I'm curious to know how LOTRO compares to DDO? The one thing DDO has that no other game seems to compare to are the quests. The quests in DDO have always impressed me because they have aspects which make you think. Like the quests which have those giant wagon wheels where you need to set them to the right runes and such to trigger an event. I haven't see anything like that in any other MMO. Also, every dungeon is unique unlike some other MMO's like CoH which re-use maps for different missions.

Anyway, I'd really like to hear from someone who's played DDO & LOTRO to get their opinions!

Thanks!

I voted it a 5. I picked the game up to give it a shot and will probably not renew after my 30 days. I played a Disciple of Khaine and was able to really roll through the PvE content. I talked to some friends who played a Sorceror and Chosen and it appeared as a DoK I had alot less trouble soloing these quests than they did. So for PvE Content, if you like to Solo, DoK appears the way to go. I think I made Rank 18 in a week and a half. When I did jump into RvR, it was apparent that DoK is not the class you want to be if you're into RvR Combat. I repecced and tried the different mastery lines but no matter what I chose, it just didn't cut it in RvR. So, I pulled back and played the healer role and felt that the DoK healing abilities were somewhat lacking for RvR. They do massive amounts of healing over time, but in RvR, time does not appear to be on your side. :) Perhaps the Shaman is a better choice for this support role, I'm not sure. Anyway, during my playtime, the only real issue I had was the queueing for scenario's took FOREVER. But with the last patch they put in where you can queue for all scenarios, that fixed it.

The real reason I won't be renewing is I just didn't like the play style. Nothing against the game at all, but it's essentially a hack n slash game. While fun for a little while, it gets repetitive too soon for my liking.

Thanks! I actually JUST found this:

Guide to Firearms

In the vendors I see, what looks like, different "levels" of ammunition. Like basic power cells, advanced power cells, etc. I've never seen a weapon which shows that it uses anything other than the basic ones. Are there weapons that use the higher ammunition or is there a way to use the higher ammunition in a weapon which has just the Basic one listed for Ammunition type?

I killed the launcher and it still happened last night. I do have some other things running in the background like a print manager, camera software, daemon tools, etc. I'll try killing off that stuff next time I play and see if any of that has any impact.

I'll give it a try, thanks! I do have a bug report into NCSoft as well.

Ok, I've encountered the first annoying bug with the game. I was checking out the different options and I switched the game to windowed mode to see how that worked. Didn't really like it, so I switched it back. Ever since then, the game randomly minimizes and I get my desktop. Anyone else experience this and if so, does anyone know a resolution?

The screen where I can send out buddy keys says it's for US only, but I don't know if that's because I am in the US or not.

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Originally posted by dsorrent
Does anyone have a recommended site/link to consolidated generalized gameplay information for TR? I've see all of the fan sites with information on classes, weapons, etc, but I haven't seen any one that has all of the answers to the standard generalized MMORPG questions such as:

1) Death Penalty (PvE & PvP)
2) Grouping (Are there level limitations, etc)
3) Generalized Experience info (Group split)
4) In game Travel
5) How does PvP work? (voluntary, same server, specific servers, etc)

Thanks!

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Ok, so I couldn't find the answers online, so I bought the game myself to find out. I'll update this as I find the answers myself:

1) Haven't died yet, but from what I gather, I'll be respawned back at a hospital with reduced stats/abilities which will be worked off via XP or I can buy a trauma kit which will erase the penalty completely. There's a 5 minute cooloff on using a trauma kit (i.e. you can use another one for at least 5 minutes). Once I die (which will happen soon, I'm sure), I'll update/confirm this.

