EverQuest Next: Landmark

[Lune]

Originally Posted by Uteunayr [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

How's this? What's going on now is testing for alpha, and none of the stuff we're doing right now is going to translate into the free game. You're paying to play early, not for ingame advantages. The closest thing to an honest advantage you get is the 10% boost to resource gathering

Some of the rewards are tangible in-game items and persist after Alpha and Beta into the launch game, and you are absolutely paying for ingame advantages:

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Pay to Win is justified somewhat in this case because people who pay cash are going to have considerably greater abilities than those who do not. Trailblazers will be more efficient and effective crafters and gatherers, with less impetus to buy resources from other people in their little RMAH. No, it's not the most offensive Pay2Win ever, but it also can't be lumped into the same league has a more purely Pay2NotGrind game.

'Win' in the context of a sandbox game refers to advantages, luxuries, extra abilities. In a pay to not grind environment, all features are available to everyone; you're simply paying to access them more expediently. In this situation, a non-paying player can never gain the abilities of a Trailblazer, that is, superior efficiency.

Listen, I think this looks really cool, and I'm getting one of these Founder's Packs because I think I will really enjoy it and in spite of my own good sense, I can't wait for a beta invite. This is definitely a valid criticism, and it's one thing I don't like.