Since Im tired of arguing with ..... I wanted to make a more positive thread to see what people are looking forward to with the expansion!

For me its the new 3 and 6 man instances and the radiance revamp!

Skirmishes in LotrO seems like a step in that direction.

Originally posted by Thillian

Originally posted by Papadam

Its sad to see you turn into a simple troll Thillian, if you dont like the game then maybe you should move on with your lifef instead of spreading lies and personal opinions as if they were facts. -----------------------------------jabber and insults...

This is your post that was a reaction to mine. You called me a troll, because you couldn't stand someone else might have a different opinion.

Eh what? Read my other posts.

If you are bringing up criticism of VG players for certain aspects, then here is a 700+ posts long thread where you actually posted on Lotro official forums and where people are very unhappy with the game currently.

http://community.codemasters.com/forum/showthread.php?t=396053

Eh what? I know people complaining about radiance and I agree to some extent and its getting revamped next week like Ive said many times. And you are flaming it over and over and praising VG when infact they have an even worse gating system at higher levels. Irony?

You said Vanguard has boring and blend world, I posted the screenshots you didn't react to. You said Lotro has better dungeon crawling than Vanguard, and then admitted you never was in any VG dungeon. Please react to that as well before moving on.

Eh what? Where did I say LotrO have better dungeon crawl than VG, I said they were different? And I think thoose screenshots speaks for themself.

heh I really have nothing more to say to you... just unbelievable!

You wanted to turn this into a LotrO vs Vanguard battle and I stated my opinions of the games and what experience I have with them and I think I did so in a mature and diplomatic way since I respect VG and understand why some people love it, but its not my cup of tea. You really dont think people can have a differnt opinion from yourself do you? You really think VG have got alot of content during its first 2.5 years? They got 1 big mini-expansion this year and its pretty much all. Next mini expansion seems to be another 6 months away.

Its funny how you flame LotrO for the radiance gating (which is getting revamped) over and over again and you claim other MMOs are miving away from this, can you please tell what Vanguard is like lvl 50-55? :)

http://forums.station.sony.com/vg/posts/list.m?&topic_id=51283

Originally posted by Thillian

Let's compare it a bit with Vanguard then to make it more specific.

For PvE explorers:

Vanguard offers a world which is 5 times larger in size than Lotro. In VG you can find unique quest lines hidden on small desolated islands, you can find dungeons that people hardly run, because not many people know them, you can find player build city somewhere off the coast or deep hidden among the desert dunes. Lotro world is much more linear, all zones are exactly for certain level range (1-6, 7-12, 13-20, 21-35...) each zone is connected with one or two narrow paths (except for lone-lands and bree-land). Even each zone is usually quite linear (trollshaws is a series of narrow paths and walkways, same goes for misty mountains, angmar) but there are some exceptions where you are free to go in any direction without being forced to follow a path by an impassable hill (shire, bree-land, forochel)

In comparison Lotro falls short. Vanguard 1 Lotro 0.

Big boring generic world vs a smaller detailed world. Its whatever you prefer. 1-1

For PvE crafters:

Vanguard crafting has a complete minigame system for crafting. Each crafted/harvested item has 4 qualities (A,B,C,D) - which are directly related to how you crafted/harvested it. Vanguard has a special inventory solely for crafting and for harvesting. Crafting in Vanguard is totally separated from adventuring, and you can easily hit level 50 crafter and still stay level 1 adventurer. Sure, rare resources have to be harvested in dangerous zones and so to make best items you need to either buy them, or have a friendly guild that will "escort" you while you harvest. Lotro crafting is made of a single create button and then a crafting bar. While in Vanguard, you can add special dusts and modify the bonuses for each individual items (like you want more dexterity, you add dust of dexterity), in Lotro, all items are fixed.

Vanguard 2 Lotro 0

I dont like crafting much, having simple but solid crafting is a plus to me. 2-2

For PvE dungeon crawlers:

Vanguard offer 80 long dungeons each with dozen bosses that range throught all the level ranges. With a group you can spend every day in a different dungeon and hit the level cap solely by doing that. There's also around 20 overland raid bosses that freely roam the country, and there's 2 long raid dungeons (one with 25 bosses, the other with 20). Lotro offers 5 dungeons in level range between 1-49, then another 7 dungeons for level 50-52 (which was a previous end-game), then 1 dungeon between 52-59, and then 8 dungeons for level 60 (current end-game). You can hardly level up solely in dungeons (impossible). Lotro also contains 1 multi-boss end-game raid, and 2 single-boss end-game raids. The amount of raid bosses pales in comparison with Vanguard.

