Wondering about the referal program

[leemel]

How exactly do i use the freind referral program was a lil vague on how to start or use it please i want to use this systeem to bring more subs to this wonderful mmo.

[JWagner]

How exactly do i use the freind referral program was a lil vague on how to start or use it please i want to use this systeem to bring more subs to this wonderful mmo.

 

Last I knew, you have them click your link. They'll get associated to your account. And once criteria is met, you'd both qualify for your own rewards.

[DarthDymond]

How exactly do i use the freind referral program was a lil vague on how to start or use it please i want to use this systeem to bring more subs to this wonderful mmo.

[EDIT: to be on the safe side about F2P accounts not being able to click]

• Step 1: On this website, you go to My SWTOR -> My Account -> Refer a Friend (direct link: here) It will have a referral link / code that looks something like this: http://www.swtor.com/r/2gNj3d (that one is my code for example)
  
• Step 2: You copy and send the link / code listed on that page to your friend.
  
• Step 3: Your friend clicks on it and should then be able to make a new SWTOR account that will have you as their referrer.

 

If your friend you recruited for the game has already gone ahead and made an account and begun a subscription, then you can also send them your same code and they will be able to accept you as their referrer. Same story if they are a former subscriber you are recruiting back to the game, as long as they have been unsubscribed for more than 90 days.

 

They'll get the immediate perks for the promotion. If they become a full subscriber you'll get the benefits for being their referrer.

 

Rinse and repeat.

Edited March 4, 2015 by DarthDymond

[Orizuru]

New players who have never had an account simply need to click your referral link and follow the instructions.

 

If you are trying to refer a player who has played before and has an account already, they will need to login to their account first, then click your referral link and follow the instructions.

 

 

You can refer someone who is already subscribed to the game as well, providing they haven't already been referred by someone else. This is meant to allow you to get the rewards that come with a referral for anyone you may have had a hand in bring to the game prior to learning how to use the referrals system.

[Jerba]

Sorry, I have to correct you, DarthDymond, because it is not correct. You can only refer two types of players:

 

• Previous subscribers who were at one time subscribed to the game but have since moved to Preferred status or stopped playing.
  
• New players who did not create an account yet. Those players need to use the Refer-a-Friend link to create an account, not afterwards.
  

 

If you create an account without subscribing and then click on a link, it won't work.

[DarthDymond]

Sorry, I have to correct you, DarthDymond, because it is not correct. You can only refer two types of players:

 

• Previous subscribers who were at one time subscribed to the game but have since moved to Preferred status or stopped playing.
  
• New players who did not create an account yet. Those players need to use the Refer-a-Friend link to create an account, not afterwards.
  

 

If you create an account without subscribing and then click on a link, it won't work.

When did they change it? I definitely had a RL friend who created a F2P account, we played together a few times, I sent him my code, he used it and then later subscribed and I got the benefits (which I assume means he got his as well).

 

EDIT: Actually, I'm wondering now if he subscribed then clicked on my code - since people have said you can 'refer' current subscribers that may have been the order of events.

Edited March 4, 2015 by DarthDymond

[Jerba]

When did they change it? I definitely had a RL friend who created a F2P account, we played together a few times, I sent him my code, he used it and then later subscribed and I got the benefits (which I assume means he got his as well).

Hm okay, that's interesting to hear. I was just writing that based on my experience and what it says on the Referral page but I may very well be wrong as well.

Unfortunately, we are not really allowed to talk about the referral program too much since it allows for scammers to get thousands of dollars in cartel coins, which is why we don't have too much official information on how it works.

Edited March 4, 2015 by Jerba

[cyberangelll]

Why not just use this link to find ALL out about referral program.

http://www.swtor.com/info/friends

[MSchuyler]

There are quite a few people, especially on fleet, who are offering several hundred K in credits to CURRENT SUBSCRIBERS t click on their link. When I asked how that could work given the advertised conditions (new or returning players only) I was told that it works for current subscribers anyway.

 

I guess I have no real problem with people on either side of this equation doing it, but, imo, the rewards system is seriously skewed. As a clickee you get a few CCs and a free character transfer. As the one offering, you get a few goodies plus 100 CCs per month for as long as your clickee subscribes and OPTS IN TO ADVERTISING (one of the requirements). Claims are (and I don't know how true they are) is that aggressive people are making several thousand CCs per month on this program. So you see why people are offering 300K to click on their link. It's effectively paid for in a month.

 

For the life of me I don't understand why a current subscriber is willing to effectively subsidize another subscriber to that extent. You can say, well, it's no skin off his nose, but the rewards for clicking are paltry compared to the advantages gained by the person referring.

