Lifetime Account Members Thread

[johnmoua]

At first I was furious... pissed off... angry... and pretty much against the whole thing. After I settled down and took a deep breath (I have 3 lifetime accounts, that's why I was SUPERMAN pissed, lol), I feel much better now and can think straight ahead of me...

Wrote down the pros/cons... read upon all the dev's responces, all questions answered, and I was more knowledgable about the whole thing. I only feared because I was uneducated... after educated and open-minded to learn and know, I feel MUCH better and can't wait to see how things goes.

In the very end, I think it is a positive thing... as long as I'm in my kin in which is wonderful, I can just ignore the F2P childish/immature new players if needed be. Other than that, I'm excited (and hoping this all turns out very well).

PS- did I mention I have 3 lifetime accounts? yeah... it better be WORTH IT ALL! (Which I am sure it is).

PSS- I agree with "KualaBangoDango". Read his post above...

[KenR]

The problem with going by what you have "heard" is that, many times, the people telling the tale spin their own twist to things. The best way to be sure is to experience it yourself.

I suggest you try out DDO and see how their F2P/Premium/VIP system works - not saying it will change your mind (nor that you have to change your mind), just saying that first hand knowledge can sometimes be more enlightening. Who knows, it may make you even more against it than currently.

While I agree, trying it is the only way to reach my own conclusion, it simply isn't all that practical.

From my experience F2P games really are F2P in the beginning. It's not until you have a significant amount of time invested that they start bleeding you dry.

In the last F2P I played it wasn't uncommon to see people singing the praises of the game while others were talking about getting ripped off because they spent $1000+ plus and ended up with nothing. Invariably it was the low levels praising the game and the high levels complaining.

In short, unless I spend enough time to get to "end game" I'm really not going to learn a thing and I really don't want to put that kind of time investment in just to see how Lotro might be.

[SaintBass]

Well you believe it won't change. I suspect it will change based on my experience with F2P's and what I heard about DDO.

Fair enough, I am basing that statement on my experience with DDO specifically... not Fiesta or Maple Story.

[imptown]

The only valid reason I can see why someone would NOT think Lifetime was worth it is if they honestly don't like the game, or if they morally object to having free players/MT's in their game.

what i have issue with is having paid to play a game that is now free, especially when based on the frequency that i have played and my playstyle, the F2P concept sounds more accommodating to me. i do enjoy the game--but not enough to pay for it while others do not.

in terms of when i started to play, 2007 sounds about right. and yes, though i could have potentially played the game more often, i did not.

i'm glad that some of you feel that the lifetime account is so valuable. i'm hoping Turbine does also.

and if Turbine and i can't come to some agreement, i'm hoping they will at least let me sell it to one of you that wishes to purchase it.

[Ehra]

what i have issue with is having paid to play a game that is now free, especially when based on the frequency that i have played and my playstyle, the F2P concept sounds more accommodating to me. i do enjoy the game--but not enough to pay for it while others do not.

The game itself may be free now along with other features and low level content, but the majority of the game's content will still have value/cost attached to it. Your lifetime account still gives you access to that content and will continue to give you access to future content at no extra cost.

[johnmoua]

what i have issue with is having paid to play a game that is now free, especially when based on the frequency that i have played and my playstyle, the F2P concept sounds more accommodating to me. i do enjoy the game--but not enough to pay for it while others do not.

in terms of when i started to play, 2007 sounds about right. and yes, though i could have potentially played the game more often, i did not.

i'm glad that some of you feel that the lifetime account is so valuable. i'm hoping Turbine does also.

and if Turbine and i can't come to some agreement, i'm hoping they will at least let me sell it to one of you that wishes to purchase it.

If I were you, I'd still keep it cause you might just see yourself to come to "love" it when it rolls out...

....and if nothing still changes your mind, provided IF EVER Turbine/WB allows you to sell it, I'm sure you'd get yourself an auction hall going... LOL. But I'd say, keep it cause you'll get more than what you paid for versus having a free account and later deciding when too late that you may want to do more than what the free version offers....

[MorgusKane]

Just a friendly reminder, the original contract stated the account was non-transferable and non-salable. There's been accounts permabanned for that. If you do it, don't let them know.

