Hi all

Thinking about getting back into LOTR: really enjoyed it a little while back...

But before I do, wondered if anyone had a view on what the population is doing.... is it still a bit quiet in there?

i was thinking of signing up for the free trial, so i'm also interested in this topic. bump. 

Originally posted by todayisblue

i was thinking of signing up for the free trial, so i'm also interested in this topic. bump. 

I played for about 7 months but quit before the expansion.  I just grabbed a copy of the Special Edition of MoM at BB for 10 bucks.  That includes the full original game and 30 days of free play.  If the deal is still available (they might have the same deal for the download on lotro.com), that is probably a better alternative than the trial, because you get twice as long to evaluate it.

Since most people know about WoW, I will explain it by comparison to WoW:

1.  Same basic game, class, quest, and leveling mechanics, but with less character customization;

2.  More of a unified, story-based set of quest lines than WoW, including an extensive series of "Books," each consisting of about a dozen individual quests called "chapters," that generally follow the main story in the books, but obviously from a different angle.  For instance, in one quest line, you help Aragorn find a component needed to reforge his sword (not sure if this is still available, since the Fellowship, which was parked in Rivendell during the initial release game, has now moved on with the release of the expansion, but you get the idea).  In the beginning of MoM, you do quests that involve helping to cover the tracks of the Fellowship as it begins its journey to Moria.

3.  Takes itself a lot more seriously than WoW, being based on the LOTR franchise;

4.  Very little PVP (just one or two battlegrounds where you can either play your main character, or one of a few options to play a PVP-only monster character to fight against other people's main characters);

5.  Less end-game content

6.  More realistic graphics, and some very spectacular, but natural looking environments.

7.  Crafting is slightly more involved, but overall very similar

8.  Action wise, it is slower paced, a bit more realistic (e.g. no firing a bow and arrow while jumping through the air and spinning around toward your enemy)

9.  Better overall community and a good range of RP activities, from light RP to heavy.  Many people just like to gather, play music (there's a player-generated music system in the game) and chat.

Overall, the production quality is top notch.  It's a good casual game experience, but has a much slower, relaxed (some people consider it boring) pace than some other MMOs out there.

same as it's always been from what I can tell

Originally posted by brook

Hi all

Thinking about getting back into LOTR: really enjoyed it a little while back...

But before I do, wondered if anyone had a view on what the population is doing.... is it still a bit quiet in there?

 

Bit quiet? There is more talking in Sword of the New World (a game where 95% of the population is AFK) than LOTRO (and I play on the 3rd biggest server. Might be different on the EU ones).

Originally posted by trancejeremy

Originally posted by brook

Hi all

Thinking about getting back into LOTR: really enjoyed it a little while back...

But before I do, wondered if anyone had a view on what the population is doing.... is it still a bit quiet in there?

 

 

Bit quiet? There is more talking in Sword of the New World (a game where 95% of the population is AFK) than LOTRO (and I play on the 3rd biggest server. Might be different on the EU ones).

Well while I've only played the Trial, I agree. People are helpful and nice when you ask questions, but there isn't much conversation. Two reasons, I think:

1) I played on Landroval. Apparently, it's an unofficial RP server.

2) Well, the RP'ing. LoTRO is very RP friendly and many RP'ers don't even bother with any large chat channels.

It was quiet, but it was kind of nice for a change. Yes, coming from WoW.

Just re-subed myself after the welcome back week. Have to say I am loving it at the moment. It's blown all my mmo jadism out the window. It is quiet yes (I play on Evernight Eu server) but the community is the best I have encounterd in years and there is never any problem finding a group if you want one. I find the lack of spaming and crap in the chat channels to really help me get emersed in the game. If you join a good kinship it gets a lot more chatty if thats what you are after.

Originally posted by trancejeremy

Originally posted by brook

Hi all

Thinking about getting back into LOTR: really enjoyed it a little while back...

But before I do, wondered if anyone had a view on what the population is doing.... is it still a bit quiet in there?

 

 

Bit quiet? There is more talking in Sword of the New World (a game where 95% of the population is AFK) than LOTRO (and I play on the 3rd biggest server. Might be different on the EU ones).

