If your a returning Player, who has opted not to re-subscribe don't be surprised to find out that you'll need to purchased any quests beyond bree land using turbine points. Because according to turbine you never paid for those quests.

However if you purchase Mines of Moria and Siege of Mirkwood you do get access to all those quests.

Just thought I would add, that even if you paid $50.00 for the Orginal box game, you will still have to buy those quests...

Originally posted by AriannaLiann

Just thought I would add, that even if you paid $50.00 for the Orginal box game, you will still have to buy those quests...

And where was it said that you would not have to buy them quests?  I think it's been made more then clear (everywhere) that if you do not subscribe to the game you will have to buy quests packs regardless if you bought the game or not in the past.

Sub pays for service and connection to the content.

Don't pay a sub? Pay a one time fee for the content forever.

Fin.

Originally posted by AriannaLiann

Just thought I would add, that even if you paid $50.00 for the Orginal box game, you will still have to buy those quests...

It costs a measly 17 bucks to purchase the three quest packs to get you through the 20-50 ranges.

After that, assuming you have MoM and SoM, you literally never need to buy anything else. Seems like a pretty meager investment for the amount of entertainment you will receive in return.

Quit Jumping all over me I just spent 2 days in forums trying to explain those same damn facts to other people, I'm trying to prevent anymore WAAAA WAAA POOR ME threads. Sheesh people.

New Line Cinema and Sir Ian McKellen should file a complaint. This is just a taste of where the LOTRO community is going.

"Stand aside, Frodo! Here comes XxHobbitDudexX!"

If you have not tried it out yet, I suggest you do. I resubbed in time for the head start and the servers have been packed with returning players and head start beta folks, there have even been some VERY SHORT waits in the que for my old server! Haven't seen those in a loooong time. The game is beautiful to look at, and if you are an MMO fan that can control his or her ADD the world is very easy to lose yourself in.

As for people griping about "XxHobbitDudexX" and the like, this game seems to have a built-in filter that keeps those types away, and there is already a community in place that is as a whole easily the best I've encountered in any MMO.

Just come give it a try!

@ LordDraekon

Yeah, thats the bad side of it, but there are still the RP Servers. Guys with those names won't have much fun there.

Anyone knows when the European Servers become free to play?

Just to clarify again: I bought a lifetime sub back in the beginning. So I am considered a VIP, I think. Will I have to pay for any quest packs?

Originally posted by olepi

Just to clarify again: I bought a lifetime sub back in the beginning. So I am considered a VIP, I think. Will I have to pay for any quest packs?

Nope. In fact you get 500 TP a month.

Lifetime members get VIP forevor and never have to buy any of the old content you own , I have MoM and SoM so i have to buy nothing , I also have gotten like 4000 + TP and 500 each month , Not bad really . At first I was mad about this change but i guess i have been bought , Im looking forward to seeing full servers again .

Arianna, thank you for helping clarify. Yes, even if you bought the box of the game from retail... you still have to purchase quest packs. Sucks, but really, thats my only complaint so far. Well... that and the "leveling" gift they give you takes up a ton of inventory space when inventory space is limited to begin with (very sneaky there).  

I paid for a few TP last night and bought some account-wide stuff (~$12.50 for the 4th and 5th bag slot) and I'll just buy the quest packs when I run into those areas. If I never get there... no harm/no foul. Although I will most likely purchase the lifting of the gold cap, too. Which is 495 pts (~$6.18). Everything else doesn't seem like a hinderance... bank storage is purchasable with in-game currency... and if you are Premium, you have decent access to everything, just not uber access that VIP gives, but its not necessary to enjoy yourself.

If you can find copies of Mines of Moria/Siege of Mirkwood in a game store, buy and use them. They're going to be cheaper in the game store than in the Turbine Store. Thats how I got the two expansions ($9.99 ( ~ 800 TP) deal for both expansions + 1 months playtime).

Hope this helps.   

"Finally Arrives"?

Jesus. Impatient enough?

Originally posted by cs74la

@ LordDraekon

Yeah, thats the bad side of it, but there are still the RP Servers. Guys with those names won't have much fun there.

 

Anyone knows when the European Servers become free to play?

 

Should have been today but now its anyones guess . Codemasters postponed the releae yesterday and caused a great deal of confusion and concern in the European Lotro community . Whether your a person that likes that its going free to play or not .Realistically we know if Codemasters leave it too long that most of the people interested in f2play in Europe will end up on the North American servers leaving the EU ones to die a slow death. A week or two wont make a huge amount of difference beyond that it though it will be more damaging with each week that goes by . I have heard rumour that the NA release has'nt been too smooth so maybe Codemasters will end up being vindicated then again maybe they've made a huge mistake . Time will tell .

I already bought the whole game once. For them to charge me, again, to play certain parts of it is why I'm not coming back. To expect that from the people that have already bought it is nuts.

Good game, great detail,  good ideas. I'm not paying for content more than once. Sorry you changed your business model; my money goes elsewhere.

