Sounds a bit rubbish. Only two gold? Limited access community? Three bags!
Im guessing i cant use one of my exisitng toons to play free? What will happen to all my stuff in my other bags?
I like to hope on and play every now and again (maybe once a year) can i still pay for that month?
Even if you played only for a month on full subscription before it goes F2P you become a premium member. You keep all the gold you have.
anyway here are some Q&As from offical forums
http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?t=335135
Answers to Your Questions
Here we go... I'll try to keep updated as we find more. Thanks to Sapience for the sticky. Thanks to all contributors, as well! They are cited when possible.
Version 6.2
Non-Comprehensive List of Primary Sources:
Official FAQ
VIP/Premium/Free Player Chart
Loyalty Special Rewards Program
Now, on to the goods...
~~~ACCOUNT TIER QUESTIONS~~~
1. Will I lose character slots if I maintain my paid subscription?
NO. From the FAQ: "The benefits and features of the Adventurer's Pack will remain available to you. Whether you are a VIP, Premium player, or Free player, you will get to keep your 2 extra character slots and shared storage bank." Additionally, Mines of Moria and any other added slots will be maintained. Thanks, Blackadar.
2. Will I lose characters if I downgrade from premium to unpaid, VIP?
NO. You will lose access to them, but you can regain access while paying. From the FAQ: "Other previously created characters will be visible but not accessible unless you unlock more character slots."
3. Will DDO and LOTRO points combine?
NO. "Turbine Points are not transferrable, so Turbine Points purchased in the DDO Store cannot be transferred to the LOTRO Store or vice versa."
4. What are the "premium classes?"
From Sapience: Warden and Rune-keeper. Players who did not purchase Moria and want to play these classes from the start can purchase them separately.
5. Will there be Free-2-Play and Pay-2-Pay servers?
NO. Tarrance: "There won't be a server merge, and there won't be separate free-to-play only servers. All the servers will remain as they are, and the new population will pick from them just as you once did."
6. What is the maximum amount of character slots achievable?
11. From the FAQ: "At any point, you can purchase more character slots in the LOTRO Store, up to 11 character slots per server."
7. What is going to happen to those that already own houses?
Nothing. All account levels can get housing.
8. If a VIP Subscription goes inactive, do I lose my gold?
NO. Tarrance said: "If you are a VIP and you downgrade to premium you will not lose any of your gold."
9. What happens when a VIP stops paying to subscribe?
They become a "Premium" member. Tarrance said, if you've ever spent money on the game (subscribed or bought Turbine points) you'll never be downgraded below Premium.
10. If a player decides to downgrade to a Premium account from VIP, and that player now has only 3 slots available (and chooses to not unlock any more slots) how will that player be able to select those 3 characters?
They will be allowed to select/pick which three characters you have access to. From the FAQ, you can "...pick the characters you want to play. Your other previously created characters will be visible but not accessible unless you unlock more character slots."
11. If a player goes down to Premium for a few months, but then re-sub to VIP, do they keep MoM and SoM, and the adventurers pack benefits?
YES. You keep ALL benefits you paid for. Source from the FAQ, "The benefits and features of the Adventurer's Pack will remain available to you. Whether you are a VIP, Premium player, or Free player, you will get to keep your 2 extra character slots and shared storage bank." As well, "when LOTRO Free-to-Play becomes available you will still be able to access the content and features of any expansions you have previously purchased. Whether you are a VIP or a Premium player, the content and features of these expansions will be available to you in their entirety. If you decide not to join the VIP program or decide to downgrade to Premium player status, the content and features of these expansions will still be available to you. You will still be able to play your Rune-keeper and Warden characters as long as they are in character slots you have selected or have unlocked by visiting the LOTRO Store."
12. Do current subscribers lose any benefits if they continue paying?
NO. Current subscribers "keep what they have."
13. How long is a "Play Session" and is it per character or per account?
All you must do is log into your account. From Marketroid: It's only a login. Simplest criteria we could establish.
14. What actions will be taken to ensure that Free Players don't abuse gold scamming/Real World Trading?
From the FAQ: Free players can send in-game mail less frequently than Premium players and VIPs. Free players can use in-game chat but cannot send more that one tell every 5 seconds. Free players can bid and buyout auctions in the Auction House but cannot post items. These restrictions can be removed at any time in the LOTRO Store buy purchasing the corresponding items.
