Thread: Free 2 Play F A Q

Originally Posted by sirwillow

*Waits for this to get the sticky love...

An interesting way to put it...lol.

D6-D8. Upgrades & Access - Angmar, Moria, Mirkwood
In most cases an expansion will include access to the previous expansions. In most cases where this isn't true, the keys were only available through the Account Management website, and the system required you to have the previous versions in order to upgrade.
I'm not sure how this will change with Free Play, including travel, but I'll find out.

D23. Skirmishes
All answers pending confirmation.

S6. Store Items vs non-Store Items
Any restrictions on an item are specific to that item. The item description will note what restrictions apply.
Store items are restricted to account or character. All items will note what the applicable restrictions are. These items cannot be sold, traded, mailed, auctioned, etc. (Account bound items can be placed in the shared bank or mailed to another character on the same account.)
Non-store items (including current items) may be bound, or if not bound they may be free to trade, mail, auction, etc. Any items that are not restricted may freely be sold, traded, etc without worry.
The launch of Free Play will not change the bound or unbound status of items previously acquired.

S2.1 Store Purchase Issues
If you have any issue with a store purchase or the delivery of a store purchase (points, items, etc) please close the store and then re-open it. If this does not resolve the issue, please close the game and then re-open and log in again. If this still does not resolve the issue, please contact the Account Management department and they will be happy to research the issue. You may call or submit a web inquiry. If you call, please note that this type of research can be very involved, and is therefore generally not able to be completed while on the phone, but will be researched and an answer sent via email.

P9. Points for Deeds
Points will not be granted for Deeds that have already been completed. Points will be granted for Deeds completed after the launch of Free Play. Deeds will no longer grant experience.
There are new reputation Deeds which can be completed to earn points.

S5.1 Currency Cap and Escrow
Additional answers pending confirmation.

D19. Monthly VIP Points (edited for clarity)
Monthly VIP points will be granted within 2-3 days after the successful payment (or monthly anniversary for multi-month and Lifetime subscriptions).

While you're confirming your D23 information. It'd be nice to list the skirmishes included for free so that the list is readily accessible.
(+Sleepy) is the one who was assisting me with this earlier.

D6.

All players will also have full access to the Epic Story (Volume 1, Books 1 – 15), crafting and class quests up to level 50.

Please clarify what this means in relation to the L50 class quests which take place within Angmar-Carn Dun.

I would appreciate a clear statement in the FAQ about what content from SoA a player who downgrades from VIP to Premium retains. Paragraph D6 refers to free players.

Neither could I find a clear statement about how many character slots a player who downgrades from VIP to Premium will have.

These topics are arousing much agitation on the forums, and it would help to have a specific paragraph in this FAQ to refer to. Other than that, the FAQ is wonderful, and I appreciate the effort made to create it. Thanks, Victorie.

Originally Posted by Crell_1

Please clarify what this means in relation to the L50 class quests which take place within Angmar-Carn Dun.

Technically, it doesn't since there are multiple ways to complete the quests without stepping into Angmar (AH, Skirm). I have a feeling that quote simply means you have access (i.e. can start/finish) the class quests without buying Angmar.

Originally Posted by Nickysmom

I would appreciate a clear statement in the FAQ about what content from SoA a player who downgrades from VIP to Premium retains. Paragraph D6 refers to free players.

Neither could I find a clear statement about how many character slots a player who downgrades from VIP to Premium will have.

These topics are arousing much agitation on the forums, and it would help to have a specific paragraph in this FAQ to refer to. Other than that, the FAQ is wonderful, and I appreciate the effort made to create it. Thanks, Victorie.

Patience posted an answer to this question.

Originally Posted by Patience

Essentially, it's like this: When you purchased Shadows of Angmar, you had (have) to have a subscription to access that content. If you no longer subscribe, you lose access to it.

Under the new model, even if you drop your subscription you can keep playing for free, but not everything is available to you like it is for subscribers. You won't lose access to all of the SOA content, but you will lose access to some of it unless you purchase it. As it stands now, under the current plan you can play some of the starting content and the epic storyline up to Moria for free, and the landscape up to Moria is free as well.

One of the things the beta is for is to help us determine which parts, if any, of the additional content from SOA should be made free and which should be made purchasable and for how much.

So in other words, no final answer yet, but the beta will help it get finalized!

Meghan

I should point out that this was posted back in June and she admits this may change. So it might be worth asking if a final decision has been made.

Originally Posted by greendragoon100

Patience posted an answer to this question.



I should point out that this was posted back in June and she admits this may change. So it might be worth asking if a final decision has been made.

Patience's comment is still accurate.

regarding the new deeds for reputation,
we will recieve TP after we login to our characters

does that mean if we have multiple characters in one server with multiple completed deeds
we have to login each one of them in order to earn the TP?

what if its not updated in the store if you login to your character?
e.g. network problem or dns problem etc

Originally Posted by jhan75

regarding the new deeds for reputation,
we will recieve TP after we login to our characters

does that mean if we have multiple characters in one server with multiple completed deeds
we have to login each one of them in order to earn the TP?

what if its not updated in the store if you login to your character?
e.g. network problem or dns problem etc

You will get spammed as soon as you log in, beware that it could cause lag so best to just sit back and watch the points roll in.

