What Exactly is included in SOE F2P Model for Vets?

[Dakkide]

   Over the years,( since 2004),  I purchased every expansion ( All Collectors Ed.  for both accounts) and have kept my accounts up to date until recently, when I decided to take a break and try Rift for a few months.  I even kept 2 accounts going to the end of Galaxies ( sad, to see it go) .  I got an e-mail this afternoon telling me that my accounts were now Free To Play and I could come back.  This was great news because I had planned to come back after the first of the year anyway.  Well, I logged in and waited for the character page to load.

    Well, much to my dismay, all of my characters were locked on both accounts telling me that I had to purchase both race packs and  Class packs.  I'm not sure what I paid for all of the expansions (purchased FULL price). But was very concerned when I could'nt log into a single character.  So, my question is, what exactly do the vets that purchased all of the expansions get when they finally get to log into the game.  Are out bank slots smaller, are we missing content etc. ?

Thanks For Info!

PS. Was hoping that SOE would make their F2P model a bit like Lord of The Rings Online, which I found I didnt really lose anything when it went live F2P

[Tuocs_Aiewoon]

I am finding the same issue myself, with all 3 accounts.  Cannot log into any of my toons.

[Northern]

F2P figured I would come back see how it is going.  All 3 accounts the same.  If you want to get veterans back then I would suggest a different model as it stands..nothing to get hooked on.  Uninstalled. 

[Yunna]

Only the same things listed under the silver F2P plan.  Meaning if you do pay for race/class to be able to get in game you will be gold limited to 20g/level (no idea if the extra gold is merely inacessible or it poofs), unable to use the higher tier spells or items (so yeah, your gear might be completely unusable), unable to send mail, only able to use 2 shared bank slots and 4 bag slots.

[CuCullain]

I have pretty much the exact same questions and similar circumstances.

My primary character has about 800plat, all mythical gear, all maxed spells/abilities, is a dwarf templar.

So form what i understand if I log in I can't play him unless I pay to unlock dwarf, I have soem station cash left over so maybe not a big deal.

BUT

Will I log into a character that will have nearly all his money removed and all his equipment unusable?

I think this F2P thing is great, but the devs need to SERIOUSLY reconsider how they are handling former paid subscribers, especially those who paid for full price accounts for years.

Not looking for a free ride movign forward, but I see VERY few people coming back that played for a while only to have their primary character essentially nerfed to worthlessness unless we pay to subscribe again.

Seriously look at LotRO, they have a similar system and don't treat vets this badly. I have spent several dollars on purachases in that game for my mostly unlocked character I kept because I had paid previously, and would most likely be buying things here too if I came back. I won't however be told that after buying every version of the game, including adventure packs since the game launched, paying a monthly fee for two accounts for 4+ years, that I can't have access to all I earned while SoE happily took my money.

Change how F2P affects existing characters or don't count on me coming back.

[Somatic]

Same. Comical I can't log into any of my characters unless i pay up some money ~~

so much for FTP*

* you first have to delete all your characters except 1!

[Dakkide]

  Thanks for quick responses friends.  Guess I will wait until January of February to return then. Was hoping to say hi to a few friends on Antonia Bayle and Naggie.  Miss them tons.

[Filox]

Everyone keeps going to lotro f2p model. I remember they did they same crap. If you had over the limit characters they were locked out. You were limited on money there also plus bags, mail, content, anduch more. There is more there you have to unlock vs EQ2. 

Not sure why vets want to come back cause its f2p. If you want the game back just like you left it then pay the darn sub. 

And so far all these threads are "I'm a vet and won't be coming back!!". If you all complain this much all the time. Maybe no one wants you to come back. Also everyone is saying I bought every expansion and pay for two accounts. Yes SoE had a product that you wanted so they SOLD it to you. That's it. Now you also had to pay "rent" to store all the data on their servers. So you had a sub to pay. SoE does not owe you anything. You were purchasing their product and services. Enough of these threads already. 

[Somatic]

Thylus wrote:

Everyone keeps going to lotro f2p model. I remember they did they same crap. If you had over the limit characters they were locked out. You were limited on money there also plus bags, mail, content, anduch more. There is more there you have to unlock vs EQ2. 