15. Will Turbine honor your current pricing plan in the future?
YES. Per Marketroid, "The price of your plan remains the same. That subscription plan will simply start to provide VIP benefits once we launch the new release." Thanks, Belisana, for the help!
16. If you have 2 subscriptions on 1 account, will points be based on account or subscription?
Per subscription, according to Sapience.
17. Will you get credit in the future for months you are subscribed this summer?
YES. Sapience confirmed the use of a "back pay" system.
18. Will a VIP-turned-Premium (VIP who stopped paying) lose access to monster characters?
YES. Access will be restored when they regain their VIP status. From the FAQ: "The monster play feature is reserved as an exclusive feature for VIPs. If you want to play as a monster and join Sauron's dark forces, you can do it at anytime by upgrading to VIP!"
19. Can Free/Premium players earn in-game points, and buy anything (including expansions) that VIP members can?
YES. According to Sapience in this very topic, "There will be ways in game to earn various amounts of Turbine points. In theory, you could never spend a penny in the store but still acquire enough Turbine Points to purchase everything you would want. It would take a great deal of effort, but it would be possible."
20. What should Lifetime members do to earn the maximum amount of points until the release of the new Store?
Log in at least once a month. Lifetime Membership Subscribers must have at least one active play session per month during the Special Offers Eligibility Date.
21. Will Turbine be offering Lifetime Subscriptions again?
Sapience has spoken; no plans to offer lifetimes again, at the moment.
22. Where can I get a "promo code" for the Beta?
Currently, there are no codes. Go ahead and apply.
23. Does my beta entry stack with my auto-entry for subscribing to the game?
YES. If you subscribe to the game and enter via the form, you have two chances at beta.
24. Will you get retroactive points for gameplay objectives completed now that will give points in the future?
NO. Rather sad news confirmed by Patience in this thread.
25. When does Beta start?
June 16. Thanks to KouklaGirl for the heads up!
26. What areas and quests can Free Players access?
They can access all quests in the Shire, Ered Luin, and Breeland. Additionally, they can access all epic quests in Book 1. They can access all Eriador areas, but will have to purchase access to their respective quests. There are several sources, but a consolidated interview is the best.
~~~ITEM STORE QUESTIONS~~~
1. Will I be able to buy epic/raid loot at the item store? Will this diminish the value of raid gear?
NO. Quote from the FAQ: "While items in the Store are designed to immediately enhance your in-game experience, premium loot and rare gear are the rewards of adventure and are only obtainable through gameplay."
2. Can you buy expansions with Turbine Points?
YES! From Sapience: you can "save them up for a big purchase like an entire expansion or something similar". So, you can presumably get paid expansions for free if you save up!
3. Do points ever expire?
NO.
4. Do individual characters earn and spend points, or does your account earn and spend them?
Points are by account, not character. "Turbine Points will be automatically credited into the player’s account and will be made available for use in the LOTRO Free-to-Play Store after the launch of the LOTRO Free-to-Play service"
5. Will the store be like a pop-up ad?
NO. Per Sapience, the store "is a UI window much like your character sheet or inventory. Or even more accurately, much like accessing the Lorebook in game. It does not pop up of its own accord."
6. Will the item store devalue crafted items?
NO. Sapience has explicitly stated that this will not occur, and encourages participation in the Beta to further test this.
~~~EXPANSION QUESTIONS~~~
1. Will there be a new landmass in the next update, Volume 3 Book 2?
YES! Enedwaith is on the way: "We’ve revamped the game’s starting areas, added the new region of Enedwaith, and will continue the journey of the Rangers south in Book 2 of our epic story."
2. What areas will content released after Volume 3 Book 2 focus on?
"Improvements to the Item Advancement / Legendary Items system, to Radiance, and to the monster play system."
3. What is the "Wardrobe System"?
Per Sapience: "Wardrobe is a special storage for your cosmetic items. That way they don't take up inventory, bank, vault, or housing storage." Thanks to Unique for the find!
4. Will the new PvMP changes include something leveling creeps up to 65?
No, according to a sarcastic post by Frelorn.
5. When will the next landmass release?
This fall, according to Sapience.Thanks, Fiat77124, for the info.
6. Will new servers be added due to the influx of players?
YES! Patience has confirmed it in this very thread.
oh, I'm also one of those annoying people posting about wanting a refund over on the lotro forums. Still, it keeps me entertained 