Free to Play Model: Death knell for PvMP?

[Lhathein]

The Free to Play model could have potentially breathed new life into PvMP.

However, PvMP will only be accessible to VIP members, via their paid subscription to the game, and completely lock out all casual players (both free players and those who only purchase points, 'Premium Players', without subscription).

Is this Turbine's way of putting the final nail in the coffin of PvMP?

[KPIT]

let free players enter the moors = 5000 new wargs per server.... im sure you want this

[ShammWoww]

The FAQ says that Monster play is not available to free or premium members.

[Perfectlotus]

From bad, worse to death. Good job Turbine and all your previous lies to us about PvMP.

At least Im not a lifetime subscriber so my *BEEP* didnt got all that sore from your *BEEP*ing me.

/Silkdawn

[KouklaGirl]

I actually see it being good for PvP.

If Free/Premium members want to PvP, then they have to become a VIP. And, what player doesn't want to PvP in an MMO?

Becoming a VIP = more money for PvP.

Turbine (hopefully) takes said money and brings PvP back to its glory days.

[Lhathein]

For a game with robust and active PvP, I would agree. But LotRO is not a game with robust PvP. Players don't come to to LotRO to PvP, they come for the story. Most of the people I've talked to (and by no means is it an exhaustive study) tried going out into the 'moors once or twice and loved it so much they became active members out there.

This is going to remove that element, because players will be able to play the entire game without ever becoming a VIP member, so PvP will always be locked out for that crowd.

[Perfectlotus]

I actually see it being good for PvP.

If Free/Premium members want to PvP, then they have to become a VIP. And, what player doesn't want to PvP in an MMO?

Becoming a VIP = more money for PvP.

Turbine (hopefully) takes said money and brings PvP back to its glory days.

They have been taking said money from the PvMPers for 3 years and put them in PvE, why would that change now?

/Silkdawn

[Jerboa]

I don't see it as a death knell, but rather a logical item to regulate as a premium service.
In my way of thinking, if you aren't interested in the game enough to pay for it I don't care to have you on the Ettenmoores.
Especially since that is the one place where player character/reputation/community is important.
If griefing in possible in LOTRO, the Ettenmoores is where it's gonna happen.

I don't want to see an influx of wastoids, griefers, losers, and cheaters from other games who load up for a weekend or two of being jerks in the Ettenmoores only to delete and move on to another server or game. If you're gonna be a donkey's rear end then at least pony up the cash to help keep LOTRO profitable.

Without the cash outlay, a person could load up for a weekend of exploiting/cheating and upon getting caught or banned face nothing more than the deletion of an account for which they've paid nothing. I don't want to see gold farmers and other assorted trash flooding the Ettenmoores because the game is now free. (Gold limits don't help this as you can transfer cash to the "banker" character).

I hope Turbine can resist the pressure to make PvMP part of the Free/Premium package.
I want to be on the Ettenmoores with people who invest in the game.

[Perfectlotus]

I want to be on the Ettenmoores with people who invest in the game.

You might have trouble finding thoose...

/Silkdawn

[Lhathein]

I don't think it should be open to free players. Locking it completely behind VIP accounts though I don't agree with. There are potentionally other ways it could be done and regulated. For instance, you could gate it toPremium users (those who spend money in the Turbine Store, but don't subscribe to an account) behind a paywall ($10?) or a level cap. When they get a toon to 50, premies could monster play. Something like that.

[Familiarity]

Curious what it does for trial accounts, or if Turbine is getting rid of them completely.

[Perfectlotus]

Maybe Im overreacting, but when they shut the door for Creep side like this and have a planned nerf to the Creep side aswell (Just a rumour I know, but you dont need to be an Einstein to see that one coming.)

I can really see the downhill from there unless they totally have saved all that money theyve been taking from the PvMPers for the past 3 years and make a fantastic PvP environment out of it.

/Silkdawn

[ryanmstanding]

This is a GOOD thing. F2P players in PvP would be horrendous.