I don't especially mind the whole F2P thing, if that's what people want-whatever. What bugs me is the interface changes that have gone with it.  The cyharacter selection screne is truely hideous now. The gold coin (the golden Eye of Sauron) down in the corner where your skills should go is very intrusive-I'm here to play a game, not shop. The little drawings in the store are pointlessly misleading. The whole implimentation is dumbed down and braindead.

Even Cryptic is more subtle.

Forget about swift travel if your not a sub, at 250pts for 60min of swift is a joke. Swift travel should be included with your purchased quest packs at least.

Originally posted by Ambrose99

Arianna, thank you for helping clarify. Yes, even if you bought the box of the game from retail... you still have to purchase quest packs. Sucks, but really, thats my only complaint so far. Well... that and the "leveling" gift they give you takes up a ton of inventory space when inventory space is limited to begin with (very sneaky there).  

I paid for a few TP last night and bought some account-wide stuff (~$12.50 for the 4th and 5th bag slot) and I'll just buy the quest packs when I run into those areas. If I never get there... no harm/no foul. Although I will most likely purchase the lifting of the gold cap, too. Which is 495 pts (~$6.18). Everything else doesn't seem like a hinderance... bank storage is purchasable with in-game currency... and if you are Premium, you have decent access to everything, just not uber access that VIP gives, but its not necessary to enjoy yourself.

If you can find copies of Mines of Moria/Siege of Mirkwood in a game store, buy and use them. They're going to be cheaper in the game store than in the Turbine Store. Thats how I got the two expansions ($9.99 ( ~ 800 TP) deal for both expansions + 1 months playtime).

Hope this helps.   

 

Siege of Mirkwood was always a PC digital download expansion.

hmm, i had MoM a few months ago, the acc ran out , so now that im returning with f2p will my acc be reactived`?

My problem wasn't the quests my problem was that to buy enough backpack inventory, bank inventory, auction posting ability, and the skirmishes to get those back to subscription levels it was going to cost me like 75 bucks.  Thats like 8 months of subscription.

In response to a comment here about buying content from a game store vs. using TP points in the LOTRO store...if you are looking for a copy of Mines of Moria I have a brand new & sealed Collector's Edition box on eBay starting at $9.99. The item number is 220665797646.

Is this free to play for Australian players? or just North America?

Australian players can play for free, yes.

I am quite surprised that they offer +stat items. Such as "Tome of Vitality" , permanantly adds 10 points to vitality, and each corrosponding tome for other stats. I thought the mmorpg communtiy would have had an absolute fit over lotro going pay to win.

Edit: I am not so sure how these work, can anyone explain? Seems that they may not be cumulitive, and can be obtained from loot.

Originally posted by SunwolfNC

I already bought the whole game once. For them to charge me, again, to play certain parts of it is why I'm not coming back. To expect that from the people that have already bought it is nuts.

Good game, great detail,  good ideas. I'm not paying for content more than once. Sorry you changed your business model; my money goes elsewhere.

Wow am I glad i don't have to deal with end users on a daily basis at my job.

I spoze I do get some dumb level 1 people on helpdesks tho.

Looks like i will not be playing!

Their web site is pathetic, there is no obvious way to log in!

Originally posted by scabbedangel

Australian players can play for free, yes.

I am quite surprised that they offer +stat items. Such as "Tome of Vitality" , permanantly adds 10 points to vitality, and each corrosponding tome for other stats. I thought the mmorpg communtiy would have had an absolute fit over lotro going pay to win.

 

Edit: I am not so sure how these work, can anyone explain? Seems that they may not be cumulitive, and can be obtained from loot.

The stat tomes are a loot drop, but are very rare, I believe.

So most people go the easy way and just spend points on them.

Okay, pre-F2P I had purchased LoTRO and both x-pacs. If I resub now as a free player, will I need to purchase quest packs?

he meant if u in past brought  mom  u need to brought them again .

Originally posted by skeaser

Okay, pre-F2P I had purchased LoTRO and both x-pacs. If I resub now as a free player, will I need to purchase quest packs?

 

If you sign into your old account as a free player, you will be considered a "Premium Account" - you will have slightly more character slots and a higher gold limit, and yes you will have to unlock the SoA (original game) side quests (Everybody gets the Epic Quests for free), but you will not have to unlock the MoM or SoM quests as they are already tied to your account. Hope this helps!

(and another way to think of it for people not clear on the idea, you were renting the game before, just like people are only renting playing time in WoW right now - with Turbine's new model people have the option of either renting or owning with different up-front or long-term costs depending on your preference)

Sadly, EU players, in the very last minutes before launch, found out that they have to wait for gods know how much longer because Codemasters (who run the game in EU) failed to adjust their account systems for the store. And, shamelessly, they keep trying to tell us that they didn't know about it until the launch day.

I foresee the same end for EU LOTRO as DDO had not so long ago.

Originally posted by skeaser

Okay, pre-F2P I had purchased LoTRO and both x-pacs. If I resub now as a free player, will I need to purchase quest packs?

Not sure what you mean by "resub now as a free player", since if you resub you're not a free player any more! 

If you resub, you will have access to everything in game while you are subscribed.

