Age of Conan free-to-play

AoC is going F2P. And unrated. I'm not exactly sure what the unrated part means (we'll get the urinate-emote back?), but the F2P part... On one end it means we can play whenever the hell we feel like it. On the other, it means that we can also -not- play whenever the hell we feel like it; the advantage of RPing in a subscription model MMO is that you can pretty much count on continued participation, quitting is a rather final thing.

In an F2P model, a scenario where people show up, then don't show up for weeks on end, then come back again, is easily imagined.

I'll certainly use the opportunity to check out how Hyrkania is doing, and try this 'unrated' stuff they speak of. I think Boney's still in her 50's so she might be able to try that new zone too when it comes around...

Anyway, what are your thoughts on this?

I kinda like it, AoC for me is -the- MMO that I'd play in F2P mode, since I always tended to shift on and off with it. Play it intensely for a month, then get totally fed up with it for a month, then I'd like to play it again. Repeat.

The free mode only allows for two character slots, which is... rather bad. Or good, depending.. it would force altaholics like myself to concentrate on minimum of characters. I also heard comments that not all classes are viable for the F2P mode, so some might not be able to return with their favorite character, if that's the case.

Existing players will have to make choices who their freebie characters are, just like it happened in LotRO, I had to discard one alt when it moved to F2P. The rest will remain inactive unless money exchanges hands.

So yes, I will/would join the game again. Though character selection will be a problem.

Edit: because I like editing and check stuff after I've talked about them, linky to comparing freebie and premium account, useful info:

http://forums-eu.ageofconan.com/showthread.php?t=166952

So only four classes for freebie players. I'm not totally complaining since those four luckily contain some of my favorites, but I can see some others having issues with that particular selection.

Grel can make her return freely, but Phoe would require payment. Also, I hope the additional slots we already bought (or received through rewards) will remain open.

I sort of feel that those of us who purchased the game should get the premium access for free, but I don't think that will be happening.

Moved to applications, so this discussion is publically viewable, and the discussion can be entered by all visitors.

Something else to consider; looks like Hyrkania might be merged with a (gasp!) non-RP server.

In terms of server merges, their end-game plan with it can be seen here for what it's worth:

http://forums-eu.ageofconan.com/showpost.php?p=1860526&postcount=4

I am hoping F2P will lure back more of the good RPers we lost. However, I think concerns about losing content previously paid for are valid as are concerns about other restrictions forced on previoulsy paying players. I supose we will need to wait and see how these things progress.

Anyhow, good to see there is at least interest from the HotR folks. Would be nice to see some of you back in game.

*hugs*
T

Just off the top of my head, it seems that FunCom might be working towards herding all players to the same server over time after which they could possibly be setting up instances specifically for RP, PvP and PvE, for example.

This might be done by means of a toggle button - if you want to run Wild Lands to simply quest and PvE, you might be able to toggle yourself to PvE mode and then benefit from finding groups of others in the same mode for the same instance.

If you wish to RP, you might be able to toggle yourself to that mode and so automatically get zoned to the RP instance hosted for that zone.

At least, this looks like the kind of thing they are alluding to and that their technology is workings towards making possible. It would in many ways make gaming more fun as with higher populations, getting raid, Khitai runs and all the other PvE (and PvP) stuff that require participation from several players going will be easier. At the same time, it will help to allow keeping griefing out of RP zones if it is implemented well.

Just some random thoughts - might be totally incorrect interpretation, but we can hope.

Timotheuz wrote:

I am hoping F2P will lure back more of the good RPers we lost. However, I think concerns about losing content previously paid for are valid as are concerns about other restrictions forced on previoulsy paying players. I supose we will need to wait and see how these things progress.

I hope you're right Timo, atleast for the sake of the remaining good people on Hyrkania. I hate to be the voice of doom, but personally I think f2p will make AoC FUBAR.
I have no good experience with f2p games. To me it usually means that it will be "free", but at the expense of screwing up the community.
I don't expect a f2p AoC to be any different than f2p CO. CO is now crowded with clueless people and the lawl-rp types after it turned f2p. CO becomming free to play was just a greedy trick from Cryptic Studio to squeeze more money out of a mediocre MMO. (Can you believe that they now offers a limmited charge teleport device with 10 charges that takes you to Ren Center in Millenium city for "only 5 euro" . >.< ). I think I'll stick with subcribed games.

Perhaps this is Funcoms attempt to help finance their production of 'Secret World'?

Well, this had me cautiously optimistic about how FC are approaching it:

http://forums-eu.ageofconan.com/showpost.php?p=1860619&postcount=12

If it means everyone plays on the same server but can choose who on the server they find themselves in zones and instances with, it should not be too bad...in fact, it might be good for those times when you do not feel like RP but rather like questing or raiding or whatever else OOC activities you want to engage in.

Well, I logged in! And Tarantia is dead as a doorknob. I'm gonna hit the Serp next, see what's what.

Well, it's not -entirely- dead. Behold the tells;


[Gros]:
[Gros]: hey
To [Gros]: Hey there!
[Gros]:
[Gros]: Would you like to rp ?
To [Gros]: Eh, no thank you. Not right now.

Phoenicia wrote:

Well, it's not -entirely- dead. Behold the tells;


[Gros]:
[Gros]: hey
To [Gros]: Hey there!
[Gros]:
[Gros]: Would you like to rp ?
To [Gros]: Eh, no thank you. Not right now.

No simpers?

No simpers, whatsoever!

But, I did realise that AoC, or at least Hyrkania, -needs- the F2P model, or a merge. Tarantia had -two- people in it, not including myself. Serpent's Head, empty. Green Man, empty. Khemi, three people.

I saw -no- RP in any of the former placed, or anywhere at all for that matter. Save for that one set of tells from Gros asking for RP.

A lot of oldies still seem to play; Stian, Serot, Timo, Tabernacle seems active still (though not sure on their RPings), Legends, Harlots...

Gah, the one week I am working late and you log on! Oh, the humanity!

Timotheuz wrote:

Gah, the one week I am working late and you log on! Oh, the humanity!

It's just recon! It's not the the second coming of Phoe

I know, but a longer chat in real-time would have been nice