Free accounts

On 3/10/2015 (5 Moliko 415), a free option became available to players creating new accounts.

Currently, there is no option for subscribers to downgrade their accounts to free accounts.

Impact on Trial Accounts

Trial accounts were automatically converted to free accounts.

Role-playing Considerations

The IC term for a character on a free account is "explorer." This was chosen for its lack of derogatory connotations.

Restrictions and Limitations

Free accounts operate under several restrictions/limitations, some of which can be reduced or removed with SimuCoin purchases.

Inventory

• Can wear one item in every slot except for body (10), over the shoulder (2), finger (2), and belt (2). A pass exists to unlock the bonus slots that subscribers have.
• Can carry a maximum of 100 (75) items normally. A pass unlocks bonus capacity to go up to 300 (250) items. Numbers in ()s denote when the junk room nags start (different messaging).
• Many verbs were updated to respect these numbers -- GET, ACCEPT, FORAGE, ORDER, SKIN, SLIP and some others.

Experience

• Early level experience gains are similar to subscribers, but it slows with moderate ranks. A pass can bonus it to subscriber-like levels regardless of current rank.
• Log-in experience drain can be unlocked with a pass. Warnings will still affect this, whether a pass is active or not.

Loot

• Free players still get loot, including the chance for special items. A pass will allow subscriber-like rates, amounts, and chances at scrolls.
• There is a (rare) chance, ONLY available to Free subscribers, to get a short-duration pass when LOOTing creatures. This is a way to experience items from the store from time to time without buying it. It is not a reliable means, and certainly not for getting any particular pass.

Communication, Customization and Expression

• The SAY verb will allow you to manually specify emotes, but a pass is needed to unlock setting a permanent emote style.
• ALL titles are available to review, but a pass is needed to CHOOSE a new one.
• Item hiders can be unlocked with a pass.
• Merchant lists and spinners (for alterers) CAN be used by Free players, at the merchant's discretion.
• Raffles require a pass in order to purchase a ticket. These passes function as charges instead of duration. Each raffle ticket you buy with in-game coins (only one per raffle allowed, as normal) will consume one of the pass's charges, whether you win the raffle or not.
• Free players can become a citizen of any province they like with a pass to join.
• Most of PROFILE can be used, though a pass is needed to set a new IM, Quote or URL.

Travel

• Free players will primarily populate Zoluren. Passports exist for each of the other 4 provinces.
• If your passport expires while in another province, you can remain there. However, if you leave the province (return to Zoluren or use another passport to go elsewhere), you won't be allowed back without a new passport.
• A caveat to the above -- some spells, abilities or items may not function even within the same province if your pass for it has expired.
• Tricky candy teleporters from Hollow Eve will only zap free players to or around Zoluren.
• The Riverhaven ferries require a passport for Therengia to board. Likewise, you can't dive into the river without a passport. Those hidden protectors are rather insistent.
• The Gondola to Shard requires a passport for Ilithi to board.
• The barges from Ilaya Taipa to Ain Ghazal require a Forfedhdar pass.
• The Gear Gate of Raven's Point and the dark hole that leads to Cragstone Vale, the Black Spire, and more bar further access to Forfedhdar without a passport.
• Route ships require a passport to the destination province, unless it's same-province travel (Night Sky, Jolas, Halasa Selhin, etc). You can always disembark from these ships, even if your passport expires en route.
• Ranger trails require a valid passport for their destinations to be used.
• The sea mammoths to Fang Cove require an active Ilithi passport.
• The balloon from Langenfirth to M'Riss requires a passport for Qi'Reshalia.

Mule / Troublemaker Avoidance

• Can listen and learn from classes, but cannot teach classes.
• Teachers (subscribers) do not gain experience from Free listeners, UNLESS you only have one student who happens to be free.
• Banks are limited to 10 platinum, total, whether you split it between banks or put it all into one. A pass can unlock unlimitted bank limits.
• No base storage (vault use), but expansions can be unlocked up to 250 items.
• THUMP can be used on free players.

Staff and Player Assistance

• A new ASSIST queue exists for Free accounts.
• GameMasters can easily identify REPORTs from Free accounts.
• CHATTER is enabled for all free players up to level 15. This is an OOC, global channel to be used for getting help and learning the game -- the mentors have access. Staff can and will be monitoring for abuse, vulgarity, etc; and we can block those who are disruptive.

Miscellaneous

• Crossing is the only starting city allowed when creating a character.

Completely Blocked

• Empaths

"In addition to mule issues, wounds are a limited resource that are required for direct early Empath advancement and we do not wish to create an excessive demand. In addition to the "economic" issue, an Empath start is harder and more complex than virtually any other guild." --GM Armifer

• Traders

"In addition to mule issues, some Trader systems are limited resources (shops, tables) and we don't want to create excessive demand." --GM Armifer

• Necromancers

"A fairly obvious one. It's an advanced option that is utterly unsuited for a newbie, and we wish to keep the Necromancer population down." --GM Armifer

• Teaching classes
• Some teleporting items, spells and systems. Many were updated to respect passports, but some just flat aren't available.
• Moneybelts
• Travel via player owned ships
• Gwethsmashers
• Astral guides
• Shadow Servants -- the spell can be learned, but not cast. It can be unlearned via the existing spell forgetting mechanics.
• Player Owned Caravan interiors.
• Rare metals from mining.
• ASSASSIN game / system.
• CONVERT for moving experience out of |mech lore and into crafting skills. Some kind of pass could happen for this down the line, but it's not currently planned.