Vanguard 3, Lotro 0

Have never set foot in a VG dungeon but the designe philosophy seems again to be the opposite, I prefer smaller more story oriented dungeons that LotrO have tons off. 3-3

For PvE questers.

Vanguard has multiple quest hubs to level up among 1-35 and basically each character you create can have a different experience. After level 35, the choices narrow down, but you still will be able to choose among 2-3 hubs where to go. Lotro offers 4 questing hubs between levels 1-14, then it's two zones for 15-20, then it's two zones for 21-35, one zone for 36-40, and finally 4 zones for 41-52. After level 52 you are stuck in Moria.

Truth is, Lotro has much stronger IP, the quests descriptions are related with the world (some more, some less), Vanguard has generic world. I will not try to say which one here is better. Both leveling experiences in my opinion are equal.

VG 3.5 - Lotro 0.5

So 4-4

Non-combat miscallenous PvE activity

Vanguard offers non-instanced player housing with huge selection of player crafted furniture. Lotro offers instanced housing in 4 different zones, with not many slots to fill up, and most of the interiors seem empty. Vanguard interiors are much more cozy. I can provide you some screenshots to see the difference if you wish.

Vanguard has diplomacy system, another mini-game which you can do if you wish. It's a card game similiar to Magic the Gathering (a lot simplified of course). Diplomacy is another way to improve your reputation with factions, make money, get discounts for housing plots, faction mounts. Diplomacy also opens up unique powerful town buffs.

Vanguard also offers 12 fully craftable ships, and 3 flying mounts and around 20 unique looking ground mounts. Lotro has around 7 different horses (which are great) and goats (which are horrid). Indeed, flying mounts and more mounts variety wouldn't do any good to Middle Earth lore so I not see this as a disadvantage.

On the other hand, Lotro has player music system using I think now around 8 different musical instruments.

To sum up, it's a close fight between a non-instanced player housing + ships + diplomacy versus player music + instanced player housing. I won't again pass judgements so I call it a draw.

VG 4 - Lotro 1

So 5-5

Story-wise PvE content.

There's barely any long storyline that would keep going in Vanguard. Lotro has book chain line which makes him a clear winner in this category.

VG 4 - Lotro 2.

5-6

and for me the most important reason why LotrO is the best PvE MMO, just like I think Planescape Torment is the best single player RPG even if its pretty small, have crap custimization, poor combat etc :)

PvE content Quality/Challenge/Itemization

Vanguard is one of the most challenging games out there. It has experience loss on death. Bosses are usually not just tank & spank, often you will wonder why you can't hurt them. Threat resets and random scripted behavior makes each fight different. Itemization throughout the levels 1-54 in VG is fantastic. I still managed to make a server item discovery on my crafter for a level 33 item recently (which means, noone ever made such an item yet). At level 55 the itemization gets more narrow, each class has basically 1 armor set. Lotro-end game itemization is also pretty much dumbed down into a radiance gear (each class has one set). There's much less variety for crafted gear than in Vanguard. Additionally, Vanguard offers 19 races, 15 classes, while Lotro offers 4 races, 9 classes. Both games have unique starting zones for each class (1-6). And again Lotro falls short in this category.

 

VG 5 - Lotro 2.

Personally I think Quality>Quantity. As stated before there alot of different mechanics in LotrO bosses (even thou you never responded to my post ;))

6-7

That's how I see it, please before going into personal heated insults again, keep in my mind, this is my opinion. I don't speak on behalf of God and this is not an ultimate truth for everyone. If you have a different opinion it's fine, we can discuss it and go further into detail. But don't come into calling me a troll, a hater, that I have an agenda or whatever.

Good post, personally I didnt enjoy Vanguard at all, and didnt even finish the starter island because I couldnt find anything likeable about it and the bugs didnt help.

