I've been apprehensive about the FTP. But so far, it seems like a well thought out model. It's less "we have to do this to save the game, please come back!" that Champions Online was forced into, and more like giving the current 1-14 Trial accounts access to playing up to level 50. With a middle option for players who have previously paid subscription fees to play free as well, but with better options and access than pure FTP accounts. The Devs are - if anything, being -overprotective- of their existing player-base by restricting what chat channels FTP has access to. But on the flip-side, "Premium" (the middle option) can/will have access to globals and tells. And if you want to stick to FTP, you can still -buy- that access separately. (though why you'd want to do that instead of just ponying up the money for a monthly account and getting all the VIP stuff for free anyway, I don't know. But the option is there.)
There is going to be a new VIP-only server. A lot of people are saying - why can't there be one FTP server instead of allowing FTP access to all the servers but the new VIP server? And it has been pointed out (by other players) that that would sort of defeat the purpose of luring back old players (and friends) who have left the game. Because if they were coming back as "Premium" FTP players, wouldn't you -want- them to be on their old servers so you could talk to them and socialize?
Personally, I don't think Virtue is going to be badly affected by this other than a little extra lag initially. That will pass. I see no reason to move any characters to the VIP server. (though I may create a couple.)
One other thing I'd like to address.
(Actually - more like cut off at the knees... just in case...)
There's a lot of requests on the forums for the ability to move entire SGs with bases to different servers. Or for the ability to have cross-server access to SG bases. While that would be great. I don't see that this is as -necessary- as a lot of the people asking for it seem to be thinking.
Frankly a lot of people on the official forums are acting like DOOM is coming and they want desperately to avoid sullying themselves with FTP players. And they want to move ALL their characters en-masse to the VIP server (tangentially, they're also asking for more than one VIP server).
This is panic/herd thinking. It's also elitist.
There's an /ignore command for a reason. You can also turn off broadcast and even local if need be.
The most likely scenario based on what I'm seeing in the forums for moving supergroups (if it even becomes possible) will likely not allow for moving the base, but might allow moving the prestige (I think it's character by character, but don't quote me on that). This would allow for rebuilding of the base. In theory under that system, the Legendary could move to the VIP server and rebuild the entire base there without losing anything.
I say RUBBISH to that. Even if I had concerted help from Zilem Kain and others in rebuilding the Legendary Base. I refuse to do so. I loved building the base over time. But I'm not putting THAT MUCH BLOODY WORK into rebuilding it all in one go ANYWHERE.
It's just not necessary. DOOM is not coming to Virtue because of the new changes. We're not going to get cooties from the FTP people.
Even if they -did- allow us to move the base lock stock and barrel in one go. I wouldn't allow it. We're a -support- group primarily. That means we -support- players. And we're not going to act all snooty and deny them entry to the group because they might be on a FTP account.
The Legendary is staying on Virtue. Your base architect and sysop has spoken.
Lora'Lai smiles sweetly at the camera, but her eyes are glowing potential death.
-Logan
(not saying any of you people are that silly, this is more like a reaction to reading the forums for several hours. I hope you'll indulge me in a bit of a rant at that and don't take it as directed at anyone here. ^_^)
--------------------
"Anybody else want to negotiate?"
"Wh-wh-wh-where did he learn to n-n-negotiate like that?"
"I wonder..."
--------------------
There is going to be a new VIP-only server. A lot of people are saying - why can't there be one FTP server instead of allowing FTP access to all the servers but the new VIP server? And it has been pointed out (by other players) that that would sort of defeat the purpose of luring back old players (and friends) who have left the game. Because if they were coming back as "Premium" FTP players, wouldn't you -want- them to be on their old servers so you could talk to them and socialize?
Personally, I don't think Virtue is going to be badly affected by this other than a little extra lag initially. That will pass. I see no reason to move any characters to the VIP server. (though I may create a couple.)
One other thing I'd like to address.
(Actually - more like cut off at the knees... just in case...)
There's a lot of requests on the forums for the ability to move entire SGs with bases to different servers. Or for the ability to have cross-server access to SG bases. While that would be great. I don't see that this is as -necessary- as a lot of the people asking for it seem to be thinking.
Frankly a lot of people on the official forums are acting like DOOM is coming and they want desperately to avoid sullying themselves with FTP players. And they want to move ALL their characters en-masse to the VIP server (tangentially, they're also asking for more than one VIP server).
This is panic/herd thinking. It's also elitist.
There's an /ignore command for a reason. You can also turn off broadcast and even local if need be.
The most likely scenario based on what I'm seeing in the forums for moving supergroups (if it even becomes possible) will likely not allow for moving the base, but might allow moving the prestige (I think it's character by character, but don't quote me on that). This would allow for rebuilding of the base. In theory under that system, the Legendary could move to the VIP server and rebuild the entire base there without losing anything.
I say RUBBISH to that. Even if I had concerted help from Zilem Kain and others in rebuilding the Legendary Base. I refuse to do so. I loved building the base over time. But I'm not putting THAT MUCH BLOODY WORK into rebuilding it all in one go ANYWHERE.
It's just not necessary. DOOM is not coming to Virtue because of the new changes. We're not going to get cooties from the FTP people.
Even if they -did- allow us to move the base lock stock and barrel in one go. I wouldn't allow it. We're a -support- group primarily. That means we -support- players. And we're not going to act all snooty and deny them entry to the group because they might be on a FTP account.
The Legendary is staying on Virtue. Your base architect and sysop has spoken.
Lora'Lai smiles sweetly at the camera, but her eyes are glowing potential death.
-Logan
(not saying any of you people are that silly, this is more like a reaction to reading the forums for several hours. I hope you'll indulge me in a bit of a rant at that and don't take it as directed at anyone here. ^_^)
--------------------
"Anybody else want to negotiate?"
"Wh-wh-wh-where did he learn to n-n-negotiate like that?"
"I wonder..."
--------------------