A Major Announcement!

[Ceyrin]

I love how they made sure the silver equipment pass allowed for DB items. I'm sure that will be a concern f2p accounts have.

[Gelston]

I love how they made sure the silver equipment pass allowed for DB items. I'm sure that will be a concern f2p accounts have.

DBs will be in the SimuCoin store for 1 million coins, 1 per month.

[Tgo01]

I love how they made sure the silver equipment pass allowed for DB items. I'm sure that will be a concern f2p accounts have.

Well Solomon really thinks someone is going to cap a character on a free account.

I can't even possibly imagine why anyone would bother. The experience booster alone is probably going to run close to 5 dollars per month or more, it has to, and Solomon said a free account won't level as fast as a basic subscription even with the experience booster. At some point the person going for cap is going to just say fuck it! Might as well upgrade to basic.

[Ceyrin]

DBs will be in the SimuCoin store for 1 million coins, 1 per month.

Someone will probably buy this...

[Ceyrin]

At some point the person going for cap is going to just say fuck it! Might as well upgrade to basic.

I am fairly certain this is the plan. Why wouldn't it be? If it were up to me, it's what I would attempt to encourage.

[Tgo01]

I don't want to see none no more nonsensical speculation so I'll just ask; has Solomon said what sort of equipment free account characters can use without buying a gear pass? From the description I'm assuming it's plain 0x equipment but some clarification would be nice if anyone can.


I am fairly certain this is the plan. Why wouldn't it be? If it were up to me, it's what I would attempt to encourage.

Nothing wrong with that plan at all, I even said it's an ideal plan on Simu's part. I just don't see why Solomon thinks anyone is going to even attempt to cap a character on a free account.

[Tenlaar]

I don't want to see none no more nonsensical speculation so I'll just ask; has Solomon said what sort of equipment free account characters can use without buying a gear pass? From the description I'm assuming it's plain 0x equipment but some clarification would be nice if anyone can.

Didn't register the without a pass at first. I'm guessing it's straight 0x too.

And somebody should tell him that it's fucking ridiculous to not even allow a F2P character to hold the 35k that you can get from a single item at the pawnshop.

[Ceyrin]

Because, people like free.

[Ceyrin]

That doesn't actually answer the question tg0 had.

What kind of equipment can a character with NO equipment pass use?

Since the bronze allows 7x, I'm going to go with whoever said vultite/4x. I was being stingy with my earlier prediction of Ora.

[Ysamine]

Didn't register the without a pass at first. I'm guessing it's straight 0x too.

And somebody should tell him that it's fucking ridiculous to not even allow a F2P character to hold the 35k that you can get from a single item at the pawnshop.

Someone without a treasure pass won't be finding anything worth that much I'd guess anyway.

I think it's pretty brilliant overall though and hope it brings in new players.

[JackWhisper]

Well Solomon really thinks someone is going to cap a character on a free account.

Come on. That's not fair!


Plenty of people will want to be the first person to do that. Imagine the racing.

[Whirlin]

Come on. That's not fair!


Plenty of people will want to be the first person to do that. Imagine the racing.
Create 20 free accounts
Pull a TGO01 and script until forever on all of them
See if any cap before they're banned
If unsuccessful, go to point 1

[Tgo01]

Come on. That's not fair!


Plenty of people will want to be the first person to do that. Imagine the racing.

Yeah, I was actually thinking some people might do it just to say they're the first one. If GS had WoW's player numbers it would probably actually be genius to award an achievement for the first account to do this, or even first 100 accounts.

I'm sure someone out there is going to do it just to say they did it.

[Tgo01]

Yeah, I was actually thinking some people might do it just to say they're the first one. If GS had WoW's player numbers it would probably actually be genius to award an achievement for the first account to do this, or even first 100 accounts.

I'm sure someone out there is going to do it just to say they did it.


Create 20 free accounts
Pull a TGO01 and script until forever on all of them
See if any cap before they're banned
If unsuccessful, go to point 1

You need at least 40 accounts for such a scheme, less chance of them all getting caught.

[Atlanteax]

Unless I misunderstood, I do not like how former players would have to create a new account to 're-familiarize' themselves with the game again.

Why not allow old & (previously closed) accounts to reactivate at no charge and then micro-trans them after 1 (or 3) months?.

Will more likely (re)gain revenue that way, versus them remaining closed until the (former) players find compelling reasons to pay full sub price again.

[Tenlaar]

Found the details on these items:

The Receiving pass allows NON F2P players to get buffs from F2P players. The Casting pass allows a Free-to-Play spellcaster to cast beneficial spells upon other characters and removes all Free-to-Play spell cooldowns while in effect.


Solomon

Am I reading this right? The F2P player AND the subscription player BOTH have to buy a pass to get spells from a F2P character?

[Ceyrin]

Wonder if they will allow transfers OFF f2p accounts.

[Tgo01]

Unless I misunderstood, I do not like how former players would have to create a new account to 're-familiarize' themselves with the game again.

Why not allow old & (previously closed) accounts to reactivate at no charge and then micro-trans them after 1 (or 3) months?.

Will more likely (re)gain revenue that way, versus them remaining closed until the (former) players find compelling reasons to pay full sub price again.

I have no idea either. Does anyone know where Solomon is in Simu's hierarchy? I assumed he was like the number 2 guy, maybe even number 3. Maybe not for the whole company but at least for GS and DR. He makes it sound like he has no say in this, or at least not sole say.

Who does decide this sort of thing higher up? :/


Am I reading this right? The F2P player AND the subscription player BOTH have to buy a pass to get spells from a F2P character?

Sure sounds like it. Unless he meant it's an either or situation, like just one character needs the pass.

[Astray]

Am I reading this right? The F2P player AND the subscription player BOTH have to buy a pass to get spells from a F2P character?

Your magic fizzles ineffectively. Did you remember to buy a pass from the Simutronics store? Get one here!

[Taernath]

Wonder if they will allow transfers OFF f2p accounts.

You can't get off Mr. Bones' Wild Ride.

[Latrinsorm]

I'll definitely be starting up a new account/character for this. Woot for F2P, finally!Ditto.
I agree that's a slippery slope. But if you start the experience absorption out accordingly and price the experience booster accordingly, I would hope it should be more or less a no-brainer to subscribe vs. buy the experience booster; but Simu would be like "Hey, if you want to go ahead and keep buying the experience booster, be our guest".Right on. This is exactly why the F2P model works. If you want to play the game just to play, there is 0 barrier to entry, and you keep the community alive. If you want to advance, you pay $, and you keep the workers employed. If you want everything, you pay $$$$$$$$$$, and you keep Whatley in hookers and blow for another few hours.
GS on hard, tedious, boring mode.No, freeps won't have access to Basic amenities. It's more like GS on hard, tedious, boring, nasty, brutish, short, poor mode. And I'm signing up for it. BECAUSE IT'S FREE.
The restrictions would be intolerable to an experienced player.Says you, mate.
I don't either, but when you enter the realm of free access, you get a large range of different people. People who aren't interested in gemstone at all. They're just here to advertise how to lose weight or get your prescriptions cheaper through the mail. It'll be bad enough when these people start spamming hyperlinks IG, especially for people who use SF.I've played DDO, PWI, and GW2. The only spammers I've ever seen are gold merchants in GW2. The idea that spammers will descend en masse on a text based game that no one has ever heard of with a population in the hundreds is comical.
Who does decide this sort of thing higher up? :/Duhhh, gee whiz Terry, I wonder who in the company would get final say on everything. Duhhhhh, it's a real mystery.

[Tgo01]

Duhhh, gee whiz Terry, I wonder who in the company would get final say on everything. Duhhhhh, it's a real mystery.

You?

[Ceyrin]

I want everyone who says they are starting an F2P account to post whenever they microtrans, and how much they spent/what they got.

I think it would be interesting to see.

[Taernath]

The idea that spammers will descend en masse on a text based game that no one has ever heard of with a population in the hundreds is comical.

It won't be 'en masse' but they will definitely be there. Go to some random, out of the way blogs with no barrier to registration and 0 readership. Hell, we had spammers *here* for a little while until they were cleaned up. If they ever figure out f2p lnet it will be the end of Elanthia.

[Latrinsorm]

I want everyone who says they are starting an F2P account to post whenever they microtrans, and how much they spent/what they got.

I think it would be interesting to see.I'll be happy to take the lead on that!

None.

Ever.

[Astray]

It won't be 'en masse' but they will definitely be there. Go to some random, out of the way blogs with no barrier to registration and 0 readership. Hell, we had spammers *here* for a little while until they were cleaned up. If they ever figure out f2p lnet it will be the end of Elanthia.

You can also go to the most vague, out of the way MMO's and find Gold farmers by the droves. If there is money to be made through virtual currency, they will make it.

[waywardgs]

Given the silver and treasure limitations, I doubt this will be an issue.

[Astray]

Given the silver and treasure limitations, I doubt this will be an issue.

Consider that you can already script the game to death. They literally have to sit there and pass a script check. Have one character be the mule on a basic subscription, have a dozen or so 'bots' run around, transfer to the mule. Undersell the rest of the competition.

Profit off a text game.

[Tgo01]

Consider that you can already script the game to death. They literally have to sit there and pass a script check. Have one character be the mule on a basic subscription, have a dozen or so 'bots' run around, transfer to the mule. Undersell the rest of the competition.

Profit off a text game.

https://img0.etsystatic.com/000/0/6413229/il_340x270.313999920.jpg

[Wrathbringer]

Consider that you can already script the game to death. They literally have to sit there and pass a script check. Have one character be the mule on a basic subscription, have a dozen or so 'bots' run around, transfer to the mule. Undersell the rest of the competition.

Profit off a text game.

Tgo just re-upped.

[Astray]

You all think I'm kidding!

Wait until some chinese guy is selling a million silver at $3 per! You'll all see!

[Wrathbringer]

You all think I'm kidding!

Wait until some chinese guy is selling a million silver at $3 per! You'll all see!

Racist.

[Astray]

Racist.

Okay. That one may have gone a little racial...

[Androidpk]

Chinese gold farmers made pvp servers even more fun.

[Wrathbringer]

Okay. That one may have gone a little racial...

No big deal. Everyone knows Chinese silver is fake anyway.

[Astray]

Chinese gold farmers made pvp servers even more fun.

Pvp servers, yes.

History in GS sort of shows that you need a contract with someone to initiate violence.

[waywardgs]

kekekekekekekekeke

[Astray]

kekekekekekekekeke

That's Korean Star Craft players. Can't you tell the difference, you racist?!

[Kithus]

What you really have to worry about is those damned North Koreans hacking lnet to get all our login credentials and steal our silver. Then they can sell it back for thousands of dollars and fund their next terrorist plot to destroy a movie they don't like.

[Tgo01]

That's Korean Star Craft players. Can't you tell the difference, you racist?!

I know the difference, a famous Korean once said:

Karate come from China, sixteenth century, called te, "hand." Hundred year later, ancestor bring to Okinawa, call kara-te, "empty hand."

