Re: LOTRO Goes Free to Play : Sept 10 (Sept 8 for Cool Kids)

[Azazel]

See, this sucks because I'm bored with WoW, this sounds like a lot of fun, and I want to try it right now. It's a huge tease. I'm going to have to pout in a corner for two months, and then it's football season, so I won't get to play much then either.  

Pick up a discounted box for $10, which will get you a months' playtime with everything that's included unlocked. When it goes F2P you'll be a Premium player and not a free player, and I'm not sure how much stuff they'll "take away" from you - if any.



edit - you don't even need that to check it out. PM me if you want a trial referral, or if anyone else wants one, as well. From experience, using a trial account you get all 5 bags, unlimited quests etc as well. I think they just limit your chat channels a little and access to the AH. If you start on Elendilmir because you can't get enough of Aussies, I'll pass you some stuff to help you get started, and if not, I'm sure the rest of f13 will help you on their server.  

[Sjofn]

I'm with Azazel, grab a discounted box and gooooo. It'll even give you a headstart over the F2P rush. 

[Azazel]

So, I'm finally trying to stick with LOTRO a bit more (not because I don't find engaging, I think it's VERY well done, but during my previous attempts I always got back to single player games and other RL stuff :P).

I created a Human Champion, Elf Warden, Hobbit Hunter and Dwarf Runekeeper; by the way, I'm not interested in the best race/class relationship and that kind of hardcore attitude, I'll just try to give them a decent roleplay background and play the stories, that's it :).

But still, I would like to give to each of the above characters the appropriate vocation, so I can mantain a nice flow of resources between them. Which vocation would you suggest for each of them? Thanks (and by the way, I'll move this post to the graveyard section if requested, no problem).

Should probably be split over to the lorto forum - but IMO make your highest-level character an Explorer - you can harvest wood, hides, metal and also make your own might and med armour. Wood and metal you can then pass down.

[Paelos]

I'm with Azazel, grab a discounted box and gooooo. It'll even give you a headstart over the F2P rush.  

Stop tempting me! ARGH!

It's summer and I should be outside and shit.  



So I'm told.

[Sjofn]

Fuck outside, the sun is out there. And the sun burns. <hiss>


(This stance would make more sense if you had the faintest idea of exactly how pale I am. Let us just say: I am very, very pale.)

[Paelos]

Fuck outside, the sun is out there. And the sun burns. <hiss>


(This stance would make more sense if you had the faintest idea of exactly how pale I am. Let us just say: I am very, very pale.)

Darlin, me in the sun is like putting tin foil in the microwave. There's sparks, pain, and a smoking smell. It's only by the invention of SPF 50 that I've been able to play sports or caddy. I call it the Irish sweatshirt.

[Sjofn]

Then you know my pain! Fuck outside!

[Cheddar]

I'm with Azazel, grab a discounted box and gooooo. It'll even give you a headstart over the F2P rush.  

Stop tempting me! ARGH!

It's summer and I should be outside and shit.  
So I'm told.

Ahem, they are also tracking "VIP" from now until f2p...  So extra points! (even if its a month worth).

[Azazel]

I'm with Azazel, grab a discounted box and gooooo. It'll even give you a headstart over the F2P rush.  

Stop tempting me! ARGH!
It's summer and I should be outside and shit.  
So I'm told.

Even when it's dark?

Hey - It's a free trial, and it might even keep you your bag slots.

[Sheepherder]

Fuck outside, the sun is out there. And the sun burns. <hiss>


(This stance would make more sense if you had the faintest idea of exactly how pale I am. Let us just say: I am very, very pale.)

I look like Gollum's cousin.  Arthur can confirm this.  I'm still not convinced.

[Mrbloodworth]

Lord of the Rings Online News - Free To Play Beta Keys!

also, new and returning people. Brandywine server is where its at.

[Sjofn]

Fuck outside, the sun is out there. And the sun burns. <hiss>


(This stance would make more sense if you had the faintest idea of exactly how pale I am. Let us just say: I am very, very pale.)

