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Originally posted by ZNICK
Holy moly!! Now there's a blast from the past... do you realize that was in 1999???
I'd LOVE to have you play with us in GW2. Diedn't you play with your brother too?
Nick

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Yes, he is still kickin around in mmo's a bit as well. I am trying to get him to check out GW2 at release.

Hi Z,

I am glad to see you are all still around and doing well! I was one of the members back in the Asherons Call days with the Mayor and the crew. I also did that logo and first web site way back when as well.

I might join you all for GW2. I did the test last night and was very impressed by what the game has to offer.

Anyways, I just had to say hello and give a shout out. TOSH was a very fine guild and I am glad to see it still around today.

Take care,

Edge, Colban, Kolban, Marksedge, etc. etc.

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Originally posted by Unreal024
Will always have fond memories of this game, i'll miss what it was just like I miss Vanilla WoW. I'll give the F2P a go, but unless they have changed things from the way they were while I was briefly trying out the beta, I don't think it will ever be quite as fun as it once was.

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Did they remove all the quests and contnet in the game?

Seriously, all the drama around f2p is a bit much. Come on, it isn't THAT much of a change for subscribers or the current game. I see it as giving the game more potential down the road. I have only a few minor complaints about it myself and I have been a lifetime member since day one.

Making out f2p to be end of LOTRO is amusing. Many said the same about DDO a year ago and it seems to be doing just fine. :)

I would give both a good try before you buy. I have played them both through end game as well as several other mmo's, I enjoy LOTRO the most for a few reasons.

The epic story quest line in LOTRO draws most people in and separates the game from other mmo's. I know a few that don't care for it much, but most people love it and they keep improving it as they go with free book updates every few months.

End game in LOTRO isn't quite the boring grind chore as WoW. Although there isn't as much end game raid content as WoW, it certainly doesn't bore you to death with the grind and seems more involving rather than straight mechanics.

Group play in LOTRO also feels more like a group and more strategic than WoW. WoW use to be better but since BC it mostly feels like a bash fest and then boss mechanics. LOTRO just feels more about the group involvement and using everyone's unique abilities at times to get the job done.

The overall lore of LOTRO just feels better and realistic to a degree. WoTLK expansion in WoW added more engrossing lore to the game but some of it is still just out there for me.

That is most of the differences for me that make LOTRO a better choice. The are both excellent mmo's and you can't go wrong with either, but most mmo's come down to end game in the long run and these two feel very different in end game. I will also say that some of the solo questing in WoTLK is some of the finest I have ever experienced in any mmo, and is surpasses non mmo rpg questing as well.

Hope this helps, enjoy!

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Originally posted by Khrymson
Good thing I decided not to return, for pretty much ever!  LOTRO has gone downhill severely since MoM!

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I think just the opposite. MoM was a smooth launch and the game has continued to grow and improve. LOTRO is still one of the best mmo's out there.

I know there are some issues with book 8, but I was able to do two of the new instances without issues. People in our kin were complaining about some bugs though. I think they did release this one a bit early, but I heard some of the big issues would resolved by tomorrow.

Patch day in any mmo is never perfect.

Mr Bigglesworth

I am having a blast with this game! I have been it since late beta and early head starts.

I knew RvR would be great but the three total shockers for me about this game are:

1. PvE is very well done!

Not to LOTRO level of depth, but as good as if not better than WoW. As far as questing goes though, I haven't seen much tight 6 man content grouping mechanics yet. But all other PvE aspects and content are very good, this was my big shocker.

2. PQ's are fun and bring something new to the mmo scene!

They are great from many perspectives, and yes they do have some inherent flaws, some of which can be worked out. Doing PQ's and how they work them into the game gives the game great fun and additional addiction factor.

3. Tome of Knowledge (Tok)

This may be a hit or miss for some but to me it is a great addition to the mmo world (yes LOTRO sort of did it first and WoW is sort of copying it). It adds a lot of different types of content to the game, not to mention the depth and ties to PvE and lore it helps build on to. Very well done and at times I find myself reading the ToK, my unlocks, and fun titles I have gained.

I don't need to mention the RvR and scenarios, they were the feature attraction and have lived up to it.

This game so far offers a great deal of FUN things to do that can be done in short time blocks. I think this will be one of its greatest "features".

Enjoy!

LOL, oh the drama.

I am surprised you didn't say dummed down, or console mmmo, or any of the other drama buzz words people are using.

Funny stuff, yet so predictable. :)

Has anyone that got the game early, most vendors started selling on Friday, been able to access or setup their Funcom account?

I can go and access a current account but I can't do anything further.

Also, I get taken to a Anarchy Online backdrop when I pull up my current account details or click on any of the account links.

Is this all normal or has anyone been able to properly setup their account yet even though you don't have early access?

Thank you

I believe I saw an ad at CC for $39.99

This happened in one of the tech tests as well.

Same issues just a different beta... paid beta.