[Latrinsorm]

You can also go to the most vague, out of the way MMO's and find Gold farmers by the droves. If there is money to be made through virtual currency, they will make it.I didn't see any gold spammers in DDO or PWI, and I played those games for months.

To Taernath's point, websites are not games. The relevant distinction here is that website comments are permanent, while game comments are transient.

[waywardgs]

What you really have to worry about is those damned North Koreans hacking lnet to get all our login credentials and steal our silver. Then they can sell it back for thousands of dollars and fund their next terrorist plot to destroy a movie they don't like.

I was with NK on that one. That movie was terrible.

[Astray]

That movie was bad. I regret watching it.

[waywardgs]

I know the difference, a famous Korean once said:

Karate come from China, sixteenth century, called te, "hand." Hundred year later, ancestor bring to Okinawa, call kara-te, "empty hand."


https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=817246528329411

[Luxelle]

Wow, so many messages. I saw this announcement before I went to sleep last night.

So for some perspective, I'm going to add this reply - and I understand that it won't apply to everyone. But I *am* the new kid here.

Last Fall when I started Luxelle, I would have TOTALLY been down for this free to play account.

I am not even sure when I would have felt like I outgrew it. Luxie is now level 26. And spends more time not hunting than hunting. Adventurer's Guild? Bah, the man just wants to kill her anyway. I think she has done less than 40 bounties. Society? Haven't joined one, they all seem completely inappropriate for Luxie.

I realize all you crazy friends here play rings around me - and that's fine with me. :) I'm not in a race with anyone but the next song or blog post.

But aside from the locker size, the spells from others, and the silvers in the bank, I can't remember what else on their list of things would matter to me, even at this point in Luxie's career.

I am hoping to meet many new people on the streets of towns. Some will stay. Some will stay free, and some will become subscribers. It is all more than we have now. You know, if this new announcement gets advertised...

~L (The bardess with her glass half full.)

[Fallen]

I imagine as a bard you use spellsongs which would likely be restricted. Also, I hope you don't enjoy Loresinging, as that too seems heavily restricted. You'd also likely not be titled (meaning over level 20) without the use of Lumnis.

I'm for this F2P model, but it definitely is designed limit you quite severely. That all being said, as a new player if you think it would have been appealing to you, then that should be noted.

One nice thing about it is that you'd spend more time in each hunting ground due to the slower experience absorption, even at the lower levels.

[Androidpk]

I imagine as a bard you use spellsongs which would likely be restricted. Also, I hope you don't enjoy Loresinging, as that too seems heavily restricted. You'd also likely not be titled (meaning over level 20) without the use of Lumnis.

I'm for this F2P model, but it definitely is designed limit you quite severely. That all being said, as a new player if you think it would have been appealing to you, then that should be noted.

One nice thing about it is that you'd spend more time in each hunting ground due to the slower experience absorption, even at the lower levels.

People were capping long before lumis came around.

[waywardgs]

People were capping long before lumis came around.

I liked it when the most powerful characters in the game were reduced to throwing away trash to keep advancing. Elanthian Elite: The GS Garbage Men!

[Luxelle]

Loresinging, I'd miss that, too, fair call there.

But I have no idea which spellsongs they would restrict, I think I read somewhere the Traveler's Song is one of them ... which I have only used once, by accident.

Anyway, yes, I just thought I would add my bits to the 30 pages of replies. :)

~L.

[Tgo01]

Loresinging, I'd miss that, too, fair call there.

But I have no idea which spellsongs they would restrict, I think I read somewhere the Traveler's Song is one of them ... which I have only used once, by accident.

Anyway, yes, I just thought I would add my bits to the 30 pages of replies. :)

~L.

Do you cast buffs on other people?

Also keep in mind you're a rarity in GS, that's not a bad thing by the way :p

[Luxelle]

Do you cast buffs on other people?

Also keep in mind you're a rarity in GS, that's not a bad thing by the way :p

First, thanks, I <3 your sentimentality too - you know, when it shows. :)

Bard spellsongs are not castable on others, as far as I know. A couple of them benefit your group, but that's it. When I finally learned something from the minor elemental circle, I can cast that on others, but, you know, everyone knows 401 and 406 already, so it's pretty rare for me yet.

~L.

[waywardgs]

First, thanks, I <3 your sentimentality too - you know, when it shows. :)


If he shows you any more of his sentimentality, you should report him to Anticor.

[Thondalar]

I just did my annual $600 on both premium accounts in January. I'm guessing this wouldn't matter for me either way, but I've been busy at work last few days so I'll have to check this out.

[Thondalar]

I liked it when the most powerful characters in the game were reduced to throwing away trash to keep advancing. Elanthian Elite: The GS Garbage Men!

This is legendary but actually rarely used. Locksmithing was the norm.



edit: for non-empaths.


edit edit: well, some empaths smithed too, but they'd usually just rescue/heal.

[Androidpk]

I once saw Drizzsdt beg Ardwen for boxes to throw away.

[Ceyrin]

I once saw Drizzsdt beg Ardwen for boxes to throw away.

Thanks for reminding me of the 139124691024 variations of this name that used to run around Gemstone. It's worse than Throgg, but less contained.

[Latrinsorm]

I once saw with my own eyes the Elanthian Drizzsdt hanging in a tower, and when the noobs asked him "Drizzsdt, what do you want?" he answered "I want a hard cap."

[JackWhisper]

I liked it when the most powerful characters in the game were reduced to throwing away trash to keep advancing. Elanthian Elite: The GS Garbage Men!

And they all, no matter the class, took up lockpicking. That was hilarious.

[JackWhisper]

This is legendary but actually rarely used. Locksmithing was the norm.

Damnit Thond!

[Thondalar]

Thanks for reminding me of the 139124691024 variations of this name that used to run around Gemstone. It's worse than Throgg, but less contained.

Naw, there was only one Drizzsdt. There were many variations, but that particular variation....we all know who we're talking about here.

[Thondalar]

Damnit Thond!

Day late and a dollar short. Story of your life?

[Thondalar]

I once saw with my own eyes the Elanthian Drizzsdt hanging in a tower, and when the noobs asked him "Drizzsdt, what do you want?" he answered "I want a hard cap."

If you saw him hanging, I don't think he'd be in much condition to answer any question.


Then again, it IS a fantasy realm.

Carry on.

[Astray]

Then you wouldn't have a game anymore because they would lose all of their sub revenue. Try again, genius.

I've been getting plenty of anonymous red rep lately but I'm going to address this one specifically.

I never stated that they should abolish subscriptions entirely, I simply said to make a basic accounts free. Supplement the lack of a basic subscription with micro transactions. A good majority of free to play games are littered with micro transactions and none of them are hurting. I would wager they do far better than Simu at this point. If people want more, they can go ahead and subscribe to a premium account.

Again, plenty of games out there offer entirely free basic accounts and don't suffer. It's amusing to see so much ire over something as basic as mentioning a Free GS4 basic account.

[JackWhisper]

I've been getting plenty of anonymous red rep lately but I'm going to address this one specifically.

I never stated that they should abolish subscriptions entirely, I simply said to make a basic accounts free. Supplement the lack of a basic subscription with micro transactions. A good majority of free to play games are littered with micro transactions and none of them are hurting. I would wager they do far better than Simu at this point. If people want more, they can go ahead and subscribe to a premium account.

Again, plenty of games out there offer entirely free basic accounts and don't suffer. It's amusing to see so much ire over something as basic as mentioning a Free GS4 basic account.

F2P are now called Basic.
Premium remain the same.
Oldschool Basic are now called Prime accounts.

And thus, Simu wins with wordplay!

[Astray]

When I say free basic account, I mean without restrictions. You can offer cash shop items such as boosters (pardon the dead horse) to both F2P and P2P. F2P could have a shorter time duration and a smaller limit on them.

Ah well, we'll see how successful the current plan is. And I really do help it becomes a success.

[JackWhisper]

I am against boosters for P2P. Specifically, the XP boosters. Everything else is whatever.

Edit: Which is why I am glad the boosters for xp are only for F2P.

[Androidpk]

Why are you against xp boosters?

[Astray]

I am against boosters for P2P. Specifically, the XP boosters. Everything else is whatever.

Edit: Which is why I am glad the boosters for xp are only for F2P.

They would sell amazingly, I'd wager.

[Taernath]

I am against boosters for P2P. Specifically, the XP boosters. Everything else is whatever.

Edit: Which is why I am glad the boosters for xp are only for F2P.

They've already sold tickets to events where 10x swords of doom are available, if you're worried about pay2win that ship has sailed.

[Buckwheet]

Why are you against xp boosters?

Many people tie their XP number to some sort of ideal that sets them apart from everyone else. "I earned this".

I don't really understand why it matters either. I had shown previously that it would cost you over $1000 to make a fresh level 100 character if they used RPA values and pricing. Anyone who is going to pay $1000 for a fresh level 100 and still do the leveling grind, in my opinion, could have it. All they do is let people get there quicker. Not instantly. I heard arguments of people won't know how to play their class too. I disagree.

But because I am the one saying it, it will get discounted yet again. But as someone who purchased the RPA orbs and used them, there was still plenty of hours left in the day to learn the class. Instead of hunting manticores for a couple weeks, it was done in a few days. That is still lots of hours spent hand leveling and learning the class.

If someone wants to pay $1000 for each 7.5m experience so be it. Look at the sorcerer that is for sale. We know who it is, and most people probably don't care. For $1500 you can purchase a character that would cost you what, $3-4000 from the simucoin store?

So the only argument I can think of is right now if I bought Swami's character people could blacklist it right away, they could chose to not interact with me, they could discount anything I did for the rest of the time I played him because "you bought him". So the argument is, if you let players buy boosters, nobody will know they "cheated".

I don't think it makes one bit of difference. If someone wants to pay Simu that kind of money just to kill the same group of mobs at 8, 15, 25m experience all it will do is pad Simu's coffers and they will get bored quickly and they won't be able to sell the character for a fraction of what they paid.

Its the same reason people don't want to allow name changes.

As I have said before, and will keep saying, it doesn't matter how much XP Kaedra has to me. It doesn't matter how much XP JW has to me. It shouldn't matter how much XP I have to anyone else.

But we have a thread devoted to showcasing your post cap XP and if someone goes in there tomorrow and says "BOOM XP CAP BITCHES" and its not Kaedra people get pissed off. I guess the difference to me is that both people had a goal and a method of reaching that goal and I will be just as happy for Kaedra hitting the XP cap as some dude dropping 10 grand.

[Buckwheet]

They would sell amazingly, I'd wager.

They already were selling amazingly well. Simu noticed how well they were selling and killed them off. I believe it was at least 2k a week in sales towards the end. And this was with many people not really knowing about it.

[Astray]

If they restricted these things properly, they would easily outsell a basic subscription in a week. If they didn't manage how frequently they could be bought and if they sold them in bundles that could potentially stack to a Lumis, I'm convinced they wouldn't be hurting.

That's just one thing. I'm not for loot boosters since I get the feeling those would be abusable as all hell...


