CoH: Freedom - VIP vs Premium vs Free

Obviously there are a few threads where people are talking about different aspects of the upcoming business model, but most of them are taking place in threads whose original post was perhaps a complaint, or a start of an argument and/or possibly originally filled with hyperbolic and/or inflammatory wording.

Hopefully this post avoids any of that...
I'm just looking for some intelligent conversation (What? Wrong place? Haha, well,we all have to settle some times!) about some things I've seen raised by different people.

VIP vs Premium vs Free... Is there a good balance?
I've seen separate discussions result in different appraisals of this subject.

I've seen people say that the new system is built for VIPs.
I've seen them say it offers too much for free.
I've seen some people conclude that the system favors being a Premium.

And, of course, all of the same points have been raised from the negative side of those equations.
These differing opinions/conclusions could certainly indicate that they've done a good job balancing the Freedom business model.


I've seen some suggest that being a Premium, and spending the same amount of money as you would as a subscriber, could get you more than being a VIP (depending on your personal interests... ie not interested in Incarnate Content).

That idea about it being geared a little too favorably for Premiums to spend that $15/month as they like instead of for the VIP package is one that I haven't been able to dispute and I am curious if others may be able to dispel it (or prove it, or turn it into a newt... temporarily).

I think it really depends on where the Premium Player is in the Veteran status (Paragon Rewards Program). As well as, of course, interests in Incarnate content.

I've planned to just stay VIP and not have to deal with any of the fuss (That is still my plan, btw) and I was hoping that the game would be sticking with that as the major aspect of its business. I'm just not sure if it is going to play out as such and I'm curious to get more people discussing that (or any) aspect of the future business model. And I wonder if they need to tip the scales in the favor of the VIP model at all (Again, these feelings just may be all about that balance having been struck... so, each aspect seems viable and/or lacking!).

As it has been put forth... As a Premium Player... You get a Reward Token for putting $15 into the store (to be spent however you like).
So, in regards to Reward Tokens, Premium and VIP are equal.
However, the Premium Player still has those 1200 points to spend.
A VIP gets 400 points and a Free Character Transfer (as far as straight-up things you can buy with points).
Obviously being able to use IOs (which is unlocked in Tier 7 of the Paragon Rewards System) is another aspect... But that can be bought with a small amount of those 1200 points per month, should the player wish to have IO access.

Perhaps I should muster up a better side-by-side comparison to evaluate this (I think someone else already did, actually...).

So, again... zero doom, zero hyperbole, zero wish to prove a point nor argue nor call people names (other than Zwill, who is a big sillyhead)... I'm just curious if the people who've come up with differing conclusions about who wins and who loses have looked at each other's data and either determined that some other conclusion was correct orthat it must be pretty well balanced, because everyone is complaining just about equally.


Basically, I'm starting this thread, because I have no axe to grind, nor strong personal agenda about it all and thought that such an OP may generate a similarly flavored discussion as opposed to arguments between firmly entrenched sides (feel free to call me crazy).

12 character slots per servers as opposed to 2 character slots plus any you have previously opened is a huge benefit in favour of VIPs which many people seem to ignore

The VIP's AND the Premium players still have those 1200 points to spend; lord knows I'll be buying some enhancement sets, some temp powers, powersets, costume pieces... keep in mind that the store is currently geared for incoming players; soon enough it will have things VIPs will want too.

I think a lot of it depends on where you are on the Rewards tiers. I am a 7 year vet. If I dropped to Premium, I would lose Incarnate stuff, the Tier 9 VIP stuff, and free access to things like Signature Arcs and Time Manipulation. But the occasional Point purchase would make that stuff up, and give me more Rewards tokens if I felt like using the regular Tier 9 consumables. So dropping to Premium would be pretty good deal for me.

OTOH, the people that have that kind of a deal are also the ones that have been the most loyal customers to the game. We have been here from the start, through the Purple Patch, ED, the Defense Nerf, and all the other bad times. And through the good ones. I figure the ones with the least to lose by dropping to Premium are also the ones most likely to stay VIP. Because frankly, we love this game.

One thing I was thinking about today, but can't check right now because the server's down, is comparing the play experience and options of a VIP vs a Premium player who spends $15/month just buying points. I suspect this still comes out in favor of the VIP, but I can see some conditions (eg a non-altoholic who isn't interested in Incarnate stuff) where the later option might be worth it.

Champions Online has this setup but the free model is far too limited content wise. It's not all bad though as it gives new players a better understanding of the game before paying to play.