Not sure why vets want to come back cause its f2p. If you want the game back just like you left it then pay the darn sub. 

Nostalgia  / see who all came back.

If enough came back, if i liked the way the game looked then perhaps I would of bought xpac/went gold. 

The choice would of been made in less than 20 minutes of logging in prob (impulse buy or deny)

the problem is you can't even make this choice because of they way they pentalize you for having an existing account.

[Filament]

Thylus wrote:

........Not sure why vets want to come back cause its f2p.......

Yea, many of the vets are not sure now why they came back cause it's F2P either........

[TheNecroFiend]

Actualy no. With LOTRO characters that were played during a sub retain everything except quest packs and acess to the PVP zone. THe limitations only apply to new toons which where made as a premium or f2p player.

[TheSpin]

If you aren't sure if you want to unlock your old toons yet, make a new account and take a look around with a new toon that meets the race/class restrictions.  Then if you like it you can unlock your old toons with confidence.

BTW.. someone asked about their fully equipped toon.  If you come back without a subscription, you will keep access to your spells regardless of their quality, but your gear will need to be unlocked for you to put it back on.

[Filox]

TheNecroFiend wrote:

Actualy no. With LOTRO characters that were played during a sub retain everything except quest packs and acess to the PVP zone. THe limitations only apply to new toons which where made as a premium or f2p player.

Yes if you had an active sub during the switch over. Not of your coming back from a year ago. 

[Yunna]

TheSpin wrote:

If you aren't sure if you want to unlock your old toons yet, make a new account and take a look around with a new toon that meets the race/class restrictions.  Then if you like it you can unlock your old toons with confidence.

And if I like that new toon I level on the F2P then what?  Pay twice to sub/unlock 2 accounts?  Have to abandon either the new or old toons?  Not to mention most of us have TONS of vanity bonus items and vet rewards available to us that we might want to enjoy on our new toon, things we already paid for.

Since anyone can make an alt account why not just let people with existing accounts create a new F2P char (ie. locked chars don't use up slots so you can create a new F2P one)?

[Tuocs_Aiewoon]

Dakkide wrote:

  Thanks for quick responses friends.  Guess I will wait until January of February to return then. Was hoping to say hi to a few friends on Antonia Bayle and Naggie.  Miss them tons.

Same here. I think I will wait until after Galaxies goes away. Perhaps they will make a few changes to the model and allow us to play at least 2 of out toons.  And as far as I recall, LOTRO kept all of your characters intact, you just had to decide which 2 you wanted to unlock.  And to the posters asking why I as a vet wanted to jump into game, it was because I wanted to say hi to old Guildies and let them know I would be returning after Galaxies end.

[Filox]

Tuocs_Aiewoon wrote:

Dakkide wrote:

  Thanks for quick responses friends.  Guess I will wait until January of February to return then. Was hoping to say hi to a few friends on Antonia Bayle and Naggie.  Miss them tons.

Same here. I think I will wait until after Galaxies goes away. Perhaps they will make a few changes to the model and allow us to play at least 2 of out toons.  And as far as I recall, LOTRO kept all of your characters intact, you just had to decide which 2 you wanted to unlock.  And to the posters asking why I as a vet wanted to jump into game, it was because I wanted to say hi to old Guildies and let them know I would be returning after Galaxies end.

Ok I asked why vets are coming back just cause its free to play. What I am try to point out is it seems they feel they are entitled to everything cause they had multi accounts and all expansions.

I am tryin to type as good as I can. On iPod at work and I have big hands

[EndevorX]

if you ensure your..."eq2ui_newcharscene2.xml"

...file is the default & not a custom UI version, you can utilize the "Shop" button to add Station Cash funds & purchase the necessary Class/Race packs to play your character, should you not desire to opt for a regular subscription (Gold)

[Dakkide]

Thylus wrote:

Tuocs_Aiewoon wrote:

Dakkide wrote:

  Thanks for quick responses friends.  Guess I will wait until January of February to return then. Was hoping to say hi to a few friends on Antonia Bayle and Naggie.  Miss them tons.

