Even if this guy did get banned for using RMT i can see why.
If you want to progress past level 95-120 you are going to need alot and i mean alot of ingame currency which is only obtainable through the item mall or RMT.
If you dont use the item mall at level 96-120 then you not going to get anywhere, no dungeons, no nation dungeons, skirmishs indys anything, because you wont have the gear/might to even attempt.
May I inquire how many Free-to-Play games you have played?
In a ridiculous amount of games (MapleStory before the two EXP requirement reductions to level, Rappelz, Dungeons and Dragons Online, LOTRO until recently, Runes of Magic Online, just to name a few) that are Free-to-Play require you either to use the cash shop, use the RMT, or suffer an incredibly tough experience to continue leveling.
I'm sorry, but that's part of the F2P experience right now. It's no excuse to start breaking laws (the ToS is technically legally binding, if anyone is stupid enough to sue when they get banned). When you hit a certain cap, you won't be able to go anymore until you pay the company or risk getting banned by using exterior means.
In the games listed above:
MapleStroy before the EXP required to level was reduced - after level 60, it was very hard to level at one point without using the 2x and 3x exp coupons. This went on for less than a year before Nexon lost too much advertising money and reduced the EXP required to level.
Rappelz - Leveling past 70 without Stamina Savers was nearly impossible without playing gartuitous hours and grinding the same monsters repetitively. It still is, although some people have inspired others to do it (at great peril to their free time).
Dungeons and Dragons Online - The maximum F2P level is 14 (when I played it, anyway) unless you level two characters from every server to this level to buy expansions and get one character to 20.
Lord of the Rings Online - Similar to the above, except closer to max level, until recently when they began giving out more free quest packs.
Runes of Magic Online - after mid level (I forgot specifics on this game, since I quit early after finding this out), it becomes silly to upgrade your equipment past the basic levels unless you pay real money to (basically) gaurantee that it'll be successful. This eventually led to a disgustingly drastic damage difference between F2P and subscription players.
There will ALWAYS be Pay2Win models in F2P gaming. Unfortunately, they are most likely here to stay. It's no excuse to break laws. If you're going to RMT anyway, why not play a better subscription based game? I know Atlantica has its charms with its unique combat, but once you hit the hypothetical "F2P max", you either have to start over, press through, or pay for something that - simply put - isn't worth it.
Ive played many F2P games which require you to spend a small amount to progress, Atlantica Online is way beyond the "Small amount".
Another thing about it is the "Luck" based system in the boxes the item mall sells, you can spend $300 and not even get the main item advertised in the box, just tons of other junk.
When games start selling you how should i put it "A Lottery Ticket" in order to progress this is when RMT is more beneficial.
Well then join the Item Mall boycotters. There are several of them who have gotten to extremely high levels without touching the Item Mall or using RMT.
I know Atlantica's Item Mall is really messed up. It attaches a lot of small print that normal people wouldn't bother to find, and it's not even worth it in the first place. Also, their customer support places RMT over hacking, bugging, and botting, which really speaks about what nDoors prioritizes. But, you can't really complain that you were banned for RMT; when you did it, you took that risk. It's no excuse that the Item Mall was bad. The IM being bad can create an excuse to quit, to boycott, and to warn others if you were tricked by fine print, but it is no justification for RMT. In fact, when you register, nothing can justify it. Do you want to continue playing a broken game so bad that you're willing to risk being banned for your efforts? In that case, find a real hardcore game - Atlantica is not one of them. Or is this simply a hobby? Well, then you're spending too much money on something that's essentially free. Also, I'm not completely sure about this, but the leveling experience in Atlantica when I played at level 10 and level 30 were almost exactly the same. I never got to 40, though, since I quit. But still, it seems like it's a game where it's actually sometimes more fun to start a new character than to develop and old one after all your skills are already established.
Anyways, as for needing the item mall past level 100, that is a lie. I hear this all the time from people but it is simply just not true. My guess is they are doing something wrong with their mercenary setup.
I have reached level 121 without the item mall so far, I win maybe 4-5 pvp matches out of 10. Only now am I using the item mall and only for a blessing license($15/month) and even that is just to make things a little smoother and considering the fact most MMORPGs are $20/month, still pretty fair after playing the game for 2 years for free.
Will you fight people in PvP who will destroy you with item mall stuff? Sure, but there is only maybe 20 top players on each server that it is this way and these people spend $200+ a month on the mall just because thats how much they enjoy the game, but so what? It is such a tiny part of the game.
