Guild Wars 2 Core Game is Now Free To Play

SPBHM

Diamond Member
Sep 12, 2012
5,066
418
126
some restrictions are worse than they are on SWTOR,

like on SWTOR you can use gen chat and group finder (same level as subs) at level 10, for this game the group finder for dungeons is locked until level 30 and the "gen chat" /map seems to be locked forever?

also whisper seems to be unlimited on SWTOR
 

JeffMD

Platinum Member
Feb 15, 2002
2,026
19
81
It looks like for the most part, original owners get screwed. The treatment is simular to what rift got. Character slots and bag space is really cut down for the free version, which you can either unlock with the expansion purchase or just unlocking them individually using gems. Considering how limited I felt space was in the regular game, even with a mule or 2, this is going to be tight for free users.

Chat wise there are spam protection in place, unlimited whispers but you can't whisper a NEW person until every 30 seconds. Apparently they never get access to global chat.

Also PvP, owners of the original and expansion can use the world vs world at any level as originaly intended (You get auto leveled to 80, the new maximum level), but free players will not get access to pvp until they reach their max level of 60.

There does seem to be some slight trade restrictions, namely I guess you can't do one sided trades where one person offers up nothing, to prevent gold farmers from using characters as banks? details are thin here.

I'm kinda pissed but what ever. havn't played in over a year. Have fun with those 10 man raids with no real threat system. -_-
 

SPBHM

Diamond Member
Sep 12, 2012
5,066
418
126
I can't use the trade post thing at all for the moment... this really does feel more restricted than SWTOR F2P... the /map chat not being usable is absurd... you are new to the game and can't use chat to ask for advice...

also from what I read you can only whisper a person on the same map as you if they are not on your friends list or something, so whisper seems very limited.

and no wvw (is that open world pvp or something else?), no lfg for dungeons until level 30, the game feels very isolated from other players as f2p... a lot of the other f2p mmos did a better job in my opinion.
 

JeffMD

Platinum Member
Feb 15, 2002
2,026
19
81
spbhm, yea but every one of those games also have the legendary problem of gold farmers and gold spammers.

Also this isn't even close to being as bad as Swotr. Swotr reduced xp %50 with no other way to make it up except trash mob grinding. That is just full retard there.

I'll compare it to rift since imo thats the only other game that got f2p rght, well rift also limits character slots, inventory, and locks down auction house access unless you spend $5 in the store.
 

JTsyo

Lifer
Nov 18, 2007
12,031
1,131
126
DO you still get the original full version for pre-ordering the expansion?
 

JeffMD

Platinum Member
Feb 15, 2002
2,026
19
81
I am not sure about the pre order..the expansion itself will fully unlock the core game, and there is a beta testing phase built into the pre order. But for instance like in heavensward, if you pre purchase it online with no existing account (ie, you have no level 50 character) you had no access to the early access and no access to the game until release day. You should ask them.

If you have not played before and thinking about it now, don't buy it, play the free play. Get high enough level and determine if it is the style of game you want. It is a fairly unique game with its lack of tank/healer classes. It is left partly up to your reaction skills, and your luck that the boss mob does not turn on you. Some classes have tank like builds, and they do seem to have enhanced threat built into their moves. still doesn't stop one shots from telegraphed moves you never see because spell effects and bodies from 50 other players blot out the moon and the stars.

Open world was fun, dungeons were a crapshot, and the new harder event encounters require coordination the game interface does not allow you. There is no command chat, raid chat, nore voice chat.
 
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SPBHM

Diamond Member
Sep 12, 2012
5,066
418
126
spbhm, yea but every one of those games also have the legendary problem of gold farmers and gold spammers.

Also this isn't even close to being as bad as Swotr. Swotr reduced xp %50 with no other way to make it up except trash mob grinding. That is just full retard there.

I'll compare it to rift since imo thats the only other game that got f2p rght, well rift also limits character slots, inventory, and locks down auction house access unless you spend $5 in the store.

the gold spam problem exists on SWTOR, but it's hardly a big deal, in general it's a single character spamming gen chat, the first time you see it you right click the name and ignore it (or report spam if you want), and that's it,

as far as I know on SWTOR f2p gets 100% XP (same as when the game was launched for subs), while subs get 25% extra (and double rest XP for killing enemies, if they log out in specific places for a long time)

blocking gen chat (forever?), auction house, early game pvp mode and LFG is just bad...
there are other things they could have locked to justify paying for the game, I think f2p should focus mostly on cosmetic and some convenience stuff (and requiring you to buy a new expansion for access or early access to new content/level cap), not blocking chat and early game modes....

but it's early days I hope they tweak the F2P model a little, still, you can download the game for free and have an idea of what the game is about, something you couldn't before, so that's nice.
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,081
136
some restrictions are worse than they are on SWTOR,

like on SWTOR you can use gen chat and group finder (same level as subs) at level 10, for this game the group finder for dungeons is locked until level 30 and the "gen chat" /map seems to be locked forever?

also whisper seems to be unlimited on SWTOR

I think like many other games, the free version is just a demo to encourage new sales.
 

TeknoBug

Platinum Member
Oct 2, 2013
2,084
31
91
Oh goodie, it's a mirror of what happened with SWTOR and RIFT, cutting down on bag size and crap like that.

I don't remember ever paying for sub in GW2, just bought the game and away I went, SWTOR on the other hand I bought and paid $14.99/mo and once it went F2P it was less fun.
 

JeffMD

Platinum Member
Feb 15, 2002
2,026
19
81
It looks like swotr moved the xp penalty to lvl 50-55 in the last expansion release.

General chat is zone wide chat, you can still use say and shout. You won't miss it. LFR, you arn't missing much. No one wants your gimp arse with no skills unlocked anyways. Tackle those suckers after youve unlocked your best skills.

I humored myself and updated the game tonight, looks like I missed quite a bit of stuff with the specialization points. I'll have to read and see if they made guardian suck less. :) I am saddened my pile of 112g pieces does not buy as many gems as it did before.. :/
 

Sonikku

Lifer
Jun 23, 2005
15,897
4,918
136
Star Trek Online has the best F2P model. Run contraband mules Klingon side and you basically can get anything and everything for hardly any time investment or grinding. Only fools pay the sub.
 

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
126
"space side of STO is rather fun. "

I can believe it, but I never got past 'spam fire all weapons, rotate, hope you win.'