20s Guide Index and FAQ - Read Before Posting New Threads

[MagicalMe]

Thank you, again! I'm so sorry! I keep forgetting to ask everything. Just one more for now, I promise! haha

8. If a level 20 character of a veteran account will que with characters of active accounts in the level 20-29 bracket, why not just play a level 29 vet twink instead of a level 20? Wouldn't it be far superior to a level 20 twink?

 

[Vandiir]

8.: Level 29 (or any level 21+) characters are locked once sub is off. Even if one has a active sub [to play a level 21+ character], a xp-off level 29 can't join the xp-on battlegrounds which F2Ps/Vets/characters-with-xp-on are placed in. That xp-off 29 can only join xp-off battlegrounds [assuming they pop, if at all].

 

[Warglave]

why not just play a level 29 vet twink instead of a level 20?

When you are not subscribed, everything over level 20 is "inactive" and you cant log into it.

When you are subscribed, you can access a level 29 but locked XP games generally do not happen.

When you play as an unsubscribed "veteran" you must have your experience unlocked to get games. If you have locked XP you will go into the same queue as anyone with locked XP, and those generally speaking do not pop.

Free-to-play and unsubbed veterans both have XP unlocked and the "free trial cap" prevents them from getting any more experience, so they will be put into leveling (XPon) games but the only thing preventing them hitting 21 is the trial level cap. (unsubbed veterans stop gaining XP at level 20, they dont bank any XP during the unsubscribed period as f2play do.)

You can still access things like level 10 twinks with no subscription, but those being locked-XP will put them into the XPoff BG queue and as established, those queues do not generally pop. You can still do PvE with them however, unsubbed.

People have also reported that unlocking your XP after your subscription ends will bug you into not getting games... so the safe thing to do is unlock your veteran 20 before your subscription runs out if you want to do any PvP.

 

[MagicalMe]

This is all so helpful thank you. I hope it answers some questions for players like me whom are new to twinking, too.
One last question before I decide to stay FTP or go sub/vet.

9. Is "banked XP" real? If so, is there a scenario where subbing / resubbing will cause banked XP to instantly level a twink beyond level 20 (or any desired twink level)?

 

[Gobolord]

This is all so helpful thank you. I hope it answers some questions for players like me whom are new to twinking, too.
One last question before I decide to stay FTP or go sub/vet.

9. Is "banked XP" real? If so, is there a scenario where subbing / resubbing will cause banked XP to instantly level a twink beyond level 20 (or any desired twink level)?

Uh huh "one more" lol. Yes banked xp is real but only happens to f2p (never subbed) accounts. If you're f2p then subscribe without turning xp off at the npc, you will gain any banked xp.

 

[accel]

^^ To add to the above, so if you want to create a vet account properly, do it this way: create a new account, pay for a month to make it vet, stop the sub, then wait for the month to expire (level to 20, lock exp so that you no longer get it, gear, etc, then unlock exp in the last day of the month). This way there's no banked exp ever.

 

[MagicalMe]

Good morning!

All in in context of level 20...

10. What happens to gold, silver, copper in excess of 1000 gold after a subscription expires?

11. What happens to a guild and it's bank when its guild leader's subscription expires?

12. Can a (linked) vet account use "services" like the mailbox, auction house, trade window, and guild features (if in a guild prior to expiration)?

13. Are there any "losable" items or interfaces other than those mentioned above that vet twinkers might want to know about in advance so as not to be shocked or disappointed upon allowing a subscription to expire?

13. This one's a tall order, the answers to which are probably subject to so much subjectivity, and maybe there's already a thread addressing it... What are the priorities of primary and secondary stats for each and every class specialization and why?

 

[accel]

10 - existing gold stays, but does not increase.

12 - no.

13 (the second one) - there are some guides, but most are outdated, I would suggest looking at what gear people are actually using in this thread: (4) F2P & Vet Armory List | XPOff

 

[MagicalMe]

I’m still hoping someone can answer . . .

11. What happens to a guild and it's bank when its guild leader's subscription expires?

12. Can level 20 characters of a never-ever-subbed, free-to-play account get Mark of Honors?
13. Are there any other vendors like Supplier Xin which sell decent (20) twink gear?

 

[Chops]

I’m still hoping someone can answer . . .

11. They continue to exist
12: Yes
13: No

You seem quite new and full of energy and questions, so Im going to encourage you to just go ahead and roll a toon and have a good time. Most of your questions are easily answered by simply playing the game and reading this helpful primer on starter account restrictions.

 

[MagicalMe]

11. They continue to exist
12: Yes
13: No

You seem quite new and full of energy and questions, so Im going to encourage you to just go ahead and roll a toon and have a good time. Most of your questions are easily answered by simply playing the game and reading this helpful primer on starter account restrictions.

