Hours before Episode 2

If all goes well today, RFO-Ph will be on Episode 2, Giga 1.

This is RFO-Ph's much-awaited patch, simply because it introduces a lot of dynamics into the game, more than perhaps the other patches, and because one of the most vocal groups in the community - the Armored Riders - are hoping Ep2 is the start of the turnaround of their fortunes. Although Ryu and I believe otherwise (or that the actions of Saga, et.al., were responsible for the present woes of the ARs), many of the Riders hope that Ep2 will allow them to once again enjoy their class.

But then, Ep2 is also RF's most controversial patch, simply because the minute Ep2 goes online, we're now Free to Play (F2P).

Since the end of Open Beta (OB), RF players have considered themselves as a sort of elite in the Philippine MMORPG industry. This is because RF is supposed to be a "premium" game. Where a 100 PhP of load nets you a week's play in LUG flagship Ragnarok Online (and, AFAIK, so goes for Pay-to-Play (P2P) games), RF only nets you five (5) days. This game was considered expensive for the local MMORPG Community, and thus RF players were confident in the thinking that there was only a certain type of player in the game.

F2Ps here in the Philippines have a really bad reputation. I guess there is no better way to illustrate it than the term RF's (soon-to-be) veterans use for the expected large mass of players suddenly going into our little private preserve: squatters.

If there are any non-Pinoys reading this, the term "squatter" is a very derogatory term pertaining to one of the lowest levels of the socioeconomic spectrum. "Slums" does not even capture the essence of the perception the general public of the Philippines have over one who is "squatter." Generally, you are not only dirt-poor (with all its derogatory connotations), but you are also devoid of ethics, morals and even the most basic sense of urbanidad.

The situation in RF as LUG released the news of the game going F2P was akin to members of an exclusive golf club suddenly being told the facility was being opened to the public. You cannot imagine the stuff flying around the RF Boards during this time. It only petered out when people stood up, equally outraged at the elitist way several players viewed the coming P2P.

Originally, I thought F2P was bad; every Philippine online gamer worth his salt knows the kind of crap that can be found in most F2P MMORPGs here. And those of us who are "laking LUG"- the ones who played RO, got bored, then played ROSE - shudder at the memory of how a good game like ROSE Online tanked badly when IT went F2P.

But then... RF is that one game online gamers seem to talk about but never play because of its price tag. Many RF players have experienced having onlookers say how nice the graphics are, and their eyes gleam when RF players discuss the latest PvP. There are gamers who want to play RF but can't because of the price tag. It's like WoW: who doesn't want to go to Azeroth?

Also, there's a lot of new stuff coming in. Ryu practically drools at the potions we can purchase via the Item Mall. It's going to cost real money, but... what the hell, right? Like we're not using money now? At least, this time, there's... "immediate feedback" to the PhP we're plunking into this game.

The MAU gets tougher. Accretian specialists get deadlier with the new grenades. CP feed is a thing of the past, since you can't lose more than a certain amount of your CP in a single day. Chip Wars are expected to be longer because of a lot of new features connected to that most central of RF activities. Mining will be harder, but in my opinion the realism in this new "bleed to mine" feature will be worth it. As one Vanguard said, "mas hardcore na siya." Leon's Weapons - the so-called Relics - new BDs, and the friggin' monsters now have spells.

I remember when the news of Ep2 coming had just arrived. I was at LUG to fix a problem with my account when I ran into GM Garamond. Boss Gara knows me from the Experimental RP Scenarios over at Altrax, and because I'm an active "Boarder." The first thing Teh G said to me was, "your class is going to rule in Ep2!" That's because Elemental defences are much reduced come Ep2. And I am, after all, an Archmage. With GM spells.

But best of all... the Anima are now Level-capped.

There is justice, after all ^_^

I probably won't be able to login until later tonight. Hopefully, Ep2 will be up then. And we'll finally know if the long wait has been worth it.