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Lord of the Rings Online - Book 12 Preview, Part One: Customization
Late last week, managing Editor Jon Wood was given a preview of the upcoming Book 12: The Ashen Waste by the dev team from Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online. Today, he passes on some information about the new visual character customization system.
Late last week, I had the opportunity to jump onto the test server for Turbine’s Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar with a couple of developers to check out the content that will be added when the company releases Book 12: The Ashen Waste.
When it launches, the free update will add some interesting new content to Middle Earth: new areas to explore, new quests including the continuation of the game’s Epic Quest line, a new Player vs. Monster Player area and more. Still though, the major focus of The Ashen Waste (and the focus of the first part of this preview) is the detailed player customization that is being added.
Customization
One of my biggest personal complaints about Lord of the Rings Online was the fact that my Champion, as he progressed in levels, started to look more and more like some kind of circus clown. While all of my armor pieces were statistically on-par with one another and with me, it looked like I had fished them out of the sale bin at a used armor store. This isn’t a gripe I’ve had specifically with LotRO though, it’s a common problem in many MMOs, and Turbine is addressing it.
Throughout these Books (this is the fourth free update, for those keeping score at home), the developers have done a great job of not only adding quest content and fixing bugs, but also of adding features that make Middle Earth a little bit more real and immersive. In the last book, it was the addition of player housing (which we’ll touch on a little bit later). In this book, it’s the ability to make your character look any way you want them to, accomplished by adding a clothing layer that serves no statistical purpose, but allows players to have their characters look any way that they see fit. Don’t worry though, my Champion’s mis-matched, clown-like (but very effective) armor will still be providing all of the stats.
When Book 12 goes live, players will notice a small but very important change to the character sheet User Interface (UI). The UI has been changed to include two new tabs along the right hand side of the picture. These tabs represent the two different cosmetic outfits that are available to players. The implementation is pretty simple… click a button to have your character wear the outfit.
Along with the new outfit system, the developers have also added in 55 new cosmetic items that can be found as drops, purchased from vendors or even crafted, though I am told that dropped items and crafted items will be “cooler” than those purchased from a vendor.
Still, while there are those who say that clothes make the Man, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that it’s the beard that makes the Dwarf, and in the name of customization and visual control, Turbine is also adding a barber shop feature that will allow players to change their hair style, facial hair and even facial detail (scars and such), for a price.
;)
;)
Barbers will be located all over Middle Earth, in the population centers. For example, you can find a barber hanging about in the Prancing Pony. The system itself is pretty straight-forward. You talk to the barber and the option comes up to make a number of cosmetic changes. This isn’t a free service though, and will cost the players for each change they wish to make.
There was one little piece of information that I wanted to save to the end. Mostly, it’s because there was one aspect of this improved customization feature that amused me and that was alternate tools or weapons. Along with the new clothing and the new looks that are available to characters, Turbine has also added new items that can be held in the hands (other than just your weapons or tools). Instead, for aesthetics, players will be able to hold pitchforks and the like, along with my personal favorite… a beer stein. Unlike the outfits though, these items have to be equipped instead of your regular weapon, and I am told that as much as you might want it to, a beer stein just won’t cut it in a fight with a boar.
Just in case you feel that paying later for something that was already available to you in character creation, Turbine has added over 50 new hairstyles (including new beards) that will be available through the barber shops.
That just about covers the personal customization additions that are being made for Book 12: The Ashen Waste. In the next part of this preview, we will be looking at some of the other additions coming, including PvMP, housing, and more.
;)
;)
The appearance customization really seems to miss the point. The people who could wear heavy armor can already look cool. The medium and light armor people are still stuck in clown suits. But now we can wear one ugly piece of armor and show a different ugly piece of armor. This system only benefits the heavy armor wearers... and they were already the only ones with anything decent looking to wear.
In their mad rush to borrow features from other games, they are kinda missing the point with this one. What they need to add is more variety to the armor we can already wear. Maybe they could make a conscious effort to come up with some light armor that doesn't make you look like a color-blind hobo.
