Mercbeast and Apps... Gone?

[kittykitty]

Apps apparently hasn't been on for 3 months
Mosg, 2 months
Mercbeast, 2 months

I guess it's normal that after xmas people get busy with other stuff, but I do worry... How many knowledgeable people are left?

[Khatovar]

The only way to know is to ask your questions. Just because people aren't or haven't posted doesn't mean that no one else knows anything.

[JohnGabriel]

I don't know anything, but that's why I still come here.

Anyways, 99% of the time I find the relevant information using the forum search feature.

[MiRai]

Wat?

[Starbuck_Jones]

Man, I fired up Star Wars the other day to test the ftp. Holy handicap Batman. It was unplayable and I was a bit disappointed that they didn't grandfather in anything for those of us who paid $60+subfees for the game. My creds were past the cap as were all my pvp and columi and other points so I couldn't earn any nor could I spend them because epics are locked out. It was impossible to upgrade my ship to do the new missions and I was locked out after three tries for a frigging week. Then the worst part. I have to PAY money to have more than one action bar for my skills. Sorry but the game is not playable like that. At least Everquest gave me a free silver upgrade for my old account when they went free to play.

Anyway. /rant-off

[kittykitty]

The "free" is free as in, free trial - it's not meant to be a complete alternative to actually buying anything ever again or how are they going to actually function as a company with no constant income? o_O Look at how crappy NCsoft's games are supported, they get patched a few token times then closed down...

[MiRai]

The "free" is free as in, free trial - it's not meant to be a complete alternative to actually buying anything ever again or how are they going to actually function as a company with no constant income? o_O Look at how crappy NCsoft's games are supported, they get patched a few token times then closed down...
While a trial is technically free to play, "free-to-play" and "trial" are not the same thing in the MMO world. World of Warcraft has a endless trial that only takes you up to level 20, but World of Warcraft is not "free-to-play". Runes of Magic doesn't have a trial, but it is an MMO that is considered "free-to-play" because there are no subscription fees. Nowhere on SW:TOR's free page (http://www.swtor.com/free/), features chart (http://www.swtor.com/free/features), or the free-to-play FAQ (http://www.swtor.com/support/helpcenter/6449) is the word "trial".

When a game goes (or already is) free-to-play they usually have some sort of cash shop, which is exactly what SW:TOR's Cartel Market is... Isn't it?

[kittykitty]

Completely "free to play" is not a realistic business model for a game that is actively developed, you can't moan if they try to encourage you to subscribe because subscribers will always be the ones that help actually pay for monthly WAGES for developers = active development :p If you want games put on permanant skeletoncrew life support then milk-it-for-all-its-worth like NCsoft, go play GuildWank or if you want a "game" where you pay individually for every update, Blizzard PandaCrap Spreadsheet "Real Live Number Simulator"™ for Windows :p

[Starbuck_Jones]

I think my argument still stands. I paid about $75 and they didn't take that into consideration at all. At bare minimum they could have given a store credit. Even half the retail price would have been enough but seriously. They want more money from me to turn off my helm graphic to hide their shitty Bane/Batman face breathers? The force is not with them. Maybe someone at Disney will step in and Goofy punch them in the Mickey Mouse.

I think my rant command did not execute.

[Riiker]

/change subject

Kitty,
i've been 4 boxing swtor for over a year now. I've 4 boxed almost all of the republic hard mode flashpoints and I've actively 3 boxed PvP. I play box some and other times I just use ISBoxer for the macros when I play a single toon.

If you've got a question about setting it up or boxing swtor I can probably help. But, the guides that Mercbeast, apps, and msog2 have created will contain the answer to almost any question u can think of.

Just ask and see.

Lastly, I too wish that the huge contributors of ideas and guides continued to play a game I like very much because they really were the best.

[Ualaa]

With the Everquest FtP...

You're limited on the classes you can make, and the races you can choose.
But you have access to every character already on the account, previous to a certain date.
My accounts of six or seven toons each, and the FtP limit is four, so I won't be able to make new characters with those accounts... unless I buy a slot, go gold for a month, or delete something to make space.

You get access to all expansions, except the current and previous.
So you can use any feature that was introduced in those expansions you have.
Upgrading expansions is separate from a paid 'Gold Level' subscription; if you buy an expansion, you are 'Gold' for a month.
If you purchase 'Silver' or an expansion, or were ever 'Gold' you are considered 'Silver' from there on in.

'Bronze' accounts are rather limited.
'Silver' accounts less so.
'Gold' accounts don't have those limitations.

AAs are a big part of Everquest.
It is assumed you'll have so many, by a given level bracket.
If you farm more than that, you'll be strong for your level.
If you don't farm enough, then you'll be weak for your level.
A 'Bronze' account can have 250 AAs.
A 'Silver' account can have 1,000 AAs.
Gold doesn't have a limit, and some accounts have 8,000+ AAs.
Somewhere around 70th or 80th (FtP cap is 90th), you reach a point where your class should have over 1000 AAs to remain competitive.
If you're going to play enough... going 'Gold' for a month, removes the AA cap and you can keep and use anything you've earnt.
If you're not going to play all that much, you can purchase a higher AA cap, I believe +100 AAs.

Everything on the SOE store is priced in Sony's cash.
Which you can buy at basically $1 = $100 SOE cash.
You can buy:
- extra character slot 800 ($8.00)
- a class for 750 ($7.50)
- a race for 300 ($3.00)
- BoA/Heirloom gear bundle for 500 ($5.00)
- Extra bag slot for 250 ($2.50) > I have access to six of my bag slots, meaning I cannot access my (as a Silver FtP) J.Boots or Mana Stone (which were in slots 7 & 8).
- Character Name change for 1500 ($15.00)
- Pet rename for 1000 ($10.00) > which makes it much easier for a healer to target your pet, if the pet will be tanking...
- Rank 2 spells, for 750 ($7.50) > You need R3 for raids; R1 are doable for all other content.
- +5 Task (Quest Log) cap, for 100 ($1.00)

Krono is something they have recently introduced.
It is bought with real money, and used in game to add a month of 'Gold' level subscription (and consumed in the process).
So if you make enough platinum through play, you can have a 'Gold' level subscription without spending any cash.
Alternatively, you can legally (within the EQ universe) purchase an item that will get you in-game currency.