General Discussion

Yesterday, MMORPG.com brought you images of some of the new monsters that will appear in LotRO's Book 13 update. Today, Managing Editor Jon Wood gives us his impressions of the visual look of Forochel, the new and frozen area being introduced by the new book.

This past week, I had the opportunity to jump onto Isengard, the test server for Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online. I wasn't there as a tester though, but as a journalist. Joined by a small army of developers (ok, it was four or five, tops), I was given a tour of some of the new features for the upcoming Book 13: Doom of the Last-king.

I think that the best place to start is probably by talking about the environment itself. This update will see the inclusion of a brand new area known as Forochel. Turns out (for all of you non-Tolkienites out there) that Forochel is a cold an unforgiving place, inhabited by new monsters, new dangers and a race of people known as the Lossoth.

Check it out here.

yes but is there any slippery ice  and blustery winds?

I agree, very nice job on the graphics

Originally posted by brenth

yes but is there any slippery ice  and blustery winds?

www.lotro.com/article/525

"The concept of using the Environment as an enemy has been floating around the LOTRO Dev team for a long time now..."

"The first reaction your avatar will have to the environment will show in its breath. Book 13 sees the introduction of the cosmetic temperature system."

"Some blizzards have bitter winds that chill you to the bone, leaving you less able to combat the effects of cold. Don't worry though - you won't be defenseless against the bitter cold."

My reaction to blizzards is luke warm. 

For example, if there is a white out and you can't see, that is basically down time.  How can you play if you can't see?  I guess some people are in love with realism in games, but then why not take it to the next level and if you don't eat or drink your character's stats will deteriorate and he/she will eventually die of starvation or dehydration.   Also, we could have our characters get sick and their stats would be affected or maybe they would be confined to their beds for a few days.  Maybe characters could get sick or get cancer and die, and that would just be the end of them and then you'd have to make a new character.

See....I think gameplay elements should add to the gameplay, not limit it.  The fact that at a point you can't see because of the storm is actually limiting or prohibiting gameplay. At first I think there will be an ooooo and ahhhh factor.  But after that it will be annoying to have to stop and wait 15 or 20 minutes for a storm to pass before you can continue on with your quest.

At this point I would like to appologize to any fanboys I may have just offended.  I love the game.  I subscribe to the game.  I think the game has wonderful potential and is fulfilling it.  I look forward to the expansion and hearing more about it.  I just think not being able to see is not really fun when I'm trying to get things done.

Originally posted by Terranah

My reaction to blizzards is luke warm. 

 

For example, if there is a white out and you can't see, that is basically down time.  How can you play if you can't see?  I guess some people are in love with realism in games, but then why not take it to the next level and if you don't eat or drink your character's stats will deteriorate and he/she will eventually die of starvation or dehydration.   Also, we could have our characters get sick and their stats would be affected or maybe they would be confined to their beds for a few days.  Maybe characters could get sick or get cancer and die, and that would just be the end of them and then you'd have to make a new character.

 

See....I think gameplay elements should add to the gameplay, not limit it.  The fact that at a point you can't see because of the storm is actually limiting or prohibiting gameplay. At first I think there will be an ooooo and ahhhh factor.  But after that it will be annoying to have to stop and wait 15 or 20 minutes for a storm to pass before you can continue on with your quest.

 

At this point I would like to appologize to any fanboys I may have just offended.  I love the game.  I subscribe to the game.  I think the game has wonderful potential and is fulfilling it.  I look forward to the expansion and hearing more about it.  I just think not being able to see is not really fun when I'm trying to get things done.

Book 13 is on the Test Server right now, so you can download the client and try it out.  I think it works very well, for that area.   I agree that not everyone may like it though.   You can still get things done... it's just that you might not want to run pell-mell through the area when a blizzard is in full-effect. 

Originally posted by dragonace

 

Originally posted by Terranah

My reaction to blizzards is luke warm. 

 

For example, if there is a white out and you can't see, that is basically down time.  How can you play if you can't see?  I guess some people are in love with realism in games, but then why not take it to the next level and if you don't eat or drink your character's stats will deteriorate and he/she will eventually die of starvation or dehydration.   Also, we could have our characters get sick and their stats would be affected or maybe they would be confined to their beds for a few days.  Maybe characters could get sick or get cancer and die, and that would just be the end of them and then you'd have to make a new character.

 

See....I think gameplay elements should add to the gameplay, not limit it.  The fact that at a point you can't see because of the storm is actually limiting or prohibiting gameplay. At first I think there will be an ooooo and ahhhh factor.  But after that it will be annoying to have to stop and wait 15 or 20 minutes for a storm to pass before you can continue on with your quest.

 

At this point I would like to appologize to any fanboys I may have just offended.  I love the game.  I subscribe to the game.  I think the game has wonderful potential and is fulfilling it.  I look forward to the expansion and hearing more about it.  I just think not being able to see is not really fun when I'm trying to get things done.

