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Is there a Subscrber only server?
RollieJoe
Member UncommonPosts: 451
Hi, I just found this MMO (having overlooked it for its lack of PvP when it first came out) and I'm really enjoying it. However, I hate Item Shops (just a personal taste--some people like/love onions, some people dislike/hate them). I did a bit of research myself and it looks like there isn't, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask here as well: Is there a DDO server that is only subscription based (ie NO item shop)?
As an additional topic for this thread: Why wouldn't they have a sub-only server? There are literally hundreds of posts arguing subscription ("pay to play") vs item shop ("free to play) just here on mmorpg.com alone, so its clear there are a large number of players who want subs, and there are also a large number who want item shops. For the same reason that many MMO's have PvE and PvP (and even RP) server options, why not have subscription / item shop server options?
I don't see any reason to argue about which one is better. To Turbine, getting your money as a customer is all they want, they shouldn't care if its from an item shop or from a sub. And to players, its purely preference. I don't know the % breakdowns of who favors which system (and no point in speculating on this either, as no one knows), but surely in a game that can support 8+ servers like DDO, it would be beneficial to have at least 1 item shop and 1 sub servers, to make sure neither group is left out.
Short version: Does DDO have a subsciption only server with no item shop, or plans to have one in the future? And if not, anyone care to speculate as to why? Seems it could only be win-win to me.
Comments
You do understand that if you don't want anything to do with the item shop all you have to do is NOT click on that icon right?
Really with the exception of the adventure packs you never know who is or is not a subscriber. Sub members have 'bought' all the dungeons via their sub's and the item shop guys only those dungeons they wish to have.
Nothing else in the item shop really does a player a lick of good. Yes someone could buy a +1 armor for $9.99 (the cheapest point buy right now) or do as I did and get it as a reward prior to even leaving Kothos Island.
The short answer to your question is NO there is not anykind of official sub only server and since the subs were scattered all over the servers prior to it becoming F2p how would you decide which to shift to?
Plus by buying a server transfer via the item shop haven't you just become an item shop supporter? :-)
SWG (pre-cu) - AoC (pre-f2p) - PotBS (pre-boarder) - DDO - LotRO (pre-f2p) - STO (pre-f2p) - GnH (beta tester) - SWTOR - Neverwinter
Well.. in addition to the items there are also the 32 point builds (instead of basic 28), classes and races that can be purchased in the cash shops. These DO give and advantage.. much more than a +1 sword. Of course with enough determination you can unlock all of these for free but it takes a long time to do so.
My biggest concern is that a subscription doesn't give you access to everything (examples shown above).
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They tried the subscription server route and it failed.. Failed so much so that the game had to go F2P with a item shop because of it. So I wouldn't suspect ever seeing a subscriber only server anytime soon or even in the future. They tried it.. it failed.. they changed the game and made it F2P because it failed.
You could check if you could play in the EU launch of the game, run by Codemasters.
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32 point builds as well as all classes and races can be earned with favor as well as bought in the store. As a subscriber you can earn them or buy them early. Since DDO has the worst PvP ever debating that they give an advantage is really not important. On most builds you will not notice the extra points anyway. It really does not take long to get any but the Favored Soul class, I bought mine I was not waiting on it.
I'm actually enjoying DDO atm, the item shop is definately a negative for me, but it could be worse.
However, the people saying "They tried a subscriber only server, and it failed." lack any basic reading comprehension skills, or either know nothing about DDO's history. They tried:
1) having all servers subscriber only, and the number of players interested in this could not support the game
2) having all servers Item shop and sub, and the number of players interested in this could support the game.
I'm suggesting:
3) having all the current servers item shop and sub, which we know will support DDO AND having one server sub only with no item shop, to see if its popular enough to keep running.
DDO has not tried this. EVER. Period.
My guess is they don't think they'll really gain enough additional subs from creating such a server versus the extra cost it would take to maintain and manage.
But if there was enough demand I'm sure they'd consider it, as long as it turned a profit.
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Yes there are 2 European pay to play only - almost empty.
Anyway, what is the problem of item shop in a non-competitive PvE game?
REALITY CHECK
They do not and will never again have a sub only server (well for US anyway). Why would you as a player want to play on a sub only server for this game? The population would be so low you'd want to switch back.
Turbine's cash shop is fine. If you don't want to worry about buying stuff periodically, just sub. Your sub gives you access to all content and gives you points to spend in the cash shop each month. I believe that if you are an avid player of DDO, then the sub is best option. If you only occasionally play, then don't sub and buy your modules as you need them. That is the beauty of their payment options, they are flexible.
All I here are people complaining about a cash shop. Stop whining and sub. Their payment model is fair and their game quality is much better than most other F2P games.