I look like Gollum's cousin.  Arthur can confirm this.  I'm still not convinced.

Maybe Arthur can find pictures of me for you! I am probably even easier to find. 

[Azazel]

Lord of the Rings Online News - Free To Play Beta Keys!

also, new and returning people. Brandywine server is where its at.

With all due respect, why would people bother with F2P beta when you could do a 10-day trial followed by a month of the full game for $10 or so? Especially if the F2P beta toons are likely (or even possibly) to be wiped

[Mrbloodworth]

The beta is its own server. I post info about games I track as I come across it. I did not mean to imply that using that will let you on the live servers, sorry. Those were two different thoughts.

Use the link to get in beta.

Brandywine is the server with the unofficial f13 guild. As for your method, your plan seems sound.

[Azazel]

Oh, I just meant that he shouldn't bother with the Beta when there's a free trial on offer instead. Then I was wondering who would bother to do the F2P beta, given that they could be playing the actual live game if they wanted to.

But then, I suppose EQ always had people playing on Test.

[Mrbloodworth]

*Shrug*

I found them, I posted them. Wasn't for anyone in particular.

[caladein]

Is there any way to have the Beta downloader run a force-check if I stick the current (as of last week) MirkwoodSetup-N.bin files in the download directory?  (It seemed to ignore simply copying the files over and appending .downloading.)

I have a key, but I'd rather roll the dice and pay them the $15 to reactivate my retail account than download another 10 gigs at a snail's pace just for the Beta.

[Numtini]

So premium = had an account? And I'm assuming my purchased packs will also translate?

And to confirm, the beta codes will only work on a new account or on an active paid existing account, but not an inactive account? (It asks for my credit card if I try to apply the beta code.)

[Mrbloodworth]

Is there any way to have the Beta downloader run a force-check if I stick the current (as of last week) MirkwoodSetup-N.bin files in the download directory?  (It seemed to ignore simply copying the files over and appending .downloading.)

I have a key, but I'd rather roll the dice and pay them the $15 to reactivate my retail account than download another 10 gigs at a snail's pace just for the Beta.

Moving the current client to avoid downloading the beta version of the client did not work for me. They seem to be incompatible.

However, I have personally moved the entire live game to various machines and external drives and just ran the launcher. It will download some necessary files and what not (mostly Dot.net. This method REQUIRES you download and use 1.0 of dont.net to use the launcher this way), but works after that. Dont forget to copy the LOTRO files located in your documents if you dont want to reset your key binds or GUI stuff.

The client even runs directly off an external drive as long as the client machine has dot.net (one point something, it will tell you the first time you attempt to run the launcher from inside the folder).

The only exception to this is if you installed VIA the Turbine download manager, I have no experience with this.

So premium = had an account? And I'm assuming my purchased packs will also translate?

I believe this is correct, at least for a time. To put it simply, if you have bought any expansion, or adventure pack, that content will never be locked to you. This includes bank space, classes, toon slots, ETC..

[Malakili]

Is there any way to have the Beta downloader run a force-check if I stick the current (as of last week) MirkwoodSetup-N.bin files in the download directory?  (It seemed to ignore simply copying the files over and appending .downloading.)

I have a key, but I'd rather roll the dice and pay them the $15 to reactivate my retail account than download another 10 gigs at a snail's pace just for the Beta.

Moving the current client to avoid downloading the beta version of the client did not work for me. They seem to be incompatible.

However, I have personally moved the entire live game to various machines and external drives and just ran the launcher. It will download some necessary files and what not (mostly Dot.net. This method REQUIRES you download and use 1.0 of dont.net to use the launcher this way), but works after that. Dont forget to copy the LOTRO files located in your documents if you dont want to reset your key binds or GUI stuff.

The client even runs directly off an external drive as long as the client machine has dot.net (one point something, it will tell you the first time you attempt to run the launcher from inside the folder).

The only exception to this is if you installed VIA the Turbine download manager, I have no experience with this.

