My Feelings on SOE Free to Play

[Masterofthisgame]

So when i heard EQ2  was going Free to play i got excieted.

EQOA was my first mmo and i loved it, eventually i migrated to Everquest 2 and even enjoyed it alot more,

I played EQ2 on and off over a period of 8 or more years.

I loged into my account and to my surprise i couldn't play 90 percent of my toons.

I started reading and figure out i would just need to pay to upgrade the necessary Class or Racial Packs.

I decided to read further on what was offered as free to play.

The free to play service is so limited that not 1 existing everquest player would want to regive this a chance.

Here is my 2 Biggest Problem with the current free to play.

1. Why limit my Gear?, if only you would make it where equiping any my fable gear was not required for me to purchase

a monthl subscription i just may buy the Racial and Class Paks.

2.Why limit my spell Upgrades?,I wouldn't mind playing and paying for several upgrades if i was able to log in

and play my character knowing i would eventually have equal ground among other characters.(may require alot more time or money but be willing to accept this).

So i decided to log in my other account , wow i was suprised i could actually play my Beserker Barbarian, to my digust and surprise, i was standing naked in freeport with all my fable gear in my overflow, i really didn't had the patience for this.

So my advise to SOE FOR FREE TO PLAY.

TAKE AWAY GEAR LIMITATIONS

TAKE AWAY SPELL LIMITATIONS

YOU MAY JUST BE AMAZED HOW MANY OL TIMERS COME BACK TO EVERQUEST2.

Thank you for listening i hope this message reaches out to the Big UPs in SOE.

From a love you long time Everquest Fan.

[Besual]

Why don't you just use this thread? http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=512893

[retro_guy]

Question:

Why should you get for free what I have to pay every month for?

You have already had your characters races and classes grandfathered in and any spells you have are still usable even if they are Masters.

All you then need is equipment unlockers, and deal with the play limit and bag limitations.

[Griffildur]

retro_guy wrote:

Question:

Why should you get for free what I have to pay every month for?

You have already had your characters races and classes grandfathered in and any spells you have are still usable even if they are Masters.

All you then need is equipment unlockers, and deal with the play limit and bag limitations.

Why do you even care what others get and how does it affect you ?

[Brigh]

Mrrshan@Runnyeye wrote:

retro_guy wrote:

Question:

Why should you get for free what I have to pay every month for?

You have already had your characters races and classes grandfathered in and any spells you have are still usable even if they are Masters.

All you then need is equipment unlockers, and deal with the play limit and bag limitations.

Why do you even care what others get and how does it affect you ?

Did you even think about what you replied with?

Why should Gold players be on equal ground with people that don't pay monthly? As many people have said, simply buy equipment unlockers.

[Avirodar]

Brigh wrote:

Mrrshan@Runnyeye wrote:

retro_guy wrote:

Question:

Why should you get for free what I have to pay every month for?

You have already had your characters races and classes grandfathered in and any spells you have are still usable even if they are Masters.

All you then need is equipment unlockers, and deal with the play limit and bag limitations.

Why do you even care what others get and how does it affect you ?

Did you even think about what you replied with?

Why should Gold players be on equal ground with people that don't pay monthly? As many people have said, simply buy equipment unlockers.

You may find there is a direct association here with "dedicated tradeskillers"  (aka: *** who lack the skill/time to raid) thinking they deserve raid quality loot, from tapping 1-2-3 while watching TV.It all comes back to people expecting far more than they deserve.

[Griffildur]

Brigh wrote:

Did you even think about what you replied with?

Why should Gold players be on equal ground with people that don't pay monthly? As many people have said, simply buy equipment unlockers.

Yes I did actually and for your information I support the idea that every single eq2 account created some time ago ( when eq2 was sub based not this f2p gimick ) should be able to login and play completely free of any restrictions with all the gear and spells they had. Anything new should be subject to current system.

The explanantions on why have already been debated countless times so I am not going to bother to repeat them. i am sure you are capable of thinking for yourself for a change.

Now think about that and see how it relates to what I answered with ...

[Cyliena]

Masterofthisgame wrote:

I loged into my account and to my surprise i couldn't play 90 percent of my toons.

I started reading and figure out i would just need to pay to upgrade the necessary Class or Racial Packs.

Interesting, since it sounds like your characters have existed for quite a while, they probably should have been grandfathered in I'd imagine: http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=510914

Maybe post over on the tech support forums or try submitting a petition about that.

[The_Cheeseman]

SOE doesn't want to attract players who just play for free. The purpose of the free-to-play system is to get people to try the game, get invested into it, and then subscribe. Relaxing the restrictions on free-to-play so much that people no longer feel the need to subscribe is counterproductive. Your suggestions may very well attract more players to the game, but those players wouldn't be customers.

