All Posts by Jaxom92

Okay, based on some suggestions via this thread, some friends, and "professionals", I've revised my list. It's about 500 bucks more, so a bit beyond what I initially wanted to spend. However, I think I'm better "future-proofed", as much as one can be with this technology.

Sunbeam Transformer Case
Corsair 1000W Power Supply
Asus P5E3 Deluxe Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz
Sapphire Radeon HD 4870
G.Skill DDR3 1333 Memory
Western Digital 150 GB 10000 rpm HD for System Drive
Western Digital 1TB 7200 rpm HD for Storage Drive
LG Black Blu-Ray/HD-DVD/DVD/CD ROM
Creative Inspire T1600 5.1 Speakers

Overall cost, about 2200.

The third option is best out of the ones you listed. However, memory prices are droping rapidly at the moment so I recommend, if you have the money, go jump a step up and get the DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500). Your motherboard needs to be able to support it as well, but it more than likely will.

Again, these aren't going to be the same prices in a couple of months...

A lot of cases will work for you. There are a plethora of sites out there that you can use to browse for cases. Pick one with the design aesthetics you like because more than likely it will fit your purposes.

As to a monitor, I hear Samsung is a good brand. I've also had people recommend Dell to me, surprisingly enough, but they're typically more expensive. Monitors have a range of features and specs, so you'll have to decide how much money you want to spend, and what features you want and see what you can get. Take the time to search through monitor selections at places like newegg.com or tigerdirect.com.

Originally posted by Tyres100

Also besides Cleffs great advice you should be getting a Velociraptor drive since you can afford such an elaborate system. Why not go all out.

You have a good point.

My guiding principle with this system was beefy, but not insanely expensive. So, I tried to go for high-end parts, but not ones that were way too over-priced for performance gain. Would my choice in hard drive really bottle-neck the system that bad? I suppose I could use the 300 gig Velociraptor and then put in the 1 TB drive for storage. I plan on collecting HD movies on this thing so...

Thanks for the replies and the heads up about the incompatable case/power supply. I didn't even realize there was a way to check for that - or that it would be a problem.

So, if I go for a 1000 watt like Ekibiogami recommends, would a Corsair modular power supply do the trick?

I also was afraid that the dual ATI GPUs wouldn't work on an Nvidia board. I just really like that board. The one you recommended Clefty is interesting with it's two memory slot sets for both DDR2 and DDR3. I kinda like that, and it's cheap.

As to the 1GB 4870, I already ran across that version of the card and I've put it on my list. Only 15 bucks more.

Thought I'd post about a system I'm contemplating. Not sure when I'll purchase, so it's subject to change. The goal here is to go with a system that is not terribly expensive, but still is beefy. Whatever I purchase, the plan is to later upgrade to dual video cards and add more hard drives, but not immediately.

Sunbeam Transformer Case
BFG ES 800W PSU
EVGA nForce 750i FTW
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz
Sapphire Radeon HD 4870
Corsair Dual Channel XMS2 DDR2 Memory
Western Digital Caviar Black 1 TB
LG Black Blu-Ray/HD-DVD/DVD/CD ROM
Logitech G51 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers

Total Price: About $1700.

I already have a 22 inch monitor, and my keyboard/mouse are adequate.

Opinions, comments, etc. And yes, I already know it's weird to use an Nvidia mainboard with an ATI graphics card, but I can't find any reason why it shouldn't work.

Originally posted by Mordoth

 

I briefly tried out LoTR with a buddy key someone emailed me and it seemed to me that there's really not much in the way of magic in LoTR.  Was I just missing it?  The closest class to a mage seemed to be more of a support/healing type class.

I like mages and wizards. 

I think you'll find what you're looking for in the Runekeeper after the expansion comes out.

While I agree with the rationalization for the new class in principle, the gameplay doesn't change. It might as well be a true "magic" user rather than on who harnesses the "nature of runes." IMO, it breaks the intent of the lore if not the letter. Still, it should attract folks who like to play magic classes, and it'll be pretty damn cool to see in action regardless of it's lore-abiding-ness.

I see recruiting now and again in-game. At least on the Elendilmir server.

Yeah, you'll have much better luck over on the official forums at lotro.com.

Give these a try:

Allakazam
Official Lorebook

If you're having trouble finding a location, NPC, etc, the following sites are very useful:

MEHQ Dynamic Map
Arda Online Google Map

Hope that helps.

One more level and you'll have the option of creating a Monster character and engage in PvMP. However, it's not a perpetual feeling of unease and the chance of death, because it's in a segregated region, and your monster character isn't "your" character that you've invested time in. That, unfortunately, takes longer. At 45 you can enter the PvMP area with your free-peoples character. In the Ettenmoors, where the PvMP takes place, there is the feeling you're looking for, but you're right - this is more a PvE focused game.

