cite><blockquote>It would be nice to be able to use the equipment we already earned and paid for through our monthly subscriptions. Sure, I can play my level 90 Fae Warden...but all her equipment was fabled or higher, so now she's naked.Things we already earned should not be restricted, in my opinion.</blockquote>Totally agree.If you already achieved or had from the past, it should be available to you after this change. The less restrictions you put on previous subscribers, the more likelly they will be to resubscribe - or at least continue playing to populate the servers and help make the game more enjoyable to others. Hurdles like this is only going to make people feel unhappy.The way I see it, previous characters should have near unrestricted access to the game, but require them to "buy" any expansion packs. But if we decided to create new characters we'd be in the same group as the F2P players (or maybe Silver, since we probably did pay for XX content already, including the game and expansion packs). So there could be some limitations.I encourage SOE to compare their "Silver/Gold" matrix vs. How Turbine does it with LOTRO.Hoping the script gets pushed soon so we are able to login. And yea, getting the deleted characters back wouldn't be bad either.

Targetnoone

12-09-2011, 06:43 PM

Thanks Smoke!

stayx

12-09-2011, 06:46 PM

Hmm say its i need a silver account?I cant play my toons it says i need the correct character pack and race pack but this chars was create last year...

jordaann

12-09-2011, 07:14 PM

Ok I do understand the desire to have access to everything given the amount of time some folks have put in, but try to keep it in perspective. Prior to last week how much access did you have without paying for ? Zero . Still I can understand expecting some level of access but to expect the same level of access that you previously payed for is a bit much IMO

EQBariguy

12-09-2011, 07:53 PM

I appreciate the 'grandfathering' of our older characters back into the game, it's a real draw for me to come back and check out the changes since eons ago when I beta tested and played out of the gate, so to speak. I am not, however, very happy about logging in to find that my character is naked. Before someone points out that I am playing free and it's free and hey free and that's what you get: free--I would also like to point out that when I paid for this game and played it, I spent a good deal of time and effort in gearing my characters. I understand, also, that EQ II needs to make money; this is a company, that is what companies do.However, I believe that the gear I earned before the game went free to play, when I paid to play and spent a lot of effort into getting, should be available for me to wear until I out-level it. I should like it very much if EQ II considered letting grandfathered characters at least, be allowed to wear the legendaries, mythicals, treasured etc they already have prior to the game going free, and should we out level them or replace them, then you can make us fork over the bling for unlocking new gear. It's a bit of a kick in the jubblies. You want us to come back and spend more time with you, spend more cash and keep EQ II going. I get that. But you probably shouldn't reward us for doing so by stripping us of everything we had. It doesn't convince me to renew my sub, pay for an unlock, or anything. It just convinces me that you don't give a stinkin' pile about your customers unless their names are 'Wallet,' and 'money.'

Faerless

12-09-2011, 08:01 PM

<cite>EQBariguy wrote:</cite><blockquote>I appreciate the 'grandfathering' of our older characters back into the game, it's a real draw for me to come back and check out the changes since eons ago when I beta tested and played out of the gate, so to speak. I am not, however, very happy about logging in to find that my character is naked. Before someone points out that I am playing free and it's free and hey free and that's what you get: free--I would also like to point out that when I paid for this game and played it, I spent a good deal of time and effort in gearing my characters. I understand, also, that EQ II needs to make money; this is a company, that is what companies do.However, I believe that the gear I earned before the game went free to play, when I paid to play and spent a lot of effort into getting, should be available for me to wear until I out-level it. I should like it very much if EQ II considered letting grandfathered characters at least, be allowed to wear the legendaries, mythicals, treasured etc they already have prior to the game going free, and should we out level them or replace them, then you can make us fork over the bling for unlocking new gear. It's a bit of a kick in the jubblies. You want us to come back and spend more time with you, spend more cash and keep EQ II going. I get that. But you probably shouldn't reward us for doing so by stripping us of everything we had. It doesn't convince me to renew my sub, pay for an unlock, or anything. It just convinces me that you don't give a stinkin' pile about your customers unless their names are 'Wallet,' and 'money.' </blockquote>Frankly I couldn't agree more. Well put.Simply put, this bone needs more a bit more 'meat' on it in order to lure us and our cash back.Faerless

melaine_dvarvensplitter

12-09-2011, 08:18 PM

I think its great that they made the classes and races available for those who left and had toons made before 12/6/11 not require the unlockers. I can say for myself personally since I have every toon of every class and almost every race I am covered if I ever lapse my account into silver. Those who want more "goodies" IE: Fabled/Legendary/MC gear given to them since they are back are honestly GREEDY!! You made the choice to leave the game x amount of time ago, and now SOE says hey lets give you your character class back so you don't have to spend that extra money to play.. Awesome because you can play again and not pay, but they are smart by saying, you have your gear but we didn't strip but you can't equip it unless you buy unlockers...and really how many of you spend more than 15.00 on other stuff a month if not more and you can't bone up the money for unlockers or even a monthly fee. Sounds like a case of the "Entitlements" and if your really that unhappy and can't find the positive in something SOE didn't have to do then I really feel sorry for you. I know many of my old friends are back thanks to Grandfathered toons, and they are cool with having to pop a little cash for the unlockers for equipment so they can check things out and decide if they want to come back or stay away.((Was brutally hard to be nice to those who are crying .. WE WANT MORE WE WANT MORE because SOE OWES US, Crowd :/ )))

Darkwolf_72

12-09-2011, 08:35 PM

<cite>melaine_dvarvensplitter wrote:</cite><blockquote>I think its great that they made the classes and races available for those who left and had toons made before 12/6/11 not require the unlockers. I can say for myself personally since I have every toon of every class and almost every race I am covered if I ever lapse my account into silver. Those who want more "goodies" IE: Fabled/Legendary/MC gear given to them since they are back are honestly GREEDY!! You made the choice to leave the game x amount of time ago, and now SOE says hey lets give you your character class back so you don't have to spend that extra money to play.. Awesome because you can play again and not pay, but they are smart by saying, you have your gear but we didn't strip but you can't equip it unless you buy unlockers...and really how many of you spend more than 15.00 on other stuff a month if not more and you can't bone up the money for unlockers or even a monthly fee. Sounds like a case of the "Entitlements" and if your really that unhappy and can't find the positive in something SOE didn't have to do then I really feel sorry for you. I know many of my old friends are back thanks to Grandfathered toons, and they are cool with having to pop a little cash for the unlockers for equipment so they can check things out and decide if they want to come back or stay away.((Was brutally hard to be nice to those who are crying .. WE WANT MORE WE WANT MORE because SOE OWES US, Crowd :/ ))) </blockquote><blockquote>Frankly I couldn't agree more. Well put. Simply put, this bone has pleny of 'meat' on it, quit crying.</blockquote>

Naelael

12-09-2011, 08:37 PM

What about all our legendary/Fabled gear and master spells?

LightCC

12-09-2011, 08:44 PM

I was in the target group for this, and all I can say is - I'm floored. I didn't expect this - thank you SOE. You have won back an old customer - not full-time, but you will start getting micro-transactions from me, and maybe even a month of subscription now and then.I will still need to contact support to rearrange my characters to get one of my oldest characters out of slot 10, but as long as this is doable, I'll be back, enjoying EQ2, in a way I never was able to before - where I didn't feel "Pressured" to play all the time to "get my money's worth".

LightCC

12-09-2011, 08:49 PM

<cite>LightCC wrote:</cite><blockquote>I was in the target group for this, and all I can say is - I'm floored. I didn't expect this - thank you SOE. You have won back an old customer - not full-time, but you will start getting micro-transactions from me, and maybe even a month of subscription now and then.I will still need to contact support to rearrange my characters to get one of my oldest characters out of slot 10, but as long as this is doable, I'll be back, enjoying EQ2, in a way I never was able to before - where I didn't feel "Pressured" to play all the time to "get my money's worth".</blockquote>Your master spells don't go away - you just can't scribe new ones without being on subscription or spending some SC. Gear will need tokens to, but from what I heard the rates are reasonable (if they aren't grandfathered in... the letter didn't seem to say they were).This is completely reaonable to me. If I want to play for "free", I need to start playing within those rules, but the race/class issue was a decision I made a long time ago, when I didn't know there would be an impact. Honestly, I had expected to get maybe one "free grandfathered" character, or maybe even your top 4, this action is very generous, and I applaud SOE.