Your opinions is not the reason why people call you a troll. Its the fact that you over and over again post the same thing, nit picking about whatever negative you find, exagerating and even lying and making up silly conspiracy theories... Have fun in Vanguard Im glad you are enjoying it, different strokes for different folks. :)

Polish: I dont think I have to say anything here. 6-8

Presentation: Graphics and sound and overall presentation is by far better in LotrO imo. 6-9

New content: LotrO have got 8 content updates, MoM expansion and now  a mini expansion. VG have got very little new content in its 2.5 years, some new mounts, new starter Island + the mini expansion. 6-10

Character custimization: Dont know what VG offers here so I call it a draw ;)  7-11

Casual/solo friendly. Never heard about VG being good for soloers and smaller groups. LotrO have alot of solo 3- and 6-man content even at level cap. 7-12

Community: 7-13 Dont think that needs further explanation.

Originally posted by VultureSkull

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by VultureSkull

Originally posted by Papadam

 

For me one of the biggest pros of the PvE (since MoM) is that at end game there is now meanigfull content and progression for solo, 3 people, 6 people and 12-man raiding. I think that its pretty unique in MMOs and will be improved even more in SoM with the new skirmishes.

 

How is that unique or amazing? ? ?

There is meaningful content in most MMOs at end game.

Again as a game that is supposed to have amazing PvE, it would be nice for someone who knows about LOTROL to come on here and tell us what it is that makes it amazing........Come on it can't be that hard if it is so good.

So what kind of meaningfull end game content and progression does AoC (or whatever you are playing) have for solo, 3 -man, 6 man and 12-man?
 

 

Erh we are talking about Lord of the Rings here, you said the end game content is unique and yet you fail to say how (oh and it can be argued that any games end game is unique).

In essence you are saying that LOTRO is amazing and better than any other game on the market due to the end game content, where as it has been stated on this thread that it is not as much or as good as Wow's, if your game is not better than WoW then how on earth can you describe it as amazing!

And then to deflect from what you said, maybe due to the inability to defend it, you ask about AoC, which seems to me as a sign of someone who has no substance behind his words.

If I were you i would have responded like" LOTRO has better end game because it has 'this' and 'that' and you can do 'this' and 'that' which as far as i know is only available inthis game and thats what makes it unique" Note to dhayes68 this is what i am looking for.
 

So please fill in the missing 'this and 'that' s, ie put up or shut down........

Eh I think you completly missed my point or you just didnt read my posts... I said that one of the best things about LotrO (for me) is that it offers content and progression at "end game" for solo playing and for 3/6/12 people and that its unique for LotrO as far as I know.

You then claimed that all MMOs does have that (without giving examples). So then I asked you to tell me how AoC (since I think thats the MMO you are playing) have content and progression at level cap for solo and 3/6/12 man. It was  not meant as a bash against AoC, seems like you just want to sidetrack the discussion.

Originally posted by Amarok44

As a player with a whole 2 weeks of experience, I haven't found combat animations to be a problem at all (though I'm not a fan of some of the char faces). Likewise with combat my only issue is a dislike for the .5 second of lag that comes after casting certain spells. The pace of combat isn't something I have a problem with (although I can understand why others would) but the hitching makes it feel like the game isn't performing well, and detracts from the whole experience. I hope the combat enhancements in the expansion fix this problem, as it's the only issue that sticks out for me as a new player.

And that is exactly what they are fixing in SoM next week :)

Originally posted by junzo316

Nice screenshots.  Looks a lot better than Darkfall.

Now thats an understatement!

Lore-masters having a bog-lurker pet is more lore firendly than having a bear pet, ironic isnt it?

Originally posted by Thillian

Originally posted by Papadam

Whining about the radiance gating in MoM now is pretty stupid since the devs have already stated that the system was poorly implemented. It was a good idea with good intensions imo but the way it was designed was terribly flawed. Im happy its getting revamped next week :)

And about tank/spank. I cant think of an end boss in any of the lvl 60 instnances in Moria. DD: No, FG: No, Forges: no, 16th: no, GS: no, Skumfil: No, Watcher: no, DN: no and so on...

.. most of the SoA fights were Tank/spank thou.

 

Please find me a link or quote a dev when they stated the radiance was poorly implemented.