All Item Mall items are TRADEABLE unlike in other F2P games. Once you figure out the crafting system and know what makes you the most profit, between that and getting phoenix chests in lvl 120 dungeon, you will make more then enough money to buy wings, mounts, better gear quicker then usual.
AO is still one of the best F2P games out there, turn-based RPG/Strategy combat with 9 different mercs at your command each leveling up and equipped individually, with 15+ to choose from making endless cominbations of parties? Yes please unless someone here would like to tell me of a game I have not heard of that has these same elements.
If you feel the item mall is needed past 100+, I suggest joining a bigger guild/alliance and getting help from veteran players or reading the endless guides available to you online, it really isn't as difficult as you or others make it out to be.
Please don't compare this game's item mall to that of Allods or RoM, it is not even close to as bad as them.
Most of the Nation Dungeons can be done without the item mall because you are going to be doing them with 20+ friends who are going to be better geared/higher level then you and will have your back. My nation has mostly non-item mall users and we clear every dungeon without a problem, in fact we encourage to bring a few uber low lvl people with us everytime just to help gear and level them up.
Don't let the trolls fool you, the real reason their upset is they want faster progression through the game to hit max level etc and they can't get that without the item mall. Obviously if you aren't willing to use the mall and you want to be max level in a year this game isn't for you. But AO isn't about hitting max level, sorry.
Don't let the trolls fool you, the real reason their upset is they want faster progression through the game to hit max level etc and they can't get that without the item mall. Obviously if you aren't willing to use the mall and you want to be max level in a year this game isn't for you. But AO isn't about hitting max level, sorry.
+1 to this...
yeah just enjoy the game. There are a lot of things to explore in the game and also lot of other money making options which you can utilize in order for you to obtain more gold.
Think of the item mall as just an extra help to better your performance or look in game
Anyways, as for needing the item mall past level 100, that is a lie. I hear this all the time from people but it is simply just not true. My guess is they are doing something wrong with their mercenary setup.
I have reached level 121 without the item mall so far, I win maybe 4-5 pvp matches out of 10. Only now am I using the item mall and only for a blessing license($15/month) and even that is just to make things a little smoother and considering the fact most MMORPGs are $20/month, still pretty fair after playing the game for 2 years for free.
Will you fight people in PvP who will destroy you with item mall stuff? Sure, but there is only maybe 20 top players on each server that it is this way and these people spend $200+ a month on the mall just because thats how much they enjoy the game, but so what? It is such a tiny part of the game.
All Item Mall items are TRADEABLE unlike in other F2P games. Once you figure out the crafting system and know what makes you the most profit, between that and getting phoenix chests in lvl 120 dungeon, you will make more then enough money to buy wings, mounts, better gear quicker then usual.
AO is still one of the best F2P games out there, turn-based RPG/Strategy combat with 9 different mercs at your command each leveling up and equipped individually, with 15+ to choose from making endless cominbations of parties? Yes please unless someone here would like to tell me of a game I have not heard of that has these same elements.
If you feel the item mall is needed past 100+, I suggest joining a bigger guild/alliance and getting help from veteran players or reading the endless guides available to you online, it really isn't as difficult as you or others make it out to be.
Please don't compare this game's item mall to that of Allods or RoM, it is not even close to as bad as them.
Most of the Nation Dungeons can be done without the item mall because you are going to be doing them with 20+ friends who are going to be better geared/higher level then you and will have your back. My nation has mostly non-item mall users and we clear every dungeon without a problem, in fact we encourage to bring a few uber low lvl people with us everytime just to help gear and level them up.
Don't let the trolls fool you, the real reason their upset is they want faster progression through the game to hit max level etc and they can't get that without the item mall. Obviously if you aren't willing to use the mall and you want to be max level in a year this game isn't for you. But AO isn't about hitting max level, sorry.
Dont listen to anything this guy says, he has got no clue what he is talking about and/or is trolling on a massive scale.
First he tries to convince you that this game is absolutely free to play past lvl 100, then right in the next paragraph he admits to paying $15/month just to make the leveling process less painfully frustrating...errr...."a little smoother".
I can assure you, there are much MUCH more than 20 players on each server who spend not only $200 but $400+ on a monthly basis. I mean there were atleast two dozen people in my nation alone (on Argos) who spent that much and thats only 1 nation. This guy is just lying his face off to give solid numbers such as "20 players" on a serverwide basis.
And they spend such a high amount of real life currency not only because they might find this game fun, but because they are downright addicted to the virtual gambling this game delivers in the form of random boxes. And unlike your slot machines, this one mostly takes upwards of $10 to give you one lousy chance at obtaining that flavour-of-the-month item that the cash shop fools to deliver to you. But if your luck fails and you end up getting junk instead of what you wanted, there is always the next box to open, right? Thats the attitude which drives the players to splurge on this game.
