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

[Modern Angel]

Do the fast travel routes from NPC’s still require kindred rep to open them?  One example: that route from Estledin to Garth Fornaire (?) in Angmar (the cave) was awful to grind.  Can you buy that now via the store?  

You can't buy it but it's not Kindred. It's Friend, I think, and you can usually get it if you hit Angmar fairly hard. The problem is that they didn't adjust rep gain when they adjusted leveling speed so these zones you used to spend weeks in are now a three day romp on the way to Moria and the rep suddenly feels doubly grindy. Forochel, especially, is fucking awful. 1.13 nearly killed me.

[Mrbloodworth]

I didn't mind the Forochel unlock, but the Garth Forthnir one I never did. Luckily, as a hunter, I got the port spell that takes me straight there, so didn't have to worry about it.

I skipped that one to for the same reasons.

[Ingmar]

The fast travel routes in Forochel and Angmar still say 'requries kindred standing with <blah>' on them, but you also have the option to pay to unlock them for an hour. There doesn't appear to be a way to buy your way into them permanently (yet?).

[Nebu]

I didn't mind the Forochel unlock, but the Garth Forthnir one I never did. Luckily, as a hunter, I got the port spell that takes me straight there, so didn't have to worry about it.

You need to come play on Brandywine, damnit.

[Mrbloodworth]

but you also have the option to pay to unlock them for an hour.

This is making more sense now.

If I have it right:

As a free player you don't get swift travel. As anything else, you do. if you buy the thingy in the store (or using the link next to a route) you can use ANY Swift regardless of requirements for an hour? (Freedom is a buck-o-five)

That sound right?

You need to come play on Brandywine, damnit.

Everyone does.

[HaemishM]

Shit, Angmar the zone makes me goddamn stabby. Paths that go all over the place through shittons of aggro mobs, too many heroic/elite mobs scattered about, too many quests that are group-oriented.

EDIT: And I am on Brandywine as Eloihm. I'm starting back up as of today on the F2P.

[Mrbloodworth]

Shit, Angmar the zone makes me goddamn stabby. Paths that go all over the place through shittons of aggro mobs, too many heroic/elite mobs scattered about, too many quests that are group-oriented.

It was end game once.

[Nebu]

Did I read correctly that they reduced the aggro range of mobs?  If so, the wandering trash will be less of a pain in zones like Angmar and Misty Mts

[Mrbloodworth]

Did I read correctly that they reduced the aggro range of mobs?  If so, the wandering trash will be less of a pain in zones like Angmar and Misty Mts

Yep. I never had an issue before, but perhaps that was me being accustomed to it. They also combined most trash loot (Grey), and made the stack higher (no more individual types of intestines, they all stack now)

[caladein]

The game's a bit stupid overeager in offering the "Hey, buy stuff." link on travel.

I have a sub, so the only travel route related thing I can buy is "Free Horses for an Hour" (Writ of Special Passage) for 250 points.  But, it still gives me the link to the store when I run across a swift travel route I can't use because of reputation, say Gath Forthnír to Gabilshathûr which requires Acquaintance with Council of the North.  I imagine it does the same thing with the swift travel routes around Eregion which are gated by deed.

E: Just checked on my low level and it's offering to unlock travel routes that have level requirements (say: Thorin's Hall to Ettenmoors).

[01101010]

For whatever reason, LotRO has always been the booty call girl. I go back to it when I need a quick fix, and I see all it has to offer but in the end, I leave anyway. Not really sure why it dig in like WoW did for 2 years or FFXI the 2 years prior to my WoW excursion. Can't quite put my finger on it, but the game never held me and it wasn't because I am not a fan of the setting or the play or any of that. I really have no clue... but being free to play even with heavy restrictions might work out...

[Modern Angel]

Being done with WoW makes a big difference in its stickiness. Once that purple heroin is out of your vein and you go back? For me, at least, WoW is a pretty drab, numbing experience. I've found that I'm much more amenable to other MMOs long term without the social constructs I was in with WoW looming large night after night.