Jax Runner

12-09-2011, 09:14 PM

First let me say that I appreciate this change. We all know that F2P means "free to try", which makes sense and I'm perfectly fine with that. Let's be clear: if I do come back, I will be subscribing.The problem of course was that I was unable to even try the game and decide if I wanted to come back and pay you again, without first paying you. You've now fixed that situation. Now I can log my characters in and try the game, so I can decide if I want to come back or not. Well done.I have no problem with the Silver restrictions. Like I said, "free to try" makes sense to me.I do however have a problem with my cash shop mount being inaccessible. We're not talking about a piece of gear that I happened to acquire along the line while subscribed. This is something I already paid you money for directly and specifically.I don't care about my armor or my weapons or all the other bits of gear that are locked because of my current Silver status. I don't care about the bag slots, the broker restrictions, or the rest. That all makes sense. But you're asking me to pay for that mount twice, and that's just not cool. That transaction is already a done deal. Except now it's undone, because it happens to have a Legendary tag. That is a problem. In fact, it's the only problem I see with all this.My appearance armor and everything else I thought to check on that I purchased from the cash shop is still available to me. I don't see why the mount is excluded. I cannot find a good argument to support paying specifically for the mount twice.

Efour EQ2

12-09-2011, 09:32 PM

Ive installed your streaming client.Logged inAll my 8 of my RATONGAs are they still but when i click one it says ... Race locked"i thought it says they are grandfathered and I can still use them...This was an epic waste of 2h so far....

Rashano

12-09-2011, 09:41 PM

I also am getting "You lack the race pack required to play that character."Yesterday, there was an actual lock on most of my characters. The lock picture has been removed, but I do still get the race message. I play on Splitpaw, had purchased DoV around the time it came out and played for 3-4 months around that time. I have 5-6 characters on that server, all of which seem to be unlocked, however, 4 of them give me the race error. I dare not try to log onto my 2 correct race characters, as I don't want those to be counted as part of my 4 unlocked characters.Shall I place a call to SOE?

Efour EQ2

12-09-2011, 09:46 PM

There is server downtime /patch later today/thismorning i think.... Its probably to fix this issue.?Ive waited 2 years i guess i can wait another day.

Crismorn

12-09-2011, 09:49 PM

They are adding grandfathering asap and probably have to work some bugs out since it was just thought of and added yesterday.SoE added Grandfathering primarily for former customers who could not log into their characters, now you can log into your characters but everything else has a fee, this is the way it should be as SoE needs to generate income just like any other business.To all of you guys saying that previous gear should be exempt from being taken off and only upgrades should cost unlockers please stop thinking that you are somehow smarter then an entire company, you are making yourselves look very foolish by doing so.

Jax Runner

12-09-2011, 09:53 PM

<cite>Crismorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>To all of you guys saying that previous gear should be exempt from being taken off and only upgrades should cost unlockers please stop thinking that you are somehow smarter then an entire company, you are making yourselves look very foolish by doing so.</blockquote>As far as gear goes, and the rest of the Silver restrictions, I'm totally with you. But a mount bought from the cash shop is an explicit purchase and doesn't belong in the same category as a looted piece of armor just because it happens to be tagged Legendary.** editI'm not suggesting that you personally are saying otherwise. Just making a point that there's a difference between some piece of armor I found in the world and a thing I bought from the cash shop.

Felshades

12-09-2011, 09:57 PM

I'd like to see them grant the ability to use the gear you had currently equipped.... but that you'd need to unlock new stuff.Nothing like logging in naked.... ew.

Cusashorn

12-09-2011, 10:02 PM

<cite>Crismorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>To all of you guys saying that previous gear should be exempt from being taken off and only upgrades should cost unlockers please stop thinking that you are somehow smarter then an entire company, you are making yourselves look very foolish by doing so.</blockquote>You're putting words in our mouths. None of us are saying we're smarter than a corportation. We are suggesting that they could make more money by actually making us feel welcomed when we come back into the game.To many of us, getting our Enervated Mythical weapons is among the greatest accomplishments any of us have ever done as a gamer. If we are offered the opportunity to come back into the game, but are then told that everything we worked hard to accomplish- everything that we were proud to be- had to be purchased just to use again...How does the saying go? You attract more flies with honey than vinegar? Taking away my gear that I spent good money in order to obtain in the first place is the vinegar. I'm suggestion an option to replace it with honey. Even if I would have to spend money to eventually replace my gear down the road, the fact that I at least have the gear that I have makes me feel better and more willing to part with that money.

EQBariguy

12-09-2011, 10:06 PM

<cite>melaine_dvarvensplitter wrote:</cite><blockquote>I think its great that they made the classes and races available for those who left and had toons made before 12/6/11 not require the unlockers. I can say for myself personally since I have every toon of every class and almost every race I am covered if I ever lapse my account into silver. Those who want more "goodies" IE: Fabled/Legendary/MC gear given to them since they are back are honestly GREEDY!! You made the choice to leave the game x amount of time ago, and now SOE says hey lets give you your character class back so you don't have to spend that extra money to play.. Awesome because you can play again and not pay, but they are smart by saying, you have your gear but we didn't strip but you can't equip it unless you buy unlockers...and really how many of you spend more than 15.00 on other stuff a month if not more and you can't bone up the money for unlockers or even a monthly fee. Sounds like a case of the "Entitlements" and if your really that unhappy and can't find the positive in something SOE didn't have to do then I really feel sorry for you. I know many of my old friends are back thanks to Grandfathered toons, and they are cool with having to pop a little cash for the unlockers for equipment so they can check things out and decide if they want to come back or stay away.((Was brutally hard to be nice to those who are crying .. WE WANT MORE WE WANT MORE because SOE OWES US, Crowd :/ ))) </blockquote>Excuse me?I've been a paying customer for years. I paid for my expansions. I paid for my collectors addition. I paid for my mounts and my extras and, I decidicated a lot of time and effort (for me) into getting the gear that I have. I loved this game, I made wonderful friends and acquaintences. The one thing I should at least still have are the things I, as a paying customer, had. I paid for the time to play when I had this gear. Do you understand that concept? I gave them my money. I paid EQ II to play and in turn, they gave me a service. AKA: Gear, items, etc. At the very least, I should be able to wear the gear I paid for when I had it. I am not asking for new gear. I am not asking for handouts. I'm asking for what I already had! EQ II wouldn't be "giving" me anything I didn't already own. How is that greedy? "Excuse me sir, that house you owned and paid for? Well, when you went on vacation, we (The realtors who sold you this home) just up and decided to sell it to someone else. <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> You'll have to pay us double the money to get it back. " Right. And it's the house owners who are greedy?If you enjoy the game as it is? Fantastic! Keep enjoying it. But I don't, and I have an opinion about it and can express it if I wish. I'm not going to sit here and "feel sorry," for anyone who doesn't agree with me.

Mitsukage

12-09-2011, 10:08 PM

So my characters are unlocked, great! I can change their appearance, better! Once that was done I go and hit play. Class selection comes up (what?), so I don't touch anything and then hit next. The character selection comes up (huh?), again I don't touch anything and hit next. My Male Iksar (Predator) is now an Female Erudite WizardOption to choose my starting location loads up.. I am afraid to proceed past this point. I backed out to the character selection screen. Has anyone gone through this?