Heh... you might want to try it first.  It's done pretty well, and it fits in with the immersion factor for the new land. 

 

Book 13 is on the Test Server right now, so you can download the client and try it out.  I think it works very well, for that area.   I agree that not everyone may like it though.   You can still get things done... it's just that you might not want to run pell-mell through the area when a blizzard is in full-effect. 

You're right, after all I wrote I might like it once I get the chance to play it.  I should probably download the the test server.  I just added a new hard drive so no excuse not to.

Originally posted by Terranah

My reaction to blizzards is luke warm. 

 

For example, if there is a white out and you can't see, that is basically down time.  How can you play if you can't see?  I guess some people are in love with realism in games, but then why not take it to the next level and if you don't eat or drink your character's stats will deteriorate and he/she will eventually die of starvation or dehydration.   Also, we could have our characters get sick and their stats would be affected or maybe they would be confined to their beds for a few days.  Maybe characters could get sick or get cancer and die, and that would just be the end of them and then you'd have to make a new character.

 

See....I think gameplay elements should add to the gameplay, not limit it.  The fact that at a point you can't see because of the storm is actually limiting or prohibiting gameplay. At first I think there will be an ooooo and ahhhh factor.  But after that it will be annoying to have to stop and wait 15 or 20 minutes for a storm to pass before you can continue on with your quest.

 

At this point I would like to appologize to any fanboys I may have just offended.  I love the game.  I subscribe to the game.  I think the game has wonderful potential and is fulfilling it.  I look forward to the expansion and hearing more about it.  I just think not being able to see is not really fun when I'm trying to get things done.

lol, ok fair enough. However, from your posts you and I have VERY different ideas of what is fun.

I was jus in game and am experiencing what is pretty close to a white out in the misty mountains. I had noted to myself how much fun I was having trying to find my way through and how visually stunning and satisfying it all was.

Oh well. to Each his/her own.

Originally posted by Terranah

 

Originally posted by dragonace

 

Originally posted by Terranah

My reaction to blizzards is luke warm. 

 

For example, if there is a white out and you can't see, that is basically down time.  How can you play if you can't see?  I guess some people are in love with realism in games, but then why not take it to the next level and if you don't eat or drink your character's stats will deteriorate and he/she will eventually die of starvation or dehydration.   Also, we could have our characters get sick and their stats would be affected or maybe they would be confined to their beds for a few days.  Maybe characters could get sick or get cancer and die, and that would just be the end of them and then you'd have to make a new character.

 

See....I think gameplay elements should add to the gameplay, not limit it.  The fact that at a point you can't see because of the storm is actually limiting or prohibiting gameplay. At first I think there will be an ooooo and ahhhh factor.  But after that it will be annoying to have to stop and wait 15 or 20 minutes for a storm to pass before you can continue on with your quest.

 

At this point I would like to appologize to any fanboys I may have just offended.  I love the game.  I subscribe to the game.  I think the game has wonderful potential and is fulfilling it.  I look forward to the expansion and hearing more about it.  I just think not being able to see is not really fun when I'm trying to get things done.

Heh... you might want to try it first.  It's done pretty well, and it fits in with the immersion factor for the new land. 

 

Book 13 is on the Test Server right now, so you can download the client and try it out.  I think it works very well, for that area.   I agree that not everyone may like it though.   You can still get things done... it's just that you might not want to run pell-mell through the area when a blizzard is in full-effect. 

 

You're right, after all I wrote I might like it once I get the chance to play it.  I should probably download the the test server.  I just added a new hard drive so no excuse not to.

Appears they had some kind of major glitch on test server... we haven't heard if it's related to Book 13 or not yet.  It looks like that server might be down until sometime tomorrow  (hopefully)... but thankfully, this is why they put it there first rather than live. 

One other caveat with the test server... although they haven't done a character wipe yet... there is always that possibility... so don't get real attached to any character there.

Since this might be as good as place as any for this info:

From this link:  forums.lotro.com/showthread.php

"You have to make new characters on Roheryn. There's a special bar called the Eyes and Guard Tavern on Roherrn that has NPCs to make that easier though. They will auto- level you to L30, L40, or L50 (3 different NPCs). I'd suggest talking to the L50 one though as it's a one time deal. If you do you get some basic equipment and 10g in the process so you can go out and play right away.

There's also NPCs that will:
- Give you a 10G allowance once per week.
- Auto complete all your Racial traits.
- Auto level you to Rank 11 to test PvP.
- Auto complete any preexisting Epic quest book.
- Auto level you in one craft discipline (all 3 skills can be GMd).

To get to the Eyes and Guard you either enter through a door in the middle of Archet or next to the stables outside Thorin's Gate."