A commentary on Subscriber Benifits

[RisenDragon]

First, let me state that I have been a subscriber since launch, and will likely remain one for some time to come.

 

This post is to put in writing, for my benifit and those of the community who claim that the developers do not truly appreciate the subscriber community, the list of things that Subscribers get from the game.

 

Firstly, a subsriber pays anywhere from 13 to 15 USD a month for their subscription. This is what they get for their purchase:

 

Priority login status. (you are more important to get onto full servers)

Full story content from level 1-50.

Maximum (and boosted) skill slots.

Unlimited Chat use in-game.

Unlimited use of in-game mail (credits and 8 items per message.)

Capability to trade between players.

50 sales slots on the GTN at any given time.

Free Respecialization for all characters.

Open character creation choices- 12 character slots. (premium and F2P are limited.)

Unlimited access to Flashpoints, Operations, Space Missions, and Warzones.

Ability to increase character inventory with in-game credits. (CC only for Premium and F2P.)

Unlimited use and reduced CD on quick travel. (compared to Premium and F2P)

Unlimited use of Emergency Fleet Pass.

Early access to Speeder Liscences.

Unlimited field revives (Medcenter and Med Probe.)

Automatic access to all gear levels.

Increased weekly commendation cap.

Join and lead full access guilds.

Discount at all vendors.

Experience gain boosted.

Access to rested experience boost.

Boost to Valor gain.

Automatic access to 6 quickbars.

Automatic access to event rewards.

Discount on mod removal and augmenting costs.

Full access to Customer Service resources.

No cap on credits.

And a monthly stipend of 600 cartel coins.

 

So, let's break this down.

It costs 600 CC to unlock a character slot, so for a premium player, that's 3600 CC to equal a subber. (6000 for F2P.)

It costs 300 CC per character for access to Section X (1350 for account)- access that Subbers get for free.

900/2430 for the ability to equip purple gear.

325/725 for the ability to customize your companion's looks.

175/400 for the ability to use event items.

600/1350 for the ability to access guild banks.

125/280 for 10 extra sales slots on the GTN (625/1400 for premium or F2P to equal subber access)

250/540 for each additional quickbar. (500/1080 for premium; 1000/2160 for F2P to equal subber access)

475/1050 for access to cargo holds. (only F2P are limited in this regard.)

475/1050 to increase your cargo hold. (subbers can do this with in-game credits.)

420/945 per crew skill slot. (840/1890 for F2P to almost equal subber- boosted skills are not sold.)

100/200 to display titles.

350/775 to be able to hide head gear

and 600 CC per race to unlock for character creation.

350/775 to be able to unify equipment colors

100/200 to be able to display Legacy names.

 

So, if a free to play player wants to have all the same perks as a subscriber, they have to shell out a minimum of 21755 Cartel coins (roughly 80 USD), and even then they still have limits on Flashpoints, Operations, Warzones, Space Missions, credits and lack access to the bonuses and discounts available to subscribers throughout the game. (my math may be wrong, feel free to check it for me.)

 

Meanwhile, the Subbers are being given a little more than 5 USD back in cartel coins each month, as a 'thank you' for giving money to the company.

 

These are the current benifits of being a subscriber. Listed, quantified and compared for anyone who wants to see them.

[Ayelinna]

We already had all of these "benefits" before F2P.

 

The game flopped because they lost subscribers, and now there is free to play, they are advertising that subscribing is amazing and beneficial when in fact its exactly the same since launch, and are putting ridiculous restrictions on F2P in order to "force " you to subscribe.

Edited July 5, 2013 by Ayelinna

[LordArtemis]

Anyone that is reasonable would have to accept the clear benefits of subscribing and admit it's perks IMO.

 

Naturally not everyone is reasonable.

[RisenDragon]

We already had all of these "benefits" before F2P.

 

The game flopped because they lost subscribers, and now there is free to play, they are advertising that subscribing is amazing and beneficial when in fact its exactly the same since launch, and are putting ridiculous restrictions on F2P in order to "force " you to subscribe.

 

I don't refute that. But, this is the simple response to the question of 'why am I paying money for something that is free?'

 

These are the things we get for paying money for this game. These are the things we got for paying money for the game before it was free, yes, but that doesn't change anything either.

[RisenDragon]

Anyone that is reasonable would have to accept the clear benefits of subscribing and admit it's perks IMO.

 

Naturally not everyone is reasonable.

 

Actually, if you've been subbed for more than 10-12 months, according to this, you've already given more money to Star Wars than the general subscriber perks are worth, access to warzones and all else included.

 

Just saying. I'm in that list, btw- I've got my founder's title, even if I never use it.