melaine_dvarvensplitter

12-09-2011, 10:34 PM

<cite>EQBariguy wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>melaine_dvarvensplitter wrote:</cite><blockquote>I think its great that they made the classes and races available for those who left and had toons made before 12/6/11 not require the unlockers. I can say for myself personally since I have every toon of every class and almost every race I am covered if I ever lapse my account into silver. Those who want more "goodies" IE: Fabled/Legendary/MC gear given to them since they are back are honestly GREEDY!! You made the choice to leave the game x amount of time ago, and now SOE says hey lets give you your character class back so you don't have to spend that extra money to play.. Awesome because you can play again and not pay, but they are smart by saying, you have your gear but we didn't strip but you can't equip it unless you buy unlockers...and really how many of you spend more than 15.00 on other stuff a month if not more and you can't bone up the money for unlockers or even a monthly fee. Sounds like a case of the "Entitlements" and if your really that unhappy and can't find the positive in something SOE didn't have to do then I really feel sorry for you. I know many of my old friends are back thanks to Grandfathered toons, and they are cool with having to pop a little cash for the unlockers for equipment so they can check things out and decide if they want to come back or stay away.((Was brutally hard to be nice to those who are crying .. WE WANT MORE WE WANT MORE because SOE OWES US, Crowd :/ ))) </blockquote>Excuse me?I've been a paying customer for years. I paid for my expansions. I paid for my collectors addition. I paid for my mounts and my extras and, I decidicated a lot of time and effort (for me) into getting the gear that I have. I loved this game, I made wonderful friends and acquaintences. The one thing I should at least still have are the things I, as a paying customer, had. I paid for the time to play when I had this gear. Do you understand that concept? I gave them my money. I paid EQ II to play and in turn, they gave me a service. AKA: Gear, items, etc. At the very least, I should be able to wear the gear I paid for when I had it. I am not asking for new gear. I am not asking for handouts. I'm asking for what I already had! EQ II wouldn't be "giving" me anything I didn't already own. How is that greedy? "Excuse me sir, that house you owned and paid for? Well, when you went on vacation, we (The realtors who sold you this home) just up and decided to sell it to someone else. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /> You'll have to pay us double the money to get it back. " Right. And it's the house owners who are greedy?If you enjoy the game as it is? Fantastic! Keep enjoying it. But I don't, and I have an opinion about it and can express it if I wish. I'm not going to sit here and "feel sorry," for anyone who doesn't agree with me. </blockquote>Nice extreme case with the house... Ok what part of this did you not get?Follow me here.. you pay to play and really just rent the items you loot. I said it before.. they didn't remove them from you, you still have them, but you have to pay to use them, hence the need for unlockers, eq2 is free now and that means sir, you play the free version without paying up a dime you get to only equip mastercrafted gear and experts unless you have the master version already scribed.To me it is more than fair for what you get.I also have been with the game since launch and I know that everything I have looted is "rented" when you get down to the bottom line.As they say, don't look a gift horse in the mouth <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Thanks once again SOE for the great gift of existing toons being available for play. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />** I am also a huge critic and will call them out for poor choices and this time SOE did very well in my eyes. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> **

Xdatinelia

12-09-2011, 10:44 PM

So theres no way to get to your 'main' if its beyonf the fourth slot without deleting others you have invested hard earned time into? Wish we could petition this but I think I am going to get told it cant be helped.Well that blows, but I expceted as much, guess I will be hoping santa finds some station cash cards for me.

Efour EQ2

12-09-2011, 10:47 PM

so if i want to play any of my rat charcters i need to pay 750sc?

crackers_87

12-09-2011, 11:30 PM

Hey Smokjumper! What about our RaF Account Bonus?

wickedss99

12-10-2011, 12:07 AM

wow...talk about "Give'm an inch and they take a mile"How do you not get that you had NO access to your TOON or your GEAR when you stopped paying before...no one was bitchin that they should still be able to play then....now that they generously give you the option to play for free with some limitations you cry like little children.Now, I am usually expressing how much I despise Smokeblower err jumper and what he is doing to this game but I gotta say...giving people with sub time into the game the GIFT of unlocking races and classes is really a generous offer. So quit acting like they are doin ya wrong by now letting you play the game you decided you no longer wanted to pay for.This kinda goes for Marketplace items as well...remember that you couldn't use them at all before f2p if you stopped paying for your acct.Thank you Smokejumper and the rest of the decision making staff for this concession.

Darq

12-10-2011, 01:32 AM

As posted in the F2P feedback thread...Items that were attuned while being a subscriber should be able to be equipped while not being a subscriberNow you log in, have a probably almost to completely naked character and overflowing inventory and log outOk, you're able to chat but that's about it. From my perspective (subbed until june 2012) I don't see this helping much with the population we're able to play with. All it creates is more load on the cluster and the illusion of a busier game, not really more people to play with.We bought the base game and expansion packs, those who did already bought the races and classes and one might argue even the character slots (ok if one would be able to pick which 4(or more) slots to unlock, their fav chars).Ok so let's say we'd get all races and classes we paid for, we want a new character, we pay 10$. We create a new character, level it up to 20 and go to fallen gate, kill a named mob and it drops a legendary staff and maybe a master spellbook. There's your money. We level to 30 more and more legendary gear. And the amount of money we can have is limited, and our bag slots are limited. We buy unlockers and there's your money.Next scenario. We quit because we're bored or tired of the game and we're a subscriber, take a 6 month break and come back. We log in, since we've probably raided or done heroic zones, our character is naked. But we've invested time and effort to get these items, spammed level chat to find groups, found out how to beat the scripts to loot the gear and so on and we were paying our subscription. Sorry we're naked now. What do we do? Get a bad feeling and think ok now I remember why I quit in the 1st place. We can't decide if it would be fun to subscribe again and run these zones or new ones because we're naked. We could harvest and craft, but what for? Running DoV or SF in mastercrafted gear? We'd be blocked from running zones. Sure we could run some lower level zones, but again what for? Our AA is probably maxed, lower tier gear undesireable. Ok we might try to exchange some plat for SC and buy a month's sub. Yeah we could run a dungeon maker zone, but well that's not the same.Next scenario. We think we're smart and cancel the subscription, we might save some money and still get to play the game altough we're playing many hours a day. Of course our fabled gear that is attuned can be worn and exchanged with other fabled items if we so desire. Wait what's this? 3 bag slots and their contents are red. We can't spend more than 18p in one transaction, duoing PR? pointless. Raiding? not enough bag space. Ok we decide to buy bag space. that money we earn by raiding, 10-20p each day not sure if we can put it in the bank. guild split of 2k plat, not for us. We decide it was a dumb idea and resubscribe.

Tigress

12-10-2011, 01:41 AM

<cite>Xdatinelia wrote:</cite><blockquote>So theres no way to get to your 'main' if its beyonf the fourth slot without deleting others you have invested hard earned time into? Wish we could petition this but I think I am going to get told it cant be helped.Well that blows, but I expceted as much, guess I will be hoping santa finds some station cash cards for me.</blockquote>try a petition.

Ilavatar

12-10-2011, 01:44 AM

OK guys I understand the "only 4 bags for F2P" but that shouldn't apply to RANGER QUIVERS. Unless you are going to lock mages spells and fighters' weapons. Our quivers are essential to our game play, not just storage. To make us spend our bag space on arrows discriminates against us when others don't need to do that just to play the game. It's not like mages have bags full of spell reagents they use up every time they fight. It should be "4 bags + quiver".

Tigress

12-10-2011, 01:51 AM

you can still use the quiver. it just looks like you cannot use it.

Mairin

12-10-2011, 02:08 AM

I swear I read something about a 48-hour grace period or window, but I searched the forums for "grace" and although I get tons of responses, if I click on one and search for grace it says it can't find anything.Here's my deal:I've got one gold account and 2 silvers that I played with Station Pass for years (well, 3 silvers, but one I can live without). When I went on disability I lowered to $45 for 3, then $30 for 2, and finally realized I could only afford $15 for one. The first silver had 11 slots, the second 9. I bought 2 passports last week to try to prepare the about-to-be-silver accounts to make sure they only had 4 bags and 2 shared bank slots. Nowhere in the chart describing membership levels did it say I'd only have 3 bank slots. I also didn't see anywhere that I would only have slots 1-4, only that I would only have 4 slots. So all my toons only had 4 bags, but I always use the rightmost slots to keep my important things I always want to have with me (like mounts and weapon/armor/spell upgrades, ).When I was trying to get 11 toons ready in 3 days and 9 toons in another 3 days, I was afraid I wouldn't get them done in time, so I started with my most important toons. That means they weren't the ones most recently played. Nowhere did I see that the toons that I would be allowed to play would be the ones played most recently. (Although I read that in the forums after my passport periods were over.)So,<ul><li>Because the producer's letter and membership chart didn't say I couldn't use slots 5 and 6, my toons don't have their critical stuff.</li><li>Because the producer's letter and membership chart didn't say I would only have access to the last toons played, my mains are locked.</li><li>Because neither the producer's letter or membership chart said I would only have 3 bank slots, most of the stuff I unloaded from my toons and stuck in the bank is locked.</li><li>Which also means I spent $10 last week for nothing. I know that means nothing to most of you, but that's the cost of 2 of my Medicare prescriptions.</li></ul>I keep putting in petitions and support requests and getting no replies, I guess because I need help with silver accounts.The only option I see now is to not play my gold account for 2 months and instead play 1 silver for each of those months and try to remember to play my mains last. Which is really going to annoy the guild I'm in that needs my gold account's illy for power.Whenever someone complains, someone else says that this is better than it used to be, because the way it used to be, we had no access to inactive accounts at all. But that's not true. Every once in a while I'd be able to scare up $5 to play one account with all my toons and slots and masters and gear for 3 days. But since Passport has been taken away, I can no longer do that.Initially I was grateful for being able to play some accounts in a limited capacity, but going F2P cost me<ul><li> $10, </li><li>6 days of not being to play because I was instead organizing my characters, </li><li>most of the stuff I thought I was going to be able to keep (and therefore didn't put somewhere else, like a vault or giving it to toons in my gold account), </li><li>my mains, and </li><li>the inability to play my inactive accounts without forking over $15 each and being unable to play my gold account (instead of $5 each for 3 days while keeping my gold account active).</li></ul>So is there a grace period to get this stuff straightened out? Or do I have to not play my main account for two months? Or not play the other 2 ever again unless I win the lottery (which will be pretty hard since I can't afford to buy a ticket).

