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I certainly agree, that it lacks in being anything but a tiny peek. I don't think it offers a great gaming experience either, but that's probably not what it is intended for.
It is a little bit difficult for me to think myself in that position now, but I do remember that when I started some 6 years ago, I did run around in 'starter gear' for well over level 20. Obviously leveling up was a lot different back then too, and I didn't do partying at until a lot later (even though soloing was practically impossible), and after being able to do Campaign and all, I haven't done it ever since but maybe a few times, total.
Point being, my situation back then probably wasn't much different from the free trial actually... heh, didn't notice how much so until now. So with that said, it is only a 14-day trial and I wouldn't really expect much more from a game during that time, though I may be getting old in that sense... a lot... heh! I certainly didn't have 100k for months, nor was I properly geared, so it could always be worse! (Tell that to your hubby...)
So in the end, while I probably wouldn't restrict it that heavily, I do think that the free trial should be able to give a person at least the basic idea, and the incentive to buy the game to try it with full features.
In the end, the game itself did have something for me, that kept me trying it out for more, even though it felt horribly awkward and clumsy to me as I had been used to things that are very different. In the end, even though I enjoyed each and every mission and story, the people, that is, mainly the friends I met during my journey are what have kept me playing. Not the game itself. The game lacks in so many levels which do not belong into this thread, so with all that said, perhaps you should start thinking of some other ways of hooking him · · · ^^;
Just some thoughts~
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:)
You are right, back when I started the first time (2005)... I didn't have any gear either... and first 100k, phew I don't even know when I got that, but it took considerably longer. I quit in ~2007 btw before starting over from scratch now.
Starting out now, gearing up is much easier - if you don't use the trial account ;). I guess it depends on the player. Browsing the AH and buying some armor that looks better than your old armor... Finding a bunch of gil in the delivery box... just adds to the experience - but who am I telling this :-)
Maybe the intention of the trial is to make the player curious on how much better the game would be IF he could use the AH, trade with people etc. I mean I keep telling my husband that it would be much better if he could buy/get this and that... So I suppose a lot of times people buy the game to see that. I suppose this strategy works too, it's just rather unsatisfying for the player at first.
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Iirc the free trial used to be the full experience, but it was being heavily abused so they restricted it. Maybe if SE created a trial character server with no transfer option they could open all content for them. Let them run around on a job locked to level 60 with full AF and spells for that level. Gives them a taste of the jobs and game. Only downside is they have to start over when they get full account.