-Morrdan/Weaver/Pre

[Jerboa]

Maybe Im overreacting, but when they shut the door for Creep side like this and have a planned nerf to the Creep side aswell (Just a rumour I know, but you dont need to be an Einstein to see that one coming.)

I can really see the downhill from there unless they totally have saved all that money theyve been taking from the PvMPers for the past 3 years and make a fantastic PvP environment out of it.

/Silkdawn

I don't like this approach.
Nothing personal.

What I don't like is the "Turbine Hates Us" mindset. Seriously, if I really thought Turbine had a secret plan to shut down PvMP then I'd go find a different game. I hate it when people come to the boards with this negative stuff all of the time. If I had nothing but bad to say, if I could do nothing but assume the worst, then I'd certianly move onto a different game.

If they were going to shut down (or destroy PvMP) then NOW would be the time for them to do it. They could pick up with this new model and move forward and be done with all the headache. Instead, they've indicated that they've got future enhancements in the works and I'm going to chose to believe that because the company has shown itself to be one of the more competent gaming companies. They still support AC, for crying out loud.

I wish all the doom and gloom crowd would move on already.
They may very well be right, but I'll worry about disaster when it gets here and not a momemt sooner.

And no, that isn't directed at you, Silk.
You just kicked off a little rant of mine.

[Jerboa]

Curious what it does for trial accounts, or if Turbine is getting rid of them completely.

It's difficult to imagine the role of a trial account when the game is free to play.

[Perfectlotus]

I don't like this approach.
Nothing personal.

What I don't like is the "Turbine Hates Us" mindset. Seriously, if I really thought Turbine had a secret plan to shut down PvMP then I'd go find a different game. I hate it when people come to the boards with this negative stuff all of the time. If I had nothing but bad to say, if I could do nothing but assume the worst, then I'd certianly move onto a different game.

If they were going to shut down (or destroy PvMP) then NOW would be the time for them to do it. They could pick up with this new model and move forward and be done with all the headache. Instead, they've indicated that they've got future enhancements in the works and I'm going to chose to believe that because the company has shown itself to be one of the more competent gaming companies. They still support AC, for crying out loud.

I wish all the doom and gloom crowd would move on already.
They may very well be right, but I'll worry about disaster when it gets here and not a momemt sooner.

And no, that isn't directed at you, Silk.
You just kicked off a little rant of mine.

Ok, well this deserves a response :P

Now let see... Ive paid and paid and paid for this game, being really hooked playing the spider. Some might argue that this game is PvE oriented and I dont argue against that, but Turbine must have realised that people take the Creep side and PvMP serious too (if not directly at least a half year to a year after release) and that there is paying customers in that area also.

However, instead of actually doing ANYTHING other than actually mess up the PvMP a few times along the road and taking our money and invest them into the PvE you really expect ME to believe that after 3 years they would suddenly change?!

And trust me, Im standing with one foot over the line ready to let go of LOTRO forever. Ive had it with their lies. If they dont show EXACTLY how *BEEP*ing awesome this new PvMP is gonna be within a month (when my sub runs out) its bye bye. I DONT trust a word from Turbine without they showing proofs anymore and I dont think anyone dare argue against me on the trust topic.

/Silkdawn

[thisisanewname]

if i read the information its only creepside that can't be ftp players in order to TRY to keep some sort of numbers balance freepside could still go out in the moors on a free account. they should just allow all current subscribers the option of having a freep or a creep free account . that way current creep only players wouldnt have to pay for pve content anymore and if they ever actually added new stuff to the moors they would have to become vip or buy the new stuff ala carte

[KouklaGirl]

Curious what it does for trial accounts, or if Turbine is getting rid of them completely.

F2P will essentially be the trial account, I am guessing.

[witchking782]

This is a VERY VERY good thing.

It means that only subscribers will be able to go pvp, so ppl in zone wont change that much.

[timmyloo22546]

I do think that giving free players access to monster play would ultimately change the mentality of the Moors (bad), not quite kill it tho.