Demio

12-10-2011, 02:09 AM

1) I have not been reimbursed for unlocking ogre race.2) After I unlocked the toon and logged in you guys stripped him nude. He totally useless for "getting back into the game".3) Because my primary character is in the state he is in. I do not have the confidence to log into any of my other characters on my account for fear what state they may be in.Thanks for the marketing ploy, I just do not find it Free to Play at the moment.Enjoy

Ilavatar

12-10-2011, 02:43 AM

<cite>Tigress wrote:</cite><blockquote>you can still use the quiver. it just looks like you cannot use it.</blockquote>Ah, thanks. I'll try that. So it's a bug, then. Obviously if you can use it, then it should look like you can.

Siodenne

12-10-2011, 03:42 AM

I really don't care about the armor so much as my mythical class specific weapon that took alot of help from fellow guildies for me to get. Quests of that nature that give weapons should not have said weapons requiring to be unlocked. If they are gong to do that they may as well lock zones to get their money as well don't you think? Or how about charging us for all of our houses, pets, and assorted fru fru we stack in them. What happens if I take a weapon from a quest off the wall and remove the mounting? Do I have to unlock that to equip it?

Keshra

12-10-2011, 04:10 AM

<cite>Keshra@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>...dropping from Gold to Silver is the only way I can still get my EQ2 fix until I can afford the subscription again. This will at least unlock 3 of what's left of my characters -- I had to delete the other 3 today (Dec. 8th) just to get an open slot to recreate something I can play since all of my characters were locked because of race/class combinations. ...it may be worth it for me to pester CS about restoring the 3 I just deleted, since they were created several months ago and would have qualified to be grandfathered in. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /></blockquote>Just FYI for folks hoping to get their (qualifying) characters restored that you deleted just before the grandfathering announcement...I submitted my ticket for restoring only 1 of my 3 deleted characters. The CS reply is that they won't help until I upgrade to a paying (gold) subscription, because a silver account does not qualify for this type of assistance. I suspected that would happen, but at least it didn't hurt to ask. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Ilavatar

12-10-2011, 07:55 AM

<cite>EQBariguy wrote:</cite><blockquote>At the very least, I should be able to wear the gear I paid for when I had it. </blockquote>Agreed. Apart from the logic of it, the advantage to letting vets equip the gear they already have is that it will get them playing the game much faster.It won't be long after they start playing that they'll start getting new gear and hit the pay wall.In fact, SOE might end up making more money this way because the vets will be happier. And they'll start playing sooner instead of sitting around wondering about whether to pay to equip their old gear which will quickly become outdated. People are much more willing to pay to get the new cool stuff than the old stuff they thought they already owned.The rest of it, paying for more storage, gold, etc. is not that different from other F2P games.

stayx

12-10-2011, 09:34 AM

As silver member some of my "legendary" equip not usable, is it normal?

Arek

12-10-2011, 10:48 AM

<cite>Deeperia@Valor wrote:</cite><blockquote>As silver member some of my "legendary" equip not usable, is it normal?</blockquote>Yes. No Legendary + equip unless you buy unlockers.I understand them not giving "grandfathered" toons all of their equipment, it is a business and this change was made to make more money. At the same time I would hope they would add more equipment on the top end (80-90) to quests. I am playing h-e-double hockey sticks trying to find equipment to wear that isnt handcrafted, or trash drops with no stats at all.I can't imagine being able to do any group content in hancrafted gear at lvl 90.

Voleur

12-10-2011, 12:53 PM

<cite>Arek wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Deeperia@Valor wrote:</cite><blockquote>As silver member some of my "legendary" equip not usable, is it normal?</blockquote>Yes. No Legendary + equip unless you buy unlockers.I understand them not giving "grandfathered" toons all of their equipment, it is a business and this change was made to make more money. At the same time I would hope they would add more equipment on the top end (80-90) to quests. I am playing h-e-double hockey sticks trying to find equipment to wear that isnt handcrafted, or trash drops with no stats at all.I can't imagine being able to do any group content in hancrafted gear at lvl 90.</blockquote>You should have seen my bestfriends face when he logged in his grandfathered Dark Elf Assassin and realized he was completely naked - all he was wearing were SF fabled raid drops. I laughed until he looked at me and said he was going back to SW:ToR's beta. :p (edit: wearing before the F2P launch)As for your equipment issue, it should be all THAT hard to find wearable gear - even on The Bazaar, a server with possibly the worst broker availability/pricing issue (ok, maybe Vox is worse), it hasn't been hard to find gear to wear that is fairly acceptable, apart from critical mitigation stats. Even my level 51 Defiler, wearing trash drops/broker buys, has 20% or more in nearly every blue stat. At higher levels, it would be even easier to find gear for her on the broker, since theres more available.

Ilavatar

12-10-2011, 01:04 PM

Silver toons need an option to pay to unlock the exp/AA slider. With the new emphasis on new toons and the lower content, progression guilds are enjoying a revival.Central to a progression guild is the ability to stop leveling so that you don't out-level the content.Here's a great way for SOE to make more money! Let us give you money! We want to pay to unlock the AA slider!

Cusashorn

12-10-2011, 02:13 PM

<cite>Ilavatar wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>EQBariguy wrote:</cite><blockquote>At the very least, I should be able to wear the gear I paid for when I had it. </blockquote>Agreed. Apart from the logic of it, the advantage to letting vets equip the gear they already have is that it will get them playing the game much faster.It won't be long after they start playing that they'll start getting new gear and hit the pay wall.In fact, SOE might end up making more money this way because the vets will be happier. And they'll start playing sooner instead of sitting around wondering about whether to pay to equip their old gear which will quickly become outdated. People are much more willing to pay to get the new cool stuff than the old stuff they thought they already owned.The rest of it, paying for more storage, gold, etc. is not that different from other F2P games.</blockquote>Like I said earlier, you attract more flies with honey than with vinegar. I'd be more inclined to pay for the right to use better equipment later on when I finally outgrow my current gear, instead of having to not only buy crappy gear as a forced replacement and have the locked slots staring me down right from the start.

Qwindar

12-10-2011, 03:24 PM

My only real problem with the grandfathering is they quietly posted it in the forums. I don't sit here and read the forums for an hour before I go play for my limited time I get to play. I payed to have my two main characters unlocked, only to find out that the announcement had already been made and they were not going to reimburse anybody AFTER the news was posted.

Ilavatar

12-10-2011, 03:27 PM

<cite>Qwindar wrote:</cite><blockquote>My only real problem with the grandfathering is they quietly posted it in the forums. I don't sit here and read the forums for an hour before I go play for my limited time I get to play. I payed to have my two main characters unlocked, only to find out that the announcement had already been made and they were not going to reimburse anybody AFTER the news was posted.</blockquote>Yeah, they should have sent out emails to everyone on their mailing list and press releases to all the gaming sites and mags as soon as they made the changes.

HotRod

12-10-2011, 03:31 PM

Just paid my gold membership yesterday and was still dropped to silver status. Characters stripped (equipment moved to inventory/overflow), bags locked, slots locked, my BM locked (since I have NO race or class packs having always been a gold member). Research on anything above journeyman halted, and I can't help my apprentices because journal shrank.Makes me wish I'd opted to continue playing SW after the beta instead of buying the $60 micro expansion.