2) As best as I can tell there is no level limitations between who you can group with. The grouping interface is non-existant. Please don't interpret that to mean it's bad, I mean, it really doesn't exist. The only way to group in the game at the current time is to look for a group on a LFG Chat Channel. I was quite shocked this key feature of a MMORPG was just missing from the game. As best as I can tell, if you get a quest to kill X of something, you get credit for your team mates kills as well toward that. As far as group looting, it looks like there's 2 options: Free For All and Rotational. I set it for Rotational with someone else in the group with me, but either we were picking up loot so fast, or it doesn't actually rotate per item. It may do it on item value or something. I'm not sure. But speaking of looting, one of the features I really like is you can just run over the dead mob to auto loot all items on the mob. Not stopping, clicking loot, etc. You can just check out your inventory later to see what you got and keep rolling with the action. As group leader, there was some other setting for looting called "Loot Threshold". Apparently the Loot Threshold sets the type of loot you can "run over" and auto-pick up. It looks to be some kind of scale from "Junk" to Extremely Rare items.

3) Still need to do more grouping to check get more information on this one.

4) Travel consists of running but also there are teleports from location to location. You must visit the destination location by foot once before the destination teleporter shows up as an available teleport destination. Running between locations isn't bad either. There were several times where I looked on the map and headed out toward a teleport destination so I could "open it up" and then next thing I knew, I was there already.

5) Haven't seen/done anything regarding PvP. I don't even know if this exists.

Does anyone have a recommended site/link to consolidated generalized gameplay information for TR? I've see all of the fan sites with information on classes, weapons, etc, but I haven't seen any one that has all of the answers to the standard generalized MMORPG questions such as:

1) Death Penalty (PvE & PvP)
2) Grouping (Are there level limitations, etc)
3) Generalized Experience info (Group split)
4) In game Travel
5) How does PvP work? (voluntary, same server, specific servers, etc)

Thanks!

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Originally posted by YoungDeezy
TO LET YOU ALL KNOW I DONT HAVE A DVD-ROM I TRYED PUTTING ONE AND THEN THE SCREEN IS BLUE SO I TOOK IT OUT AND PUT THE CABLES BACK IN THE CD-ROM.
AND NOW ITS STILL LIKE THIS AND I RE-PUT THE GRAPHICS CARD EVEN SWITCHED MY MONITOR FOR THE OTHER ONE AND IT STILL DONT WORK

AND HERES SOME INFO

CPU-INTEL CELERON 2.70GHz
RAM-512Mb
VID CARD-NVIDIA GEFORCE6200 OC
WATT SUPPLY-350..

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If you did what the other people above suggested (opened your case back up, made sure your video card is seated into the slot correctly, ensured the cable from the video card to your monitor is secured on tightly), you probably shorted something out on the video card when you were inside of your case adding/removing the DVD ROM drive.

I read about this and my first thought was that he got it from his father-in-law somehow. I think it's beyond a coincidence that THIS guy got some rare and dangerous version of TB.

I read a little about this and apparently, the way it's identifying the devices being placed on it is by ID stickers on the back of the device that are face down toward the screen.

I went to Dragon*Con last year for the first time. It's pretty cool, but, there's not much in the lines of video gaming there. The parade was definitely interesting to see... I heard Enigma was actually in it, but I haven't confirmed that...

Unfortunately, this thing will probably be priced out of the range of the general consumer for years to come.

More importantly, what I want to know is, why do they show Pizzaland in the starting credits when there's a ton of other better pizza places in Belleville/Nutley than Pizzaland on the Belleville Turnpike?

:)

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Originally posted by skywisenight
Ah, the good 'ol work at home gig!

I've worked at home for the majority of the last 3.5 years and I can tell you it's great! Flexible hours, great office dress code, and yes time with the kiddies is the best perk! There are lots of different things you can do from home too. Usually the majority of these include your computer. Really, most stuff people do in offices can be done at home, you really need to find just the right employer (the hard part).

Having said this, here comes the wet towel.

