WoW: Is refer-a-friend worth it? (minimal math)
The Unbearably HoT blog posted a long thread about whether or not to take advantage of R-a-F by referring yourself/significant other.
http://www.unbearably.net/2008/08/19/blog-azeroth-weekly-shared-topic-re...
The bottom line "cheapest" way to game the program:
...he could easily just use a Refer-a-Friend for me and I’d end up having to merge ONE toon and he’d get his two toons and a zhevra. Significantly less expensive—just the $109.94. ...
Interesting post. I've been considering getting a 3rd account "for my son" so we could get the wife's priest up to 70 super fast, and have been wondering exactly how much it would cost. Thanks to Unbearably HoT for doing the math for me. (Also included is math if you AND your spouse want to take full advantage of the program to get 2 new toons to 60 and 2 zhevras. )
"And my son, too, thinks everything is a launchpad, every bug a meal, and every sunny day a reason to take all your clothes off and roll around in the grass." - rabbit
My buddy made level 42 in 16 hours sofar.
I'm not really a girl. I just play one in video games.
My WotLK Beta Blog
Elysium wrote:
I haven't had time to delve into this article but it seems really cool.
Great find duck!
[edit] for typos.
My wife and I have been doing this this week. Levelling is really fast. The drawback is that she never has enough money to get her skills, and I'm not allowed to trade with her (since it's a trial account). I've been not looting any vendor trash and letting her loot it all, but I can't give her a bigger bag so she can hold all of it. Obviously, this wouldn't be an issue with accounts where you actually buy the extra account a real key.
I have to admit it is really cool being level 8 by the time we got to Kharanos. Think we were halfway to level 3 when we turned in the first quest.
BHA: Kamyndra - 70 Prot Warrior, Tyraan - 68 Enhance Shaman, Rahodius - 60 Priest
One person in my guild went from 33 to 35 in about 15min. It was sick. At that point I started doing the math and it's just too expensive, and too much of a hastle. If Blizzard had just said "hey, to get as many people to 70 as possible for WotLK we'll have a special program where if you pay double your monthly fee you'll get 3X the experience until the expansion goes live," I'd do it in a heart beat. Hell, I'd probably even do it for 1.5X or 2X honestly.
|WAR| Skinkfist (Volkmar server) | Valtiel (Iron Rock server)
Just use rested XP then.
When you're using the RaF 3x multiplier, you are not (from what I read) using rested XP.
"And my son, too, thinks everything is a launchpad, every bug a meal, and every sunny day a reason to take all your clothes off and roll around in the grass." - rabbit
Correct, rested XP is not used when the 3x is in effect.
My friend always wanted more guys, but never had the time. He saw someone post a screenshot of hitting 60 in 1 day and 11 hours using RAF and now he's gone overboard.
He grabbed this program called keyclone that lets you control multiple wow windows at one time and has 3 RAF tied to a primary account. He's got his posse of four and he's trying to get them all to 60. Truthfully, with that many RAF, he'll be able to donate enough levels to another guy on his account to wind up with 5 60s after all is said and done. However, the cost seems high to me, but he doesnt have much time to play and feels its quite worth it.
keyclone software = $20
3 wow trial accounts, converted into 2 month subscriptions, if I am not mistaken is gonna run him $90.
Transferring the 3 60s to his main account is gonna be another $75.
So around 185, but as mentioned, he should have 5 level 60s at that point. So hes paying around $40 per level 60 if he has the fortitude to see it all through to the end.
Xbox live gamertag: Bumpie05Z
Steam Community ID: Bumpie
Please tell me, where can I pay for rested XP?
My point was that I'd pay for a promotion that gave me bonus XP. I use rested XP all the time. Normally it's not enough and only lasts for about fifteen minutes of combat.
|WAR| Skinkfist (Volkmar server) | Valtiel (Iron Rock server)
Ah, gotcha.
I was just thinking, it seems like that article is doing a total cost analysis.
I'm more concerned with how much MORE would it cost to do that than what I already do.
So:
$40 for Warchest/TBC
$30 for 2-month card
-$15 for referral kickback
$25 to transfer new toon back to "real" account (optional)
So $80 above and beyond what I'll already be paying for, rather than a total cost for the 2 months of the program.
Or $55 if I'm just using the extra account to boost the XP of my wife's "real" account and just let the toon that helped "disappear" when I dump the 3rd account.
Of COURSE, this assumes that once we have a 3rd account, on which my son could have a toon not taking up space on my wife's and my accounts, AND it would be levelled up to have a horse, that we'd end up actually cancelling it for good.
I could easily see it becoming an actual, permanent, 3rd account. At which point, the cost analysis goes out the window, because it's another $40 plus $15 per month for as long as I play the game. Assuming I don't take the time to cancel it after every time I reup it to try to catch full months where it doesn't get played. Yeah, like I'm not too big of a slacker to do that.
