What we have played > Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars - Free to Play?
Taith:
Cross-posted on the Synch and HoJ forums.
There's a fragment of an interview with the SWTOR lead designer hinting that the game may go full free-to-play in the not-so-distant future. I know it's going free up to level 15, but I'm a bit non-plussed by that. Level 15 is about where I started disliking it.
For whatever reason, I've been thinking back on the game of late. I was openly telling people last year that I wanted to substitute SWTOR for WoW, but the game just didn't work out for me. The option of free-to-play lets me reconsider. If I don't have to pay a subscription, can I enjoy the game at a casual pace past its flaws?
I really don't have a clear picture in my head of what went wrong and what it might take to get me interested again, so I figured I'd open the matter for discussion. My thoughts are below.
The Good:
- Its Star Wars. I may not read the novels any more and the prequels were rubbish, but I'm still on good terms with the franchise itself. I've enjoyed the first two seasons of the Clone Wars CGI series and I plan to watch the third season soon.
- Tython and Korriban are both excellent zones. I played through both several times and enjoyed them. The way my Consular came by her lightsaber was completely epic.
- The storylines: good, if a little too unstructured. (See also below.)
- I really enjoyed the space combat missions. I'm sorry I didn't get a ship for my consular.
The Not So Good:
- Elite quests. I forget what they're called in SWTOR. I think Blizzard have it right here. They're aware people just skip them and are building something to compensate for that. They're a legacy of the pre-WoW MMO market and the audience has moved on from them.
- Coruscant and Nar Shadaa. Note that both are city planets. The design of both of these zones completely ticked me off and I didn't get past either. The Cataclysm underwater zone Vashj'ir is a bit of a trial too, but I've actually played it through several times and will probably do so again. Something is really wrong with SWTOR's city zone design for me.
- Chatty quest-givers. I never imagined this would be a bad thing, but it was surprisingly antisocial. Since the social aspect is a big reason that I play MMOs at all, let alone the ones I choose, chatty quest-givers and their funny gestures proved to be a negative.
- The storylines: a little too unstructured. WoW Cataclysm goes too far the other way, but it nevertheless provides some strong contrast. What do I think should have happened? My Sith inquisitor should have arrived on that third planet (whatever it was called), reported to the local Imperial commander and been routed back and forth to junior officer quest-givers. Pretend my inquisitor is attached to that officer's command on temporary assignment while working on the sneaky overall objective. Instead, as I recall, I didn't meet the local commander until about three quarters of the way through the zone. Narrative cohesion doesn't mean a linear quest structure.
- Stupid evil. On more than one occasion I found myself wondering how the hell the Empire functions at all if everyone sits around indulging their sadism. Quite screwing around folks and get on with conquering the galaxy. I know Star Wars is a straight-out good vs evil universe, but when I mass-murder rebels quickly for the sake of efficiency instead of slowly for chuckles I really don't think I should be earning light-side points.
Any feedback on my points? What did and didn't work for you? If you're still playing, how's it going? If you gave up on it, what would it take to entice you back?
Kurtt:
Be honest, you knew I'd pop up in this thread, didn't you? ;D
Firstly, I'll say that I don't think there ae definite plans for SWTOR to go F2P. I think they have F2P scenarios in place, in case they need to push the button. I'd b suprised if it did so soon, but I guess stranger things have happened (The NGE springs to mind...).
As for your bad points below, I'll try and give you my feedback for each point. Be warned though, I'm a big fanboy of this game, and it can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. I've enjoyed every aspect of the game thus far.
--- Quote from: Taith on June 15, 2012, 12:31:53 PM ---The Not So Good:
- Elite quests. I forget what they're called in SWTOR. I think Blizzard have it right here. They're aware people just skip them and are building something to compensate for that. They're a legacy of the pre-WoW MMO market and the audience has moved on from them.
--- End quote ---
The Heroic quests are a really fun part of the game for me. Sure, if you can't get groups for them, they become a royal pain in the ass, especially if your a completionist, like me. I've levelled my Sage to 46 so far without doing a Flashpoint or Heroic really, and that saddens me. It's not through choice, but through lack of server popuation to do it with. That said, you don't need to do a single FP, heroic or WZ to level up to cap. I know, I've done it.
1.3 is currently on the test server right now, and that brings the group finder, which includes options for finding groups for planetary content. This, combined with server transfers, will make finding groups so much easier. I've tried it, it works, its cool. Plus, no cross-server idiots to worry about.
--- Quote from: Taith on June 15, 2012, 12:31:53 PM ---- Coruscant and Nar Shadaa. Note that both are city planets. The design of both of these zones completely ticked me off and I didn't get past either. The Cataclysm underwater zone Vashj'ir is a bit of a trial too, but I've actually played it through several times and will probably do so again. Something is really wrong with SWTOR's city zone design for me.