[Elessar2007]

what i have issue with is having paid to play a game that is now free, especially when based on the frequency that i have played and my playstyle, the F2P concept sounds more accommodating to me. i do enjoy the game--but not enough to pay for it while others do not.

in terms of when i started to play, 2007 sounds about right. and yes, though i could have potentially played the game more often, i did not.

i'm glad that some of you feel that the lifetime account is so valuable. i'm hoping Turbine does also.

and if Turbine and i can't come to some agreement, i'm hoping they will at least let me sell it to one of you that wishes to purchase it.

Must say your answer to my post was a bit disingenous, claiming only 6 days play time you implied you were a fairly recent lifetimer (I don't keep track of when Turbine has offered lifetime subscriptions, so I took you at face value that you had recently taken on a lifetime sub).

If you have been a lifetimer since February 2007 then, doing the math, you've gained over a $200 advantage over a non lifetime subscriber during that period, regardless of how much time you've actually been in game.

Anyway, as others have pointed out, this is an irrelevant argument since Turbines not about to offer refunds on lifetime subs anyway, and in my opinion have no such obligation, legally or morally, to do so.

[imptown]

Must say your answer to my post was a bit disingenous, claiming only 6 days play time you implied you were a fairly recent lifetimer (I don't keep track of when Turbine has offered lifetime subscriptions, so I took you at face value that you had recently taken on a lifetime sub).

If you have been a lifetimer since February 2007 then, doing the math, you've gained over a $200 advantage over a non lifetime subscriber during that period, regardless of how much time you've actually been in game.

Anyway, as others have pointed out, this is an irrelevant argument since Turbines not about to offer refunds on lifetime subs anyway, and in my opinion have no such obligation, legally or morally, to do so.

sorry you misunderstood, but in all my posts in this thread i never stated nor implied how long i had subscribed, and only mentioned my in-game playtime after being instructed on how to determine that.

Turbine's final take on this remains to be seen at this point, and i am still hoping that a resolution that all parties finds agreeable can be reached, even if it comes to allowing me to sell/transfer the account.

[gildhur]

sorry you misunderstood, but in all my posts in this thread i never stated nor implied how long i had subscribed, and only mentioned my in-game playtime after being instructed on how to determine that.

Turbine's final take on this remains to be seen at this point, and i am still hoping that a resolution that all parties finds agreeable can be reached, even if it comes to allowing me to sell/transfer the account.

Your /played time is irrelevant when talking about how much you've paid for your subscription. Turbine's final take on this has already been posted:
http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?p=4696854

Our policy on refunds is clear and has not changed as a result of yesterday's announcement.

[imptown]

Your /played time is irrelevant when talking about how much you've paid for your subscription. Turbine's final take on this has already been posted:
http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?p=4696854

i, too, saw that quote--but, as you know, the full quote goes something like this


"OP: Our policy on refunds is clear and has not changed as a result of yesterday's announcement.

In the meantime if you feel your situation deserves special consideration outside of that policy please follow up with Account Support directly and we will handle your request appropriately."


and, as suggested, i have already contacted Account Support.

my suggestion to others of like mind or anyone else concerned about this whole F2P situation would be to do likewise.

[ArahadEketta]

i, too, saw that quote--but, as you know, the full quote goes something like this


"OP: Our policy on refunds is clear and has not changed as a result of yesterday's announcement.

In the meantime if you feel your situation deserves special consideration outside of that policy please follow up with Account Support directly and we will handle your request appropriately."


and, as suggested, i have already contacted Account Support.

my suggestion to others of like mind or anyone else concerned about this whole F2P situation would be to do likewise.

And you are going to be told "No refund for you." You may have only logged on and played a total of 7 actual days of playing. However, you have had the ability to log on whenever you felt like logging on without having to worry whether you have paid your subscription or not. You have saved conciderable amounts of money over a monthly subscriber who maintained their account even though they did not log on.

edit: Not only that but you have the luxury right now to not log on for the next 5 years and when you finally do, you can just log right into the game (after updating) and play. No need to go to your account management page to resubscribe (if we were still on the present system) to enable you to play.

[memiki]

what i have issue with is having paid to play a game that is now free, especially when based on the frequency that i have played and my playstyle, the F2P concept sounds more accommodating to me. i do enjoy the game--but not enough to pay for it while others do not.

in terms of when i started to play, 2007 sounds about right. and yes, though i could have potentially played the game more often, i did not.

i'm glad that some of you feel that the lifetime account is so valuable. i'm hoping Turbine does also.

and if Turbine and i can't come to some agreement, i'm hoping they will at least let me sell it to one of you that wishes to purchase it.

