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Forums > Home› Champions Online Discussion

"Free to play" what silver accounts get..

fenrichwulffenrichwulf Posts: 42 Arc User
edited May 2013 in Champions Online Discussion
Right. I am an old veteran of this game and I just made a brand new account to see what they actually have access to.. Basically.. Well you can only have one kind of tail.. One kind 4 beard pieces and a mask.. The basic mask really.. And when I got to the hands.. You could not even have short glove clawed! Right.. WHAT IN THE ACTUAL F*CK! The players of champions online.. The silver ones.. They don't have access to basically ANYTHING I am gonna get on now and go through the tutorial and so on and I will then move on to see what I can do in the chat and so on.. If I can emote and type locally that would be quite astounding. Oh right you can only have four different types of hair too -.-

This ticked me off BIG TIME.. On their site you apparently have access to over "3000" costume pieces.. Right now I've counted up to barely over a hundred. So yeah! HOORAY FOR CORPORATE SCUMBAGS! Oh yeah. You can't have baggy pants even. Just thought to tell you all in this game about the whole ordeal. Back in my days before it was owned by perfect world entertainment you actually did have over 3000 costume pieces. Thought to share so that everyone knows since it does seem some people out there are rather thick when it comes to it all.
Post edited by fenrichwulf on

Comments

  • seanwmcginnisseanwmcginnis Posts: 21 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Are you at the tailor, or in character creation? I have a hazy recollection that the character creator costume pieces were narrowed down somehow for new players, because it was too overwhelming for first-timers.

    I could be completely wrong about that.
  • fenrichwulffenrichwulf Posts: 42 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    I will go through the tutorial and then look at the tailor to see if it is anything different there.
  • ariesmajorariesmajor Posts: 394 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    The character creator is limited for first time players until they reach the tailor or level 10 or something. Thats why you see alot of new players walking around in the archtype default costumes.
  • atringatring Posts: 233 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Your first character has fewer costume options, but I never put together that it was to keep from overwhelming new players. I came from City of Heroes, so I find the costume creator underwhelming, but we'll see where CO's sits after 8 years.

    Once you have done the tutorial, you don't have to do it again. On the next character, you'll have the option to skip the tutorial, and you'll go straight to level 5 or 6 at Defender's little sunglass kiosk there in RenCen. I have three Silver accounts, when one isn't temporarily Gold, just to appease my alt-itis.
    ***************


    Part of the problem since December, 2012.
  • jonsillsjonsills Posts: 6,318 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Yes, the costume options are severely limited until you get your first toon to 10. No, there's no notification of this - it doesn't say you're being limited, nor are you notified at 10th level that your options have just broadened. In fact, you also aren't notified that there are ATs that can be purchased until you try to create a new one after leveling your first one to 10.

    Yes, this is indeed one of the stupidest decisions made by Cryptic, if not one of the stupidest made by any gaming company anywhere. Yes, I would dearly love to see this decision rolled back, and everyone involved in it soundly flogged.
    "Science teaches us to expect -- demand -- more than just eerie mysteries. What use is a puzzle that can't be solved? Patience is fine, but I'm not going to stop asking the universe to make sense!"

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  • fenrichwulffenrichwulf Posts: 42 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    jonsills wrote: »
    Yes, the costume options are severely limited until you get your first toon to 10. No, there's no notification of this - it doesn't say you're being limited, nor are you notified at 10th level that your options have just broadened. In fact, you also aren't notified that there are ATs that can be purchased until you try to create a new one after leveling your first one to 10.

    Yes, this is indeed one of the stupidest decisions made by Cryptic, if not one of the stupidest made by any gaming company anywhere. Yes, I would dearly love to see this decision rolled back, and everyone involved in it soundly flogged.

    Agreed.. When I saw this I got really pissed off. I would have flipped the table if there wouldn't be due to me having a drink onto it. But yeah.. They should really try and get their heads straight on this and not act like a bunch of buffoons. Seriously. You could not even see that there was other kind of costume pieces you may actually buy later on.
  • fenrichwulffenrichwulf Posts: 42 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    atring wrote: »
    Your first character has fewer costume options, but I never put together that it was to keep from overwhelming new players. I came from City of Heroes, so I find the costume creator underwhelming, but we'll see where CO's sits after 8 years.

    Once you have done the tutorial, you don't have to do it again. On the next character, you'll have the option to skip the tutorial, and you'll go straight to level 5 or 6 at Defender's little sunglass kiosk there in RenCen. I have three Silver accounts, when one isn't temporarily Gold, just to appease my alt-itis.

