Originally posted by BaneShade

Thank you all for the info and discussion so far. It's very interesting.

 

I'm a bit disappointed that some people still act like I'm trying to be a complete freeloader and not support the game in any way. That's simply not true. I've kept saying I wish for a game to encourage spending, rather than force it. Obviously a gaming company needs income some way or other, but the way it goes about getting that money is going to strongly color the gaming experience. All I have to go by is turbine's official word that anyone can access all the game content without spending a dime, depending on the kind of player they are. So excuse me for drilling in that statement and trying to find out if they really meant it.

I can appreciate that DDO is different from WoW and Korean grind fests. Thank goodness for that. On the other hand, that's why I started this thread in the first place, since I'm not familiar with the the F2P structure of this game and would like to know in advance. 

If I wanted to wait and find out after launch, well I wouldn't have asked here. Plus I think this thread has brought to light a great many other things that would otherwise have taken quite a bit of digging and asking around. So I'm very happy with all the responses, feedback and discussion this thread as seen. Thank you all once more.

 

 

 

 

I think its only possible in theory, I dont think that Turbine means that people are going to unlock all adventure packs and stuff for free.. it will probably take years of grinding. But you can probably get to lvl 20 without buying anything but that wont be easy either. Its like buying expansions in WoW when they raise the level cap but without the monthly fee.
 

I've been a casual player for 2 years now [casual = <10hr/week].  I am NOWHERE near level cap [with all 10 characters-I have 4 playing characters and 6 mules].  My highest characters are 8th and 6th level.

I think that powergamers that play 30+ hrs/week will find that the game FORCES one to use the store.

"Normal" gamers playing 10-20hrs will notice the need for the store, but may find periodic sales on TP such that the use doesn't seem as forced.

Casual/ultra-casual gamers like myself would find the store ENCOURAGING as it would be needed after a few weeks [unless a level sigil were found] but then not needed for a few months.  Again, sales on TP would would be watched for.

As a two-account VIP, I will not buy many points - however, when there was I "lightning sale" of 400TP for $2 during beta, I jumped at it.  I hope Turbine noticed that the lower amounts of TP at prices of $.01 [no cent key anymore?] or less produced sales from players who hadn't purchased any TP before that.  The higher amounts of TP/higher cost didn't work [for me] - 3800TP for $31 didn't make me jump, even though the price was "worth it".

Originally posted by BaneShade

That does sound rather awful. :-/

Can you explain why you'd have to reroll characters over and over again?
I usually pick one, maybe two characters, and stick with them. You're saying that's not an option?

Also, again according to official announcements, it's possible to earn turbine points to purchase access to higher level content and also the sigils for raising level caps. What kind of commitment is a potential player looking at to accrue enough points to purchase that kind of content?

 

 

 

I play like you do.  I like to create a few characters and stick with them. 

Unfortunately, DDO has some of the worst mechanics I've ever seen in an MMO in regards to character.   Rerolling because I'd like to adjust stats, try different things is fine with me.  But in DDO, they use this thing called favor solely to get you to repeat content over and over.   You run a character through most of the content, and as a reward get to create a new character with better stats and START ALL OVER AGAIN on a new character.  It's what drove me away from the game.  I enjoyed playing lots of characters until they implemented this.  After that, they just felt worthless.   You're penalized by playstyle.   If you enjoy playing with multiple character builds as I did, you're screwed.  If you're a zerger who doesn't mind rerunning content ad nauseum and starting over again and again, it's not as bad.

With F2P, I'd think this is even worse.  Example:

Your only option initially is to either buy drow or start with a 28 point character. 

If you start with a 28 pointer, at 400 favor, you now have earned the option of having a drow.  I personally never cared for drow, but drow's startup points are 32 points and has starting attribute differences that make it an excellent choice for some classes.  For others where the attribute deficiencies hit the core stats for the class, it's not so great.

So now you have your starter character and the option to roll a 'newer better' character as a drow.  If you roll a drow, then eventually after 1750 favor (not a small feat for a casual player), you get the option to roll yet another character.  This time, much better, any of the original starting races will have 32 points instead of 28 points.  So now if you'd like your character to be all that you can be, you can reroll a brand new player yet again and repeat all the content, again.  If you're F2P, you only have two slots, so you either have to buy a slot to take advantage of this or delete one of the two toons you originally ran with.  Just not appealing imo.

Assuming a brand new player decided to buy drow from the get go, at least they'd have an available slot when they open 32 point builds.

If you start out and make the mistake of creating two classes you enjoy playing, then when you have the option for 32 point builds, both characters (and more if you bought additional slots) will always be 28 pointers unless you reroll.  So you ONLY get the reward if you reroll. 

A very broken mechanic, imo.   I'm going to play some F2P with friends who've been bugging me to come back, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it for a bit, if only to play it with them again.  But I really hate the way DDO makes you feel like you're wasting your time.  Wouldn't surprise me if they add a 36 point build some day for 5000 favor.   They don't have much content (although there's alot more than there used to be), so it seems they go out of their way to make you redo it all.   Sad thing is, if they didn't have this ridiculous mechanic, I'm the type that would probably create a lot of characters with different class combinations for fun.  

