I haven't posted or even thought about AOC for a very long time. Decided to see what's up with it - nothing's really changed.
Played for the first 2 or 3 years but let my sub run out.
What would it take for me to come back?
Well, to even come back F2P I'd like access to the things I bought and all of my characters. I bought Khitai, I should have access to it. I put work in to all characters I should have access to them and all my achievements up to when I stopped paying. I would open up T1/Vistrix, and all classes access to F2P also. This lack of access is the single biggest strike against me returning to AOC. Look at Everquest for an EXCELLENT free to play model.
I'd reexamine to cost of things in the store vs cost of FC points. For many things the value just isn't there.
It also mystifies and eludes me why they don't have an "all in one" pass for AOC, AO and TSW. I would likely buy a discounted year of that JUST because I'd play one of the three off and on at different times to warrant the year's pass. Again, see SOE's all access pass. This pass should have been in place for TSW's launch.
I would look at adding more variety of look through drops (again, see EQ's ornamentation system) and through the store. It would allow players to customize their look more while still designing a relatively narrow amount of gear stats.
A better LFG/Guild system would be nice. The chance to find rare loot off pretty much anything would be nice. A reason to do all content would be nice - not the 'best path' to gear up. Not saying soloists should get everything groupers get should get everything raiders get - but a variety of viable content to do would be nice. Enough of the same ol' same ol'. Go back and reitemize. We're all hankering for villa runs, right?
I fear the crowd has turned... I'll stop with that.
-Boom