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

[01101010]

Fuck it, I got nothing. I'll go ahead and jump on this grenade and see how big a bang it turns out to be.

[Paelos]

Fuck it, I got nothing. I'll go ahead and jump on this grenade and see how big a bang it turns out to be.

Same. I expect to be bitching at all of you after this weekend once I get pissed of walking everywhere.

[Xeyi]

After looking into the quest pack prices the F2P model doesn't seem worth it at all to me as an ex-subscriber.  Unless I'm reading this wrong I'd have to buy $20 of turbine points to unlock the zone I was already half way though. 

I enjoyed the game when I was subscribed but I always ran out of steam somewhere around level 30 when the monthly fee didn't seem worth it any more.  I was hoping for some sort of middle ground with their F2P model so that I could play casually without feeling like I wasn't getting my money's worth, but it hasn't really turned out that way.

Unless something changes before the European servers go live I guess I'll continue on my own personal payment plan of re-subbing for a month every now and again before quitting soon after 

[Mrbloodworth]

Approximate prices:

Expansions:
MoM 2495
SoM 1995

Quest Packs:
lone lands 600
North downs 900
Enedwaith 750
Trollshaws 750
Evendim 750
Eregion 750
Misty Mountians 750
Angmar 900
Forochel 750

I do not believe you need any zone before the one you buy, you can buy in any order. one hundred turbine points are "about" 1$. Keep in mind the entire epic story line is Free to Moria.

[March]

What I'm hoping to see:

Complete Vol 1 Book 4: 900 TP (hint, I might pay twice that)

For what it's worth, I am currently subscribed having only bought up to MoM... my highest character is level 42 - and all the content/quests in Angmar are currently open and free.

Even in my other life as an evil software vendor... you get to keep our business software that you purchased - even if you stop paying maintenance.  I'm not following Turbine's rationale for making you re-buy content if you are a premium subscriber... seems that the F2P model should start at the moment you exceed your final box purchase... either after SoA or MoM or SoM.

[Hawkbit]

At this point I've decided to not play, as buying things I already had access to isn't exactly my cup of tea.  Yes, the argument is there that I was paying $15/month for that access before, but w/e. 

F2P should have been everything launched up till this moment.... five and dime all the new stuff, imo.

[caladein]

Premium just means that you spent any money at all, ever, on the game.  As such, it's pretty meaningless to look at it from the "What do I not have compared to a sub?" perspective versus "What have I bought and what do I now get over someone who hasn't spent a dime?"

I agree though, if you bought Shadows of Angmar many moons ago and never got up to Moria, you don't get a lot out of that purchase under the new model.

[5150]

Has anyone managed to actually get a free account yet?

I saw that the F2P Euro launch got delayed but I logged into my Turbine account and can't see an option to add LOTRO online withouth a serial number and when I filled in all the boxes on the website for F2P it just gave me the client download which I cancelled (because I've already got it installed) and then nothing, no confirmation email, nothing?

[Ingmar]

What I'm hoping to see:

Complete Vol 1 Book 4: 900 TP (hint, I might pay twice that)

For what it's worth, I am currently subscribed having only bought up to MoM... my highest character is level 42 - and all the content/quests in Angmar are currently open and free.

Even in my other life as an evil software vendor... you get to keep our business software that you purchased - even if you stop paying maintenance.  I'm not following Turbine's rationale for making you re-buy content if you are a premium subscriber... seems that the F2P model should start at the moment you exceed your final box purchase... either after SoA or MoM or SoM.

You don't have to rebuy content if you're a subscriber. "Premium" is specifically NOT subscribers, subscribers are the "VIP" level.

[01101010]

Has anyone managed to actually get a free account yet?

I saw that the F2P Euro launch got delayed but I logged into my Turbine account and can't see an option to add LOTRO online withouth a serial number and when I filled in all the boxes on the website for F2P it just gave me the client download which I cancelled (because I've already got it installed) and then nothing, no confirmation email, nothing?

I been horsing around with a Minstrel for the past 2 days. The way it's set up makes it seem like you still need an account at some points along the install, but it never prompted for any info other than the account set up (free-be) on their website. I got an email with LOTRO Account Creation Details as the header...

[5150]

I got an email with LOTRO Account Creation Details as the header...

Yeah I finally found the email in my spam filter, then it occured to me I have the Euro client installed (presumably they are different like DDO) so I guess I need to wait for the F2P Euro to launch

[Mrbloodworth]

As usual, code masters has dropped the ball on the EU launch.

