Suggestion: More Access On The Forum For Free Players!

Before joining the forum myself, I became exremely interested in the costume design thread, in the fan creations section of the forum. I spent hours looking at other people's designs and couldnt wait to start making some costumes for myself and share them with fellow players. However I was thouroughly disappointed when I realised that free players have such limited use of the forum, including the fan creations section. I understand that pay to pay players should have some privilages over those that dont pay, but limiting the fan creations section seems a little harsh. After all the forum isnt actually part of the COH gameplay.

I would like some other players views on this, both that of free players and for those that pay to play. I would like to know your opinions on this subject matter, and whether you guys think it would be a good idea for the developers to look at this idea.

The original plan for Freedom was that Free and Premium players would have no ability to post on the forums.

Quite a few of the subscribers complained about this limitation so they adjusted the plans to give limited posting access to areas where players can ask for help such as Gameplay/Technical Issues & Bugs, Player Questions, City Life, and Suggestions and Ideas.

I think the only other forum that may need ALL ACCESS would be the Mac Users forum section.

The limitations are there partly to keep spam posts down and partly as an incentive to subscribe.

Considering that the original plan was for no posting priveleges for non-VIPs I doubt they'd be willing to accede to opening any more forum sections than what they already have.

/What TJ said.

Just beacause it was the original way they were going to impliment it doesnt make it the right one. Generally having people allowed to post on fan based sections like the one the OP was talking about would be a good idsea. After all if they are posting cossies it is probably a good indication they like the game to start with.

I can see why in game they limit things to get you to sub more, but having all apart from 4 sections of the forum off limits, especially the fan based type ones, seems totally stupid, just like the chat limitations. I can see why many think its bad, but if they implimented a max post count per day for nin subscribers on other sections then at least this would help newer players ask questions in the right sections. Have it tied to how long their account has been active on the forums or if they have that type of character where they ask on specific sub section forums.

Defending something just because it was going to be a total ban and instead is only a partial ban is not a good argument to start with and totally anti freedom.

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It would also be nice if premium players could post in the servers section of the forums. I play on Virtue and would like to be able to post on specific server-related topics on the Virtue forums section.

I'd be happy with the idea of gradually opening up more sections of the forums to Free/Premium players, as has happened. However, if it got too spammy, then I'd also be happy with the sections being closed down again.

Maybe it would be possible to make a finer distinction between Free and Premium, so that more sections could be opened up to Premium players, while leaving Free accounts more heavily restricted.

I see it from all sides.

From a VIP player Point of view: I see no need for increased access, for those who aren't supporting the game by paying for the service.

From the point of view of a Premium Player: I see the desire to get access to areas of CoH that I'm currently restricted from. My 50s on my premium account can't run incarnate trials, and if/when my VIP account goes Premium, there will be parts of the forum I can't access.

From the viewpoint of the devs/Community Mods: Originally there was no forum access for free players, then gave them some access. Now they ask for more. This one person is asking for the For Fun section, and nothing else. But then another wants the Server forums. Another will want PvP forum access.

I understand all these different points of views, and more, and the way I see it, is that there isn't a need for more access to be given. If it's given, great I won't object.

Honestly if saying that the restriction is enough to make you quit playing the game(Or edit your posts to say never go Premium}, then I see that as your loss. Like Aett said, the community here is great, and you're not cut off from it. It's why the City Life forum is open for all access, and not just the 'ask for help here' forums. It's limiting of course, but if you can play the game and live with the chat restrictions there, I don't see that the forum restrictions being that harsh.

As a Freebie and former VIP who has 7 years time + money vested in this game, I agree that Freeb's should have more access, especially taking in to consideration the length of time sub'ed to the game.

Someone like me is unlikely to spam the boards with junk and and yes since I have been here so long I do feel a tinge of entitlement to posting. I'm not one to feel entitled to much at all. In this case I do.

Not sure what sub'ed time <-> board access should be, I do think that if someone was here from launch *cough* and was sub'ed up to just before Freedom *cough* I should be able to run naked through this place.

Uhmm you can already PLAY for free. Sorry no sympathy from me on granting even more forum access. For someone who is requesting other's opinions you truly do not seem to want any except those that agree with your stance.

Free players get WAY more than they did before Freedom launched... Some things are meant for those who actually PAY to play and help cover the costs of servers etc.

It amazes me how ungrateful some people are for what they already do have....at no cost to them.

So to answer your question: No I do not think the developers need to revisit forum access again...it has already been adjusted once to include more sections for freebies/premiums.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paladiamors I love you, I Burnt the Toast!

I understand that with opening up the boards means more posts, more likelihood of spam, and thus, increased workload on the community reps. I get that.

That said, I do think that there should be more forum access to the free players. Yes, I pay my monthly access and as such, I should be entitled to more than a free player. I get that with my market access, larger influence cap, inventions access, AE access, all archetypes, VIP sets, incarnate access, tells, in-game email, chat-freedom... you know... things pertinent to the game itself. I don't particularly see the forum as being much incentive to stay as a subscriber. But that's just me.

Thank you, Champion.

Honestly, I like the earlier mention of a daily post limit for non-VIPs, as long as it's reasonable (5-10 should work for most questions and followups.)

But otherwise, the way it is now gives it a pretty good balance, I think. It lets them into the broader categories to ask questions, and they can still read the other sections.