BioWare has made some changes to their new free to play hybrid model after some internal and community feedback. The free to play model had been implemented on the public testing server so far, and BioWare claimed they found "crucial bugs that needed stomping".
The main changes that they will be making to Star Wars: The Old Republic are:
· Free-to-Play players will now get a second quickslot bar.
· Free-to-Play players will now be able to do 5 Warzones per week instead of 3.
· The Cartel Coin item lock (i.e. temporary bind) will be reduced to 3 days for Free-to-Play players, and 2 days for subscribers.
To be honest, I have no idea how they expected a player to level from level 1 to 50 without a second quickslot bar, as when I played I made use of all that were available and still wouldn't have minded more. But BioWare made sure to make a point to say that those who had tested the free-to-play changes so far would likely never see that exact mode of gameplay, as subscribers who cancel end up somewhere in between free to play and subscriber—a preferred status to be exact. Originally the second quick slot bar was part of preferred status, but BioWare opted to give it to everyone.
BioWare also noted that the limitations on how many Warzones free to play players can participate in is not likely to affect queue times. They noted that they don't believe their subscriber base will not likely shrink much and that in the past, converting to free-to-play for their competitors has "resulted in a subscriber increase". But they also assured subscribers that they will not let any of the free-to-play changes cheapen their experience and will make changes as necessary.
Source: SWTOR Forums
