Is the F2P/Preffered system too prohibitive, and if so, what should change?

It is about YOUR brain capacity. Population numbers are dropping with peak hours becoming shorter - the reason is that those who are F2P have reached their limits. YOU may be dumb enough to enjoy playing on an empty server and riding your high horse thats fine, but thats what killed the game off in the first place.

Restriction content is NOT the answer but people like you think they have a right because some pay and some don't, well this is a game and the lack of players impact those who PAY as well. Its simple to work if you just bothered.

Are you kidding me? I would be F2P if I had no reason to sub.

Hands up who likes to pay money for what everyone gets free of charge?

Another note, why do you ask people who pay subscriptions, which is everyone here, what they think about restrictions on people who don't pay them? I think it would be more fitting to ask F2P people and see what would encourage them to buy subscription, or spend equivalent amount in any other form.

I am not. I do not posses a sense of humor that I am aware of.

....and if I had 4 wood wheels, a wooden box mounted on a frame and a set of fils I'd be a horse drawn cart.

...every single taxpayer alive?

Well....that might be tough. But ill think about it and get back to you the second Tuesday of next week.




As I mentioned earlier....anyone else that would not have been encouraged to sub if there were not mail restrictions?

Mail didn't affect my choice. I had subbed at release and am a Founder. But after a few months, I hated the game and cancelled my sub. I only came back in February, 2013, because of a massive weekend-long server failure in LOTRO. By then, SWTOR has converted to its F2P model. Having been a subscriber, I was then "Preferred." I chose the two or three characters they let me unlock. Ran around Fleet on my main for a few minutes. Then I realized my Sage's hat was showing and ruining the hood on his robe. I accessed the option to Hide Head and realized I could not. I subbed immediately and have remained subbed since. Also, the ability to Unify Colors impacted my decision.

In my opinion, the purpose of the SWTOR F2P option is to give players a chance to taste the game before investing in it (said investment coming from either subscriptions of CC purchases to buy unlocks). That purpose is entirely reasonable to me. I have no problems with the prohibitions in place. And, while I realize you didn't pose the question, for the record, I'm fine playing on empty servers. I mostly play solo anyway.

I stayed subbed because of the reason I listed earlier in the thread that seemed to skipped over.

Restrictions on Unify, Hide Helm, Companion Unify, Companion Hide Helm, Display Title and Display Legacy Title.

These seem like dumb restrictions for the sake of restricting.

And you're basing this off of...? Look, I know that the world is a "bit more complex" (understatement of the year) than black and white, but even you have to recognize that America is basically run by the big corporations. I'm not even talking about conspiracies, I'm talking basic observable facts. Seriously, man, pull the wool from your eyes and actually look at what's happening around you.

Those are technically "cosmetics", which is entirely fine to have locked behind a paywall. I would be fine with never being able to pick a title (a lot of which I find utterly ridiculous), or unify my armor colours (less so this one, it's hard to find a set of gear - especially modifiable stuff - that looks good without being unified or dyed), or have my character/companion helmet-/hood-less.

What I am not okay with is locking the powerful end-game gear (artifacts) and the ability to even purchase it (credit cap), and the ability to participate in said end-game content (FPs, OPs, etc.) behind a paywall. That is actual content which is not part of an expansion being denied to the free players, and it definitely shows.

To be fair folks it is perfectly fine to have no qualms with the current system, or have different qualms than the ones I indicated in my OP.

That is, after all, what I was seeking....opinions and discussion.

I think that the problem is in the design of this game. The game has followed the same structure that was dominant in the old PC games. It has levels, skill tree and gear rating. I do not know much about games, but I believe the idea of a subscription and games like SWTOR are things of the past.
When SWTOR came out you had to pay to buy the game, just like you had to pay for the old PC games, no one knew any better at the time. Subscription, supposedly was there to cover the costs of future development.
The new model that make sense today is present in games like League of Legends.
I do not know much about that game, I only understand that it is different and that difference is what does make sense.

Consider what F2P player is looking for. I am not a one, but I can imagine I would be looking for ability to create an account and start playing. This is where bolster comes in. I will not be able to do any class stories, I will have the ability to join war zones or operations for free. No skill tree, no levels, no gear, no companions.

I can perhaps purchase upgrades to my gear and skills using commendations and I can perhaps buy commendations with real money. Anything that is available today would have to be unlocked it some way.

Class stories could be unlocked using Cartel Market credits, some elements related to Shroud story line were available from CC Packs already. Perhaps that was a test and preview of what is coming.

GSF looks exactly like that and it makes sense for future games to be made that way.

So I dont get how you consider growth when someone plays for free and spends no money

The current F2P system encourages (or outright demands) you pay some money to play

But you want to eliminate that so you pay nothing and get everything the subs do.

HOW does that help game?
Seriously I want to hear the answer to this

Was some kid on DK yesterday whining he didnt get enough free in F2P and EA should pander to him and other F2P players.
He was soundly shouted down by EVERYONE else on DK

Frankly I think they give to much to the F2P players already and should change system to encourage subscription more.

Kid yesterday said "Game isnt worth $15.00/month"
I replied "If you don't like game and dont think its worth any financial commitment, then leave. Door is over there. Find a game you do feel is worth supporting."

Honestly I doubt that game worth supporting exists for that player because he wants everything free with no effort needed.

F2P helped bring in some players and get them to sub but those players who still don't sub and have multiple 55s offer nothing to game from where I sit. They use resources up, make demands on Devs that would be better suited answering Subscriber demands and requests. And support the game in no meaningful manner.

Honestly I think F2P should be designed to push people to sub.

I do not see the reason for having it beyond that.

Freeloaders is apt:
Ref: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/freeloader
verb (used without object) Informal.
1. to take advantage of others for free food, entertainment, etc.