People want to be able to make their character look COOL in an MMO. I understand efforts to make high level armor look cooler than low level armor... but I don't think there is really any reason lo make armor look cooler and cooler the heavier it gets. Not unless everyone eventually unlocks the ability to wear it. I just don't understand the motivation behind all the ugly armor... or why they think letting people wear two suits of ugly armor does anything to correct the problem.
Sure, you can put all the missed matched armor pieces you want in the Outfit slots, but you can also find a good set and dye all the pieces the color you want, then have a decent set.
You can also slot whole outfits that were design specificly for the Outfit system. The outfits they have a pretty cool looking. There are some nice outfits for RP purposes. You can also mix and match the Outfits that were designed specificly for Book 12 with pre-existing armor and cloaks.
IMO, your character will only look as cool as your imagination. I've got a level 16 Burglar that looks really cool in crafted and looted armor and hooded cloak that I dyed blue. The dye was only 14s a piece so it's not like a paid an arm and a leg to get it.
The beauty of the outfit system is that since I like that combo so much I can set it as one of my outfits when Book 12 goes live and then equip stat based armor that would be different colors and styles.
I think it's a step in the right direction in so far as giving players more control over the appearance of their avatars. I hate that itemization has become the norm for character development, but that's a discussion for another post.
I miss old school SWG where you clothing and appearance weren't necessarily indicative of your strength, level, ect. As sad as it may be, LotRO's outfit systems is as close as we can get to that right now.
Maybe one day developers will go back to skill based stuff that isn't so heavy on the itemization, but until then this is a much needed addition to these types of MMOs.
Salvatoris had said it best
"Borrow" is the key word...and this appearance tab system was already implemented in EQ2 about 3-4 months ago..and the fact remains...it will not save the visuals of the mediocre armor..So, hopefully some better looking outfits come out than the emasculating form fitting leather look
LOTRO still continues to clone the best games..
Later
Did you just totally miss my post or are you just that bound and determined to not see what's really there because of your preconcieved notions?
They created tons of Outfits that go over your existing stuff that can be bought from different places. It looks nothing like the stuff that's all ready in the game.
In fact give me a second and I'll edit this post with a link to the pictures of the new stuff. It's amazing to see people post this stuff without really looking into it.
Here's a link to a list of all the new hairstyles and the new outfits that go over, meaning replaces the outward apearance of your character:
http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?t=115004
Interesting. This may solve one of the issues I had with this game. But I still have other issues needing resolving before I quit WoW to play it. Cool looking armor was one issue, but fun classes is another. I had no fun playing any of the classes offered in LoTRO. My favorite class in a MMORPG is a warrior/mage hybrid. You know, fighting with a sword in one hand a spell in another. I play WoW in hopes that the new Deathknight class will be what I've been waiting for in this generation of polished games. One other thing WoW did better than Lotro, which is why I won't play it is the variety of starting areas and places to level. In LoTRO, I only like playing the Elves and Humans. Both have a different starting area, but meet up in Breeland. From that point onward, everyone is doing the same quests. This makes for no replay value. WoW has 7 or 8 starting areas with 2-4 different ways to level up without repeating the same content. That's at least twice as long playing time as I could get in Lotro for the same price. I look for value in my games; the cool factor, which WoW has with its armor you can get and the epicness of the world; and a sizable community, where I can find a good guild and it is easy to find groups.
LoTRO just fails in my book and by the time it is cool enough for me to play, it will be too late for it. But I am truley happy some people have found a home in that game. I was just hoping for more than what I got in that game.
Sorry for the rant.
Its amazing, you give people a way to look different and they still complain. And whats with this copy or burrowed thing people keep talking about. I love the fact they add customization, every mmo needs it. Who gives a crap this mmo, that mmo, have this system already, im not playing that mmo im playing LOTRO.
I'm just too burned out on WoW to ever go back. I've been playing LoTRO, but I don't know how long it will last. The RP value is loads better in LoTRO than any other current title.
Because they managed to come up with a system that only really benefits the people who didn't have a problem in the first place. If you wear heavy armor, you can already make your character look cool.. and now you can show the appearance of any armor in the game. If you are only certed for light armor, you can only show the appearance of other light armor, or whatever no stat clothes they add specifically for this new system. The problem of light armor all being ugly isn't alleviated by this new system... a system that someone pointed out was already in EQ2.