[Xilren's Twin]

Got to say, im a little disappointed at Turbine missing an obvious win with the conversion of Lotro to F2P.
Since they had already done it for DDO, why on earth wouldnt you make it and auto add to anyone who already had a DDO account? Or even just a "click her to add a free Lotro key to your existing account" in account management. Many DDO players have already shown a willingness to spend money on turbine points and this just gives them another opportunity to spend money with you, so it should be an easy win.

But no, trying to create a Lotro and link it to your existing DDO account requires either an email to support or a work around involving getting a beta key from gamespot, because if you try to use the free account tools it tells you of course that your username is already taken.

Duh.

[DraconianOne]

As usual, code masters has dropped the ball on the EU launch.

Judging by the complaints here and elsewhere about the state of the store and getting assigned Turbine points, I'm not entirely sure the EU delay is necessarily a bad thing.

[Modern Angel]

It's completely random who gets their points and when, which is the weird part. I got my points very happily last week and blew them all on cosmetics. I look very cool.

[Mrbloodworth]

But no, trying to create a Lotro and link it to your existing DDO account requires either an email to support or a work around involving getting a beta key from gamespot, because if you try to use the free account tools it tells you of course that your username is already taken.

Duh.

That same thing was an issue when DDO switched over too. New accounts do not have the issue, just old.

[koro]

But no, trying to create a Lotro and link it to your existing DDO account requires either an email to support or a work around involving getting a beta key from gamespot, because if you try to use the free account tools it tells you of course that your username is already taken.

Duh.

Yeah, that annoyed the shit out of me too, but since DDO's Turbine Points and LOTRO's Turbine Points are not interchangeable it's really not that big a deal in the long run.

I played a little with my girlfriend last night (she a Guardian, I a Minstrel; we're kind of a backwards couple that way), and it seems a lot like DDO was as a totally F2P player: Your inventory is cripplingly small and the lack of AH facilities is a game-breaker. I dunno if we'll even get to the point where the F2P content tapers off (early 20s), since neither of us wants to spend any money on it yet.

[WayAbvPar]

But no, trying to create a Lotro and link it to your existing DDO account requires either an email to support or a work around involving getting a beta key from gamespot, because if you try to use the free account tools it tells you of course that your username is already taken.

Duh.

Yeah, that annoyed the shit out of me too, but since DDO's Turbine Points and LOTRO's Turbine Points are not interchangeable it's really not that big a deal in the long run.

That is even dumber. Why not make it all one virtual currency? Speaking for myself, I would be far more likely to check another game out if I had unspent 'Turbine bucks' or whatever and could use them in more than one title.

[Nebu]

That is even dumber. Why not make it all one virtual currency? Speaking for myself, I would be far more likely to check another game out if I had unspent 'Turbine bucks' or whatever and could use them in more than one title.

I'm guessing it's to limit crossover.  If you're a diehard DDO player, then you'll have a gadzillion TP already.  Spending the TP to play Lotro gains the player a lot while providing little in terms of new revenue for Turbine.  It's all about the benjamins.

[Kitsune]

You get free store points for completing deeds on a character.  My understanding is that a character should have around 750 points gratis just for playing.  Buy five bucks worth of points and upgrade to a premium account, then play three characters, and that's 2750 points on your account.  Not a huge windfall, but ample for unlocking the higher level quests and playing the game.

[Ingmar]

That is even dumber. Why not make it all one virtual currency? Speaking for myself, I would be far more likely to check another game out if I had unspent 'Turbine bucks' or whatever and could use them in more than one title.

I'm guessing it's to limit crossover.  If you're a diehard DDO player, then you'll have a gadzillion TP already.  Spending the TP to play Lotro gains the player a lot while providing little in terms of new revenue for Turbine.  It's all about the benjamins.

And going the other way around, if the points crossed over I could take my free 500/month from my lifetime LotRO account and dump it into DDO, etc.

[Zetor]

You get free store points for completing deeds on a character.  My understanding is that a character should have around 750 points gratis just for playing.  Buy five bucks worth of points and upgrade to a premium account, then play three characters, and that's 2750 points on your account.  Not a huge windfall, but ample for unlocking the higher level quests and playing the game.

Are you sure about that? I got ~125 points total on 3 of my characters when I logged them in; one is level 60, one is level 50, and the third one is level 41, with a good amount of completed deeds between them

[Mrbloodworth]

But no, trying to create a Lotro and link it to your existing DDO account requires either an email to support or a work around involving getting a beta key from gamespot, because if you try to use the free account tools it tells you of course that your username is already taken.