If you don't resub and want to play for free, you have access to quests in the starting zones and the Moria and Mirkwood zones - but the zones in between, you will need either a subscription or a one-off payment to access the quests for.

Ouch, i didn't know Codemasters did Lotro EU.. poor guys. Codemasters has fumbled every mmo they've touched in one way or another and always passed the buck. I plan to get a starter pack that D2D is offering which atm is 4.95 onsale 1000 points+1 month vip. Not a bad deal to try out the game with some bonus.

Be nice ppl and don't join this crap. Let wallet bros and turbine f2p die fast. very fast.

so some real game co can collect this nice IP and make some real game, real MMO.

I hope there will be soon big wave of still blue-eyed fanboyz who will see the truth of f2p.

Please, tell what "real game co." means...

Originally posted by Luczifer

Be nice ppl and don't join this crap. Let wallet bros and turbine f2p die fast. very fast.

so some real game co can collect this nice IP and make some real game, real MMO.

I hope there will be soon big wave of still blue-eyed fanboyz who will see the truth of f2p.

You mean youre upset that you cant play the game 100% for free? Turbine has been the only actual one who has made a fair and balanced free-to-play setup with not one, but two of their games. Go try games like Allods Online and you will see the difference.

I returned today to my old characters, from when I played a year ago. They are all still there, my stuffs all there, and I can hop into both Moria and Mirkwood (I previously bought them) and play as though I had never left. The only two things I am missing are swift travel and Monster play, neither of which are a huge deal to me.

Also Turbine is granting Turbine points for all previously completed deeds. So between my two level 60 characters and some lowbies, I actually had around 400 Turbine Points given to me free to use on whatever I wanted thanks to their old deeds. I used that to buy one of the Lone Lands quest pack so I can make a new character and get to know the game again,

All in all im fairly impressed.

Originally posted by bugse82

Please, tell what "real game" means...

 one that we can enjoy for itself, not to go in denial and pretend we're helping a company just to refuse to admit we're ashamed of our investments.

you know...like "those games we loved back then"...

personally i loved mario. i think it's a great game. The old one. It's cheap, fun, kept me entertained for years. Also lets look at super-revolutionary games of even earlier.

tetris

pacman

even further back...

pong

What makes them "real games" ? well they were original for one...they had emphasis on gameplay not on graphics...they were cheap, addictive, fun, stimulating and challenging.

You'll have to forgive me if I don't think a guy with a sword, a guy with a lightsword and a guy with a mace are too different from eachother.

what's a real game? look at the big things that happened in the industry. Guys with swords were "it" once too. But now we want to move on. I don't know how or where, if I did I'd be a millionaire. I'm just here to force progress.

Had to create an account just to clear up some misconceptions here:

If you've purchased the game before, had let your subscription lapse (and are not a Lifer), then you are NOT repurchasing content as some try to paint it.  Imagine LOTRO was still P2P. Imagine you'd taken break, but now wanted to return to LOTRO. Ah, but guess what, you'd have to pay a subscription fee for each month you wanted to enjoy the content.  Are you repurchasing content in this scenario? Nope. 

But LOTRO is f2p hybrid. You've taken a break from LOTRO, but now want to come back. Well, you don't have to pay anything right away. That's better than P2P right there. Okay, but you want some of the midlevel content. Well, you then have to pay a one time fee to access it, and not an ongoing subscription like you had to in P2P. That is also better than P2P.  These one-time fees are access fees that replace the subscription fee you'd be paying otherwise.

Of course if you want to subscribe, you still can do that as well.

Thank you for reading.

Originally posted by Calarand

Sadly, EU players, in the very last minutes before launch, found out that they have to wait for gods know how much longer because Codemasters (who run the game in EU) failed to adjust their account systems for the store. And, shamelessly, they keep trying to tell us that they didn't know about it until the launch day.

I foresee the same end for EU LOTRO as DDO had not so long ago.

 

 I think you may be right . I suspect Codemasters arn't happy about Turbine making the game free to play and are secretly in talks to reach an agreement that will lead to Turbine taking it over in a few months . This is just conjecture though but I bet I'm right and we wont see Lotro free to play in Europe untill they make a deal .  I thought something like this was on the cards when i read that Turbine were adding servers and Codemasters did'nt. I fear Codemasters never had any intention of releasing a free to play version of Lotro .Long term that might be a good think I would rather have Turbine anyday .

Originally posted by Calarand

Sadly, EU players, in the very last minutes before launch, found out that they have to wait for gods know how much longer because Codemasters (who run the game in EU) failed to adjust their account systems for the store. And, shamelessly, they keep trying to tell us that they didn't know about it until the launch day.

I foresee the same end for EU LOTRO as DDO had not so long ago.

Whatever. A few years ago (well, in the days of EQ) were the lag to play on a server on another continent pretty high. Today the difference is not that big and it is getting smaller as time pass. I played EQ2 on a US server for 3 1/2 years now without any problem, I do in fact get better ping on it than on the EU server.

I am not sure region servers are actually needed, I think they soon will be split up by language in the future instead.

