Doesn't matter if you subscribed for 5+ years, spent hundreds of dollars,etc

adam_nox

The second you go from VIP to premium, you no longer can post on the forums at ALL, and you no longer get any non-automated support.  Found this out a day after subscription lapsed.  I need help, but you can petition and they will just tell you that only VIPs get support (in more roundabout language of course).  So I wanted to post at the forums, but found that even someone with level 7 rewards can't even post.  Not a new topic, not a new reply, not anywhere.

What seems so horribly wrong about this is that I'm still paying them money, just not monthly.  And anyone who's paid as long as I have should pretty much have lifetime access to support and forums.  But it seems they want to completely shut up and shut out anyone who's not dedicated to paying 15 dollars a month, even when that 15 doesn't cover the cost of new powersets they are pushing out, costume sets, and other items. 

If you are completely new, or not heavily invested in the game, obviously none of this would bother you.  I suppose the people like make make up a small percentage.  Those who play off and on over the entire course of the game's history, buying every expansion, and having paid as much as what amounts to other mmo's lifetime sub fees, it just feels really hurtful to be treated this way.  It's a 7 year old dated game that's struggling to the point of going f2p, and I just cannot believe the nerve of treating people this way under such circumstance.

I wouldn't even post this here, but where else can I go? 

edit: apparently tech support section is unlocked to free/premium.  I can post there, but I somehow doubt I will get the support I need (server/global slot issues).

jvxmtg

No surprise here. There are companies who extend their support to non-paying customers and there are those who only support those who are paying.

Just compare what the yearly subscribers get compare to what 6mo subs gets, then compare those to the monthly subs. Now compare the non-subs to monthly...do you see it now?

It's just the way it is.

 

EDIT:

By the way, you may want to read this (link: http://na.cityofheroes.com/en/about_freedom/player_cho.php), then click on side-by-side comparison

SwampRob

I played CoH from beta, purchased CoV, had easily over 70 characters, got my 66+ vet rewards, and yet with the previous expansion, the on that added alpha powers, I lost a lot of interest in the game.   

CoH used to be the only, and I mean absolutely the only MMO I've every heard of, that made it possible to obtain the best gear through solo play.    With the alpha expansion, it made grouping nearly mandatory, the only other option being an insane grind.

I was going to give the F2P a shot, but I couldn't even get their new hideous NCSoft launcher to work and gave up.   I could probably figure it out, but I'm not interested enough to make the effort.

 

 

 

trancejeremy

Firstly, apparently free players can post, but only on the Technical help forum. I agree, kind of well, stinky, but still...

Secondly, I don't really understand why people actually think the game is "free". Free to play basically means they want to you spend more than $15 a month, in this case continue to subscribe and buy stuff off of the item mall.

marinrider

From what I understand, you were subbed and now your not, and your "support" basically expired with your sub.  No surprise here.  Your sub pays for support at that time.  A year sub doesnt get you lifetime benefits of the sub.  

VirusDancer

Originally posted by trancejeremy

Firstly, apparently free players can post, but only on the Technical help forum. I agree, kind of well, stinky, but still...

Secondly, I don't really understand why people actually think the game is "free". Free to play basically means they want to you spend more than $15 a month, in this case continue to subscribe and buy stuff off of the item mall.

Depending on how long you have played, outside of SSA's and Incarnate stuff... you can pretty much play for free compared to most other games that state they are F2P.  If you're a new player or did not play that long, then it will definitely feel more like the typical F2P not free to play game.

Kelvrek

I had all of the CoX games/expansions and subscribed for 3+ years, and I am quite pleased to be able to pop into the game and revisit some of my characters.  If I intended to play a lot, I would subscribe.  However, I think they are pretty generous with what they give previous subscribers.  Let's face it, I get more of the game for free now than was available when I first started playing it.  The lack of support is the only drawback, but I never really needed tech support for this game.  Sorry for your luck.  If it's that much of an issue, you could always subscribe for a month, get your problem straightened out, then go back to prem status at the end of the month.  Btw, do they really cut off that much stuff from subscribers?  I believe they are only offering stuff they used to have in the packs (magic pack, mutant pack, etc) in the item mall.  Besides, subscribers do get a monthly stipend to spend in the item mall, so you are getting more than you used to before Freedom.

