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

[Yegolev]

A bunch of LOTRO F2P screen shots.

Name randomizer.  I like those.

I do agree with Ironwood's assessment.  There's a lot going on, not that you need to be concerned with 90% of it.  Hopefully the F2P version will be better at describing things; I spent a lot of time showing my wife various fine points of things.  I also suggest playing a hobbit, at least then your noob area/quests are not 100% standard fare.  Plus it captures the general feel of the game, in my opinion.

Now graphically... I think Ironwood's off his nut.  But this will depend on what areas you have been in.  Archet-Combe-Bree is not terribly impressive, if you ask me.  Lake Evendim, on the other hand, is beautiful.  I do like the forests of the Trollshaws.

Rivendell insists upon itself.

[Rasix]

The graphics are pretty awful for me just due to the settings I have to play it on.  Looks terrible, animates worse.  The animations just kill me, they're so bad.

I'll still give this another go once it goes F2P.  I can see myself poking in now and again, especially since they're allowing UI customization. It's a good MMO.  It's just not as good as WoW for me, but does quite a bit better for me than EQ2 could manage.

[Yegolev]

I will say that I am talking about the environment when I talk about graphics.  This is what I spend most of my time looking at, but I'm not the kind of guy who sits around the Prancing Pony strumming his lute; more chance of me being alone on the shores of Nen Harn when I am tired of Doing Stuff.  The characters are not really that awesome to me and the animations are almost passable.  However, people who like plumed and pointy hats may think otherwise.  The costumes are also largely bland, but it does take the other end of the spectrum from WoW when it comes to the Shoulderpad Situation.

[Count Nerfedalot]

Is crafting still cockblocked such that you can only craft stuff for people 5+ levels below you, not for yourself?

[Mrbloodworth]

Is crafting still cockblocked such that you can only craft stuff for people 5+ levels below you, not for yourself?

I don't think I know what you mean.

[Ironwood]

Seriously, what the fuck ? 

Quester 1044 says 'Gah, Goblins in this area ?  You must be mad, Generic Player 1045.  Go out and find me some evidence.'

I should be able to turn 180 degrees and /point to the fucking mountain RIGHT BESIDE HIM THAT'S INFESTED.

What The Fuck.

I don't find this shit fun anymore.  I expect to walk up to questgivers like that and hear them saying 'Fuck me, look at all those fucking mobs, I'm OUTTA HERE.'  and then get a quest to maybe hold his stuff while he runs.

Sigh.

[Cheddar]

I don't find this shit fun anymore.  I expect to walk up to questgivers like that and hear them saying 'Fuck me, look at all those fucking mobs, I'm OUTTA HERE.'  and then get a quest to maybe hold his stuff while he runs.

Sigh.

This happens.  Multiple times.  Stop shitting in my sandbox.

You on Brandywine?  Need a kin invite?

[Soln]

Wife and I aren't playing anymore with no plans to go back solely because of end game issues and a few social issues.  But LotRO is worth trying for a bit.  Some advice:

1) try a hunter -- best dps and you get ports at 15 and a speed buff, best solo class

2) start in the Shire as Yeg said -- closest to the franchise if you care and fastest levelling

3) try the /advice channel -- people should usually answer, or they used to

4) make chat channels -- there are some player created channels where everyone dwells.  I think the command is /createchannel GOOC or something.  Again, the UI is awful and you will need to figure out which # gets assigned.  But create channels for General OOC (GOOC) and GLFF (General LFF, LotRO Barrens Chat) and you will get access to more people.

5) Help -- LotRO is still best played in a group, even a duo.  The reason is because the classes are all designed with some group skills that are only available when you are in combat.  That actually sucks after awhile, since you keep getting skills that you can only fully realize until you are grouped, but FYI anyways.  I went back and forth to LotRO maybe 3-4 times since Beta and only stayed the last 2 years once my wife started playing full time.  It really changed the game.

6) Sell everything -- once you crack the AH you should be able to find lowbie food and gear that is accessible.  Gear for some reason makes a lot of difference soloing in LotRO, and the quest rewards are usually pretty good.  But the itemization is unfortunately poor, so not every class is rewarded.  So try to buy WoW style green gear if you can.

7) Ignore Stats -- meaningless until post lvl 60 IMO

8) Do the Epics -- the epic quest lines are the best part of the game IMO.  They will guide you the best and give the best rewards.

[Hawkbit]

I'm going out on a limb here, but I'd wager your time with the average MMO is about done with.  I'd recommend that you go  outside or something; find a new hobby.  I'm not trying to be a dick, but your complaints can be said about nearly every single MMO on the market.  The statement "I don't find this shit fun anymore." speaks volumes.  