They already were selling amazingly well. Simu noticed how well they were selling and killed them off. I believe it was at least 2k a week in sales towards the end. And this was with many people not really knowing about it.

What? What's the point in not making a profit?

[Buckwheet]

If they restricted these things properly, they would easily outsell a basic subscription in a week. If they didn't manage how frequently they could be bought and if they sold them in bundles that could potentially stack to a Lumis, I'm convinced they wouldn't be hurting.

That's just one thing. I'm not for loot boosters since I get the feeling those would be abusable as all hell...



What? What's the point in not making a profit?

They "didn't want to put a price on experience". Or something like that. It really didn't make sense.

Edit: It made sense in that, people who want the boosters don't understand some weird position from the opposition. And the opposition makes claims that can never be proven even though the boosters already existed. At least, nobody who opposes the XP boosts has ever posted up how they were negatively impacted by myself or others who were obtaining the boosters. So Simu just decides to do their own thing.

[Wrathbringer]

They "didn't want to put a price on experience". Or something like that. It really didn't make sense.

It would diminish the significance of an rpa, and thus rp if no one has mentioned this before.

[Buckwheet]

It would diminish the significance of an rpa, and thus rp if no one has mentioned this before.

Uh what? How would it diminish you being rewarded for roleplay? You wouldn't feel good about getting a reward? I think the opposite actually and I use myself as an example.

I ran a MHO and helped out with two more. When I started running it I found myself torn between wanting to advance my character and doing events. The events took a decent amount of time to plan, gather prizes for, and make sure people showed up. Yes, I made the decision to do this, and I am not crying about it.

But at times I found it difficult to even get through XXX in a week due to meeting with people or arranging services to be given out as prizes. I used the XP boosts to get both things. I got satisfaction for numbers that I, the player, wanted to expand, and I was still able to RP with lots of people.

So I find it difficult to believe that you, yes you Wrathbringer specifically, would possibly come to one of my MHO events, participate fully in the event with RP and then feel diminished that you were rewarded afterwards by a GM for great interactions with your fellow players. Because I had used a XP boost the night before that you never knew I used.

[Donquix]

the free tier should be what standard is, with some of the restrictions they do have for buff/healbots etc. and storage space.
basic what we have now but with more character slots, drop the price to ~10
premium down to 20

alterntively take premium down to like 25-30 and MAYBE leave basic where it is but throw in X amount of simucoins per month

UNLINK shattered from requiring basic subscription, for fuck's sake.

pay events as is for free accounts, drop price signifficantly for basic, free for premium

simucoin items for alterations on demand with the caveat they don't reduce the number free available as well for subscribers. more "fluff" items in general in the store. I think aesthetic items are perfect for microtransactions, in general.

not being able to downgrade the account is stupid. that's cutting off a HUGE potential market of existing players who don't want to sub but could totally be free tier players with the occasional simucoin or event ticket purchase.

add items to the store that are QOL improvements. full self-cast defensive spellup, increased mana / spirit regeneration while in town, etc.

weapon bonding potions, compensate by something snazzy for warriors (like say, making it not just return to hand but never be disarmed in the first place, or instant return rather than the few second delay, etc.)

etc.

[Kithus]

You can't seriously expect Simutronics to give up the amount of revenue you are suggesting Donquix. It simply is not realistic. Free events for premium? Premium account holders buy out events in seconds no matter how high they price them. What possible incentive do they have for this?

[Lord Orbstar]

Naw, there was only one Drizzsdt. There were many variations, but that particular variation....we all know who we're talking about here. and he was a total asshole.

[Tgo01]

It's amusing to see so much ire over something as basic as mentioning a Free GS4 basic account.

The haters have got you in their sights as well. You either get behind every decision Simu makes or you hate GS, apple pie, freedom and oxygen!

[Astray]

The haters have got you in their sights as well. You either get behind every decision Simu makes or you hate GS, apple pie, freedom and oxygen!

In all honesty, it doesn't bother me. I've got some nastier nonsense but it's not worth acknowledging.

[Tgo01]

In all honesty, it doesn't bother me. I've got some nastier nonsense but it's not worth acknowledging.

http://images.sodahead.com/polls/002100637/kitty-53962987003_xlarge.jpeg

[Astray]

No, bad Tgo! That's a dank meme.

[Tgo01]

No, bad Tgo! That's a dank meme.

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=305929&stc=1

[Kithus]

New post from Solomon to answer some of the questions:

I got with Coase (who's been a little tied up with some RL stuff) and here are some more specific details. This is not a complete list and is subject to change.


Experience and Skills

The weekly Gift of Lumnis does not occur. It is accessible via a pass.

Experience absorption is less efficient on a sliding scale. The first 10 levels are unchanged. After level 10, the efficiency of absorption gradually decreases. This can be fully or partially offset with experience passses.

No yearly fixskills.


Bounties

One task per hour will be available from the Adventurer's Guild. This can be upgraded to 1 task per 30 minutes with an Adventure Boost.


PvP

No direct attacks allowed. Mass Attack spells like Ewave (410) that can hit players as well as creatures have a 30 second cooldown (to prevent careless spamming). If actually used to attack another player, this cooldown increases to 5 minutes (cooldown can be removed with a cooldown remover).

Spells that significantly impact a room without attacking a player (notably Minor Sanctuary) are restricted from use.


Spells and Related Abilities

Attack spells (against creatures) are largely unrestricted, aside from the mass attack spell limitations noted above.

All beneficial spells except the lowest spell in each Minor circle (101, 401, and 1204) are all self-cast only. This restriction also applies to the ARMOR abilities. A casting pass allows casting on anyone else. If the caster does not have a casting pass, the receiving player can choose to purchase a receiving pass to allow any F2P caster to cast upon them. Only one pass needs to be present.

All beneficial spell durations cap at 2 hours.

Permanent/Long-term item boosts have complete/partial restrictions (Enchant Item, Charge Item, Magic Item Creation, Imbue, Resist Nature, Scroll Infusion, Holy Receptical, Ensorcell, Damage Specializations, etc.).

Utility spells such as teleporation, locate, and such have a four hour cooldown period between each use. These cooldowns can be removed with a cooldown remover.

Only access to random attunement, unless a purchase is made to select one.

Only access to one particular sort of pet for pet spells (Call Familiar, Animal Companion, etc).

Loresinging is restricted, unless a pass is purchased which allows loresinging on a per item basis.


Healing

The last 10 players healed are kept track of. Each time a new person is healed, the oldest name on the list is bumped off. A single player can only appear 2 times on the list. A healing pass increases this to 4 times.

An empath must first link (via TOUCH) to their prospective client. This linking process takes 30 seconds (15 with a healing pass). Once established, the link lasts for 3 minutes. All wound transfers done during this link are considered part of a single healing session (one entry on the above list).


Resurrection

The last 10 players raised are kept track of. Each time a new person is raised, the oldest name on the list is bumped off. A single player can only appear 2 times on the list. A pass removes this restriction.


Artisan Guild

Cannot gain AG ranks. Will allow access purchases down the line.


Societies

Can gain the first rank and advance to the cusp of the 2nd rank. A society pass is required to gain rank 2 and beyond, as well as use any powers beyond 2nd rank.


Profession Guilds

Cannot join a profession guild. Will allow access purchases down the line.


Lockers and Items

No base access to a locker. Can purchase a temporary 10 item locker pass, or the existing locker upgrades (both permanent and temporary).

100 item personal carry limit. Can be expanded to 300 items with a pass.

Can use up to 5x (+25) gear (any additional bonus is not applied). Similarly limited to "somewhat" padding/weighting/sighting. Passes available to increase these.


Silver/Treasure

One bank account. (Can pay to move it from town to town)

Notes cost 1% more.

100k maximum balance. (Can be permanently expanded)

5k in-pocket silver maximum to hunt with (can carry as much as desired outside of combat). Waived with a Treasure Boost.

Silvers apply twice as much encumbrance.

50k daily treasure cap. Cap can be reset with a Treasure Cap Reset. Lowered treasure per kill. No treasure when killing creatures when unable to learn from them. Expanded to 100k cap with a Treasure Boost, and increased treasure. Limits on Purify silver value boosts and increased difficulty.

Shop prices are less favorable.

Lockpicking (and popping/bashing) limited to self-found boxes only. Plans for this to change based on how the rotating lists for healing/raising work.

Foraging is harder. F2P cannot take the last two forageables out of a room. Max 15 items per hours. Foraging pass removes restrictions and makes foraging easier.


Transportation

Transportation (whether by boat or teleportation) to River's Rest and Teras is restricted. Access can be purchased via the store.

Chronomage orb purchases are restricted. They can be purchased via the store.


Solomon

[Wrathbringer]

I got with Coase (who's been a little tied up with some RL stuff) and here are some more specific details. This is not a complete list and is subject to change.


Experience and Skills

The weekly Gift of Lumnis does not occur. It is accessible via a pass.

Experience absorption is less efficient on a sliding scale. The first 10 levels are unchanged. After level 10, the efficiency of absorption gradually decreases. This can be fully or partially offset with experience passses.

No yearly fixskills.


Bounties

One task per hour will be available from the Adventurer's Guild. This can be upgraded to 1 task per 30 minutes with an Adventure Boost.


PvP

No direct attacks allowed. Mass Attack spells like Ewave (410) that can hit players as well as creatures have a 30 second cooldown (to prevent careless spamming). If actually used to attack another player, this cooldown increases to 5 minutes (cooldown can be removed with a cooldown remover).

Spells that significantly impact a room without attacking a player (notably Minor Sanctuary) are restricted from use.


Spells and Related Abilities

Attack spells (against creatures) are largely unrestricted, aside from the mass attack spell limitations noted above.

All beneficial spells except the lowest spell in each Minor circle (101, 401, and 1204) are all self-cast only. This restriction also applies to the ARMOR abilities. A casting pass allows casting on anyone else. If the caster does not have a casting pass, the receiving player can choose to purchase a receiving pass to allow any F2P caster to cast upon them. Only one pass needs to be present.

All beneficial spell durations cap at 2 hours.

Permanent/Long-term item boosts have complete/partial restrictions (Enchant Item, Charge Item, Magic Item Creation, Imbue, Resist Nature, Scroll Infusion, Holy Receptical, Ensorcell, Damage Specializations, etc.).

Utility spells such as teleporation, locate, and such have a four hour cooldown period between each use. These cooldowns can be removed with a cooldown remover.

Only access to random attunement, unless a purchase is made to select one.

Only access to one particular sort of pet for pet spells (Call Familiar, Animal Companion, etc).

Loresinging is restricted, unless a pass is purchased which allows loresinging on a per item basis.


Healing

The last 10 players healed are kept track of. Each time a new person is healed, the oldest name on the list is bumped off. A single player can only appear 2 times on the list. A healing pass increases this to 4 times.

An empath must first link (via TOUCH) to their prospective client. This linking process takes 30 seconds (15 with a healing pass). Once established, the link lasts for 3 minutes. All wound transfers done during this link are considered part of a single healing session (one entry on the above list).