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Originally posted by Vayle

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Originally posted by kazoul

It is well known that anyone that knows what an MMO is, wants to at least try this game. I have heard staggering numbers, 1 million signed up for beta, 100,000 allowed into pre-launch. The headstart was cut off buy all four companies in the US on the 15th, for sure. There is no doubt that this is the cutting edge today. Which in itself may be sad, but none the less, this is the best the world has to offer to us gamers that have been craving more.
There is no doubt there are going to be problems to this game for weeks to come. Not client issues or card issues, which funcom so willing claims to be the heart of their problems. Just the numbers alone dictate that we will all have problems loging in and killing with no lag. If the numbers are true, then they not only have to make sure on the 17th that the game is stable for 100,000 to players, but on the 20th that the servers are capable of handeling another 900,000 players.
This will be the biggest launch to date. It holds nothing on SWG and WoW. We will see an unstable client for weeks to come purely based upon server stability issues. It will take time for all of us to get in, but given the fact that they will make 50 million dollars on the first day of launch, they will address the isues and give us a PvP game that is stable and worth playing, so much as they can.

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Hey another doom and gloom post by a 5 poster.
I especially like how you slightly slanted it to make it look like you were looking forward to the game, possibly even a fan, yet are assuring us there will be multiple problems. Especially with the title. Nice job. You guys are getting slightly clever now.

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Would you just prefer he said it sucks?

Seriously, it wasn't like he didn't put any thought into it. I agree with some of the comments. Launch has signs of a rough start, but I think they are capable of correcting it over time.

I find the Q&A, well at least the answers, to be very misleading. I think most will be very unhappy and feel let down in the near future.

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Originally posted by eccoton

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Originally posted by DonnieBrasco

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Originally posted by eccoton

At the upper levels of LOTRO you really have to group. In EQ2 you can solo almost any class to the level cap. EQ2 is a better ride for me.

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Well, that is not true, plain and simple.

Even before the Angmar revamp, i soloed my LM to level 50, with close to no grouping. I admit, it was slow - compared to how it went from level 1 to level 42.
Afterr the Angmar revamp, it is perfectly easy to solo all the way up. It's another aspect, that the best content of Lotro is mostly available through group quests (not necessarily the book quests!), but saying that you need to group at high levels is LOTRO is not true by any means.
In EQ2 I only leveled to around 40, so can't speak for the high levels, but someone in this thread already mentioned how difficult it is to solo on high levels in EQ2... who is right, we don't know.
DB

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Umm it is simply true, I never said it was impossible to solo. Sure you can grind to the level cap. You can do that in any mmo if you have the time. Like you said and many also say, post 40 the breaks go on in LOTRO. Also there is almost no specific solo content in LOTRO in the upper levels. Since they made the exp for killing stuff so low and based on quest turn in it takes forever to level at high levels solo. You also miss out on so much. Tell me what books you can solo at high levels? If you have solo'd both games to their level caps as I have you will find EQ2 is much more solo friendly. There is actual solo content in EQ2 at high levels. Sure there are some raid content you miss in EQ2 as a solo player at high levels but there is plenty in place to make up for it.

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Yes, you can solo quest to 50 in LOTRO. Does it become a bit more difficult post 40? Yes, but they have improved that greatly and it is possible.

Some books in LOTRO do require groups, sure, but not all of EQ2 is solo either. That is sort of silly to compare the two in that regard.

Don't forget some of this is due to the time factor. Just like EQ2 was nearly impossible to solo for some classes when it came out, LOTRO was very difficult to solo past 40 for some classes. This isn't true anymore for either.

Also consider the fact that Book 13 for LOTRO is coming out this month. This will add a huge new zone and content for 44-50. Most of this content will be solo and they have also stated that the Book quests it self will be soloable except for one chapter.

I still say you can't go wrong with either game. EQ2 and LOTRO are fine products indeed that any mmo gamer should check out. Both do solo well, but again I think LOTRO might be a better choice for the OP based on what they have stated.

There is no substitute for your own judgment. :)

I would recommend giving Mythos a try. It's not out of beta yet, but this game is very fun. Think Diablo 2 with a little bit of WoW, Guild Wars, and Fate mixed in. Currently the game is building momentum for open release, but those who have played it can tell you that so far it is a quality product with much more to come.

They have stated that it will remain f2p as well so no worries about paying.

I have a few characters to 50 in LOTRO, and a few 40'ish in EQ2. I currently am still playing LOTRO.

To anyone considering either game, I would easily recommend them both. They are very good games all the way around. I would try them both and make good use of the trials to see which one you like more. You never know, one might really grab you more than the other. You can easily solo, group, or play casually in both.

With that said, if you are strictly looking for the one that is most casual friendly, I would recommend LOTRO. The game is very casual as needed, or can be played a bit more in depth if you like that as well.

Again, you can't really go wrong with either, but I would still give both games a valid try and see what you like the best.

I can honestly say that this is a great guild and some good folks as members. I have been with them on and off throughout my mmo "career" (LOTRO, HGL, TR) and I have yet to have a bad experience while a member or in chat/vent.

If you are considering joining them for AoC or any other game, I highly recommend you giving them a look. Quality members and friendships to be found here for sure.

MMORPG.com is great site overall, but all of their forums for every game have this going on. Sure, its going to happen with any game and the nature of a "discussion" area, but they let some of these folks kill much of the value of reading/posting here. To some, they do it just because the can and the have some sort of strange pleasure out of stirring things up. It is sad really.

Who cares, really?

If someone would decide to not play now because of invisible walls "may" be all over, for unknown but maybe good temporary reasons, then let them go. The community would be better off without those that art that fickle over unknown facts.

I have done well finding groups in the LFG channnel. Certain times it is loaded with folks LFG.