Lord of the Rings Online

 That I'll agree with. The release was very smooth. Personally I've seen a few bugs. Primarily doing with the combat system. As a burglar I have about 100 different combination of attacks and every now and then a few of the attacks simply dont work in conjuction with other skills. When you push them they fire off and there is no effect whatsoever. Normal damage just dissapears. Then theres the ore collection bugs I found which make them regen much faster then there supposed to. AI flaws out the wazzo.

 I really could'nt count all of the bugs I deal with. With that said I dont think there even noticeable because the bugs are so damned minor. As for Opes opinions. I focus on balance issues and style issues he brings up. The rest I ignore. Im really good at finding the little peices of gold in the generally 99 percent of shit people spew out. I guess that makes it so I can love everyone

Originally posted by Techleo

 That I'll agree with. The release was very smooth. Personally I've seen a few bugs. Primarily doing with the combat system. As a burglar I have about 100 different combination of attacks and every now and then a few of the attacks simply dont work in conjuction with other skills. When you push them they fire off and there is no effect whatsoever. Normal damage just dissapears. Then theres the ore collection bugs I found which make them regen much faster then there supposed to. AI flaws out the wazzo.

 I really could'nt count all of the bugs I deal with. With that said I dont think there even noticeable because the bugs are so damned minor. As for Opes opinions. I focus on balance issues and style issues he brings up. The rest I ignore. Im really good at finding the little peices of gold in the generally 99 percent of shit people spew out. I guess that makes it so I can love everyone

Good points indeed. I am more concerned over design decisions, flaws with visuals, and the overall need to make a copycat type game. I never had major "bug" issues except for getting stuck or AI problems, or the infamous "sound bug"  in the Barrows (has that been fixed?)

But, the game is quite stable, and the landscapes are gorgeous...but, too many things not to like as well..

Just differing opinions...as people are all different...and I just enjoy the conversations...good discourse is good for the soul! (PS: Also, I use to be on the debate team in school...always fun to make sure we point out the opposing strengths and weaknesses of all types of subjects without bashing the person we oppose..)

Later

 To some extent what mite be taken poorily is when Opie says things like, The need to make copycat games. Its not to say he thinks everyone should think its a copycat game. Its just he thinks its a bit to copycat. Personally I think there are some elements that need some work as well to distinguish the game from others.

That doesn't mean I think they did a bad job though. Somehow Im not surprised you were or are on a debate team Opie I can tell from the way you type out your response. Sadly I lack the mental faculties to debate.

Originally posted by DonnieBrasco

 

Still wondering, what the hell the guy means by "many bugs", or especially by "major issues".

 

I did not see any bugs, not even going as far as "major issues" :) even haters agree that LOTRO had probably the smoothest, most bug-free launch of all MMO's ever.

DB

Well, it was an exercise in frustration for Loremasters at least as often as it was fun. And I've never been the loot-obsessed type that rushes to the level cap in order to grind for the best gear, but I DO want my experiences to have a lasting impact, and when I was playing it, LOTRO seemed to be forcing me down a linear road in which adventuring (levelling) was really the only thing to do. Being at level 15 when the game launched didn't help its longevity, either.

I'm a  fan of LOTR, and I wanted to like the MMO so much that I purchased the retail version and convinced friends & family to do so even after getting impressions of mediocrity throughout closed & open beta. When the class I truly wanted to play was still unfinished and half-broken for months after launch and  fixes were still months away, but devs were working diligently on bringing me the ability to play as a chicken, I just thought it might be time to jump ship.

There were many reasons it wasn't the game for me (or my friends), not the least of which is that I'm a jaded MMO vet who's still foolishly searching for "the one" while knowing full well the only things that separate one game from the other is the setting and a few minute details. It certainly isn't Turbine's fault they chose a license so beloved that they really had no chance of doing it justice...15 square kilometers in the least interesting (personal opinion, of course) corner of Middle-Earth is not what I envisioned when Middle-Earth Online was first announced, and I wasn't about to support Turbine for the 5+ years they plan to take to deliver Return of the King content.

Just realized I hit 1000 posts after 5 years of being on Mmorpg on my lost post on this topic! YAYYYY!!!!!!

Originally posted by bonzoso21

It kept me and a couple others I know occupied for a few months, but progression was more linear than any other MMO I've played, and at the time of our cancellation, the game was still pretty buggy and they were adding things like chicken play rather than devoting manpower to fixing major issues.

It gave a GREAT first impression, especially for LOTR fans, but a few weeks later, after the initial wonder had died down a bit, it became pretty obvious that the game wouldn't have the longevity at the time to keep making us want to log in. Also, there really was no worthwhile high level content then, so as we were approaching level 40, the question "why bother?" kept popping up.

And since we moved on, none of us have even thought about going back to see how things have progressed. A fully fleshed out Middle-Earth with exciting classes and a variety of non-combat content would be a truly wonderful thing, but I'm not gonna keep my eyes on LOTRO until 2013 to see that achievement realized.

Bugs?  What bugs?  Major issues?  What major issues?

