I’ve seen many threads here debating if early access gives some players an advantage over others or not, I’ve participated in some of these debates and I partially agree with both sides (meaning that I don’t have a definitive opinion on this yet) although I’m leaning towards - Yes, it does gives some players an advantage - Also, early access to people that can pay for it is a bad industry practice trend in general.
So to put this to rest (for myself and maybe for others) I upgraded to the Epic edition a few days ago.
My plan is to jump on the 3 days early access, play as much as possible and - Actively - try to further an advantage over people without early access.
I will do that and report back on this thread with whatever I find out.
(I understand the majority of progress content isn’t available on early access, and the main advantages are on profession gold making and leveling, but still…I will try everything)
As I mentioned in the very first thread that was made about this topic.
I don’t care about the player advantage one may have, even with the same launch I got outdone by people who put 10x more effort into it than me both level and gold wise.
What I do care about is the vibe of everyone going in at the same time, that initial boat/zeppelin experience of everyone getting together and going to a new unexplored land together and seeing whats up.
Early access is stupid and unnecessary, bad practice entirely especially when it has not been done for the entire existence of the game, it does not need it now.
People defending this shiet decision and hiding behind “But server load balance will be better” are just trying to find a way to excuse it.
Server load balance is shiet regardless, it’ll still be shiet when the early access is a thing and it’ll still be shiet for people without early access.
Just wish it wasn’t a thing for the experience of day 1 alone. Not much more to say about it.
If you want to make some good gold, the 3 day advantage is massive. Without the early access, you’re going to arrive to an auction house saturated with materials and crafted weapons/armor by those who started 3 days earlier.
I think there were enough threads about this nonsensical topic already, honestly.
I think that, similar to those other threads, this one won’t lead anywhere good.
I honestly couldn’t care less. And this goes in a similar vein to the whole thing about that $500 Ahri skin in League (in case people have been living under a rock). You. Don’t. Have. To. Buy. It. I won’t. And I will still be able to play the game at the highest pawssible level in both PvE and PvP with no disadvantages.
Next time there will be 30 days early access for 100$ with raids and dungeons and people will be like: “Why do you care? Are you a world first raider?”
I’m sure they’ll justify anything
Exactly! this is what I tell people that says this isn’t a big deal.
this can very well be a trial run for Blizzard, if people stay passive they up it a notch next launch.
I see the same thing with the Heroic Edition Mount (Algarian Stormrider).
I had no idea this mount had a special dragonriding skill until I bought it (for those who don’t know, here is the link to Wowhead) Lightning Rush - Spell - World of Warcraft (wowhead.com)
now…this ability just offers a different mechanics and no advantages over the regular dragonriding mounts, but absolutely nothing tells me this isn’t also a trial run and that there won’t be store mounts with “pay to win” special mechanics in the future.
3 days is barely any advantage. By the time M+ and raid starts everyone is on the same level anyways.
You only get a slight advantage with crafting. But even that is very very minor.
So conclusion as I see it, No. It doesn’t give much of an advantage over non-epic buyers.
The only advantage is to not have to wait 3 days longer to play.