First, i think the fact that they changed system in book 7 and now revamping it in SoM is an indication that they didnt like how radiance was implemented, and you can also read Orions blog 

They are not removing it, they just make it different. It's still gonna be a gating content however.

I said revamping it, no reason to remove it since the idea is good imo, the entire game is build on gating content so I dont understand why there cant be some progression at "end-game". Still I think it was a bad idea to have it tied to gear, should have been traits or something instead.

All bosses are tank and spank. Just because they throw from time to time a red glowing hot spot on the ground you have to avoid, or when they spawn a couple of adds means it's not something more complicated.

Since I said end bosses Ill just adress thoose. Funny you picked the easiest fights ;)

Grand Stair: 

• final boss: spawn 2 adds that has to be kept alive during the fight (he spawns another 2), otherwise tank and sprank

The boss spawn 3 adds, 2 archers who respawn (can be mezzed) and the Devoted who you can kill and have random aggro (very annoying), the boos also have a nasty AoE attack which can almost oneshot squishys. So not just tank/spank but whatever!

Forges:

• final boss: Tank and spank that spawns 2 waves of 2 trolls and 1 wave of 1 troll.

 Every wave can spawn 1-2 trolls and they have knock back (can be mezzed) You also forgot to mention that in the last phase the boss starts the forge so the entire group must move around to avoid the fire, can get troll adds in this phase too. So again, not just tank/spank. Fun dungeon!

Want me to continue?

Yes please do, I enjoy this :)

Whining about the radiance gating in MoM now is pretty stupid since the devs have already stated that the system was poorly implemented. It was a good idea with good intensions imo but the way it was designed was terribly flawed. Im happy its getting revamped next week :)

And about tank/spank. I cant think of an end boss in any of the lvl 60 instnances in Moria. DD: No, FG: No, Forges: no, 16th: no, GS: no, Skumfil: No, Watcher: no, DN: no and so on...

.. most of the SoA fights were Tank/spank thou.

Originally posted by VultureSkull

Originally posted by Papadam

 

For me one of the biggest pros of the PvE (since MoM) is that at end game there is now meanigfull content and progression for solo, 3 people, 6 people and 12-man raiding. I think that its pretty unique in MMOs and will be improved even more in SoM with the new skirmishes.

 

How is that unique or amazing? ? ?

There is meaningful content in most MMOs at end game.

Again as a game that is supposed to have amazing PvE, it would be nice for someone who knows about LOTROL to come on here and tell us what it is that makes it amazing........Come on it can't be that hard if it is so good.

So what kind of meaningfull end game content and progression does AoC (or whatever you are playing) have for solo, 3 -man, 6 man and 12-man?
 

Originally posted by Thillian

 

I hate to bring it up. But how many raids and instances did WoW got since Wotlk? Was it like 5 new raids? and 4 new instances? Lotro got 1 raid, and 2 instances since Moria. 

Its sad to see you turn into a simple troll Thillian, if you dont like the game then maybe you should move on with your lifef instead of spreading lies and personal opinions as if they were facts. You dont like the PvE in LotrO, fine! no ones is holding a gun to your head...

WoW got update 3.1 and 3.2 since Wotlk and about to release (or just did) 3.3. Compare to LotrO which got book 7 and 8 + now Siege of Mirkwood next week.

Since I dont play wow I got info from here and assume its correct: http://www.wowwiki.com/Patches

3.1 Added 1 new raid

3.2 Added 1 new raid

3.3 Adds 1 new raid and 3 group dungeons

Compared to

Book 7 Added a new region, 6 solo instances, 1 group instance and the turtle raid

Book 8 Added 1 new raid and 3 group dungeons

SoM adds 1 new region, 1 new raid, 4 new group dungeons and 13 skirmish instances.

-----------------------------------

For me one of the biggest pros of the PvE (since MoM) is that at end game there is now meanigfull content and progression for solo, 3 people, 6 people and 12-man raiding. I think that its pretty unique in MMOs and will be improved even more in SoM with the new skirmishes.

Originally posted by SignusM

Originally posted by hoopty

I want to know is this game better than Darkfall?

This game hardly functions and most of the basic mechanics aren't even in yet, and they're charging people to try beta. So, no. 

What about Mortal then?