Originally posted by OkhamsRazor

Originally posted by Calarand

Sadly, EU players, in the very last minutes before launch, found out that they have to wait for gods know how much longer because Codemasters (who run the game in EU) failed to adjust their account systems for the store. And, shamelessly, they keep trying to tell us that they didn't know about it until the launch day.

I foresee the same end for EU LOTRO as DDO had not so long ago.

 

 I think you may be right . I suspect Codemasters arn't happy about Turbine making the game free to play and are secretly in talks to reach an agreement that will lead to Turbine taking it over in a few months . This is just conjecture though but I bet I'm right and we wont see Lotro free to play in Europe untill they make a deal .  I thought something like this was on the cards when i read that Turbine were adding servers and Codemasters did'nt. I fear Codemasters never had any intention of releasing a free to play version of Lotro .Long term that might be a good think I would rather have Turbine anyday .

Codemasters have said they are opening the same amount of new servers as Turibne (4) and that the servers are ready to go up.

Why wouldnt CM be happy for F2P if it means more players and more money? They wanted to do it for DDO aswell but Atari (who was the publisher for DDO Europe) stopped it.

Turbine delayed the launch with 1 month for DDO F2P in US less than a week before launch because they were not ready.

CM dont have the previouse experience and now are forced to do the same thing Turbine had to 1 year ago.

It sucks, but crazy conspiracy theories doesnt help...

just installed it some days ago but ill remove it again before i play it.

in no way i support these kind of f2p, were you have to buy every bit of stuff.

i'd rather pay a mutch higher prize for a game AND a monthly fee before i support these funfree f2p models, that companies like gamigo, turbine, gpotato, ... try to establish in the gamers community.

give it 4 weeks free gametime with ALL content to let people see if its a game, that the player likes.

then take a monthly fee, take even a distro purchase prize, but never, never sell items like backpacks, quests or dmg stuff in a cash shop.

i say no to these f2p ripoff models

I'm looking forward to this, but i've still been waiting for any signs of life from Turbines' customer support center.

I have the game downloaded and ready to go,  but i'm still trying to figure out how to create a LOTR online account 'without' a product key.

I was able to use the same login as my D&D online account,   which is still active and payed for,  but it seems this whole switch to P2P has seriously thrown a wrench into their system somewhere.

Regarding Codemasters.  As Papadam said, they are also opening new servers, I don't know how many but I know of at least one german and one english.

In the light of Codemasters having been delayed, they have also opened up all old accounts so people can play for free.

This means if you are a former subscriber (or just had a trial) with Codemasters and you were looking to return for f2p, you can actually still return and play for free, except you still get all the old content. If I was bold, I would say that is a better deal than the 'real' f2p vresion :P

So I think it is fair to say the Codemasters are trying to make amends.

I think it is important to let people know, in the midst of all this doom and gloom :)

Originally posted by rawfox

just installed it some days ago but ill remove it again before i play it.

in no way i support these kind of f2p, were you have to buy every bit of stuff.

i'd rather pay a mutch higher prize for a game AND a monthly fee before i support these funfree f2p models, that companies like gamigo, turbine, gpotato, ... try to establish in the gamers community.

 

give it 4 weeks free gametime with ALL content to let people see if its a game, that the player likes.

then take a monthly fee, take even a distro purchase prize, but never, never sell items like backpacks, quests or dmg stuff in a cash shop.

 

i say no to these f2p ripoff models

 

You realize you can STILL pay a subscription to LOTRO and not really have to worry about the turbine store?

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by OkhamsRazor

Originally posted by Calarand

Sadly, EU players, in the very last minutes before launch, found out that they have to wait for gods know how much longer because Codemasters (who run the game in EU) failed to adjust their account systems for the store. And, shamelessly, they keep trying to tell us that they didn't know about it until the launch day.

I foresee the same end for EU LOTRO as DDO had not so long ago.

 

 I think you may be right . I suspect Codemasters arn't happy about Turbine making the game free to play and are secretly in talks to reach an agreement that will lead to Turbine taking it over in a few months . This is just conjecture though but I bet I'm right and we wont see Lotro free to play in Europe untill they make a deal .  I thought something like this was on the cards when i read that Turbine were adding servers and Codemasters did'nt. I fear Codemasters never had any intention of releasing a free to play version of Lotro .Long term that might be a good think I would rather have Turbine anyday .

Codemasters have said they are opening the same amount of new servers as Turibne (4) and that the servers are ready to go up.

Why wouldnt CM be happy for F2P if it means more players and more money? They wanted to do it for DDO aswell but Atari (who was the publisher for DDO Europe) stopped it.

Turbine delayed the launch with 1 month for DDO F2P in US less than a week before launch because they were not ready.

CM dont have the previouse experience and now are forced to do the same thing Turbine had to 1 year ago.

It sucks, but crazy conspiracy theories doesnt help...

 

 Time will tell I guess . If i said aliens had taken over Codemasters now that would be a crazy conspiracy theory ( joke ) . As I said its just conjecture but I would'nt be suprised if something more is going on . Codemasters did handle this badly they released the news to the internet press before putting out any official word so its left a lot of uncertaintly in the community . Looking at in game chat on the ooc channel plenty of people think the same thing and the other rumour going around is that Europe wont get it untill 2011 or even 2012 . Codemasters if they do intend to release free to play need to clarify the situation and give some sort of time scale and keep the gaming community better informed . Any other buisness would be condemed for acting in such a way so what makes a gaming company any different .

