Originally posted by moosecatlol

I have no problem with the gear, I do have a problem with the massive amounts of restrictions that are applied to a free player.

If I werent a premium player a sub would be the way I would  go. There is no way I could enjoy the game as a strickly F2P player. Which is how it should be. Turbine needs to make money and if someone doesnt want to sub or use the CS with RL money then I guess they can grind deeds but thats a lot more grinding than I would want to do. North Downs, Troll Shaws, Misty Mountains and Eregion will get you to level 50. Thats around $24 for quest packs plus whatever vault and bag space you need to buy. Then either buy more quest packs or the Moria xpac.I dont see that as too expensive considerring the price of an MMO or single player game. But again a sub fee is the way I would go if I were starting from scratch.

Originally posted by Xerenix

Oh noes! They added ugly inferior low level armour to the store! I'm never gonna play the game again!

/sarcasm off

Had this been good looking, better than crafted high-level armour, i would have been outraged but not with these crappy  ones.

Regardless of whether it's low level or not, or looks good or not (Personally I think very few weapons and armor look good in lotro) this stuff shuold be part of the game. Whether it's buying from a player thus fueling the player economy or provided as rewards.

If they are going to charge money for it then there has to be a reason, some benefit.

Because if you put low level armor that gave 1 point of armor better than having no armor at all, and it was ugly and charged money for it, then no one would buy it.

At some point this weekend I'll compare it to armor of the same level and see if I can tell "why". There's got to be a reason other than "it fills a void".

Because why would that void be there in a game that has been out for years?

Originally posted by Robsolf

Originally posted by Mendel

<snip>

True, I agree.  But the thing is, instead of creating this armor, they should have solved that problem.  Either increase the output of shards or provide more opportunities to get them.  What's the limit on doing the shard missions?  3 times?  5 times?  can't remember.  THERE SHOULDN'T BE A LIMIT.  If someone wants to make 10 shard armor pieces and sell them, why not let them do it?

My big beef is the 8% move speed.  Move speed in this game is near and dear to the hearts of most players, I'd bet.  I know I've kept my wayfaring cape(like a 5th level item) indefinitely just to have that move speed.  IMO, this makes the shop boots more appealing than crafted items that have better stats.

There are 2 Sapphire Shard tasks (that I'm aware of).  Both can be done 3 times apiece.  Named elite mobs *can* drop these occasionally.  Increasing the number of drops would be nice, but that doesn't adjust the players' attitude about making them.  Part of the problem is inherent in the crafting system.  It requires 2 medium leathers to get 12 skill for a level 14 combine versus 6 leathers to get 30 skill for a level 22 combine -- there is more skill in doing 3 level 14 combines than 1 level 22 combine.  This will always 'encourage' skill conscious players (and those short of medium leathers) to maximize the crafting gains.  I agree in spirit that the restriction on the number of times the bounty quests can be done could be increased, but I don't believe it will change the crafters' mentality from producing the level 22 armor.  I don't agree that an increase in sapphire shards would increase the amount of level 22 armor.

The movement speed of +8% movement is available from a Tier 1 Jewelcrafter.  To me, that particular bonus isn't overwhelming at all, and therefore not a really huge thing.  To each his own, I guess.

I dont think you need to buy points in the beginning.

this is what I did so far and it worked really well:

played on F2P and tried 3 different characters so I could see 3 different starting zones. Got all 3 to level 20 and logged them off in the horse farm area in Bree

bought Mines of Moria off ebay at a decent prize

redeemed the coupon and enjoyed huge benefits of being a VIP for a month + unlocked all the premium stuff + got Warden and Rune Keeper

after my month expired, I had 2 000 points and Mines of Moria unlocked. this was enough to buy 3 different areas, so I could more or less take any character from lvl 1 to level 60.

I will probably have to eventually spend more money on Mirkwood/Isengard, but I don't even know if I'll ever get that far. leveling takes a really long time and I kind of like exploring.

Its not fair, but that is mmo industry nowadays. Personally, no way I will give them money for that or any other item. I will go about it old fashion way, playing the game and crafting, founding or tradeing with other players. Old school,super cool. 

I'm not happy about this either.  Once a line like this is crossed, it only gets worse.  I usually don't like slippery slope arguments but......

Geez, you guys are only recognizing NOW that Turbine has crossed the line?

They've been crossing the line for a long time now.

I said when they first anounced F2P and the Store that this was where things were heading....but alot of folks back then seemed to take them at thier word that the store would be for Fluff and Content Access only...NEVER for direct game Advantage.

Just watch, 3 years from now they'll probably be selling character levels and gear that's better then you can obtain in game directly.

That's how it works with alot of these companies....you show them that your ok with them taking an inch, eventualy they are going to try to take a mile.

Unfortunately too many of you are right. Turbine (under Warner Bros.) is in greed mode and will destroy what once was a good game. By that time I will be gone and playing something else. They are turning it into a cheap tacky Asian game.

Originally posted by kostoslav

they went too far

http://www.lotro.com/lotrostorenew

example:

 

 

Golden Robe of the Benefactor  Fine cloth robe Tier I: +92 Armour, +3 Vitality and +3 Will Tier II: +184 Armour, +6 Vitality and +6 Will Tier III: +277 Armour, +8 Will, +8 Fate and +8 Vitality

 

have to say kind of shocked but conan has been doing it a while now and so do others..i guess they though why  not us...i have'nt seen any yet,meaning i aint logged in but i will take a look when next on.ty for the heads up