Same here. I think I will wait until after Galaxies goes away. Perhaps they will make a few changes to the model and allow us to play at least 2 of out toons.  And as far as I recall, LOTRO kept all of your characters intact, you just had to decide which 2 you wanted to unlock.  And to the posters asking why I as a vet wanted to jump into game, it was because I wanted to say hi to old Guildies and let them know I would be returning after Galaxies end.

Ok I asked why vets are coming back just cause its free to play. What I am try to point out is it seems they feel they are entitled to everything cause they had multi accounts and all expansions.

I am tryin to type as good as I can. On iPod at work and I have big hands

 So, if I understand you correctly. You feel that people that purchased all of the expansions and supported the game since 2004 dont deserve to be allowed to play at least one of their characters?  I don't think there is a single vet out there that believes they should get to play the entire game for free,  how the heck could SOE keep its doors open and the game running.  The only thing I ask is , Why cant we open at least one of our level 90 characters because we purchsed the expansions?  And yes once again Lord of The Rings did it right, because if you purchased the game, the expansions, and extras, you could keep at least 2 of your characters and they kept their classes.  Nobody wants EQ2 to go belly up,  at least not I, I've already had one game thay I liked go away this year (SWG). Do not want to see it happen  to another great title.

[Yunna]

Thylus wrote:

Ok I asked why vets are coming back just cause its free to play. What I am try to point out is it seems they feel they are entitled to everything cause they had multi accounts and all expansions.

No, not everything.  However as a long-time customer I don't feel at all appreciated when I can't even check out the game on my own account without deleting my characters.  I'd be perfectly happy if they allowed me to unlock 1 toon (that is not a lot to expect after having spent over $1000 on xpacs, boosters and subscriptions over the years) or at least allowed me to create a F2P level 1 toon instead of having all 4 slots filled by locked characters.

[Shailas]

There is nothing included in the F2P model for Veterans.

[freejack2003]

Shailas wrote:

There is nothing included in the F2P model for Veterans.

 Some folks should go over to the other MMO forums and warn the old EQ2 vets not to log into this game until they get all of the issues resolved.  I'm thinking I'll head over to MMORPG.com.  Thats the only site I read these days.

[SOEisawesome]

Alyana@Nektulos wrote:

Thylus wrote:

No, not everything.  However as a long-time customer I don't feel at all appreciated when I can't even check out the game on my own account without deleting my characters.  I'd be perfectly happy if they allowed me to unlock 1 toon (that is not a lot to expect after having spent over $1000 on xpacs, boosters and subscriptions over the years) or at least allowed me to create a F2P level 1 toon instead of having all 4 slots filled by locked characters.

You can solve this just pay a little more 

Free to play not free to be a witch.

[thesiren]

SOEisawesome wrote:

Alyana@Nektulos wrote:

No, not everything.  However as a long-time customer I don't feel at all appreciated when I can't even check out the game on my own account without deleting my characters.  I'd be perfectly happy if they allowed me to unlock 1 toon (that is not a lot to expect after having spent over $1000 on xpacs, boosters and subscriptions over the years) or at least allowed me to create a F2P level 1 toon instead of having all 4 slots filled by locked characters.

You can solve this just pay a little more 

Free to play not free to be a witch.

SOEisawesome, who the heck are you?  You've spammed the forums with 19 posts in record time from a newbie account, not to mention this illiterate "witch" nonsense over and over.

I agree with Alyana and those other returning players that are frustrated.  This wasn't well thought out to say the least.  SOE should really just unlock all returning customers' accounts to automatic gold for a Free Reactivation Week.  Then they can clean house, check out the new content, and choose where to go from there (buy a char slot and roll a char that fits the F2P restrictions, or re-sub at that point, whatever).

[CuCullain]

So anyone know the prices?

Wondeirng how much station cash it owuld take to get my single 90 character back to what he was before, not looking for any unpurchased content or anything that wasn't in the game I bought 18 months ago.

I would need

Dwarf

Mythical unlocks for ALL slots

All bag slots

All bank slots

My Vet rewards

Access to my 800 plat

Just curious the price tag to play for free.... 

Really NO idea why SoE would open up F2P in a way that will almost universaly pis$-off and drive away pretty much anyone who used to pay for the game.