Join with millions of other adventurers as they explore the most complete and authentic recreation of Middle-earth ever created

how dare you how dare you. Master Tolkien shall turn in a grave. Damn you.

Originally posted by OkhamsRazor

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by OkhamsRazor

Originally posted by Calarand

Sadly, EU players, in the very last minutes before launch, found out that they have to wait for gods know how much longer because Codemasters (who run the game in EU) failed to adjust their account systems for the store. And, shamelessly, they keep trying to tell us that they didn't know about it until the launch day.

I foresee the same end for EU LOTRO as DDO had not so long ago.

 

 I think you may be right . I suspect Codemasters arn't happy about Turbine making the game free to play and are secretly in talks to reach an agreement that will lead to Turbine taking it over in a few months . This is just conjecture though but I bet I'm right and we wont see Lotro free to play in Europe untill they make a deal .  I thought something like this was on the cards when i read that Turbine were adding servers and Codemasters did'nt. I fear Codemasters never had any intention of releasing a free to play version of Lotro .Long term that might be a good think I would rather have Turbine anyday .

Codemasters have said they are opening the same amount of new servers as Turibne (4) and that the servers are ready to go up.

Why wouldnt CM be happy for F2P if it means more players and more money? They wanted to do it for DDO aswell but Atari (who was the publisher for DDO Europe) stopped it.

Turbine delayed the launch with 1 month for DDO F2P in US less than a week before launch because they were not ready.

CM dont have the previouse experience and now are forced to do the same thing Turbine had to 1 year ago.

It sucks, but crazy conspiracy theories doesnt help...

 

 Time will tell I guess . If i said aliens had taken over Codemasters now that would be a crazy conspiracy theory ( joke ) . As I said its just conjecture but I would'nt be suprised if something more is going on . Codemasters did handle this badly they released the news to the internet press before putting out any official word so its left a lot of uncertaintly in the community . Looking at in game chat on the ooc channel plenty of people think the same thing and the other rumour going around is that Europe wont get it untill 2011 or even 2012 . Codemasters if they do intend to release free to play need to clarify the situation and give some sort of time scale and keep the gaming community better informed . Any other buisness would be condemed for acting in such a way so what makes a gaming company any different .

It was announced by CM before it went to the press. They have given a time scale (hopefully by the end of the month) and explained the situation in a long post and activated old events and running welcome back week untill F2P is ready.

If some people are spreading false rumors then so be it, this is the internet.

Just check the CM dev tracker and you will find the facts.

Originally posted by Liljna

Regarding Codemasters.  As Papadam said, they are also opening new servers, I don't know how many but I know of at least one german and one english.

In the light of Codemasters having been delayed, they have also opened up all old accounts so people can play for free.

This means if you are a former subscriber (or just had a trial) with Codemasters and you were looking to return for f2p, you can actually still return and play for free, except you still get all the old content. If I was bold, I would say that is a better deal than the 'real' f2p vresion :P

So I think it is fair to say the Codemasters are trying to make amends.

I think it is important to let people know, in the midst of all this doom and gloom :)

 That's true!

It's pretty sad EU version got delayed, but reactivating "Welcome back weeks" until we get the update is a very nice thing Codemasters did imo.

K, it's the same content for p2p players, but for new players who are waiting to play lotro for free free (with quests in lone-land/ND/...), it's their chance now!:)

Welcome back weeks > F2P model

It just tickles me that the 'SAY NO TO F2P' lot are basing it seems all their 'information' with LOTRO on the F2P market as a whole - LOTRO is vastly a different system to all the easten 'gimped at high end if you don't pay more then the normal monthly sub' system.

THIS is the game you should be supporting if you don't like the current 'popular' F2P model (and Guild Wars TBH buy-to-play is also just as good), by supporting LOTRO (and DDO) 'on mass' you'll incur the 'WoW effect' again, implanting in all devs minds that if they want money out of their Free to play games then Turbine's hybrid model with the '100% playable high end without paying' free side is the way to go.

Turbine's price models are the fairest I've seen so far, so just put down your pitchforks and torches and look at their system compared to the market atm, it's a good evoloution to what we have atm, by not supporting LORTO/DDO the fleecing will still continue with the current models as just by 'not playing' you are not really stating 'how' you would prefer your F2P models to be - Turbine is currently the ideal version, it's that simple

Might as well DL this and give it a go...

See how far I get with a free account.

Originally posted by Dredphyre

Originally posted by rawfox

just installed it some days ago but ill remove it again before i play it.

in no way i support these kind of f2p, were you have to buy every bit of stuff.

i'd rather pay a mutch higher prize for a game AND a monthly fee before i support these funfree f2p models, that companies like gamigo, turbine, gpotato, ... try to establish in the gamers community.

 

give it 4 weeks free gametime with ALL content to let people see if its a game, that the player likes.

then take a monthly fee, take even a distro purchase prize, but never, never sell items like backpacks, quests or dmg stuff in a cash shop.

