Throne and Liberty: A Deep Dive into the Business Model and Player Experience

As the highly anticipated MMO Throne and Liberty approaches its early access launch on September 26 and full release on October 1, excitement is building within the gaming community. Developed by NCSoft, Throne and Liberty offers a massive, immersive world called Solisium, where players will embark on epic quests, engage in large-scale PvP and PvE content, and customize their characters in unprecedented ways. The game's developers have made it clear that they are dedicated to fostering a fair, accessible, and rewarding experience for all players, regardless of whether they choose to spend money on the game.

In a follow-up to their initial Business Model article, NCSoft has provided further clarity on key aspects of Throne and Liberty’s in-game economy, auction house, and premium currency system, known as Lucent. With a player-driven economy at the forefront, cosmetic customizations that offer deep personal expression, and an auction house designed to benefit free-to-play players, Throne and Liberty is aiming to set a new standard for MMOs that avoid the typical pitfalls of pay-to-win mechanics. This article will delve into the specifics of Throne and Liberty's business model, focusing on the auction house, Lucent currency, and cosmetic systems, while addressing key community concerns as we approach the game’s launch.

 Core Tenets of the Throne and Liberty Business Model

At the heart of Throne and Liberty’s business model are three guiding principles that define how the game will operate and how players can expect to engage with its monetization systems:

1. Player self-expression is paramount.

2. Combat and power upgrades must be accessible to all players.

3. Purchasing items from the in-game shop must feel rewarding, but never necessary.

These principles highlight the developers’ commitment to ensuring that all players can enjoy the full scope of the game, regardless of whether they spend money. By focusing on player self-expression, accessible power upgrades, and balanced in-game purchases, Throne and Liberty aims to avoid the common frustrations players often experience in free-to-play MMOs.

 The Auction House: A Player-Driven Economy

One of the standout features of Throne and Liberty is its Auction House, a hub for the player-driven economy that allows free-to-play players to earn premium currency by selling items to other players. The Auction House plays a critical role in ensuring that premium currency, known as Lucent, is accessible to all players, not just those who spend real-world money. This system is designed to empower players to engage in a robust economy where they can sell their in-game items for TL Lucent, which can then be used to purchase premium items such as cosmetics, battle passes, and leveling passes.

A key aspect of the Auction House is the restrictions placed on the types of items that can be sold. Only base-level gear can be listed, which means that items that have been enhanced, modified, or obtained through instanced content like Co-op Dungeons or Guild Raids cannot be sold. This ensures that the most powerful gear cannot simply be purchased with Lucent, preserving the integrity of progression through gameplay.

The Auction House offers a fair opportunity for free-to-play players to earn Lucent and participate in the game’s broader economy. For players who prefer to invest time over money, the Auction House allows them to sell rare drops, PvP rewards, or other valuable items to other players, providing a viable path to unlocking premium content without spending a dime.

 Lucent: The Premium Currency of Throne and Liberty

Throne and Liberty: A Deep Dive into the Business Model and Player Experience

As the highly anticipated MMO Throne and Liberty approaches its early access launch on September 26 and full release on October 1, excitement is building within the gaming community. Developed by NCSoft, Throne and Liberty offers a massive, immersive world called Solisium, where players will embark on epic quests, engage in large-scale PvP and PvE content, and customize their characters in unprecedented ways. The game's developers have made it clear that they are dedicated to fostering a fair, accessible, and rewarding experience for all players, regardless of whether they choose to spend money on the game.

In a follow-up to their initial Business Model article, NCSoft has provided further clarity on key aspects of Throne and Liberty’s in-game economy, auction house, and premium currency system, known as Throne and Liberty Lucent. With a player-driven economy at the forefront, cosmetic customizations that offer deep personal expression, and an auction house designed to benefit free-to-play players, Throne and Liberty is aiming to set a new standard for MMOs that avoid the typical pitfalls of pay-to-win mechanics. This article will delve into the specifics of Throne and Liberty's business model, focusing on the auction house, Lucent currency, and cosmetic systems, while addressing key community concerns as we approach the game’s launch.

 Core Tenets of the Throne and Liberty Business Model

At the heart of Throne and Liberty’s business model are three guiding principles that define how the game will operate and how players can expect to engage with its monetization systems:

1. Player self-expression is paramount.

2. Combat and power upgrades must be accessible to all players.

3. Purchasing items from the in-game shop must feel rewarding, but never necessary.

These principles highlight the developers’ commitment to ensuring that all players can enjoy the full scope of the game, regardless of whether they spend money. By focusing on player self-expression, accessible power upgrades, and balanced in-game purchases, Throne and Liberty aims to avoid the common frustrations players often experience in free-to-play MMOs.