Anyway, you could get away with $55 if you dispose of the "booster" account at the end of the 2 months and just look at it as $55 spend to boost your main account with triple XP for a couple of months and freebie levels.
Actually, when you say it like that, that's not so bad.
"And my son, too, thinks everything is a launchpad, every bug a meal, and every sunny day a reason to take all your clothes off and roll around in the grass." - rabbit
Yeah, the $55 is what I totaled up when I was doing my math. In an attempt to get a friend back into wow my wife offered to pay for his game and account for two months IF he made a new account. He's still debating on it, but that's the only way I'd ever find it acceptable (and our friend is a little poor, so it'd be nice to help him out with some entertainment). The worst part is that she only wants to do it for the mount. She spent about $30 one day trying to get the turtle mount out of TCG, so ... yeah. And no, she didn't get one, but I could play TCG if I ever wanted.
|WAR| Skinkfist (Volkmar server) | Valtiel (Iron Rock server)
Also, it's free to try until level 20 with a trial account. That way you can get a better feel for the leveling speed. Additionally, if you
(1) Are eventually transfer the new account's toon to an existing account and
(2) Don't won't to roll a draneai or blood elf
then you can just upgrade the trial account to vanilla Wow, which would be $20, and would include a free month of play.
Xbox Live: Stilgar Black
If you don't want the mount its cheap to just reap the benefits of the triple xp.
Refer a friend. Friend levels up one of your alts by putting them on auto follow as he levels with x3 xp and gifts 30 levels to some of your alts. Paid transfer of 60 to your account.
For $40 ($15 for WoW box + $25 for paid transfer) You get a 60 and your friend gets a 60 plus 30 levels spread among his alts.
For $40 each you both get a 2 60's and 30 levels to spread amongst alts.
Or you can keep milking that one account. For another 25$ you level a 60 and your friend gets a 60 plus 30 levels to spend as they see fit. I think at this point it would basically be worth it for your friend to pay you $25 to get another 60 plus 30 levels and you get the side bonus of leveling an alt to 60 at 3x the rate.
Being fangoriously devoured by a gelatinous monster.
You still have to *pay* for 2 months. You probably realize that, I'm just saying that you won't save $15 with the "free" initial month. I think that's why the linkedness of the accounts lasts for 90 days. 30 free and 60 that you pay for.
PLUS $30 for 2 months playtime (a required part of the program) and you're still at $70.
So, $70 minimum if you want to keep the alt on your "booster" account via transfer by only buying vanilla wow.
But, you do bring up a good point in that you could shave some money off the $55 if you're making it a disposable alt made *solely* for boosting yourself/spouse.
$15 for wow basic
$30 for 2 months playtime
----
$45 *bare* minimum to boost your own toon to 60 w/ 3x XP, a freebie mount, and 30 "bonus" levels for another alt.
I can't believe I'm theorycrafting the Refer-A-Friend program. /blush
"And my son, too, thinks everything is a launchpad, every bug a meal, and every sunny day a reason to take all your clothes off and roll around in the grass." - rabbit
Me either hahaha!
The Gaming Chronicles
PSN ID: Harbinger01
Steam ID: [GWJ] CrashedHardrive
Elysium wrote:
I just created a trial account and the x3 xp works (both classes level 6 after 3 quests) without the extra months subscription. I know it will only work to level 20 until I buy a box. But everything I've read leads me to believe that the +2 month sub requirement is only for the zehvra mount and the free month for the master account.
Being fangoriously devoured by a gelatinous monster.
Yes this is worth it I have buddies at work that are on their 5th level 60 in 2 weeks. They run RFC/Deadmines at 10 then SM at 20 ZF at 40, BRD at 50. This is a very very fast leveling system.
"We are at war, and the enemies are...the publishers. No, they're not. It's not that easy. The enemies are mediocrity, laziness, and fear, and they exist in all of us." - Tim Schafer
XBL- Devmani
PSN - Devmani
Steam - Devmani
WoW - Devmani/Calthais
Of course it's worth it, how else you gonna get a zhevra?
How can you do SM at level 20?
Being fangoriously devoured by a gelatinous monster.
I was going to ask the same thing. Just because you level faster doesn't mean you can suddenly do content that is at least 10 levels too high for you.
The Gaming Chronicles
PSN ID: Harbinger01
Steam ID: [GWJ] CrashedHardrive
Elysium wrote:
I'm guessing a high level friend is running them through the instances.
Xbox Live: Stilgar Black
Bingo
"We are at war, and the enemies are...the publishers. No, they're not. It's not that easy. The enemies are mediocrity, laziness, and fear, and they exist in all of us." - Tim Schafer
XBL- Devmani
PSN - Devmani
Steam - Devmani
WoW - Devmani/Calthais
Are they doing anything special? Just taking them in and killing things or are they completing quests?
Your Quote Here!
