SM-Count wrote:I played, found out that it's basically a pay to play game if you want to be competitive at all, decided it wasn't worth my money and stopped playing.
The system is a bit gay I agree, but it's not entirely pay to play like alot of games. You can buy these packs of content that actually offer you dozens of hours (confirmed) more gameplay with rewards etc. So essentially you're buying a game with content, not premium.
The only REAL advantage for p2p users is in the NON-RANKED games, where you are matched with premium and non premiums together. Ranked is only playable by premiums to begin with (which I personally dislike but to do this it's only $20 once and you get new features and content as well as the option of buying the packs).
However, paying for content is different in my eyes, since you're paying for content just like you would with any other game.
The truth is, this game has a crapload of content to offer for very litte $$, and people just don't read/research enough to know this. I agree it's their own fault and I don't like it myself much either, but it's the truth...
You can still play normal, vs players, and with friends in coop without premium, and you will probably meet very very few premiums in non-ranked as a non-premium, simply because the premiums will be playing only ranked which you can't as non-prem.
Bottom line you're correct though, if you want to be competitive you have to pay 2 play.
I'm so disappointed, I really am. I just want my favorite games series to stick around in a solid Farking (competitive) game for once. Sigh. AoE gameplay has all the features for a brilliant competitive game too. Neutral mobs, map control&awareness, scouting, micro/macro and speed is everything. It's just such a shame... *sadface*
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