Duh.

Yeah, that annoyed the shit out of me too, but since DDO's Turbine Points and LOTRO's Turbine Points are not interchangeable it's really not that big a deal in the long run.

That is even dumber. Why not make it all one virtual currency? Speaking for myself, I would be far more likely to check another game out if I had unspent 'Turbine bucks' or whatever and could use them in more than one title.

I bet its coming, OR Its an IP payment issue.

[rattran]

You only get TP for newly finished deeds on a toon, those ~125 points you got were for the newly added (and thus, newly completed) rep quests for each faction.

[Zetor]

Ah, that's good to know, thanks.

I'm kinda sad I leveled a LM as my main, though... my warden can port to a lot of places and my captain can summon people. (yes, I'm still bitter about that entire pay-to-fast-travel thing :p)

[Nebu]

I'm kinda sad I leveled a LM as my main, though... my warden can port to a lot of places and my captain can summon people. (yes, I'm still bitter about that entire pay-to-fast-travel thing :p)

It's a rare moment in MMOs when your first toon actually becomes the one you want to play the endgame with.  I know that every MMO I've played has resulted in a reroll once I figured out the mechanics at the endgame.  I think I need to start frontloading my reading.  It would certainly limit the number of stupid questions I ask in Kin chat.

[hal]

I've been playing for free. I used to subscribe and I have bought Moira (sp). Lack of bags is the worst so far. I hear that at 25 ill need to spend points but if I manage my traits I wont need to spend money. We will see. I am a horrible alt a holic and my highest is 13 warden. I like the game so far. The newbie experience in Bree has changed for the better. At 13 I'm just going into the marsh and the quests are the same as ever.

[Cheddar]

I've been playing for free. I used to subscribe and I have bought Moira (sp). Lack of bags is the worst so far. I hear that at 25 ill need to spend points but if I manage my traits I wont need to spend money. We will see. I am a horrible alt a holic and my highest is 13 warden. I like the game so far. The newbie experience in Bree has changed for the better. At 13 I'm just going into the marsh and the quests are the same as ever.

Brandywine?  Join our kin!  We miss ya.

[01101010]

I've been playing for free. I used to subscribe and I have bought Moira (sp). Lack of bags is the worst so far. I hear that at 25 ill need to spend points but if I manage my traits I wont need to spend money. We will see. I am a horrible alt a holic and my highest is 13 warden. I like the game so far. The newbie experience in Bree has changed for the better. At 13 I'm just going into the marsh and the quests are the same as ever.

Same here about the quests. Some have a bit of a change, but most are right where I left them. My minny is 12 now. I haven't even stepped into Bree yet though.

[hal]

Cheddar I have toons on brandywine. Its been so long I have no idea what there doing so I started over. Name a time and I will log in to one and try to sort things out. Hell I may still be in the guild. I am pretty sure some of them were.

[Cheddar]

Cheddar I have toons on brandywine. Its been so long I have no idea what there doing so I started over. Name a time and I will log in to one and try to sort things out. Hell I may still be in the guild. I am pretty sure some of them were.

We had a guild issue awhile back.  Anyhow, add Ardelo on your friends list and I will get you added.

[hal]

OK Cheader here's what I have figured out. In guild 19 warden, 20 Minni. Out of guild 19 hunter, 19 guard, 19 cap. I only get 5 slots now so so I can't say about the other two. I seem to have missed you buy 8 minutes but saw nebu in guild so I think I am telling it right. Every one is running out of quests, seems that they all are at the point of switching quest hubs and I never sorted it out. It's late now but I will log in the morning and try to sort it out.

[Mrbloodworth]

OK Cheader here's what I have figured out. In guild 19 warden, 20 Minni. Out of guild 19 hunter, 19 guard, 19 cap. I only get 5 slots now so so I can't say about the other two. I seem to have missed you buy 8 minutes but saw nebu in guild so I think I am telling it right. Every one is running out of quests, seems that they all are at the point of switching quest hubs and I never sorted it out. It's late now but I will log in the morning and try to sort it out.

Check your shop, you may have points, may be enough to get you a quest pack. If you were in beta, I think they sent out TP codes (like 500).

[Nebu]

Hey Hal.  If you want to send me a tell, I'll try to get you an invite.  I'm a peon, so I can't invite you myself but can usually find someone online that can.

[Cheddar]

Hey Hal.  If you want to send me a tell, I'll try to get you an invite.  I'm a peon, so I can't invite you myself but can usually find someone online that can.

I am totally making you an officer.  Hell yeah!