I played it to 59 or so, 1 level from max and than i just relised. This game sucks The only reason i did not notice this earlier was because i was playing it with frindes but the last week it was like, hanging around and chatting only. The game is dull, really nothing to do and even if landsacape was pritty nice i hated character models and animations simply sucked plus non existant pvp. Thinking back of it i woulde't even give this game 2/10,

Originally posted by rishaki

I played it to 59 or so, 1 level from max and than i just relised. This game sucks The only reason i did not notice this earlier was because i was playing it with frindes but the last week it was like, hanging around and chatting only. The game is dull, really nothing to do and even if landsacape was pritty nice i hated character models and animations simply sucked plus non existant pvp. Thinking back of it i woulde't even give this game 2/10,

What did you play to level 59?  If it was LoTRO, you must be playing a version that is not available to anyone else, because max level is 50.  And based on that part of your analysis being wrong, I guess we can question the rest because it must be another game you played.

LOTRO isnt the problem, the MMO genre is the problem.    LOTRO is simply an evolution, there hasn't been a revolution since EQ.  

That being said, LOTRO is currently and for the near future the best MMO available.   There is a very good chance as the story progresses, LOTRO will become amazing.    LOTRO is perfect for the gamer who wants to play an MMO, but can not devote their LIFE to playing an MMO.   The community is excellent, the developers are very skilled and player friendly.    There is a very bright future for LOTRO.

I do understand complaints about depth, but the game has only been out a year, give it some time to evolve.   I also understand the point of the world being too perfect, I too would love to take a troll and run around bashing in some hobbit skull.    I know monster play, but its not the same.  

LOTRO is lacking the fantasy that many enjoy, this is a result of trying to be too realistic and following the LOTR lore.   I wish Turbine could open up the world a bit more and introduce more spells, magic, creatures such as dragons and such.   I'm tired of beating pigs over the head with a stick.

Originally posted by tfox2k1

LOTRO isnt the problem, the MMO genre is the problem.    LOTRO is simply an evolution, there hasn't been a revolution since EQ. 

Actually... I think the last true revolution in the MMORPG market would have been EvE Online.  Albeit, I don't enjoy EvE, but it's definitely unique from the vast majority of MMORPG's out there.

Originally posted by tfox2k1

LOTRO is lacking the fantasy that many enjoy, this is a result of trying to be too realistic and following the LOTR lore.   I wish Turbine could open up the world a bit more and introduce more spells, magic, creatures such as dragons and such.   I'm tired of beating pigs over the head with a stick.

 

Otherwise you get things like... frog races? Big cat people and lizard people with flying carpets and npc's with riciculous names.

Sorry but I for one am a bit tired of the no holds barred fantasy worlds with everything thrown in but the kitchen sink.

One night I was playing a bit of wow... do so for about 30 minutes or so and then I signed into LOTRO. It was like a breath of fresh air.

The problem is that players don't want to play in middle earth. They want a fantasy world with flying dragons and "uber" magic, etc.

There is no sense of boundaries, no sense of design other than to throw something in "just because".

Oh sure, there are way to many static mobs in LOTRO that are standing around to annoy me from getting to where I want to go because I have to constantly dismount to kill them or they are just there to "be killed' But when I am on my horse, riding through the misty mountains area in a blizzard and I see the faint glow of goblin fires in the distance I am reminded as to why I actually play LOTRO.

It feels clean and pure and less ridiculous than most other games out there. Even if it does have a variety of somewhat tired MMO cliches.

I reconsider, you're right about the effect too much disconnected fantasy having a negative effect on LOTRO.   If I saw a frog flying across the map on a magic carpet, it would be time to quit playing. 

Although, what would be wrong with an elf flying across the map on an eagle?

Originally posted by Sovrath

 

Originally posted by tfox2k1

LOTRO is lacking the fantasy that many enjoy, this is a result of trying to be too realistic and following the LOTR lore.   I wish Turbine could open up the world a bit more and introduce more spells, magic, creatures such as dragons and such.   I'm tired of beating pigs over the head with a stick.

 

Actually this is  why the game is good. it is not a bastardization of fantasy conventions. It tries to portray, as much as possible, a more pure less ridiculous fantasy world.

 

Otherwise you get things like... frog races? Big cat people and lizard people with flying carpets and npc's with riciculous names.

Sorry but I for one am a bit tired of the no holds barred fantasy worlds with everything thrown in but the kitchen sink.

One night I was playing a bit of wow... do so for about 30 minutes or so and then I signed into LOTRO. It was like a breath of fresh air.

The problem is that players don't want to play in middle earth. They want a fantasy world with flying dragons and "uber" magic, etc.

There is no sense of boundaries, no sense of design other than to throw something in "just because".

Oh sure, there are way to many static mobs in LOTRO that are standing around to annoy me from getting to where I want to go because I have to constantly dismount to kill them or they are just there to "be killed' But when I am on my horse, riding through the misty mountains area in a blizzard and I see the faint glow of goblin fires in the distance I am reminded as to why I actually play LOTRO.

It feels clean and pure and less ridiculous than most other games out there. Even if it does have a variety of somewhat tired MMO cliches.

This is exactly how I feel. Very well put.

Originally posted by tfox2k1

I reconsider, you're right about the effect too much disconnected fantasy having a negative effect on LOTRO.   If I saw a frog flying across the map on a magic carpet, it would be time to quit playing. 

Although, what would be wrong with an elf flying across the map on an eagle?

 

 

Because the eagles were "people" not mounts. There is actually a post in this forum that lists several quotes from the books where the eagles mention that they "are only doing this as a favor (to paraphrase).

And only one being ever rode an eagle and that was gandalf. The rest were carried in talons.