I turned in my TPS reports and my boss said "Where's my TPS reports?" and I said "Check your inbox."  What The Fuck.  I don't find this shit fun anymore, either.  I think you're looking for the dynamic happy game that we know is on the horizon but is just too big for the industry right now.  

[Xeyi]

People who don't like the graphics are bonkers though.

While I think the graphics look great on ultra, I always had an issue with draw distance, even when maxing every setting i could find.  Frequently I'd run up a hill to take a look at some ruins or such from above, and... it's just not there and been replaced by a patch of grass.  Maybe there was some relatively hidden setting I never noticed but this always irked me.

As for the game I have the same problem some others have mentioned in this thread.  In theory I should be all over this but in practice I've never levelled a character further than the North Downs as my interest fades every time.  There are certain parts of the game I love, (I have several characters who have done every deed in the Shire for instance, including all the pie and letter deliveries), but for some reason the game can't hold my attention for more than a month at a time.

Not being able to find a class I really like is probably a major contributing factor, I tend to play healer types, but I can't stand minstrels and I wasn't too fussed on runekeepers either.  Either way I'll check this out again at some point, although I expect my interest will be slain by the North Downs again.

[Yegolev]

Is crafting still cockblocked such that you can only craft stuff for people 5+ levels below you, not for yourself?

It is not now, but I don't think it ever was... I probably don't understand your exact complaint, though.  You do still need to get some things from other people, such as a metalsmith/tailor not being able to make his own leather for armor components.  Can be gotten from AH if you don't want to make an alt.

[Ironwood]

The statement "I don't find this shit fun anymore." speaks volumes.
  

It was meant to.

I'm done with this crap.  All  of it.  Time to wait for some actual innovation.

[Paelos]

The statement "I don't find this shit fun anymore." speaks volumes.
  

It was meant to.

I'm done with this crap.  All  of it.  Time to wait for some actual innovation.

I'll try it when it's free. StarCraft will probably take me two months until I realize I have no chance in multiplayer and I want something with more "Go here, do this."

[Malakili]

The statement "I don't find this shit fun anymore." speaks volumes.
  

It was meant to.

I'm done with this crap.  All  of it.  Time to wait for some actual innovation.

I'll try it when it's free. StarCraft will probably take me two months until I realize I have no chance in multiplayer and I want something with more "Go here, do this."

Well, this is pretty much the attraction of the current brand of MMO.  PvP is hard, you can't really fail at "go here, do this" and sometimes its nice not to fail.  Of course, its also led to the stagnation of an entire genre, so its not all good. 

[Yegolev]

I will admit it.  I like LotRO because it is calm and easy.  I am not looking for a challenge.  I want a Tolkien-themed... uh, theme park.  I don't know what the Next Level of MMO will look like but if it's for bored twentysomethings, I probably won't like it.

[caladein]

I like LotRO because it is calm and easy.

The big plus for me is that while WoW combat is based on hitting a button every second or so, LotRO combat operates at a slightly slower pace.  The complexity is all still there: CCs to manage, procs to react to, etc. and I'm able to appreciate it because I'm not constantly mashing buttons.

[Ironwood]

if it's for bored twentysomethings,

If that's a dig at me, I should probably be honored....

[Paelos]

if it's for bored twentysomethings,

If that's a dig at me, I should probably be honored....

I thought you were actually 60 and shot people on your lawn on sight. 

[Nyght]

I thought you were actually 60 and shot people on your lawn on sight. 

No, that would be me.

[Nebu]

I will admit it.  I like LotRO because it is calm and easy.  I am not looking for a challenge.  I want a Tolkien-themed... uh, theme park.  I don't know what the Next Level of MMO will look like but if it's for bored twentysomethings, I probably won't like it.

I agree with this in spirit.  Sadly, every time I play Lotro, I leave because none of the classes really keep me engaged.  Warden held my interest to the mid 30's, but memorizing button patterns started getting old.  I thought about going back to try a RK or loremaster, but the game doesn't seem to do dps casters well beyond the hunter class... which is played by a million people.

[Mrbloodworth]

If I may, I think some of you are tainted by the one sided nature of classes in other games, and, on the flip, my recent venture to Wow again, I am having the flipped issue, coming from LOTRO with the high utility and broader range of a class ability's and roles (debatably watered down "roles"), to Wow's cut and dry classes. ( I suppose druid and paladin are exceptions, but I haven't played them yet ).

It may be thats its hard for you to find your "role" whole I'm having a hard time being a one trick pony. A bastard child of the two may be welcome.

With Respect.

[Nebu]

If I may, I think some of you are tainted by the one sided nature of classes in other games, and, on the flip, my recent venture to Wow again, I am having the flipped issue, coming from LOTRO with the high utility and broader range of a class ability's and roles (debatably watered down "roles"), to Wow's cut and dry classes. ( I suppose druid and paladin are exceptions, but I haven't played them yet ).