Resurrection

The last 10 players raised are kept track of. Each time a new person is raised, the oldest name on the list is bumped off. A single player can only appear 2 times on the list. A pass removes this restriction.


Artisan Guild

Cannot gain AG ranks. Will allow access purchases down the line.


Societies

Can gain the first rank and advance to the cusp of the 2nd rank. A society pass is required to gain rank 2 and beyond, as well as use any powers beyond 2nd rank.


Profession Guilds

Cannot join a profession guild. Will allow access purchases down the line.


Lockers and Items

No base access to a locker. Can purchase a temporary 10 item locker pass, or the existing locker upgrades (both permanent and temporary).

100 item personal carry limit. Can be expanded to 300 items with a pass.

Can use up to 5x (+25) gear (any additional bonus is not applied). Similarly limited to "somewhat" padding/weighting/sighting. Passes available to increase these.


Silver/Treasure

One bank account. (Can pay to move it from town to town)

Notes cost 1% more.

100k maximum balance. (Can be permanently expanded)

5k in-pocket silver maximum to hunt with (can carry as much as desired outside of combat). Waived with a Treasure Boost.

Silvers apply twice as much encumbrance.

50k daily treasure cap. Cap can be reset with a Treasure Cap Reset. Lowered treasure per kill. No treasure when killing creatures when unable to learn from them. Expanded to 100k cap with a Treasure Boost, and increased treasure. Limits on Purify silver value boosts and increased difficulty.

Shop prices are less favorable.

Lockpicking (and popping/bashing) limited to self-found boxes only. Plans for this to change based on how the rotating lists for healing/raising work.

Foraging is harder. F2P cannot take the last two forageables out of a room. Max 15 items per hours. Foraging pass removes restrictions and makes foraging easier.


Transportation

Transportation (whether by boat or teleportation) to River's Rest and Teras is restricted. Access can be purchased via the store.

Chronomage orb purchases are restricted. They can be purchased via the store.


Solomon

Will f2p chars be allowed to speak or will that require a pass?

[Astray]

Sheesh.

[Luftstreitkräfte]

how the fuck are they gonna code all that without breaking everything

[Tgo01]

Surprised to see free accounts can use 5x gear for free, thought for sure it would be limited to 0x gear.

Also lockpicking is limited; I thought it strange they wouldn't limit that in some fashion. Sounds like there are plans to make it so you can pick other people's boxes but at the outset sounds like you're just wasting your time expecting to roll up a rogue to pick other people's boxes.

[Luftstreitkräfte]

You can't seriously expect Simutronics to give up the amount of revenue you are suggesting Donquix. It simply is not realistic. Free events for premium? Premium account holders buy out events in seconds no matter how high they price them. What possible incentive do they have for this?

the use of fucks sake helps his argument though.

[Tgo01]

how the fuck are they gonna code all that without breaking everything


Stop trying to put a shitty spin on cool stuff.

Also sounds like a free account is going to suck for healing unless you buy the healing pass. Especially if you're a healing empath hanging out in Icemule or River's Rest, you might go for hours where it's the same 2 or 3 people who need healing over and over again.

Raising wouldn't be too bad because the same person doesn't tend to die over and over again but then again since people die less often than they are injured you are going to cycle through that 10 player list a lot slower.

All of these limitations just sounds so frustrating. I also wish we knew more about the experience absorption rates. Does "gradually decrease" mean every 10 levels it decreases like the first 10 levels are unaffected, or does it mean every single level it gradually decreases? There is only so much it can decrease because experience absorption is already capped at 40 exp per minute and that's with a lot of enhancives or being saturated, without that stuff you can usually expect 32 or 33.

[Androidpk]

Will f2p chars be allowed to speak or will that require a pass?

Sorry, you have to purchase a question pass before asking a question.

[Wrathbringer]

Sorry, you have to purchase a question pass before asking a question.

Not if you already have an answer pass.

[Wrathbringer]

Also sounds like a free account is going to suck

Yep

[Astray]

Let's go ahead and be real for a second. If this were a move by Blizzard or EA or anyone else, the people defending this would be crucifying these companies and calling them money hungry.

Where does the discrepancy come in? Because they are a small company? There's got to be a limit here. Free accounts are not hard and they certainly don't deserve to be money sinks to be on par with a subscription. This is ludicrous.

[waywardgs]

Let's go ahead and be real for a second. If this were a move by Blizzard or EA or anyone else, the people defending this would be crucifying these companies and calling them money hungry.

Where does the discrepancy come in? Because they are a small company? There's got to be a limit here. Free accounts are not hard and they certainly don't deserve to be money sinks to be on par with a subscription. This is ludicrous.

Simu seems really worried that they'll be a giant wave of disruptive accounts who have nothing to lose because there's no card on file. Between that and protecting against free support accounts, I can see the reasoning behind all the different restrictions. That said, I hardly think there's a mountain of people just gnashing their teeth and howling at the gates to troll elanthia with a free account. I also don't think this will be the landslide entry point simu is hoping for. Maybe 10 years ago...

[Tgo01]

That said, I hardly think there's a mountain of people just gnashing their teeth and howling at the gates to troll elanthia with a free account. I also don't think this will be the landslide entry point simu is hoping for. Maybe 10 years ago...

I'm really beginning to wonder if they think this will bring the population of the lands back up to 2k or something :/

Are they going to require all GMs be available for duty on the day this releases? You know, to help with the flood of new accounts who are bound to be asking questions and getting lost.

I mean sure, maybe if someone like me rolls up 500 accounts just for shits and giggles but I don't think Simu is being realistic at all about this.

[Astray]

There's going to be a rough period, there always is. Things will pop and break and be adjusted. It's to be expected. Maybe things will lighten up, who knows. Those restrictions just seem like money gouging and arm twisting.

If I were new, I'd look at my restrictions and laugh, then go play WoW or something.

[Alashir]

There's going to be a rough period, there always is. Things will pop and break and be adjusted. It's to be expected. Maybe things will lighten up, who knows. Those restrictions just seem like money gouging and arm twisting.

If I were new, I'd look at my restrictions and laugh, then go play WoW or something.

WoW offers fun mounts and the ability to level faster when in proximity to friends in order to gather new players. GSIV hamstrings you in numerous ways only relenting when you've given them extra money. Even without the hamstrings its realistically one or two years before you can play with your capped friends. That is a really, really tough sell to just about anyone. If it weren't, we'd have an active player base greater than ~300

I don't see this being the best way to recruit people into a text based game in 2015 :(

[Androidpk]

WoW offers fun mounts and the ability to level faster when in proximity to friends in order to gather new players. GSIV hamstrings you in numerous ways only relenting when you've given them extra money. Even without the hamstrings its realistically one or two years before you can play with your capped friends. That is a really, really tough sell to just about anyone. If it weren't, we'd have an active player base greater than ~300

I don't see this being the best way to recruit people into a text based game in 2015 :(

A pass to be able to join groups! Great idea, we'll be adding to the store immediately.

[waywardgs]

Sorry, you need a suggestion pass before you can make a suggestion.

[Parkbandit]

Let's go ahead and be real for a second. If this were a move by Blizzard or EA or anyone else, the people defending this would be crucifying these companies and calling them money hungry.

Where does the discrepancy come in? Because they are a small company? There's got to be a limit here. Free accounts are not hard and they certainly don't deserve to be money sinks to be on par with a subscription. This is ludicrous.

You are talking about a company who has successfully kept a text based role-playing game going for 25+ years. They have people spending THOUSANDS of real dollars for a couple extra pieces of text.

They would be foolish not to put as much restrictions on these F2P accounts... because if they were "fun" to play, people would drop their subscriptions and play for free.

Let's remember what this program is for: To bring new people into the game. If successful, they will try it out.. like it and then upgrade to a regular subscription. Isn't that what everyone has been clamoring for for years and years?

[Kithus]

Let's go ahead and be real for a second. If this were a move by Blizzard or EA or anyone else, the people defending this would be crucifying these companies and calling them money hungry.

Where does the discrepancy come in? Because they are a small company? There's got to be a limit here. Free accounts are not hard and they certainly don't deserve to be money sinks to be on par with a subscription. This is ludicrous.

They are restricting this so that currently paying players will not be tempted to stop paying. The World of Warcraft F2P account meets a similar goal but with different restrictions because different things matter there:



The World of Warcraft® Starter Edition lets you access World of Warcraft for free—all you need is a Battle.net account and a broadband Internet connection.

Note: Each Battle.net account is limited to one World of Warcraft Starter Edition at a time.

Characters on Starter Edition game licenses have the following restrictions:

Can't play expansion-restricted content (new continents, etc).
Can't exceed level 20, 10 gold, and 100 trade skill ranks.
Can't participate in Pet Battles.
Can't chat in channels other than say and party.
Can't whisper another character unless they add you to their friends list.
Can't create or join guilds, invite players into a party, or create calendar invitations.
Can't disable experience gains.
Can't trade, mail, or use the Auction House.
Can't use voice chat or Real ID.
Can't use value added services (character transfers, faction changes, etc).

Returning players will receive the following bonuses:

Can use guild chat in addition to the say and party channels.
Can join guilds their other characters are members of.
Can whisper characters that are members of your current guild.


I was not upset at Blizzard that I couldn't abuse their F2P account and I am not upset at Simutronics for it either. I am the first person to be displeased at the money grabs I have seen from Simutronics in recent years. I have been vocal about my dislike of the pay per play mini quests and the ever increasing use of pay events to release everything. The bottom line is that this F2P account thing just doesn't negatively affect me the way that other stuff does. It isn't for me, or other currently paying players, at all. We aren't supposed to benefit from it beyond the possibility of new players trying out the game for free and liking it enough to stick around. The microtransaction style model they have borrowed from most F2P app type games gives a F2P character the option to just buy the pieces of a subscription they want.

The bottom line is the restrictions they have in place are going to do exactly what they intended to. They will stop people from making free support characters so they keep paying that basic subscription for their pocket wizard or empath. They will make it very difficult for F2P accounts to significantly impact the Gemstone economy. They will make signing up for a subscription an increasingly attractive option as F2P characters continue to advance. It is my honest opinion that they got this right and it is being handled in the best way possible, barring some tweaks that might be required as they learn more in a live environment.


Edit: See what you've started?! You've got me agreeing with PB now.

[Alashir]

A pass to be able to join groups! Great idea, we'll be adding to the store immediately.

Lol, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I supposed laughing may stave off the tears.

[Androidpk]

You are talking about a company who has successfully kept a text based role-playing game going for 25+ years. They have people spending THOUSANDS of real dollars for a couple extra pieces of text.

They would be foolish not to put as much restrictions on these F2P accounts... because if they were "fun" to play, people would drop their subscriptions and play for free.

Let's remember what this program is for: To bring new people into the game. If successful, they will try it out.. like it and then upgrade to a regular subscription. Isn't that what everyone has been clamoring for for years and years?

Here comes Grandpa Logic, spoiling everyone's fun.

[mgoddess]

Can someone ask on the officials if the Society pass is temporary or permanent?