--- End quote ---
Not really sure what your gripe is with Coruscant, as I've levelled through it at least 6 times so far, and have enjoyed it each time. Maybe it's not as 'open' as you anticipated, and this is what is putting you off? Dromund Kaas does my head in however, and it was a real chore pushing two imps through that.
--- Quote from: Taith on June 15, 2012, 12:31:53 PM ---- Chatty quest-givers. I never imagined this would be a bad thing, but it was surprisingly antisocial. Since the social aspect is a big reason that I play MMOs at all, let alone the ones I choose, chatty quest-givers and their funny gestures proved to be a negative.
--- End quote ---
Again, not something I've really noticed. After the first play through of most none class content stuff, I just hit spacebar anyway. Legacy perks in 1.3 might help you here. You can tailor a toon to get more XP from Class quests, Flashpoints and Warzones, as wel as Exploration, so it's entirey possible to skip most world conten.
--- Quote from: Taith on June 15, 2012, 12:31:53 PM ---- The storylines: a little too unstructured. WoW Cataclysm goes too far the other way, but it nevertheless provides some strong contrast. What do I think should have happened? My Sith inquisitor should have arrived on that third planet (whatever it was called), reported to the local Imperial commander and been routed back and forth to junior officer quest-givers. Pretend my inquisitor is attached to that officer's command on temporary assignment while working on the sneaky overall objective. Instead, as I recall, I didn't meet the local commander until about three quarters of the way through the zone. Narrative cohesion doesn't mean a linear quest structure.
--- End quote ---
Not an issue for me, but then I'm not a writer ;)
--- Quote from: Taith on June 15, 2012, 12:31:53 PM ---- Stupid evil. On more than one occasion I found myself wondering how the hell the Empire functions at all if everyone sits around indulging their sadism. Quite screwing around folks and get on with conquering the galaxy. I know Star Wars is a straight-out good vs evil universe, but when I mass-murder rebels quickly for the sake of efficiency instead of slowly for chuckles I really don't think I should be earning light-side points.
--- End quote ---
I agree here, and get round it by playing Lightside. So far, I've had no urge whatsoever to play a Dark side character, with the only exception being when I get DS points for making a decision that I would in RL, and me thinking that theres no way I should have got DS points for it! I also play my Sith and BH as LS too.
--- Quote from: Taith on June 15, 2012, 12:31:53 PM ---Any feedback on my points? What did and didn't work for you? If you're still playing, how's it going? If you gave up on it, what would it take to entice you back?
--- End quote ---
As I said previously, I'm still playing it and loving it. We're doing Ops (when it ain't GW2 beta weekend) and PvP when we can, I'm sitting on two 50's with a third well on the way, and a plethora of alts in their mid-20's.
SWTOR for life babeh. Or something...
Taith:
--- Quote from: Kurtt on June 15, 2012, 01:28:50 PM ---Be honest, you knew I'd pop up in this thread, didn't you? ;D
--- End quote ---
I had forseen it.
--- Quote from: Kurtt on June 15, 2012, 01:28:50 PM ---Firstly, I'll say that I don't think there ae definite plans for SWTOR to go F2P. I think they have F2P scenarios in place, in case they need to push the button. I'd b suprised if it did so soon, but I guess stranger things have happened (The NGE springs to mind...).
--- End quote ---
Depends how fast the MMO lifecycle is these days. I'm on my second free MMO in six months and if I could ever find an anime art-style one that didn't look like a hideous Korean grinder I might be on my third.
And depends on how well they've placated their shareholders, I suppose.
--- Quote from: Kurtt on June 15, 2012, 01:28:50 PM ---The Heroic quests are a really fun part of the game for me. Sure, if you can't get groups for them, they become a royal pain in the ass, especially if your a completionist, like me. I've levelled my Sage to 46 so far without doing a Flashpoint or Heroic really, and that saddens me. It's not through choice, but through lack of server popuation to do it with. That said, you don't need to do a single FP, heroic or WZ to level up to cap. I know, I've done it.
1.3 is currently on the test server right now, and that brings the group finder, which includes options for finding groups for planetary content. This, combined with server transfers, will make finding groups so much easier. I've tried it, it works, its cool. Plus, no cross-server idiots to worry about.
--- End quote ---
Questing is the part of the game that tends to matter the most to me, so I'm particularly conscious of quest content that's difficult to complete for these kinds of reasons. A group finder sounds promising. If it works, it would knock this item off my list.
--- Quote from: Kurtt on June 15, 2012, 01:28:50 PM ---Not really sure what your gripe is with Coruscant, as I've levelled through it at least 6 times so far, and have enjoyed it each time. Maybe it's not as 'open' as you anticipated, and this is what is putting you off? Dromund Kaas does my head in however, and it was a real chore pushing two imps through that.
--- End quote ---
I find them obscenely disorienting.