[Nynaeve]

My fav. restaurant is handing out free pastries...

Now, they also have steaks, italian wine, and Sachertorten (Austrian chocolate cakes) on the menu.I'm sure he'd get lots of "veteran customers" returning if he handed out EVERYTHING for free...

You think he might get broke doing so? Naaaah.

[Masterofthisgame]

Ok I have been gone for awhile what

Are equipment unlocked? Can I pay

A one time fee so I can equip fable gear?

If so I wouldn't mind.

Also is there a spell unlock ?

Is there a fee I can pay so my spells

Are still masters? If this is the case I can deal with

The money and bag limitstions.

Also I play on a casual level, I would not

Want to pay 15 dollars a month . When I only play

6 hrs a week. If these 2 limitations were gone

I will come back to eq2 on a casual way and I know

Of other eq2 old timers who would.

[CoLD MeTaL]

Masterofthisgame wrote:

...

1. Why limit my Gear?, if only you would make it where equiping any my fable gear was not required for me to purchase

a monthl subscription i just may buy the Racial and Class Paks.

2.Why limit my spell Upgrades...

Both of these have 'unlockers' in the marketplace for 5 unlockers for $1.50.  My 2 free accounts wear fabled and have masters no problem.

[Masterofthisgame]

Thanks cold, I will definitely check it out.

[thewarriorpoet]

Mrrshan@Runnyeye wrote:

Brigh wrote:

Did you even think about what you replied with?

Why should Gold players be on equal ground with people that don't pay monthly? As many people have said, simply buy equipment unlockers.

Yes I did actually and for your information I support the idea that every single eq2 account created some time ago ( when eq2 was sub based not this f2p gimick ) should be able to login and play completely free of any restrictions with all the gear and spells they had. Anything new should be subject to current system.

The explanantions on why have already been debated countless times so I am not going to bother to repeat them. i am sure you are capable of thinking for yourself for a change.

Now think about that and see how it relates to what I answered with ...

I agree with this actually. I think the unlock method is a great way to do F2P but a very bad way to attract old players back to the game. If they were gold and have an existing character all that old stuff should be UNLOCKED. Period. They will of course need to unlock the race/class if they want to make another of that type and of course they will need to eventually replace their gear and buy unlockers then, but come on. These people payed for it once. The "you rented" it arguement sucks. This isn't about who is right and wrong, it is about getting people to play the darn game. Does SOE have so little confidence that the one time free unlocking of equiped gear will drive them to close the game because no one sticks around long enough to move into a second set of gear? That's what this decision tells me. That SOE doesn't think or expect F2P players to play long enough to buy more then 1 set of unlockers. That is very bad for the game population as it blouts with dead F2P accounts.

[Nrgy]

Masterofthisgame wrote:

So my advise to SOE FOR FREE TO PLAY.

TAKE AWAY GEAR LIMITATIONS

TAKE AWAY SPELL LIMITATIONS

YOU MAY JUST BE AMAZED HOW MANY OL TIMERS COME BACK TO EVERQUEST2.

Thank you for listening i hope this message reaches out to the Big UPs in SOE.

From a love you long time Everquest Fan.

You have to give up something ... gear/spell quality OR Game content.  I would guess that even more people would be upset if the restrictions were set to unlimited use of gear/spell quality and only unlocked launch content.  No EOF, no KOS, No ROK, no TSO, no SF, but you could use all the fabled gear you can carry ....

This F2P model is by far the more attractive of the two options SOE had when designed FREE restrcitions.

[MRRX]

Nrgy wrote:

Masterofthisgame wrote:

So my advise to SOE FOR FREE TO PLAY.

TAKE AWAY GEAR LIMITATIONS

TAKE AWAY SPELL LIMITATIONS

YOU MAY JUST BE AMAZED HOW MANY OL TIMERS COME BACK TO EVERQUEST2.

Thank you for listening i hope this message reaches out to the Big UPs in SOE.

From a love you long time Everquest Fan.

You have to give up something ... gear/spell quality OR Game content.  I would guess that even more people would be upset if the restrictions were set to unlimited use of gear/spell quality and only unlocked launch content.  No EOF, no KOS, No ROK, no TSO, no SF, but you could use all the fabled gear you can carry ....

This F2P model is by far the more attractive of the two options SOE had when designed FREE restrcitions.

I feel the same way as the original poster.   I left for years, then came back.     The vast number of features that are gone made it impossible for me to even consider free-to-play.