Kirianna1

12-10-2011, 05:22 PM

<cite>EQBariguy wrote:</cite><blockquote>Excuse me?I've been a paying customer for years. I paid for my expansions. I paid for my collectors addition. I paid for my mounts and my extras and, I decidicated a lot of time and effort (for me) into getting the gear that I have. I loved this game, I made wonderful friends and acquaintences. The one thing I should at least still have are the things I, as a paying customer, had. I paid for the time to play when I had this gear. Do you understand that concept? I gave them my money. I paid EQ II to play and in turn, they gave me a service. AKA: Gear, items, etc. At the very least, I should be able to wear the gear I paid for when I had it. I am not asking for new gear. I am not asking for handouts. I'm asking for what I already had! EQ II wouldn't be "giving" me anything I didn't already own. How is that greedy? "Excuse me sir, that house you owned and paid for? Well, when you went on vacation, we (The realtors who sold you this home) just up and decided to sell it to someone else. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /> You'll have to pay us double the money to get it back. " Right. And it's the house owners who are greedy?If you enjoy the game as it is? Fantastic! Keep enjoying it. But I don't, and I have an opinion about it and can express it if I wish. I'm not going to sit here and "feel sorry," for anyone who doesn't agree with me. </blockquote>I don't understand this mentality. You stopped paying for the game. Therefore you had zero access to anything in EQ2 that you "paid for" previously.Now, Sony makes it so you can come back... for free. Sure, there are restrictions, but you can come check out the game without paying a dime.I have asked this question before but no one touched it: Why should you get to come back, and get everything you *had* while being a paid member for free, while the rest of us have to pay? You don't have access to it because you aren't paying for the *rest* of the game. It wasn't "taken away". It's just not available to you as a FREE member. So are you asking that for those who quit paying for the game, but want all they had before, that us paid member should be reimbursed for what you're asking to be "given back" to you for free? Or that we should continue paying while you get the same access to your stuff for free? It makes zero sense both in fairness or as any kind of successful business model.If Sony caved on that too, and gave you the gear you "earned" while you were a *paying member*, for free, what would that do to the game? Then rest of us who are still paying would want that too! Why should you be rewarded for NOT paying for the use of this game, while the rest of us who have continued to pay just watch the non-payers get handouts?If Sony allowed that, as soon as anyone got the best gear they could, they'd stop paying. If they continue caving to your demands for free stuff, eventually no one would pay for anything. What would happen then? The game would eventually die and then there'd be no game to play anymore.

CorpseGoddess

12-10-2011, 05:39 PM

<cite>Jayda@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>EQBariguy wrote:</cite><blockquote>Excuse me?I've been a paying customer for years. I paid for my expansions. I paid for my collectors addition. I paid for my mounts and my extras and, I decidicated a lot of time and effort (for me) into getting the gear that I have. I loved this game, I made wonderful friends and acquaintences. The one thing I should at least still have are the things I, as a paying customer, had. I paid for the time to play when I had this gear. Do you understand that concept? I gave them my money. I paid EQ II to play and in turn, they gave me a service. AKA: Gear, items, etc. At the very least, I should be able to wear the gear I paid for when I had it. I am not asking for new gear. I am not asking for handouts. I'm asking for what I already had! EQ II wouldn't be "giving" me anything I didn't already own. How is that greedy? "Excuse me sir, that house you owned and paid for? Well, when you went on vacation, we (The realtors who sold you this home) just up and decided to sell it to someone else. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /> You'll have to pay us double the money to get it back. " Right. And it's the house owners who are greedy?If you enjoy the game as it is? Fantastic! Keep enjoying it. But I don't, and I have an opinion about it and can express it if I wish. I'm not going to sit here and "feel sorry," for anyone who doesn't agree with me. </blockquote>I don't understand this mentality. You stopped paying for the game. Therefore you had zero access to anything in EQ2 that you "paid for" previously.Now, Sony makes it so you can come back... for free. Sure, there are restrictions, but you can come check out the game without paying a dime.I have asked this question before but no one touched it: Why should you get to come back, and get everything you *had* while being a paid member for free, while the rest of us have to pay? You don't have access to it because you aren't paying for the *rest* of the game. It wasn't "taken away". It's just not available to you as a FREE member. So are you asking that for those who quit paying for the game, but want all they had before, that us paid member should be reimbursed for what you're asking to be "given back" to you for free? Or that we should continue paying while you get the same access to your stuff for free? It makes zero sense both in fairness or as any kind of successful business model.If Sony caved on that too, and gave you the gear you "earned" while you were a *paying member*, for free, what would that do to the game? Then rest of us who are still paying would want that too! Why should you be rewarded for NOT paying for the use of this game, while the rest of us who have continued to pay just watch the non-payers get handouts?If Sony allowed that, as soon as anyone got the best gear they could, they'd stop paying. If they continue caving to your demands for free stuff, eventually no one would pay for anything. What would happen then? The game would eventually die and then there'd be no game to play anymore. </blockquote>Nicely said. Of course, I've been saying the same thing ad nauseum in a scrillion other threads, so good luck. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" />

Kirianna1

12-10-2011, 05:52 PM

<cite>Streppoch@Guk wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Jayda@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>I don't understand this mentality. You stopped paying for the game. Therefore you had zero access to anything in EQ2 that you "paid for" previously.Now, Sony makes it so you can come back... for free. Sure, there are restrictions, but you can come check out the game without paying a dime.I have asked this question before but no one touched it: Why should you get to come back, and get everything you *had* while being a paid member for free, while the rest of us have to pay? You don't have access to it because you aren't paying for the *rest* of the game. It wasn't "taken away". It's just not available to you as a FREE member. So are you asking that for those who quit paying for the game, but want all they had before, that us paid member should be reimbursed for what you're asking to be "given back" to you for free? Or that we should continue paying while you get the same access to your stuff for free? It makes zero sense both in fairness or as any kind of successful business model.If Sony caved on that too, and gave you the gear you "earned" while you were a *paying member*, for free, what would that do to the game? Then rest of us who are still paying would want that too! Why should you be rewarded for NOT paying for the use of this game, while the rest of us who have continued to pay just watch the non-payers get handouts?If Sony allowed that, as soon as anyone got the best gear they could, they'd stop paying. If they continue caving to your demands for free stuff, eventually no one would pay for anything. What would happen then? The game would eventually die and then there'd be no game to play anymore. </blockquote>Nicely said. Of course, I've been saying the same thing ad nauseum in a scrillion other threads, so good luck. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /></blockquote>Maybe, the paid members should be requesting the same freebies. For every non-paid player asking for more freebies, a paid member should get the same. Sony can just reimburse us paid members for every handout they're giving the squeaky wheels. That's only fair. Right? Who cares if Sony makes any money. Who needs money to keep a game like this going?

BWLeeEllison

12-10-2011, 08:05 PM

The whole deal about not being able to use your stuff you already paid and played for is like having the dealership come slap a boot on your already bought and paid for car just because they started a new program for new customers.

eyes007

12-10-2011, 08:26 PM

Actually it's very simple, how many free to play "new" customers have paid for all the expansions up to Sentinel's Fate? Exactly, none at all, they get access to everything up to that, so for returning players who have invested $200-$250 in expansions alone, plus the subs? You would think that alone allows you to keep gear unlocked that you have already had on your person, bank or inventory.Those who have been paying in this time and aren't expecting to change, you have other reasons to keep status quo, you will continue not to have to unlock fabled gear, masters, all that stuff that us returning silver members will have to pay on the marketplace to unlock. I'd say that's still pretty substantial.At the end of the day, the very point is, grandfathering = great, but unlocking characters won't get people playing regularly again, it just means you get to look at your characters and think "gee, if I wasn't naked I could check out these new instances on this new expac I just bought" ah well, /logoutIt isn't about fairness, or laziness or even about investment. What will players do with toons they have to buy stuff for when they already have adequate gear in their bags? /Play another game. It's that simple. No hard feelings, no regrets. Just better options elsewhere.

Qwindar

12-10-2011, 09:18 PM

I'm fine with not being allowed to use the Legendary+ gear that I collected while I was a paying member. SOE did give us a one time chance to not equip them and restore them. I used that chance to sell them on the market and buy something useable.My biggest pet peeve is the "all characters made from 12:01 (day of release) to THE POINT OF THIS POSTING" will have their station cash reimbursed. Seriously. What if I was happily playing my 1 available toon for four hours and thought, "man, it's worth spending the $7.50 to open my former main" and went through with the order only to log off and find I missed the cut by, oh, 20 minutes. It's stupid. They should've reimbursed everybody that paid to unlock a toon from the time it went live until the time the servers went down for THAT update. I understand they need to make money, it's HOW they made $15 from me alone that ticks me off.

stayx

12-10-2011, 10:51 PM

Hmm sorry SOE i have logged in today and yes i can play all my toons (they are more then 2 years old and sf expansion all in one buyed, payed more then 2 years monthly subscription) but i dont have any gear, i'm naked!This account is not playable at this time, my completely gear is not usable, when you give us the chance to play our toons that are created before the 06.12.2011 without any race or class restriction then let us play with our gear that we have looted and equiped before the 06.12.2011...All gear that we loot or need to wear after the 06.12.2011 can be restricted its not a problem its the same thing that you have do with the race/class restriction with the grandfather thingy, its sad that i can play my toon but i cant use it, its useless... account /closeSorry for my english.