Personal preference's and one's own opinions (which I respect) aside this was and is one of the most b ug free, major issue free MMO's out there, even at launch.

Originally posted by bonzoso21

 

Originally posted by DonnieBrasco

 

Still wondering, what the hell the guy means by "many bugs", or especially by "major issues".

 

I did not see any bugs, not even going as far as "major issues" :) even haters agree that LOTRO had probably the smoothest, most bug-free launch of all MMO's ever.

DB

 

Well, it was an exercise in frustration for Loremasters at least as often as it was fun. And I've never been the loot-obsessed type that rushes to the level cap in order to grind for the best gear, but I DO want my experiences to have a lasting impact, and when I was playing it, LOTRO seemed to be forcing me down a linear road in which adventuring (levelling) was really the only thing to do. Being at level 15 when the game launched didn't help its longevity, either.

I'm a  fan of LOTR, and I wanted to like the MMO so much that I purchased the retail version and convinced friends & family to do so even after getting impressions of mediocrity throughout closed & open beta. When the class I truly wanted to play was still unfinished and half-broken for months after launch and  fixes were still months away, but devs were working diligently on bringing me the ability to play as a chicken, I just thought it might be time to jump ship.

There were many reasons it wasn't the game for me (or my friends), not the least of which is that I'm a jaded MMO vet who's still foolishly searching for "the one" while knowing full well the only things that separate one game from the other is the setting and a few minute details. It certainly isn't Turbine's fault they chose a license so beloved that they really had no chance of doing it justice...15 square kilometers in the least interesting (personal opinion, of course) corner of Middle-Earth is not what I envisioned when Middle-Earth Online was first announced, and I wasn't about to support Turbine for the 5+ years they plan to take to deliver Return of the King content.

I started playing with my Loremaster on the 14th of April, 2007 - day 1 of the early access. I have never met a single gameplay bug (there were very seldom sound issues, but nothing breaking the immersion).

(skills that were added later do not count as "release bugs" imho)

I perfectly understand and accept that LOTRO is not your game. Nothing can suit everyone, fair and square. However, mentioning "lots of bugs" and "major issues" is definitely not justified when describing LOTRO. Even in beta if was more stable and bug-free then any other MMO I played so far.

DB

Originally posted by openedge1

 

Then I guess you do not understand the meaning of "Devils Advocate"

 

Def: One who argues against a cause or position, not as a committed opponent but simply for the sake of argument or to determine the validity of the cause or position.

"The phrase "let me play devil's advocate" or equivalent is used in group discussions to counter groupthink;"

Which is what we have in the LOTRO forums. A specific group of LOTRO "fans" always play the game up as the best thing since sliced bread...and it is not in my opinion..

As well, playing devils advocate does not need to be objective. I never once said I was being "objective"...just like the LOTRO fanbase is not being "objective" by saying everything is hunky dory in Middle Earth Online, they are not willing to lay out the negatives...

Some one coming in and doing this helps give a prospective player an overall perspective...so THEY can be "objective"...they will have "both sides" of the argument

But, instead of arguing my points I have made, it is much easier for this fanbase to slam my posts and counter by giving attitude. How does this look to a prospective player about the community of LOTRO?

Argue my points logically but, maybe try to be civil about it. Yes, I may not like LOTRO overall, but I also know the things they did right...for example, I hate my US president, but I can also point out things he did right...well, what few they are..

I am sure this post will lead to "fanboi" slamming as well, but it is true.

As to playtime, I have retested each book update to check if the issues I see in game have been resolved. They have not, so I can continue to state those issues anytime I please as long as I know they still exist. Turbine has not made much progress in UI, animations, stuttering or quests changes...so, I do not see why I am not able to continue to state these issues here.

I came here to answer the OP's post...pure and simple. I feel LOTRO is not truly immersive as a RP'er's game. Now, if you wish to argue that point, please do...but, you may keep your opinions of my posting habits to yourself...as nothing derails a thread more than when the "fans" have to argue why I come here..

Give it a rest and stop hijacking the thread

LOL.. that's funny. Shall I post links to the various threads you've hijacked - in non-LoTRO related forums - to bash LoTRO? Get off your high-horse.

I know what playing Devil's Advocate means, thank you.

As for the rest... Blah blah blah. Rhetoric, rhetoric, rhetoric.

 My point stands...

Anything you post here is suspect at best because of the precedent *you* set as a LoTRO/Turbine hater through *your* quite extensive and active posting history. I, and others, are not pulling this out of thin air. We didn't hack into your account and post those messages where you gleefully and glibly knock Turbine and LoTRO. We know your angle and know that anything you post is fed by your bias against the game - not by any objective, relevant or even recent experience.

So, do not start crying foul now that your "views" aren't accepted with much credibility. You made your own bed, as the saying goes.

I really have to laugh at how determined you are to claim any kind of relevant footing here. Your need to knock this game is so extreme that you're now putting up facades.

In case you haven't noticed... we are quite welcoming of criticisms of the game here... by people who have at least played the g