 

i say no to these f2p ripoff models

 

You realize you can STILL pay a subscription to LOTRO and not really have to worry about the turbine store?

please dont missunderstand me here, it has nothing to do with the game.

its only about establishing f2p models with a cash shop, that contains game elements.

it looks like games are designed to rip people off instead of entertaining them.

Originally posted by rawfox

Originally posted by Dredphyre

Originally posted by rawfox

just installed it some days ago but ill remove it again before i play it.

in no way i support these kind of f2p, were you have to buy every bit of stuff.

i'd rather pay a mutch higher prize for a game AND a monthly fee before i support these funfree f2p models, that companies like gamigo, turbine, gpotato, ... try to establish in the gamers community.

 

give it 4 weeks free gametime with ALL content to let people see if its a game, that the player likes.

then take a monthly fee, take even a distro purchase prize, but never, never sell items like backpacks, quests or dmg stuff in a cash shop.

 

i say no to these f2p ripoff models

 

You realize you can STILL pay a subscription to LOTRO and not really have to worry about the turbine store?

please dont missunderstand me here, it has nothing to do with the game.

its only about establishing f2p models with a cash shop, that contains game elements.

it looks like games are designed to rip people off instead of entertaining them.

So you think that giving stuff for free,  adding less expensive option than $15/month and even giving the option to play it completly free is ripping people off?

Interesting!

Follow this free Turbine coins: quest guide, kill guide, rep guide.

http://lotro.mmorsel.com/p/tpfinder.html?zd=Bree-land&tab=1

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by rawfox

Originally posted by Dredphyre

Originally posted by rawfox

just installed it some days ago but ill remove it again before i play it.

in no way i support these kind of f2p, were you have to buy every bit of stuff.

i'd rather pay a mutch higher prize for a game AND a monthly fee before i support these funfree f2p models, that companies like gamigo, turbine, gpotato, ... try to establish in the gamers community.

 

give it 4 weeks free gametime with ALL content to let people see if its a game, that the player likes.

then take a monthly fee, take even a distro purchase prize, but never, never sell items like backpacks, quests or dmg stuff in a cash shop.

 

i say no to these f2p ripoff models

 

You realize you can STILL pay a subscription to LOTRO and not really have to worry about the turbine store?

please dont missunderstand me here, it has nothing to do with the game.

its only about establishing f2p models with a cash shop, that contains game elements.

it looks like games are designed to rip people off instead of entertaining them.

So you think that giving stuff for free,  adding less expensive option than $15/month and even giving the option to play it completly free is ripping people off?

Interesting!

i seriously doubt, that i will get the full content for under 15.- bucks a month.

Originally posted by rawfox

...

i seriously doubt, that i will get the full content for under 15.- bucks a month.

 If you p2p(and become a VIP player), you will.

$23.34 for a gamecard (= +-12$ a month)

Originally posted by Papadam

 

So you think that giving stuff for free,  adding less expensive option than $15/month and even giving the option to play it completly free is ripping people off?

Interesting!

 I think designing raids so that you need to have bought permanent stat boosts and heal pots to get through them is a rip off, yes.  And before you claim that you don't have too; I have already been kicked out of a pug Helegrod raid because I refused to buy HoT pots in the cash shop.

Originally posted by SunwolfNC

I already bought the whole game once. For them to charge me, again, to play certain parts of it is why I'm not coming back. To expect that from the people that have already bought it is nuts.

Good game, great detail,  good ideas. I'm not paying for content more than once. Sorry you changed your business model; my money goes elsewhere.

You mean like paying $15 a month when you've already bought it?

Originally posted by zastroph

Looks like i will not be playing!

Their web site is pathetic, there is no obvious way to log in!

You mean the My Account link in the upper right hand of the page?

Originally posted by Kremlik

It just tickles me that the 'SAY NO TO F2P' lot are basing it seems all their 'information' with LOTRO on the F2P market as a whole - LOTRO is vastly a different system to all the easten 'gimped at high end if you don't pay more then the normal monthly sub' system.

THIS is the game you should be supporting if you don't like the current 'popular' F2P model (and Guild Wars TBH buy-to-play is also just as good), by supporting LOTRO (and DDO) 'on mass' you'll incur the 'WoW effect' again, implanting in all devs minds that if they want money out of their Free to play games then Turbine's hybrid model with the '100% playable high end without paying' free side is the way to go.

Turbine's price models are the fairest I've seen so far, so just put down your pitchforks and torches and look at their system compared to the market atm, it's a good evoloution to what we have atm, by not supporting LORTO/DDO the fleecing will still continue with the current models as just by 'not playing' you are not really stating 'how' you would prefer your F2P models to be - Turbine is currently the ideal version, it's that simple

I agree with this completely.  There's a few others that do a decent job, but the games are either mediocre or very quirky.

Originally posted by Kremlik

It just tickles me that the 'SAY NO TO F2P' lot are basing it seems all their 'information' with LOTRO on the F2P market as a whole - LOTRO is vastly a different system to all the easten 'gimped at high end if you don't pay more then the normal monthly sub' system.