I play a game to spend time creating a character I enjoy, trying to build them up, not spend time on them so I can throw them away and reroll.

Originally posted by Dave08

I play like you do.  I like to create a few characters and stick with them. 

Unfortunately, DDO has some of the worst mechanics I've ever seen in an MMO in regards to character.   Rerolling because I'd like to adjust stats, try different things is fine with me.  But in DDO, they use this thing called favor solely to get you to repeat content over and over.   You run a character through most of the content, and as a reward get to create a new character with better stats and START ALL OVER AGAIN on a new character.  It's what drove me away from the game.  I enjoyed playing lots of characters until they implemented this.  After that, they just felt worthless.   You're penalized by playstyle.   If you enjoy playing with multiple character builds as I did, you're screwed.  If you're a zerger who doesn't mind rerunning content ad nauseum and starting over again and again, it's not as bad.

With F2P, I'd think this is even worse.  Example:

Your only option initially is to either buy drow or start with a 28 point character. 

If you start with a 28 pointer, at 400 favor, you now have earned the option of having a drow.  I personally never cared for drow, but drow's startup points are 32 points and has starting attribute differences that make it an excellent choice for some classes.  For others where the attribute deficiencies hit the core stats for the class, it's not so great.

So now you have your starter character and the option to roll a 'newer better' character as a drow.  If you roll a drow, then eventually after 1750 favor (not a small feat for a casual player), you get the option to roll yet another character.  This time, much better, any of the original starting races will have 32 points instead of 28 points.  So now if you'd like your character to be all that you can be, you can reroll a brand new player yet again and repeat all the content, again.  If you're F2P, you only have two slots, so you either have to buy a slot to take advantage of this or delete one of the two toons you originally ran with.  Just not appealing imo.

Assuming a brand new player decided to buy drow from the get go, at least they'd have an available slot when they open 32 point builds.

If you start out and make the mistake of creating two classes you enjoy playing, then when you have the option for 32 point builds, both characters (and more if you bought additional slots) will always be 28 pointers unless you reroll.  So you ONLY get the reward if you reroll. 

A very broken mechanic, imo.   I'm going to play some F2P with friends who've been bugging me to come back, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it for a bit, if only to play it with them again.  But I really hate the way DDO makes you feel like you're wasting your time.  Wouldn't surprise me if they add a 36 point build some day for 5000 favor.   They don't have much content (although there's alot more than there used to be), so it seems they go out of their way to make you redo it all.   Sad thing is, if they didn't have this ridiculous mechanic, I'm the type that would probably create a lot of characters with different class combinations for fun.  

I play a game to spend time creating a character I enjoy, trying to build them up, not spend time on them so I can throw them away and reroll.

  

That's your opinion. For me Favor is a thing which allows me to unlock many nice benefits, like larger backpack, new race, long lasting buffs, a new class, etc.

I don't need to grind it and never do it. Just because someone wants to grind for something, it doesn't mean it's built for grinding.

For me, it's a logical system which rewards me for my accomplishments in the game. Pretty nice - WoW faction system rewards very rarely, here - Favor system - rather often. I like it.

Originally posted by Sarr

 

That's your opinion. For me Favor is a thing which allows me to unlock many nice benefits, like larger backpack, new race, long lasting buffs, a new class, etc.

I don't need to grind it and never do it. Just because someone wants to grind for something, it doesn't mean it's built for grinding.

For me, it's a logical system which rewards me for my accomplishments in the game. Pretty nice - WoW faction system rewards very rarely, here - Favor system - rather often. I like it.

I was specifically replying to the OPs comment about having to reroll, and imo, the favor rewards for Drow and 32 point builds are not rewards that benefit the character that I'm playing at all.
 

I like favor for the rewards that benefit my character.  One of the first things I did on my characters was grind for the extra bag slot.  I enjoyed watching the favor bars and enjoyed accomplishing them whether the reward was good or not.  I found that rewarding because my character benefitted.  Working for a reward that only benefits the character if I replace it and start over is lame.

Yea I dont like the 32pt thing either and dont understand why they have it.

But at the same time as a casual player it will have almost 0 effect on me. I think 32pt is for the min/maxers and dont have much impact on the game.

Originally posted by Papadam

Yea I dont like the 32pt thing either and dont understand why they have it.

But at the same time as a casual player it will have almost 0 effect on me. I think 32pt is for the min/maxers and dont have much impact on the game.

Actually 32 PT builds have had an impact. Cotent has had to be scaled harder because the average player has 32 point builds. Not just min max people. 32 point is so popular and wanted that Turbine is likely to end up selling that in the store. Go read the DDO forums there was a lot of talk about allowing F2P easier access to 32 point builds.  I know you have not played much so you may not be aware of the impact and desire to have that 32 point builds has.