I played LOTRO from mid closed beta to last month, and never saw a single stitch of light armor that looked cool. Most of it looks like they were trying to make it ugly on purpose. I just started EQ2 this week, made a healer and he starts the game in cooler looking armor than the high end raid stuff from LOTRO. It's nice that are adding new features to the game, I just don't think they are addressing the actual issues with the game.
Now your Light armor wearer doesn't have to look like the gear he/she is wearing. You can equip your quested crafted stuff for the stats, but choose the way you look through the outfit system.
I really think that you don't know what the system is. At the very least take a look at the screenshots of the new outfits.
Most of the light armor hats in this game are the ugliest piece of clothing I have ever seen
This is OK system I guess thought it bothers me a little bit that you can wear heavy armor and look like you are wearing a light armor. It should work so that if you have heavy armor on you can't change the appearance to anything else than heavy, but thats just my opinion.
Some of the new clothing is really cool looking, and others are horrible. Same with the new hairstyles.
I wish the publish would go live already.
I like what I see. Some cool changes there. I think Trubine is doing a good job with LotRO.
Guess you have to have horrible hair does for people with crappy taste
Come Turbine
I allready prepared the clothes ! Even quested for that chicken cloak !!!
They really need to do something about the character face customization too
Everytime they come out with a new chapter I seem to restart my account to go play with the features.. I wish I could afford the 200$ offer for the life subscription... >.< Maybe someday. heh
I'm one of the first to say the combat and advancement systems in this game are nothing but a clone of EQ/WoW with the restricting boring class system, item-based level-based hackfest gameplay.
But this is a GREAT new addition. They should be applauded for this. You have the customizable music (already there), two outfit slots, and barbershop stuff. Housing stuff. It's actually earning the RP part of RPG.
Credit where credit is due.
I mean, did they dropkick your kitten like Hulk Hogan in the 90's?
Or, is it sincere lament for what was once called Middle Earth Online? Well, I can understand that one.
Anyway, update looks good, but I guess since I'm not currently playing, it doesn't matter too much what I think.
First as EQ2 veteran from day one I feel inclined to emphasis this is copied from Everquest II, who first invented this.
Generally its a good idea, because like many MMOer I suffered at some point from "looking like a clown" as the author so well puts it. No matter how many armor pieces you add in a game, doing quests, raids and whatnot will always put you in a postion where you have to chose between fitting look or best stats, and this is the best workaround on this issue so far. Better good copied than bad innovated, I say. I am sure this will be a new standart in MMOs like the symbol over NPCs heads who have quests got at some point.
I'm not even so worried about the look. Cosmetics can only keep it interesting for so long, I hope new quests and areas are what make book12 interesting for me.
Although one of those quivers look like a neat addition to my Hunter :)
Too bad I can't hold one of those 'aestehic only' beers in one hand and put an axe in the skulls of orcs with the other hehehe.
I do hope they will add more faces later on as well, so maybe people will have the option not to be a square jawed model man.
Only 3-4 months ago? Wow.. that took a long time. Too bad it took EQ2 years to put that appearance tab in the game.
Sounds like you want to play a Loremaster with 'Sword and Staff' slotted as a legendary trait. Add a nice enchancted pointy hat and you're nearly as cool as Gandalf himself. so LOTRO already has what you want there, and WoW 'might' if you buy their new expansion, whenever that comes out...
Also, Elves and Humans have TOTALLY different starting areas and elves don't really need to go anywhere NEAR Bree-land. Humans end up in Bree-land, which is a nice place to quest, and Elves end up in Falathorn. You can level up an elf (or dwarf for that matter) without ever setting foot in Bree, you can find all your level-appropriate quests and adventures in Falathorn/Ered-Luin etc...., and not need to set foot in the Shire or Bree if you so choose.
YES YES YES!
Gawd how I HATE all those square jawed men faces! *high fives*
Why are so many male face models like made from some jar headed action movie? ugh
Because "back then" men were all large, deep chested, broad shouldered and square jawed... didnt you know that? Men were never lanky and skinny!
</sarcasm>
I wouldnt go ripping lotro for using the appearance tab too much, considering EQ2 "uses" stuff from other games. And warcrack pretty much copied stuff from the EQ setting. Ironforge, Shadow Council... to name a few.
