Here is what I think about LotR

area84

I first played this game in closed beta, I bought the PC Gamer magazine and there was a demo of it in the magazine. I had just come of WoW and when I did the first 2 or 3 quests it seemed like a wow clone so without thinking twice I said im not going to waste my time.

Its been a while since than and i was itching to play an MMO and even thought I still got a wow account going till it expires I cant make my self play wow again, im just completely burned out of it.

Anyway my thoughts so far are that LotR is actually pretty fun, I am enjoying it alot and the community is definately alot nicer. The game gives you a feeling of adventure and the proffesions are kind of fun actually, I picked the Historian package which has Historian/Farmer/Weaponsmith, I have lveled my farming almost to expert and its pretty entertaining, the game is very well polished and I run it at max graphics, they are really breath taking. I am only level 10 so I may not know alot about whats ahead but I like the idea that you have to work with fellowships to get through most parts of the game.

To the people who say they are burned out and sick of it I'm sure you arent playing the game the way it is meant to be. If you wanna level solo and just kill npcs and ignore quests to do it you are fighting an uphill battle and you will get burned out. Quests give really good xp and there is tons of them to do, if you are antisocial and dont like grouping with people get through parts of the game than LotR really isnt for you or simply MMOs in general :P.

This is just my opinion and what I think of the game so far.

Die_Scream

Originally posted by area84



To the people who say they are burned out and sick of it I'm sure you arent playing the game the way it is meant to be. If you wanna level solo and just kill npcs and ignore quests to do it you are fighting an uphill battle and you will get burned out.
This is just my opinion and what I think of the game so far.

I don't agree there is a certain "way to play" with MMOs. I believe the developers want to make a game people will be immersed into, enjoy and feel good advancing in. In short, they want people to enjoy themselves and stick around. Now, as with anything in life, too much of anything is bad i.e. powergaming. But LOTRO is a funny beast, its absolutely fantasic at first, but lacks lasting appeal(my opinion of course).

Biggest issue I had with it is that gaining levels doesn't change anything, you get a new pre-determined skill or two to help you kill stuff, but you are still killing boars/wargs and  crows. I only got to 37 on my Captain. Remember in Archet during the tutorial, you are asked to kill 10 or so boars? Well, thirty levels later you're asked to guess what? Kill diseased boars.

For the record, I like LOTRO very much, but it got old, and fast. For me at least.

area84

Originally posted by Die_Scream


 
I don't agree there is a certain "way to play" with MMOs. I believe the developers want to make a game people will be immersed into, enjoy and feel good advancing in. In short, they want people to enjoy themselves and stick around. Now, as with anything in life, too much of anything is bad i.e. powergaming. But LOTRO is a funny beast, its absolutely fantasic at first, but lacks lasting appeal(my opinion of course).
 
Biggest issue I had with it is that gaining levels doesn't change anything, you get a new pre-determined skill or two to help you kill stuff, but you are still killing boars/wargs and  crows. I only got to 37 on my Captain. Remember in Archet during the tutorial, you are asked to kill 10 or so boars? Well, thirty levels later you're asked to guess what? Kill diseased boars.
For the record, I like LOTRO very much, but it got old, and fast. For me at least.

I cant really say anything about the long appeal because you are probably right but that happens with every game pretty much, some more than others. As far as killing animals, this is what I dont understand, these fantasy games all have diseased wolves, or angered boars, or black bears and the list goes on and on so there will of course be quests to kill them, that will never change in the fantasy MMOs because if they put creatures in the game you are gonna have to kill them.

I bought this game to keep me busy till AoC comes out and it seems like it may, so far anyway.

I still dont know about instancing and how fun it will be, but it is based in LotR and fellowship is crucial I think it is nice that they put that into the game.

The terrain is pretty amazing too, it looks just like it would irl, the hills and lakes and trees, you could actually remember your way into a forest just by looking at the terrain and not having to open up a map every 10 seconds.

Jackdog

Originally posted by Die_Scream


 
Originally posted by area84



To the people who say they are burned out and sick of it I'm sure you arent playing the game the way it is meant to be. If you wanna level solo and just kill npcs and ignore quests to do it you are fighting an uphill battle and you will get burned out.
This is just my opinion and what I think of the game so far.

I don't agree there is a certain "way to play" with MMOs. I believe the developers want to make a game people will be immersed into, enjoy and feel good advancing in. In short, they want people to enjoy themselves and stick around. Now, as with anything in life, too much of anything is bad i.e. powergaming. But LOTRO is a funny beast, its absolutely fantasic at first, but lacks lasting appeal(my opinion of course).

