RPS Subscription
From RPSWiki
While RPS is a free system that players may use indefinitely without paying even a single L$, it also offers subscription based benefits to those who find it worthwhile to contribute a small amount to the environment in which they role play. Subscriptions are tied to a player's RPS member account and therefore cover all of that player's registered avatars under a single subscription.
Why is RPS a Subscription-based Service?
While it would be a wonderful thing for all of us to have everything we want at no cost whatsoever, life does not and will not ever work that way. In any society, when one provides something of value to another, they expect to receive something of equal value in return. Sometimes the return value is nothing more than a thankful smile, other times it is a bartered trade-good, but usually it is money (a representation of return value that the receiver can then spend on something they wish to acquire). Linden Lab provides something of value to all of us - the virtual world of Second Life and, specifically, plots of virtual land on which we are able to build immersive role play environments.
Because Linden Lab provides us with a valued service, they expect something in return - money. A region of land runs the buyer an initial price of US$1000 and a continued monthly fee of US$295. These prices are not cheap, nor are they easy for most region owners to cover on a month-to-month basis. Many role play regions fail not through lack of players or lack of desire, but through lack of funding. Many locations offer rentals (both in-character residential and commercial 'skymall' areas), but these rentals are not always full and the owners must either a) charge a prohibitively high price, b) cover most of the role play region in houses, drastically reducing open role play area, or c) find another source of income to supplement that gained from rentals. In addition, many players are simply not able to afford rental areas in their role play environments, as most rentals run at a cost of more than L$1000/month.
RPS simultaneously offers region owners a method to help their monthly costs and players a low-cost opportunity to gain tangible benefit. An RPS subscription runs at only L$500/month (that translates to less than US$2.00/month) and contributes directly to region ownership - helping them cover the costs of keeping the role play environment open and available to be enjoyed. Players who are unable to afford rentals are still able to acknowledge, through subscribing, that they value the time they have in their role play environment and owners are able to return a 'thank you' for that acknowledgment through the added benefits an RPS Premium Member (subscriber) receives.
Subscription Benefits
- Premium Members are permitted to gain influence and level all the way to level 24 (maximum level possible in RPS). Non-subscribers are restricted to a maximum of level 3.
- In some environments (depending on settings determined by environment ownership), Premium Members automatically earn RP$ over time just for being in the environment.
- Premium Members have access to any/all Supernatural abilities granted to their character (non-subscribers are not permitted to use any supernatural abilities).
- Premium Members have access to a wider variety of role play interaction objects. Additionally, by virtue of their ability to increase in level, Premium Members experience a greater level of effectiveness from both weapons (increased damage) and armor (increased protection).
- Premium Members are the reason many role play areas are able to remain open and available for use - they are the engine that keeps the environment running.
FAQ
Is my subscription good for only one environment, or do I get my Premium Member benefits for all RPS environments with a single subscription?
Once you subscribe, you will be recognized as a Premium Member throughout RPS, in every environment we support.
Can I subscribe for multiple months at one time?
Yes, and we have had members subscribe for up to a full year in a single payment, but we must caution you on two points.
The first is that your subscription directly benefits the environment owner of the location in which you pay. If you pay for six months in one location and decide to switch role play areas three months later, the new area will not benefit from your subscription during those last three months (and the old area will continue to benefit even though you no longer play there). While this change does not affect you directly, it may be something you wish to consider if you are likely to switch environments in the near future.
Second, RPS does not offer refunds on subscriptions. If you pay for six months and decide to leave role play within the RPS family of environments completely after two months, you will have 'wasted' the last four months of your subscription.
With those two cautions mentioned - it's not uncommon for players to subscribe for two or three months at a time and we do encourage you to do so once you have found a role play area that you enjoy and in which you plan on being a long-term resident.
What happens if I am absent for a long period of time?
If you are a Premium Member and find yourself needing to be absent for some time, your subscription will expire on its normal date. However, you will not experience any negative effects from the expiration. Simply return to your role play environment and re-subscribe once your extended absence is over and you'll be able to jump right back in where you left off.
We are sorry, but we cannot place a 'hold' on your subscription and wait for you to return before re-activating it. After all, your subscription runs at less than $2.00/month anyway - and most organizations that allow you to 'hold' your membership charge a monthly holding fee of at least $5.00/month.
What happens if I am not absent, but choose to let my Premium Membership expire?
If you choose to let your subscription expire while continuing to role play, you will experience the following:
- You will stop automatically earning RP$ in the environment if the environment has an automatic RP$ earn-rate.
- You will no longer be able to use Supernatural abilities.
- Interaction objects that require a Premium Member status will no longer work for you.
- If you are above level 3 and/or have more than 1600 Influence, you will find yourself gradually losing Influence over time whenever you are in the role play area and wearing your RPS HUD. Time spent outside of the role play area and/or not wearing the RPS HUD will not result in any Influence loss.
- If you are above level 3 and/or have more than 1600 Influence, you will experience a double-loss of Influence when you lose in battle in -RP- Mode.
- If you are above level 3 and/or have more than 1600 Influence, you will lose Influence for a loss in battle in -SPAR- Mode (normally there is no influence loss for losing a battle in -SPAR- Mode).
- If you were at a level greater than 3 and are reduced all the way down to level 3 without re-subscribing, your skills will be 'reset' and you will be given Myth according to what would normally be available to you as a level 3 character.
If you choose to re-subscribe, you will immediately return to normal Premium Member status. If you have decided to maintain non-subscriber status and do not wish to watch your Influence gradually reduce, simply ask one of your environment administrators to reset your character to level 3 and they will do so.
Can I have multiple people on my Premium Membership?
No - you cannot. While you are allowed to register up to five of your own avatars on your membership account, it is expressly forbidden to maintain multiple individuals on a single member account. Those who do and are caught will have their characters reset to level 1 with 0 Influence and be asked to separate their accounts.
Can I cancel my Premium Membership?
Yes - simply do not renew it. RPS does not automatically debit a renewal from you, you must actively choose to continue your Premium Membership by paying into the subscription board anytime you near expiration. If you wish to cancel your Premium Membership, all you need do is simply not renew when you arrive at your expiration date.
Can I get a refund on the unused portion of my Premium Membership?
No. We simply do not have the resources to go through offering $0.50 or $1.00 refunds for unused portions of a subscribed month.
Is there a way for me to get a free Premium Membership?
Yes. Become a region owner for an RPS environment. You'll be saddled with the responsibility of running a role play environment, managing admins, helping with player issues, etc ... and with a monthly US$295 bill from Linden Lab - but you'll get a free Premium Membership. There are no other free membership offerings from RPS.