VirusDancer

Originally posted by Kelvrek

I had all of the CoX games/expansions and subscribed for 3+ years, and I am quite pleased to be able to pop into the game and revisit some of my characters.  If I intended to play a lot, I would subscribe.  However, I think they are pretty generous with what they give previous subscribers.  Let's face it, I get more of the game for free now than was available when I first started playing it.  The lack of support is the only drawback, but I never really needed tech support for this game.  Sorry for your luck.  If it's that much of an issue, you could always subscribe for a month, get your problem straightened out, then go back to prem status at the end of the month.  Btw, do they really cut off that much stuff from subscribers?  I believe they are only offering stuff they used to have in the packs (magic pack, mutant pack, etc) in the item mall.  Besides, subscribers do get a monthly stipend to spend in the item mall, so you are getting more than you used to before Freedom.

The main thing I saw popup was IOs...heh.  For IOs, you can VIP - have already reached or buy yourself up to 27 tokens - or buy an IO license for 30 days.

You can get 7 months of IOs for about the same price as a single month of VIP.  So depending on where you are, what you're doing, that is a much better deal than subscribing.

It was definitely an adjustment to go from IOs to SOs on older toons and dealing with DOs/SOs instead of IOs on newer toons.

For those that never played with them though - they'll have no idea about that difference.

someforumguy

The full experience still requires a monthly payment to access. So you only get free what they give you for free. As a former subscriber you get more for free then new players.

You can of course have an opinion about if its enough what you get as returning player. But with a monthly sub still existing, you can hardly expect that everything will be for free in the game.

waynejr2

Originally posted by SwampRob

I played CoH from beta, purchased CoV, had easily over 70 characters, got my 66+ vet rewards, and yet with the previous expansion, the on that added alpha powers, I lost a lot of interest in the game.   

CoH used to be the only, and I mean absolutely the only MMO I've every heard of, that made it possible to obtain the best gear through solo play.    With the alpha expansion, it made grouping nearly mandatory, the only other option being an insane grind.

I was going to give the F2P a shot, but I couldn't even get their new hideous NCSoft launcher to work and gave up.   I could probably figure it out, but I'm not interested enough to make the effort.

 

 

 

CoX was my favorite game.  MA started a downfall for me and this new system has killed it.

And what's up with changing the tutorials?

hehenep

To the OP and premium folks. I'm not one myself, but I think you should be able to post in the 'Player Questions' forum as well. I think the idea is any forum that'd be used for getting help as opposed to ones that are just for discussion and chatting.

---

Originally posted by SwampRob
CoH used to be the only, and I mean absolutely the only MMO I've every heard of, that made it possible to obtain the best gear through solo play.    With the alpha expansion, it made grouping nearly mandatory, the only other option being an insane grind.

---

The only content in the game that even remotely needs the best 'gear' currently is the content that will give you the best gear at the moment.  The whole system is entirely vestigial and is fairly easily ignored all things considered (and is solely the realm of the VIP to boot).  I'm hoping the solo/small group 'incarnate' content they've said they're announcing on the 19th will expand that while making it less annoying to progress.

OSF8759

Originally posted by waynejr2

And what's up with changing the tutorials?

The old tutorial was very boring and threw massive walls of text that nobody read. The new one may be a bit of a ChampO rip, but it's far superior, and you continue to get taught the game all the way up to level 20.

The point made in the above post about Incarnate abilities being easily ignored is true but has one exception: if you play standard content on teams in the level 45-50 range, the Incarnated players will be running the show and you'll feel like a spectator. So plan on soloing in that level range or teaming up with freeps and preems exclusively if you don't want to feel inadequate.

gandales

Originally posted by OSF8759

Originally posted by waynejr2

And what's up with changing the tutorials?

The old tutorial was very boring and threw massive walls of text that nobody read. The new one may be a bit of a ChampO rip, but it's far superior, and you continue to get taught the game all the way up to level 20.

The point made in the above post about Incarnate abilities being easily ignored is true but has one exception: if you play standard content on teams in the level 45-50 range, the Incarnated players will be running the show and you'll feel like a spectator. So plan on soloing in that level range or teaming up with freeps and preems exclusively if you don't want to feel inadequate.

The new tutorial is a disappointment for me. Too short to even deserve that name and really lacking compared not only to CO's one but to other tutorials like DCUO's. I think the former one was better.

If what you are saying is true then it is pretty sad that subscribers and premium/free players will tend to separate at the end; it is kind against of CoH nice spirit.