• Only two characters (I had 6).    OK, I can live with that.
• 2 bag slots ?   Annoying.   I can live with it.    I think they were even limited in how many items in each box, ie, my old rosewood boxes had maybe 20 slots in them.
• Legendary gear restricted (and fabled, but I have none).      I am supposed to find new gear for my existing character ?     This just really irked me.    Especially when coupled with :
• 5 gold per level.   This meant only 3.5 plat my character could accumulate.    I have the sense this buys you collectibles nowadays and little else.
• Broker system restricted.   Might as well, given the coin limits.

I don't know how you control free accounts accumulating tons of plat for illegal sale - I bet the broker and monetary restrictions are in there for that reason.    I just accumulated plat because, it was fun - my hoard of 200 plat seems laughable nowadays.

For the life of me I don't get the gear restrictions.     Maybe the whole point is, if you're a returning player you will subscribe as gold; I know I did.

togameforlife.wordpress.com

[yohann koldheart]

MRRX wrote:

• Only two characters (I had 6).    OK, I can live with that.
• 2 bag slots ?   Annoying.   I can live with it.    I think they were even limited in how many items in each box, ie, my old rosewood boxes had maybe 20 slots in them.   you can buy bag slots , so as yuou said its not a big deal.
• Legendary gear restricted (and fabled, but I have none).      I am supposed to find new gear for my existing character ?     This just really irked me.  with gear unlockers you can equip legendary, fabled, and mythical stuff and they are dirt cheap so its not a big deal.   they are like 150 sc for a 5 charge unlocker .
• 5 gold per level.   This meant only 3.5 plat my character could accumulate.    I have the sense this buys you collectibles nowadays and little else.  i agree they should have a plat unlocker , like 500 sc  for 12 hours with the plat cap removed would be reasonable.
• Broker system restricted.   Might as well, given the coin limits. you can buy brokers tokens to use the broker, but its really only usefull to sell,  because there isnt a whole lot you can but with the plat cap.

I don't know how you control free accounts accumulating tons of plat for illegal sale - I bet the broker and monetary restrictions are in there for that reason.    I just accumulated plat because, it was fun - my hoard of 200 plat seems laughable nowadays.

For the life of me I don't get the gear restrictions.     Maybe the whole point is, if you're a returning player you will subscribe as gold   < this is exactly one of the reasons for gear restrictions.

[Masterofthisgame]

well i loged in, checked out the market place for the item unlocker.

unlock 5 items for 150 sc.

Sorry this is not permanent, i would rather i payed the one time fee and i am able to wear all fable, not everytime i

have a new piece of fable i have to get item unlocker.

Need Permanent Item unlocker,

Need permanaent spell unlocker.

[yohann koldheart]

Masterofthisgame wrote:

well i loged in, checked out the market place for the item unlocker.

unlock 5 items for 150 sc.

Sorry this is not permanent, i would rather i payed the one time fee and i am able to wear all fable, not everytime i

have a new piece of fable i have to get item unlocker.

Need Permanent Item unlocker,

Need permanaent spell unlocker.

when i bought my new mustang this year i would rather ford give me a ferrari too.

if you cant afford a sub you would be posting here saying the perma unlockers are too expensive because they  would be very expensive.

think about it  ,  if soe put up perma unlockers people would just buy them then not spend anything else and they wouldnt be able to afford to keep the servers running lol

the f2p matrix is fine .

[Dreyco]

Masterofthisgame wrote:

well i loged in, checked out the market place for the item unlocker.

unlock 5 items for 150 sc.

Sorry this is not permanent, i would rather i payed the one time fee and i am able to wear all fable, not everytime i

have a new piece of fable i have to get item unlocker.

Need Permanent Item unlocker,

Need permanaent spell unlocker.

If they do this then they have a strong chance of getting level 90's who play the game entirely for free, never giving a cent to the game's revenue, for months, if not years, at a time.  Those people who are so dedicated that they log in every night to raid would be able to do so at no cost to their wallet at all.

That is unless they start selling content "packs" to Free Players.  But even then, people would complain.

I'd rather pay 25 cents per item unlock than 10 dollars for a dungeon.

[Wintersborn]

I recently downloaded the client again to check the game out after subbing from the start up to about a year or more ago. My lvl 80 toons can not use anything or sell anything and that makes me not want to log in and bother checking things out.

I agree that Silver accounts should not have the same things as Gold players have but the fact is I wont even consider upgrading if it is no fun or not worth playing beforehand. I know unlockers exist but again I am not going to invest in the SC store if the game is not fun enough to get me interested in playing agin.

They should make a crafting recipe that is a item unlocker. This way returning customers can at least keep what we have already earned and its good for the economy/crafters. Or even a merchant if they want a plat sink that will unlock it for you in game for plat even if it was only for a month like housing rent.

Simply put if the restrictions turn us away before we get hooked into playing again then no one wins.