I guess what I can't understand is why you think they owe you anything. If you have your lifetime since 2007 date on your forum and you only played 6 days that is your fault you had the opportunity to play more any time. If you had played like most of have, you would of already used up all you paid for you lifetime, so you too will play free.

Just because you paid for something that is now free, well such is life. I buy lottery tickets and the person next to me wins and am I going to say hey he won I want the same thing.
Sorry but your reasoning is just well don't think you are thinking. I think you are just upset, but you paid years ago, it is over and done with now.
Keep your lifetime and you can play 6 more days in the next 3 years.

I have never regretted buying a lifetime. It was the best thing I ever did.

[imptown]

Sorry but your reasoning is just well don't think you are thinking. I think you are just upset, but you paid years ago, it is over and done with now.

upset? don't misunderstand--i'm not wailing and gnashing my teeth here. i'm addressing this issue in what i think is a logical manner and most responses to me have been likewise. no harm in a discussion.

and if Turbine elects to do nothing and will not allow me to sell my account, i'll deal with it in a logical fashion.

i'm not upset--but i would be upset with myself if i did not at least try and recoup from what i now consider a bad investment.

[Elessar2007]

sorry you misunderstood, but in all my posts in this thread i never stated nor implied how long i had subscribed, and only mentioned my in-game playtime after being instructed on how to determine that.

Turbine's final take on this remains to be seen at this point, and i am still hoping that a resolution that all parties finds agreeable can be reached, even if it comes to allowing me to sell/transfer the account.

i, too, saw that quote--but, as you know, the full quote goes something like this


"OP: Our policy on refunds is clear and has not changed as a result of yesterday's announcement.

In the meantime if you feel your situation deserves special consideration outside of that policy please follow up with Account Support directly and we will handle your request appropriately."


and, as suggested, i have already contacted Account Support.

my suggestion to others of like mind or anyone else concerned about this whole F2P situation would be to do likewise.

You know, I don't agree with you but that doesn't mean you shouldn't take your issues up along the available channels. I for one have found Turbines customer service to be quick to respond and a group that treats customers fairly. Hope you're able to come to a resolution that is satisfactory to you. Good luck!

Personally I'm already pretty pleased with my return on investment and look forward to what's next. Turbine, novelty pets! Chinchillas! In the turbine store please!

[ArahadEketta]

You know, I don't agree with you but that doesn't mean you shouldn't take your issues up along the available channels. I for one have found Turbines customer service to be quick to respond and a group that treats customers fairly. Hope you're able to come to a resolution that is satisfactory to you. Good luck!

Personally I'm already pretty pleased with my return on investment and look forward to what's next. Turbine, novelty pets! Chinchillas! In the turbine store please!

I can agree to Chinchillas, the Populs of Brandywine love Chinchillas. They are the Populs favorite food.

[krolwyn]

As a lifetimer, you entered into an agreement that you would never pay another subscription fee with us again. You still won't. For you, nothing has changed. You will not be billed a subscription, your status and access to the game will not change.

Actually.. when I purchased the lifetime, there were at the time 3 payment options to choose from. the regular 15/mo.. a reduced fee of 9/mo... and the lifetime.
i read the fine print carefully.. one of the stipulations of the reduced fee was you had to log in once a month to keep the reduced fee status..
the lifetime member plan had no such stipulation.. that's why we went with it as we sometimes vacation out of the country for a few months at a time.
The thread for the F2P specifically states that we must have at least 1 active play session per month to maintain our lifetime membership status, I feel this is a Breach of Contract, this is not what we paid for.
so am i now to give up any future travel plans that take longer than a month, or do i give up my lifetime membership plan that i purchased?..
Guess i could always write to WB, or the BBB or the AG and ask any of them, but seriously who has the time for that, i would rather just get an acceptable response

[Elessar2007]

I can agree to Chinchillas, the Populs of Brandywine love Chinchillas. They are the Populs favorite food.

Beware the angry chinchilla, popul-lover...

