Update 5 with ..... wait for it... LFG!

[Soln]

http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/instance-finder-coming-to-lotro-in-update-5

When Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard launched, it did so with the understanding that it wasn't quite completed. The expansion had no new instanced content apart from a 24-person raid, and Turbine promised that this would be rectified by the end of the year. Enter the redemption of Update 5, where a new instance cluster will be introducing five additional dungeons into the game. These instances include a walk through Fangorn Forest and a personal encounter with Saruman.

Ten Ton Hammer got a chance to talk with the devs about Update 5 and discovered a few previously unreleased details. The biggest of these is word of an instance finder feature -- AKA a "dungeon finder" -- that is similar to those found in World of Warcraft and RIFT. Through the instance finder, players will be able to queue up for level-appropriate runs and be matched up with other eager adventurers.

Update 5 will also include the next book of the epic storyline titled The Prince of Rohan in which players will part with the Grey Company for new vistas.

[Zetor]

Will it be cross-server? I play on a low-pop server (Silverlode), and there's barely any people around in the 'who' list; maybe one other person my level and a couple 75s.

Regardless, good news. Maybe I'll finally get to see some of those dungeons now - so far the only ones I've seen were old GB, old GA, fornost (ugh), and grand stairs (at 60). I also assume this will work with skirmishes?

[Stormwaltz]

Will it be cross-server?

Not for the forseeable future.

Q&A with the system engineer here.

[luckton]

Will it be cross-server?

Not for the forseeable future.

Q&A with the system engineer here.

Bah, nevermind then.

[Fraeg]

not really worths its own thread, but as there are a lot of changes which can be seen here:

http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?431112-Update-5-Armies-of-Isengard-Release-Notes-Bullroarer-Only-(B1)

some interesting PVP changes:

[Numtini]

Apparently this went live today?

Isn't this the first time they've actually had any sort of dungeon finding system? That was the most frustrating thing to me about LOTRO. They had these absolutely incredible group instances and were dumbing them down to solo because, in my opinion, there were no tools to find groups, not even a global lfg.

[Modern Angel]

It is live. Have not done a dungeon quite yet.

The book is amazingly short. Not bad, but... short. Jesus it's fucking short.

I don't know what's going on over there.

[Cheddar]

It is live. Have not done a dungeon quite yet.

The book is amazingly short. Not bad, but... short. Jesus it's fucking short.

I don't know what's going on over there.

Best.  Update. EVER.

LOTS towards Quality of life.  I logged in to find I had completed my epic class quests- they updated them and removed the insane cock block.  Then hit up the skirm vendors - the prices are much, much, much more equitable.  Same with the armor vendors in Galtrev (near rep dudes).  Wow, I can get some of that fancy teal stuff now???  And without the poop sock raid stuff?

Then I grabbed a horse and hit up the camp south of Galtrev- and BAM.  You can now finish the nifty whatyamacallit quest.  The one where if you completed the final step there was no going back, thx for playing reroll and try again.

Would love to see Worn Seals for sale on skirm vendors.  This, right now, is my only gripe.  I REALLY do not want to work on a 75 LI weapon only to replace it after all that investment (going from third age to second age).  I cannot wait to fire up the LFG tool- unfortunately going out of town and will not have time until Thursday at the earliest.   

[Modern Angel]

So three mans. The claim seems to be that you need a tank OR a healer, not both. I don't actually feel like that's the case.

[Numtini]

Am I reading things right or as a former sub the gold cap and bags are waived, so I just need to buy content packs?

(Maybe this is obvious, but after the poison pills of EQ2 and COX I just can't imagine it's actually possible to play for free.)

[Ingmar]

DDO/LOTRO are definitely a bit friendlier on the free players than the other ones out there IMO, although you'll still run into annoying things.

[Cheddar]

Am I reading things right or as a former sub the gold cap and bags are waived, so I just need to buy content packs?

(Maybe this is obvious, but after the poison pills of EQ2 and COX I just can't imagine it's actually possible to play for free.)

Yes.  And, depending on your initial purchase, you may already have a bunch of this content.  RoME has had a couple people play for free and not spend a single cent.

Though they did grind to open everything.  A lot.  Grind.