Yes, it will happen for each character since deeds are per character.

No idea on the last part so I would only be able to make an assumption and I know that's not what you are looking for.


Victorie will probably regret giving me permission to send that PM once she reads it.

Originally Posted by Cerridwen

You will get spammed as soon as you log in, beware that it could cause lag so best to just sit back and watch the points roll in.

If you have completed alot of rep deeds you may want to log out in a low population area before the change over.

Personally I am going to log all my characters in their homestead to minimize the lag for me and there is a vault there so I can spend all the time I need re-organizing. I will feel really sorry for those who log out in Bree, Thorins or Michel Delving, oh the horror of the lag monster

Originally Posted by Victorie

D19. Monthly VIP Points (edited for clarity)
Monthly VIP points will be granted within 2-3 days after the successful payment (or monthly anniversary for multi-month and Lifetime subscriptions).

Wait a minute. If we start the F2P system September 8th, won't we get our points then?


Are you saying we would have to wait from launch until our "anniversary date" to get our TP?


In other words, if we started, say, on the 30th of some month, we will have to wait until September 30th to get our points?


The question concerns lifetime and founder accounts...


Thank you in advance for clarification on this issue.

Originally Posted by SeigneurDude

In other words, if we started, say, on the 30th of some month, we will have to wait until September 30th to get our points?

Yes, that's correct for our 500 TP/month. I presume they're spreading the load on the servers (and any related mass e-mailings) that way. Reminds me of my gradeschool days when they seemed to do everything in alphabetical order. My last name comes towards the end of the alphabet, so I'm used to this .

Khafar

So the question I have is I previously subscribed to LOTRO I think I believe I am a founding member however my account is not currently active so when I added my Beta key to my Turbine account it started a trial account for beta access. My question is when will I be able to access my original LOTRO account to play will it automatically become active or how does that work Ive seen FAQS that have danced around this question sort of but never saw this exact question answered? If this has been answered I apologize there is so much info to take in after being out of game for so long. Thank You in advance.

Will there be anything for VIP customers to buy for their creep characters?

Please stop bumping. This is a violation of the CoC and will result in action being taken. Please be patient. All questions will be answered when I am able to provide a thoroughly verified official launch answer. And yes, checking to see if I saw your post counts as a bump. There are a lot of questions in this thread.

Please stop debating. As Sapience has said, if this continues, action will be taken. Answer once and if they don't like your answer or you aren't sure, just let it be and I (or another Dev or Mod) will answer.


Answers coming.

D1.3 Account Status @ Launch
Accounts will retain their current subscription/price plan status at launch. The player can chose to make any change via the Account Management website.
-Subscribed accounts will remain subscribed, which translates to VIP access.
-Accounts that were previously upgraded with a key, or that subscription fees were paid on will have Premium Status. You can chose to upgrade to VIP at any point and re-subscribe.
-Free/Trial/Guest/Referral/Beta accounts that were never upgraded will have Free access. You can chose to upgrade at any point to VIP by subscribing. Any points purchase (with real world money) will upgrade the account to Premium.

D2.2 The Gold Cap and Escrow
Money will accumulate over the cap for a character, and the money above the cap has no limit. However, the money will not actually be delivered to the character's wallet until the cap is removed. You cannot spend down gold to access the escrow.
You can remove the cap by purchasing the Remove Gold Restriction offer from the store (also see S5). The cap does not apply to VIP subscribers. The only exception is for a Premium account which has been downgraded from VIP: any character which was played while an account was VIP will continue to not have the gold cap.

D4.1 Riding and the Store
The riding skill can be purchased in the store. The only restriction is that the character you are purchasing the riding trait for must have acquired the Passive Skill: Novice. This is earned by completing the beginning experience.

D23. Swift Travel
Most swift travel is VIP-only. You can purchase an item from the store which temporarily unlocks it for Free/Premium as well. There are a few exceptions – notably the swift routes in the beginning areas.

D24. Crafting Guilds, Crafting Restrictions and Store Purchase
Everyone can join a crafting guild once they are at the expert tier of the profession with a guild.
In order to be able to advance to farther than acquaintance standing, you have to buy access to the crafting guild from the webstore.
If you are a VIP you get this ability automatically.
If you become a Premium from VIP, you can advance within the current tier and get as much reputation as you want, but you won’t advance to the next tier unless you buy the item or subscribe again.

D25. Skirmish
Skirmish soldier ranks are gated at 7 for a non-Moria account.
For accounts with the Moria upgrade, the skirmish rank is gated at 15.
For accounts with the Mirkwood upgrade, the skirmish rank is gated at 25.
More skirmish information will be forthcoming.

D26. Character Slots
Free players have access to 2 character slots.
Premium players have access to 3 character slots.
VIP players have access to 5 character slots.