[Jerba]

I guess I have no real problem with people on either side of this equation doing it, but, imo, the rewards system is seriously skewed. As a clickee you get a few CCs and a free character transfer. As the one offering, you get a few goodies plus 100 CCs per month for as long as your clickee subscribes and OPTS IN TO ADVERTISING (one of the requirements). Claims are (and I don't know how true they are) is that aggressive people are making several thousand CCs per month on this program. So you see why people are offering 300K to click on their link. It's effectively paid for in a month.

Exactly. I know of at least two players who got 120,000 Cartel Coins (= ~$1,200) in a few days just from subscribers clicking on their link. Now, I have no problem if players like Dulfy get that many CC but these player were not helping the community at all. One had even run a website for his scam and has since been banned, the other was a large WoW streamer who I won't mention by name but who is backed by the community team and won't be punished.

 

Anyway, when they first added the pets to the referral system, I just asked players from my raid group to click on the link. They know that I am a big pet collector and gladly clicked on my link without asking for credits. And since I know them personally, I still get 5x100 CC each month because they are still subscribed and actively playing the game with me. I've also given them a christmas present (the Arneclin artworks) so it's not like I'm taking CC for myself, I am giving it back, I just wanted to get the pets.

 

But you are right, there are players offering credits for players clicking on a link, and I always report them when I see their advertisement. As long as you do this with friends and not in general chat, it is fine, but paying credits for it defeats the purpose of the referral system. Its purpose is to bring back new and returning players, not for players to get more CC than they could ever spend.

Edited March 4, 2015 by Jerba

[dscount]

Yea the only reason I'm super hot to trot for referral program is the pets as well. Think I've 2 left so far.

 

I do know that PREFERRED players can't seem to click the link and get anything.

 

What I've told people to do is BEFORE you go preferred click on someones link. Then you actually see the REWARD instantly on your SUB account and the free items (Unlocks) you can use when you go preferred status.

 

New players to game literally have to never visited SWTOR and setup a new account.

 

Of course.. you can use my link as well if you need one. :0)

http://www.swtor.com/r/FDltnT

[DeVanagloris]

Exactly. I know of at least two players who got 120,000 Cartel Coins (= ~$1,200) in a few days just from subscribers clicking on their link. Now, I have no problem if players like Dulfy get that many CC but these player were not helping the community at all. One had even run a website for his scam and has since been banned, the other was a large WoW streamer who I won't mention by name but who is backed by the community team and won't be punished.

 

Anyway, when they first added the pets to the referral system, I just asked players from my raid group to click on the link. They know that I am a big pet collector and gladly clicked on my link without asking for credits. And since I know them personally, I still get 5x100 CC each month because they are still subscribed and actively playing the game with me. I've also given them a christmas present (the Arneclin artworks) so it's not like I'm taking CC for myself, I am giving it back, I just wanted to get the pets.

 

But you are right, there are players offering credits for players clicking on a link, and I always report them when I see their advertisement. As long as you do this with friends and not in general chat, it is fine, but paying credits for it defeats the purpose of the referral system. Its purpose is to bring back new and returning players, not for players to get more CC than they could ever spend.

 

This behavior about offering credits in exchange of clicking the referral link is becoming more and more common everyday.i see it quite often, and as i dont do it myself, i dont see whats the harm in it. I mean, the person who clicks gets the free stuff plus some credits, and the other one gets the rewards and coins. I may be mistaken but i dont see how that is a scam. Ppl usually call it scam, but why? Both persons get things, and none of them loses anything whatsoever, so its hardly a scam for any of them. Do the rest of ppl call it a scam because of envy or do they call it a scam because they "worry" about the rest of ppl around? Knowing human nature, i'd say we all know the answer.

[Jerba]

This behavior about offering credits in exchange of clicking the referral link is becoming more and more common everyday.i see it quite often, and as i dont do it myself, i dont see whats the harm in it. I mean, the person who clicks gets the free stuff plus some credits, and the other one gets the rewards and coins. I may be mistaken but i dont see how that is a scam. Ppl usually call it scam, but why? Both persons get things, and none of them loses anything whatsoever, so its hardly a scam for any of them. Do the rest of ppl call it a scam because of envy or do they call it a scam because they "worry" about the rest of ppl around? Knowing human nature, i'd say we all know the answer.

It is definitely against the ToS. You are not allowed to trade in-game credits against a real-world thing, in this case players clicking on the referral link.

As long as you do it in your guild, it is perfectly fine, but when you advertise it in fleet chat or on the forums, it is a bannable offense.

[DeVanagloris]

It is definitely against the ToS. You are not allowed to trade in-game credits against a real-world thing, in this case players clicking on the referral link.