[LordArtemis]

Actually, if you've been subbed for more than 10-12 months, according to this, you've already given more money to Star Wars than the general subscriber perks are worth, access to warzones and all else included.

 

Just saying. I'm in that list, btw- I've got my founder's title, even if I never use it.

 

No doubt. I am of the opinion...just me mind you...that subscribers to the early game did not get their money's worth. I think that is a strong reason why many folks just left. The market simply had better deals out there.

 

Yes, long time subscribers have invested quite a bit of money over time....certainly more than it would take for folks to unlock everything now.

[RisenDragon]

No doubt. I am of the opinion...just me mind you...that subscribers to the early game did not get their money's worth. I think that is a strong reason why many folks just left. The market simply had better deals out there.

 

Yes, long time subscribers have invested quite a bit of money over time....certainly more than it would take for folks to unlock everything now.

 

And honestly speaking, I believe that this (quite valid) sentiment is exactly why long-time subbers are frustrated with the apparent lack of subscriber appreciation.

[Pietrastor]

Yes, long time subscribers have invested quite a bit of money over time....certainly more than it would take for folks to unlock everything now.

I you don't do crafting, never die and only do Ops on 1 character, sure. But you forget that there's no "Operations Unlock". There are only weekly passes, that only apply to 1 character. Regardless of how many unlocks you buy, you will never be able to sent 5 comps on crew skills missions unless you sub. Crafting/REing crit is 2x lower for F2P/Preferred. No med probes after level 10 (you always have to teleport to base). Warzone passes, and tons of other stuff mentioned in OP. Unlocks can allow good experience for leveling and FPing/dailing, + some crafting. Not for raiding on multiple characters, active PVPing, high crafting, etc

[oJebuso]

I look at it this way: I've been subbed for a long time, the only thing that has changed for me is that I now get 5 bucks back to save for things like name changes or buy cool looking gear shells. Paid 10 bucks for an expansion that has good entertainment/dollar value. I've been given another 5 bucks worth of coins on top of my monthly bonus of 600 coins which would equal a free name change this month, which I just received complimentary like a week or two ago. My Cathar unlock was basically included with my sub when it was released due to the monthly grant.

 

I do not feel ripped off in the slightest as a subscriber. If anything my enjoyment has increased with the latest changes. I can't honestly understand the folks that say BioWare is milking subscribers through the market, because they're not.

 

I guess basically what I'm trying to say is that it is worthwhile to be a subscriber to this game if you enjoy it.

Edited July 6, 2013 by oJebuso

[RisenDragon]

I you don't do crafting, never die and only do Ops on 1 character, sure. But you forget that there's no "Operations Unlock". There are only weekly passes, that only apply to 1 character. Regardless of how many unlocks you buy, you will never be able to sent 5 comps on crew skills missions unless you sub. Crafting/REing crit is 2x lower for F2P/Preferred. No med probes after level 10 (you always have to teleport to base). Warzone passes, and tons of other stuff mentioned in OP. Unlocks can allow good experience for leveling and FPing/dailing, + some crafting. Not for raiding on multiple characters, active PVPing, high crafting, etc

 

So, in other words, if you're a casual player.

[RisenDragon]

I look at it this way: I've been subbed for a long time, the only thing that has changed for me is that I now get 5 bucks back to save for things like name changes or buy cool looking gear shells. Paid 10 bucks for an expansion that has good entertainment/dollar value. I've been given another 5 bucks worth of coins on top of my monthly bonus of 600 coins which would equal a free name change this month, which I just received complimentary like a week or two ago. My Cathar unlock was basically included with my sub when it was released due to the monthly grant.

 

I do not feel ripped off in the slightest as a subscriber. If anything my enjoyment has increased with the latest changes. I can't honestly understand the folks that say BioWare is milking subscribers through the market, because they're not.

 

That's a very valid point, and I'm glad that you're satisfied with your gaming experience.

 

The truth is, though, that a lot of other people aren't satisfied, and many of their complaints are valid. (Even if they're not expressed in a constructive manner most of the time.)

[TheSeventhJedi]

I wouldn't miss crafting if it was gone, almost never die, and only run ops on one character (once a week, if that.)

 

Man, apparently I'm subbing for no reason.

[Andryah]

I look at it this way: I've been subbed for a long time, the only thing that has changed for me is that I now get 5 bucks back to save for things like name changes or buy cool looking gear shells. Paid 10 bucks for an expansion that has good entertainment/dollar value. I've been given another 5 bucks worth of coins on top of my monthly bonus of 600 coins which would equal a free name change this month, which I just received complimentary like a week or two ago. My Cathar unlock was basically included with my sub when it was released due to the monthly grant.

