As a fan of 3.5, 4.0, D&D, Forgotten Realms, and MMORPGs, I am excited for this. As a fan of fairness in gaming, I am extremely concerned about the cash shop.

Originally posted by emperorwings

Megaphone would be enough for me to not buy the game at all if that means you have t opay for global chat or zone chat or whatever. Seems good so far from what I've seen gameplay wise. Only thing that would cause me to steer clear of it is dependant on what's in the item shop as there is already too many asian grinders out there where you can buy xp which in this game is irrelevant anyways due to scaling.

It's not irrelevant. It gives you access to higher tiers of content, which in turn gives you access to larger quantities of skill points, which in turn makes you a much more flexible and dominant force in WvW.  Higher tiers of content also give you access to better types of crafting materials and items which you can sell on the market.  And that's just the experience boost.

Favor boosts make your guild gain perks much faster, causing people in your guild to be much more deadly on the field of battle.  I don't know how long it takes to fill up renown hearts, but I imagine latter tiers will have a longer "grind" involved, making the renown boosts more attractive.

You might not personally care about the advantages the cash shop gives to people who pay to cheat, but I do, and no amount of pooh-poohing the advantages will change the fact that they are advantages. I'm hoping they get rid of these items and go back to their original vision of the cash shop.

Originally posted by StriderXed

I noticed not once ever you actually explained how the cash shop is even P2W, I mean hell it literally isn't but you for ever claiming it is.

IN4B convience items, experience boosts are onmobs only not completing events where you literally get the most from.

Karma boosts 20% per hour

Gold can't buy everything

Gems static price

Kits and stones can't be used in dungeons and even state you can't use em in wvwvw and pvp

You can't buy the folowing with gems or gold - Tokens/glory/supply(to build,upgrade,etc in WvWvW)/karma

You can't buy power, imagine using those boosts at level 80 in wvwvw you'd look dumb any way lol, karma is subjective but all you'd get is something that adds up statically the same as the rest of level 80 gear but looks different.

Ressurection stones are your teammates,killing those who downed you, you can buy em if you want but you don't need em. Instant travel same thing lol.

Not a gear grind game 

Has level scaling,level gear(level 5 can't wear level 80)

Keys do drop in game, chests are still in questions of what they hold

Mircopphone...lol

Last but not least cash shop is not finalized.

Take care and enjoy yourself.

For the red.Before I read your post.  I was going to say it's "surely p2w" to those stated here. But you shut my negativity down. Good job.

The cash shop is not finalized, but as we've seen it definitely has a lot of P2W/P2C/PFP elements.  No amount of denial will change that fact.  The only variable is whether or not the advantages provided matter to you.

Originally posted by DLangley

Please abide by the NDA in effect for GW2. Do not disclose any information - even saying you are a participant is against the NDA.

Nothing posted is under NDA.  The only information provided in this thread was leaked the day before the NDA came into effect.  Kindly research the matter before doling out punishments.  Thanks.