[Kitsune]

Their site seems a bit fucked right now.  Is there a link to the download for the new client?  I'd like to have it installed and patched and all shiny by Friday.

[caladein]

Do either of these links work for you?

http://cdn.content.turbine.com/sites/clientdl/lotro/lotrostandard.exe

http://cdn.content.turbine.com/sites/clientdl/lotro/lotrohigh.exe

[Kitsune]

They seem to, yeah.  Thanks!

[Yegolev]

DO they still have that stupid "GO visit every Shitty location in Middle Earth" quest to unlock the fast horse?

Yes.  It destroys morale when you see multiple timed quests in a row with timers near and in excess of 20 mins.

Its gone now.  You just have to run around the track.  Confirmed in game with my warden. 

Also, maybe wasn't clear, first Real Horse is 500s and the next ones are 220s each.  Affordable at lv 20.  I just did this tonight after "saving myself".

They seem to have also completely redone their web portal, which I wasn't expecting.

I like the new vault system, but then I have a ton of shit and simply having autostack is something I appreciate.  Confusing, maybe, but if so then don't bother with "chests" and just use the filter.  Filter = love.  Already filled up the wardrobe, too.

I'm using DX11 (5870) and the game is again looking better.

Finally, the one bad thing so far is that I'm one of those people whose TP calculations are way, way off and I have 150 where other people have around 4000.  /sadf  On the other hand, I somehow got a shit-ton of skirmish marks.  Should be able to get that Rune of Winged Dominance any day now.

[Cheddar]

Finally, the one bad thing so far is that I'm one of those people whose TP calculations are way, way off and I have 150 where other people have around 4000.  /sadf  On the other hand, I somehow got a shit-ton of skirmish marks.  Should be able to get that Rune of Winged Dominance any day now.

TP is going to get fixed.  I recommend ignoring it until next week!

[Ingmar]

The skirmish mark thing is because they reset your soldier back down to starting, so you'll need to put those right back into the soldier probably.

[Yegolev]

Finally, the one bad thing so far is that I'm one of those people whose TP calculations are way, way off and I have 150 where other people have around 4000.  /sadf  On the other hand, I somehow got a shit-ton of skirmish marks.  Should be able to get that Rune of Winged Dominance any day now.

TP is going to get fixed.  I recommend ignoring it until next week!

But my Wardrobe is full NOW!   Of course you are correct, it will be fixed soon.  My solace is that my lv 4 mule can now buy as much vault space as he needs, so costumes go in there for now.

The skirmish mark thing is because they reset your soldier back down to starting, so you'll need to put those right back into the soldier probably.

Did you not see "Rune of Winged Dominance"?

[Mrbloodworth]

The skirmish mark thing is because they reset your soldier back down to starting, so you'll need to put those right back into the soldier probably.

Did you not see "Rune of Winged Dominance"?

I was thinking the same thing, screw my peon, I need a class item!

[Cheddar]

New skirm awards?  wut?

[birdsguts]

I'm not sure how soon I can actually start playing this even semi-regularly, but when I do I'll probably make a character on Brandywine. If I do end up doing that, what class would benefit the kinship more?

I've played through all of them and tend to favor The Captain, The Burglar, The Minstrel, and the Loremaster in that order. I also enjoy Warden. I might have enjoyed LM more if I'd actually played it further into the 20s. Felt like it was starting to bloom a bit.

[Cheddar]

I'm not sure how soon I can actually start playing this even semi-regularly, but when I do I'll probably make a character on Brandywine. If I do end up doing that, what class would benefit the kinship more?

I've played through all of them and tend to favor The Captain, The Burglar, The Minstrel, and the Loremaster in that order. I also enjoy Warden. I might have enjoyed LM more if I'd actually played it further into the 20s. Felt like it was starting to bloom a bit.