    I believe there may not even be a CO in 8 years.. Since well there are a lot of players and a lot of people from the community that is already pretty darn upset with the staff overall.
  • fenrichwulffenrichwulf Posts: 42 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Right then.. I reached level 10 now but still nothing is unlocked.... ANd still only 4 hairstyles..
  • fantasycharacterfantasycharacter Posts: 458 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    You probably have to log out and then back in.
  • crypticbuxomcrypticbuxom Posts: 4,621 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    They never considered that this was one of the major reasons why the new player rate declined sharply.
  • jennymachxjennymachx Posts: 3,000 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    My experience with a silver account was this: You're severely limited in costume piece options during the first 24 hours from the time of the account creation, the same limitation that prevents you from chatting in zone or using tells. After the limitation has expired, you will get access to a lot more costume pieces.

    To be noted that I did go through the tutorial and my silver toon was still at level 6 at the time. I didn't have to wait until level 10 to get the access.

    I don't know why Cryptic decided that limiting costume pieces during those 24 hours was a good idea at all because it certainly would give a bad impression towards any new player. Heck, I'm a three-year vet and it stumped me the first time I faced it.
    My City of Heroes album of memories
  • atringatring Posts: 233 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    All of that said, the limitations of Silver are still pretty annoying after being used to Gold. And, I was staying away from the issue of longevity of the game, for the purposes of this discussion. :smile:
    ***************


    Part of the problem since December, 2012.
  • drgmstrdrgmstr Posts: 886 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Just so you know, when you complete the tutorial, log out then log back in. The tailor will unlock the other items that were not there during the character creation. I have seen this happen over 4 of my alt accounts that the tailor fully unlocks once you log back in. I haven't made one lately so I am not sure if this is still the case.
    Handle: @drgmstr

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  • jennymachxjennymachx Posts: 3,000 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    drgmstr wrote: »
    Just so you know, when you complete the tutorial, log out then log back in. The tailor will unlock the other items that were not there during the character creation. I have seen this happen over 4 of my alt accounts that the tailor fully unlocks once you log back in. I haven't made one lately so I am not sure if this is still the case.

    This sounds more accurate than what I described. I failed to realize that I logged out with my newly-made silver account and logged back in the next day to find more costume options.

    It's pretty ridiculous that the player is required to log out then back in again just to get them. I never saw any ingame instructions for me to do so either. I don't see any credible reason as to why they'd put the restriction during character creation anyway. It's just stupid.
    My City of Heroes album of memories
  • drgmstrdrgmstr Posts: 886 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    jennymachx wrote: »
    This sounds more accurate than what I described. I failed to realize that I logged out with my newly-made silver account and logged back in the next day to find more costume options.

    It's pretty ridiculous that the player is required to log out then back in again just to get them. I never saw any ingame instructions for me to do so either. I don't see any credible reason as to why they'd put the restriction during character creation anyway. It's just stupid.

    Yeah I don't have an idea to why they would do that but when making new accounts I just rush through the tutorial using the default costume. During that time I think over how my character looks and their story. :biggrin:
    Handle: @drgmstr

    "Embrace your dreams"

    Come Check Out My PRIMUS Database Page!
  • ariesmajorariesmajor Posts: 394 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    It doesn't give new players the right impression. Especially if they come here based on a referal from one of their friends that mentions the fact that this games customization is one of the best if not the best available to mmorpgs.

    Example:

    Me: "Hey Trailturtle you should try that game thats been out for a bit now, but I play it all the time."

    Trailturtle: "What game is that?"

    Me: "Champions online. Dude you'd totally dig it, (starts rambling), and yeah the character creation system lets you customize pretty much every aspect of your hero. Like...the costume system is freakin HUGE!"

    Trailturtle: "Hmm sounds pretty cool, I might try it out this weekend."

    Me: "It is, but yeah man, I gotta go to work here soon, but yeah, definitely try it out."

    Trailturtle: "Alright man, see ya later."

    (Trailturtle goes to make an account for the first time, goes into the character creator, asks himself wtf did he mean huge? This is garbage, I've seen more options on craplestory.) (Attempts to play for a bit longer, doesn't have enough time to reach level 10, goes back to playing modern warfare.) <
    He will never realize he can unlock anything and will eventually forget about and uninstall what little portion of the game he played.

    This is what new players have to deal with, and they'd never know until its either too late, or they're in a good enough mood to actually ask for help and get it.
    I try to help new players where I can but ffs don't make me look like an idiot when I try to highlight one of the best features of this game to new players and their first impression of it is the complete **** opposite of that.
  • ariesmajorariesmajor Posts: 394 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    crypticbuxom wrote: »
    They never considered that this was one of the major reasons why the new player rate declined sharply.