[Latrinsorm]

Let's go ahead and be real for a second. If this were a move by Blizzard or EA or anyone else, the people defending this would be crucifying these companies and calling them money hungry. Where does the discrepancy come in? Because they are a small company? There's got to be a limit here. Free accounts are not hard and they certainly don't deserve to be money sinks to be on par with a subscription. This is ludicrous.It's a step in the right direction for Simu, it would be a step in the wrong direction for any other company. It's unrealistic to expect someone to be the best, you can only expect them to improve. Blatant cash grabs are the name of the game for Simu, a cursory examination of recent pay events demonstrates that. To give away anything for free is a major concession.
WoW offers fun mounts and the ability to level faster when in proximity to friends in order to gather new players. GSIV hamstrings you in numerous ways only relenting when you've given them extra money. Even without the hamstrings its realistically one or two years before you can play with your capped friends. That is a really, really tough sell to just about anyone. If it weren't, we'd have an active player base greater than ~300 I don't see this being the best way to recruit people into a text based game in 2015 Gemstone has the worst grouping mechanics of any game I've ever seen, even when all characters are same level, but the problems are so deep in the foundation of the game that I don't expect them to ever be fixed. Gemstone has the best grouping mechanics when it comes to roleplay and thus community, that's where F2P makes them money.

[Kithus]

Can someone ask on the officials if the Society pass is temporary or permanent?

Done. I'll copy any response I get here.

[Tgo01]

Gemstone has the best grouping mechanics when it comes to roleplay and thus community, that's where F2P makes them money.

How? That's surprisingly one thing they haven't restricted...or have they?!

Multiple verb act passes!

[Parkbandit]

Here comes Grandpa Logic, spoiling everyone's fun.

It's ok creep. I'm sure there are more really stupid and married woman you can steal from.

[JackWhisper]

Welp, this is going to be interesting. the restrictions are harsh, but not as harsh for what I have in mind to play with. I am going to be testing these xp gains without outside assistance.

Did I misread or is the spell restrictions just that you CAN get buffed, but it only lasts 2 hours max?

And who the FUCK thought up the empath restriction? Who the heck waits 30 seconds for someone to finish linking to heal?!?

RandomX: Need heals please.

RandomY nods at RandomX
RandomZ nods at RandomX
RandomF nods at RandomX
FreeRanA nods at RandomX
FreeRanA touches RandomX. 30sec RT.
0.5 seconds pass.
RandomY heals RandomX


Yeah. That's going to work.

[Alashir]

Gemstone has the worst grouping mechanics of any game I've ever seen, even when all characters are same level, but the problems are so deep in the foundation of the game that I don't expect them to ever be fixed. Gemstone has the best grouping mechanics when it comes to roleplay and thus community, that's where F2P makes them money.

I think the biggest sell for GSIV isn't the RP factor but rather watching text come to life. Also, I'd argue the community is quite cliquey and often reminds me of HS with the in group versus out group mentality.

Edit for spelling!

[Parkbandit]

Welp, this is going to be interesting. the restrictions are harsh, but not as harsh for what I have in mind to play with. I am going to be testing these xp gains without outside assistance.

Did I misread or is the spell restrictions just that you CAN get buffed, but it only lasts 2 hours max?

And who the FUCK thought up the empath restriction? Who the heck waits 30 seconds for someone to finish linking to heal?!?

RandomX: Need heals please.

RandomY nods at RandomX
RandomZ nods at RandomX
RandomF nods at RandomX
FreeRanA nods at RandomX
FreeRanA touches RandomX. 30sec RT.
0.5 seconds pass.
RandomY heals RandomX


Yeah. That's going to work.

I doubt a healing empath is going to be a viable character on the F2P account without buying any passes. That's crazy.

[Androidpk]

It's ok creep. I'm sure there are more really stupid and married woman you can steal from.

Okay, Jarvan.

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/leisure-circus-clowns/0215.gif

[Parkbandit]

Okay, Jarvan.



Okay Androidpk (That's the biggest insult for anyone acting like an idiotic, creepy ageist.. even greater than "Okay Backlash")

[Alashir]

You are talking about a company who has successfully kept a text based role-playing game going for 25+ years. They have people spending THOUSANDS of real dollars for a couple extra pieces of text.

They would be foolish not to put as much restrictions on these F2P accounts... because if they were "fun" to play, people would drop their subscriptions and play for free.

Let's remember what this program is for: To bring new people into the game. If successful, they will try it out.. like it and then upgrade to a regular subscription. Isn't that what everyone has been clamoring for for years and years?

I think you and I probably define successfully different. A few hundred guys paying a subscription every month is better than none, but every piece of evidence collected shows that number decreasing every year. The thousands of RL dollars you mentioned that people pay for text is amazing however it's typically between individuals for items and simu doesn't see a share of that profit.

We all want and need more people to play this game. It keeps GSIV alive, moving, fresh, etc. Selling anything text based is going to be difficult no matter what, but it's going to be that much tougher when you dampen the experience to such an extent that they wont stick around for more than 5 minutes in a game that takes years to hit maximum level.

[Kithus]

And who the FUCK thought up the empath restriction? Who the heck waits 30 seconds for someone to finish linking to heal?!?


Based on Estild's post in the empath folder this is a precursor to an overhaul of healing and eventually everyone will heal that way.



As recently announced in the Free to Play (F2P) discussions, we're implementing a new feature for healing Empaths. You may now TOUCH <target> LINK to establish an Empathic Link with the target. For F2P Empaths without a Healing Pass, it takes 30 seconds to establish the link. For F2P Empaths with a Healing Pass or for non-F2P Empaths, it takes 15 seconds. While a link is established, it lasts for 3 minutes and no other Empath can transfer wounds from the target. An Empath may only have one link active at a time and each player can only be linked to one Empath at a time. The Empath or the target may UNLINK at anytime to end the link early.

F2P Empaths will be required to form an Empathic Link before they can transfer any wounds. This is optional and now live for any non-F2P Empaths. In the far future, this will be a requirement for all Empaths, but not until we implement and review a number of other things with healing. This feature has always been on my list to implement, but as a much broader project. It'll be some time before I get to the latter, but I did want to warn everyone now.

GameMaster Estild

[Androidpk]

Okay Androidpk (That's the biggest insult for anyone acting like an idiotic, creepy ageist.. even greater than "Okay Backlash")

Trying way too hard there.

[Fallen]

The restrictions are rough, but you can still hunt. For people who want to just fuck about and RP this isn't that bad of a deal at all.

[Parkbandit]

Based on Estild's post in the empath folder this is a precursor to an overhaul of healing and eventually everyone will heal that way.

I blame Tayre...

[Silvean]

I think the biggest sell for GSIV isn't the RP factor but rather the text of the game itself. Also, I'd argue the community is quite clicky and often reminds me of HS with the in group versus out group mentality.

Gemstone has never lived up to its potential as a medium for RP. Part of the problem rests with the staff; they need more people working to instigate roleplay. They also have a tendency to pick up a ball and walk it to the goal while others watch rather than set a ball rolling among the players to see where it goes. Still, I think they've been improving over the last year and they ought to do more to attract roleplayers to the game. It's the closest thing to a tabletop or LARP experience available.

[Tgo01]

As recently announced in the Free to Play (F2P) discussions, we're implementing a new feature for healing Empaths. You may now TOUCH <target> LINK to establish an Empathic Link with the target. For F2P Empaths without a Healing Pass, it takes 30 seconds to establish the link. For F2P Empaths with a Healing Pass or for non-F2P Empaths, it takes 15 seconds. While a link is established, it lasts for 3 minutes and no other Empath can transfer wounds from the target. An Empath may only have one link active at a time and each player can only be linked to one Empath at a time. The Empath or the target may UNLINK at anytime to end the link early.

F2P Empaths will be required to form an Empathic Link before they can transfer any wounds. This is optional and now live for any non-F2P Empaths. In the far future, this will be a requirement for all Empaths, but not until we implement and review a number of other things with healing. This feature has always been on my list to implement, but as a much broader project. It'll be some time before I get to the latter, but I did want to warn everyone now.

GameMaster Estild

...words...they fail me...

[JackWhisper]

Wow. So the link bars other empaths.

Instant hilarity when a F2P touches someone who rushes in needing heals quick, touches them, waits 30sec, and they bleed out in less than 5 seconds.

[Taernath]

Non f2p empaths are required to use the BOUNCE verb instead.

[Fallen]

Heh. Empaths are pretty damn powerful but that seems like a bit much even for me. Maybe they plan on cranking up the exp for healing.

[Silvean]

Non f2p empaths are required to use the BOUNCE verb instead.

RT is reduced by 1 for each pin or ribbon the Empath wears.

[Androidpk]

Wow. So the link bars other empaths.

Instant hilarity when a F2P touches someone who rushes in needing heals quick, touches them, waits 30sec, and they bleed out in less than 5 seconds.

Legalize pothinir.

[Astray]

You need a pass to bounce. You need the bounce pass to have the giggle pass.

Empaths as we know them are over.

[Androidpk]

They should make it so monks get a free pass for everything. Go monks!

[Tgo01]

They should make it so monks get a free pass for everything. Go monks!

Monks don't have to worry about buying a guild pass.

[Taernath]

[B]If actually used to attack another player, this cooldown increases to 5 minutes (cooldown can be removed with a cooldown remover).

LOL


Spells that significantly impact a room without attacking a player (notably Minor Sanctuary) are restricted from use.

f2p empaths/clerics kicked in the balls again.


Loresinging is restricted, unless a pass is purchased which allows loresinging on a per item basis.

I never saw loresinging as particularly abuse worthy. Can someone fill me in on why it's being restricted?


Cannot join a profession guild. Will allow access purchases down the line.

Even the ones that are purely RP? Geez.


5k in-pocket silver maximum to hunt with (can carry as much as desired outside of combat).

How is 'out of combat' state determined?


Silvers apply twice as much encumbrance.

Utterly dumb.

[Astray]

Monks require a fisting pass.
No, not a fist pass.
Fist.
Ing.

Get deep in there.

[Alashir]

Gemstone has never lived up to its potential as a medium for RP. Part of the problem rests with the staff; they need more people working to instigate roleplay. They also have a tendency to pick up a ball and walk it to the goal while others watch rather than set a ball rolling among the players to see where it goes. Still, I think they've been improving over the last year and they ought to do more to attract roleplayers to the game. It's the closest thing to a tabletop or LARP experience available.

I think games with RPG elements inevitably pull players into them because they can watch their characters grow, learn, and expand in new and exciting ways. That excitement and commitment to a character is what ultimately gives way to RP. However, GSIV moves so slowly that often times it can feel as though your character is stuck in molasses and seems as if your character stops growing. IMO dialing this back even further with F2P accounts seems to guarantee that most people wont bother giving it a shot.

[JackWhisper]

To answer the out of combat question, probably being outside town/away from the gates areas.

[Tgo01]

I never saw loresinging as particularly abuse worthy. Can someone fill me in on why it's being restricted?

