Much ado has been presented about Ragnarok Online changing to not have monthly subscriptions. Well it is true, and here is a bit of information to help clarify what to expect from the changes.
We will be switching from a Premium/Free server scenario with required monthly subscription for Premium access, to a “VIP” account system with benefits to game play, but where you can access any account and characters freely without any payment requirement. The VIP Account system can be added to an account for 30 days (or 90 and 180 days respectfully) and has the same price as the current subscription model had. We will transfer remaining daily/hourly subscription into the new VIP account status when we make this change.
The VIP account tag will be added via purchase via WP energy onto a specific game account (much like a subscription). Login to the WarpPortal and “Power-Up” the desired account
30 day Premium 700WP
90 day Premium 1900WP
180 day Premium 3350WP
This new method is ideal for returning veteran players as they certainly will be able to play with friends and such without a subscription barring access to their characters, we look forward to how this will change WoE and what not. Of course returning and new players may still need to make a WarpPortal account and bind/register Ragnarok Accounts to it, possibly update passwords on the Veteran Ragnarok Accounts.
All servers will inherit the same refine system that our current Premium servers now enjoy. (Elu = safe to +4, e.Elu = high rate and then HD are protection with normal elu rate). All Kafra shop items will be added to all servers, at the lowest currently available price. This means rental items will be seen on Ymir, cheaper stuff in general will be seen on Valkyrie. Further prices will be updated to all match Ymir, with rental items entering into the shop on all servers.
Please keep in mind the below restrictions are what is planned, and in testing, that does not mean they are 100% set in stone.
| Premium Account | Free Acct | |
| Experience | 150% | 100% |
| Drop Rate | 150% | 100% |
| Storage | 600 | 300 |
| Penalty on Death | 1% | 3% |
| Access to Special NPCs | All + special | Normal |
| Access to Special Areas | All + special | Normal |
There will be one other update regarding Yggdrasil, it will parallel Valkyrie server in how many default characters a non-VIP account create (3), both Valkyrie and Yggdrasil are considered “Open” servers, while Ymir will be a “VIP” server. Below greater detail on the create character details can be found. If you wish to transfer off of Yggdrasil to Ymir, for Free before this change please do so.
On all servers, any character can be played. So if you currently have 7 characters created, all 7 can be accessed, regardless of your VIP status. This will also be true for newly created characters, no matter what all, potential, 9 characters slots can be played if there is a character in them.
However, the ability to CREATE characters is tied to your VIP status, and which server you are logging in on VIP vs Open server.
On Open servers you can create 3 characters by default, the remaining 6 Character slots can have characters created in them if the account is currently a VIP account.
On our VIP server (Ymir) default creation number of characters to create is 0, and a VIP account will allow character creation in all 9 slots.
It is highly likely that in the future we will have promotions and events that will bypass the 0 creation restriction on the Open server.
It is intended to have the F2P change occur by April 6, but all known bugs need to be worked out before such a large change occurs, this will very likely meld into the Brasilis launch as well.
We will certainly have a discussion and answer questions about this when the forums return soon.
Edit 3/23/2011: The above was updated to clarify a few points and use the more proper VIP vs Premium language, hopefully this makes it more clear for everyone. We are still testing and discussing the finer points of the update. There seem to be 2 sticky points in Ymir storage and Valkyrie multi-clienting, we are aware of the points on both sides of the discussion and your civility is appreciated thus far.
Edit 3/31/2011 : Removed the Multi-client restriction. VIP or not multiple clients may be logged in at once from 1 computer. The solution we were testing didn’t fully meet our requirements, since it didn’t meet the requirements and that the community has certain feelings about it, we decided to remove it.
Ymir is intended to have 600 storage by default (non-VIP) and may be 600 with VIP as well. We are working on a better storage expansion beyond 600, but it is not ready and it is better overall to have Ymir keep the 600.
**************************************************************************
Questions received from Facebook and this blog, and answers.
- Q. How will upgrades work on all servers?
A. All servers will be equal, premium status will not change this.
Safe upgrade with normal Ore from 0 -> safe (+4 on armor +7, +6 +5 +4 on weapons respectively)
Enriched Ore gives higher than normal upgrade rates when going from safe and higher, but a risk of breaking is still possible. -
Q. Kafra shop prices?
A. All servers will use the current CHEAPEST price, which should be the Ymir prices on items. Rental items will be available on all servers. - Q. What about if I’m a returning player, what happens?
