Free Trial Changes

Free Trial Changes

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Posted by: Gaile Gray

Gaile Gray

ArenaNet Communications Manager

As you may have noticed on our website, we are heading into another free trial period. In the past, you may have spotted a few problems related to free trials. For instance, gold seller spam was pretty noticeable. For this trial period, we have introduced a few restrictions that should address some of the concerns we’ve noted in the past. Here’s a list:

  • Trial Accounts can send mail only to a player who has added the trial account holder to their friend list
  • Trial Accounts can send whispers only to a player who has added the trial account holder to their friend list
  • Trial Accounts cannot use map chat

Here are some other details about trial accounts, so that if your friends join us – and we hope they will! – they have an understanding of how trial accounts work:

  • Those playing on a trial account cannot sell items the Trading Post
  • Trial Accounts will be limited to 2 character slots
  • Trial Accounts will not have access to the Gem Store
  • Trial accounts will not have access to the Currency Exchange
  • Trial accounts will have access to Edge of the Mists but will not have access to World-versus-World

Also, FYI: there will be no guild restrictions in place, so your friend playing on a free trial account is welcome to join your guild and will be able to chat and play with you and your guild members.

Gaile Gray
Communications Manager
Guild & Fansite Relations; In-Game Events
ArenaNet

(edited by Gaile Gray.6029)

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Posted by: Inculpatus cedo.9234

Inculpatus cedo.9234

Oh! Well, that’s welcome news. I was dreading the increase in spam that has always accompanied Free Trials in the past.

Well done! =)

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Posted by: ShadowDragoonFTW.3418

ShadowDragoonFTW.3418

Great list of changes. I think this will be for the best. Also nice to see that you haven’t completely locked the trial players away from everyone else — they just need a friend request first.

Baelyyrn [Zero Brigade]
Mechanist Gregory [BEER]
Arondight Unfading [ZB]

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Posted by: titanlectro.5029

titanlectro.5029

These changes are very appreciated!

If you wanted to relax the restrictions a bit more, you could allow mail and whispers to anyone in your guild.

Gate of Madness | Leader – Phoenix Ascendant [ASH]
Niniyl (Ele) | Barah (Eng) | Luthiyn (War) | Niennya (Thf)
This is my Trahearne’s story

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Posted by: Grevender.9235

Grevender.9235

excellent work!! /thumbsup

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Posted by: Edgar Doiron.2804

Edgar Doiron.2804

+1

Forgeman Destroyers [FORD] – Sorrows furnace

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Posted by: Zohane.7208

Zohane.7208

So…
While this should indeed hamper the gold sellers’ abilities to exploit the free trial, there’s a possible downside to it as well – a new person who has no connections to anyone in the game, maybe saw a trailer and thought it looked cool, it seems like it will be a lonely experience for them, no chance to make friends in chat, and thus not able to ask for help or anything.

I do hope that’s been considered as well, so that the free trial becomes a nice experience for the prospective future GW2 player, and not just a lonely lonely weekend.

Or am I missing something?

Gunnar’s Hold
Guild Leader for Tyria Liberation Council [TLC]

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Posted by: anzenketh.3759

anzenketh.3759

They still have say chat so that is good that way they can still make friends.

In Game: Storm Bluff Isle — Anzz, Anzenketh Kyoto

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Posted by: Inculpatus cedo.9234

Inculpatus cedo.9234

Hmm…/say chat. Probably will need to avoid HotM, then. Ah, well, at least most of the game will be spam-free(er). =)

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Posted by: Zohane.7208

Zohane.7208

Ah, all’s well then

Gunnar’s Hold
Guild Leader for Tyria Liberation Council [TLC]

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Posted by: Behellagh.1468

Behellagh.1468

I’ve always have a mixed opinion of preventing trial accounts from using a zone wide chat. Yes it’s a vector for RMT accounts flooding the airways but it does inhibit a player on trial, out on a world map from asking for help or simply asking a question about how things work. Hopefully the NPE will alleviate the need for asking the more obvious questions but trial players really need to stick with other players.

We are heroes. This is what we do!

RIP City of Heroes

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Posted by: chronometria.3708

chronometria.3708

That’s a fairly solid list of changes – I am glad to see this.

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Posted by: Karizee.8076

Karizee.8076

Great changes, thanks for listening to our feedback on this.

Question: Is Obsidian Sanctum included in the WvW restriction?

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Posted by: Bensozia.8071

Bensozia.8071

Great changes, thanks for listening to our feedback on this.

