Although I considered contacting support to upgrade to the Master Pack–for the cash shop bonus, as we have both been working extensively on the Secret World incarnation of our characters since September, and they’re quite the fashionable dudes with specific looks in mind–we also discussed the merits of the Grand Master Pack, and what that entailed in terms of financial and subscription commitment. Taking the Master Pack into account, you would have to play roughly 12-14 months in order for the price to be “paid off”. Without having played any beta as of yet, $200USD all at once, for a game I’d be compelled to play for a year’s worth of my time, was a bit too much all at once, even though the longterm benefits outweighed the one-time $200 hole in your wallet.

In the end, we both settled on the Initiate’s, as the bonus for the Grand Master (Snakeskin Jacket) was paltry in comparison to, say, an offer like a motorcycle or some Really Neat Gee-Whiz Thing. The faction jackets are lovely indeed, and a plethora of high-end [beginner] weapons to choose from isn’t so bad!

It’s just a shame to pass up what could have been a good offer due to complete lack of experience with the game and how I’ll perceive it when I actually get to play.