If you want chat noise join the glff channel. More than enough inane chatter than you can handle.
 

I think I might give it a try also. Sounds like it would be good for a casual run around.

Originally posted by arenasb

Originally posted by trancejeremy

Originally posted by brook

Hi all

Thinking about getting back into LOTR: really enjoyed it a little while back...

But before I do, wondered if anyone had a view on what the population is doing.... is it still a bit quiet in there?

 

 

Bit quiet? There is more talking in Sword of the New World (a game where 95% of the population is AFK) than LOTRO (and I play on the 3rd biggest server. Might be different on the EU ones).

If you want chat noise join the glff channel. More than enough inane chatter than you can handle.
 

OH YEAH! How could I completely forget that?

You see OP, the chat channels are not only divided into zones - they're divided into sub-zones. This means that there are no global chat channels by default (except Advice, I think), and so it may seem quiet because there are probably no more than 6 people in your sub-zone at a time.

I did hear someone mention a global chat channel (I think the one you suggested is it) and how it's much more like a normal MMO's chat.

I play on the big E and the glff channel is very busy (as well as the other chat channels).  The game is back on track and getting better with the last patch that improved end game crafting and added some nice new bounty quests for Legendary Items xp.  Book 9 is just around the corner and will finally get us out of Moria  (rumoured to be part of Mirkwood). 

I play on Landroval and the population has been strangely steady since launch. It's one of the 3 highest pop servers and the server is jam-packed but the people ARE quieter in this game:)

I like the quietness though . I played  on the busiest server in WoW and had to turn off the chat within 2 minutes of logging in every day LOL!   I've only had to turn off the chat once in 2 yrs in LOTRO and that was over politics last October.

I've heard Brandywine is noisier than hell if you want a chatty server. That's the heaviest population server in NA.

Good luck!

Originally posted by Comnitus

Originally posted by arenasb

Originally posted by trancejeremy

Originally posted by brook

Hi all

Thinking about getting back into LOTR: really enjoyed it a little while back...

But before I do, wondered if anyone had a view on what the population is doing.... is it still a bit quiet in there?

 

 

Bit quiet? There is more talking in Sword of the New World (a game where 95% of the population is AFK) than LOTRO (and I play on the 3rd biggest server. Might be different on the EU ones).

If you want chat noise join the glff channel. More than enough inane chatter than you can handle.
 

OH YEAH! How could I completely forget that?

You see OP, the chat channels are not only divided into zones - they're divided into sub-zones. This means that there are no global chat channels by default (except Advice, I think), and so it may seem quiet because there are probably no more than 6 people in your sub-zone at a time.

I did hear someone mention a global chat channel (I think the one you suggested is it) and how it's much more like a normal MMO's chat.

The /gl*** channels are not local, they are global. I am not sure if you can use them in the trial though.

BTW having 6 players in one zone rarely happens once you are out of the starting instance. Bree is constantly 100+, every time I log in on weekday evenings or at weekends basically at any time.

DB

i still love lotro man.... i still play on the firefoot... but the only problem is .... less people seems to be playing.... graphics are amazing with an absolute frame rate within my sli nvidia cards hehe.... but ... where did everyone go? man .... Turbine needs to put Firefoot as a preferred new player server!  i would pick this over WoW anytime! 

Could be holidays.. I am leaving for mine in 2 days, and man, I will surely not be playing LOTRO, as I will be busy meeting family+friends+girls, going rafting, having barbecue nights, and lazing on the beach.... :DD

DB

Welcome Back Week Begins! August 18-24th!

http://www.lotro.com/news/377-welcomeback

Originally posted by rikilii

1.  Same basic game, class, quest, and leveling mechanics, but with less character customization;

You started this all off with an error.

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Originally posted by Mrbloodworth

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Originally posted by rikilii

1.  Same basic game, class, quest, and leveling mechanics, but with less character customization;

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You started this all off with an error.

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If you could be more specific about what exactly was in error about that, I would be interested to read it. You've got ranged and melee damage classes that play largely the same, you've got tanks, you've got CC, and you've got healers (granted, the entire health/healing system is totally wacky, if necessary based on lore). It sounds like the classes are the same.