Redrose

12-11-2011, 08:15 AM

I am a recurring monthly subscriber. Not Gold, Silver, Extended or anything else. I have been a recurring montly for a long time. I have characters on several severals and ALL of them have their armor in their bags (which are overflowing), 2 bags locked...and I was so upset I haven't even seen what else they can't do. How does this fix my problem??? I have patiently gone through the hacking. Through the patches and patches to fix patches. It is Sunday morning where I am. I Pay for today. I paid for last night. I would like my Characters back. I would appreciate being able to play the game I Pay for TODAY. Please address this issue in a post, others are in the same situation as me. (Read the forum posts). I have submitted a support ticket, as we were all advised to do #111211-000529.I am trying to be patient, but really....this is ridiculous.What do we get for staying through this mess?Sincerely

Redrose

12-11-2011, 08:16 AM

And yes, Like Deep Eria..........my characters are completely useless atm.

Ilavatar

12-11-2011, 09:31 AM

Dear SOE,I hope you're still following this thread. If you sort through all the back and forth it seems there is only one more MAIN issue that is still repeatedly mentioned in this and the related threads in other sections - activating legendary gear that was already earned.Regardless of the points pro and con, it is still holding back a lot people who would otherwise be playing the game and thus paying you money.Could you please just activate the legendary gear for vets and most of us can move on to actually playing the game instead of arguing about this ad nauseum?

Ilavatar

12-11-2011, 10:46 AM

I thought of a way you can make all vets happy and get them back in the game asap.Give the four unlocked toons of every returning a vet a one-time Equipment Unlocker Pack with 25 charges. That will allow them to unlock a complete set of gear and weapons on each toon.Vets who are still on the fence will be able to enter the game now. Vets who have already paid to unlock their gear can use it on their next set so you don't have to hassle with refunds. The unlocker should unlock the highest possible gear to avoid any complaints.This will get everyone back in the game and ready to start paying to unlock bags, their next set of gear, etc. You'll probably make your money back in the first week due to increased players - maybe the first weekend.If you're feeling cheap, you can give them only two unlocker packs per account. That way they'll have to choose which two of their four accounts to activate. But why create aggravation?Apart from this, I'd say your new F2P program is shaping up pretty well.

Rijacki

12-11-2011, 02:34 PM

<cite>Ilavatar wrote:</cite><blockquote>I thought of a way you can make all vets happy and get them back in the game asap.Give the four unlocked toons of every returning a vet a one-time Equipment Unlocker Pack with 25 charges. That will allow them to unlock a complete set of gear and weapons on each toon.Vets who are still on the fence will be able to enter the game now. Vets who have already paid to unlock their gear can use it on their next set so you don't have to hassle with refunds. The unlocker should unlock the highest possible gear to avoid any complaints.This will get everyone back in the game and ready to start paying to unlock bags, their next set of gear, etc. You'll probably make your money back in the first week due to increased players - maybe the first weekend.If you're feeling cheap, you can give them only two unlocker packs per account. That way they'll have to choose which two of their four accounts to activate. But why create aggravation?Apart from this, I'd say your new F2P program is shaping up pretty well.</blockquote>How would this be fair at all to those who are paying a recurring subscription? What benefit is there for actually paying a monthly subscription if everything is given for free to those who don't?You want more and more free as a requisite to play and say, " it is still holding back a lot people who would otherwise be playing the game and thus paying you money." How are they paying money if everything is given to them for free? I've paid for every expansion, double because I have 2 accounts, many of them CE (usually not both accounts CE). I've had an account since day one of launch and that account was converted to Station Access shortly after that was made available and has been SA (now AA) until now. My second account was started a few months after launch and was an SA account for a few years but now is back to being a regular subscription. I don't know if I have spent more or less than you and I frankly don't care if I have. I only post this because of the plethora of posters throwing around their PAST purchases and subscriptions as reasons they should be able to get everything and the cow for free now.-I- don't think I am entitled to anything beyond what my subscription level gives me. I don't think I am entitled to anything and everything if I stop paying a subscription. If I dropped the monthly on either of my accounts, I fully expect and accept I will be under the restrictions of a Silver account. I fully expected and accepted in the past that I would have zero access to my characters and the game if I dropped my monthly payments.Characters, gear, etc. is all the property of SOE. You don't own diddly. In essence, a subscription is a rent or lease payment. You have access only so long as it is being paid. SOE added in a new account type which gives you -limited- access for a one time payment, but it is LIMITED access. You aren't, and shouldn't be, getting the same access as someone who is paying for the monthly rent/lease.

Ilavatar

12-11-2011, 03:19 PM

I'm really not interested in getting into this debate raging all over the forums. Obviously some players feel very strongly like you. Others feel the other way. I think the points for both sides have been made before.It's time for SOE to make a decision and move forward. I am suggesting a possible solution.

Demio

12-11-2011, 06:08 PM

<cite>Ilavatar wrote:</cite><blockquote>I'm really not interested in getting into this debate raging all over the forums. Obviously some players feel very strongly like you. Others feel the other way. I think the points for both sides have been made before.It's time for SOE to make a decision and move forward. I am suggesting a possible solution.</blockquote>My character is no threat to you, I had to stop playing back in 2009 due to loss of job. I got a new job in Sept 2010. When I came back to see if my guild still here, which they weren't I moved on to another game and built a new group of friends. I miss EQ2. So my subscription payed to allow me to get gear up until 2009. So, What does your subscription do for you? It allowed you to continue to play the game probably top tier gear, top level, best spells in the game.I just want my current gear available to me, i earned it, I payed during those subscription times. Now going forward I would have to agree that I would need to buy unlocker. I am already ten level behind and god knows what kind of gear I would need to reach level 90.As I stated I like EQ2, if I only had my gear it possible I could join a new group of friends in this game. Right now "nude" is not going to allow me to meet people. Would you like some ogre on the street walk up and say, "hey let go bar hopping" I got 20 cent!".I doubt it...

Khotori

12-11-2011, 06:26 PM

'Grandfathered in'.. ? There is no such thing as 'grandfathered in'.Today, I installed EQ 2 and all packs up to Shadows of Odessey (last pack I bought and played). I tolerated 2 hours of 'patching and installing' to bring this game "up to date". I logged in and noticed right away that THREE out of my NINE characters are locked! One of them being my oldest character I made back at the end of 2004 or the start of 2005. She was last played in June of this year before I started playing my Vampire toon.Notice the facts:1. I started in 2004/2005 with a PAID subscription, 6 character slots, 6 bags, 20 bank slots (16 plus 4 shared) and unlimited currency.2. I started with all races except Froglok and Freeblood (one I quested for to unlock and one I bought with SC).3. I bought all expansion packs up to Shadows of Odessey which included all features, all gear, skills and etc. from those expansion packs. (I will explain in detail below.)4. THEN last spring/summer, I bought THREE character slots with STATION CASH.But I am sitting in front of my monitor staring at the character selection window. I am seeing 3 out of 9 characters locked despite the fact SOE stated that all characters made PRIOR to December 12th, 2011, would be GRANDFATHERED into the game regardless of what membership package I get. SOE stated that I can play any of my characters despite the membership package I use.So why am I only able to play 6 out of 9 characters that I created for the past 6 years? Why am I being forced to pay to unlock my characters that were SUPPOSED to be grandfathered into the game no matter if I play for free or not?Notice the Gear Facts:1. I quested for hours to obtain my gear to use on my characters.2. I raided for hours to obtain my gear to use on my characters.3. I crafted for hours to obtain my gear to use on my characters.And yet, my 83 SK can't use most of her gear! I have to pay to re-equip all of my Legendary stuff?! I thought to myself,"Wait a minute.. Why do I have to pay to REUSE my gear that I ALREADY obtained?" I am left with mastercrafted gear (equipped), 1 weapon (equipped) and some jewelery (equipped). I feel.. cheated!I think it's fine if I started playing EQ 2 for free for the first time, knowing well that the restrictions are there for a reason, but I played EQ 2. I paid to play EQ 2. I bought expansion packs so I could obtain that awesome weapon or that neat mount.I'm talking about hundreds of dollars poured into playing EQ 2 - subscription, expansion packs, station items/races/classes.And you're offering to grandfather us veterans into EQ 2? This is not Free To Play I was thinking about in terms of playability when it comes to pre-existing characters, pre-existing features (I.E: SIX CHARACTER SLOTS, SIX BAGS), pre-existing items that we already have.Sure, Free To Play is a good idea, and I do appreciate the effort in creating an opportunity for us veterans to return and play again to see if we still have that same desire to play the game again and maybe resubscribe. BUT how are you going to convince us veterans to return and play after we read about the issues and complaints regarding the "Grandfather" deal? After we paid for our gear, items, houses, races, classes with our subscriptions, our expansion packs and our station cash?I am.. literally -unfavorable word- off.