Pocket loresingers! Loresinging is useful and often times it can be difficult to find a bard to loresing to your items, I guess Simu doesn't want everyone to just roll up a free bard. Honestly it still seems like overkill, especially since to my knowledge there is no limit to how many free 30 day trial accounts you can make. If someone really wanted to abuse this they could have just created a free trial account every 30 days this whole time.

[Androidpk]

Pocket loresingers! Loresinging is useful and often times it can be difficult to find a bard to loresing to your items, I guess Simu doesn't want everyone to just roll up a free bard. Honestly it still seems like overkill, especially since to my knowledge there is no limit to how many free 30 day trial accounts you can make. If someone really wanted to abuse this they could have just created a free trial account every 30 days this whole time.

Sounds like far too much work for a pocket bard.

[JackWhisper]

Pocket loresingers! Loresinging is useful and often times it can be difficult to find a bard to loresing to your items, I guess Simu doesn't want everyone to just roll up a free bard. Honestly it still seems like overkill, especially since to my knowledge there is no limit to how many free 30 day trial accounts you can make. If someone really wanted to abuse this they could have just created a free trial account every 30 days this whole time.


This on the pocket loresinger.

Loresinging is level-restrictive though. Items have a loresinging difficulty. Some respond to baseline, some do not. As you go up in enchants and item specific specialties, baseline doesn't work past the valuation impart.

[Taernath]

Pocket loresingers! Loresinging is useful and often times it can be difficult to find a bard to loresing to your items, I guess Simu doesn't want everyone to just roll up a free bard. Honestly it still seems like overkill, especially since to my knowledge there is no limit to how many free 30 day trial accounts you can make. If someone really wanted to abuse this they could have just created a free trial account every 30 days this whole time.

Rolling up a bard specifically for pocket loresinging seems pretty niche though, like rolling up a warrior specifically to assess. It would make more sense to me to restrict purifying or something, but maybe they already have.

[Kithus]

<<Is the society pass permanent or do you have to buy a new one at regular intervals?>>

It's temporary, but I'm currently re-evaluating the duration and cost so that it's still seen as an "extra", but not something that the access to is too pricey or annoying to maintain.


Solomon

[Fallen]

Kithus, did we ever get an answer on forums access?

[Tgo01]

Sounds like far too much work for a pocket bard.

Creating an account every 30 days is too much work? :/


This on the pocket loresinger.

Loresinging is level-restrictive though. Items have a loresinging difficulty. Some respond to baseline, some do not. As you go up in enchants and item specific specialties, baseline doesn't work past the valuation impart.

I don't know how much difficulty there actually is though. I have heard it's difficult to get certain information from items at low levels but when I rolled up my bard I don't recall any sort of difficulty at all. I used the loresinging method where you just add a new line to the loresong with each verse. There might be some sort of level requirement if you're using the key word method of loresinging. Or perhaps the level requirement to loresing to max items is so low I never noticed a difference.

[Fallen]

Also, GS finally got a hard mode.

[Tgo01]

It would make more sense to me to restrict purifying or something, but maybe they already have.

I'd be shocked if they don't.


<<Is the society pass permanent or do you have to buy a new one at regular intervals?>>

It's temporary, but I'm currently re-evaluating the duration and cost so that it's still seen as an "extra", but not something that the access to is too pricey or annoying to maintain.


Solomon

Holy shit. I really would have thought society access would be a one time purchase. I guess that means guild access is a recurring charge too.

Hey, wait a minute. He is implying here that he has some sort of control over all of this stuff. Didn't he imply earlier that he doesn't make these decisions?

Which is it, Solomon?!

[Astray]

Recurring charges on a 'free' account.

Oh, what? These are meant to be optional? Yeah, you're right. OPTIONAL IF YOU WANT TO PLAY THE FUCKING GAME. God this is becoming gross.

[Silvean]

I think games with RPG elements inevitably pull players into them because they can watch their characters grow, learn, and expand in new and exciting ways. That excitement and commitment to a character is what ultimately gives way to RP. However, GSIV moves so slowly that often times it can feel as though your character is stuck in molasses and seems as if your character stops growing. IMO dialing this back even further with F2P accounts seems to guarantee that most people wont bother giving it a shot.

I'm not sure what's going to happen when the F2P goes live. I don't know whether it will be successful by any measure; it could be.

There is a distinction between RPG elements in a game and roleplaying as an activity. The latter includes the personality and worldview of a character and how you express it. That expression can be frustratingly limited if you can't advance your character mechanically, as you point out. If some new people who are deep into RP start Gemstone because of this F2P model, maybe they'll get hooked into the stories they're trying to create regardless of the lengthy leveling process. You don't need to be level 20 to talk to Silvean about the unbridled glory of the Faendryl after all.

[Fallen]

How is a guild or society needed to play the game? They are recurring if you wish to have continued access to a given feature.

[Taernath]

Recurring charges on a 'free' account.

Oh, what? These are meant to be optional? Yeah, you're right. OPTIONAL IF YOU WANT TO PLAY THE FUCKING GAME. God this is becoming gross.

I wonder what the total cost will be to buy all these boosts and passes in order to bring it in line with a subscriber's experience.

I definitely didn't expect society access to be on a recurring fee. COL Online. :lol:

[Silvean]

I definitely didn't expect society access to be on a recurring fee. COL Online. :lol:

Makes that goddamn screechy modem noise every time the poohbear feels you up.

[JackWhisper]

I definitely didn't expect society access to be on a recurring fee. COL Online. :lol:

I laughed really hard at this for one reason.

When you don't KEEP ranking up in COL, you get penalized. So umm... if you CAN'T rank up, what? Do you join and then.... get your ass kicked by the Poohbah every few hours because you can't rank up?

[Zaigh]

I laughed really hard at this for one reason.

When you don't KEEP ranking up in COL, you get penalized. So umm... if you CAN'T rank up, what? Do you join and then.... get your ass kicked by the Poohbah every few hours because you can't rank up?

The first few ranks don't have the beatdown factor involved. Not much he can demote you to from rank 1 afterall.

[Kithus]

It would make more sense to me to restrict purifying or something, but maybe they already have.

Limits on Purify silver value boosts and increased difficulty is listed in the restrictions I cross posted earlier.

[Ashliana]

When the game moved to the web, they probably would've made more money overall if they'd kept the basic level free, and made Premium the $15 version. It always felt like "the only way to play," and it being ridiculously overpriced is why I always felt compelled to cancel during periods of disinterest. I wonder how many of the thousands who used to play would still be playing.. Despite having 8+ years of Premium, it never felt like "a good deal." Doing so now would probably mean a ton of their already low revenue evaporating, but I don't see any other way to get the playerbase back. If they'd worked on actually growing it, instead of milking the dedicated few...

[Alashir]

I'm not sure what's going to happen when the F2P goes live. I don't know whether it will be successful by any measure; it could be.
That expression can be frustratingly limited if you can't advance your character mechanically, as you point out.

Quite true.



If some new people who are deep into RP start Gemstone because of this F2P model, maybe they'll get hooked into the stories they're trying to create regardless of the lengthy leveling process. You don't need to be level 20 to talk to Silvean about the unbridled glory of the Faendryl after all.

Certainly anything is possible but people don't love Robert Jordan because he drew out his Wheel of Time series and accomplished in 7 books what he could have in one. Mechanics and RP are hopelessly intertwined. I feel as though it goes without saying that it's not fun to RP someone perpetually stuck at slaying rats, but I think most GSIV players and dev's would disagree which is why slowing down our already turtle place isn't given second thought.

[Vindicate]

A tall fair haired elf walks by talking her friends about the benefits of Online Banking at Citibank.

[Kithus]

<<Will there be any restriction on forum access for F2P accounts?>>

At least for starters, there will be places they're allowed to post and places they're not. We will need to make some updates for that to happen, though, so it might not be something that they're allowed to do right out of the gate, day one. I do believe it's a crucial thing, however. The forums are invaluable for getting help and asking questions.


Solomon

[Astray]

I wonder how much traffic they are expecting.

[Fallen]

<<Will there be any restriction on forum access for F2P accounts?>>

At least for starters, there will be places they're allowed to post and places they're not. We will need to make some updates for that to happen, though, so it might not be something that they're allowed to do right out of the gate, day one. I do believe it's a crucial thing, however. The forums are invaluable for getting help and asking questions.


Solomon

Thanks again, Kithus. I just want to use one to track new posts, and it sounds like that will be doable right from the jump.

[Tgo01]

<<Will there be any restriction on forum access for F2P accounts?>>

At least for starters, there will be places they're allowed to post and places they're not. We will need to make some updates for that to happen, though, so it might not be something that they're allowed to do right out of the gate, day one. I do believe it's a crucial thing, however. The forums are invaluable for getting help and asking questions.


Solomon

I knew it. No pocket forum viewer!


Thanks again, Kithus. I just want to use one to track new posts, and it sounds like that will be doable right from the jump.

I think you can already track new posts as a guest.

[Gelston]

I knew it. No pocket forum viewer!

Huh? You can view it without an account you know.

[JackWhisper]

I knew it. No pocket forum viewer!

This, above everything, is a smart choice. Questions are good, sure. But it's going to get real hectic, real fast, if spambots automate forum flooding. Restrictions are the only way to prevent this.

[Tgo01]

Huh? You can view it without an account you know.

Fine, no pocket forum interacter.


This, above everything, is a smart choice. Questions are good, sure. But it's going to get real hectic, real fast, if spambots automate forum flooding. Restrictions are the only way to prevent this.

I'm sure they could get the best of both worlds; like only accounts that are at least 48 hours old can post, limit how many times they can post, etc etc.

[Fallen]

You can't track what you've read, I thought, without logging into an active account. You can read as a guest but it is annoying.

[Tgo01]

You can't track what you've read, I thought, without logging into an active account. You can read as a guest but it is annoying.

Ah I gotcha.

[Astray]

Their forums were atrociously outdated last I checked.

[Tei]

eh, no need to restrict the officials - people will get sick of trying to use it anyway. That dinosaur should have been upgraded years ago.

[Fallen]

Their forums were atrociously outdated last I checked.

Yeah, their "upgrade" a while back was actually a step backwards IMO. I preferred the old style.

[Roblar]

Yeah, their "upgrade" a while back was actually a step backwards IMO. I preferred the old style.

You can have either view, threaded or old style.

Unless you mean further back?

[mgoddess]

<<Is the society pass permanent or do you have to buy a new one at regular intervals?>>

It's temporary, but I'm currently re-evaluating the duration and cost so that it's still seen as an "extra", but not something that the access to is too pricey or annoying to maintain.


Solomon

::facepalm::

Well, there goes any idea of the cleric joining a society. Eff it, she won't need one!!

Edit: Thanks for posting the question, and getting back with the answer, Kithus!

[Fallen]

You can have either view, threaded or old style.

I don't think you can set that option as a guest, but I could be mistaken.

[Androidpk]

Creating an account every 30 days is too much work? :/


To have a reliable lore singing bard? Yes.