THIS is the game you should be supporting if you don't like the current 'popular' F2P model (and Guild Wars TBH buy-to-play is also just as good), by supporting LOTRO (and DDO) 'on mass' you'll incur the 'WoW effect' again, implanting in all devs minds that if they want money out of their Free to play games then Turbine's hybrid model with the '100% playable high end without paying' free side is the way to go.

Turbine's price models are the fairest I've seen so far, so just put down your pitchforks and torches and look at their system compared to the market atm, it's a good evoloution to what we have atm, by not supporting LORTO/DDO the fleecing will still continue with the current models as just by 'not playing' you are not really stating 'how' you would prefer your F2P models to be - Turbine is currently the ideal version, it's that simple

Best post of this thread.

Originally posted by 9ineven

Originally posted by Kremlik

It just tickles me that the 'SAY NO TO F2P' lot are basing it seems all their 'information' with LOTRO on the F2P market as a whole - LOTRO is vastly a different system to all the easten 'gimped at high end if you don't pay more then the normal monthly sub' system.

THIS is the game you should be supporting if you don't like the current 'popular' F2P model (and Guild Wars TBH buy-to-play is also just as good), by supporting LOTRO (and DDO) 'on mass' you'll incur the 'WoW effect' again, implanting in all devs minds that if they want money out of their Free to play games then Turbine's hybrid model with the '100% playable high end without paying' free side is the way to go.

Turbine's price models are the fairest I've seen so far, so just put down your pitchforks and torches and look at their system compared to the market atm, it's a good evoloution to what we have atm, by not supporting LORTO/DDO the fleecing will still continue with the current models as just by 'not playing' you are not really stating 'how' you would prefer your F2P models to be - Turbine is currently the ideal version, it's that simple

 

Best post of this thread.

 

I couldn't agree more. I am normally against most F2P models but Turbine has done a decent job so far with Lotro. I re-subbed personally and was originally a founder/long-time subscriber; so for the time being, no-one will hear me complaining about the current changes.

Basically, change happens whether one likes it or not, so it's a lot easier to adapt instead of throwing temper-tantrums; wasting time and energy.

Originally posted by Kokushibyou

Originally posted by Papadam

 

So you think that giving stuff for free,  adding less expensive option than $15/month and even giving the option to play it completly free is ripping people off?

Interesting!

 I think designing raids so that you need to have bought permanent stat boosts and heal pots to get through them is a rip off, yes.  And before you claim that you don't have too; I have already been kicked out of a pug Helegrod raid because I refused to buy HoT pots in the cash shop.

 

Honestly, that is their problem, not the game's one. And probably you wouldn't have wanted  anyway to group with people who are behaving like spolied brats.  Helegrod can be completed without store items.

As far as I know, Turbine did not tweek any of the instances, so Helegrod will obviously be completed without the need of any cash shop items. Just because some group says you need them, does not mean you do.

Originally posted by Czanrei

Originally posted by 9ineven

Originally posted by Kremlik

It just tickles me that the 'SAY NO TO F2P' lot are basing it seems all their 'information' with LOTRO on the F2P market as a whole - LOTRO is vastly a different system to all the easten 'gimped at high end if you don't pay more then the normal monthly sub' system.

THIS is the game you should be supporting if you don't like the current 'popular' F2P model (and Guild Wars TBH buy-to-play is also just as good), by supporting LOTRO (and DDO) 'on mass' you'll incur the 'WoW effect' again, implanting in all devs minds that if they want money out of their Free to play games then Turbine's hybrid model with the '100% playable high end without paying' free side is the way to go.

Turbine's price models are the fairest I've seen so far, so just put down your pitchforks and torches and look at their system compared to the market atm, it's a good evoloution to what we have atm, by not supporting LORTO/DDO the fleecing will still continue with the current models as just by 'not playing' you are not really stating 'how' you would prefer your F2P models to be - Turbine is currently the ideal version, it's that simple

 

Best post of this thread.

 

I couldn't agree more. I am normally against most F2P models but Turbine has done a decent job so far with Lotro. I re-subbed personally and was originally a founder/long-time subscriber; so for the time being, no-one will hear me complaining about the current changes.

Basically, change happens whether one likes it or not, so it's a lot easier to adapt instead of throwing temper-tantrums; wasting time and energy.

+1

I used to hate 'F2P' - but this is what i said recently about DDO:

"Cash Shop:  I hate this in most games because of how it is run.  It's run by greed.  In DDO it's not.  You can play 100% for free.  The cash shop offers nothing you cannot 'earn' in game.  Simply by playing (and completing quests) you earn Turbine Points - the same ones you can buy.  So, you have a choice; buy Turbine Points, earn them or go the traditional subscription route and buypass them entirely.  This hybrid model is a winner."

http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/post/3740486#3740486

Turbine has done this right.

Oh and as for the spoilt brats... you even find them in totally free games.

I got kicked from an Alien Swarm game last week because I wasn't using the 'right' gun.

Originally posted by Kost

Originally posted by AriannaLiann

Just thought I would add, that even if you paid $50.00 for the Orginal box game, you will still have to buy those quests...