Any.  Captain is most useful in group, but any will work.  LM Shines in groups later, and just keeps getting better solo (as you level).  We did group stuff this eve, was a blast.

[birdsguts]

Oh good. I'll probably just go Captain then. Gonna wait a week or so and see how my new schedule shakes out. Hopefully I'll have time to start working in MMO play again. Even if it ends up not working out I'll probably still slowly level a toon... it is free after all.

[Azuredream]

I re-downloaded the client and logged in and started to play my L40 Captain (he's in the Trollshaws) only to promptly be told that in order to do any of the quests I have to pay to unlock them. Is there a zone that I don't have to unlock first that I can level in?

edit: I looked at some stuff, I guess every single zone I have to pay to unlock, unless I subscribe? My 5 character slots are level 20, 22, 22, 40, and 60. I don't have Siege of Mirkwood so there is effectively nothing I can do unless I subscribe?

[caladein]

The breakdown on zones is:

Everyone has access to Bree, Ered Luin, and the Shire.
If you buy (or previously bought) Moria and/or Mirkwood, you have access to those zones forever.
If you're subscribed, you have access to all of Eriador.

If you aren't a VIP (i.e. a subscriber/lifer), you need to buy quest packs for the Eriador zones as all you have by default are the three starter zones and the book/class quests.

You'll be able to get from 40 to 50 in Angmar without much hassle so I'd suggest buying that if you don't want to resubscribe.  There are other options as well.

[Zetor]

Yep.. I linked that 2 pages ago. Apparently the most frugal option that gives you full 20-50 coverage is to buy North Downs, Evendim and Forochel. HOWEVER, after reading what others had to say about Forochel, I'd say Angmar is a better option

[Azuredream]

Yeah, I just broke down and bought the expansion & 30 days, but apparently there are some issues with the 30 days being granted so now I'm stuck playing the waiting game to see if they'll sort it out.

[Nebu]

Question: I subscribe and bought Mines of Moria.  Do I need to purchase the new expansion (Shadows of Angmar?!?) or is it part of my subscription now? 

[Mrbloodworth]

Shadows of Angmar is the original 1-50 game. Its the part thats become "F2P" so to speak, the rest is just "buy expansion".

[Modern Angel]

I think they're getting hammered by returning players and newly free people. Everything's a little wonky. But, frankly, given that this amounts to a relaunch of the game it's gone pretty well all told.

[Hawkbit]

I'm a little miffed that I have to buy skirmishes when they were already available to me (limited number per day) with my account (Moria).  It allowed me to do the Bree/Prancing Pony intro ones, then I have to buy the rest.  At $4/per I think I'll just pass. 

[Mrbloodworth]

I thought you were subbed?

[Mrbloodworth]

150 points unlocks fast travel for an hour. It's ridiculous. It's like they're planning to make money off the shittiness of the game rather than fix it.

So after looking last night. This isn't the case.

You do not need to use Turbine Points to purchase travel as a VIP (subscriber, lifetimer). If you do not currently have access to a swift travel route (reputation to low for example) you may use your points to unlock that ability for a period of time.

The only ones that do not have Swift travel are F2p people. The ability you buy (Freedom costs a buck-o-five) allows you to ignore ALL prerequisites of ANY swift travel location for an hour.

So, for instance if you have not been to the required stable at the other end, you can't use the swift route, buy the shop item, and you can, with the added bonus of now you don't have to run/ride out there to get the stable. Its actually quite a time saver, for a buck fifty.

[Reg]

My opinion is unchanged. Their crappy grind to unlock fast travel was one of the things that drove me out of the game before it went free to play.  I'm not going to pay a subscription just so I can have the privilege of faction grinding to get fast travel. And paying 150 points for an hours use of the routes is just not going to happen.

It's not good enough to make the free game unplayably shitty. They have to make the paid game worth paying for. They'll probably still do well out of the free to play thing.  If nothing else its a permanent free trial and its bound to get them some more subscribed players.  Just not me.