Question: Is Obsidian Sanctum included in the WvW restriction?

Yes it is included. Its listed in the latest patch notes.

"
Bug Fix:

Configured free trial accounts to block access to World vs. World maps (Eternal Battlegrounds, Borderlands maps, and Obsidian Sanctum). Free trial players may still enter the Edge of the Mists.
"

Guardians of the Light [GOTL]
The Dragonfly Effect [Phi]
DragonBrand

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Posted by: Karizee.8076

Karizee.8076

Ty, Bensozia – I didn’t catch that

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Posted by: Lucius.2140

Lucius.2140

Nice that way theres not more gold sellers and they dont disrupt the economy!.

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Posted by: aelfwe.4239

aelfwe.4239

As you may have noticed on our website, we are heading into another free trial period. In the past, you may have spotted a few problems related to free trials. For instance, gold seller spam was pretty noticeable. For this trial period, we have introduced a few restrictions that should address some of the concerns we’ve noted in the past. Here’s a list:

  • Trial Accounts can send mail only to a player who has added the trial account holder to their friend list
  • Trial Accounts can send whispers only to a player who has added the trial account holder to their friend list
  • Trial Accounts cannot use map chat

Here are some other details about trial accounts, so that if your friends join us – and we hope they will! – they have an understanding of how trial accounts work:

  • Those playing on a trial account cannot sell items the Trading Post
  • Trial Accounts will be limited to 2 character slots
  • Trial Accounts will not have access to the Gem Store
  • Trial accounts will not have access to the Currency Exchange
  • Trial accounts will have access to Edge of the Mists but will not have access to World-versus-World

Also, FYI: there will be no guild restrictions in place, so your friend playing on a free trial account is welcome to join your guild and will be able to chat and play with you and your guild members.

can trial account join solo queue and team arena? if so i will freeze account till end of trial, thx

Aelfwe Dark Asura Mesmer\Thief,
FREE PYRO

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Posted by: khani.4786

khani.4786

Thank you Gaile and everyone who put these in place!

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Posted by: TokyoGhost.6492

TokyoGhost.6492

Also, FYI: there will be no guild restrictions in place, so your friend playing on a free trial account is welcome to join your guild and will be able to chat and play with you and your guild members.

This is bad decision. Other changes are very good and I very support them.

I made so much mistakes that I now make mistakes without mistake.

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Posted by: Yalora Istairiea.6287

Yalora Istairiea.6287

Also, FYI: there will be no guild restrictions in place, so your friend playing on a free trial account is welcome to join your guild and will be able to chat and play with you and your guild members.

This is bad decision. Other changes are very good and I very support them.

Could you please explain why this is a bad decision so we can all consider your point of view?

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Posted by: Arcadio.6875

Arcadio.6875

  • Trial Accounts cannot use map chat
  • Trial accounts will have access to Edge of the Mists

Don’t forget team chat!

Lord Arcadio
League Of Ascending Immortals [OATH]

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Posted by: NEOS.9206

NEOS.9206

A cannot send gold/items via mail option would be nice too (bots would be complete useless then).

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Posted by: Omega Mccoy.4237

Omega Mccoy.4237

Someone please make the guy that came up with those changes the lead manager of GW2, only decent change I have seen in a long time.
And if it is the same person, tell him to thank the Wizard of Oz for finally returning his brain.

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Posted by: Sariel V.7024

Sariel V.7024

I’m predicting a noisier and emptier EotM… ;D

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Posted by: Becka Williams.4978

Becka Williams.4978

I do kind of think not being able to use map chat will be a hindrance for new players, and might turn them off. Perhaps allow them to use map chat in the starter zones and racial cities? Yeah, that would still allow gold sellers to spam a lot, but wouldn’t completely isolate legitimate players.

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Posted by: Donari.5237

Donari.5237

Can they at least see map chat? If so then we can maybe do some announcing “willing to help and answer questions, I’m standing at X spot, come wave at me so I can add you and we can whisper or group.” That sort of thing.

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Posted by: Electro.4173

Electro.4173

I can’t say I like the restriction on map chat. I mean, sure, it’ll restrict potential gold sellers from spamming map chat, but at the same time, you’re preventing legit players from asking questions of the other players in the game. Especially considering free trials are all about attracting new players who may very well have questions to ask, confusing things they need cleared up, or help with events, that seems like a pretty terrible decision to me. Not to mention just cutting them off from the social aspects of the game in general.

Stopping gold sellers is all well and good, but not at the cost of legit players.

