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Star Wars: The Old Republic F2P Details Emerge

By Landon Robinson | 19 October 2012 | 4 Comments   

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We’ve known that BioWare’s definitive Star Wars MMO, The Old Republic, was going free-to-play for some time, but we’ve yet to be given set details regarding what will really be free in-game, and what will cost you a pretty Cartel coin or two. Thankfully, we’ve got some more information via the game’s official website. Get PSYCHED.

For those in the tl;dr crowd, just know that while you’ll be limited in the ways (and amounts) you can play the game, all of the narrative missions and story-focused character content will be completely free. For those desiring more detail about the pros and cons of subscription and non-subscription accounts, read on.

Free players will be limited to three attempts a week per Flashpoint mission, PvP Warzones, and Space Missions. You’ll have the opportunity to purchase a weekly pass for unlimited play if you find yourself needing more attempts (or simply want to repeat missions). Operations, known as SWTOR’s version of raids from World of Warcraft, are 100% off-limits to free players. Again, like the other missions, you’ll be able to purchase a weekly pass for timed access to Operations if you so choose.

Cartel coins are the currency of the relaunching SWTOR, and can be used by free users to purchase upgrades for their limited cargo hold and inventory. If you’re a paying subscriber, you’ll receive a regular influx of coins to spend, as opposed to having to purchase them in set amounts like non-subscribers. Non-subs must also deal with longer quick travel cooldown times, limited field respawns, and the overall inability to use “most” purple-tier equipment — unless you purchase a license for it from the Cartel Market using those oh-so-popular Cartel Coins.

As you can probably tell, there are certainly quite a few notable restrictions on the shoulders of free-to-play SWTOR‘ers. However, it’s good to remember that (with the exception of Operations), you’ll have access to the extensive (and entire) collection of character stories and missions. For absolutely zero dollars, that’s one heck of a deal.

As long as I can keep a little droid beside me without a subscription account, all is well in the galaxy.

4 Comments

  1. Posted by Mugenite on 20 October 12 at 12:59pm

    I gave this MMO an honest try. I spent a few days on the demo. I gave up right after leaving Korriban. I just kept playing that watered-down game and found myself constantly asking, “WHY COULDN’T THEY JUST GIVE ME KOTOR 3?!?!” Now they pissed me off by turning Revan and HK-47 into some cheap NPC’s and not giving my old crew a proper explanation for vanishing altogether… Died my *ss… Thanks, Bioware. Thanks a whole bunch for that…

  2. Posted by Keyes on 21 October 12 at 1:03pm

    I subbed to this game during the past summer.
    The levelling in this game is the only interesting thing. After two month I had all the 8 classes level 50 and no more subscription. I don’t think there’s anything else of interest in this game outside of questing the Class Story.

    This game is truly dying.

  3. Posted by robin on 31 December 12 at 4:31am

    i can honestly say i have played the f2p model of this game
    and this model is wrong in alot of ways heres why:
    no sprint till lvl 15 means you have to walk atleast 15+ quest on corusant as a jedi knight which will take you atleast more then 10 hours, try doing it getting from point A to point B atleast 15 times
    only 2 skillbars
    restricted exp after lvl 10 and restricted quest rewards
    cant equip t7 that little droid you get as compagnion with the color of you’re choosing, you need a compagnion lisence for it
    free players CANT send ingame mail to another player
    200k credit cap and a cap on the comms you can get
    only 2 characters account wide and trust me when you’re done playing just 1 class with these restrictions you wont want to play a second one
    no bank or cargo hold when you get your ship
    no customer support which is absolutely wrong and i can name one:
    a prefered player buys cartel coins for 5 bucks/euro’s but doesnt get them because its bugged
    now he/she cant get customer support so he/she will rage and call it a scam and maybe gonna file a lawsuit against ea/bioware though highly unlikely
    and a limited inventory

    things that free players wont mind seeing restricted:
    no ops
    3 weekly space missions/heriocs
    5 warzones
    purple gear
    1 crew skill which is already worthless
    longer load time on quick travel
    emergency fleet pass
    mounts
    reviving
    no rest exp
    no event rewards
    higher cost on repairing/ripping out mods and higher cost at a vendor
    valor rate
    guilds
    and limited chat because of gold farmers

    • Posted by robin on 31 December 12 at 4:32am

      i forgot about the character creation only 2 playable species since cyborg doesnt count as a species in my book

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