Glad to hear you're enjoying what you've played so far. Always good to hear players coming into LOTRO when so many are going to the new games (AOC, WAR).

I was on last night during prime time and man, it did feel empty. I didn't attribute it to WAR when I noticed, but that might be the reason. WAR has some very nice and innovative features - namely the public quest system, that have the potential for making the gameplay very fun. I've just been following the game anecdotally and I'm impressed with it.

That said, I've already invested myself in LOTRO, and I'm having fun here, so here is where I stay. Luckily for me, that's the same attitude with most of my kinmates, so I at least have a solid group always around. Yesterday was an exception, but a few of our members had to evacuate from Ike, a couple more are back in school, and a couple more are on vacation, so...

Yeah, I can believe WAR causing a population hit. That game has a lot going for it.

Originally posted by duffalpha

The only people who play LOTRO are hardcore fanboys anyways. That game doesnt have any endgame at all, just a huge grindfest and OK PvE. But all the PvE is designed to be played solo so why not just go play a GOOD RPG. It doesnt matter what they do their player base will eat it up.

That is a generalization that would probably piss-off a fair number of people. I'm not pissed off - I'm fairly easying going - but I will say I play LOTRO and that description doesn't fit me. There are a whole host of things I would have rather seen in LOTRO (or Middle-Earth Online) but we have what LOTRO is... and what it is, in my opinion, is a solid game. So, I play it and enjoy it. But it's not "perfect".

I think there's a whole host of players not too happy with the Rune Keeper decision, so not everybody that plays will be eating it up. Nor is the PvE content exclusively solo... just a good percentage of it.

My feelings about the Rune Keeper have fluctuated. I was particularly cynical after hearing that comment by Jeffery Steefle, who basically admitted the decision put more value on including a particular class/playstyle for the sake of being a game than it did the IP lore. That was an unfortunate statement because it turned me off to the idea of the class.

However, after reading the dev diary discussing the class, I'm much more receptive to the idea, and I really think the attunement mechanic could be fun.

Mines of Moria will be Volume II (or 2) and start over the numbering on the books. So, Volume II, Book 1, Chapter 1, etc.

A goat? A freakin' goat? ROFL !

That's funny. That's really funny. Oh well, c'est la vie.

I have no problem with fast travel from Eregion to Lothlorien, and I suppose the mounted travel in the mines is alright considering it's not a horse/pony, but the goat thing really stretches it, IMO.

Immersion is one of those things that seems to be more of a choice than something that just happens. Sure the game design helps with graphics, mechanics, ect, but at some point, you just have to say to yourself, "I'm willing to suspend disbelief."

If you want to fight your way through Moria, that's perfectly doable. If you want to stable through Moria, that's doable too. There shouldn't be an either/or mentality considering both are choices on the part of the player.

I say "Meh".

Thanks for all the replies. If I do end up going with a single card solution, I might not bother with the Nvidia motherboard anyway. It's really designed for the higher-end market and with the 3x PCI-E slots, a multiple card set up. I'll end up looking for something a bit cheaper that will do the job for me.

Here's my question: Can I put two ATI 4870 cards crossfire in an Nvidia 780i motherboard and have it work properly? I really like the features that come with these motherboards, but Nvidia really dropped the ball on the graphics cards these last couple of weeks and, in my opinion, the 4870 cards are superior. Therefore, I want to purchase the ATI cards, but I still really like the Nvidia motherboard. If it doesn't work, what's a comprable motherboard that will work for me? Thanks. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Indeed, the best way to go about learning the lore is to read the books. However, I have found in recommending people to read these books is that some really enjoy them, and some don't like them very much at all, mostly because the writing style isn't very modern. It's quite ponderous and tends to put them off or bore them to death.

So, you could look at the Cliff Notes, but be forewarned, there is a lot going on in these books and I highly doubt the Cliff Notes will give you everything you can find in the actual novels.

The Hobbit: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/The-Hobbit.id-171.html
The Lord of the Rings: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/The-Lord-of-the-Rings.id-172.html

Originally posted by Yeebo

Originally posted by Lydon

Originally posted by puma713

One thing I always loved about LoTRO was the deeds/titles.  I thought that was ingenious. If nothing else, they give you tiny goals to strive for if you're sick of questing or whatever.  I know that WAR is doing something similar, but I think Turbine made a great game in LoTRO.  I've been considering resubbing myself. . .

Quite a few games have titles actually...Guild Wars and Ryzom are the two at the top of my head.

Yes, but in most games they don't do anything for you.  In LoTRO you can actually earn stat boosts from them.

Sort of. The stat boosts come with the second part of the slayer deed. The first part gives you the title. So, it's not the title directly that gives you the stat boosts.

I still think they're cool though. I go around as Jaxom Dragonrider Lord of Fangs at the moment.

October 28th huh? If that's correct, then it fits with what I've thought all along seeing "Fall 2008": Late October or early November.