So, the alternative to spending on the item mall is to join a guild/nation and mooch off them. Not my words, but thats what this guy means to say. As for the guides he mentions, oh yes there are some useful guides written back in the days, about crafting for profit, using the jackpot scrolls, taking part in the free leagues, fishing, so many more. But what he fails to mentions is that all these "guides" have become a joke since every system in this game has been NERFED to oblivion just to force your hand to type in your CC details and purchase some of their cash shop goodness. Or it might be that the ONLY guide that still works in AO is the guide to payment options/buying Gcoins.Bottom line is that if you dont spend on the cash shop, you will suck at AO. Period. The alternative that this guy tries to sell you is snake oil, you are better off quitting rather than living your life as a zombie mindlessly and endlessly grinding non-stop, over and over, again and again just for mere titbits to trade for cash shop junk.
This game WAS the best F2P out there when it came out and for a year after. Now its a money grab and even their most hardcore devotees know this, hence one or two of them come up to such game forums and spread some false advertising in hopes of getting some new player...any new player.
As for the "dungeons" he is speaking bout, I downloaded this game after nearly 2 years and gave it a (last) try. It has hopelessly gone downhill with half their servers turning into ghost towns and the general lack of activity. One new thing it got was some new battle system which is COMPLETELY opposite of the core dynamics which AO started out with. As for "20 people doing a dungeon"...do yourself a favour and youtube some vidoes of this game and just add in the word "solo" after "atlantica" and you will see that a cash shopper 'alone' can wipe dungeons which he says are meant for a guild/nation of "20+ people". Thats the difference between someone who uses the cash shop to pimp their toons up and one who doesnt, feels a little wrong aye? Not really. This game makes Americans, Europeans and to keep this really short...ANYONE who plays on the international servers be discriminated against their korean counterparts. I BS you not, players on the international/NA servers have to spend more on not just cash shop items but even IN GAME items, please go to their forums and ask about price differences between the KAO and IAO. If a fanboimod doesnt lock it up immediatly, you`ll see some very enlightening answers.
You dont need to be a 1)fanboi, 2)masochist, 3)doormat, 4)basement dweller or 5)really really bored with a LOT of patience and free time to play this game. But to play it past lvl 97, as a player who wont be paying a single dime, you need to pick one or a combination of those options 1 to 5 to describe yourself as a human being. Do you want to try this game out and take that quiz?
If the Gcoins you and use in game for buying and selling in game items can be turned back into actual real life money then i think yes ndoors is breaking their own tos because the gcoins don't stop being real life currency since they can be traded in for real money they always retained their real life value, but if the gcoins can't then its not rmt because once you purchase the gcoins they stop being real money, sure they were purchased with real money but its no longer real money but an in game currency.
Wow absolutely amazing Firekrag, you getting paid to defame this game? Either that or the basement dweller comment obviously sports you much better seeing as how you typed a novel out about how much you dislike a game you don't play and haven't even progressed through.
Did you even read my post? You make an acquisation that I said I didn't use item mall and then next paragraph I spent 15$/month? Read it again kiddo, I said I hit lvl 120 before I used IM, you are a bright one.
I'm absolutely entertained by people like you who blow up over the fact nothing in life is free. Maybe you should go back to school because anyone who thinks an MMORPG can run on no revenue is a total moron which is eactly what you are and I don't even need to say anymore than that.
I'm gonna keep playing AO and continue to put $15 a month into the game because I wouldn't want it to ever shutdown.
I'm lvl 132 now, making 4-5bill gold a week playing about 1-2 hours a day running TBS and using the jackpot system with my brain.
Don't bother responding, you've already proven you are inept at the concept of how the world works.
Oh but if you ever find a MMORPG that is fun and costs 0$ to run let me know bud, I'd love to try it out but I have a feeling I'd have to get severe brain damage and snort a lot of draino in order to live in your world.
#2 The rolling odds are horrible but you can still buy other things in the item mall (atlas ore) and trade it for the mounts/wings what ppl are rolling for
#3 It's simple to get in game cash, ppl complain cause they are too lazy to go read online how to make cash, too stubborn to ask for advice, or just ignorant on how to follow a guide. Made it to lvl 94 with 1 billion gold in the bank, am level 129 without spending a cent in the IM. Also might isn't everything, strategy is the main point but might is a good yard stick to measure ppl. I've seen lvl 80's with less might out preform lvl 100's with the proper might in dungeons.
