Bioware has added new subscriber perks (or alternatively, FTP restrictions.)

http://imageshack.us/a/img138/6602/screenshot2012102312484.jpg

Tha above is the FTP log-in splash screen.

New sub "perks" are faster experience and valor levelling and such.

Subs will have the price of removing mods from equipment greatly reduced.

They've added 2 more quick action bars for subbers.

Subs can now respec talents for free.

Subbers now get speeders at leel 15 with speed boosts.

Also, the 1.5 PTS patch notes reveal that they will be selling social point boosters and Major and Minor Warzone valor point boosters. There will also be a bunch of halfway decent gear for sale (uselful to say level 40)

They will be selling Explortion point boosters?

Currency levels will be hard capped. (Doesn't specify FTP vs. Sub.)

The new daily SECTION X, will not be available to FTPers without purchase.

Here are the patch notes: http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=542699

FTP is believed to come with Patch 1.5 around November 14thish. (The EA earnings call is October 30th)

The F2P as announced assumes, imo, that the people who play SWTOR will do for the PvP. The PvE experience is, essentially, unlimited - with slower travel and poorer gear etc. it may take "a little longer" but nothing of consequence. 

As such I cannot see the model appealing to "the masses".

Between the competition and the limitations the future looks no brighter than it did earlier in the year.

Its sad to see how this is going to play out as its still a sub base game now with a cash shop. 

I am starting to think EA wants this game dead, its just a matter if bleed the current base of every last penny they can get then watch it burn and then fight it out with LA in court.

If they would have simply went the way NC soft did with Aion i think TOR would explode with users who would happily dump money into the cash store. Most wouldn't even complain about the slow progress the game has been taking as its a real ftp game, Bioware could be as silent as they want and release content packs and a ton of fluff and most including myself would never complain as I invest when I want and what i want.

Making MMO's are for the brave high risk takers, and EA/Bioware have shown they are cowards that hide every chance they can, even on thier own forums, all they rely on is the hype machine and none of that works anymore.

MMO's are about building communities. They could have built a massive one with a real ftp model, and once you have the people the money will come in by the boat load if you manage to keep the cash shop with items that the player base actually looks forward to having instead of being nickle and dimed because of restrictions, and eventually pay to compete then ptw.

I know Ive been vocal about the games flaws and such (lets be honest here for a sec) It had something each one of us on this forum liked at some point.  I think its frustration and or disappointment of watching them drop the ball over and over since beta that has some of us wound up a bit tight. I myself waited for this game in a tortured state since the leak about Bioware making a new SW MMO. Now after its all said and done, and feeling totally crushed about the genre as a whole by the outcome of the way this game has been handled, its not about taking chances and creating worlds, communties anymore its all about metrics and the bottom line. Its just like any other art form the money is a bi-product of passion,creativity,quality and immersion(see Valve,Old Bioware and ill even go as far to say Blizzard way back when).  As a huge Star Wars fan with very little hope that they could have ever turned this game around anyway I can say that its now officially dead for me.

Some infor from PTS about items in Cartel Market and prices:

http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=546768

Highlights

• The Cartel Market is now accessible! All characters on the PTS will be set to Free-to-Play status soon for a limited time in order to assist testing the Cartel Market and Free-to-Play options. This has no effect on characters on live servers.

• The Cartel Market is accessible via the gold Cartel Coin button near the top of the screen.
• All PTS testers will be periodically granted a small amount of Cartel Coins for the purpose of testing the Cartel Market. Cartel Coins are displayed in the currency pane. No Cartel Coins or purchases on the PTS will be transferred to your account on normal servers.
• Players will notice that several unlocks, boosts, and Legacy perks can be purchased for Cartel Coins. In many cases, these can be unlocked by clicking the Cartel Coin button near the appropriate UI element. They can often be unlocked for one character or for an entire account.

• Subscribers are no longer charged credits for skill point re-specializations.