They should make monster play purchasable with unlimited access to creep side. It should only be a fraction of the VIP price because it is only a small portion of the game (at least for now).

[Jerboa]

Ok, well this deserves a response :P

Now let see... Ive paid and paid and paid for this game, being really hooked playing the spider. Some might argue that this game is PvE oriented and I dont argue against that, but Turbine must have realised that people take the Creep side and PvMP serious too (if not directly at least a half year to a year after release) and that there is paying customers in that area also.

However, instead of actually doing ANYTHING other than actually mess up the PvMP a few times along the road and taking our money and invest them into the PvE you really expect ME to believe that after 3 years they would suddenly change?!

And trust me, Im standing with one foot over the line ready to let go of LOTRO forever. Ive had it with their lies. If they dont show EXACTLY how *BEEP*ing awesome this new PvMP is gonna be within a month (when my sub runs out) its bye bye. I DONT trust a word from Turbine without they showing proofs anymore and I dont think anyone dare argue against me on the trust topic.

/Silkdawn

I don't fault you for complaining (it's called 'feedback') and leaving.
I do fault people who hang on for years, dragging down the forum, when they should do the math and leave already.

I only share my thoughts on this because more players need to wise up to the hard cold reality of MMORPGS - that reality being that the trajectory of a game doesn't change. This isn't a vicious attack, but rather me sharing the wisdom I've gained by being exactly the kind of knucklehead that goes toe to toe with developers for YEARS only to see that in the end (*drum roll*) they do exactly what they want to do regardless of my feedback.

The problem is that by hanging on you aren't finding a game that you'll enjoy. Too many disgruntled players hang onto a game long past when they really should of quit because of the illusion of having an investment in the game. As soon as it isn't fun, as soon as you're hoping for some bright future instead of enjoying the now, as soon as you get frustrated it's time to begin investigating another product.

You make the argument that you don't believe they'll change.
If you really believe that, go find something fun to play.

I don't say that to be cruel but rather I've learned that is the only way to roll. The moment I decide LOTRO isn't fun anymore is the moment I go buy a different game. I refuse to become some crumpled up bitter vet nagging Turbine to change things - life is too short to wait on anyone else, especially in a market just saturated with many dozens of possible worlds to explore.

Go have some fun.
I wish you tons of it.

[Jerboa]

This is a VERY VERY good thing.

It means that only subscribers will be able to go pvp, so ppl in zone wont change that much.

What I read is that Monster Play will be available to VIP members only.
Sounds as if Freeps will be able to go to the Ettenmoores.

[Ceejai78]

What I read is that Monster Play will be available to VIP members only.
Sounds as if Freeps will be able to go to the Ettenmoores.

Yes, but will they? It also looks as though free-to-play caps at level 50, meaning without some financial investment there is little point to heading to the moors. I can only imagine how many level 50s it would take to compete with a raid or so of 65 creeps, or one of the dreaded warg packs.

[Perfectlotus]

What I read is that Monster Play will be available to VIP members only.
Sounds as if Freeps will be able to go to the Ettenmoores.

I think they will have a level 50 cap if they aint paying and we know what happens to the level 50s in the moors...

This was actually what made me react in the first place, I thought it was free to play on the Freep side to 65 and while we other peoples who consider our Creep our main character got the shaft because we had to pay while the Freeps didnt. Seeing how this would further fuel the PvE with spent PvMP money. Well, it isnt gonna work that way if I understood it correctly.

/Silkdawn

[Jerboa]

I think they will have a level 50 cap if they aint paying and we know what happens to the level 50s in the moors...

*giggle*
Tell me, and don't leave out any detail.

This was actually what made me react in the first place, I thought it was free to play on the Freep side to 65 and while we other peoples who consider our Creep our main character got the shaft because we had to pay while the Freeps didnt. Seeing how this would further fuel the PvE with spent PvMP money. Well, it isnt gonna work that way if I understood it correctly.

/Silkdawn

That is a bit of a pickle.
I was really hoping for a Freep flood to the Ettenmoores.