It may be thats its hard for you to find your "role" whole I'm having a hard time being a one trick pony. A bastard child of the two may be welcome.

With Respect.

The classes are a reason that I left WoW as well.  It's a holdover from DAoC (and to a lesser extent, WAR and Vanguard).  WoW classes are too limited while LotRO seems to have classes that don't really have a defined nature.  I prefer something intermediate between the two.  DAoC gave me a ton of class variety to toy with while Vanguard and WAR allowed me to play healers that were viable as soloists without having to become buffbots. I may have to go back and try my runekeeper again just to give LotRO one more shot.  The bard, warden, and burglar just left me cold.   

[Rasix]

I wouldn't agree totally that WoW classes are one-dimensional. They're one dimensional at a point in time.  Dual speccing means that most roles are just a click away (talents define you more than base abilties).  They don't really exist as multiple roles at the same time unless you're counting CC,  but WoW in casual group settings has completely de-emphasized CC (it may make a come back in Cat, who knows).  But unlike LOTRO, WoW classes are expected to be almost equivalent to other classes when they're in that role (the four pure DPS classes are supposed to have a slight edge at making shit dead).  LOTRO seems to have classes that will do "OK" in a given role if they try, but are more suited to a different role.  

But really, I don't know what much about LOTRO at higher levels as I could never get that far.  I've said before, it's a bad fit for me, and it's been hard to break beyond the newbie levels.  I don't know if I Guardian will do competitive DPS in a DPSer role in a higher level group environment, but I have my doubts.  (And by competitive, I mean within 5%-10% under a pure DPS.)

The classes work a bit better for me in WoW than LOTRO.  It's hard to find something I like in LOTRO, but Guardian seems to be the best fit for me so far (when I thought champ would).  

edit:  Class feel hasn't helped me with LOTRO, but I'm a person that has a really hell of a time picking a class in a game. I switch mains 2-3 times an expansion.  There's been a lot of games I just couldn't get into because I couldn't settle on a class.   LOTRO just hasn't helped because none of the classes leap of the screen at me as the right choice.

[Fraeg]

downloaded the hi-res 10 day trial and played this weekend.

I haven't followed or read much about lotro since I dabled in the beta, so I am not sure what has changed.  The hi-res version looks pretty good,  a dissapointing number of kill 10 rats style quests, but I had some fun.  At lvl 14 I am already having problems remembering all the Wardens gambits.

I tried the PvM thingy and rolled a warg/wolf/dog thingy.   I laughed out loud when I walked into a keep and it was setup basically identical to keeps in daoc.  Several floors with stairs and the boss at the top.  Seriously, nobody can think of something better?   Combat was ok, nothing set it apart from daoc, war, wow, etc.  other than the fact that it was lotro intsead of lotro inspired stuff.  Oh and I felt good when I killed a hobbit.

I can see paying 15 bucks for a month maybe a few more. 

[Simond]

The statement "I don't find this shit fun anymore." speaks volumes.
  

It was meant to.

I'm done with this crap.  All  of it.  Time to wait for some actual innovation.

See you in a couple of decades then!

[Ingmar]

I'm blown away by the idea that the classes in either LotRO or WoW are more limited than the classes in DAOC. DAOC classes had like 3 spells each*.  WoW warriors and LotRO guardians and champs are all about a thousand times deeper than DAOC warriors or even my precious thane.

*hyperbole, but still.

[Zetor]

If I may, I think some of you are tainted by the one sided nature of classes in other games, and, on the flip, my recent venture to Wow again, I am having the flipped issue, coming from LOTRO with the high utility and broader range of a class ability's and roles (debatably watered down "roles"), to Wow's cut and dry classes. ( I suppose druid and paladin are exceptions, but I haven't played them yet ).

It may be thats its hard for you to find your "role" whole I'm having a hard time being a one trick pony. A bastard child of the two may be welcome.

With Respect.

Except for rogue or mage, WOW classes aren't so cut and dry either. Plenty of classes can cc, kite, offtank or offheal and switch roles mid-fight.. it's never as simple as 'just press your heal/tank/dps button rotation'. If you want to push it, BM hunters can offtank, demo warlocks can offtank in a pinch (at least in 5mans) too. :p OF COURSE, most of this versatility isn't actually used nowadays because, well, :wotlk:

It's not as good as lotro (I've been saying that the class setup is the best part of lotro), but it's not like "I'm a fury warrior, so all I do is press 3 buttons over and over"... well, maybe if you're doing patchwerk or something.

[Nebu]

I'm blown away by the idea that the classes in either LotRO or WoW are more limited than the classes in DAOC. DAOC classes had like 3 spells each*.  WoW warriors and LotRO guardians and champs are all about a thousand times deeper than DAOC warriors or even my precious thane.

*hyperbole, but still.