    ^^^^^ A hero.
  • ashensnowashensnow Posts: 2,048 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    I still have trouble wrapping my head around the idea that someone thought it was a good idea to take one of the game's strongest and most readily monetized elements, character appearance customization, and decided to hide it from new players.
    'Caine, miss you bud. Fly high.
  • mushermusher Posts: 166 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    I have a feeling they might actually be trying to kill the game subtly with stupid treatment. One fault won't be fatal, but they just keep piling up one after another.
    __________________________________________________
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • roughbearmattachroughbearmattach Posts: 4,784 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    I agree--limiting one of the game's best free features was a wrongheaded move. I got two friends to try the game out, and both were puzzled over why they couldn't make their toon look the way they wanted right from the start. It was a terrible first impression, and neither one stayed past a week.

    Sure, they could have redesigned their toons at level 10, but first impressions count.
    ___________________________________________________________

    Whoever you are, be that person one hundred percent. Don't compromise on your identity.
  • beldinbeldin Posts: 1,708 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    ashensnow wrote: »
    I still have trouble wrapping my head around the idea that someone thought it was a good idea to take one of the game's strongest and most readily monetized elements, character appearance customization, and decided to hide it from new players.

    That simply just follows the logic that they made ATs for Silver Players and with that also have hidden one of the best things of the game from them.

    And the other thing is of course .. who needs Costumes in Vehicle Online at all ? They have stopped creating new costumes when the game was renamed to VO and instead just create
    crappy Vehicles.

    However i know this is not really related, since they made that dumb move with the costume-editor long before the game turned to VO.
    R607qMf.jpg
  • drgmstrdrgmstr Posts: 886 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    roughbearmattach wrote: »
    I agree--limiting one of the game's best free features was a wrongheaded move. I got two friends to try the game out, and both were puzzled over why they couldn't make their toon look the way they wanted right from the start. It was a terrible first impression, and neither one stayed past a week.

    Sure, they could have redesigned their toons at level 10, but first impressions count.

    I had a discussion with a few friends about this particular topic and each one had came up to the conclusion that the restriction for newly made toons is for the player to go out and try the game. Try the quests, their abilities, be social on a MMO. Simply put make the game more enjoyable that it isn't all about the costumes, but to see the other aspects of the game. I would have to agree with what they say but the costumes is what makes this game jaw dropping. That takes up 90% of why I play this game while the other 10% is just everything else from quests, lvling, RPing, etc.

    Also as I said before, and a tip to you new silver players, when you are out of the tutorial, just log off and log back in and all the other costumes will be available to you lifting the restriction.
    Handle: @drgmstr

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  • exarchcathedraexarchcathedra Posts: 2 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    Huh, I'm glad I found this thread. I had subscribed to CO at launch, but only played for a couple of months, mostly because as a longtime player of the PnP version I was disappointed in the implementation.

    As I had created a Perfect World account to play Neverwinter I thought I would see how CO was doing in its F2P incarnation; when I found the basic archteype selection frankly odd - two blade-wielding melee ATs, but no unarmed melee AT at all, really? - and the costume selection incredibly limited compared to what had been available as a subscriber, I assumed that all other options were in the pay shop, which seemed egregious, so after playing my new character for a couple of hours I never logged in again. I'll have to take another look.
  • pallihwtfpallihwtf Posts: 677 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    exarchcathedra wrote: »
    Huh, I'm glad I found this thread. I had subscribed to CO at launch, but only played for a couple of months, mostly because as a longtime player of the PnP version I was disappointed in the implementation.

    As I had created a Perfect World account to play Neverwinter I thought I would see how CO was doing in its F2P incarnation; when I found the basic archteype selection frankly odd - two blade-wielding melee ATs, but no unarmed melee AT at all, really? - and the costume selection incredibly limited compared to what had been available as a subscriber, I assumed that all other options were in the pay shop, which seemed egregious, so after playing my new character for a couple of hours I never logged in again. I'll have to take another look.

    You must've missed THE BEHEMOTH, UNARMED MELEE tank.

    I think the choices for archetypes as a first-timer are pretty fair. They will have a fun(?) times to try em all, only problem is that you get only 2 character slots. Costume selection is limited, but I'd say it's enough to create your own awesome costume. Also, you got that 100 ZEN for completing the tutorial for the first time (somebody correct me if I am wrong) Save up, grind some Q and buy yourself a new AT, without spending real money at all.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    @Pallih in game
  • flamingbunnymanflamingbunnyman Posts: 2,035 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    pallihwtf wrote: »
    You must've missed THE BEHEMOTH, UNARMED MELEE tank.