• The cost to remove mods from items has been reduced for subscribers.
• The Collector’s Edition vehicle and all vehicles available in the Cartel Market can now be used with the lowest level license. Their speed now scales based on the license unlocked by characters.
• Subscribers may now access speeders at level 15.

• The Legacy panel now accommodates much larger Legacies.

• Subscribers have access to 2 additional quickslot bars.
• The deposit for items placed on the GTN is now a percentage of the item’s value (instead of being based on the player’s set price).
• Vehicles, mini-pets, weapons, and color crystals can now be previewed in the in-game item preview window.
• An additional bank tab can now be purchased.
• The title selection window is now scrollable. Players can now choose their Legacy name display from this window.
• A progress bar has been added to the currency pane to indicate player proximity to currency caps.

Additional links:

http://dulfy.net/2012/10/23/swtor-cartel-market-items/

http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=546872

Anybody knows what "Preferred Status Players" means?

Originally posted by Purutzil
Good they updated that subscribers can wear purples, was a huge no no point for me. Still its quite restrictive. You should NEVER be restricted on gear. Sure restrict access to stuff like raids and dungeons maybe but never to the gear. Restricted access will naturally do that anyways.

Unlock of Artifact quality gear

Is... this for real? Have we reached a new low for F2P MMOs?

Unlock: Additional Quickbar - Unlocks an additional Quick Bar for abilities. Can be used to acquire a total of 6 Quick Bars. Subscribers automatically have the maximum number of Quick Bars.

Customization Control: Hide Head Slot - Unlock the ability to toggle the display of your helmet equipment. The cosmetic feature allows you to better control the look of your character. Subscribers have automatic access to this feature.

Customization Control: Unify Colors - Unlock the ability to unify the colors of your equipment. This cosmetic feature allows you to determine your character's look. Subscribers have automatic access to this feature.

Originally posted by Sevenstar61

Originally posted by Purutzil
Good they updated that subscribers can wear purples, was a huge no no point for me. Still its quite restrictive. You should NEVER be restricted on gear. Sure restrict access to stuff like raids and dungeons maybe but never to the gear. Restricted access will naturally do that anyways.

Unlock of Artifact quality gear

Authorization: Artifact Equipment

1200 CC

This Authorization allows you to equip and use most Artifact quality gear and item modifications Subscribers automatically gain this Authorization Applies to Story and PvP Equipment

 

Exactly, you have to pay for it. Over-all its not AS bad as I was expecting at least. Some stupid things here and there though that artifact equipment deal is one of the biggest things I'm not fond at all of.

Well sorry, forgot to mention the qucik bar option. That for sure is a MASSIVE NO NO. Appearance option, sure I can live with but really, limiting spots a player can use? Yeah, thats not going to fly.

Originally posted by Purutzil

Originally posted by Sevenstar61

Originally posted by Purutzil
Good they updated that subscribers can wear purples, was a huge no no point for me. Still its quite restrictive. You should NEVER be restricted on gear. Sure restrict access to stuff like raids and dungeons maybe but never to the gear. Restricted access will naturally do that anyways.

Unlock of Artifact quality gear

Authorization: Artifact Equipment

1200 CC

This Authorization allows you to equip and use most Artifact quality gear and item modifications Subscribers automatically gain this Authorization Applies to Story and PvP Equipment

 

Exactly, you have to pay for it. Over-all its not AS bad as I was expecting at least. Some stupid things here and there though that artifact equipment deal is one of the biggest things I'm not fond at all of.

 

Well sorry, forgot to mention the qucik bar option. That for sure is a MASSIVE NO NO. Appearance option, sure I can live with but really, limiting spots a player can use? Yeah, thats not going to fly.

It's a one time purchase though. I looked at new armor sets and I already see myself spending tons of CC LOL

4 quick bars are sufficient for most part. Not sure how many F2P will get. I will try to find out. I am really glad I will get 6 though LOL, I like to have all my "crap" in range of my mouse click.