A. Returning players can login and access the game account and all characters that exist on the account, with no restriction on server, or premium status. This is the big benefit of this for our veteran players, that all old accounts become valid accounts for login. -
Q. Storage on Ymir will shrink from 600 to 300! But what happens then?
A. No items will be deleted or made unavailable, they will be in a “remove only” state so you can take items out but not put them in if you are over the default storage amount. Aside from making the account “Premium” you could login another account and use its storage to extend what you have. -
Q. Is it really wise to have a system for so long and then take it away.
A. Change is touchy, but the intention of the old seperation between Premium/Free SERVERS was the same as what we have with this update, except we remove the tie to server and instead make it unique to accounts.
If you have always preferred to play by ‘subscription” you can continue doing that, but instead of being a “for access subscription” it is a for added benefit Premium package. On ymir if you have an active premium on your account your game play should be precisely the same as now from the exp/drop storage etc. But there will now be more NPCs and maps being added that you get better access too. This should be a win scenario for veterans. -
Q. Multi-client restriction?
A. Current design: Yes, you can have as many premium accounts logged in on one PC as you wish, but only 1 non-Premium account can be logged in from that PC at a time. -
Q. But I have more accounts than that on Valkyrie, how will I play?
A. This is an unfortunate issue that came about due to no way to limit the amount of clients opening on Valkyrie when we opened. Players were used to having tons of accounts with 1-2 characters apeice instead of fewer accounts filled with characters. That was not a design intention, one that is possible to correct now.
With that said, this part of the update is the one that is most likely to be reviewed to be changed (possibly more non-prem logins) in some form or removed all together. -
Q. If multi-client limiter is put in, will it be tied to gateway?
A. As much as we want to see our gateway become more fun and useful and adopted further by our community, at this time we are not planning on directly tying game login to it, by extension of that it will not be a part of any client restrictions.
The limitation of how many Premium vs non-Premium accounts that can be opened, will need to be completely controlled via the client/server architecture, thus be transparent to the players.
There is some other news that we want to share regarding this update.
- All regular servers will launch from one client. No more having to use different launchers to get to your desired server (Sakray is not a regular server).
- Yggdrasil will shift to be like Valkyrie, with 3 character slots open for creation rather than 0 like Ymir.
- We will be offering Free Yggdrasil -> Ymir server transfers, without restrictions, starting 3/21 until we make this system change around April 6th.
As soon as the form is finished being created it will be announced on the patch notices, websites etc to get in your transfer request now. - If you opt to stay on Yggdrasil (which is a fine choice) you will still be able to play on the server, you will likely be the new upper class characters on that server when we begin having new users play there.
I don’t like the idea of providing ymir/ygg with rental items and the other spawn of the devil mvp boxes in the kafra shop. Aren’t we getting the grave mark patch? what’s the point of it if you are selling those boxes in kafra? should remove the boxes completely from game and replace the ones people bought/own with +20 foods imo or WP.
Also, economy is already going down hell and rental items will make it even worse. People will just start doing nothing in-game and solely depend on kafra mall $ for their needs.
I can deal with everything except the multi client on free account thing. I mean even 2 clients allowed would be fine, but one client just seems like too little.
With the F2P will convex mirrors sold in kafra shops as well?
@Beata
Every other F2P game has this setup. You just dont want the game to change, which is a common when they’ve made huge changes to iRO.
Honestly, for anyone saying this wont work, look at every other F2P games out there and look how their item shops work and see how their still gaining new players WHICH IS KEY. Gravity needs to have a model that works and quite frankly, There are very few changes that have come that the iRO fan base hasn’t complained about.
@Ninja Master
From a short conversation with Heim he stated that most likely the 3 servers will share 1 kafra shop. I believe in future we will get such a feature in client where you can buy kafra items from anywhere without the need to go to Payon kafra shop npcs for example *which is quiet neat*. I think that what he meant..
He didn’t however comment on the mvp convex boxes specifically though when I asked. I really hope we don’t see them on Ygg/Ymir. Can we have something in-game that’s not dependent on paying $$$ solely to achieve? heck, even people now pay irl money to buy god items instead of rolling the seals, just throwing that as an example.
Nice examples but again the players need to look at other F2P games and how they create revenue by selling their in game items. The fan base of iRO is the only ones who seem not to like the payment style that has made dozens of games famous and well populated. Next time you’re in a 7-11 look at the game cards and check out some of those games and look at their systems and you’ll see the similarity across the board. Then lets apply some of that to what we need for iRO to become a F2P but remain a constant competitor in providing good game content, customer service and reasonable balance for items that cost money.