--- Quote from: Kurtt on June 15, 2012, 01:28:50 PM ---Again, not something I've really noticed. After the first play through of most none class content stuff, I just hit spacebar anyway. Legacy perks in 1.3 might help you here. You can tailor a toon to get more XP from Class quests, Flashpoints and Warzones, as wel as Exploration, so it's entirey possible to skip most world conten.
--- End quote ---
It's not quests I want to skip and in fact I found levelling a bit fast. It's just that the briefings demand all my attention, which makes chatting on TS or whatever harder. I never thought I'd say it but I prefer a text window.
--- Quote from: Kurtt on June 15, 2012, 01:28:50 PM ---Not an issue for me, but then I'm not a writer ;)
--- End quote ---
Yeah I'm picky. You should see my book reviews. I've turned into some kind of hideous book snob. It's awful.
--- Quote from: Kurtt on June 15, 2012, 01:28:50 PM ---I agree here, and get round it by playing Lightside. So far, I've had no urge whatsoever to play a Dark side character, with the only exception being when I get DS points for making a decision that I would in RL, and me thinking that theres no way I should have got DS points for it! I also play my Sith and BH as LS too.
--- End quote ---
By the time I thought to give that a try, I just couldn't bear the thought of zones past Korriban and Synch's Imperial guild was a ghost town. And I really did want to play as evil, just not stupid evil.
I liked playing Republic, somewhat unexpectedly. If I ever returned to SWTOR it would be to the Republic.
--- Quote from: Kurtt on June 15, 2012, 01:28:50 PM ---SWTOR for life babeh. Or something...
--- End quote ---
I envy you your enthusiasm for the game, I really do.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I was interested to see what you had to say. How are things going with the Farstar Alliance? How are they finding the game?
Goatboy:
My primary reason to stop playing was that I needed to quit using excessive gaming in swtor as a way to avoid real life issues.
From what I can recall, my secondary reasons were roughly the following.
I enjoyed chapter 1 of the Trooper storyline. I felt betrayed. I wanted revenge. On every last one of those fuckers.
After that the storyline took a tumble and turned into random silly grind shit. I made it to 50 which was nice. I discovered that I could enjoy pvp and get shoulder rockets. FPs and Ops can be fun with the right people, but all in all it's just the same thing over and over and over again.
I know that last gripe is a bit bollocks as that goes for many things in life, but when I looked at the hours I spent on that character and in other games I was like: what the fuck.
I rolled a consular and I got really bored really fast with Jedi masters falling ill everywhere and me being the only one able to help them.
I rolled some darkside dudes and never really got into playing them much as not a lot of people were playing on that side pre-Farstar.
I think it's just overall MMO fatigue on my part. If every class had a storyline up to max level as engaging as Chapter 1 was for me on the Trooper, I'd happily play.
Overall I felt it was a great single player experience.
Chat windows constantly resetting and disappearing did my head in. And I'm sure space combat and voiced conversations didn't help the social aspect of the game.
There's a chance I'll give it a go again soon or at some point. Would love to tbh. But I still have shit to sort out irl and trying to keep the biggest time wasters out of my life atm. And I just fucking hate doing the same zones twice.
Taith:
--- Quote from: Goatboy on June 15, 2012, 03:10:12 PM ---I enjoyed chapter 1 of the Trooper storyline. I felt betrayed. I wanted revenge. On every last one of those fuckers.
After that the storyline took a tumble and turned into random silly grind shit. I made it to 50 which was nice. I discovered that I could enjoy pvp and get shoulder rockets. FPs and Ops can be fun with the right people, but all in all it's just the same thing over and over and over again.
--- End quote ---
I never tried trooper. That does actually sound like an engaging story.
"I hear you know a guy named Tony."
"Never heard of him."
"My shoulder rockets think you have."
--- Quote from: Goatboy on June 15, 2012, 03:10:12 PM ---I rolled a consular and I got really bored really fast with Jedi masters falling ill everywhere and me being the only one able to help them.
--- End quote ---
I did wonder where that one was going. I can picture the design meeting:
"So we need a story-arc enemy for our Jedi healer class."
"How about an evil disease?"
"Dude, awesome."
--- Quote from: Goatboy on June 15, 2012, 03:10:12 PM ---I rolled some darkside dudes and never really got into playing them much as not a lot of people were playing on that side pre-Farstar.
--- End quote ---
I know what you mean. I like my silly chatter in gchat too much. It's one of the reasons why I didn't stick with DCUO and will probably be what ends Star Trek Online for me.
--- Quote from: Goatboy on June 15, 2012, 03:10:12 PM ---There's a chance I'll give it a go again soon or at some point. Would love to tbh. But I still have shit to sort out irl and trying to keep the biggest time wasters out of my life atm. And I just fucking hate doing the same zones twice.
--- End quote ---
Hope the sorting goes well, GB.
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