#4 ppl game up cause they think this game is where you can be boss and do everything alone, it's an online multiplayer game. Play it with other people!
Comments
Well then join the Item Mall boycotters. There are several of them who have gotten to extremely high levels without touching the Item Mall or using RMT.
I know Atlantica's Item Mall is really messed up. It attaches a lot of small print that normal people wouldn't bother to find, and it's not even worth it in the first place. Also, their customer support places RMT over hacking, bugging, and botting, which really speaks about what nDoors prioritizes. But, you can't really complain that you were banned for RMT; when you did it, you took that risk. It's no excuse that the Item Mall was bad. The IM being bad can create an excuse to quit, to boycott, and to warn others if you were tricked by fine print, but it is no justification for RMT. In fact, when you register, nothing can justify it. Do you want to continue playing a broken game so bad that you're willing to risk being banned for your efforts? In that case, find a real hardcore game - Atlantica is not one of them. Or is this simply a hobby? Well, then you're spending too much money on something that's essentially free. Also, I'm not completely sure about this, but the leveling experience in Atlantica when I played at level 10 and level 30 were almost exactly the same. I never got to 40, though, since I quit. But still, it seems like it's a game where it's actually sometimes more fun to start a new character than to develop and old one after all your skills are already established.
Anyways, as for needing the item mall past level 100, that is a lie. I hear this all the time from people but it is simply just not true. My guess is they are doing something wrong with their mercenary setup.
I have reached level 121 without the item mall so far, I win maybe 4-5 pvp matches out of 10. Only now am I using the item mall and only for a blessing license($15/month) and even that is just to make things a little smoother and considering the fact most MMORPGs are $20/month, still pretty fair after playing the game for 2 years for free.
Will you fight people in PvP who will destroy you with item mall stuff? Sure, but there is only maybe 20 top players on each server that it is this way and these people spend $200+ a month on the mall just because thats how much they enjoy the game, but so what? It is such a tiny part of the game.
All Item Mall items are TRADEABLE unlike in other F2P games. Once you figure out the crafting system and know what makes you the most profit, between that and getting phoenix chests in lvl 120 dungeon, you will make more then enough money to buy wings, mounts, better gear quicker then usual.
AO is still one of the best F2P games out there, turn-based RPG/Strategy combat with 9 different mercs at your command each leveling up and equipped individually, with 15+ to choose from making endless cominbations of parties? Yes please unless someone here would like to tell me of a game I have not heard of that has these same elements.
If you feel the item mall is needed past 100+, I suggest joining a bigger guild/alliance and getting help from veteran players or reading the endless guides available to you online, it really isn't as difficult as you or others make it out to be.
Please don't compare this game's item mall to that of Allods or RoM, it is not even close to as bad as them.
Most of the Nation Dungeons can be done without the item mall because you are going to be doing them with 20+ friends who are going to be better geared/higher level then you and will have your back. My nation has mostly non-item mall users and we clear every dungeon without a problem, in fact we encourage to bring a few uber low lvl people with us everytime just to help gear and level them up.
Don't let the trolls fool you, the real reason their upset is they want faster progression through the game to hit max level etc and they can't get that without the item mall. Obviously if you aren't willing to use the mall and you want to be max level in a year this game isn't for you. But AO isn't about hitting max level, sorry.
+1 to this...
yeah just enjoy the game. There are a lot of things to explore in the game and also lot of other money making options which you can utilize in order for you to obtain more gold.
Think of the item mall as just an extra help to better your performance or look in game
Dont listen to anything this guy says, he has got no clue what he is talking about and/or is trolling on a massive scale.
First he tries to convince you that this game is absolutely free to play past lvl 100, then right in the next paragraph he admits to paying $15/month just to make the leveling process less painfully frustrating...errr...."a little smoother".
I can assure you, there are much MUCH more than 20 players on each server who spend not only $200 but $400+ on a monthly basis. I mean there were atleast two dozen people in my nation alone (on Argos) who spent that much and thats only 1 nation. This guy is just lying his face off to give solid numbers such as "20 players" on a serverwide basis.
And they spend such a high amount of real life currency not only because they might find this game fun, but because they are downright addicted to the virtual gambling this game delivers in the form of random boxes. And unlike your slot machines, this one mostly takes upwards of $10 to give you one lousy chance at obtaining that flavour-of-the-month item that the cash shop fools to deliver to you. But if your luck fails and you end up getting junk instead of what you wanted, there is always the next box to open, right? Thats the attitude which drives the players to splurge on this game.