 

Biggest issue I had with it is that gaining levels doesn't change anything, you get a new pre-determined skill or two to help you kill stuff, but you are still killing boars/wargs and  crows. I only got to 37 on my Captain. Remember in Archet during the tutorial, you are asked to kill 10 or so boars? Well, thirty levels later you're asked to guess what? Kill diseased boars.

For the record, I like LOTRO very much, but it got old, and fast. For me at least.

  Psst Die. Guess what the MMO part stands for, otherwise it is just a RPG LOL. Quick question if they had colored the boars purple, put horns on em and called em Kiarkus would that have added all that much enjoyment for you? Face it dude, these games are a bore ( no pun intended) as a single player experience, all of em do, not just LoTRO.

Die_Scream

Originally posted by Jackdog

  Psst Die. Guess what the MMO part stands for, otherwise it is just a RPG LOL. Quick question if they had colored the boars purple, put horns on em and called em Kiarkus would that have added all that much enjoyment for you? Face it dude, these games are a bore ( no pun intended) as a single player experience, all of em do, not just LoTRO.

I guess I can't argue that Jack. Different skins are good, but a little advanced A.I. in the mobs as you level is great to. Its great when you find new mobs the first time, and cautiously attack because you don't know what its going to do. For example, maybe the first time a mob goes invisible, or 'ports, or zap you with a mana sap, and kite you, running from melee range to keep plinking with DoTs. I didn't find that in LOTRO. You learn the mobs pattern by level 15-20, and it didn't change for my journey to 37.

For example, my attack chain was: Telling mark to pull, send in pet, battle cry, use special that pops up, let auto attack and maybe another special to finish it off.  Problem was, this worked for every mob type, every battle (taliking solo here). No considerating my foe, no tactic to watch out for, mobs get hit, run to you, melee you and your pet till dead, even ranged foes run in. Guess they may improve that with time, but the point is, I found this from 1 to 37 no variance, regardless of mob type.

 

Also, glad you have nothing better to do like myself on a Saturday than discuss MMOs Jack

Jackdog

Originally posted by Die_Scream


 
Originally posted by Jackdog

  Psst Die. Guess what the MMO part stands for, otherwise it is just a RPG LOL. Quick question if they had colored the boars purple, put horns on em and called em Kiarkus would that have added all that much enjoyment for you? Face it dude, these games are a bore ( no pun intended) as a single player experience, all of em do, not just LoTRO.

I guess I can't argue that Jack. Different skins are good, but a little advanced A.I. in the mobs as you level is great to. Its great when you find new mobs the first time, and cautiously attack because you don't know what its going to do. For example, maybe the first time a mob goes invisible, or 'ports, or zap you with a mana sap, and kite you, running from melee range to keep plinking with DoTs. I didn't find that in LOTRO. You learn the mobs pattern by level 15-20, and it didn't change for my journey to 37.

 

For example, my attack chain was: Telling mark to pull, send in pet, battle cry, use special that pops up, let auto attack and maybe another special to finish it off.  Problem was, this worked for every mob type, every battle (taliking solo here). No considerating my foe, no tactic to watch out for, mobs get hit, run to you, melee you and your pet till dead, even ranged foes run in. Guess they may improve that with time, but the point is, I found this from 1 to 37 no variance, regardless of mob type.

 

Also, glad you have nothing better to do like myself on a Saturday than discuss MMOs Jack

Heh did my yard work this morning and have a hell of a sinus headache this afternoon ( allergies ). So I am alternating cruising the boards and playing LoTRO. On call this week so I can't get too far from home

Anyway I always find the Same old crap in these games small wolves, medium size wolves, large wolves, great ol big nasty woulves, humongous wolves, humongous wolves having a bad day etc.  SWG did the best job in my opinion for mob diversity and it really was not all that. I don't sweat it much one way or the other anymore.

As I have said many times on here, the only reason I play MMORPGs is for the social aspect, as pure games they pretty much all suck and any decent single player beats em hands down.

Die_Scream

Originally posted by aleos


I think this game sucks ass and is overated.

This post is funny. Its like walking into a crowded room and just farting as loud as you can.

dand3

LotRO has the greatest variety of quests I've ever seen.  No, it is NOT all about killing boars; but carrying the mail, eating pies, freeing a ghost, convincing an elve's brother to not go to the Grey Havens yet, helping Radagast escort little furries out of a dangerous area, helping a mother lynx regain her health, preventing war between a renegade dwarf faction and the elves, and helping reforge The Sword That Was Broken. 

