Curse

EternalTempest · May 01, 2006, 09:22 PM // 21:22

http://www.guildwars.com/default.php

Quote:

Ten-Day Grace Period Explained 1 May 2006

The grace period mentioned in an earlier news post will end at 11:59 p.m. PDT on May 8. During the 10-day grace period, if you have a Prophecies account and have added a Factions pre-order key, you can create a 5th or 6th character. After the 10-day grace period, if you have not added a Factions (retail) key to your account, you will not be able to create a 5th or 6th character. We will not delete your new characters, items, or skill unlocks after the 10-day grace period. However, you will need to add a Factions (retail) key to your account in order to play with any Canthan characters after the end of the Extended Head Start Event.

This is great

since I am waiting till the 5th to get my CE Edition.

Clarified/Updated Message

Quote:

Ten-Day Grace Period Explained 1 May 2006

The grace period mentioned in an earlier news post will end at 11:59 p.m. PDT on May 8. During the 10-day grace period, if you have a Prophecies account and have added a Factions pre-order key, you can create a 5th or 6th character. After the 10-day grace period, if you have not added a Factions (retail) key to your account, you will not be able to create a 5th or 6th character. We will not delete your new characters, items, or skill unlocks after the 10-day grace period. However, you will need to add a Factions (retail) key to your account in order to play with any Canthan characters after the end of the Extended Head Start Event.

Please read rest of thread (Gaile has posted on Page 2 also).

CyberNigma · May 01, 2006, 09:56 PM // 21:56

This rocks. As much as I have harped on ANet/NCSoft on bugs and issues/decisions, they definitely did us right here. I have been holding out for the Collector's Edition, but was willing to go with the regular one instead due to the delays if it wasn't available by the end of the original grace period(today I think). Now they will most certainly get my extra 20 dollars. Things didn't work out perfectly, they realized that, and they offered a good solution..

Good job :-)

MicroBlood · May 01, 2006, 10:57 PM // 22:57

I do not understand this. So what it's saying, is that if you don't buy the game 10 days from now, you will not be able to have the 2 extra character slots? Sorry if I sound stupid, but if this is really what it means, I think it's unfair.

broodijzer · May 01, 2006, 10:59 PM // 22:59

no, they disable your 2 character slots (your new characters will still be there) and re-enable them when you add a "final" factions/ce key.

MicroBlood · May 01, 2006, 11:04 PM // 23:04

So, does the pre-order only last for a couple days or weeks? Sorry, I'm really confused on this x.x

CyberNigma · May 01, 2006, 11:16 PM // 23:16

This is what I take from it all. They realize that there is a problem with delivery of the Collector's Edition. They realize that some people that wait will be upset if they get cut off (even temporarily) from the access granted to them via the pre-order kit. They also realize that many of those people that have been playing, using the pre-order kit's early access key, will really want to continue playing uninterrupted, and will therefore forego the Collector's Edition for the regular version. That is, of course not good for anyone (we don't get the goodies, they don't get the extra cash).

So, if you are playing on the pre-order kit's early access key, you can continue to play until the night of the 8th (next Monday). You can use all 6 slots, take characters to Cantha, create Factions characters, etc up to that point. If you buy and enter a Factions (collector's or regular) key before 00:00 May 9, then nothing changes and you continue on. If you do not, then the two slots are suspended (still there but unusable), Cantha is inaccessble (Prophecies characters assumingly will be transported back to Lion's Arch), and Factions Characters will also be suspended. Once you buy and enter the Factions key, then everything will go back to normal (all 6 slots available, Cantha available, Factions characters available). In either case, they appear to have decided not to delete anything in case you add the key later.

If I got anything wrong, please feel free to correct me. I hope that helps..

MicroBlood · May 01, 2006, 11:20 PM // 23:20

Ah! Ok, I get it now, thanks for the help =)

SylverDragon · May 01, 2006, 11:42 PM // 23:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberNigma

So, if you are playing on the pre-order kit's early access key, you can continue to play until the night of the 8th (next Monday). You can use all 6 slots, take characters to Cantha, create Factions characters, etc up to that point.

I think what it means is that the preorder key allows access to Factions up to 11.59pm PDT tonight (Monday), when the extended headstart runs out, after that you will not be able to access Factions without adding a retail key.

From then up to 11.59pm PDT on the 8th, you will still have access to the extra slots, and after that the slots will be locked until you add a retail key.

Unfortunately, I can't see the point of that since I expect most people have used the extra slots to create Factions characters which they will not be able to use

Fates · May 01, 2006, 11:52 PM // 23:52

That's doesn't clear things up at all, wtf writes these?

No where in that announcement does it says you can continue to play your new 5th and 6th characters in Cantha. Please dont read that into it, I think that is ommited on purpose.

And if you can still play in Cantha after tonight, I'm going to be royally pissed. I waited until today, hoping that a CE would show up somewhere in town. Went and called all over and noone has them yet so I bought a standard edition so as to ensure I can still play in Cantha tonight and tomorrow.

If now they are telling us that we can play after midnight PST tonight, they royally screwed me with their previous "announcements."

Ghull Ka · May 01, 2006, 11:52 PM // 23:52

Awesome. Thank you, ANet, this is a great gesture.