Originally posted by Sevenstar61

Originally posted by Purutzil

Originally posted by Sevenstar61

Originally posted by Purutzil
Good they updated that subscribers can wear purples, was a huge no no point for me. Still its quite restrictive. You should NEVER be restricted on gear. Sure restrict access to stuff like raids and dungeons maybe but never to the gear. Restricted access will naturally do that anyways.

Unlock of Artifact quality gear

Authorization: Artifact Equipment

1200 CC

This Authorization allows you to equip and use most Artifact quality gear and item modifications Subscribers automatically gain this Authorization Applies to Story and PvP Equipment

 

Exactly, you have to pay for it. Over-all its not AS bad as I was expecting at least. Some stupid things here and there though that artifact equipment deal is one of the biggest things I'm not fond at all of.

 

Well sorry, forgot to mention the qucik bar option. That for sure is a MASSIVE NO NO. Appearance option, sure I can live with but really, limiting spots a player can use? Yeah, thats not going to fly.

It's a one time purchase though. I looked at new armor sets and I already see myself spending tons of CC LOL

Key word, Purchase. You shouldn't have to pay access for what you can already get. I have no problem with areas giving that loot being locked but when you can play and have stuff that you earn or need to play locked, its a very serious problem to me. Again, its not the worst cash shop but theres many things like equipment lock and quickbar lock that really pushes my buttons in a negative way and makes me hesitant on touching the game.

New video about cartel market - very detailed presentation by one of players on PTS.

As it is PTS it's still subject to change... maybe they will listen to some players advices like they did with gral color in 1.4and changed it. Hope they will take from CC some of the stuff the guy in video mentions, like hide head slot ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0ODWBv74tw&hd=1

Originally posted by Draron
Is the free respecs carrying over to live too or is that just for the test server?

I believe so.  I think it will be available with 1.5.

Cartel coins item pack known items (so far)

Mounts
Overlord's Command Throne
Rendili Nightshade
Ubrikki Crimson Claw - Crime Lord
Ubrikki Sand Devil - Crime Lord
Lhosan Manta
Longspur Elite - Crime Lord

Weapons
Tythonian Force Master's Light Saber - Base of blade has an unusual effect
Devastator's Double-Bladed LightSaber - Central crystal glows color of crystal
Hyperstorm Heavy Cannon - Cannon on Black Market image
Ragehunter EE-1 Carbine Rifle - Glowing sight
Max-Tac Precision Sniper Rifle - Holographic sight

Armor
Covert Torso Energy Armor
Mask of Nihilous
Trailblazer's Helmet
Trailblazer's Pants
Trailblazer's Boots
Elegant Loungewear Cap
Elegant Loungewear Top - Crime Lord
Elegant Loungewear Bottoms - Crime Lord/Black Market

Crystals
Purple-Pink - Crime Lord BoP
White - BoE

Relics
Revan's Cowel
Bastilla's Sash
Gauntlet of Tulak Hord

Pets
Red-Black Gizka
Low Atmosphere Miniprobe
Golden Lizard Bat
Mountain Lizard Bat - Crime Lord
Green Backed Vrblet - Crime Lord
Fire-Bellied Vrblet
Slate Mouse Horranth
Ruddyscale Kowakian Monkey-Lizard

Ball Toss
Cartel Market Item

Use: Throws a ball at any target within 30 meters which bounces harmlessly off their head. (Cooldown: 6 seconds)

Animation looks exactly like the huttball throw. Only difference is it bounces a couple times after it hits the target's head.

LMAO :)

I'd be more inclined to play this again if I knew how many of my character names I lost.

Does anyone know if there is a way to tell without subscribing?

Originally posted by HellCaster

I'd be more inclined to play this again if I knew how many of my character names I lost.

Does anyone know if there is a way to tell without subscribing?

I don't believe it's possible. At least I never heard of it. The best probably to check it out when it's F2P as you will have to choose which characters you would prefer to play (I think they give 2 slots per server). You would see immediately which characters need to be renamed at this time.