So premium = had an account? And I'm assuming my purchased packs will also translate?

I believe this is correct, at least for a time. To put it simply, if you have bought any expansion, or adventure pack, that content will never be locked to you. This includes bank space, classes, toon slots, ETC..

Thats good, i've got all the expansions, even though I never made it as far as Moria     

[Mrbloodworth]

233 New LOTRO Store Beta Screenshots!

Subject to change, but it looks to be about $6-8 for zone quest unlocks (when you get there, if you want to).

Oh wow, mounts by the hour, fancy. Basic riding skill for $3.00. Port maps to all over the place. Class unlocks for $6.

[WayAbvPar]

Can you buy stuff outside your class? I would love to be able to port around without looking at the ass end of a horse for 10 minutes.

[Mrbloodworth]

Can you buy stuff outside your class? I would love to be able to port around without looking at the ass end of a horse for 10 minutes.

I would imagine that the maps (ports) are not class dependent.

[Ingmar]

There was also hunter-specific 'guide to <blah>' stuff in the class section, which you almost certainly will not be able to buy for non-hunters.

[Azazel]

*Shrug*

I found them, I posted them. Wasn't for anyone in particular.

It wasn't a shot against you in any way. It was a general wondering.

[Azazel]

Can you buy stuff outside your class? I would love to be able to port around without looking at the ass end of a horse for 10 minutes.

I would imagine that the maps (ports) are not class dependent.

There are port maps (to the three starter cities) already ingame for any class. I get 10 bound ones of each on every new character I start since I bought the adventurers mirkwood pack late and misse dout on the free goat mount. 

[Ironwood]

Playing this.

It's odd.

I really, really wish it was easier to get into.

[Merusk]

Good luck, IW.  I tried three times and never could get into it.  It's just not thrilling or sticky early-on.

[Azazel]

I'd say that's a fair description. It's not nearly as sticky/accessable as WoW. It was fun for me, but I was playing with 3 friends in the room. My alt was playing with my wife next to me. My "solo alt" made it to maybe level 7 before I lost interest.

If you're coming from WoW, you'll also notice lots of small but annoying UI things which you'd imagine coule be fixed in three weeks, yet remain unpolished as though the devs are completely oblivious..

[HaemishM]

It rewards patience, and it REALLY requires that you luck out and pick the right class for your playstyle from the get go. Pick the wrong one (or just find that none you play fit your playstyle at all) and the game will get real old, real quick.

[Malakili]

This is a game that I really like and for some reason when I played I felt NO pressure or desire to power game.  In that sense, its been one of my favorites because I can relax when I play.  On the other hand, because it never captured my obsession, I also never stuck with it longer than a month or two at a time.  Then again, that might be ideal for me when it goes free for good.

[Cheddar]

This is a game that I really like and for some reason when I played I felt NO pressure or desire to power game.  In that sense, its been one of my favorites because I can relax when I play.  On the other hand, because it never captured my obsession, I also never stuck with it longer than a month or two at a time.  Then again, that might be ideal for me when it goes free for good.

Ditto.  WoW took more effort from me to get into.

Its got a high fantasy bent and combat is defintely different. 

[Ironwood]

Sigh.  Elena likes this more than me.

It's not good.  Graphics that totally turn me off (even in the supposed wondrous ULTRA resolution) gameplay that's frankly BORING, not very much fun and the WORST thing about it is how really, really, really HARD it is to understand shit that's going on.  Tutorials blow and clearly I'm getting hit by 3 expansions worth of upgrades at once that's utterly overwhelming.  Congrats, you've got THIS DEED !!  Wow.  Great.  What the Fuck's a Deed ? Where do I craft ?  What is crafting ?  These things in my pack, how are they coded ?  What does this stat mean ?  Why does my Character sheet have 60 Millions stats and tabs ?  Why the fuck would I want 3 separate outfits ?  (actually, that bit I like.)