[Tgo01]

I could be wrong but wasn't there some discussion about free accounts being restricted to certain towns/areas? Has there been any more information on this or can someone ask? Or am I totally wrong about restrictions of this sort being discussed?

[Viekn]

The only thing that's been mentioned on the officials so far is that RR and TI would be off limits without a pass from Simucoin store.

[Androidpk]

I could be wrong but wasn't there some discussion about free accounts being restricted to certain towns/areas? Has there been any more information on this or can someone ask? Or am I totally wrong about restrictions of this sort being discussed?

Travel passes! Another excellent idea.

[Astray]

Travel passes! Another excellent idea.

Walking passes! You can't move without one.
Running passes! You can't move more than one room every 20 seconds without one.
Breathing passes! Your character loses 10 hp every 3 seconds without one.

[Tgo01]

The only thing that's been mentioned on the officials so far is that RR and TI would be off limits without a pass from Simucoin store.

Why TI? For that matter why RR? :/

Aren't those two cities more well known for their RP and interaction than other cities? I'm surprised Teras isn't restricted but depending on how how slow character's grow after level 10 it might be off limits due to the level restriction.

[Androidpk]

Walking passes! You can't move without one.
Running passes! You can't move more than one room every 20 seconds without one.
Breathing passes! Your character loses 10 hp every 3 seconds without one.

Don't forget the type ahead line pass.

[JackWhisper]

Passes?!

We don't need no stinking passes!!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1jnDuPudz4

[JackWhisper]

Why TI? For that matter why RR? :/

Aren't those two cities more well known for their RP and interaction than other cities? I'm surprised Teras isn't restricted but depending on how how slow character's grow after level 10 it might be off limits due to the level restriction.

Nations and RR are both areas that are smaller communities. Teras can only be reached by titled, so that leaves Landing/Mule/Solhaven. Landing is the most populated area in the game, followed by mule. Nobody starts in Solhaven, so they've isolated where the player starts to give them the biggest populations of gamers to interact with.

This, if nothing else, makes sense.

[Taernath]

Alright Simu, it was funny at first but you can stop adding passes now.

[Gelston]

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--CybuCWM3--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/196k8jja4f4ecpng.png

[JackWhisper]

Holy shit. Good idea.

MULTI PASSES!

Combine your healing and society pass for half the price!

[Astray]

If you saw this game for the first time and were just bombarded with pass requirements on the F2P model, would you stick around?

[Taernath]

Holy shit. Good idea.

MULTI PASSES!

Combine your healing and society pass for half the price!

Half the price he says! Hahaha!

You'd be lucky to get 10% off for a year's bundle of society passes.

[Gelston]

If you saw this game for the first time and were just bombarded with pass requirements on the F2P model, would you stick around?

Honestly, I don't think you'd really know wtf any of that shit was.

[Roblar]

Why TI? For that matter why RR? :/

Aren't those two cities more well known for their RP and interaction than other cities? I'm surprised Teras isn't restricted but depending on how how slow character's grow after level 10 it might be off limits due to the level restriction.

Viekn meant Teras Isle, not Ta'Illistim. Not sure why RR though other than maybe their community likes isolation and doesn't want newbs or alt accounts ruining gameplay for them.


Transportation

Transportation (whether by boat or teleportation) to River's Rest and Teras is restricted. Access can be purchased via the store.

[JackWhisper]

Honestly, I don't think you'd really know wtf any of that shit was.

He's got a point. 80% of this shit, you have no clue how it effects gameplay or what use it is.

[JackWhisper]

Viekn meant Teras Isle, not Ta'Illistim. Not sure why RR though other than maybe their community likes isolation and doesn't want newbs or alt accounts ruining gameplay for them.

Ah well, still. Point stands about RR!

#BringBackTheBoot

[Velfi]

If you saw this game for the first time and were just bombarded with passes, would you stick around?

I keep wondering something along these lines. I haven't combed through this thread, but all I see is a hill of passes that a free account would need to function somewhat close to a regular account. I can't imagine it's very cost-effective to do that, and who is going to drop all of that on a new game they're just trying?

This has the feel of trying to be a hugely popular free <whatever> game without the actual player base that might be interested in buying all of these things. It's not as if it's likely, at least from my perspective, that currently paying customers are going to try free accounts and pay out the nose in simucoins.

[Wrathbringer]

He's got a point. 80% of this shit, you have no clue how it effects gameplay or what use it is.

<clowns>

[JackWhisper]

I keep wondering something along these lines. I haven't combed through this thread, but all I see is a hill of passes that a free account would need to function somewhat close to a regular account. I can't imagine it's very cost-effective to do that, and who is going to drop all of that on a new game they're just trying?

This has the feel of trying to be a hugely popular free <whatever> game without the actual player base that might be interested in buying all of these things. It's not as if it's likely, at least from my perspective, that currently paying customers are going to try free accounts and pay out the nose in simucoins.

I plan on having a few free accounts. There are restrictions.... just not for what I'm going to do.

Do I need a pass to orgy cyber behind the Silvergate locked doors?

[JackWhisper]

<clowns>

Fail. Fix it NAOW poop boy.

[Viekn]

Viekn meant Teras Isle, not Ta'Illistim. Not sure why RR though other than maybe their community likes isolation and doesn't want newbs or alt accounts ruining gameplay for them.

Yeah, woops. Sorry about that. Thanks Roblar.

[Gelston]

I plan on having a few free accounts. There are restrictions.... just not for what I'm going to do.

Do I need a pass to orgy cyber behind the Silvergate locked doors?

Oh god. Passes to use ACT commands, RSN.

[Mr. Dallas]

I agree with this.


Holy shit. Good idea.

MULTI PASSES!

Combine your healing and society pass for half the price!

[waywardgs]

I plan on having a few free accounts. There are restrictions.... just not for what I'm going to do.

Do I need a pass to orgy cyber behind the Silvergate locked doors?

Actually yeah- joining a house is restricted.

[JackWhisper]

Actually yeah- joining a house is restricted.

DAMNIT!

Wait!

Frith's Inn has lockable doors!

Awwww yeah! Poor man's orgy house!

[Tgo01]

I'm just really curious to see how the experience absorption rate plays out. I'm pretty sure that's where Simu plans on making the bulk of money off of free accounts, that and possibly the silver/treasure restrictions. Although I wonder how many people are going to bother paying for another treasure boost once they find out loot in this game is pretty lackluster 99.99% of the time anyways.

[JackWhisper]

I'm just really curious to see how the experience absorption rate plays out. I'm pretty sure that's where Simu plans on making the bulk of money off of free accounts, that and possibly the silver/treasure restrictions. Although I wonder how many people are going to bother paying for another treasure boost once they find out loot in this game is pretty lackluster 99.99% of the time anyways.

The 99.99% thing made me laugh HARD. Because either you laugh at how true it is, or you drown in your own tears.

[Gelston]

DAMNIT!

Wait!

Frith's Inn has lockable doors!

Awwww yeah! Poor man's orgy house!

just do it in the streets. When you get pulled, do it in the consultation room too.

[JackWhisper]

just do it in the streets. When you get pulled, do it in the consultation room too.

Good god man your energy is boundless!

[waywardgs]

just do it in the streets. When you get pulled, do it in the consultation room too.
Haha engage the gm for bonus points.

[Astray]

He's got a point. 80% of this shit, you have no clue how it effects gameplay or what use it is.

You'd be spurred to look on though, right? And if you were interested in RP, you'd be looking at it intently.

[JackWhisper]

Haha engage the gm for bonus points.

>Act sticks his hand up Vanah's robe with a wide grin.... that summarily dissipates as he pulls his hand back, covered in cobwebs and expired, crusty Vaseline.

[Latrinsorm]

If you saw this game for the first time and were just bombarded with pass requirements on the F2P model, would you stick around?I started F2P on each of the three MMOs I played without any real idea what the difference was between F and P. I eventually went paid on one for $10 a month, never paid for the second, have yet to pay for the third. None of the passes I've seen here deter me. It's free. Even if I was deterred, why not give it a shot?

[Astray]

I started F2P on each of the three MMOs I played without any real idea what the difference was between F and P. I eventually went paid on one for $10 a month, never paid for the second, have yet to pay for the third. None of the passes I've seen here deter me. It's free. Even if I was deterred, why not give it a shot?

I have jumped from free to pay games before, countless times. Very few limit you or sell you passes or even stop selling you certain items once you begin a p2p service. None of the games I have played directly touch your exp or your carry limit or make things purposely heavy for you or limit your wealth.

How far does the shot go when you're not exactly soaring with freedom?

God damn I should have gotten a picture of a bald eagle and the American flag.

[Tgo01]

I started F2P on each of the three MMOs I played without any real idea what the difference was between F and P. I eventually went paid on one for $10 a month, never paid for the second, have yet to pay for the third. None of the passes I've seen here deter me. It's free. Even if I was deterred, why not give it a shot?

Did those games have a 30 day unrestricted free trial as well? That's what I can't wrap my mind around; they already offer a 30 day free trial with unfettered access, how do they think this option is going to be more popular than just removing the credit card restriction on the 30 day free trial?

"At least they're trying", yes, this is true, but one has to wonder how much time and GM hours they put into this when the simple act of removing a credit card requirement would have been a gajillion times easier. Maybe even a larger made up number!

[Geijon Khyree]

EQ2 limits coins available. I think you are minimizing your range of experience with a comment like "very few limit" you. Of course they limit you. They want you to sub.

[Astray]

Did those games have a 30 day unrestricted free trial as well? That's what I can't wrap my mind around; they already offer a 30 day free trial with unfettered access, how do they think this option is going to be more popular than just removing the credit card restriction on the 30 day free trial?

"At least they're trying", yes, this is true, but one has to wonder how much time and GM hours they put into this when the simple act of removing a credit card requirement would have been a gajillion times easier. Maybe even a large made up number!

Some did, others just gave you benefits. Houses, larger bank space, etc etc if you subbed. Which, in my humble opinion, is how it should be.


EQ2 limits coins available. I think you are minimizing your range of experience with a comment like "very few limit" you. Of course they limit you. They want you to sub.

Fair enough.

[Luftstreitkräfte]

He's got a point. 80% of this shit, you have no clue how it effects gameplay or what use it is.

finally you said something smart after all these years

GOD i look good in a diaper

[Tgo01]

finally you said something smart after all these years

GOD i look good in a diaper

Are you wearing eye shadow in the far right picture in your avatar?

[Wrathbringer]

just do it in the streets. When you get pulled, do it in the consultation room too.


Good god man your energy is boundless!


Haha engage the gm for bonus points.


finally you said something smart after all these years

GOD i look gay in a diaper and eye shadow


Are you wearing eye shadow in the far right picture in your avatar?

:lol:

[Latrinsorm]

I have jumped from free to pay games before, countless times. Very few limit you or sell you passes or even stop selling you certain items once you begin a p2p service. None of the games I have played directly touch your exp or your carry limit or make things purposely heavy for you or limit your wealth.

How far does the shot go when you're not exactly soaring with freedom?