Arbreth

12-11-2011, 09:25 PM

The frostfell stuff is legendary...frankly that is not fair to any of the f2p people, but if they have earned it they should be able to wear if if the toon was once a 'gold'/live member.The restrictions are rather....restrictive to the point of silly for some things.

Dekedar

12-11-2011, 10:16 PM

I was just thinking about this and it looks like it's already been posted. Imo, gear equipped while an active subscription is / was present should not be unequipped. Require gear unlockers to put on new gear, but don't take off what has already been earned.Look at master spells, why are they not unmastered?

Felshades

12-11-2011, 10:25 PM

<cite>Fantomex@Everfrost wrote:</cite><blockquote>Actually it's very simple, how many free to play "new" customers have paid for all the expansions up to Sentinel's Fate? Exactly, none at all, they get access to everything up to that, so for returning players who have invested $200-$250 in expansions alone, plus the subs? You would think that alone allows you to keep gear unlocked that you have already had on your person, bank or inventory.Those who have been paying in this time and aren't expecting to change, you have other reasons to keep status quo, you will continue not to have to unlock fabled gear, masters, all that stuff that us returning silver members will have to pay on the marketplace to unlock. I'd say that's still pretty substantial.At the end of the day, the very point is, grandfathering = great, but unlocking characters won't get people playing regularly again, it just means you get to look at your characters and think "gee, if I wasn't naked I could check out these new instances on this new expac I just bought" ah well, /logoutIt isn't about fairness, or laziness or even about investment. What will players do with toons they have to buy stuff for when they already have adequate gear in their bags? /Play another game. It's that simple. No hard feelings, no regrets. Just better options elsewhere.</blockquote>BF paid for all those expansions and he's still locked into crabapples for gear. Which is annoying.Here's my question. What about free to play people that buy DoV? ALL the QUEST REWARDS from Velious... ARE LEGENDARY. You cannot equip legendary without paying for unlockers on a free or silver account, but you don't get treasured quest gear. So exactly whats supposed to go on here with this? Honestly.What about things like LoN mounts, or the Kingdom of Sky cloud mount timeline mount? Fabled. Can't use those. Quested Rilissian soldier's mount rhino. Fabled. Can't use those. And people that come back that did their mythical weapon quest? Can't use that.I wonder if they do ER if they can't get the ability from it, because "technically" the spell you get as a reward is mythical quality.Lots of simple, everyday things that you can't do if you're not paying. Nothing bigger as a slap in the face when doing quests to level and being told "here's your reward for a job well done... but you can't use it!! Nyah nyah!"

Khotori

12-12-2011, 01:17 AM

I also wanted to touch on the subject of character slots. It seems Free To Play completely ignored the character slots that were BOUGHT with SC. Those 3 out of 9 character slots were bought with SC I obtained from a local store. So I can't play those 3 characters if I went Free To Play or even downgraded to Silver.Plus the petition system is broken. I tried to put in a petition to have those last 3 character slots opened and to get all of my gear enabled (which I quested and raided for in the first place BEFORE Free To Play existed.) I was sent to a page on the site containing some sort of Apache error.Okay, so I'm out 3 character slots which cost me 3000 SC. I am not willing to pay extra to unlock my characters. I paid for them. Period. I am not willing to pay to have all of my gear unlocked. I paid and quested for them via expansion packs prior to December 2011. At least I have all of the races including the Freeblood racial pack I bought, although I think I had Cloud of Bats (Freeblood-only mount). So I still have that ability to create Freebloods but I'm out about 1000 SC for the mount.Free To Play + 4000 (give or take) SC = Not Priceless.I'm going to try again later this week to get a petition in to resolve these issues.

Ilavatar

12-12-2011, 02:27 AM

<cite>Demio@The Bazaar wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Ilavatar wrote:</cite><blockquote>I'm really not interested in getting into this debate raging all over the forums. Obviously some players feel very strongly like you. Others feel the other way. I think the points for both sides have been made before.It's time for SOE to make a decision and move forward. I am suggesting a possible solution.</blockquote>My character is no threat to you... I just want my current gear available to me, i earned it, I payed during those subscription times.</blockquote>Just for the record, I don't think I'm the person you want to quote in your post. I agree with you. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" />I was suggesting as a compromise that they give each of the four unlocked toons a one-time 25 slot unlocker so they'll get back in the game asap. That way they'll start paying SOE money for upgrades asap instead of sitting on the fence. See my posts a few messages up for a more detailed presentation.

stayx

12-12-2011, 06:49 AM

Bring a solution SOE, its useless in the moment.I dont play a character thats it lvl90 has 285 aa points, some of the public quest gear (not weared i must buy tokens to wear it...), some fabled raid gear (ot weared i must buy tokens to wear it...) but he is naked... bring a fix and let us play our characters with they gear and spells that we have before the 06.12.2011!In other situations i cancel my account, its not playable at this time.

General_Info

12-12-2011, 07:38 AM

<cite>Deeperia@Valor wrote:</cite><blockquote>Bring a solution SOE, its useless in the moment.I dont play a character thats it lvl90 has 285 aa points, some of the public quest gear (not weared i must buy tokens to wear it...), some fabled raid gear (ot weared i must buy tokens to wear it...) but he is naked... bring a fix and let us play our characters with they gear and spells that we have before the 06.12.2011!In other situations i cancel my account, its not playable at this time.</blockquote>Free to play doesn't mean "free to use everything".Ether get youself some handcrafted armor or pay $15 dollars a month.also any spells you have over expert that you researched in the past during a gold subscription will still be usable at the research level you left them at.

Riftsburn

12-12-2011, 08:35 AM

<cite>Rijacki wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Ilavatar wrote:</cite><blockquote>I thought of a way you can make all vets happy and get them back in the game asap.Give the four unlocked toons of every returning a vet a one-time Equipment Unlocker Pack with 25 charges. That will allow them to unlock a complete set of gear and weapons on each toon.Vets who are still on the fence will be able to enter the game now. Vets who have already paid to unlock their gear can use it on their next set so you don't have to hassle with refunds. The unlocker should unlock the highest possible gear to avoid any complaints.This will get everyone back in the game and ready to start paying to unlock bags, their next set of gear, etc. You'll probably make your money back in the first week due to increased players - maybe the first weekend.If you're feeling cheap, you can give them only two unlocker packs per account. That way they'll have to choose which two of their four accounts to activate. But why create aggravation?Apart from this, I'd say your new F2P program is shaping up pretty well.</blockquote>How would this be fair at all to those who are paying a recurring subscription? What benefit is there for actually paying a monthly subscription if everything is given for free to those who don't?You want more and more free as a requisite to play and say, " it is still holding back a lot people who would otherwise be playing the game and thus paying you money." How are they paying money if everything is given to them for free? I've paid for every expansion, double because I have 2 accounts, many of them CE (usually not both accounts CE). I've had an account since day one of launch and that account was converted to Station Access shortly after that was made available and has been SA (now AA) until now. My second account was started a few months after launch and was an SA account for a few years but now is back to being a regular subscription. I don't know if I have spent more or less than you and I frankly don't care if I have. I only post this because of the plethora of posters throwing around their PAST purchases and subscriptions as reasons they should be able to get everything and the cow for free now.-I- don't think I am entitled to anything beyond what my subscription level gives me. I don't think I am entitled to anything and everything if I stop paying a subscription. If I dropped the monthly on either of my accounts, I fully expect and accept I will be under the restrictions of a Silver account. I fully expected and accepted in the past that I would have zero access to my characters and the game if I dropped my monthly payments.Characters, gear, etc. is all the property of SOE. You don't own diddly. In essence, a subscription is a rent or lease payment. You have access only so long as it is being paid. SOE added in a new account type which gives you -limited- access for a one time payment, but it is LIMITED access. You aren't, and shouldn't be, getting the same access as someone who is paying for the monthly rent/lease.</blockquote>This. All day long. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

stayx

12-12-2011, 09:21 AM

<cite>General_Info wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Deeperia@Valor wrote:</cite><blockquote>Bring a solution SOE, its useless in the moment.I dont play a character thats it lvl90 has 285 aa points, some of the public quest gear (not weared i must buy tokens to wear it...), some fabled raid gear (ot weared i must buy tokens to wear it...) but he is naked... bring a fix and let us play our characters with they gear and spells that we have before the 06.12.2011!In other situations i cancel my account, its not playable at this time.</blockquote>Free to play doesn't mean "free to use everything".Ether get youself some handcrafted armor or pay $15 dollars a month.also any spells you have over expert that you researched in the past during a gold subscription will still be usable at the research level you left them at.</blockquote>But one question to you <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" />Why i have a toon without race and class restriction but with gear restriction?I think its free to play and not free to use everything?The fact is the character is useless without his equipment, the complete skill tree was set to the gear and the gear is adorned with all important adornments and now i cant play my toon he is naked thats what i mean and it has nothing to do with the "free2play" thingy.When soe plans to make it easyer for the users that cames back to play this game and removes the race/class restriction then its important to use the gear before 06.12.2011 i mean i have payed for and have spend some hours to get this gear, thats all i need to say but my english is not really good sorry about that.In the future i will pay for every item i equip its not a problem the only thing is, give me my gear back that i have payed before the f2p change on 06.12.2011.