1. You won't make as much money as you could. You seem to already know this, so not much to say here. Pay raises and promotions will always go to people the Robot Overlords see on a daily basis.
2. You will be the first person let go if anything happens.
3. It's takes 10,000 times more dicipline to be productive and actually get your time in because there are so many distractions.
4. For some of the good jobs, you often have to start in an office environment to prove yourself then somehow manage your way out of the office.
5. Unless you do the transcription thing, or something low training like that, you are really going to need a marketable skill. They aren't going to give you a job for sitting pretty.

Also, when your out there looking for said job, you REALLY need to make sure it's something you will want to do in your home. It's going to be in the sancuary of your home. Unlike so many jobs out there, it's going to be hard to leave the work at the office and unwind at home, so try to pick something you will actually like to do (I guess this is true with any job, but maybe more important here)

For me, I love working at home, right now I start work at 3-4pm and work though a normal length day into the early morning. I spend 8am - 4pm with my 3 year old daughter, go out most days and what not. I take a nap in the afternoon to be productive in the evening, and I'm going to keep doing this in the summer when my older kids are off school. I've spent more quality time with them the last 4 months than I have in the last 3 years. I would be hard pressed to work normal hours again (unless they are all in school... 2 years for that).

The only thing I've had to accept is that I won't make as much as I could, but I'm ok with that, since the aquisition of wealth isn't my #1 priority, although if I find a way to get it without sacrificing family and health, I'll take it for sure! I pick my jobs based on desire, like this current one. I love working for this company/site. I could make 2-3 times more elsewhere, but hey, it's about the above perks and I still get paid enough to live quite comfortably* with a wife and 3 kids. (although a raise wouldn't be turned down... wink-wink, nudge,nudge )

* I don't live in a major city , so cost of living is notably less, which goes a long way.
** I will buy a mint condition (or nearly) used item over a brand new one if possible (except beds,computers,couches,cloths,etc)

Not sure if any of this rambling has been helpful, but there you go. The testimony of a work at home kinda guy.

oh, I forgot to mention what I've done: Worked on a mmo (Wish, since cancelled but not for money reasons), Art for a few game demos, websites, A whole lot of magazine and newspaper ads (good money to be had here), Architecture pre-visualization, 3ds max tool development and deployment, and a few off the wall things not worth mentioning.

Well, this was a tad of a long post, eh? Sorry.

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I work out of my house two days a week, but was only given that option after proving myself in the work place after a year and a half. One thing I'd also like to comment on something skywisenight mentioned was the discipline factor. For me, it's not so much the discipline to focus on getting work done, but it's completely the opposite. Working at home merges into your "not at work" time very easily. There's a very fine balance between work and life that you need to maintain when you're working at home. Sway one way too much (not working) and it will cost you your job. Sway the other way too much (work too much, my problem) and your wife and kids suffer.

Q2 means second quarter. Basically break a year up into quarters (3 months) and it's the second set of the three months. You need to look at the context though because alot of times they are referring to a fiscal year and not a "Jan-Dec" year.

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Originally posted by keygan
The problem with looking up working from home on careerbuider.com, monster.com, and blahblahetc.com is lots of crap comes up that is just a waste of time and money scams that I am not falling for. I was just interested if anyone actually works from home and is making a nice wage. I maybe going to part-time soon to stay home with kids (just talk now) and want to know if there is anything that I could do a little research on. I have heard of transcription which sounds alright, but that is what I am talking about, real jobs I can do from home.

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Someone was telling me some airlines are hiring people to work from home to answer phones. You need to have a phone line (which they will route calls to), a computer and an internet connection. Supposedly they will set you up with software and such. I don't recall which airlines they said though. Other than that, there's medical billing and doing transcriptions, but in both instances, you need to go out and find your own customer base.

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Originally posted by AlexAmore
This needs to be posted because:
1. It's funny.
2. This thread is about Dr. Laura.
3. Even though i'm sure everyone has read it...you will probably still get a chuckle out of it.

Dear Dr. Laura,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.

a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?

i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.

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Great post!