Guide: How to F2P in 5.0
There’s been lots of discussion on how crippled the SWTOR Free to Play (F2P) option is, and that it is even worse in 5.0. All that is true. BUT, I do want to assure new players (are there anymore?) that it is indeed EASY, and even quite enjoyable, to do the FULL 8 class stories as a F2P. I made a F2P account before release of 4.0 just to investigate. Following are some tips based on my experience:
[note: extra detail hidden under “spoiler” just to make it cleaner. There aren’t any spoilers]
Some background:
I’m an experienced player off and on for ~ 3 years. Back in late ’15, pre-4.0, I made a new account just to have a “F2P adventure”. The fun was in the challenge of making more from less, and finding ways to game the game! 4.0 radically changed the game, significantly inhibiting gearing for non-subs. But in its place, they made a limited amount of custom gear more accessible, made companions more flexible and powerful, and frankly, made the game brain-dead easy. So if you can get past that, and just treat it as a set of good stories, linked by easy (but repetitive) combat, you’ll have fun!
0) Details for the limitations of a F2P account are given here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/swtor/wiki/f2p
That link is mostly up-to-date and much better than SWTOR’s official version. One difference: F2P now gets 3 characters per server.
1) If you haven’t registered yet, I recommend doing so through someone’s Refer A Friend (RAF) link. Primarily for the Inventory slot it gives you. If you are already registered, too late for this.
It only works for brand new accounts or for returning subscribers. You have to click on an active subscriber’s link, otherwise it won’t work. If you don’t want to use the one in my or another poster’s sig, I recommend the one at Dulfy.net to support the great work she does. http://dulfy.net/donate/
The inventory slot is mailed to each new character you make, giving them 40, instead of the default 30. You’ll find that as an F2P, inventory space is at a premium.
2) Get the SWTOR Security Key app. http://www.swtor.com/info/security-key
The main reason is to get free 100 Cartel Coins (CC) per month. Oh, it also makes your account more secure :)
There are Android and Apple apps, but I hear you can make it work with a Windows PC as well.
3) Do NOT use those free CC yet! Save them up for some Quality of Life (QOL) items that will make ease your F2P restrictions.
My first purchase would be the 375 CC Going Places Basic Bundle as it has the awesome Rocket Boost. The single best purchasable item IMO. See my (alt account) link for other purchase suggestions.
4) First toon? Up to you. See many posts on that. I do recommend starting with a Human as they get the best bonus perk when you reach level 50.
Every race gets a Legacy perk at level 50. For most, it is an unlock to be able to use that race on any class. Since humans are already unlocked for all, they instead give a 100 Presence bonus. Valuable for buffing all your present and future companions.
...
Okay, I can't resist giving my recommendations :)
Best stories: Jedi Knight, Sith Warrior, Imperial Agent
Most iconic: Jedi Knight (sort of what KOTOR3 may have been)
Easiest for a newbie: any ranged AOE-based class: Imperial Agent Sniper / Smuggler Gunslinger, Jedi Consular Sage/ Sith Inquisitor Sorcerer, Commando Trooper / Mercenary Bounty Hunter
5) Don’t spend credits on your starter planet. You don’t need any gear upgrades. The gear you get from drops is sufficient.
In fact, don’t spend credits in general. Use them for things you know you really want. Like your first Stronghold and custom gear mods (see below). With time, you’ll get a better idea of what to buy.
6) When you get to Fleet HQ (after completing starter planet). Get custom gear from the level 7 vendor in the Supplies section.
As an F2P, your gearing options became very limited with 4.0 and worse with 5.0. So your main gearing path will be to buy the “mods” (armorings, etc.) from the vendors in the Supplies section which you install in “Custom” gear (gear with slots for inserting mods). At least they made more nice starter custom gear available. See the many posts on how to do this. Key point: the Custom gear itself has no “stats”, they all come from the mods you put in the slots.
7) When you reach level 15, buy a Stronghold (5000 credits for either Coruscant or Dromund Kaas). This is the single greatest QOL add to the game. It gives you a Stronghold Legacy Storage (80 slots of shared inventory space across all characters on your server). Makes F2P far more viable.
Strongholds are not to be underestimated. It'll be your in-game home. They give you a mailbox, a vendor, the storage. And you can buy tons of other QOL and decorative items.
8) Not at first, but if you like the game, do subscribe for 1 month! After it expires, you automatically switch to “Preferred” status, which is far less restrictive than F2P
You can get Preferred Status directly by purchasing $5 worth of CC from the online SWTOR store. But far better to sub for a month for many reasons. Find a new/unopened SWTOR box copy at Amazon or Ebay, often for under $10. It has a 1-month sub code in it. That’s what I eventually did with this account.
Preferred grants a lot of things, but the two most important for a F2P are the cargo bay and 2 quickbar unlocks. These greatly aid inventory and ability management respectively. See the reddit list linked at the top.
