MMORPG trials have always been a thing, and Guild Wars 2 has one as well. There are two split groups within the GW2 fanbase, either paid or premium players. This guide will lay out the differences between the two in gameplay terms, explaining what’s different. With the base game being entirely free, there’s already a ton to do in the world of GW2. And with the paid version of the game, it just gets better. The developers do occasionally offer free trial weekends, and with the oncoming Path of Fire launch, there may be another one of those. Use the guide below to figure out all the stuff you get access to if you buy the expansions.
Yes really, all you have to do is pay the fee for the two expansions and you get access to the full game. The price is pretty good for what you get. And since you don’t have to pay a monthly fee, you get access for the entire life of the game. As ArenaNet seem keen to support the game, it’s likely to be alive for years to come.
Missing gameplay features abound
The most obvious thing missing when it comes to free to play vs. paid accounts in Guild Wars 2 is the two expansions. The new classes, added levels and powerful gear are a huge change from the base game. And not only that, but critical features like gliding and mounts will also be unavailable to you.
Other gameplay features like bag space are also limited. Given how much loot there is, the restriction of 3 bag slots per character is crippling. And speaking of characters, you’re limited to two slots on a free account. Premium players really do have it so much easier.
And even if you can deal with not having the expansions, there’s a fair amount missing. A bunch of PvE and PvP content is locked off, or level-restricted. For PvE, Raids are not an option on a Free to Play account. And even before that, the LFG tools is level locked. If you’re a PvP fan, WvW is locked until level 60, and you can only access Custom and Unranked Arenas until you’ve hit PvP Rank 20. That’s a lot of work and though the rewards are worth it, there’s a lot missing.
But it’s not just in-game content that you’re locked out of. Communication and purchasing of both in-game items and premium content is also restricted. For communication, you’re limited in how often you can send in-game mail, which is an obvious choice to prevent bot spammers, but the Gemstore — the premium cash shop — is also locked down.
Bonuses and new content
Free to Play accounts do not receive the Daily Login Bonus. Not only do you get free Gold, crafting items and other boosts, but there’s one big thing missing from this lot. Paid players get access to special promotions for the episodic seasonal content, and this is very important. Some of the best gold-farming methods in the game are tied to the
You also don’t get access to the Gemstore for certain items. Free-to-play accounts can’t purchase items like skins for mounts, and other important aspects. When it comes to free to play vs. paid accounts in Guild Wars 2, you can exchange Gems for gold, but you cannot buy Gems with gold. But one of the most important premium features in the game, the Trading Post is also restricted. If you decide you really like the game, you won’t be able to level up crafting too easily, as you can only purchase certain items via the Trading Post as a free player.