    Probably because he was looking for melee damage, and Behemoth is under tank. Traditionally, tanks are low damage, so a new (or long time gone) player might expect the Behemoth to do poor damage. Fortunately, the Behemoth has respectable damage output.
    I suspect he was talking more about martial arts, too.
    I think the choices for archetypes as a first-timer are pretty fair. They will have a fun(?) times to try em all, only problem is that you get only 2 character slots. Costume selection is limited, but I'd say it's enough to create your own awesome costume. Also, you got that 100 ZEN for completing the tutorial for the first time (somebody correct me if I am wrong) Save up, grind some Q and buy yourself a new AT, without spending real money at all.

    The free archetypes can be pretty amazing. If you know EXACTLY what to pick and how to equip them - something I failed at miserably while I was still Silver. The paid ATs are generally better out of the box, but still need careful choices, since they have so few.

    And for costumes, yes, the base costume creator gives a lot to work with. And if you're using the exchange to farm Questionite and buy Zen, a costume set only takes 12 days to earn (6 if you're using both character slots to farm Q). Plus, there's quite a few costume parts that can be earned free in game, either with Recognition, as drops, as mission rewards, or by earning Perks.
    _________________________________________________
    @flamingbunnyman in game. Formerly @Roderick in City of Heroes.
  • pallihwtfpallihwtf Posts: 677 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    flamingbunnyman wrote: »
    The free archetypes can be pretty amazing. If you know EXACTLY what to pick and how to equip them - something I failed at miserably while I was still Silver. The paid ATs are generally better out of the box, but still need careful choices, since they have so few.

    And for costumes, yes, the base costume creator gives a lot to work with. And if you're using the exchange to farm Questionite and buy Zen, a costume set only takes 12 days to earn (6 if you're using both character slots to farm Q). Plus, there's quite a few costume parts that can be earned free in game, either with Recognition, as drops, as mission rewards, or by earning Perks.
    True. Lvl 40 Unleashed for example deals insane damage and can keep itself alive pretty well too, with dodge gear + BCR and Eye of the Storm rank 3.

    Yeah and a lot of the costume pieces you can find in AH and they range in 1G-30G. They are quite cheap. :smile:
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    @Pallih in game
  • exarchcathedraexarchcathedra Posts: 2 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    pallihwtf wrote: »
    You must've missed THE BEHEMOTH, UNARMED MELEE tank.

    I think the choices for archetypes as a first-timer are pretty fair. They will have a fun(?) times to try em all, only problem is that you get only 2 character slots. Costume selection is limited, but I'd say it's enough to create your own awesome costume. Also, you got that 100 ZEN for completing the tutorial for the first time (somebody correct me if I am wrong) Save up, grind some Q and buy yourself a new AT, without spending real money at all.


    No, I saw the Behemoth, and in fact that's what I made, figuring if I couldn't make a martial artist I'd go brick. But if I'm thinking melee DPS from an MMO persepective then I'm not really looking at tanks, and if I'm thinking Batman/Spider-Man/Wonder Woman style puncher from a comic book perspective then I'm not really looking at that Hulk/Wendigo model and seeing what I'm looking for. I'm not saying the number of base ATs is unfair, I'm saying that the choices of what's base and what's premium aren't optimal from the perspective of getting a new player involved in the game enough to want to keep playing.

    Same thing with the costume selection, the problem is that the player is not informed at any point that what they see initially is an intentionally limited selection, and that more options will become available. Again, I would think the goal is to engage new players from the start so that they're encouraged to keep playing; the impression, accurate or not, that the game has very few costume options is discouraging.
  • crypticbuxomcrypticbuxom Posts: 4,621 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    I got a friend to finally pick up and play this game. He wanted to play a wolf with the soldier AT and I informed him that's easy since there was a free wolf head in the tailor under Beast Heads!

    ...

    Hm. Why is the bear head the only option available? OH!!! This horrid "feature".
  • flamingbunnymanflamingbunnyman Posts: 2,035 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    You could use a Day at the Mall alert to sneak him into Vibora Bay, and help him farm 5000 Dogz.

    Or are you saying there is a wolf head, but he can't use it until the rest of the costume parts unlock?
    _________________________________________________
    @flamingbunnyman in game. Formerly @Roderick in City of Heroes.
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