Thanks for the link! Maybe it should be in the OP?
I just didn’t want to be twinking for weeks and months only to wind up where I don’t want to be, irreversibly with the exception of rerolling. Thanks again for all the great answers.
After tinkering with both FTP and linked vet a little, I’ve decided to stick with FTP. The perks of a vet account were tempting, but in the end, Monty Hall twinks feel empty to me. And the only thing I don’t like about FTP is the gold cap and the inability to receive mail from the game, such as recovered items and letters from NPC’s. The rest of the limitations don’t effect or affect me.

 

[accel]

After tinkering with both FTP and linked vet a little, I’ve decided to stick with FTP. The perks of a vet account were tempting, but in the end, Monty Hall twinks feel empty to me.

If that's your only account, by going F2P instead of vet you are making gearing significantly harder. Just saying.

Enchants, gems, profession kits, consumables, gold for things on the AH - all harder, and that's not the end of it.

 

[Chops]

If that's your only account, by going F2P instead of vet you are making gearing significantly harder. Just saying.

Enchants, gems, profession kits, consumables, gold for things on the AH - all harder, and that's not the end of it.

yea, but thats what makes it cooler.

 

[Warglave]

yea, but thats what makes it cooler.

 

[MagicalMe]

If that's your only account, by going F2P instead of vet you are making gearing significantly harder. Just saying.

Enchants, gems, profession kits, consumables, gold for things on the AH - all harder, and that's not the end of it.

TLDR: Gearing without Chromie time is... not something I have time for. Nor the interest.

I get it now. I made a new account, a “starter” account, and quickly found out that starter accounts can’t access Chromie time and only have access to one BFA dungeon in dungeon finder, plus all the usual limitations of linked and vet FTP accounts. A starter account can only access Chromie time if it’s linked to an account that has a character that’s level 50 or higher.

On the page linked above concerning starter accounts, it states starter accounts will not have access to “expansion content (quests, zones, allied characters, etc)”. Does that just mean Shadowlands? I mean, BFA is an expansion and starter accounts have access to it, so what gives?

Perhaps “starter” account should get its own mention in the OP as being a distinct play experience from linked and vet accounts.

 

[Kaxle]

SET, LET, and VET

 

[Chops]

TLDR: Gearing without Chromie time is... not something I have time for. Nor the interest.

I get it now. I made a new account, a “starter” account, and quickly found out that starter accounts can’t access Chromie time and only have access to one BFA dungeon in dungeon finder, plus all the usual limitations of linked and vet FTP accounts. A starter account can only access Chromie time if it’s linked to an account that has a character that’s level 50 or higher.

On the page linked above concerning starter accounts, it states starter accounts will not have access to “expansion content (quests, zones, allied characters, etc)”. Does that just mean Shadowlands? I mean, BFA is an expansion and starter accounts have access to it, so what gives?

Perhaps “starter” account should get its own mention in the OP as being a distinct play experience from linked and vet accounts.

All of this is made perfectly clear in the OP

F2P is shorthand for Free-To-Play or Starter Accounts or Trial Accounts and denotes a WoW account that has never had game time, ever. Vet is shorthand for Veteran Account and is a WoW account that has, at one point, had game time. You can see Starter Account restrictions here. The benefit of a Veteran account is that it lets you access the AH, join a guild, trade etc before you let the game time end. Its the cowards way out but it also means you arent spending months farming before you're geared and playing BGs.

 

[Brihan]

SET, LET, and VET

SET ... You're still in 2020
Don't you know it's FTT for already a bunch of months? You'll confuse new players with you're non-standardized names!

 

[MagicalMe]

All of this is made perfectly clear in the OP

Maybe I’m missing something. From what I see, neither the OP nor any of the pages linked explain that Chromie time isn’t accessible on starter accounts unless the starter account is linked to another account with a level 50+ character. The first guide listed in the OP even makes it seem like Chromie time is a given. Even in the “WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE” spoiler in the OP, the terms “FTP” and “starter” are used interchangeably instead of distinguishing between FTP linked accounts and a true starter FRP accounts, which have some extremely relevant differences.


The linked official Blizzard page says “expansion content won’t be available”. But that’s awefully vague if not misleading since at the same time starter accounts are channeled into BFA , an expansion. And there’s no mention of Chromie time, though that’s presumably what’s meant by “expansion content”?


Look, this isn’t a criticism. What y’all have done here is exceptional. The XPOFF guides are all but essential. I’m totally grateful for what staff and contributors have done here! I just think it might be worth spelling out how Chromie time works in a guide, for coal miners like me.

 

[Chops]

Maybe I’m missing something.

F2P accounts dont have access to Chromie Time (except some *very* old GFd accounts... dont ask) so you won't be able to use it. If you're a Vet account and cant access Chromie Time, chances are its because you dont have a main on your BNet thats hit level 50. Go do that.

You dont need Chromie time anyway, its not a major factor.