I think crown system should be abolished. In other rpg games they try to not allow people to buy thierselves better items but rather make everything something you have to earn. Wizard 101 will allow you to upgrade for a fee. Isn't it enough if we already pay a monthly fee?
Wizard101 has a free to play area that you're invited to enjoy for as long as you want. There is no level cap in the Free to Play areas, just a location restriction.
If you wish to explore beyond Triton Avenue, you will need to purchase time in the game with a subscription, or areas in the game with crowns.
Whether you purchase a subscription or pay by area, really depends on how you think you will play the game.
If you plan to push through as much of the content as possible in the shortest amount of time, then a month to month subscription is the best value for you.
If you plan to play several characters over a long period of time, then a 6month or 1year subscription is probably the best value for you.
If you only have a few hours a week to spare, or will hold off playing for long periods of time, then purchasing individual areas is the best value for your time. It allows you to purchase just the next street you need to progress, and once you've purchased an area, it's accessible to all your characters on that account. Purchasing individual areas lets you progress at your own pace without feeling like you have a subscription hanging over your head. The prices for the individual areas can be found here: https://www.wizard101.com/game/areapricing
If you're not sure, then use the Free to Play portion of the game as your guide. See how fast you move through to the end of Triton Avenue, and gauge your passion and your available time accordingly.
Crowns Players can EARN Crowns! Go to https://www.wizard101.com/game?context=iaf . Follow the instructions and you're well on your way to Earning Crowns that will allow you to purchase Premium areas of Wizard101.
As for items requiring Crowns, items that do not shortcut the game (such as Henchmen, Elixirs etc) are available also for Gold and/or are found as drops of creatures in the Spiral. There are alternate ways of obtaining these types items that do not require paying with Crowns.
Exceptions do exist of course, including but not limited to, Stitching (putting the stats of one item onto the appearance of another), and Respec (turning in your secondary school cards for the Training Points back).
If you want the prize, you have to build the ladder rung by rung. There are no shortcuts.
The only way to earn crowns by getting other people to either subscribe or buy more than 10$ worth of crowns, correct?
Also, if we've paid for a years worth of subscription, then why do we have to worry about crowns for items? Shouldn't a subscription fee be enough to allow us to buy crown items with gold?
The alternate ways of earning items is farming bosses that have a slim chance of dropping a large variety of items, correct?
Sorry, I'm not trying to be rude, I'm just very direct some times.
None of the crown items are typically deamed to be the best high level equipment items available, as such crown items do not unbalance the game and can be viewed by those who spend time in the game as not necessary in order to be as strong as anyone else. Some may be nice to have, but you are bound to out grow them. I think Wizard101 does an excellent job at making players earn the best equipments rather than allowing players to purchase them.
