Thanks for reading and replying...

All of you are saying that the essay is pretty much wrong...

So maybe it really is.

I'm not interested in PvP, but in player-run things, crafting, roleplay. So I guess I won't have to purchase anything then... or at least I won't be pressured to (by limitations of the system, if they exist)?

Well, you'll likely feel some desire to try to earn credits. So, use some of the other options to get a few: If you like crafting, roleplay, and the like, look into writing a Bardic or two. There are plenty of options (though it doesn't sound like you've got a major interest in hunting for Lots Of Gold).

Your essay is wrong. Yes i've spent money on murphy but i never had to. I did make my credits by selliing my combat system. You can enjoy this game (as I did achaea) for many years without paying a cent.

Good. It's not my essay though - I don't know who wrote it ;-)

Yes you don't need credits to enjoy playing.

Yes you can buy credits ingame for gold.

Yes you can get credits for free from mentoring, city/guild leader, guide etc.

Yes IRE gives away hundreds or thousands of credits every month in prizes.

Yes plenty of people on this thread have gotten trans skills and artifacts without buying credits.

Despite all of that IRE manages to make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year from credit sales. They have a very clever business model and you should never underestimate their ability to get you to part with your cash.

Except the essay seems to focus more on that we pay more than we expect, and get less than if we were to put it into, say, a WoW subscription. We don't. Most people only buy a few credits, if any, and still have lots of fun.

He's also looking at it the wrong way: omnitrans and mass credits are not necessary for the average player. IRE focuses a lot on the roleplaying environment, for which you don't need much.

The reason IRE makes money is less tricking us into parting with our cash (as I read your post to say), but rather because they create a great game for which people are entirely willing to pay for perks, because they think it will enhance their enjoyment of the game. This doesn't mean that those whose playing style is different will enjoy it any less without credits.

This essay is, to be fair, full of lies and slander.



You don't need to buy credits to have fun. It's just like the saying, "Money can't buy happiness."

I think the essay is a bit naive. The author states in several sentences that he/she actually has no idea about the game. (IE not knowing if pvp gained exp, never playing the char beyond level 30 etc).

There are also a few assumptions in it that I disagree with. Most of the math seems to be based around the fact that the player wants to reach level 100. However, most players never do or don't even want to. Going beyond level 80 just because of the 5 lessons per level is a bit hilarious too.

Lastly, I can imagine that he/she would have issues gaining gold with a character at level 1-30. The good bashing places / quests are -all- high level, or require me indepth game knowledge. The 10,000 gold/hour is actually somewhat spot-on though. However, usually you spend like 5-10 minutes of that hour making the 10k gold, the rest of the time is spent waiting for the quest to reset. So it's not like you'd need the full hour for 10k gold either.

And to add on to Iasmos: I never sold anything nor bought any credits on Aesyra and burnt through like ~15k credits for skills and artifacts (that's my best guess, might be more but definitely not less).

That's because you whored out old-astral and 2k gold credits

With everything said and done though, there is probably no chance of leaving a mark on Lusternia without paying something, correct? I mean having a position of power or influence...

You can get elected to a position without being omnitrans... though you are indeed less likely to be elected to a combat-heavy position (such as a Champion, or perhaps guildmaster of a very combat-oriented guild) if you don't have at least your guild skillsets and certain combat-skillsets. You don't need to be a combatant for most things, however-- many Ministers have almost no combat experience, for example. A number of GAs and GMs are also in the same boat.

Er, I think Champ would probably be the only to have that limitation and even then, I doubt so as long as you're capable enough.

Champions are very unlikely to be elected without having at least their guild skills, and certain other skills from other skillsets (such as combat or resilience at a decent level). The Ur'Guard also had a tradition of trying to elect combat-capable GMs for a long time, as well.

While it's possible if there are no other choices, it's pretty hard to be capable without your guild skills.

Heh, people have been GM or GA or anything without spending much at all. Could probably make city leader, positions in Lusternia are a lot about RP.

I was a GM. All you have to do is talk to people and know what they want.

I'm GC currently, and like I said earlier in the thread, I've never bought a credit for Nyir.

I've been both Spiritsinger Champion and Regent of Serenwilde and I only have one trans skill. Never bought credits with my own money (I have nowhere near the funds where I would be able to even THINK about a purchase!), though I have received some as gifts and bought them with gold.

The essay seemed to sum it up very nicely as far as I could see.

I think you may have drawn the wrong conclusion from it though.
As has been pointed out, it is by no means necessary to buy credits to play.

It is however necessary to obtain credits in order to attain any measure of status within the game. It is quite possible to do this completely within the game - earning gold and buying on the credit market. It is also possible to do this by buying credits externally.

This allows casual players with disposable income to buy credits and advance their characters without investing endless hours. It also allows people with plenty of free time to advance just as high without ever spending a cent.

It's entirely your choice as to how much or little you choose to spend on the game (both in time and in dollars).