 

I do not feel ripped off in the slightest as a subscriber. If anything my enjoyment has increased with the latest changes. I can't honestly understand the folks that say BioWare is milking subscribers through the market, because they're not.

 

I guess basically what I'm trying to say is that it is worthwhile to be a subscriber to this game if you enjoy it.

 

/Agree with this assessment.

 

And frankly... subscriber or not.... if you are not enjoying the game.. why would any sane person spend time and energy playing it? Yet, clearly we can see from some posts in the forum.. people ARE subscribing even though they do not enjoy the game, think it's become a "joke", "are not receiving value for their subscription", feel "slapped in the face", etc. etc. etc. People are so counter-intuitive sometimes.

[Pietrastor]

So, in other words, if you're a casual player.

Mostly yes. Then again, do casual players subscribe 365 days a year? Many of them take breaks between playing (thus subbing)

[RisenDragon]

/Agree with this assessment.

 

And frankly... subscriber or not.... if you are not enjoying the game.. why would any sane person spend time and energy playing it? Yet, clearly we can see from some posts in the forum.. people ARE subscribing even though they do not enjoy the game, think it's become a "joke", "are not receiving value for their subscription", feel "slapped in the face", etc. etc. etc. People are so counter-intuitive sometimes.

 

I agree, to a point.

 

If you are subscribing to a service that you are completely dissatisfied with, then by all means, drop the service. But if you are only dissatisfied with some aspects of the service, wouldn't it be a valid option to see if you can't get those aspects improved and thus improve your experience with that service?

 

Those subscribers who proceed to express their dissatisfaction in calm, collected fashions are attempting to make the game better by pointing out what they don't like about the game. Those that flame the game and rant and rave agressively are just seeking attention and should (in my opinion) simply be ignored.

[Cleet_Xia]

It's not that there are not any benefits of subbing.

 

It's that after you buy a full set of account wide unlocks from the GTN, the additional benefits that remain are not worth paying a sub to receive. Unlimited space & FP content are essentially meaningless when you've leveled multiple alts.

 

The only weekly passes that are useful are for PvP and Operations.

 

But technically the CC "grant" isn't worth anything to players who have an established ability to earn in game credits. For many subs their CC balance has just accumulated, because they havn't been using it.

 

Bottom line, I paid my sub from Dec 2011 - May 2013 because I wanted to see exciting new features and content developed that I would have access to as a part of my sub. That didn't happened. I could understand the poor rate of content delivery in 2012, it was a rough year.

 

But in 2013 for the price of paying my sub I got

1) a $10 expac for the price of.....$10,

2) piles of CM fluff,

3) CM button added all over my UI,

4) an achievement system where some of the best rewards depend on purchasing stuff from the CM

5) a rep system with almost no carrot

6) a collection system that is really just another CM shop

7) a barber that is just another CM shop

8) a dye system where %60 of the dyes are CM items

 

9) & ONE event that I've played through 3 or 4 times now. <--this is the kind of content your sub should have provided.

 

If you've subbed since Jan 1, 2013 & play at level 55 you've given them at least $88 for ROtHC, the Gree Event, the perks of being a sub for 6 months, and 3600 CC. I don't know about you...but to me ~ that deal stinks.

[RisenDragon]

Mostly yes. Then again, do casual players subscribe 365 days a year? Many of them take breaks between playing (thus subbing)

 

Not all. I'm a casual player and I'm a long-term subber. Will likely remain so, as I like the idea of being able to log in and have my characters exactly the way that I left them without having to jump through hoops to reactivate my subscription.

 

Also, mostly I'm a casual player because my job requires me to be such. I can be away from the internet for extended periods of time, and that's not condusive for an active mmo player.

[oJebuso]

I agree, to a point.

 

If you are subscribing to a service that you are completely dissatisfied with, then by all means, drop the service. But if you are only dissatisfied with some aspects of the service, wouldn't it be a valid option to see if you can't get those aspects improved and thus improve your experience with that service?

 

Those subscribers who proceed to express their dissatisfaction in calm, collected fashions are attempting to make the game better by pointing out what they don't like about the game. Those that flame the game and rant and rave agressively are just seeking attention and should (in my opinion) simply be ignored.

Unfortunately most of the criticism on these boards aren't constructive in any way.

[Pietrastor]

Not all. I'm a casual player and I'm a long-term subber. Will likely remain so, as I like the idea of being able to log in and have my characters exactly the way that I left them without having to jump through hoops to reactivate my subscription.

Well I wouldn't exactly call 3 clicks to get PayPal payment through very difficult or time consuming Edited July 6, 2013 by Pietrastor

[RisenDragon]

It's not that there are not any benefits of subbing.