You like chocolate, I like vanilla.  Tastes vary.

[Sky]

You like chocolate, I like vanilla.  Tastes vary.

To expand the allegory, I like Neapolitan. 

[WayAbvPar]

The scenery is fantastic on Ultra. The mobs, meh. I have taken to logging in about once a week. I have so many other games to play atm it just doesn't compel me to play. Also, my partner who roped my into this fucked off to another game or 5, and grinding away alone gets dull really fast. I really want to see Moria, but I am about 9 levels shy now and can't bring myself to log in.

[Count Nerfedalot]

Is crafting still cockblocked such that you can only craft stuff for people 5+ levels below you, not for yourself?

It is not now, but I don't think it ever was... I probably don't understand your exact complaint, though.  You do still need to get some things from other people, such as a metalsmith/tailor not being able to make his own leather for armor components.  Can be gotten from AH if you don't want to make an alt.

Nah, my complaint was not about interdependency between crafts. I'm all for that.  My complaint is that crafting in LotRO is, if not tied, shall we say tethered to your adventuring level.  Every 10 or 20 levels (it's been years and I forget the details) you had to do a special quest to progress any further in crafting.  And this quest was a COMBAT quest, and might have even been solo instanced so you could not get help (again, the details have faded with time and alcohol).  Add to this the fact that the items that, say, a level 20 crafter could make were significantly inferior to what your typical level 20 adventurer already had.  Then consider how it is/was? extremely difficult to impossible to harvest materials much higher than your adventuring level.  All combined, and it was pretty much impossible for a crafter to make useful gear for himself.

So my question is, is that still the same or has something changed, like boosting the utility of crafted goods so they are comparable with looted/quested/vended items or making the crafting progression quests non-combat dependent or scaled to your combat ability?

[Ingmar]

As far as I've noticed the time and effort it takes to make yourself useful gear for your own level is still more or less a waste of time in LotRO (like most MMOs), much as you mention - especially post-30, because that's when you can start skirmishing and just get gear that way. Consider also there's an opportunity cost to not just auctioning the materials instead, if you're making stuff that doesn't sell well to skill up.

I find it much better to simply skirmish for gear and fill in with fancy crafted gear from the AH when I spot a bargain than to make anything for myself. The fact that I'm not paying for armor at all (skirmish gear) and selling at auction all the materials I pick up along the way means I can afford to pay even fairly stupid prices for gear on the AH if I'm feeling spendy and still have enough money to cover all my needs. If I was crafting instead I'm sure I could *eventually* make a larger overall profit if I was going to try to become a big market player, or there would be noone crafting at all, but it seems to me it would take more time and effort to get to that position (and to maintain it) than would be worthwhile.

But just for yourself? Don't bother.

[Sjofn]

eems to be the best fit for me so far (when I thought champ would).  

edit:  Class feel hasn't helped me with LOTRO, but I'm a person that has a really hell of a time picking a class in a game. I switch mains 2-3 times an expansion.  There's been a lot of games I just couldn't get into because I couldn't settle on a class.   LOTRO just hasn't helped because none of the classes leap of the screen at me as the right choice.

This is a major, major problem for me in LotRO. None of the classes really scream "ME! I AM THE CLASS FOR YOU, SJOFN!" and I have a hard enough time commiting even when a class DOES really strike me as awesome (my indecision over who my Cataclysm main will be is between two classes I really enjoy playing, for example). I also can't jump back into some of those classes after my typical months-long break, so then I'm faced with starting again. I've played 1-20 in LotRO roughly a billion times. I still have yet to hit level 30.

[caladein]

On Brandywine, at least through Tier 3, materials are consistently listed for barely above their vendor price plus AH cut.  Regardless crafting gear for yourself is rather pointless since you're not getting good stuff for the time you can craft it, and you don't need to use it to "fill slots" because as Ingmar said, Skirmishes are better for that.

As for the class thing, unfortunately none of the healers stand out to me, which is what I usually play.  Among the damage dealers though, Burgler totally has "Cal, play me."  I would like to make a healer eventually, just that choosing between Minstrel, Rune-Keeper, and Captain seems a bit like choosing among different places to get stabbed...

[Nebu]

As for the class thing, unfortunately none of the healers stand out to me, which is what I usually play.  Among the damage dealers though, Burgler totally has "Cal, play me."  I would like to make a healer eventually, just that choosing between Minstrel, Rune-Keeper, and Captain seems a bit like choosing among different places to get stabbed...

I played a minstrel to 30.  It's a buff class.  If you don't like mashing buttons to keep buffs up, then don't bother.

Rune-keeper seemed fun at first, but became a class of kiting in later levels.  Perhaps this has changed since they were released, but I didn't enjoy kiting to maximize my potential. 

I haven't tried captain... that may be worth a go.