D26.1 Additional Character Slots
Additional character slots can be purchased.
Moria includes 2 additional character slots.
The Adventurer's Pack includes 2 additional character slots.
Additional character slots can be purchased in the web store, up to a limit of (number being confirmed).

D26.2 Extra characters/slots when I downgrade?
If you downgrade from VIP to Premium, you will lose access to 2 character slots. If all of the character slots are filled prior to the downgrade, you will be prompted to pick which characters you would like access to when you log in after the downgrade takes effect. CHARACTERS WILL NOT BE DELETED, you just won't be able to access them unless you purchase additional character slots, or upgrade to VIP again.
If you purchase additional character slots, you keep those additional character slots, regardless of any changes to your account. For example, if you are VIP and you have 5 character slots, and you purchase 2 additional character slots (not related to Mirkwood or the AdvPk) for a total of 7 character slots. If you downgrade to Premium you will then have a total of 5 character slots.


Further clarification regarding Points (Bonus and VIP) and upgrade options/access and any other questions not answered in this post will be provided. Most (if not all) will likely be answered tomorrow. If your questions has not been answered in this post, please be patient.

Originally Posted by Victorie

<good stuff>

Don't get overwhelmed you're doing a great job on these stickies

You deserve a raise and a cookie

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...al-bunny-1.jpg

Thanks for the information.

Originally Posted by Victorie

D25. Skirmish
For accounts with the Mirkwood upgrade, the skirmish rank is gated at 25.

Interesting, the present live system is capped at rank 20 isn't it? The top rank is being raised with the release of the F2P patch? (sorry if I missed that info).

Originally Posted by Polvere

Thanks for the information.



Interesting, the present live system is capped at rank 20 isn't it? The top rank is being raised with the release of the F2P patch? (sorry if I missed that info).

With skirmishes being redone to allow level 20 players to play them, the soldiers skill/ ability ranks had to be redone to account for the extra 10 levels. That means there's some extra ranks in there now. It also means when you log in that you'll have to reallocated your soldiers ranks- skirmish marks that you spent on them are refunded and you have to buy them again.

Ok, maybe I'm confused by the fever I have but let me get this straight.

Let's say I have SoA, have my 5 character slots (or whatever it was with SoA, it has been a while since then), and am subscribed to VIP. Then I decide to drop from VIP to Premium and with that I lose 2 slots that I already paid for when I bought SoA and have to buy them again?

Same with quests. SoA again, I go from VIP to Premium and lose the quests (in, let's say, Lone Lands) that I already bought when I got SoA and have to buy them again?

Not an issue for me, I'm a lifer, but I'm sure some people will find that interesting.

Originally Posted by Polvere

Thanks for the information.



Interesting, the present live system is capped at rank 20 isn't it? The top rank is being raised with the release of the F2P patch? (sorry if I missed that info).

The top rank is only being raised numerically because there are additional ranks below it now that skirmishes start at 20.

Thx welden. Sirwillow, attitude mon, attitude.

So basically I pay for them when I buy SoA, but when I drop my sub and go premium I have to pay for them again.

Maybe it's my high temperature, but... Paying twice for the same content? Gotta check if LOTRO is owned by my government, after all only they come up with such ideas...

Cleaned out all the noise again, and as promised we're now locked.

Victorie will continue to update her original post as she deems necessary.

Hey guys,

I will continue to post updates at the end of this thread, and include the updates in the original posts as well. I will further clarify some posted information, and will answer more of the questions previously posted.

If you have a NEW question regarding LOTRO Free to Play, you may PM me with that question. Please note that you will NOT receive a PM response.

I will provide answers in this thread, at my discretion. Most questions will likely be answered, some may not.
Please only submit a question once. Multiple submissions/spamming will be ignored.
Please do not send opinions or requests for changes. These are best submitted on the Suggestion forum. I will not forward any opinions or suggestions sent to me.

Thank you for your continued consideration and patience.
Victorie

New questions! These will also be posted in the original posts.

S7. Account Store Items - Any limitations?
"Account" changing items such as character slots, shared bank space, quest packs, classes, etc are subscription wide. I specify subscription instead of account because you can have multiple subscriptions on a single account. You can have AC, DDO and LOTRO all on a single account (single username) or even multiple DDO and LOTRO subscriptions on a single account (username).

S7.1 Shared Bank Space
If you purchase the shared bank space, you have access to a server specific shared bank space on all of the servers. You can't use shared bank space to transfer items between servers.

PT10. Do points transfer between games or separate subscriptions on an account?
No. Turbine points are subscription specific. I specify subscription instead of account because you can have multiple subscriptions on a single account. You can have AC, DDO and LOTRO all on a single account (single username) or even multiple DDO and LOTRO subscriptions on a single account (username). The points are specific to the subscription they are earned on/purchased on, not to the entire account. Points are not bound to server.

D26.3 - Character Limitations per Server
These base character limitations are per server. For example, without any additional purchase, as a Premium player you can have up to 3 characters on each server.