Please, for the love of Pete, whoever he may be, can we make the maps look better? I can't stand the way they look, and can never tell where to go for quests. I guess I'm getting spoiled by WAR and AoC by giving us easier ways to do quests, but it is so nice to have. Or at least make the map look better and be markable so I can look on LOTRO database and mark myself where to go. Especially for the tedious delivery quests in the Shire. That's my only real gripe with the game, thanks.

Originally posted by elocke

Please, for the love of Pete, whoever he may be, can we make the maps look better? I can't stand the way they look, and can never tell where to go for quests. I guess I'm getting spoiled by WAR and AoC by giving us easier ways to do quests, but it is so nice to have. Or at least make the map look better and be markable so I can look on LOTRO database and mark myself where to go. Especially for the tedious delivery quests in the Shire. That's my only real gripe with the game, thanks.

Yeah you're probably spoiled by the other MMO's that hold your hand right to the quest itself.  But the one big thing about LoTRO is (which can be annoying for some) to actually read what the quest giver is saying about the particular quest.  Not only the recieved quest that goes into your "quest tracker" but what he/she says before actually accepting the quest.  If one reads both, they give some fairly simple and understandable directions for the given quest.

However I can understand your frustration.  When I first started i would accept the quests then kind of be a bit lost.  But now i actually enjoy have to work some for the quests.  Makes it more exciting. imho...

When the quest objective is clearly marked on the map, the game turns from adventure into a serie of tasks where you either have to follow arrow or kill an enemy wich prevents following that arrow. And the players who play on that game are simple task-machines, who ofter aren't in the least intrested of adventuring or doing anything together with other players in the gameword at all, unless other players are required to kill the enemy wich prevents from following the arrow.

WoW is one of the games where that's happened. I remembered back when I started WoW I had really fun running around looking for some quest objectives, sometimes asking help from people I encountered, quildmates or general chat, and back then people I encoutered often actually helped by pointing to right direction when I asked wich way some place was. Nowadays in WoW when I ask for directions, the only answers I get are 'www.thottbot.com' or 'Use Queshelper'.

Lotro is one of the last games where it's actually possible to adventure and search the world, and I fear that any function to clearly show quest objectives on the map would ruin that chance. Because even if it were optional, people wouldn't be bothered to use 10 seconds of their time to help someone who doesn't want to use such things to find his way.

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Originally posted by Vrika
When the quest objective is clearly marked on the map, the game turns from adventure into a serie of tasks where you either have to follow arrow or kill an enemy wich prevents following that arrow. And the players who play on that game are simple task-machines, who ofter aren't in the least intrested of adventuring or doing anything together with other players in the gameword at all, unless other players are required to kill the enemy wich prevents from following the arrow.
WoW is one of the games where that's happened. I remembered back when I started WoW I had really fun running around looking for some quest objectives, sometimes asking help from people I encountered, quildmates or general chat, and back then people I encoutered often actually helped by pointing to right direction when I asked wich way some place was. Nowadays in WoW when I ask for directions, the only answers I get are 'www.thottbot.com' or 'Use Queshelper'.
Lotro is one of the last games where it's actually possible to adventure and search the world, and I fear that any function to clearly show quest objectives on the map would ruin that chance. Because even if it were optional, people wouldn't be bothered to use 10 seconds of their time to help someone who doesn't want to use such things to find his way.

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I think I understand what you are saying completely. It is one of the major things I like about LoTRO. The community is mature and talkative and very helpful.

My only real issue, and it's minor, is these delivery quests. If I didn't have to avoid nosy or hungry hobbits on top of being timed, I probably wouldnt' mind so much. Maybe just make it so I can mark the end of my route on those types of quests, and I'd be happy. As an extra note on that, when part of the map you have to go it, isn't unlocked, since I haven't been to it yet, it makes it difficult to do these timed delivery quests. Anyway, thanks for the input.

Please god no do not mark objectives on the map.  That makes it too easy.  If you are having so much difficulaty just look up the quest online.

No, I like that you have find what you are looking for by yourself.  As it is, the instructions on how to find the general area something is in are quite adequate.  They make it easy enough to find something physical by having it throb with light, through the use of the Delete key, and allowing an object name to float above it.

I made simular post here. http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/209709

Although i agree there should be quest direction if needed, but i dont agree this should be on all the time. You should be able to toogle on or off. If your really stuck or want to be handed the quest then switch it on.

Simple, this suits all players then.

At the most they could mark on the map where to turn in a quest you completed, just in case you forget. You have already been tot the NPC once to get the quest so marking the return spot wouldn't be so bad. But telling someone where to go in the first place is a horrible idea. They did it in WAR and it made the pve a joke in that game. If you are that clueless that you can't: figure it out, ask in chat, or look it up on the net then we really don't need you in the game.

Originally posted by elocke

Please, for the love of Pete, whoever he may be, can we make the maps look better? I can't stand the way they look, and can never tell where to go for quests. I guess I'm getting spoiled by WAR and AoC by giving us easier ways to do quests, but it is so nice to have. Or at least make the map look better and be markable so I can look on LOTRO database and mark myself where to go. Especially for the tedious delivery quests in the Shire. That's my only real gripe with the game, thanks.

How about you actually WORK for your quests, like the Fellowship did? Its not too hard to follow directions, LotRO quests are fairly simple. Are you that sad and lazy? 

This is not the first thread like this that appears and the answer is the same: go back to wow or use MEHQ

I must agree with everybody else here... one of the things that makes LotRO a welcome challenge (to those of us who choose not to use the MEHQ-style spoiler sites) is that there's a bit of a challenge.  You need to actually go out and search for things given some pretty vague directions. 

Keeping that in mind, if you get stuck, you can always simply (1) ask (in /advice channel) and people are very helpful, or else (2) resort to a website with spoiler information. 

But far too many MMO's today have employed "simple mode" which points you directly to the next step in your quest, which makes the quests completely unchallenging... go here, kill this, return here, turn in, get XP, rinse and repeat. 

I will agree with the previous poster who suggested 1 enhancement - at least highlight the quest turn-in (assuming it was the same as the originator)... sometimes the quest simply says "Return to so-and-so" and I have no recollection who/where that is, given the multitude of quests in my log!

I actually miss the original EQ style of not even providing maps or a radar... it forced people to explore zone on their own and draw their own maps.  Though the lack of even a compass was pretty frustrating until they added it... /loc /loc /loc got pretty old!  But I digress...

I actually agree with him, MMORPGs need to be challenging, just read the quest and u will be alright or u can go to those sites see, its not a crime actually, who didnt go to those sites when they are just very frustated, i have gone to see 1 or 2 quests myself, not a big deal. If anone is trying to get things like questhelper to this game i fear they wont get more than nothing.

Originally posted by elocke

Please, for the love of Pete, whoever he may be, can we make the maps look better? I can't stand the way they look, and can never tell where to go for quests. I guess I'm getting spoiled by WAR and AoC by giving us easier ways to do quests, but it is so nice to have. Or at least make the map look better and be markable so I can look on LOTRO database and mark myself where to go. Especially for the tedious delivery quests in the Shire. That's my only real gripe with the game, thanks.

I couldn't help but smile ^^

Just take your time to read the text, it's worth it and you will never have problems finding your destination.

Awesome, found this post again, and had to update it. It seems my suggestion or complaint is being answered come book 7. Guess I wasn't the only one who had an issue. Kudos to Turbine, gotta love when developers hear the player's plight and act.