I'm sorry but 3 days seems like a ridiculously large head start. Not that I'm really complaining, I'm still preordering the collectors edition next Friday lol. But I don't know, I just don't think 3 days is really fair I guess, to the people who preordered and those who have to wait till release, some will have a large advantage especially in the market. Also I think that in this Head Start, it will hurt TERA's image as there won't be as many people online as there could have been. Granted there will be many, many people who get access to the early release, but not like it could be.

I guess what I'm trying to convey is there will be a big gap between people who started 3 days before others.. And with the lower numbers in population, they will be able to level/farm/quest and w/e else with relative ease, as oppose to everyone else which will have to compete in the zerg.

Honestly just a few hours would suffice, something that would just barely get players ahead in the world nothing too over powering otherwise I just think it becomes unfun for both people who did and did not preorder. Because judging from what I've seen on K-TERA, if EME has made leveling any easier.. I wouldn't be surprised if there's already max levels after 3 days.

Three-day head starts are the norm for MMO's.

SW:TOR had a 5-day head start, and that seemed to go over fine.

Quote: sacredgray on 2012-02-04 17:23:03 UTC
This, I'm pretty sure I started 7 days before the official SWTOR launch actually.

I wouldn't worry. I know a few other MMOs have had a large head start like that and it levels itself out pretty fast. Sure there are gonna be the crazies who are max in a few days. Not different then any other game. Let them ruin their experience by blowing through everything so fast. I plan to take my time and explore the world. I'll play for fun. PvE and PvP. Being alone at the top is boring.

Yeah. Head starts are actually helpful. Most people who are interested enough in an MMO to follow news about it will pre-order, so really, 80% of the total eventual player-base will all be playing early.

So, in theory, the head start is the true launch, and those who arrive afterward are latecomers. That sounds elitist, I know, but it seems to be the case.

If someone cared that much about others having a head start, why wouldn't they just preorder themselves? There's over 2 months between now and then. That's plenty of time to set aside the money, if they were going to buy it anyway at launch. What's 3 days going to do for your money situation with that much of a notice? I don't see the big deal.

Besides, it eventually evens itself out as time goes on (as was already mentioned).

3 days is fine, it's the weekend before the game launches. Plus it's only level anyway, it won't take too long till everyone's caught up on that front anyway. What would be a problem is if the headstart was a week or something.

Having a 3 day head start is actually very beneficial. It allows the first wave of players to get out of the starting zone before the 2nd wave begin. Makes it a lot easier for everyone to play.

If you ever take a look at those GameStop commercials, you always hear them say "Pre-order your copy today and receive a _____". Same thing here. Take advantage of the opportunity and reserve your copy too. I've bought the Final Fantasy XIV CE and that had an 8 day early start and everything was still fine.

Headstarts are very common for NA release. Heck, currently they don't even plan on wiping after OBT. So really, the preorder people get even more than 3 days over everyone else, because they can pick up where they left off in Headstart from OB (this is subject to possible change of course, per EME). Even if they wipe after OB (I'd prefer they do), Headstart is still only 3 days. That's one of the shorter headstarts I have even seen.

I love Headstarts because of what someone mentioned above - it spreads the starter rush out some. There's nothing fun about starting at the exact time as the entire rest of the population and having 0 mobs to kill. ;)