P.S. I'm against cash shops, but I don't feel that Turbine's cheats the players with subs.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing - Edmund Burke
I think it was a more common request when the DDO Store was first mentioned although over time it's become obvious there's more to gain from it.
As a paying monthly subscriber I get 500pts per month. Because I don't use the DDO Store very often I tend to end up with about 1500-2000 points before something becomes avialable that I would like to have. Being that these points are free I end up with exclusive perks on my account that range from extra bank space to the ability to the ability to rebuild on old character that grants extra attribtue points while keeping items I've accumulated over the years. Those points can even be used to acquire potions that replenish spell points.
From my point of view the system exists as a form of veteran reward system and I'm all for it.
Seriously, Turbine handled this impressively.
I'm subbed because i want the full experience and i want access to all of the dungeons. As a subscriber i also get 500 points a month to spend in the item shop, so i've bought some decent armour and weps so i can solo when i'm not grouped with friends. My argument is that the item shop doesn't have enough stuff in it. After a few months i can see myself with a few thousand points and nothing to spend them on.
As for sub only server, i agree that in a free to play game that would have a very light population and i wouldn't play on it personally.
As you play the game more I am sure you will find things to spend points on. Weapons and armor are actually the worst choices to spend TP on.
Hay can I ask a question off this post.
If you pay for a sub for two months, and get 500 points each month ( 1000 points ) can you go back to FTP and use the 1000 points ?
Your question, pragmatically speaking, brings up an interesting question: What would happen to your characters on a subscription only server when you dropped your subscription?
On the other servers, all your toons would still exist and life would go on as a free player (albeit with certain limitations). Would you lose your toons? Do they get randomly moved to a mixed server? Can you choose where they go? Do they ransom your toons for $25 a pop to transfer each one? I'd be a bit leery because you never know when your car might break down and you need every penny that month for that evil, evil real world.
To answer your question, there are 3 levels of players: Free (Never made a purchase), Premium (Made at least 1 purchase in the past, however small) and VIP (Monthly subscribers). So once you drop you subscription, you will still be a 'Premium' User and have more perks than someone whose never made a purchase. The perk matrix can be found on the DDO site: http://www.ddo.com/vip
To un-digress, AFAIK, turbine points are turbine points. I haven't heard of a single case of Turbine revoking awarded or purchased points on a production server. So what you'd lose are perks like the number of character slots dropping from 10 (VIP) to 4 (Premium). So if you had more than 4 toons/alts on a server, you'd need to purchase slots to regain access to [the remainder of] them. You would have a reduced login priority, lower priority support etc.
So yes, you should be able to use any unspent points, but in my experience, many paying players tend to spend their points more freely (stack of 1000 cure pots or a jump potion while in the dungeon because its more convenient or a new hair style or dye) because, well, they can. (I'm more like that stingy Wizard that insists we walk instead of haste like there may not be a shrine or rest area for the next 3 years, although it's really so I can nuke with the best of 'em at that last boss)
I'm currently F2P (Free to play) on DDO and am having a blast. I group with other F2P and just as often with P2P (Pay to play) people. I've earned enough points for several packs, the Monk class etc and can honestly say that its hard to tell who pays and who's free. [VIP do have an icon over their name in common areas but I mean they are neither significantly better equipped or particularly more or less knowledgeable etc]. I'll probably go premium at some point when I absolutely have to have something and lack the points, the Druid Class comes to mind. However, earning the points to purchase or unlock a class or area is part of the game to me, much like flagging for a raid or qualifying for an event.
Well, since my initial quick reply is becoming only marginally less like The Horribly Slow Murderer with the Extremely Inefficient Weapon, I might as well mention that they [Turbine] are, like the Ginosaji inexorably adding useful things to the item shop such as some Crafting [Shroud] ingredients, and even VIP's with thousands of points never have enough ingredients for yummy Green-Steele Weapons.Illegible
WHat icon do VIPS have over their heads? I know of no way that Turbine marks VIPs at all.
I'll try to get a screen shot when I'm on next. Necropolis 2 should be a good place to check. No one voluntarily pays for that.
Illegible
No that icon actually means they are Looking For Group. You can mark yourself as looking for a group in the social panel. Turbine has stayed away from any in game way to tell VIP from Premium or F2P, which is a good thing really.
Well, that's what I get for relying on the advice channel
I've used the LFG to great success, just never realized it put an advertisement icon as well as being a filter on the social panel.
Personally, I too am all for avoiding labels for VIP / F2P.
Illegible
Yeah the advice channel unfortunately needs work. I think Turbine should allow people to register to help on the advice channel and have to pass a general DDO knowledge quiz before being allowed to help. Sort of a mentor program. THis would keep out the people who swear the heal skill helps your heals and that if you build a fighter with high wisdom he gets more on an incoming heal. Both of those were advice given either on the DDO forums or the advice channel.
Nothing ruins an advice channel quicker then letting everyone give advice on it.