The quests are imaginative, well written, varied, sometimes humorous, and by no means boring.  Some are the standards of course, but that does not describe the quest experience in LotRO.

 

 

seabass2003

Originally posted by Die_Scream

Originally posted by aleos


I think this game *edited* and is overated.

This post is funny. Its like walking into a crowded room and just farting as loud as you can.

Actually it just shows what kind of people this game doesn't attract. Which is good for our community.

area84

Originally posted by seabass2003

Originally posted by Die_Scream

Originally posted by aleos


I think this game *edited* and is overated.

This post is funny. Its like walking into a crowded room and just farting as loud as you can.

Actually it just shows what kind of people this game doesn't attract. Which is good for our community.

Thats definately a good thing, I havent run into any x roads talk yet and the community seems to be idiot free which is good.

valkyrie36

Your standard environmental NPCs are nothing more than XP/LOOT pinatas waiting to be popped and I really don't see that changing too much in the future. Where LOTRO shines is in its storyline books. Many of the group chapters are just raw fun with a decent level of AI and triggered events. Good fun.

Furrbawl

Originally posted by valkyrie36


Your standard environmental NPCs are nothing more than XP/LOOT pinatas waiting to be popped and I really don't see that changing too much in the future. Where LOTRO shines is in its storyline books. Many of the group chapters are just raw fun with a decent level of AI and triggered events. Good fun.

I agree.

Where I see the problem is the WoW type grind to high level and look for raids or end game content. WoW is unique unto itself, and attempting to compare WoW to LOTRO is like trying to compare a  Trans Am with a Cadillac. Yes, they are both cars, but they both have their own niche in the market.

Remember, we are talking about an MMORPG - where RPG stands for Role Playing Game. If you don't want to role play, enjoy the lore, read and enjoy the quests, then you are going to hate LOTRO.

There is a difference between an MMO and an MMORPG, although publishers sometimes use the term indescriminently. And although you can Role Play in an MMO, and grind in an MMORPG, you will not be happy with the results.

If WoW was the best there is for everyone, other games wouldn't survive. We all have a different idea of what is "fun", which is why there are so many MMO games out there. I don't ridicule friends that still play WoW, and they respect that I prefer LOTRO.

Each to his own.

Kyleran

 

Originally posted by area84



To the people who say they are burned out and sick of it I'm sure you arent playing the game the way it is meant to be. If you wanna level solo and just kill npcs and ignore quests to do it you are fighting an uphill battle and you will get burned out. Quests give really good xp and there is tons of them to do, if you are antisocial and dont like grouping with people get through parts of the game than LotR really isnt for you or simply MMOs in general :P.

Not quite sure what you mean by playing the game the way it was meant to be.  I leveled up a 30 Guardian and 24 Minstrel in my 2 months in the game.  I ran every single quest practically, in ever single zone (as part of my obsession with grinding up deed talents) and I both solo'd and grouped when the occasion required it.....

 

Yet the experience was hollow some how. 

I did find it disheartening to run out to Rivendale, only to see the same bears, boars and bobcats, and orcs by the side of the road that I had killed in Breeland, Lonelands, Northdowns, and the Shire.....and like someone mentioned, there was no variety in the combat mechanics, despite all my new character skills, I pretty much just smacked the mobs down on my Guardian, or kited and sang them to death on Minstrels. 

Grouping was fun, but very transitory, in few cases did I stay together with the same group of people for a long period of time. (Barrow Downs was the longest, and even then, no more than 2 hours)

As for grinding, should you decide to collect all the deed talents like I did, you'll really learn the meaning of the word grind, but bringing friends along might make it more entertaining.

Not sure what it is/was, but after 2 months...I got bored, downloaded the free trial of EVE and never logged in again.  I cancelled both of my accounts which expired on the 6/30.

OP, if you make it to 50 w/o the same happening, more power to you..but for me (and many others) LotRO is the best game I've ever played.... and gotten tired of and quit so quickly......

Jackdog

Originally posted by Kyleran


 
I did find it disheartening to run out to Rivendale, only to see the same bears, boars and bobcats, and orcs by the side of the road that I had killed in Breeland, Lonelands, Northdowns, and the Shire.....and like someone mentioned, there was no variety in the combat mechanics, despite all my new character skills, I pretty much just smacked the mobs down on my Guardian, or kited and sang them to death on Minstrels. 

 Name on MMORPG that is different please. My three longest running MMOs are UO, DAoC, and EQII.

