HOW TO GET FREE STUFF
Wonder where everybody keeps getting these racing snails? Some guy in your guild get free silver tier loyalty or a 30 day patron pass? How on earth did everybody in your guild get a free level 40 character with bags and other goodies? That's an easy question. They entered contests and/or giveaways.
Now the slightly less easy answer. There are loads of giveaways and contests all over the internet for Rift. You just have to know where they're at and keep an eye out for when they happen. Fortunately, there are only a few hubs you need to pay attention to:
Now the slightly less easy answer. There are loads of giveaways and contests all over the internet for Rift. You just have to know where they're at and keep an eye out for when they happen. Fortunately, there are only a few hubs you need to pay attention to:
- Rift Forums - Almost every contest you're going to find flows through the Rift Forums at some point. Keep an eye out here and be willing to stay up to date. Use the "New Posts" link in the upper left once you've logged in. You might even find a bit of cool information about your class, or someone advertising a new website. The Rift Forums are intended as a central hub for all things Rift sanctioned.
- Rift Twitter - With the new Creators Program there are people almost everywhere throwing around prizes, promoting their websites, Twitch streams, Youtube pages or just about anything that drives content for Rift. A healthy portion of them throw out a tweet @riftgame @trionwords before they go live. Just follow those links to their Twitter or Youtube contest or whatever creation they want you to see. Not only will you get a shot at free loot, you'll get to see a cool video, or watch some PvP or speed clear a raid. That's sort of the reason why Rift gives these folks all these freebies. They're creating cool content that you should watch.
- Rift Twitch - Usually about once a week, usually on Friday, Trion will do a Twitch stream that covers all of their products. Rift is usually last on the list, meaning you'll get a chance to see all the other products Trion makes. At the end of every section, be it Trove or ArcheAge or Rift, there is a giveaway to the people who have made a comment in the Twitch chat. It can be as simple as an X to enter. From my personal experience, this is also the easiest and most direct way to ask "well worded" questions to Trion staff and have them respond directly to you. Brasse has even called me her alien friend (aakaakaakaak). I was rather touched. To my knowledge, this has been the only place silver tier loyalty has been given out besides the five year anniversary. Just be prepared when you don't win anything. This is the most populated contest.
PERSISTENT CONTESTS
Historically, there are two people that run contests regularly. Trion has backed them time and time again for all sorts of giveaways.
Wardrobe Wednesdays - Discordya runs Wardrobe Wednesdays every week since forever. If you're a fashionista and think you have what it takes, take a couple snapshots, front and back, at your loading screen and send them her way. NOTE: Discordya is going to be on maternity leave shortly but intends to be back once her life has returned to normal.
Grimm Gaming - On just about every Youtube video that Grimm puts out there will be some form of contest where you can make a comment, like the video, or do whatever he wants you to do and he'll enter you into whichever contest he's running at the time for free stuff. Will it be a snail? Will it be 15 days of patron? Who knows? Good luck.
Wardrobe Wednesdays - Discordya runs Wardrobe Wednesdays every week since forever. If you're a fashionista and think you have what it takes, take a couple snapshots, front and back, at your loading screen and send them her way. NOTE: Discordya is going to be on maternity leave shortly but intends to be back once her life has returned to normal.
Grimm Gaming - On just about every Youtube video that Grimm puts out there will be some form of contest where you can make a comment, like the video, or do whatever he wants you to do and he'll enter you into whichever contest he's running at the time for free stuff. Will it be a snail? Will it be 15 days of patron? Who knows? Good luck.
TRION DISCOUNTS
This isn't a freebie, but it's usually a huge discount.
Part of Trion's marketing model is to pull you into short term pricing to get you to purchase souls, or a special pack or cute little digital kittens or something. They like to build your excitement. Be ready for it. Have a plan of what you're already looking at purchasing. Wait for the moment when Trion announces that the super secret cosmic snail mount (Trion please make this happen) is on sale for half price and you just have to have it. Be ready for it. Knowing what you want and being ready to purchase it when it goes on sale will get you excellent deals, usually half price.
Part of Trion's marketing model is to pull you into short term pricing to get you to purchase souls, or a special pack or cute little digital kittens or something. They like to build your excitement. Be ready for it. Have a plan of what you're already looking at purchasing. Wait for the moment when Trion announces that the super secret cosmic snail mount (Trion please make this happen) is on sale for half price and you just have to have it. Be ready for it. Knowing what you want and being ready to purchase it when it goes on sale will get you excellent deals, usually half price.
WARNING!
External websites are not a smart move until cleared through one of the three above methods. There are plenty of malicious websites that would just love to take your information, give you malware or find your web browsing history and share it with your loved ones. At the best you'll just get spam. At the worst you'll get your identity stolen and leave you with a mountain of debt. Is a snail mount worth going bankrupt over?
Additionally, if you're buying from a third party, non-approved site there's a good chance that there's something shady going on. Stolen credit cards or other forms of fraud are the reason you can get these fantastic deals. There is usually no magic trick here. Someone is usually losing for you winning. There's also a chance you'll get banned or have your goods taken away in the meantime. Caveat Emptor, buyer beware.
Additionally, if you're buying from a third party, non-approved site there's a good chance that there's something shady going on. Stolen credit cards or other forms of fraud are the reason you can get these fantastic deals. There is usually no magic trick here. Someone is usually losing for you winning. There's also a chance you'll get banned or have your goods taken away in the meantime. Caveat Emptor, buyer beware.