I mean, that's the thing, this is one of the first "fantasy" settings for contemorary popular culture and actually is drawn from many norse myths among others. The original source was very carefully put together.

But players of today have been exposed to just enough dungeons and dragons along with other fantasy sources that the content seems a bit too quaint for them to get their minds around at times. Or to at least appreciate on other levels.

It's like watching old movies. I mean "really" old movies. The scenes are handled in such a way that they are much longer than today's movies, more time is taken by the actors. In several cases a scene will take a bit of time to actually "get going" because a character is taking his time down the stairs or is doing something and then after what seems a while another character will start dialoque. Older movies are more comfortable with their silences.

But it made sense back then. Today it could seem a bit precious because of the acting and the voices used (elocution, elocution, elocution!) and the pacing might be off to someone who is used to today's fast paced movies. If you don't put yourself or allow yourself tobe in a certain mindset it might be lost on you.

That is why I believe LOTRO is not really fully understood or appreciated. Because of its setting it is less bombastic, and in my words less (seemingly) tacky then some other games.

Keep in mind I like other games that have a bit more effects or wild gear, etc. But if I put those games side by side with LOTRO I can sometimes feel the heavy handedness of their content. The "everything but the kitchen sink" feeling.

To me LOTRO feels very clean. And because is sticks closely to a literary source it feels like it is knit together very solidly. It all makes sense and the composition seems very tight.

But yes, as I've mentioned elsewhere it does have its issues.

I played the trial and really gave i a go.  I have to agree the graghics were fab but it also felt slightly too clean and pretty.  Almost like playing your Avatar in a holiday post card.  I can totally understand why people play this game but it wasn't for me either.  However I think its an issue generally today with MMO's.  Almost all of the gameplay is rinse, repeat, ding! Level up and rinse and repeat again.  No game has really pulled me in big time but there are some I really enjoyed and some of the key elements I liked in those were:

Neocron - Gritty world and even the main city had graffiti on the walls and strip joints going on.  The crappiest apartment looked like something from Blade Runner.  It felt real and had an edge to it.

Jumpgate - I had some freaky moments in this game.  There were times when I would finish mining and be heading to a gate when a player pirate would show on my scanner.   Watching them get closer on the radar whilst trying not to collide with the jumpgate was pretty unreal.

EVE - I remember exploring a hidden base I had just found when a pirate had scanned my location and warped in on top of me.  Jammed me up and if it wasn't for me drones I would have been dead. 

These are just moments in time with some of the MMO's I played but it brought about a feeling that 'shit' could really hit the fan at anytime.  MMO's that move me need to have an element that everything is not all right.  Even Tabula Rasa with bases being overran by aliens changes the gameplay somewhat especially if you have a mission there. 

I am playing AoC and I am hoping to see some of these elements.  Either way Jumpgate Evo should be enough.

Originally posted by Vato26

Originally posted by tfox2k1

LOTRO isnt the problem, the MMO genre is the problem.    LOTRO is simply an evolution, there hasn't been a revolution since EQ. 

Actually... I think the last true revolution in the MMORPG market would have been EvE Online.  Albeit, I don't enjoy EvE, but it's definitely unique from the vast majority of MMORPG's out there.

we need more UO, eve, pre-cu swg games.

 I love LoTRO myself but can see where you are coming from in a way. As far as lore and magic my Lore Master rarely has to beat anything and I really think his fireballs and my minstrels shouts and "ghost swords" stretch the lore almost to the limit. Well past the limit of lore to be honest.

Bottom line LoTRO may not be perfect but it is the height of fantasy MMO's right now.

- It performs great and looks good on almost any system

- balanced classes, all classes can solo or provide a valuable service to a group

- excelent community with a good customer base and friendly mature people

-has tons of content, good PvP ( PvMP)

-excellent crafting system

- a good housing system

-you can solo or group at any level

- player generated music system

- end game can be raid oriented or not. Your choice since crafted gear is just as good

- nice fluff with seasonal events, hobbies ( fishing) , live events etc

- continuous free expansions and a paid expansion coming up this summer

Now I can find flaws in each of those points and can point out games that have done some of the points better but take all these things and add them together and you cannot find a more complete fantasy MMORPG

Originally posted by Jackdog

 I love LoTRO myself but can see where you are coming from in a way. As far as lore and magic my Lore Master rarely has to beat anything and I really think his fireballs and my minstrels shouts and "ghost swords" stretch the lore almost to the limit. Well past the limit of lore to be honest.

Bottom line LoTRO may not be perfect but it is the height of fantasy MMO's right now.

- It performs great and looks good on almost any system

- balanced classes, all classes can solo or provide a valuable service to a group

- excelent community with a good customer base and friendly mature people

-has tons of content, good PvP ( PvMP)

-excellent crafting system

- a good housing system

-you can solo or group at any level

- player generated music system

- end game can be raid oriented or not. Your choice since crafted gear is just as good

- nice fluff with seasonal events, hobbies ( fishing) , live events etc

- continuous free expansions and a paid expansion coming up this summer

Now I can find flaws in each of those points and can point out games that have done some of the points better but take all these things and add them together and you cannot find a more complete fantasy MMORPG

For instance, in the books (or movies for that matter) Gandalf or Elrond actually do "magic". It's not overused but it's there. It's almost as if it is so beyond the scope of "us" the reader (viewer) that it is not really necassary to go into the nitty gritty.

For instance, Elronds calling up the waters to wash the nazgul away and of course Gandalf's use of the phantamic horses.

That is magic. So, when a lore master calls into play his floating sword, what that says to me is that it is just a visual representation (done in an artful way) of what is going on.

Elrond is essentialy an "uber" lore master. The fireballs are science and his magic is a subtle one. It's just representation. I mean, who knows what effect