As long as the bought item/feature through the game *whichever online game* sale section doesn’t contradict with the game content and considered an enchantment only. And, as long as the item is not a MUST to have to play the game and enjoy it as intended then that perfectly acceptable. Sadly, is not the case with iRO lately.
F2P will be exciting, im sure there will be veterans returning, and thats great, but most importantly there will be new blood.
Most of these people are going to be spoiled from Pservers easiness.
If you dont help out the new guys, they will quickly get wiped out by the tier’d out 7 year old veterans with full god items. Itll discourage the heck out of people.
-PVP room needs reductions
-KRO skill balances
-get rid of dumb drop penalty’s
-better party system
-turn in events are great
I think you should be focusing on getting newer and younger pserver players instead of crusty old veterans
A permanent MVP summoner would make a very nice premium NPC, and you already have it coded from the last event
I’m not interested in WoE/PVP so an easy access to the MVPs that are often camped and unavailable on their regular spawn would inactivate me to buy premium subscription on several accounts.
I kind of find all the whining ironic. A lot of the things they are implimenting now are things that were proposed as nerfs for Valk, the free server. But instead they are making all servers “free” with the “option” to pay in order to keep playing the way Premium members have been playing for years. The only downside I see are more mvp boxes… Aside from that I don’t see what the big deal is. If you do not like the restrictions that come with being a free member, then just pay the subscription like you have been and pretend like nothing happened =\
Agh, this seems LESS F2P for Valk than it currently is.
I just spent money marrying my Scholar to my linker and now I read this.
How will limited multi-clienting benefit the game? My money is now wasted and no one is going to stand around for hours just kaahi’ing me when I need it. And just because I slave myself doesn’t mean I don’t party with others. Currently waiting for a guildie to catch up so we can party together. Have plans with another guildie as well.
Also, most of my alt characters are not slaves, they are alts. Other builds/classes I am trying out, sometimes I’ll multi-client to support myself, sometimes to buy stuff, sometimes trade gears, sometimes sell stuff.
Dunno about you, but I don’t want to ‘play’ by watching my merch sit and vend. And I don’t keep the game running overnight.
Limiting multi-clienting will make it HARDER for party-useless characters to get a party (like a brewer). At least the way it is now if you partied you can put your ‘useless’ char in the party while supporting with a more useful char outside the party.
At least, that was how it was done re-renewal when people actually did party.
And 3 character slots seems a bit low for a game that has many classes and builds for those classes.
The entire reason I play Valk is BECAUSE it’s free and I could play freely without stupid restrictions like this. I used to play free servers.
Now Valk will be less free than it currently is, which might drive people away. Especially new people who weren’t ‘lucky’ enough to join before the changes to grab 9 slots.
Even though Valk players don’t pay for a monthly subscription many people to go on spending sprees for kafra boxes and other paid goods. Unfortunately, now my marriage is wasted money.
I was thinking that F2P with VIP would be more like current Valk set up for free people, then added benefits for VIP people. Lame.
I don’t get the character slot thing, so it’s better to make a character on my last 2 slots before this goes f2p? (So I dont have to pay to make a new character after?)
If you do go and do something like limiting how many clients you can have open, please come to a compromise of some sort. Like allowing multiple clients in towns only or something of the sort. I like to transfer items & gear between my accounts without having to bother and/or trust someone else to do it. I wouldn’t mind not being able to “slave” my alts, but being cut off because I don’t pay would be painful. If you do actually go ahead with this awful idea, make it by warp portal account only. My husband and I both play, so if you did it by IP, I’m sure you’d have some very very mad families… So please explain how you plan to do this, because we are always left in the dark >_>
And don’t tell me to mail my stuff between accounts, because the mail system stinks xD Trade takes 2 minutes, tops and allows me to organize my storage how I want them.
While I’m complaining, fix the NPCs that disconnect us when you walk by >_:| You know bots will just find a way around that anyways, so do your jobs and fix the problem, don’t just implement something as a means to slow them down… because it doesn’t. They are a program, they don’t care about drop penalties or disconnects.
Guys. Seriously. The multi client thing is bugging me extremely. Having 5 clients online at a time is dumb and I see your point. But if you’re going to restrict it with technical measures, set the limit to 2. Vending is very important, if not crucial, to Ragnarok Online’s economy. Don’t enforce 1-client-only or you’re going to kill the economy.
Honestly, they do not need dual client-ing any more.
There are so many other “slave” accounts made (still ignoring valk all together) that one person can make their own 5 man party all by them selves. There are so many players who will get passed up because of that. With this change players will actually push players to want to party and even for pot creations, it means players can now either sell their services or you just need to be more social.