CyberNigma · May 02, 2006, 12:31 AM // 00:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fates Monk

That's doesn't clear things up at all, wtf writes these?

No where in that announcement does it says you can continue to play your new 5th and 6th characters in Cantha. Please dont read that into it, I think that is ommited on purpose.

And if you can still play in Cantha after tonight, I'm going to be royally pissed. I waited until today, hoping that a CE would show up somewhere in town. Went and called all over and noone has them yet so I bought a standard edition so as to ensure I can still play in Cantha tonight and tomorrow.

If now they are telling us that we can play after midnight PST tonight, they royally screwed me with their previous "announcements."

You may be correct, after looking more closely at it. They do say 10 Day Grace Period instead of Early Access. I guess we'll see tonight. I think some people are already pissed off that they extended the Early Access (probably this grace period too) after they canceled their Collector's pre-order and switched to the regular one when they heard they wouldn't get them in time. In other words, you will not be the first one pissed off.

I apologize to anyone for jumping the gun if I am incorrect..

As to your first question, as can be clearly seen to the left of the message, CyberNigma is wtf wrote that.. :-)

If they're not talking about early access, however, I have absolutely no idea what the Grace Period is for, seeing as how they clearly say the stuff will not be deleted. Does it mean that you could play with 6 Tyrians until the end of the 8th, but not any characters that are Canthan, and then after the 8th you can only play with the 4 slots? In otherwords you get access to the slots until the 8th, just not Cantha, but the extra slots are just as much part of Factions as Cantha.. Oh well.. only time will tell. They've done the right thing in this matter so I'm not worried.

Thallandor · May 02, 2006, 12:34 AM // 00:34

Thank you for your consideration Anet good job on understanding the needs of those who wants to support you further by buying CE.

I will be getting my copy of the CE after all

CyberNigma · May 02, 2006, 07:11 AM // 07:11

Yep, he was right... I got cut off at 0200CST.. I may pick up the regular one tomorrow, but then again Friday isn't too far away (if it's available anywhere).

Hghlnder72 · May 02, 2006, 07:18 AM // 07:18

this is horrible. so now all the people that bought the regular get to continue farming and finding all these new places while those of us who really want the new stuff, have to wait 5 more days to play? this is horse crap. if your gonna give a grace period, make it from the day that everyone has access to the game. dont come out with 1 version 1 week, and another verision another week. cuz we all know that if we buy regular, we cant return it for ce. this sucks major buttocks.

Ardrid · May 02, 2006, 07:20 AM // 07:20

I am rather upset about this. Unless the servers just haven't been updated yet, it would appear that the Grace period only extends to keeping the 5th and 6th character slots and not playing in Cantha. This sucks because I am one of the many people waiting for the CE on the 4th and I really don't want to give it up for the original. Moreover, I was having a good time getting my Rt/N further with my bro's A/W and now I can't play until next week. Here's hoping this is just a temporary thing...

Sab · May 02, 2006, 07:22 AM // 07:22

I was just cut off too, my Tyrian character was teleported back to Ascalon as soon as I zoned back to town. My Canthan character (5th slot) is now inaccessable until I add in a retail code, but I can still create a Tyrian Character with my 6th slot.

Arkis · May 02, 2006, 07:23 AM // 07:23

Wow... just wow.

I probably didn't read clearly what it said, thinking oh 10 day grace period yay! No need to worry... but I guess after further reading and getting kicked out of Cantha.. it's kind of a stupid idea.

I mean extending it for 10 days wouldnt be bad at all espeically for those of us wanting the collectors edition because we love GW =P. Punishing us for wanting be support GW even more. Lol.

The Chimpster · May 02, 2006, 07:39 AM // 07:39

Um, can't access my factions characters now...

So much for the 8th of may...

Come on A-net, save me from having to do revision for my first year uni exams next week.

Gaile Gray · May 02, 2006, 07:39 AM // 07:39

Please understand why the Extended Head Start ended a few minutes ago: There are people who would abuse being given a large amount of time with access to the full retail game. There are those--you see them in this forum--who would "burn through" the game in a few days and never look back. We went above and beyond: We offered a Head Start, and then put forth an Extended Head Start that was even longer.

But at some point, painful as it might be, we had to close the servers to those who do not have a retail key. Allowing people to play 10 days on a pre-order that doesn't net us anything, that actually costs us money, would not be a wise business decision.

I don't have a CE. No one at ArenaNet has a CE. And yes, that's disappointing as heck! (You think it's bad wanting to play? Imagine helping to make the game and not being able to access it!

)

In all of this, and I know this might fall on a few deaf ears, there is a little brightness: We have learned about production, about shipping, and about how things can go awry. We have already made changes and will not be undertaking the same steps again. We'll also be well able to predict with greater accuracy the demand for Collector's Editions in the future. I know, again, that this is pale solace for a situation where you can't have the product that you're willing to buy! But do know that this should positively be the last time any of us have to deal with this again!

(And to those of you keeping your chin up and maintaining a positive attitude, thank you for that!)

eSe · May 02, 2006, 07:40 AM // 07:40

the extra 2 slots are for tyria chars i u used 1 of those slots 2 make a tyria char u'll still be able 2 use it thats wat they mean till the 8th of may