You're making some incorrect assumptions about the difference between Elite and non-paying customers.
Elite subscribers recieve the following benefits:
- 24/7 Phone Support (Free customers recieve support during normal business hours)
- No server queues if the servers are full, or priority access if they are absolutely maxed out.
- 12 characters per account, instead of 3 for non-paying customers
- A larger account-wide storage vault, which allows cross-character storage of 20 items versus 40.
- Access to the Hardcore mode (you die, you start over)
- Elite characters recieve better visual models and armor graphics. Likewise, Hardcore characters get the "best" graphical models.
- The ability to start guilds. "Free" customers can join guilds, but cannot create them.
And that's pretty much it. Free-to-play and Elite customers interact in the *exact same game world*. All it does is make the online play a little easier on you and possibly more enjoyable with the "more attractive" models and larger cross-character storage.
It is unconfirmed whether Hardcore players will be able to group together with non-Hardcore players (Free or Elite) - they definately go to the same towns etc as everyone else, so you can show off the fact that you're a Hardcore character - but there's been no specific details released on whether or not they can play in the same instances with other characters, since their loot, etc would be different, and a hardcore player might potentially be a liability to a "normal" party since they will be VERY concerned with their own characters survival above all else.
I suggest you read http://hellgate.wikia.com/wiki/Hellgate:_London_FAQ - it answers all of this and a lot more.
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You're making some incorrect assumptions about the difference between Elite and non-paying customers. Elite subscribers recieve the following benefits: - 24/7 Phone Support (Free customers recieve support during normal business hours) - No server queues if the servers are full, or priority access if they are absolutely maxed out. - 12 characters per account, instead of 3 for non-paying customers - A larger account-wide storage vault, which allows cross-character storage of 20 items versus 40. - Access to the Hardcore mode (you die, you start over) - Elite characters recieve better visual models and armor graphics. Likewise, Hardcore characters get the "best" graphical models. - The ability to start guilds. "Free" customers can join guilds, but cannot create them. And that's pretty much it. Free-to-play and Elite customers interact in the *exact same game world*. All it does is make the online play a little easier on you and possibly more enjoyable with the "more attractive" models and larger cross-character storage. It is unconfirmed whether Hardcore players will be able to group together with non-Hardcore players (Free or Elite) - they definately go to the same towns etc as everyone else, so you can show off the fact that you're a Hardcore character - but there's been no specific details released on whether or not they can play in the same instances with other characters, since their loot, etc would be different, and a hardcore player might potentially be a liability to a "normal" party since they will be VERY concerned with their own characters survival above all else. I suggest you read http://hellgate.wikia.com/wiki/Hellgate:_London_FAQ - it answers all of this and a lot more.