 The Auction House: A Player-Driven Economy

One of the standout features of Throne and Liberty is its Auction House, a hub for the player-driven economy that allows free-to-play players to earn premium currency by selling items to other players. The Auction House plays a critical role in ensuring that premium currency, known as Lucent, is accessible to all players, not just those who spend real-world money. This system is designed to empower players to engage in a robust economy where they can sell their in-game items for Lucent, which can then be used to purchase premium items such as cosmetics, battle passes, and leveling passes.

A key aspect of the Auction House is the restrictions placed on the types of items that can be sold. Only base-level gear can be listed, which means that items that have been enhanced, modified, or obtained through instanced content like Co-op Dungeons or Guild Raids cannot be sold. This ensures that the most powerful gear cannot simply be purchased with Lucent, preserving the integrity of progression through gameplay.

The Auction House offers a fair opportunity for free-to-play players to earn Lucent and participate in the game’s broader economy. For players who prefer to invest time over money, the Auction House allows them to sell rare drops, PvP rewards, or other valuable items to other players, providing a viable path to unlocking premium content without spending a dime.

 Cosmetics: A Focus on Player Expression

Cosmetics play a central role in Throne and Liberty, allowing players to express their individuality through character customization. The game’s developers have emphasized that cosmetics will be account-wide in many cases, meaning that once a cosmetic item is unlocked, it will be available for all characters on the player’s account. However, there are some nuances to how cosmetics are distributed and used within the game:

1. Account-Wide Cosmetics: Any cosmetics acquired through real-world purchases or with Lucent will be available to all characters on the account. This includes items obtained through Early Access Packs and Twitch Drops.

  

2. Character-Specific Cosmetics: Cosmetics earned through gameplay or special events will be specific to the character who obtained them. Battle passes and leveling passes, while offering useful rewards, are also character-specific, but the cosmetics gained from them will be shared across the account after the first acquisition.

3. Customization Options: Players will be able to use the Mirror Boutique to dye their costumes and customize their appearance in various ways. This adds an additional layer of personalization to cosmetics, allowing players to tweak the color and style of their outfits.

Cosmetic items purchased from the in-game shop will only need to be bought once per account, ensuring that players don’t feel the need to make repeated purchases for each character. This design decision aligns with the game’s focus on rewarding players for their purchases without making them feel pressured into spending unnecessary money.

 Early Access Packs: What You Need to Know

For players eager to dive into Solisium before the full release, Early Access Packs offer an opportunity to start the game with exclusive items and bonuses. These packs include Lucent and account-wide cosmetics, and all rewards are granted to the player’s account upon first login. Additionally, players have the freedom to customize their Early Access Pack costumes using dyes and sewing threads at the Mirror Boutique, allowing for a wide range of color and pattern combinations.

A common question from the community has been whether the colors of the costumes in the Early Access Packs are the only options available. The developers have confirmed that players will have the ability to customize these costumes extensively, with helmet and accessory options that can be toggled on or off. This ensures that Early Access players can personalize their look in a way that reflects their unique style.

 Player-Focused Business Model

One of the standout aspects of Throne and Liberty is its player-focused approach to monetization. By making premium currency earnable through gameplay, offering account-wide cosmetics, and ensuring that power upgrades are accessible to all, the developers have created a system that prioritizes player enjoyment and fairness. The Auction House allows free-to-play players to engage with the premium currency system without spending real-world money, while cosmetics and other premium items remain optional enhancements rather than necessary purchases.

This approach is in stark contrast to the often-criticized pay-to-win models seen in other free-to-play MMOs, where players who spend more money have a significant advantage over those who don’t. In Throne and Liberty, the focus is on creating a level playing field where all players can compete and succeed based on skill and effort, rather than financial investment.

 Conclusion

As Throne and Liberty prepares for its early access and full release, the game’s business model stands out as a refreshing departure from the more predatory practices seen in the MMO genre. With a focus on player self-expression, accessible power upgrades, and fair monetization practices, Throne and Liberty promises to be an MMO that welcomes all players, regardless of their spending habits.

By offering premium currency through gameplay, ensuring that cosmetic purchases are account-wide, and maintaining a player-driven economy through the Auction House, NCSoft has created a system that feels both fair and rewarding. As players step into the world of Solisium and begin their adventures, they can do so knowing that their success will be determined by their skills, dedication, and teamwork—not by the depth of their wallets. 

With its expansive world, deep customization options, and commitment to fairness, Throne and Liberty is poised to become a standout MMO experience in 2023 and beyond.