The Daily Grind: How much would you pay to keep your character?

Over time, things change. More often than not, the list of "things" in an MMO includes accounts, characters, mains, and any number of other elements. We change servers, we buy new accounts, and over time you inevitably wind up with a character sitting and accumulating dust. They might have a special title, or an unusual item, or even just a great deal of sentimental value. And while you might give up the option to use them for a while, you still want them back.

In a game like Final Fantasy XI, losing access to an old character can result in a huge loss of time and effort. Luckily, most games offer server transfers, account reactivation, or other services to help you regain your former avatar. But how much is it worth? A month's subscription? The price of an expansion? How much would you pay to get back an older character for whom you've lost access? Does it vary a lot depending on the resources the character possesses, or do you just want to get back what you lost, even if it's only a little?
This article was originally published on Massively.