The next contender the free-to-play-ness of which we want to put to a test with this instalment of our F2Pmeter series is Neverwinter, a widely-acclaimed action MMORPG set in the Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms universe from Wizards of the Coast.

Remember that our testing candidates begin with a 100% of free-to-play-ness, and depending on how our questions have to be answered, this percentage will change. So let’s get started then!

In Neverwinter, players are able to have a classic role-playing experience including fast-paced combat and epic dungeons as they head off to explore the iconic city of Neverwinter and its surroundings. The game additionally provides them with the powerful content creation tool of the Foundry allowing them to create their personal quests and campaigns.

 

No. Neverwinter was originally launched as a free-to-play title in 2013, allowing everyone to register for an account in order to play and explore the entirety of the content for free ever since.

 

No. As the game has never had anything other than a free-to-play business model, there isn’t even any optional subscription feature whatsoever.

 

No (questionable). ― -5%. For the time being, each Module released since launch has be made available for free. Yet, there are specific packs optionally available for purchase, which provide purchasers with exclusive playable races, exclusive companions and mounts, etc. The majority of the expansion content, however, can be accessed by everybody for free.

 

Yes. ― -5%. Neverwinter allows players to make purchases in the in-game shop with Zen, a premium currency only available with real-world money. The Zen Market offers specific convenience and vanity items that will increase the player’s overall gaming experience with unique outfits and companions, faster mounts, and XP boosts. You may also buy additional services and features, e.g. additional character or bank slots.

 

Yes. ― -15%. While the majority of items available with money obviously only help players to level up faster and save some time, you are also able to buy item packs that allow for an upwards of 20% stat increase on your crafted equipment or guarantee a successful enchantment. Due to the fact that the strongest enchantment is almost unavailable with one such guarantee, paying players owning strongly enchanted equipment with increased stats will have a tremendously unfair advantage in player vs. player interaction.

 

No. Paying and non-paying have access to the same UI customisation options, as there are any additional options available for purchase.

 

No. ― -15%. While players can freely access all classes available in Neverwinter, this isn’t the case with races, some of which are only included in additional packs released with recent expansions and therefore unavailable to those you haven’t bought the specific pack.

 

Yes. ― -10%. The Auction House allows characters to post up to 40 items simultaneously and collects a 10% fee from successful sellers. Purchases are paid for with Astral Diamonds, a rarer in-game currency earned from special activities such as special daily quests and skirmish events, or traded in for gems. Thus, a non-paying player’s income of Astral Diamonds is limited and it’s presumable that they can’t afford as much purchases as paying users.

 

Yes. ― -10%. Characters are granted two free bags when reaching certain levels with 18 and 12 inventory slots each. As players are unable to craft bags, additional bags have to be purchased with Astral Diamonds. In its default version, the bank additionally offers 16 slots per character to store items. More bank space can be purchased through the Zen Market, which requires the premium currency available for real-world money.

 

Yes. In Neverwinter, there aren’t any restrictions regarding access to specific zones of the game world or dungeon entries.

 

No. All players are able to enjoy the entirety of the game including all of the end-game content without any restrictions and for absolutely free.

 

Yes – +10%. Despite of optional purchases with real-world money, Neverwinter finally seems to be pretty fair and absolutely not forcing players to take out their wallet. It’s undeniable that those who opt for paying will have an easier in-game life with convenience items, time-savers and boosters; however, non-paying users are provided options to acquire the premium currencies just through game play. It has to be mentioned though that it will take them quite some time to accumulate a useful amount. Only by paying extraordinarily huge sums, it’s apparently possible to gain a direct advantage in PvP over non-paying users.

Our F2Pmeter test of Neverwinter results in a 50% of free-to-playness.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 19th, 2014 at 5:55 pm and is filed under Articles, MMO News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Puedes dejar una respuesta, o un trackback desde tu sitio web.