This past week I revisited one of my favorite mmo's Vanguard Saga of Heroes. While most of us cringe when a company says it is making a title free to play. I know I do,  the idea of content, character customization, classes getting shredded all for the mighty dollar makes me queesy!

But I was delightfully surprised when I logged into Vanguard. All of my characters were still there! Every one of them! As with many free to play titles I did not have a character lock! OUTSTANDING!

I logged in and was expecting some of my really good items to be locked as well.  Looking up my bank and character backpacks. I realized they were untouched. I had the freedom of the entire world of Telon at my hands! I still could go anywhere, do anything, and still use some of the very good items I had when I ended my sub.

So I asked myself, "whats the catch?". I found the answer when I decided to relog in and check out the upgrade for Vanguard. I realize now that only a few small changes had taken place as a premium member. You can check it out here. https://www.vanguardthegame.com/free.vm

I am surprised that the only hits taken for it F2P format is faction , experience bonus, and character slots. Compared to many of the other free to play titles out there. The loss for going free is minimal. You still get every class. Most loot and still have access to the functions Vanguard povides. This includes owning a home :-D.

This is the first free to play game where it really is almost free! If you have not tried Vanguard I recommend it highly!

This is by far the BEST MMORPG title that has the tag of FREE TO PLAY on the market!

I resubbed and have been having a really good time in the game lately. It's about time for me to sub up another month and I will be doing the 3 or 6 month option for sure. I'm not going anywhere, anytime soon. But yeah, a buddy is playing for free and also very much enjoying his time in game again. Either way works, just depends on what you want out of it.

Originally posted by emperorwings
It really is. Some of my items can't be equiped anymore that is really the only noticable difference I can see.

Not to mention it is a very small fee to do so. Way less than the standard 14$ a month. I think it cost around $1.50 to unlock 5 or so items.

Originally posted by Dantae87
currently downloading Tera F2P and if it dont intrest me ill try this out

I just tried Tera, really needs a controller. Almost console like gameplay. 

Originally posted by justtires

Originally posted by emperorwings
It really is. Some of my items can't be equiped anymore that is really the only noticable difference I can see.

Not to mention it is a very small fee to do so. Way less than the standard 14$ a month. I think it cost around $1.50 to unlock 5 or so items.

So for $14, I could unlock ~46 items.   Typically, how many times would a F2P player need to unlock an item during a month?  

Originally posted by Nanfoodle
One look at SoE/Vanguard F2P model and I walked away. This game as way to many restrictions and IMO for a game as old as it is, put it at the bottem of the line for me and I used to be a Vanguard fan and subscriber. Heck, I bought a new video card just to be able to play Vanguard. I will play this game again when the F2P model matches industry standards. Till then, Vanguard is FAR from F2P. I would more call it perview mode.

Like bank space, buying one house plot instead of two and unlock for high end armor which is not even worth it till lvl 50+? yeah way too many restrictions.

*rolls eyes*

Originally posted by Nanfoodle
One look at SoE/Vanguard F2P model and I walked away. This game as way to many restrictions and IMO for a game as old as it is, put it at the bottem of the line for me and I used to be a Vanguard fan and subscriber. Heck, I bought a new video card just to be able to play Vanguard. I will play this game again when the F2P model matches industry standards. Till then, Vanguard is FAR from F2P. I would more call it perview mode.

 You might want to relook at the F2P matrix, they revamped it recently. You need to buy unlockers for end game items, but as others have said, its like 5 unlockers for $3. Its actually cheaper just to buy unlockers than to sub.

The performance of the game is still terrible though.

Originally posted by Nanfoodle
One look at SoE/Vanguard F2P model and I walked away. This game as way to many restrictions and IMO for a game as old as it is, put it at the bottem of the line for me and I used to be a Vanguard fan and subscriber. Heck, I bought a new video card just to be able to play Vanguard. I will play this game again when the F2P model matches industry standards. Till then, Vanguard is FAR from F2P. I would more call it perview mode.

You have no idea what u are talking about but thanks for the troll post:)

Originally posted by birken

Originally posted by Nanfoodle
One look at SoE/Vanguard F2P model and I walked away. This game as way to many restrictions and IMO for a game as old as it is, put it at the bottem of the line for me and I used to be a Vanguard fan and subscriber. Heck, I bought a new video card just to be able to play Vanguard. I will play this game again when the F2P model matches industry standards. Till then, Vanguard is FAR from F2P. I would more call it perview mode.

You have no idea what u are talking about but thanks for the troll post:)

Am I still limited in the items I can use?

EDIT: Did a little reading and you are right it is better BUT.... and this is a big BUT. Item restriction makes F2P players nothing but 2nd class gamers and again the restrictions makes it not worth playing. For a game thats been out this long and restrictions that make you a second string player to any team, no thanks. 

Look at GW2 and the price of the box gets you access to everything. Neverwinter F2P and you get access to everything without a box price. The list goes on and on. Sad thing is I would play Vanguard tonight if the F2P option was real but its again perview mode that makes F2P gamers nothing more then 2nd class and any team would rather a montly sub players just because they will be more powerful.

Eh... if we are talking about 'F2P' model then its pretty bland, though blame the eastern market for making many of the western F2P options look like a massive rip off. 

The game itself is alright, truthfully I'm tainted by the fact I had played in Beta testing and it just really turned me off quite quickly being quite a mess. Its improved but it is really hard to get into a game considering I've been spoiled with much better graphics and gameplay. Its one of those things that, given maybe it happened years ago I'd probably jump back in, the fact I was tainted by the game being quite lack luster at launch and with such a long time passing I just have no desire to even bother to download it.

Originally posted by birken
Your not limited at all you can buy item unlock from in game Auction house. The point is you are a free loader and you think everything should be given to you like you earned it. 

Nope, I been MMOing since EQ1 launched 12 years ago. When networking costs made 15 bucks a month worth it. Now server costs are so low they are a foot notes on quartly meetings. I question the 15 bucks a month. I been playing GW2 with no monthly sub and they have a great cash shop I can buy things I want that are not buy to win model. I am happy to support the game I play but I refuse to be told 15 bucks a month is fair. I would sub to Vanguard for 4.99 a month if it gave me everything. I would use the cash shop every few weeks if they gave me access to the whole game. SoE needs to get with the times.