[carlosjuero]

Actually.. when I purchased the lifetime, there were at the time 3 payment options to choose from. the regular 15/mo.. a reduced fee of 9/mo... and the lifetime.
i read the fine print carefully.. one of the stipulations of the reduced fee was you had to log in once a month to keep the reduced fee status..
the lifetime member plan had no such stipulation.. that's why we went with it as we sometimes vacation out of the country for a few months at a time.
The thread for the F2P specifically states that we must have at least 1 active play session per month to maintain our lifetime membership status, I feel this is a Breach of Contract, this is not what we paid for.
so am i now to give up any future travel plans that take longer than a month, or do i give up my lifetime membership plan that i purchased?..
Guess i could always write to WB, or the BBB or the AG and ask any of them, but seriously who has the time for that, i would rather just get an acceptable response

The thread you are referring to clearly states that you need to log in once a month only between now and F2P launch in order to be eligible for the bonus "loyalty points".

[SpankyPenzaanz]

Actually.. when I purchased the lifetime, there were at the time 3 payment options to choose from. the regular 15/mo.. a reduced fee of 9/mo... and the lifetime.
i read the fine print carefully.. one of the stipulations of the reduced fee was you had to log in once a month to keep the reduced fee status..
the lifetime member plan had no such stipulation.. that's why we went with it as we sometimes vacation out of the country for a few months at a time.
The thread for the F2P specifically states that we must have at least 1 active play session per month to maintain our lifetime membership status, I feel this is a Breach of Contract, this is not what we paid for.
so am i now to give up any future travel plans that take longer than a month, or do i give up my lifetime membership plan that i purchased?..
Guess i could always write to WB, or the BBB or the AG and ask any of them, but seriously who has the time for that, i would rather just get an acceptable response

Also the Terms of service state that they can change it anytime they want to. They giveth...they taketh

[Gedachtnis]

....
i'm not upset--but i would be upset with myself if i did not at least try and recoup from what i now consider a bad investment.

I tried this over my BP stocks after the rig blew, I wish you better luck.....


But coming back 3 years after a purchase because you feel you didn't get your use out of it and this new F2P ala carte deal would better suit you, just doesn't seem that reasonable.

Did you consider it a bad investment before the announcement? Because if not, really, for us lifers, nothings changed except we get a couple of perks.

[Elessar2007]

Actually.. when I purchased the lifetime, there were at the time 3 payment options to choose from. the regular 15/mo.. a reduced fee of 9/mo... and the lifetime.
i read the fine print carefully.. one of the stipulations of the reduced fee was you had to log in once a month to keep the reduced fee status..
the lifetime member plan had no such stipulation.. that's why we went with it as we sometimes vacation out of the country for a few months at a time.
The thread for the F2P specifically states that we must have at least 1 active play session per month to maintain our lifetime membership status, I feel this is a Breach of Contract, this is not what we paid for.
so am i now to give up any future travel plans that take longer than a month, or do i give up my lifetime membership plan that i purchased?..
Guess i could always write to WB, or the BBB or the AG and ask any of them, but seriously who has the time for that, i would rather just get an acceptable response

if I understand all that's been posted so far, the requiremnet to log in once a month is only to get the 500 bonus turbine points between now and launch of F2P. Once a lifetimer, always a lifetimer, even if not logged in. You just don't get bonus turbine points.

[krolwyn]

let's hope you are correct..
after going back and reading more of the posts it would seem to be correct, but you will have to forgive me if i dont share the same trust in turbine as others do, i wish i could tho

[ArahadEketta]

if I understand all that's been posted so far, the requiremnet to log in once a month is only to get the 500 bonus turbine points between now and launch of F2P. Once a lifetimer, always a lifetimer, even if not logged in. You just don't get bonus turbine points.

This is correct. The statement about having to log in once per month was only to secure the bonus 500 Turbine Points for that month leading up to the launch of the f2p.

There has never been and not a requirement that you have to log in at least once a month to maintain a lifetime subscription. This is very excellent because over the period since I became a Founder/Lifer I have not been able to log in to this game for at least 2 periods of between 4 to 6 months.

[SunGryphon]

The only question I have now after reading through this thread is what kind of "advantage" are people who use the store supposed to have over people who don't?

This isn't a PvP game, so there's no advantage there. Free and premium players can't play PvMP so that can't be it.

Some people will not fellow with others NOW if you don't have the right gear/traits, so that's not going to change.

It doesn't matter if someone levels to 65 in a week or a year, so that's not going to change.

VIPs get rest XP and access to destiny points, so they have the advantage there over the premium and free players, and big deal if someone pays 5 bucks for an item that gives them +10% xp for 3 hours, it's their 5 bucks and their XP gain certainly isn't going to affect my gameplay.

So... what? Am I missing something?