As long as you do it in your guild, it is perfectly fine, but when you advertise it in fleet chat or on the forums, it is a bannable offense.

 

Ok, if we take clicking on the referral link as a real world goodie (which is arguable), then i agree, it is against the ToS and its forbidden. But dont tell me other ppl attack them because it is against the ToS. This is not the perfect world where everyone is good and follows the rules, this is a world where ppl do things thinking on the way "if i cant have it, then he cant have it too". Nobody on street would face a bank robber with a gun, and that is against the law. But this is against the ToS of a game, and everyone from the safety and anonimity of their homes are brave enough to face whoever, for the sake of the game's ToS. yeah, sure.

[Andycoopz]

Ok, if we take clicking on the referral link as a real world goodie (which is arguable), then i agree, it is against the ToS and its forbidden. But dont tell me other ppl attack them because it is against the ToS. This is not the perfect world where everyone is good and follows the rules, this is a world where ppl do things thinking on the way "if i cant have it, then he cant have it too". Nobody on street would face a bank robber with a gun, and that is against the law. But this is against the ToS of a game, and everyone from the safety and anonimity of their homes are brave enough to face whoever, for the sake of the game's ToS. yeah, sure.

 

This does harm all around.

The idea is: You are a player - you recruit another player - BW has a new sub and you get your part. Everybody wins because more active players equals more fun for everybody and more cash for BW etc. (In a nutshell - I suppose you get the idea.

 

What these ppl do is:

Recruit ppl who are already playing/paying.

There aren't more players - there isn't more cash for BW - these ppl still get the benefits.

In essence you could say that BW is making a loss (because they have to shell out CC for nothing) - the economy gets watered down (because they can spend CC nobody actually bought) - etc.

This harms everybody when you think it through.

[Urkros]

I do not why so many people are upset with the recruitment of friends openly.

 

The benefits are not obtained by simply click on the link.

 

The link is only the means by which a new user can create a new account to suscribe or one that can stay away for 90 days can reactivate the subscription.

 

In both cases who use the link need activate the subscription so that the benefits are activated.

 

It's something where both sides win and if someone is willing to offer his link and another user is willing to use it does not see the problem.

 

Currently the link clearly warns that this is a recruitment and even shows the name of who offers what so there is no possibility of mistakes or abuses.

 

Moreover, the main idea of ​​the system of recruitment is to generate new subscriptions, whether those who accept is a lifelong friend or someone you just met, what really matters is that by using the link is generated a new subscription where everyone wins, the company and both users.

[Edzew]

This behavior about offering credits in exchange of clicking the referral link is becoming more and more common everyday.i see it quite often, and as i dont do it myself, i dont see whats the harm in it. I mean, the person who clicks gets the free stuff plus some credits, and the other one gets the rewards and coins. I may be mistaken but i dont see how that is a scam. Ppl usually call it scam, but why? Both persons get things, and none of them loses anything whatsoever, so its hardly a scam for any of them. Do the rest of ppl call it a scam because of envy or do they call it a scam because they "worry" about the rest of ppl around? Knowing human nature, i'd say we all know the answer.

 

if you ask me these guys spamming general chat are just like the gold sellers, they should be banned or at least have all their referral grants taken away so they no longer get them every month, then have their referral link taken away.

 

if you want your link in you sig here on the forums or on your youtube channel or on other forums fine! but no advertising in game spamming general chat or any other chat in game. its just like making a new thread advertising your link here, they dont allow it so they shouldn't allow it in game either

[Andycoopz]

I do not why so many people are upset with the recruitment of friends openly.

 

The benefits are not obtained by simply click on the link.

 

The link is only the means by which a new user can create a new account to suscribe or one that can stay away for 90 days can reactivate the subscription.

 

In both cases who use the link need activate the subscription so that the benefits are activated.

 

It's something where both sides win and if someone is willing to offer his link and another user is willing to use it does not see the problem.

 

Currently the link clearly warns that this is a recruitment and even shows the name of who offers what so there is no possibility of mistakes or abuses.

 

Moreover, the main idea of ​​the system of recruitment is to generate new subscriptions, whether those who accept is a lifelong friend or someone you just met, what really matters is that by using the link is generated a new subscription where everyone wins, the company and both users.

 

The main issue is that it works on running/active subs as well. If they get new subs to the game the system works and no harm is done. If they pay credits for active subs to click the link you have the scenario where BW nor the community gains anything and the system is abused in a way that wasn't intended.

 

And I do think that it is intended to work on active subs. Otherwise you would have the scenario where real friends you got to play the game who went straight into sub couldn't use the system anymore.