 

-snip for brevity-

 

If you've subbed since Jan 1, 2013 & play at level 55 you've given them at least $88 for ROtHC, the Gree Event, the perks of being a sub for 6 months, and 3600 CC. I don't know about you...but to me ~ that deal stinks.

 

I completely agree, and this is why when subscribers complain, it's for a valid reason.

 

(They just need to complain in a coherent and civilized fashion.)

[RisenDragon]

Unfortunately most of the criticism on these boards aren't constructive in any way.

 

But this is true of anywhere on the internet. Or real life, unfortunately. Truly constructive criticism is hard to come by, which is why when you see it, it would be nice to have the devs acknowledge it.

[BrianDavion]

And honestly speaking, I believe that this (quite valid) sentiment is exactly why long-time subbers are frustrated with the apparent lack of subscriber appreciation.

 

rigbht because handing everyone 5 bucks is a lack of apprecitation. seriously what do people who are unhappy want? BW to send a professional escort to your house? the people right now who complain about "lack of appreciation" really mean they don't feel BW does eneugh to regulate non subscribers to second class.

Edited July 6, 2013 by BrianDavion

[RisenDragon]

rigbht because handing everyone 5 bucks is a lack of apprecitation. seriously what do people who are unhappy want? BW to send a professional escort to your house? the people right now who complain about "lack of appreciation" really mean they don't feel BW does eneugh to regulate non subscribers to second class.

 

No, it's not the 'lack of appreciation' that's the major issue. It's the lack of game-centered content that subscribers don't have to pay cartel coins to access that is the major issue. At least for me, anyway.

 

For instance, take the character customization kiosk on fleet. Why is that Cartel Coin only? How game breaking would it be for subscribers to have access to use in-game credits for this feature? (Or anyone with the required in-game money pool.)

 

I personally understand that quality content takes time to craft, but it is the lack of quality content that is just available to both CM and in-game credits is frustrating.

 

Or even not dual availabilty. Here's an idea- make any non-super rare Cartel Market item available for individual purchase by subscribers instead of having to rely on the gambling packs. That would be a subscriber perk worth mentioning.

[Cleet_Xia]

rigbht because handing everyone 5 bucks is a lack of apprecitation. seriously what do people who are unhappy want? BW to send a professional escort to your house? the people right now who complain about "lack of appreciation" really mean they don't feel BW does eneugh to regulate non subscribers to second class.

 

The issue is that there are a lot of subs who have been with this game since it launched. Players who paid for a physical copy of the game, stuck it out through the massive sub die off last year, paid a sub to play on a deserted server while they waited for merges to occur, paid a sub while f2p was in dev, paid a sub while the CM was in dev, and kept right on paying. And they're starting to feel like their loyalty has been taken advantage of. I don't blame them.

 

It's been pretty loud and clear what subs wanted all along.

 

1) The bolster bugs fixed

2) PvP endgame gear that is a different model than PvE gear

3) Shadow/ Assasin Tank survivability issues fixed in the new Operations content (fyi they're getting randomly one shotted at %85 health)

4) Mission and reputation rewards that are on par with CM items

5) bug fixes to RotHC crafting & additional updates to the crafting system in general

6) QoL improvements through the legacy system

7) NEW WZ's/ FP's/ OP's/ SPACE/ Events/ Companions ~ anything that isn't just another daily

8) & new features that don't have a CM element involved.

 

Overall.....something worthwhile to do ingame besides grind credits to purchase CM items from the GTN.

[oJebuso]

The issue is that there are a lot of subs who have been with this game since it launched. Players who paid for a physical copy of the game, stuck it out through the massive sub die off last year, paid a sub to play on a deserted server while they waited for merges to occur, paid a sub while f2p was in dev, paid a sub while the CM was in dev, and kept right on paying. And they're starting to feel like their loyalty has been taken advantage of. I don't blame them.

 

It's been pretty loud and clear what subs wanted all along.

 

1) The bolster bugs fixed

2) PvP endgame gear that is a different model than PvE gear

3) Shadow/ Assasin Tank survivability issues fixed in the new Operations content (fyi they're getting randomly one shotted at %85 health)

4) Mission and reputation rewards that are on par with CM items

5) bug fixes to RotHC crafting & additional updates to the crafting system in general

6) QoL improvements through the legacy system

7) NEW WZ's/ FP's/ OP's/ SPACE/ Events/ Companions ~ anything that isn't just another daily

8) & new features that don't have a CM element involved.

 

Overall.....something worthwhile to do ingame besides grind credits to purchase CM items from the GTN.

 

Isn't the next big patch supposed to implement a new weekly event, and two new flashpoints?

 

I agree with the PvP issues for sure, those are probably my biggest gripe about the game overall.