You have quests to deliver items, survey locations, and kill enemies. Quests give you much more experience than killing, so they are valuable to do. Quests progress the story or introduce the player to lore elements. You level by filling an experience bar. Sounds the same.

Customization is debatable. It is a somewhat different system, but it does feel more limiting, at least to me. Very similar. Now, physical customization is something totally different. LotRO has that so much better than WoW, and most all games. Some games with sliders, like Vanguard or Conan give you better physical customization, but to a degree I think most people don't notice while playing, even if they like the idea of having it.

So, let me know. Believe me when I say that I want to believe you. This game is quite successful and true to the lore; I would enjoy enjoying the game.

Originally posted by Leodious

 

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Originally posted by Mrbloodworth

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Originally posted by rikilii

 

1.  Same basic game, class, quest, and leveling mechanics, but with less character customization;

 

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You started this all off with an error.

---

 

If you could be more specific about what exactly was in error about that, I would be interested to read it. You've got ranged and melee damage classes that play largely the same, you've got tanks, you've got CC, and you've got healers (granted, the entire health/healing system is totally wacky, if necessary based on lore). It sounds like the classes are the same.

You have quests to deliver items, survey locations, and kill enemies. Quests give you much more experience than killing, so they are valuable to do. Quests progress the story or introduce the player to lore elements. You level by filling an experience bar. Sounds the same.

Customization is debatable. It is a somewhat different system, but it does feel more limiting, at least to me. Very similar. Now, physical customization is something totally different. LotRO has that so much better than WoW, and most all games. Some games with sliders, like Vanguard or Conan give you better physical customization, but to a degree I think most people don't notice while playing, even if they like the idea of having it.

So, let me know. Believe me when I say that I want to believe you. This game is quite successful and true to the lore; I would enjoy enjoying the game.

You havent played have you?

The LOTRO classes are all hybrids and increasingly customizable to your personal play-style. The classes are increasingly flexible, and group makeup (because of the hybrid nature of each class) can vary wildly. The Trait and virtue system (even with sets) are much more flexible than any skill tree system ever was, its all most a skill based system in use (Use ability X more than Y? you will get an improved version, enhancing your personal play-style with that class). You wont find a holy trinity here (unless you and your friends choose to be this way), and none of the classes play like those from other MMO's.

Do not confuses min-maxers need to use the "optimal" build (that is totally subjective) with lack of customization.

There is a lot of articles and reviews that will tell you questing in LOTRO, while it has the standard" is much more rewarding than skip 250 characters of uninteresting text and get loot. The writing is superb, the instances and scripted event surpass any other game you can name. The book quests are increadable, in setting, feeling, and writing as well as acting.

It may be a DIKU like the others, but its polish, attention to detail, and really innovative class designs and sub systems set it apart.

If you just want to skip text and get loot, this game is not for you.

Oh no, I have a level 20 hunter. I really love Tolkien's world, and feel they have done an admirable job of keeping with the lore. But I am not talking about the world building. That's good. The quests have you *do* the same things. Not that there is much you could do differently in this way. It isn't bad, just not that different, which was the point here.

There are some things I've noticed when questing that bother me, such as Aragorn sticking around Bree for at least a day while he has you run about. That never happened. He ran off with them the very next morning after the Nazgul tried to kill the little guys. Little things like that annoy me. But overall, great world building. I would argue that the scripted events during instances are about the same in complexity in GW or WoW. Now the writing is certainly better than average, but (and this is partly me, as I am too obsessed with Tolkien) there are constantly things that just poke me and scream, "That's not right! That doesn't make sense!" Of course, there are probably as many things that scream, "That's incredible! I can't believe that put that in here!"

Customization really is the same. The way in which you acquire traits is different, but essentially, they are they same once you have them. They reduce power cost, increase the power of abilities, make you more resilient, give you more health *cough* morale. It is the same thing, in essence. Perhaps some games give you more "slots" to alter your character, or more powerful such things, or less. But ultimately, you have the same thing. (For the record, I hate and cannot trust min-maxers.)