9) When in doubt, or with questions, check back here. But the single best resource for SWTOR is Dulfy.net. Get to know her site!
10) Enjoy!
[note: extra detail hidden under “spoiler” just to make it cleaner. There aren’t any spoilers]
Spoiler
Some background:
I’m an experienced player off and on for ~ 3 years. Back in late ’15, pre-4.0, I made a new account just to have a “F2P adventure”. The fun was in the challenge of making more from less, and finding ways to game the game! 4.0 radically changed the game, significantly inhibiting gearing for non-subs. But in its place, they made a limited amount of custom gear more accessible, made companions more flexible and powerful, and frankly, made the game brain-dead easy. So if you can get past that, and just treat it as a set of good stories, linked by easy (but repetitive) combat, you’ll have fun!
0) Details for the limitations of a F2P account are given here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/swtor/wiki/f2p
Spoiler
That link is mostly up-to-date and much better than SWTOR’s official version. One difference: F2P now gets 3 characters per server.
1) If you haven’t registered yet, I recommend doing so through someone’s Refer A Friend (RAF) link. Primarily for the Inventory slot it gives you. If you are already registered, too late for this.
Spoiler
It only works for brand new accounts or for returning subscribers. You have to click on an active subscriber’s link, otherwise it won’t work. If you don’t want to use the one in my or another poster’s sig, I recommend the one at Dulfy.net to support the great work she does. http://dulfy.net/donate/
The inventory slot is mailed to each new character you make, giving them 40, instead of the default 30. You’ll find that as an F2P, inventory space is at a premium.
2) Get the SWTOR Security Key app. http://www.swtor.com/info/security-key
The main reason is to get free 100 Cartel Coins (CC) per month. Oh, it also makes your account more secure :)
Spoiler
There are Android and Apple apps, but I hear you can make it work with a Windows PC as well.
3) Do NOT use those free CC yet! Save them up for some Quality of Life (QOL) items that will make ease your F2P restrictions.
Spoiler
My first purchase would be the 375 CC Going Places Basic Bundle as it has the awesome Rocket Boost. The single best purchasable item IMO. See my (alt account) link for other purchase suggestions.
4) First toon? Up to you. See many posts on that. I do recommend starting with a Human as they get the best bonus perk when you reach level 50.
Spoiler
Every race gets a Legacy perk at level 50. For most, it is an unlock to be able to use that race on any class. Since humans are already unlocked for all, they instead give a 100 Presence bonus. Valuable for buffing all your present and future companions.
...
Okay, I can't resist giving my recommendations :)
Best stories: Jedi Knight, Sith Warrior, Imperial Agent
Most iconic: Jedi Knight (sort of what KOTOR3 may have been)
Easiest for a newbie: any ranged AOE-based class: Imperial Agent Sniper / Smuggler Gunslinger, Jedi Consular Sage/ Sith Inquisitor Sorcerer, Commando Trooper / Mercenary Bounty Hunter
5) Don’t spend credits on your starter planet. You don’t need any gear upgrades. The gear you get from drops is sufficient.
Spoiler
In fact, don’t spend credits in general. Use them for things you know you really want. Like your first Stronghold and custom gear mods (see below). With time, you’ll get a better idea of what to buy.
6) When you get to Fleet HQ (after completing starter planet). Get custom gear from the level 7 vendor in the Supplies section.
Spoiler
As an F2P, your gearing options became very limited with 4.0 and worse with 5.0. So your main gearing path will be to buy the “mods” (armorings, etc.) from the vendors in the Supplies section which you install in “Custom” gear (gear with slots for inserting mods). At least they made more nice starter custom gear available. See the many posts on how to do this. Key point: the Custom gear itself has no “stats”, they all come from the mods you put in the slots.
7) When you reach level 15, buy a Stronghold (5000 credits for either Coruscant or Dromund Kaas). This is the single greatest QOL add to the game. It gives you a Stronghold Legacy Storage (80 slots of shared inventory space across all characters on your server). Makes F2P far more viable.
Spoiler
Strongholds are not to be underestimated. It'll be your in-game home. They give you a mailbox, a vendor, the storage. And you can buy tons of other QOL and decorative items.
8) Not at first, but if you like the game, do subscribe for 1 month! After it expires, you automatically switch to “Preferred” status, which is far less restrictive than F2P
Spoiler
You can get Preferred Status directly by purchasing $5 worth of CC from the online SWTOR store. But far better to sub for a month for many reasons. Find a new/unopened SWTOR box copy at Amazon or Ebay, often for under $10. It has a 1-month sub code in it. That’s what I eventually did with this account.
Preferred grants a lot of things, but the two most important for a F2P are the cargo bay and 2 quickbar unlocks. These greatly aid inventory and ability management respectively. See the reddit list linked at the top.
9) When in doubt, or with questions, check back here. But the single best resource for SWTOR is Dulfy.net. Get to know her site!
10) Enjoy!
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