Isnt this new system also a clone of an existing system from EQ2?
I can't speak for anyone else, but my issue with it is that it doesn't make the armor less ugly.. you just get more ugly choices. This system benefits heavy armor wearers far more than those of us stuck in the ugly light armor clown suits... the people who actually had issues with their appearance in the first place.
echo echo echo
Well
I did see some better looking armor pieces in a previous post by Kryogenic...but the fact remains that the form fitting leotard leather pants still exist, and look girlish (I am sorry...but the men have ZERO bulge...emasculated indeed)...and it still is a copy...
The fact also is EQ2 did it first...name another game that does this...except LOTRO. It does not matter how long it took either JonMichael...as NO ONE else has even done it (lets at least give Turbine credit though for doing something no one BUT EQ2 has done).
Too sad Turbine still continues on the Microsoft path of copy everyone, innovate none...
Sorry
Later!
Can someone help me understand what difference it makes that EQ2 or WoW or whatever did something 2 minutes, two weeks, or two years before some other game did it? Who cares who did it first?
Thanks for helping my understanding.
The reason is...that if the other MMO's are doing it, then well....you have played it before, and with a type of game where you do things over long periods of time over and over...you just hope that another MMO you go to will be new and different...
Turbine did state they would not "innovate"...and they are really sticking to that mantra...
Hope that explains...
Later
hey EQ2 uses magic and swords. What a bunch of copy cats......................
No matter what MMORPG you play they've taken something from someone.
Sorry...wrong argument.
Thanks
A little over 2 years. I suppose that's not very long compared to many people. I've played 4 MMOs and there are things I like about each of them regardless of who did what first.
I couldn't care less if Windows copied Macintosh which got the idea from Xerox which couldn't have happened if IBM hadn't been what they were over the last 50 years. I don't need to be first I guess.
So, I'm still hoping that someone can explain why it matters who did what first.
EQ2 did it first, bravo EQ2.
The thing is, LotRO housing system is so much cooler. (You have an instanced neighborhood with neighbors and guild halls, rivers, parks, ect.)
The graphics and animations in LotRO are cooler than EQ2. (I know this is totally subjective and very unbiased of me, but let's not kid ourselves about the validity of the EQ2 fanbois posts in this thread in so far as unbiased views are concerned.)
The gameplay in LotRO is alot more fun than EQ2s gameplay. EQ2 is stale and boring. (Also, subjective... see my other comment above.)
As far as RPing goes, LotRO wins hands down as EQ2 just doesn't have as many tools to RP with. This isn't subjective. This is fact.
The only thing I like better about EQ2 is the hooded robes and that's it.
On the innovation tip, EQ2 didn't push the limits or bring anything new to the table. Furthermore, to down Turbine and Microsoft while holding SOE in high regard is just insane. Are you even a gamer? Did you miss all of the fiascos that SOE was and is at the center of?
It doesn't matter if EQ2 did first. The point is that the 2 systems, while similar, are not the same. If you don't play the game, stop posting about another game in the what should be a discussion of this game.
Take a look at the screenshots of EQ2 the first year it launched or read back on the SOE message boards. People were complaining about the same thing.. nasty looking armor. I played the game for a year and when I left, nothing had changed where armor was concerned.
Also, during it's first year (at least while I was playing), EQ2 was hardly innovative. They've introduced a few new things to the genre, but it's hardly been groundbreaking. In fact, at launch, EQ2 had no in game mail.
Prior to LOTRO, I don't recall any MMO that had player generated music.
Does it really matter who did what first or if a company takes a good idea and uses it to make their game better? Nope.
What matters is if you like the game, play it.. if not, move on to one you do like.
Have a great day!
True, it is a clone from EQ2. I 100% agree with you on that. But the thing is: It's a good thing to clone. The only arguably original feature (to the best of my knoweldge) in LOTRO is the music "system" (though you could compare it to flourishes from SWG Entertainers.)
As for me, I hate the way heavy armor looks in general. One reason I can't play "heavy" classes in class-based games. I like clothing, not full armor.
I don't see anything wrong with using ideas or things (general) that worked in other games. I think this is a nice solid 'first shot' at answering the cries of the customer base.