So, the alternative to spending on the item mall is to join a guild/nation and mooch off them. Not my words, but thats what this guy means to say. As for the guides he mentions, oh yes there are some useful guides written back in the days, about crafting for profit, using the jackpot scrolls, taking part in the free leagues, fishing, so many more. But what he fails to mentions is that all these "guides" have become a joke since every system in this game has been NERFED to oblivion just to force your hand to type in your CC details and purchase some of their cash shop goodness. Or it might be that the ONLY guide that still works in AO is the guide to payment options/buying Gcoins.Bottom line is that if you dont spend on the cash shop, you will suck at AO. Period. The alternative that this guy tries to sell you is snake oil, you are better off quitting rather than living your life as a zombie mindlessly and endlessly grinding non-stop, over and over, again and again just for mere titbits to trade for cash shop junk.
This game WAS the best F2P out there when it came out and for a year after. Now its a money grab and even their most hardcore devotees know this, hence one or two of them come up to such game forums and spread some false advertising in hopes of getting some new player...any new player.
As for the "dungeons" he is speaking bout, I downloaded this game after nearly 2 years and gave it a (last) try. It has hopelessly gone downhill with half their servers turning into ghost towns and the general lack of activity. One new thing it got was some new battle system which is COMPLETELY opposite of the core dynamics which AO started out with. As for "20 people doing a dungeon"...do yourself a favour and youtube some vidoes of this game and just add in the word "solo" after "atlantica" and you will see that a cash shopper 'alone' can wipe dungeons which he says are meant for a guild/nation of "20+ people". Thats the difference between someone who uses the cash shop to pimp their toons up and one who doesnt, feels a little wrong aye? Not really. This game makes Americans, Europeans and to keep this really short...ANYONE who plays on the international servers be discriminated against their korean counterparts. I BS you not, players on the international/NA servers have to spend more on not just cash shop items but even IN GAME items, please go to their forums and ask about price differences between the KAO and IAO. If a fanboimod doesnt lock it up immediatly, you`ll see some very enlightening answers.
You dont need to be a 1)fanboi, 2)masochist, 3)doormat, 4)basement dweller or 5)really really bored with a LOT of patience and free time to play this game. But to play it past lvl 97, as a player who wont be paying a single dime, you need to pick one or a combination of those options 1 to 5 to describe yourself as a human being. Do you want to try this game out and take that quiz?
If the Gcoins you and use in game for buying and selling in game items can be turned back into actual real life money then i think yes ndoors is breaking their own tos because the gcoins don't stop being real life currency since they can be traded in for real money they always retained their real life value, but if the gcoins can't then its not rmt because once you purchase the gcoins they stop being real money, sure they were purchased with real money but its no longer real money but an in game currency.
Wow absolutely amazing Firekrag, you getting paid to defame this game? Either that or the basement dweller comment obviously sports you much better seeing as how you typed a novel out about how much you dislike a game you don't play and haven't even progressed through.
Did you even read my post? You make an acquisation that I said I didn't use item mall and then next paragraph I spent 15$/month? Read it again kiddo, I said I hit lvl 120 before I used IM, you are a bright one.
I'm absolutely entertained by people like you who blow up over the fact nothing in life is free. Maybe you should go back to school because anyone who thinks an MMORPG can run on no revenue is a total moron which is eactly what you are and I don't even need to say anymore than that.
I'm gonna keep playing AO and continue to put $15 a month into the game because I wouldn't want it to ever shutdown.
I'm lvl 132 now, making 4-5bill gold a week playing about 1-2 hours a day running TBS and using the jackpot system with my brain.
Don't bother responding, you've already proven you are inept at the concept of how the world works.
Oh but if you ever find a MMORPG that is fun and costs 0$ to run let me know bud, I'd love to try it out but I have a feeling I'd have to get severe brain damage and snort a lot of draino in order to live in your world.
Ciao.
#1 Buddy got banned cause he voilated game rules
#2 The rolling odds are horrible but you can still buy other things in the item mall (atlas ore) and trade it for the mounts/wings what ppl are rolling for
#3 It's simple to get in game cash, ppl complain cause they are too lazy to go read online how to make cash, too stubborn to ask for advice, or just ignorant on how to follow a guide. Made it to lvl 94 with 1 billion gold in the bank, am level 129 without spending a cent in the IM. Also might isn't everything, strategy is the main point but might is a good yard stick to measure ppl. I've seen lvl 80's with less might out preform lvl 100's with the proper might in dungeons.
#4 ppl game up cause they think this game is where you can be boss and do everything alone, it's an online multiplayer game. Play it with other people!