You get people back, remind them why they licked their character, show them the new stuff, charge them for new stuff, make some money... no brainer.

So sad how SoE has still never learned from their mistakes and just keep making knew ones.

[Golbezz]

Faush@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Really NO idea why SoE would open up F2P in a way that will almost universaly pis$-off and drive away pretty much anyone who used to pay for the game. 

Maybe they all bought EA stock in advance of the SWTOR launch?

From MSN money: http://money.msn.com/business-news/...207&id=14598774

[Goladith]

I was planning on playing again, and spending money when I have the spare cash, I already actively subscribe to EQ1 (6 mo sub) and as an unemployed full time student I don't often have spare cash, and have played EQ2 off and on quite a bit since launch. I paid for access to the races and classes I made characters for once, why the hell should i have to pay again. I would have no problem paying for an active subscription, but this is just SOE trying to BILK us out of more money. Any other MMO that has gone F2P has created a teir of their F2P model for veterans who had SUPPORTED THE COMPANY.

SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT LET US PLAY OUR CHARACTERS, MAYBE NOT ALL OF THE, BUT THE FIRST 4 WE LOG ON TO SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE GRANDFATHERED IN.

I don't like doing that, but we need to get our point across to SOE that the people who supported them in the past and bought their crap then should not have to pay again to use it now that the service had gone F2P, I feel we should have some restrictions, but to completely lock us out is basically scamming us by way of the old bait and switch, we paid for one thing, but now getting something different all together.

[Dakkide]

Goladith wrote:

I was planning on playing again, and spending money when I have the spare cash, I already actively subscribe to EQ1 (6 mo sub) and as an unemployed full time student I don't often have spare cash, and have played EQ2 off and on quite a bit since launch. I paid for access to the races and classes I made characters for once, why the hell should i have to pay again. I would have no problem paying for an active subscription, but this is just SOE trying to BILK us out of more money. Any other MMO that has gone F2P has created a teir of their F2P model for veterans who had SUPPORTED THE COMPANY.

SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT LET US PLAY OUR CHARACTERS, MAYBE NOT ALL OF THE, BUT THE FIRST 4 WE LOG ON TO SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE GRANDFATHERED IN.

I don't like doing that, but we need to get our point across to SOE that the people who supported them in the past and bought their crap then should not have to pay again to use it now that the service had gone F2P, I feel we should have some restrictions, but to completely lock us out is basically scamming us by way of the old bait and switch, we paid for one thing, but now getting something different all together.

This!

[SOE-MOD-08]

This post has moved: /eq2/posts/preList.m?topic_id=50009...post_id=5674536 Trolling.

[Nynaeve]

what you people fail to understand is that SOE has not taken anything away from you, but given you more options.

You CAN play all the "chars you already paid for" when you either subscribe like you always had, or unlock them.

I understand that it is frustrating, if you cant at least log in with 1 of your old chars for free - when they do not fit any of the free class/race combos, so if you just wanna check it out again simply use a new email address, make a new account and check out the game with a new toon. If you like it, you can either re-activate your old account by subscribing for 1 month, or buying more slots, or unlocking your class/race.

Before F2P you could do nothing without an active sub. If you dont want to pay anything, just go and play Battlefield Free - but there you'll only be a target-dummy for all the people who PAID for better weapons and gear - see nothing is free, except dying.

[Golbezz]

Nynaeve wrote:

what you people fail to understand is that SOE has not taken anything away from you, but given you more options.

You CAN play all the "chars you already paid for" when you either subscribe like you always had, or unlock them.

I understand that it is frustrating, if you cant at least log in with 1 of your old chars for free - when they do not fit any of the free class/race combos, so if you just wanna check it out again simply use a new email address, make a new account and check out the game with a new toon. If you like it, you can either re-activate your old account by subscribing for 1 month, or buying more slots, or unlocking your class/race.

Before F2P you could do nothing without an active sub. If you dont want to pay anything, just go and play Battlefield Free - but there you'll only be a target-dummy for all the people who PAID for better weapons and gear - see nothing is free, except dying.

Aren't you the same player who was whining about EQ2x sub costs a while ago?