You say hybrid class like that's new now. It isn't really. WoW and EQII both are comprised mostly of hybrid classes. GW lets you put two classes together to create just about whatever you want. If you mean class design, I could go with you a little more there. Minstrel ballad levels, runekeeper attunement, focus, it is all rather clever. But they don't hold the corner on clever class mechanics. GW has the Dervish, very clever. I hate to say it, but the Death Knight in WoW is rather clever. Blood Mages in Vanguard are pretty clever. Most EQ classes , while not hybrids for the most part, and very much into the trinity philosophy for the most part, are clever. Of course, you do still have a trinity-ish feel when, when you create your character, the game tells you which you will be. There is more than tank/heal/dps, but you do have these, and those are what you need, so the trinity is still there. It's just that each class can do a little more than what their straight role might say they would. But then, and I hate to say it, I think WoW had a great deal to do with having people use that idea.

As for polish, it is about the same or less polished that other AAA games, the most noticeable lack of polish being that I feel like my character is disconnected from the world physically when he walks. It isn't there all the time, but when I see it, it can be very disconcerting.

Of course, what makes this game a world and not "just a game" are the things that you do when not killing or participating in the story. The housing, the kinships, the hobbies. It really does feel like they put a great deal of effort into bringing the texts to life, and that, ultimately, is why I wish I could have more fun with this game.

Of course, having talked with you about this this week, I decided to play during this free weekend, and I have to say, they have come a long way since the last time I played. The trait window is much easier to use, the introduction is more well-done, though the story hasn't changed. I think it is much better to skip just the first bit instead of the entire Introduction. I remember trying to be a loremaster (my second class) in Ered Luin trying to kill things at level 2. That was not wise (but then, LotRO didn't say anything about it being nearly impossible for me to kill rats or vale-flies at level two before I said I didn't want to to the tutorial either). I might be inclined to use the term "leaps and bounds."

DX10 is amazing; the shadows alone impress me greatly. The attention to detail added with the graphics capability really make the world come alive when you look at it. And I have to say, the rune keeper is just amazing to play. There is such power there, but the attunement system works so well to keep them in line. You can't turn around in the middle of a fight and do something else. You have to walk a line, especially soling, that is some of the most fun I've had in a while.

All that said, you didn't explain your glib remark. Perhaps Rikilii was glib in the first place, but you attitude certainly shan't make people more inclined to play the game, if that is your goal. LotRO does have the same basic game, class, quest, and leveling mechanics. That's just a fact. This game does, however, have a much higher level of attention to detail and story than any other MMO. That doesn't mean it isn't "Theme Park" or that it doesn't function the same way in it's basic mechanics. It does mean they had a great deal to work with, and people working on it that (at least seem to) care about Tolkien's stories and want to bring them to life. And that they do. And that, the telling of the greatest legend ever devised by a single man, is the real glory of this game. You can live in Tolkien's world. I love it.

I would have loved this game but for some minor details that break immersion. I don't know how to place it or describe it in words. This game just feels...lacking. Like there is something they didn't do. I get a similar feeling in DDO. Of course, there is a lot there I really dislike at the core, but that's another story for another day. It's in the animations, or the way the characters walk wrongly atop the world, or the way the story doesn't quite fit the legendarium, or the way you have elves and dwarves playing in the Shire like that's normal. It might be something to do with the gact that it feels like they tried to hard to make you behind the scenes heroes instead of regular free people going about our business. Of course, I haven't played the story all the way through, so I don't know exactly what they do. I do like the Skorgrim/Amdir story, and I really like the way they handled the Dourhand stuff in the elf introduction.

And for the record, it is incredibly rude to start off by saying something like "You haven't played, have you?" That is just assuming that someone's opinions are invalid because they are not the same as yours. It is as if you think you can invalidate my points, or Rikilii's points, by asserting that we have not played the game. It's nearly as bad as asserting that I must be twelve years old in order to have the opinions I have. You would do well to remember that the vast majority of people that are not busy trolling each other are at this particular site because of what it has to offer people that really care about the games they play, and treat them as such.