 Maybe give returning subscribers (new Silver members) a month before the restrictions kick in. Give us some time to get hooked again and stay Silver and us the SC store or upgrade to Gold.

[MRRX]

Masterofthisgame wrote:

well i loged in, checked out the market place for the item unlocker.

unlock 5 items for 150 sc.

Sorry this is not permanent, i would rather i payed the one time fee and i am able to wear all fable, not everytime i

have a new piece of fable i have to get item unlocker.

Need Permanent Item unlocker,

Need permanaent spell unlocker.

So - it unlocks per item ?   As in, once I get a new chestpiece, I would need to unlock that one ?    Sheesh that certainly removes any interest I might have.     And with that said, the minimum payment for station cash is $5 - already 1/3 of a month subscription.

Don't get me wrong, the game is a great value with a subscription.   Free 2 play, though, is clearly of no interest to a former subscriber.

togameforlife.wordpress.com

[Rijacki]

MRRX wrote:

  And with that said, the minimum payment for station cash is $5 - already 1/3 of a month subscription.

But you don't have to spend that SC within a month. You could spend 100SC a month for 5 months if you wanted or even not spend any SC at all for a month or more.

[akin99]

I dont understand why people cant figure this out. Free to play is only designed to let you see some of the game to get you to either spend money on SC or sub. Every FTP MMO out there is the same way.

Players dont mean anything, paying customers are what you must have. Saying I would play if they gave it all to me for free is the exact reason they dont do that. Common sense people. SOE wants to make money not have thousands of accounts that never spend a dime with them.

I personally would like to see SOE give any returning player a one time only free 3 to 5 day gold sub. That should be enough to let a player decide if they want to return or not. After that free time expires buy unlockers sub or quit.

[Morrias]

akin99 wrote:

I dont understand why people cant figure this out. Free to play is only designed to let you see some of the game to get you to either spend money on SC or sub. Every FTP MMO out there is the same way.

Players dont mean anything, paying customers are what you must have. Saying I would play if they gave it all to me for free is the exact reason they dont do that. Common sense people. SOE wants to make money not have thousands of accounts that never spend a dime with them.

I personally would like to see SOE give any returning player a one time only free 3 to 5 day gold sub. That should be enough to let a player decide if they want to return or not. After that free time expires buy unlockers sub or quit.

Because EQ2 is EXTREMELY strict in comparison to other free to play MMOs.

In fact I would go as far to say EQ2 isn't F2P, it's just a game with an unlimited free trial.

[flay_wind]

Morrias@Antonia Bayle wrote:

In fact I would go as far to say EQ2 isn't F2P, it's just a game with an unlimited free trial.

That exact thing was said many times by many people. And it's very close to the truth.  =)

[Mohee]

flay_wind wrote:

Morrias@Antonia Bayle wrote:

In fact I would go as far to say EQ2 isn't F2P, it's just a game with an unlimited free trial.

That exact thing was said many times by many people. And it's very close to the truth.  =)

I was just about to say the same thing.

It's a nice trial for sure.

But thats really what it should be called.

F2T (Free to Try)

[yohann koldheart]

Morrias@Antonia Bayle wrote:

akin99 wrote:

I dont understand why people cant figure this out. Free to play is only designed to let you see some of the game to get you to either spend money on SC or sub. Every FTP MMO out there is the same way.

Players dont mean anything, paying customers are what you must have. Saying I would play if they gave it all to me for free is the exact reason they dont do that. Common sense people. SOE wants to make money not have thousands of accounts that never spend a dime with them.

I personally would like to see SOE give any returning player a one time only free 3 to 5 day gold sub. That should be enough to let a player decide if they want to return or not. After that free time expires buy unlockers sub or quit.

Because EQ2 is EXTREMELY strict in comparison to other free to play MMOs.

so what if it is ?   i mean soe is a pretty big company, does it really suprise anyone that they want to make money?

did any of you actauly think with f2p you would be able to play the same game but pay less or something ? 

[Soldancer]

It's possible to level to maxlevel in eq2 but f2p at 90 is impossible. I guess I would have to pay 50 up to 100 bucks for all the necessary unlockers because there is no treasured gear in DoV. Another thing is the missing scam protection for plat-sc trading.

Recently STO went f2p and it was a nice surprise for me that they have scam protection (integrated market for plat-sc trading) and mild restrictions for silver players. I hope one day eq2 will change their hard restrictions so that I can come back. Until then I will fly space ships.

[Malleria]

Masterofthisgame wrote:

Also I play on a casual level, I would not

Want to pay 15 dollars a month . When I only play

6 hrs a week. If these 2 limitations were gone

I will come back to eq2 on a casual way and I know

Of other eq2 old timers who would.

15 dollars for 24+ hrs of entertainment. Yeah, I can see how you'd be turned off by that