Just running through the instance killing everything. I watched a friend power level his two other accounts with his 70 mage in dead mines even with the penalty he was massing about 360xp a kill. Single runs through SM can net you a level each time for a while then eventually a level every 2 times in until xp gets to low.
"We are at war, and the enemies are...the publishers. No, they're not. It's not that easy. The enemies are mediocrity, laziness, and fear, and they exist in all of us." - Tim Schafer
XBL- Devmani
PSN - Devmani
Steam - Devmani
WoW - Devmani/Calthais
So, I'm not sure. Do I have to buy a wow box in a store?
On the trial account, there's an "upgrade" button, but the FAQ says you have to upgrade to a retail version of wow to reap the benefits.
Anyone done Recruit a Friend, then had them use the "upgrade account" button on the trial account management page? Did you get the zhevra?
If I have to run down to Target and grab a box, that's cool. But it sure would be easier if I could just do it online. But the FAQ makes it seem like you can't do that and get the zhevra and free levels.
"And my son, too, thinks everything is a launchpad, every bug a meal, and every sunny day a reason to take all your clothes off and roll around in the grass." - rabbit
I was wondering the same thing. I signed up a RAF account and upgraded completely online, even the BC content, and it shows that the referred account has upgraded to a standard account, but I don't have any of the gifts yet (the mount and free month.) I looked at the FAQ and it seems that you don't get those gifts until after the RAF's account has actually paid the first month, which happens after their first 30 days. It said something about it only taking effect immediately if the RAF account uses a pre-paid card, or something.
That's how I read it, anyways, and your mileage may vary.
I'm getting the 3x bonus which is awesome enough for now.
My son and I tried refer-a-friend this weekend. We'll echo some of the comments already made, especially the no money because you level so fast.
What has me kind of ticked off though is the trial account thing. I purchased vanilla Wow (BC to come later) and an account for my son for his birthday, but the entire weekend his account has been flagged as trial. A couple pages to a GM were just returned with 'it usually takes 72 hours for all the trial restrictions to be lifted on a paid account'. I call shenanigans, if I pay for something it damn better well not be 'trial'........
Ok, here's the deal.
I talked to a GM last night.
It can take up to 72 hours for the upgrade to take place. I didn't see this on the site when upgrading, but it can.
Also, the rewards.... go to the RAF account and look at the billing...
There's 10 days of trail free, then upgrading online gets you 30 days free, THEN any subscription you put a credit card in for will be charged.
I'm thinking about picking up 2 1-month cards at retail so I can enter them both at once and have it immediately show I've paid, so referrer account gets rewards.
But the "UPGRADE ONLINE NOW" does say in the fine print that it gives you a "normal retail account".
Anyway, we'll see once I either get 2 game-time cards OR October 3. Whichever comes first.
I think the worst thing about being stuck trial once you've upgraded is bag space.
Tips to get around that: Go to westfall and do the feedbag quest - this gets you an 8 slotter.
Go to the Draeni starting area, and there's apparently another bag quest there for alliance.
"And my son, too, thinks everything is a launchpad, every bug a meal, and every sunny day a reason to take all your clothes off and roll around in the grass." - rabbit
Here's a link to the page in account management where you claim the zehvra mount:
https://www.worldofwarcraft.com/account/recruit-a-friend.html?tab=reward...
It took me a while to find that.
Your Quote Here!
It's not that you are not getting what you paid for but the server has to authenticate your account (this can take time as there are verifiers and thousands of requests per minute). When you are billed you will be billed from the moment the account is flagged as retail box(past the 30 day trial). I'm surprised that the GM didn't refer you to Billing, give you the number so you can give them a ring and see if they can change the status right then and there(doesn't always happen). Of all the complaints I've seen at work, lately it's people that upgraded and don't have retail status yet. It's something that is being looked into.
"We are at war, and the enemies are...the publishers. No, they're not. It's not that easy. The enemies are mediocrity, laziness, and fear, and they exist in all of us." - Tim Schafer
XBL- Devmani
PSN - Devmani
Steam - Devmani
WoW - Devmani/Calthais
More from the Unbearably HoT blog on Refer-a-Friend tips:
http://www.unbearably.net/2008/09/03/recruit-a-friend-reprise-the-bear-e...
"And my son, too, thinks everything is a launchpad, every bug a meal, and every sunny day a reason to take all your clothes off and roll around in the grass." - rabbit
Hmmm. This answered a question I had.
It seems that if you are 90% into a level and granted a level, you are 90% into the next level. (As opposed to being at 1% or 0%.)
I granted my first level today. I guess I should do 1.9 more levels the hard way so I can pop my way to 60.9.
Edit: The above data doesn't quite jibe with the official FAQ (See below). Unless the official FAQ is inaccurate, I don't see how you can grant levels beyond 59.9. The "new" character loses the ability to grant levels once it hits 60, and as a level 59 can only grant levels to toons L58 or lower.
and
Your Quote Here!