With other markets having a couple of different approaches to delivering Blade & Soul to their consumers, from monthly subscriptions to free but with a fatigue system, it was going to be interesting what business model NCSoft offered to the North American and PAL region markets.
Blade & Soul will be adopting the Free-to-Play (F2P) model, which will give players unrestricted access to all content within Blade & Soul provided their character levels are up to scratch when tackling higher level areas. To turn this game into something viable, NCSoft will be adopting the NCoin Cash Shop system currently adopted in Aion and Lineage II. This system will allow players to purchase things like convenience items (food and experience potions), quality of life improvements (inventory and character slots) and cosmetic items (costumes and pet accessories). Blade & Soul will also feature a special free currency that players will earn in game, enabling them to buy the same kinds of items available for NCoin, including costumes, accessories, food, potions and repair tools.
Blade & Soul will also include an optional premium membership subscription system, being developed specifically for the western market. As long as players maintain an active membership, this premium service will provide quality-of-life benefits that get better as players progress through membership tiers. As an example, they claim that the first tier of membership will provide players with special effects for their Windwalk skill and boosts to XP and currency drop rates. While some may not be convinced until the server’s are up and running and the premium system has been allowed to run its course for a few months, NCSoft claim that this system will not provide a competitive advantage. Players will increase their membership tier as they make purchases (with both NCoin and the free currency) in game.
While details on this are currently limited and set to be shared at a later date, NCSoft are going to be offering three different Founders Packs for Blade & Soul. All of these will include a Closed Beta key that’s good for the entire CBT period.