God damn I should have gotten a picture of a bald eagle and the American flag.Some shot beats no shot at all. There is a cost to setting up F2P, but it is flat and thus amortizes. We have to get more people in to keep the game alive, and caution is good on a first step. I would not be surprised if the restrictions stayed in place forever or got more severe, because this is Simu we're talking about, but I'm optimistic that they'll be loosened as time goes on.
Did those games have a 30 day unrestricted free trial as well? That's what I can't wrap my mind around; they already offer a 30 day free trial with unfettered access, how do they think this option is going to be more popular than just removing the credit card restriction on the 30 day free trial?I don't know. I never checked, because a 30 day trial is dumb.

[Latrinsorm]

Are you wearing eye shadow in the far right picture in your avatar?Is that seriously what you think eye shadow looks like?

[Tgo01]

I don't know. I never checked, because a 30 day trial is dumb.

You're dumb!

[Tgo01]

Is that seriously what you think eye shadow looks like?

http://momcaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/purple_eyeshadow.jpg

http://a.dilcdn.com/bl/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2013/03/Purple-eyeshadows-for-all-eye-colors-sm.jpg

Yes.

[Astray]

Some shot beats no shot at all.

That's fair. I'm gonna drop it for today. My pass is about to expire.

[JackWhisper]

Oh my god.

What the FUCK are they going to do when *yes it will happen* they get increased server traffic?!

THE HAMSTERS ALREADY CRASH WHEN MORE THAN TEN PEOPLE ARE IN A ROOM!

[Gompers]

http://i.imgur.com/8iVy7t6.jpg

holy shit this is the greatest picture ever taken

[JackWhisper]

http://momcaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/purple_eyeshadow.jpg

http://a.dilcdn.com/bl/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2013/03/Purple-eyeshadows-for-all-eye-colors-sm.jpg

Yes.


Emma Stone. 10/10 superhot.

[kookiegod]

The biggest problem which hasn't been mentioned...

Without advertising, who is going to know this option, lame as it is, even exists?

That has been GS's downfall for far too long. Unless someone sees you playing at work and you tell them about the game, or on your FB/Twitter/other social media page, there is no marketing whatsoever.

Just being on topmuds etc isn't marketing.

/shrug

~Paul

[Wrathbringer]

The biggest problem which hasn't been mentioned...

Without advertising, who is going to know this option, lame as it is, even exists?

That has been GS's downfall for far too long. Unless someone sees you playing at work and you tell them about the game, or on your FB/Twitter/other social media page, there is no marketing whatsoever.

Just being on topmuds etc isn't marketing.

/shrug

~Paul

As it is, this f2p push is targeting former players rather than new customers.

[Silvean]

The biggest problem which hasn't been mentioned...

Without advertising, who is going to know this option, lame as it is, even exists?

I once suggested on the Officials that they get a hold of a mailing list and send flyers to every roleplaying nerd store they can. There is usually a bulletin board in places like that for people looking to play tabletop games. Even if they sent out 200 flyers and it brought in 20 players who actually stuck with the game for a while, that would be something. I also doubt that they have anyone taking every opportunity for free advertising online.

[Allereli]

As it is, this f2p push is targeting former players rather than new customers.

if they were targeting former players they would allow old characters to be on f2p accounts. they are not, nor are character transfers allowed.

Paul, it's not even live yet, so I think it's a wait and see on advertising.

[Atlanteax]

As it is, this f2p push is targeting former players rather than new customers.

and they would recapture most of these former players if they could reactivate their accounts under this F2P system or a significantly discounted sub price.

I can see why/how SIMU does not want to allow downgrades with dumb restrictions such as 100k max silver.

[Wrathbringer]

if they were targeting former players they would allow old characters to be on f2p accounts. they are not, nor are character transfers allowed.

Paul, it's not even live yet, so I think it's a wait and see on advertising.

Not necessarily. Nothing like playing a weak char w/restrictions to get you considering resubscribing so you can play your old char without restriction. If they were targeting new players, they'd advertise. They don't and aren't.

[Neovik1]

First one to cap as f2p without making any purchases wins at Gemstone! That might take several years.

[Kithus]

>I think it might prove very beneficial, RP-wise, if the mass cast defensive spells (receiving only) were not on this list. Mass spellups have historically been a gathering point for people and to deny F2P these would significantly hinder their chances of meeting up with people who could potentially either help them mechanically or RP-wise.

F2P players can still receive whatever spells subscribers choose to cast upon them, including mass spells. Subscribers don't have any new limits upon whom they cast spells.

>Not that this is going to happen anytime soon, but what happens when a F2P sorcerer borrows another (non F2P) sorcerer's planar shift book to draw a rune to one of these places?

To River's Rest or Teras? The spell will fail (and it'll be obvious why).

>F2P won't find treasure like free players do. There is a cap and restrictions and whatnot. The boosters will help them find more, but even with the booster, it won't be as good as subscribers get. At least that's my understanding

That's correct, F2P players will have a chance to find F2P-related passes (that can upgrade parts of the F2P experience closer to the subscription level, but not beyond) in the course of normal play. Also note that we've already been giving away passes for things like the urchin guides and enhancive pauses as treasure to subscribers -- the treasure boosts and related passes that will be found in the treasure system are simply the equivalent for F2P.

>Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't see much discussion when it comes to enchanting and Esorc's. How will those work with F2P exactly to not upset balance of the game with the subscribers?

Most permanent/long-term item modification spells and abilities range from full to partial restrictions for F2P players. Enchant Item is completely restricted. Ensorcell is restricted to temporary ensorcellments only.

Coase

[Wrathbringer]

>I think it might prove very beneficial, RP-wise, if the mass cast defensive spells (receiving only) were not on this list. Mass spellups have historically been a gathering point for people and to deny F2P these would significantly hinder their chances of meeting up with people who could potentially either help them mechanically or RP-wise.

F2P players can still receive whatever spells subscribers choose to cast upon them, including mass spells. Subscribers don't have any new limits upon whom they cast spells.

>Not that this is going to happen anytime soon, but what happens when a F2P sorcerer borrows another (non F2P) sorcerer's planar shift book to draw a rune to one of these places?

To River's Rest or Teras? The spell will fail (and it'll be obvious why).

>F2P won't find treasure like free players do. There is a cap and restrictions and whatnot. The boosters will help them find more, but even with the booster, it won't be as good as subscribers get. At least that's my understanding

That's correct, F2P players will have a chance to find F2P-related passes (that can upgrade parts of the F2P experience closer to the subscription level, but not beyond) in the course of normal play. Also note that we've already been giving away passes for things like the urchin guides and enhancive pauses as treasure to subscribers -- the treasure boosts and related passes that will be found in the treasure system are simply the equivalent for F2P.

>Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't see much discussion when it comes to enchanting and Esorc's. How will those work with F2P exactly to not upset balance of the game with the subscribers?

Most permanent/long-term item modification spells and abilities range from full to partial restrictions for F2P players. Enchant Item is completely restricted. Ensorcell is restricted to temporary ensorcellments only.

Coase

Enchanting and ensorcelling passes!

[Astray]

Enchanting and ensorcelling passes!

Please don't give them ideas...

[Buckwheet]

Enchanting and ensorcelling passes!

Until they release them into the hopper where they will ultimately be sold for silvers that you can't hold into your bank account anyways.

If they can only hold 100k in the bank, I see a decent amount of trolling for sales. Oh you want this 4x set of gear? Price is 101k.

[Gelston]

Please don't give them ideas...

Pretty sure they already have the idea in effect.

[Gelston]

Until they release them into the hopper where they will ultimately be sold for silvers that you can't hold into your bank account anyways.

If they can only hold 100k in the bank, I see a decent amount of trolling for sales. Oh you want this 4x set of gear? Price is 101k.

They can have 100k in bank and 5k on hand though. It'll have to be 106k.

[Buckwheet]

They can have 100k in bank and 5k on hand though. It'll have to be 106k.

But can they have 106k plus a bunch of expensive gems? I smell a trolling project. Figuring out the maximum average amount of value one could hold and instantly liquidate to make a purchase!

[Astray]

Pretty sure they already have the idea in effect.

I wonder what it's gonna be like when this goes live. I'm really curious how many legit new people are going to pop in and stay.

[Gelston]

I wonder what it's gonna be like when this goes live. I'm really curious how many legit new people are going to pop in and stay.

4.

[Tgo01]

What Simu expects:

http://assets3.thrillist.com/v1/image/974033/size/tl-horizontal_main/why-berlin-s-club-scene-beats-any-us-city-s

What current/old players expect:

http://ipsnews.net/pictures/A_view_of_Latam,_a_district_in_Tawargha_ghost_town .jpg

What will actually happen:

http://www.namimass.org/wp-content/uploads/small-crowd-of-people-sm.jpg

[Gelston]

What Simu expects:

http://assets3.thrillist.com/v1/image/974033/size/tl-horizontal_main/why-berlin-s-club-scene-beats-any-us-city-s

What current/old players expect:

http://ipsnews.net/pictures/A_view_of_Latam,_a_district_in_Tawargha_ghost_town .jpg

What will actually happen:

http://www.namimass.org/wp-content/uploads/small-crowd-of-people-sm.jpg

More like

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01367/fatfamily_1367600c.jpg

[Astray]

The sad part is that if this fails, and I hope it does not, I don't see Simu trying much more in the way of F2P.

[Androidpk]

All comes down to how they intend to market this.

[Wrathbringer]

More like

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01367/fatfamily_1367600c.jpg

Hahahahahahaha nice

[Astray]

All comes down to how they intend to market this.

"Guys, tell your friends GS4 is going free*! *Some harsh restrictions apply."

[Wrathbringer]

"Guys, tell your friends GS4 is going free*! *Some omgwtf restrictions apply."

Fixed

[Johnny Five]

.4

Fixed

[crb]

Can someone post a TL:DR summary of the important points?

[Wrathbringer]

Can someone post a TL:DR summary of the important points?

Grab your ankles and you can play for free.

[mgoddess]

Can someone post a TL:DR summary of the important points?

Looks like the Wiki already has a good TL,DR... https://gswiki.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/F2P

[Astray]

Can someone post a TL:DR summary of the important points?

Simu does 'free to play' very poorly.

[crb]

I don't know seems about right for me... except limiting it to new accounts only and not allowing people to revert back and forth. As restricted as it is, you need to allow it for current accounts. Though it seems like they will allow it for newly reactivated accounts, so if you want it I guess you need to cancel and then reactivate.

[Wrathbringer]

I don't know seems about right for me... except limiting it to new accounts only and not allowing people to revert back and forth. As restricted as it is, you need to allow it for current accounts. Though it seems like they will allow it for newly reactivated accounts, so if you want it I guess you need to cancel and then reactivate.

Can't.

[Tgo01]

I don't know seems about right for me...

No.


Though it seems like they will allow it for newly reactivated accounts, so if you want it I guess you need to cancel and then reactivate.

No, once you become basic (or you're already basic) there is no turning back.

[Astray]

And you can't transfer characters to a Free account.