Originally posted by Sovrath

Originally posted by FikusOfAhazi

Originally posted by grandpagamer

Originally posted by Papadam

I agree that being lvl 50 before MoM was very boring and alot of people left back then because lack of "end game".

In my opinion its much better now and grouping is made more important for higher levels and there is now progression after reaching the level cap. I consider lvl 50-60 to be the best content in the game but not every one likes leveling in Moria ;)

Moria is actually pretty cool if you dont mind being lost most of the time  :). In fact, after you wander around lost for a couple of levels the place actually starts to get a bit easier to explore, but your right. I heard a kinsman just the other day say they hated the place and would try and level without ever going back in.

 

To me that's just the way Moria should be. Although, it's not quite for the same reasons as it should be. If you played before they changed the old forest, You didnt 'want' to go there, just as in the books, the Hobbits didnt want to go in there. And it really captured the same reasons and feelings the the book portrayed. It was an amazing thing to experience in a video game. Games don't have to be all fun, just like movies don't have to be comedies.  It was a shame to see it changed.

Moria is 'sort of like that', but it's not the same. Good expansion, loved seeing a virtual moria and going through it, but the game has a different feel to it now. Im hoping it's just because of  making so much content in moria kinda of made moria hard to "lose yourself" in the way other areas in the old game did. Hope the next installment will get back to the original feel, or an even better one. The content and art were amazing though. If you are a Tolkien fan, this will probably be the only virtual middle earth, and for the most part, it is extremely well done. Don't get many chances as gamers to experience that.

 

 

I have to say that I enjoyed moria but it really wasn't what I wanted. I wanted a giant mine where I could get lost, where there was danger around and not grand central statioin where everywhere I looked there was some player running past or fighting a mob.

Thats exactly what Moria is to me! I get lost all the time and really feel that their is dangers everywhere and one misstake means death. FOr me its a unique MMO experience that no game comes close to. I tihnk most people hate MOria because its to hard and frustrating for them. Just like the old old forest (which I loved aswell).
 

Originally posted by TarotMage

The whole "only-one-person-gets-a-coin-good-for-a-radiance-gear-piece" thing on Lord of the Rings Online. The fellowship doing a radiance quest wins or loses as a team and should be rewarded as such, not the person with the luckiest roll.

Finding players to do other things than radiance gear quests? Forget it. It's gotten so bad that they're revamping the book quests so you can do them solo. As much as I like the game, the current setup for radiance gear is idiotic.

And thats why its getting a complete revamp next week :)

"This phase will end with an open, free-to-play Beta where we hope that as many players as possible will find and decide for Mortal Online."
 

Sounds like an open beta to me...

Originally posted by Xiaoki

LotRO is primarily a PvE MMO so it had better do it well.

I would not call it the Best PvE MMO but it certainly is in the top 3.

Of the biggest problems in LotRO I think class balance and end game to be the most lacking.

LotRO doesnt have many classes and the balance between them is horrible. Limited effort has been expended to balance the DPS classes and there has been almost no effort for tanking and healing(especially healing).
Im pretty sure the entire Turbine staff plays Champions.

End game is lacking because of Radiance. Im pretty sure it was a good idea on paper but get rid of it already.

If you are just getting into LotRO read the quests, do the Books and dont worry about end game. Its very much worth the trip to max level.

 

Wierd, I have the complete opposite opinion, class balance for PvE is one of the strongest parts of LotrO imo where all classes are powerfull and needed in different situations. Champions was very strong at MoM release but have been nerfed every patch since then. Still in groups Champions are often the least needed imo.

And I would say that Radiance is the reason why end game is NOT lacking. Before MoM I would say that end game was lacking but since then the focus have been on end-game content and Mirkwoods adds and improves the higher levels in alot of ways.

Originally posted by sodade21

i am from Greece too..but i cant see any option for greece.. :S can you maybe post a link? maybe i was in the wrong CC registration place....

hmm I had the same problem but I found a way to get VIP with european credit card. But that was just before the Unlimited release so dont know how to do it now. Best to send a mail to Turbine.

Originally posted by Mrbloodworth

Originally posted by erictlewis

Seams they used the same color scheem that we had in moria.

 

Its Mirkwood. Its not like they made this place up.

Yes stupid Turbine using Dark colors both in Moria and Mirkwood, what were they thinking?