Pay to Win

people can create whatever definition for both p2w and "win" that they want. if someone wants to consider this game p2w, bioware had given them fair reason to do so. if someone wants to consider this game not p2w, they are well within reason. people here are too focused on finding differences and flaws and getting upset that other people disagree with them. if you don't understand someone else's perspective, that doesn't make the other person dumb. it just means you don't understand.

The typical usage (properly) of P2W is simply character advancement via paying extra money (and usually that being your only option). In that sense, 'winning' is simply getting a better character. While you CAN do a little of that in the CM, it's to such a minor degree I don't think it's even worth complaining about. Much better to complain about all the restrictions on an MMO for the F2P aspect - which really doesn't give you an MMO for free, but more a single player BioWare game (as intended).

that's a good post. it's like playing the change machine instead of the slots. if you get 4 quarters every time you put a dollar in, you win every time and there is a pretty good chance you'll leave with more money that people playing the slots.

There is one small actual P2W aspect in TOR. It is possible to buy an Expertise crystal in the CM, is it not?

But as I said, it's not possible to win PvE, so the term "P2W" cannot even apply to PvE.

People can also create whatever definition of "nutrition" that they want, but that won't mean Diet Coke is nutritive.

I believe there's a couple armor sets with mods installed, but don't think they're max level. Again, not even worth complaining about and the only thing related to the standard "P2W" argument.

I am

that's true. and people do that. in real life, different people have come to different conclusions as to what should be considered nutritious and not, often based on things like location, availability, and income. the problem that creates is that sometimes people can't communicate when there isn't a set standard for a term like that. so authoritative bodies are developed to help clarify those standards.
http://www.nutrition.gov/about-us
you and andryah are not authoritative sources. the world does not revolve around you, no matter how much you want it too and no matter how hard you believe it does. if i have a definition of p2w that you disagree with, that doesn't make me wrong. nobody cares what you think any more than they care what i think. what you fail to understand does not make me dumb. if there is something you don't understand, it's because you don't understand.

Oh i would like to see how the community will react if Bioware will release stims and buffs that give you an advatage. You know so casuals have better chances of clearing the NiM modes and in the same time they can make them harder for those progression guilds that don't want to use those BiS stims and buffs.
Bioware should give it a try.
This would also be a good training for their PR guys as they could try to write more awesome blog posts that explain that this is no P2W.
I would guess that it is even ok to sell the best gear and make modifications and stuff available via cc so you can optimize you stats with real money. No need for crafters. You can sell everything in the GTN of course.
As nothing that is PvE content can be P2W we should also add grade 8 space ship parts to cm only.
And why bother with PvP sell the best stuff in the cm. PvP is secondary content anyways so why always the headaches with new gear. Just give everyone the best gear for money and all that is left is skill.
I see great times for BW so much money to make.

Hey, 4 is better than 1, right?

Pay To Win in mmorpgs means you need to pay real money to advance your character. For example, if a game came out and I wanted to advance my character to the next level, or pay money to have all my skills automatically attuned to that level to, that would be pay to win and my character would then instantly be that level or have that skill. Or if there were certain items that were only available in the cash shop and you could NOT get them in game and they had a really significant difference and it was best in game because it was a "cash shop" item therefore it should be better, that would be pay to win.

Having less quickbar slots isn't pay to win. Having a little bit less xp than a subscriber isn't pay to win. Being able to buy xp boosts because you want to level your character up a little faster isn't pay to win. Only having able to run a set number of instances or warzones a week isn't pay to win. I think you are getting confused as to what pay to win really means.

Restrictions are not the same thing as a pay to win system. They are giving you the option to play the game for free and giving you a taste of the game at first hand. If you really like it, subscribe and support it If you really like it but are strapped for money somehow, then play free. If you don't like it, don't play it. But don't come on the forums and complain about how you hate it (not saying YOU are, just in general) Free restrictions aren't that big of a problem for a person to have fun with themselves and play this great game. It' just the model we have right now in MMORPGS.

Long last your fun and I hope you are being happy and helpful in the game. I understand your frustrations you may have and can see why you would think restrictions are pay to win because the person who pays gets no subscriptions and in the end they get to do more than they other person, but that is not pay to win. The person paying gets more benefits than the one not paying sure, but not to the extent to where it affects anything significantly of their play style and/or character. And that is how it should be.