Where are the groups ?  Where are the instances (apparently I've done one solo.  I hardly noticed at the time...)  Where's the immersion ?  They may as well have called the towns 'Experience hub 1'. 'Experience Hub 2', etc.  The quests are Utterly, Utterly Shit.  It's ALL RATS ALL THE TIME.

I've tried the Warden, the Burglar and the Guardian and, well, it's just Not For Me.  It's a shame;  being a massive Tolkien fan I SHOULD be getting hooked by this but there's simply NO hooks in the game that I can see.

It's a reminder to me of why WoW is eating everyones lunch, even though my WoW playing days are coming to an End with Cataclysm.

I'll persist for the rest of the trial and, frankly, if anyone out there wants to group up and teach me shit, that'd be great, but you have to be prepared for my....uniquely negative outlook on things.

[Stabs]

This is a game that I really like and for some reason when I played I felt NO pressure or desire to power game.  In that sense, its been one of my favorites because I can relax when I play.  On the other hand, because it never captured my obsession, I also never stuck with it longer than a month or two at a time.  Then again, that might be ideal for me when it goes free for good.

Adding to the choir, this is exactly how Lotro strikes me too.

[caladein]

Sigh.  Elena likes this more than me.

It's not good.  Graphics that totally turn me off (even in the supposed wondrous ULTRA resolution) gameplay that's frankly BORING, not very much fun and the WORST thing about it is how really, really, really HARD it is to understand shit that's going on.  Tutorials blow and clearly I'm getting hit by 3 expansions worth of upgrades at once that's utterly overwhelming.  Congrats, you've got THIS DEED !!  Wow.  Great.  What the Fuck's a Deed ? Where do I craft ?  What is crafting ?  These things in my pack, how are they coded ?  What does this stat mean ?  Why does my Character sheet have 60 Millions stats and tabs ?  Why the fuck would I want 3 separate outfits ?  (actually, that bit I like.)

Where are the groups ?  Where are the instances (apparently I've done one solo.  I hardly noticed at the time...)  Where's the immersion ?  They may as well have called the towns 'Experience hub 1'. 'Experience Hub 2', etc.  The quests are Utterly, Utterly Shit.  It's ALL RATS ALL THE TIME.

I've tried the Warden, the Burglar and the Guardian and, well, it's just Not For Me.  It's a shame;  being a massive Tolkien fan I SHOULD be getting hooked by this but there's simply NO hooks in the game that I can see.

It's a reminder to me of why WoW is eating everyones lunch, even though my WoW playing days are coming to an End with Cataclysm.

I'll persist for the rest of the trial and, frankly, if anyone out there wants to group up and teach me shit, that'd be great, but you have to be prepared for my....uniquely negative outlook on things.

I think there's two places that just come down to opinion: the graphics and the combat (both of which I like and you don't).  The rest:

Deeds are achievements.  The reason you instantly got a Deed is (probably) because you logged in during the Summer Festival.  There's a splash screen about it when you start the game up.

You should get a quest for crafting once you're into the first main "town", for example Combe.  All that stuff gets explained there.  Same thing for player housing and mounts, it's all done through quests.

If something in your pack is gray and says "a trophy..." it's vendor trash just like it would be in WoW.  I'm not sure what else is confusing.

The stats are all reasonably well explained in tooltips I found.  The only one that tripped me up was "Tactical Damage" which means "non-physical".

Instances.  Instances (World instances) as we understand them don't come up until 20 with Great Barrows.  You'll run into a few Quest instances early on, which are exactly what they sound like.

Immersion.  This is one place where it's easy to get tripped up.  The game is much more cleanly divided between "Main Quest" and "Side Quest" like in a traditional RPG.  The "Epic" quests, designated as such in your quest log, and in the world by a on-fire Ring, are your main quests with voice-overs and instances and such.  Other quests still have stories to tell, but they're still side quests.

As for the combat, I like it a lot.  I think Burgler has a lot more tools earlier than say, a Rogue, and not having to mash a button every GCD or risk failure is nice.  I can see how that can lead to a feeling of detachment though.  People who don't like the graphics are bonkers though.