The discussion about the sandbox MMO ArcheAge is currently ignited by a sensitive topic. Is the head start perhaps not worth as much as some think?
This is a topic with explosive potential that MMOs have been contemplating for quite some time, described by the term “Pay2Win.” What advantages do we offer? How much money do we charge for them? One method of distributing privileges to players who pay for them is the head start. This is now sparking a dispute in ArcheAge. Should it ultimately not be worth as much as assumed?
What is a head start and why is it there?
Nowadays, it is common for players to be allowed into the game before the actual release. This is called a “head start.” Three to five days before it opens for the general public, who have only purchased a standard edition, owners of a “special” edition or pre-order customers or otherwise privileged ones can already secure the server.
This is not particularly tragic for a “normal” theme park MMO. Who is the first to reach the maximum level is usually not too important. Sure, people with a head start might find a less crowded quest area and therefore have an easier time progressing, but that is generally not too bad for others.
For the publisher, a head start has two advantages: On one hand, money (the privilege is usually sold at a high price), and on the other, there is not an overwhelming rush to the servers at the exact moment but rather it is spread out over two dates – or, in the case of The Elder Scrolls Online, even three. There, they gave pre-order customers a three-day lead, buyers of a special edition even five.
And why is the topic so critical for ArcheAge?
While hardly anyone complained about the head start in The Elder Scrolls Online or WildStar, the situation in ArcheAge is somewhat different. This is because in ArcheAge, players are in stronger competition with each other than in TESO or WildStar.
Here, “building lots” are limited. Especially the best spots, which stand out due to their ideal location, are highly coveted.
In addition, the game features open-world PvP. This means that whoever gains a special advantage in the first 4 days – and this will certainly happen – can benefit from this advantage for a long time.
There are already extensive reports about guilds preparing for the server launch strategically. They plan to plant, protect, and chop down 2000 trees in secret locations to craft the first boats, thus dominating trade and relieving others of their savings.
You can imagine how it would turn out for players who arrive in ArcheAge four days late. One might say that we could be talking about wolves and lambs here.
And is this not working out now?
The excitement among some owners of a founder’s package (which grants a 4-day head start in ArcheAge) now comes from the fact that Trion Worlds announced they would not start with all servers at the head start. They reserve the right, should the interest be significant enough, to bring servers online at the actual release on September 16. This means that these would be “virgin servers” on which no one has an advantage, as they would start only on September 16 and not four days earlier.
This implies, conversely, that the number of “disadvantaged” players, who start four days later than the “hardcore gamers,” could decrease on the servers that are already online at the head start.
And that would diminish the “head start advantage” that many “wolves” were hoping for.