General_Info

12-12-2011, 10:23 AM

<cite>Deeperia@Valor wrote:</cite><blockquote>But one question to you <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" />Why i have a toon without race and class restriction but with gear restriction?I think its free to play and not free to use everything?The fact is the character is useless without his equipment, the complete skill tree was set to the gear and the gear is adorned with all important adornments and now i cant play my toon he is naked thats what i mean and it has nothing to do with the "free2play" thingy.When soe plans to make it easyer for the users that cames back to play this game and removes the race/class restriction then its important to use the gear before 06.12.2011 i mean i have payed for and have spend some hours to get this gear, thats all i need to say but my english is not really good sorry about that.In the future i will pay for every item i equip its not a problem the only thing is, give me my gear back that i have payed before the f2p change on 06.12.2011.</blockquote>firstly before the conversion you couldn't even log in. really is it that much effort for you to get some handcrafted armor and gear or pay for unlockers or subscribe like you have done before?seriously log in and if you are not in a guild find one and ask an armorer and weaponsmith to make you some armor and weapons then you can work on adorning your equipment.Really is 50cents/day too much for you to pay to play a game where you already have existing charaters?It's not like SOE is saying "you can play for free but you cant wear any armor or use any weapons"Take the effort to get gear you can use, pay $15 for 30 days of play to try the game again or take a hike.

Raknid

12-12-2011, 11:11 AM

Just a question out of curiosity if anyone is familiar and can answer.Was there a similar kind of uproar and problems when LotRO went FTP?

BWLeeEllison

12-12-2011, 02:18 PM

<cite>Jayda@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>EQBariguy wrote:</cite><blockquote>Excuse me?I've been a paying customer for years. I paid for my expansions. I paid for my collectors addition. I paid for my mounts and my extras and, I decidicated a lot of time and effort (for me) into getting the gear that I have. I loved this game, I made wonderful friends and acquaintences. The one thing I should at least still have are the things I, as a paying customer, had. I paid for the time to play when I had this gear. Do you understand that concept? I gave them my money. I paid EQ II to play and in turn, they gave me a service. AKA: Gear, items, etc. At the very least, I should be able to wear the gear I paid for when I had it. I am not asking for new gear. I am not asking for handouts. I'm asking for what I already had! EQ II wouldn't be "giving" me anything I didn't already own. How is that greedy? "Excuse me sir, that house you owned and paid for? Well, when you went on vacation, we (The realtors who sold you this home) just up and decided to sell it to someone else. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /> You'll have to pay us double the money to get it back. " Right. And it's the house owners who are greedy?If you enjoy the game as it is? Fantastic! Keep enjoying it. But I don't, and I have an opinion about it and can express it if I wish. I'm not going to sit here and "feel sorry," for anyone who doesn't agree with me. </blockquote>I don't understand this mentality. You stopped paying for the game. Therefore you had zero access to anything in EQ2 that you "paid for" previously.Now, Sony makes it so you can come back... for free. Sure, there are restrictions, but you can come check out the game without paying a dime.I have asked this question before but no one touched it: Why should you get to come back, and get everything you *had* while being a paid member for free, while the rest of us have to pay? You don't have access to it because you aren't paying for the *rest* of the game. It wasn't "taken away". It's just not available to you as a FREE member. So are you asking that for those who quit paying for the game, but want all they had before, that us paid member should be reimbursed for what you're asking to be "given back" to you for free? Or that we should continue paying while you get the same access to your stuff for free? It makes zero sense both in fairness or as any kind of successful business model.If Sony caved on that too, and gave you the gear you "earned" while you were a *paying member*, for free, what would that do to the game? Then rest of us who are still paying would want that too! Why should you be rewarded for NOT paying for the use of this game, while the rest of us who have continued to pay just watch the non-payers get handouts?If Sony allowed that, as soon as anyone got the best gear they could, they'd stop paying. If they continue caving to your demands for free stuff, eventually no one would pay for anything. What would happen then? The game would eventually die and then there'd be no game to play anymore. </blockquote>Okay so I lease a car from my favorite dealership, and I get a new car every year. So my dealership comes up with a new program for their leases to help gain new customers. In light of the changes, they come by my house and slap a boot on my car, and won't take it off til I pay some new fee or other. In addition, they deactivate my lonestar roadside assistance program, disconnect my radio, and change the lock on my trunk, again, until I pay a one time fee that will restore all these things.When Sony's logic is applied to other situations of a similar nature, it makes no sense. I mean can you imagine a guy who actually buys cars outright for his wife and three kids, being stuck in the situation I just described? How outraged would he be? Many of us PAID for various expansion packs for access to the content and the gear. We paid our monthly fees loyally and invested a great many hours into acquiring our gear.I have seen a great many FTP models in action. LotRO for example charges you for access to all the quests available in a given zone, BUT they AT LEAST give you the capability to EARN turbine points (coin of the realm as far as buying ftp crap goes). You know, thinking about that, there might be a lot less complaining if there were a way in game to earn station cash. Anyhow, of all the FTP models I have seen, this one is the absolutely LEAST forgiving and the MOST penny pinching, ever!Hats off to Sony for grandfathering our old, well played toons. A noble gesture for sure!But if you defend Sony for keeping broker priveledges, bag and bank slot access, quest journal size, and gear locked up, imagine letting an irresponsible teenager, a party going college student, or a complete and total stranger borrow your car for a month for $15. They'll do less damage to your car, in all likelihood, than Sony has done to your confidence as a long time customer.I can say that because I have been paying money to Sony since EQ classic launched, with very few gaps, paying for monthly fees AND buying expansion packs as well.

BWLeeEllison

12-12-2011, 02:25 PM

<cite>Raknid wrote:</cite><blockquote>Just a question out of curiosity if anyone is familiar and can answer.Was there a similar kind of uproar and problems when LotRO went FTP?</blockquote>When LotRO went FTP there was no such uproar because their FTP model was quite better. The same can be said for Champions Online. Their FTP model is nowhere near as stingy for existing clients. I have a lifer sub to CO and I really had no complaints about the way they handled new players and existing ones. One of the best FTP models can be found in a game that was FTP from the start, Runes of Magic, which is a decent game. Even WoW has an okay FTP, although I don't really care for not being able to level higher than a certain point.If Sony was more forgiving toward the players who have been longstanding and staunch supporters of their products and services, even after the security fiasco and having to shut everyone's accounts down for a month or so, they may just find themselves selling to new players who are the friends, relations, and neighbors of those who still admire the world of Norrath.

Errie_Tholluxe

12-12-2011, 03:12 PM

What he said above. Lotro had a much better model, a way to earn turbine points in game , and for most the model didnt change much at all.For all the fanboi's saying you get what you get : I wont be coming back after logging in and finding that all the gear I worked so hard for before this fiasco now has to be unlocked and that everytime I get an item above a certain quality I need to unlock it yet again. That isnt a business model thats just stupidity.1) Your coming back, so get used to it : I refuse to get use to virtually game breaking design flaws in the name of f2p2) Just pay a sub : I did. For many years. What I earned THEN , I should have NOW. From here forwards - I still believe 1 is correct, but it would be a better model to start.3) If you dont like it dont play. Ok I wont ! swtor is out when? hey about the same time server populations plummet.If they had looked farther than some Korean model on how to run a successful f2p they may have done better, but they didnt because they are SOE. And that there is why SOE is losing subs, losing players, and losing respect of many a player in the MMO field.