 I wonder how many types of gnolls are in EQII. I can't give you an exact figure but trust me every level has it's share of gnolls, and bears, and wolves. Don't get me wrong there is some variety but then there is some variety in LoTRO also. Morroval ( bat women )  are kind of neat as are the various wyrms and drakes and some of the others.

Of course though as you mentioned every level has it's bears, wolves, boars, hendroval, orcs, goblins, bandits, spiders, and dour dwarfs but most level ranges also have a few unique ones. This last expansion added a few more uniques and I am quite sure that the level designers are busy tryting to come up with more for the next expansion.

Estrus

Originally posted by Kyleran


LotRO is the best game I've ever played.... and gotten tired of and quit so quickly......

Same here! 

REALLY enjoyed the game for about two weeks.  Took my time, read the lore./quests, marveled at the environments, enjoyed the summer festivites.   Hooked up with some old friends and had fun.

However, this Sunday I made my way to a new area only to find the same quests and monsters.  I am SO SICK of fighting boars in the woods. 

I'll probably not play for a few days and see how I feel then.  It's funny, but I feel the same apathy for LOTRO after a couple weeks as I do for WoW after a couple YEARS!

Jackdog

 

Originally posted by Estrus


 
Originally posted by Kyleran


LotRO is the best game I've ever played.... and gotten tired of and quit so quickly......

 

Same here! 

REALLY enjoyed the game for about two weeks.  Took my time, read the lore./quests, marveled at the environments, enjoyed the summer festivites.   Hooked up with some old friends and had fun.

However, this Sunday I made my way to a new area only to find the same quests and monsters.  I am SO SICK of fighting boars in the woods. 

I'll probably not play for a few days and see how I feel then.  It's funny, but I feel the same apathy for LOTRO after a couple weeks as I do for WoW after a couple YEARS!

Just out of curiosity why did you even buy LoTRO. Only last month you found WoW such a fulfilling experience. I am sure you WoW guild will welcome you back. I can see why you would feel the pull with graphics like I linked below waiting for you.

www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/131541/page/2

 

Originally posted by Estrus

It's quests like these that make WoW such a fulfilling experience.

solarine

It did not exactly happen as it did with other players posting here, but one day I, too, just found myself reluctant to log in.

I played on an RPG server, was very happy with my guild: we had all sorts of activities: races, get-togethers, help-out days, quest days and even Monster play raids. I loved the art style, I loved the bare music, the way the world feels. And it was just a blast coming across two characters pulling out their lutes and flutes and jamming in the middle of nowhere! (some of whom turned out to be surprisingly good, actually). I did not exactly love the gameplay, but you seldom get breathtaking gameplay on RPGs when you don't have turn-based combat or the option to pause, in my opinion.

Anyway, then suddenly I was swarmed with work, which kept me offline for some time... And after my work hours were back to normal, I just did not feel like going back.

Maybe I've had too much fantasy setting in the last few years, I don't know. Thought I had a complete burnout from MMORPGs, too, for a while. Though, recently, I too have gone on to EVE. I don't play that one much, either, but it's something I can do all by myself and I find it... soothing and liberating somehow.

Who knows?... I may go back to LOTRO at some point, but not for quite some time. In my opinion, it's a very nice roleplaying environment

with an emphasis on social interaction - when you're in the mood for that, LOTRO is a solid game to play.

Estrus

Originally posted by Jackdog



Just out of curiosity why did you even buy LoTRO. Only last month you found WoW such a fulfilling experience. I am sure you WoW guild will welcome you back. I can see why you would feel the pull with graphics like I linked below waiting for you.
 

Why wouldn't I buy it?  It got great reviews, great word of mouth, and my friends were playing it.

Wow is and was a great experience as was the brief time I spent in LOTRO.  What exactly is your point in making a tenuous comparison between my posts, which I might add is rather creepy?

Who mentioned anything about Wow's graphics here?  So everyone that ever played Wow and enjoyed themselves is  to be crucified? Carry on I suppose if this is your idea of fun. 

Halforc

Been playing since Beta, and with a lifetime sub now it is retail I guess my vote for the game is obvious, not as fast as WoW, I am taking it slower only today reaching level 40 with my main character, in the same period in WoW I would probably have gotten at least one more character to 70.

 

Love the crafting system, like how each craft relies on another to some degree, tried explorer and tinker now armsman (low level alts).

 

if any criticism can be made I would like to see the Auction House overhauled, searching through all the recipies to find the ones I want is a pain, if it was split by proffession would be easier.