[Yegolev]

Reputation items are now edible!

[Numtini]

I'm really in shock at how playable the game is free. They apparently relented at some point on the swift travel stuff and now if you ever subbed, you get it free forever on all the characters (the same is true for backpacks, traits, and the gold limit) that were played while you were VIP. And I owe it all to my irritation at EQ2's F2P model or I'd never have checked out others!

The Instance Finder really needs to have a system to do specific runs, not just random, along with a few other tweaks.

[Rokal]

I'm really in shock at how playable the game is free. They apparently relented at some point on the swift travel stuff and now if you ever subbed, you get it free forever on all the characters (the same is true for backpacks, traits, and the gold limit) that were played while you were VIP. And I owe it all to my irritation at EQ2's F2P model or I'd never have checked out others!

The Instance Finder really needs to have a system to do specific runs, not just random, along with a few other tweaks.

The dev journal on the Instance Finder said that functionality would be coming next patch.

[Soln]

Might as well wait then. 

I heard from a buddy some LotRO devs did an interview promising more content?  Like monthly releases?  any hear that?

Have to wonder -- WTF are they working on, since the last "expansion" and releases have been so light.  They're going to lose a lot with SWTOR.  They should've been shovelling stuff for months leading up to Dec.  I mean, if they replace furniture hooks with SWG style decoration, MONEY.HATS. 

[Cheddar]

So, like, LFF Tool is only useful if people use it.  Which they are not.

Tried joining groups on both my Burg and Guard - nada.  /LFF is still alive and well, though!   

[rattran]

I'm not sure with as old as their engine is whether screwing with housing at all is worth the risk. If they break house decor it will be a shitstorm.
Perhaps they think the f2p crowd won't leave for SWTOR and are simply soldiering on with their 'just enough content to level (almost)' ideas.

[Numtini]

I found an instance group in about ten minutes on my 50 minstrel. Someone's using it.

[Cheddar]

I found an instance group in about ten minutes on my 50 minstrel. Someone's using it.

I imagine healer will have an easier time getting a group.  Was this during primetime?

[Numtini]

It was during primetime. I don't think it's just healers because we had a second minstrel who was queued as dps/heal and assigned dps.

[Cheddar]

OK Changed paramaters to 3 man instead of 6 man and have had good success.  I like it!

edit.  OK, liking the tool more and more.  Great for grabbing a quick 3 man skirm or instance.

[Yegolev]

Having the most awesome fellowship-finder in the world isn't going to increase my tolerance for other people.  I'll consider joining some PUG to get past something but the fewer strangers the better.

[Stormwaltz]

Update 5.1 is up. Patch notes are here.

In the realm of "best fix for something that I didn't notice aggravating me:"

You will now be automatically dismounted if you try to collect a crafting resource node while mounted.

EDIT: And here are the Known Issues.

[Modern Angel]

That's really funny because I was playing yesterday for the first time since I gave up on SWTOR and thought, "Jesus FUCKING Christ, why won't tapping a node dismount me?!?!? WHYYYYY!?!?"

[Numtini]

This used to annoy me greatly, but I've developed an automatic habit of dismounting as I get close to them.

[Cheddar]

Damn I like that. 

[Soln]

How does this work?   You flag the specific instance you want, your role, and press the "join" on the first tab?  Im confused since it seems to launch a group instance otherwise.

[Zetor]

Yeah, it works similar to dungeon finders in wow/eq2/rift/coh - you select your role, (optionally) select specific instances to queue for, then hit the queue button and wait. When the queue 'pops', you get a pop-up window and if everyone accepts, the group is formed and automatically ported to the dungeon.

Unfortunately it's not cross-server, and LFD groups are basically nonexistent on my server (Silverlode) -- I was in queue for 3-4 hours at a time as support/heal/damage (captain) with all relevant instances+skirmishes around my level unlocked, no dice. Oh well!


edit: actually, I have a question related to this -- has anyone levelled up a character purely through instance finder from level 20 onwards on a more populated server such as Brandywine? Alternate levelling paths have always interested me in games, and e.g. in WOW I have a character who levelled 100% via LFD, another who levelled 100% through xp from pvp, etc.

[Yegolev]

No, that sounds horrible.