Star Wars: The Old Republic is now going free to play. Said to be available this November but with no actual definitive date. As with other free to play MMO’s you are restricted. However, as a subscriber, per usual, you are unlimited to what is un-lockable and have full access to all game content. Many people have complained about the game being “all bout the money” but…duh is it not a business providing an entertainment SERVICE?!Currently some free to play is already available to you as a No time limit trial but you are limited to level 15. With this release you are allowed to cap your character all the way to level 50. A major difference between free to play and subscribers is the as a F2P player, you can only join certain PVP warzones and that’s allowed three times per week. In character creation, you may only choose 3 species, the human, zabrak, and the cyborg. Operations or special large group quests are unlimited to the subscribers but require a weekly pass to unlock access. Flashpoints, smaller group quests, are restricted to three per week as well as space combat missions. Crew skills, or basically the crafting aspect of this game is allows you to have three at once, for the paying customer and one for the freebie player, however additional slots maybe purchased with Cartel coins. Cartel coins are the in-game currency in The Old Republic. Quick travel has a much longer cooling down period for free to play accounts but can be permanently reduced with the purchase of an authorization.
The emergency fleet pass, which is an emergency transportation to the fleet where vendor and trainers await, are a pretty sweet life saver for a subscriber. For the free-to-play? Nill, unless you again purchase an authorization to unlock this feature. When you die in game you can choose to revive at a nearby Med Center or in the field with a proper cool down. Same goes for the non-paying customer but you are restricted to five revives in the field. If servers are full and you’re in the login queue, be glad if you are a subscriber as you have priority status, a non- payer does not have this and will have to wait much longer. Purple items in game are considered super rare and are available no problem to the subscriber, being they are of proper class and level. Unfortunately for the F2P customers you are not allowed to equip these items unless you obtain, aka purchase, a license from the Cartel Market.
When and if you decide to make a purchase, you will receive Sprint, the ability to run faster, access to the Cargo Hold, or bank slots, increased chat and secure trading. And a higher login queue priority. Basically you are given Preferred Status! Returning subscribers will receive a huge amount of cartel points and a party Jawa plus complimentary cartel coins every month. New players will receive cartel coins every month as well and at launch.
I do encourage anyone that’s in the slightest bit interested in this game to at least give the trial a shot. I was blown away by how unique each class’s storyline was and how customizable you can really be. The fact you get a companion to help you fight is awesome you equip them with weapons and attire, that actually make a difference, not just cosmetic, and you can send them away to do the crafting/gathering while you rest or go off and do missions. I loved levitating giant rocks and hurling them at opponents and then healing myself quickly whilst they are stunned and whooping them with my staff. Of course shooting up the place was a blast as well! But nothing beats getting your first Lightsaber!
So you decide, either work your butt off or pay nothing to earn your goals, or buy them!
Try it, I think you should, like it, you will. Yeesssss.