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Posted by: ShadowDragoonFTW.3418

ShadowDragoonFTW.3418

There’s always Party chat.

Baelyyrn [Zero Brigade]
Mechanist Gregory [BEER]
Arondight Unfading [ZB]

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Posted by: Electro.4173

Electro.4173

There’s always Party chat.

Without the benefit of either whispers or map chat, I don’t see how these players will be getting into parties in the first place.

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Posted by: Zylonite.5913

Zylonite.5913

……

  • Trial accounts [,,,,,] will not have access to World-versus-World

Thank you……..

Betrayed by the gods of ANet

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Posted by: ShadowDragoonFTW.3418

ShadowDragoonFTW.3418

There’s always Party chat.

Without the benefit of either whispers or map chat, I don’t see how these players will be getting into parties in the first place.

The same way people do now! Random, unwarranted party invites!

Baelyyrn [Zero Brigade]
Mechanist Gregory [BEER]
Arondight Unfading [ZB]

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Posted by: Ethros.1453

Ethros.1453

There’s always Party chat.

Without the benefit of either whispers or map chat, I don’t see how these players will be getting into parties in the first place.

Doing the events with others and communication through /s . While there are limits, they are not that crippling.

~Mr. Illuminati
Inspiration is only as good as it’s interpreter

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Posted by: ricky markham.8173

ricky markham.8173

yay for changes i like

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Posted by: Iason Evan.3806

Iason Evan.3806

There’s always Party chat.

Without the benefit of either whispers or map chat, I don’t see how these players will be getting into parties in the first place.

The trial is so they can see if they like the game play. If they do then they can buy the game and have access to the rest of it. The chat in this game is like the chat in any other MMO so they aren’t missing anything by not having access to it.

Leader of The Guernsey Milking Coalition [MiLk] Sanctum of Rall

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Posted by: Exeon.4358

Exeon.4358

Nice going, these are some great changes that i doubt anyone would complain about

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Posted by: Ogcali.6108

Ogcali.6108

Awesome! I hate gold spammers, and these changes are a good idea

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Posted by: Zavve.8205

Zavve.8205

Awesome!

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Posted by: Orpheal.8263

Orpheal.8263

Excuse me when I take these good changes with a grain of salt, when you have to admit and to realize, that all of these changes basically should have been made already before the begin of the very first freel trial phase.

However – You can say naturally in the end always only – better NOW, than NEVER.

Personally I like the idea behind sub classes ~ quoted from Chris Whiteside

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Posted by: Bellizare.5816

Bellizare.5816

Possibly they don’t want the trials scared off by all the NPE complaining that you hear in the starter zones.

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Posted by: Palador.2170

Palador.2170

Possibly they don’t want the trials scared off by all the NPE complaining that you hear in the starter zones.

Pffft. As if people won’t be waiting in the starting areas to warn them of it anyway.

Sarcasm, delivered with a
delicate, brick-like subtlety.

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Posted by: X T D.6458

X T D.6458

tyvm for these changes, was dreading another free trial weekend because of the scumbag gold sellers. Kudos!

I say what needs to be said, get used to it.
Honesty is not insulting, stupidity is.
>Class Balance is a Joke<

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Posted by: Bellizare.5816

Bellizare.5816

Gold sellers are kind of like canaries in the coal mine.

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Posted by: X T D.6458

X T D.6458

Gold sellers are kind of like canaries in the coal mine.

no they just scumbags and scammers

I say what needs to be said, get used to it.
Honesty is not insulting, stupidity is.
>Class Balance is a Joke<

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Posted by: Behellagh.1468

Behellagh.1468

No I think Bellizare meant seeing them flooding a free trial is an indicator of a healthy MMO and when they don’t bother coming it’s a sign that the end is nigh.

We are heroes. This is what we do!

RIP City of Heroes

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Posted by: X T D.6458

X T D.6458

should note, I still occasionally play gw1, and they still advertise there lol

I say what needs to be said, get used to it.
Honesty is not insulting, stupidity is.
>Class Balance is a Joke<

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Posted by: fictitiousacct.1782

fictitiousacct.1782

It doesn’t say anything against using lfg to form parties. It may be a bit much to expect new players to even know about the lfg system to begin with though.

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Posted by: Bellizare.5816

Bellizare.5816

No I think Bellizare meant seeing them flooding a free trial is an indicator of a healthy MMO and when they don’t bother coming it’s a sign that the end is nigh.

Xackly. : )