It costs a measly 17 bucks to purchase the three quest packs to get you through the 20-50 ranges.

After that, assuming you have MoM and SoM, you literally never need to buy anything else. Seems like a pretty meager investment for the amount of entertainment you will receive in return.

 

 Its amazing how some ppl think :)

A measly 17 bucks per customer that already bought the game at retail and and a couple of months or more subscription money.those poor developers sure deserve to get payed [b]again[/b] by those customers.

Originally posted by Stx11

Originally posted by skeaser

Okay, pre-F2P I had purchased LoTRO and both x-pacs. If I resub now as a free player, will I need to purchase quest packs?

 

If you sign into your old account as a free player, you will be considered a "Premium Account" - you will have slightly more character slots and a higher gold limit, and yes you will have to unlock the SoA (original game) side quests (Everybody gets the Epic Quests for free), but you will not have to unlock the MoM or SoM quests as they are already tied to your account. Hope this helps!

(and another way to think of it for people not clear on the idea, you were renting the game before, just like people are only renting playing time in WoW right now - with Turbine's new model people have the option of either renting or owning with different up-front or long-term costs depending on your preference)

Thanks for clearing that up. Doesn't sound too bad. Got the downloader going now.

They really are catering to the F2P and returning players. A lot of content has been made easy, and if you still find some bosses hard just buy the stat tomes from the store for real money and win this game, no need to waste hours earning it in-game.

Originally posted by Xerith

As far as I know, Turbine did not tweek any of the instances, so Helegrod will obviously be completed without the need of any cash shop items. Just because some group says you need them, does not mean you do.

 Um, that's just factualy wrong.  Helegrod, along with a lot of the older content, has been changed very signifigantly in that you can now scale the level of the dungeon like a skirmish.  So instead of a bunch of 65s beating on a bunch of 50s, you now have a bunch of 65s fighting a bunch of 65s.  That's a fairly substantial tweek. Yes, you can still play it at level 50; but to get any decent loot from it you are going to want to run it at 65. 

The LOTRO P2P/F2P hybrid is the best, and I mean BEST, set of options for any MMORPG I've ever seen. I reactivated an old account that had paid for all expansions and had a great time jumping in and playing. At the same time, I created a new character on that account and had my wife make a new account to play with me (she is so casual it wasn't worth the sub price in the past). Are some of her options more limited than mine? Yes. Is this a great way for her to play casually, and if she decides she loves it some day sub? ABSOLUTELY.

Games are not designed to be free, they are designed to make money. You can use the F2P option to play MOST of the game, and if you want more, you can pay for a sub or a la cart. Anyone who cannot see how amazing this is is either daft, embittered by other F2P games, or living in denial (or a combination of the three).

Originally posted by Namko

Originally posted by rawfox

...

i seriously doubt, that i will get the full content for under 15.- bucks a month.

 If you p2p(and become a VIP player), you will.

$23.34 for a gamecard (= +-12$ a month)

After a closer look at the price model, i have to admit, its alright.

As said by others, it seems its a good f2p model.

I just got very carefull about f2p models as i saw all those evil cash shop milking psychology recently in another game.

Reinstalled LOTRO and now im waiting for the EU servers coming up.

I would also love to try LOTRO on the US servers, but cant manage to get a code anyhow, just the known 14 days trial is offered actually.

It's amazing how stupid people can be because they see a word (not so different from many other real life things), and think the worst.

If someone took the time to read up on what the new system is doing, they would already be enjoying themselves. Instead, they cover their ears, close their eyes, and scream really loudly, "F2P IS THE DEVIL".

You bought the game, and got 30 days free. After that YOU PAID 15 BUCKS A MONTH to do all these quests, instances, bags, etc.

Now, you can do THE EXACT SAME THING. Or, if you prefer, you can pay (17 bucks I think was said?) once and never pay again if you so choose.  You never owned the quests, or your characters when you were not paying a monthly sub.

Originally posted by Ditto

Originally posted by Kost

Originally posted by AriannaLiann

Just thought I would add, that even if you paid $50.00 for the Orginal box game, you will still have to buy those quests...

It costs a measly 17 bucks to purchase the three quest packs to get you through the 20-50 ranges.

After that, assuming you have MoM and SoM, you literally never need to buy anything else. Seems like a pretty meager investment for the amount of entertainment you will receive in return.

 

 Its amazing how some ppl think :)

 

A measly 17 bucks per customer that already bought the game at retail and and a couple of months or more subscription money.those poor developers sure deserve to get payed [b]again[/b] by those customers.

 

I hope this is snark, otherwise you haven't internalized anything said here.  In the f2p model LOTRO uses, you are paying a one time fee for access to content, just like you'd be paying an ongoing subcription for access in P2P. You are not buying anything 'again' as you claim.

The way I would look at this type of hyrbid free to play is that its a really long and comprehensive free trial that you can play for tens of hours before you will ever have to pay a cent and when you do pay you can chose whether you want to pay a standard subscription or you if your playing casually you can chose to pay for what you want when you want . Its the best of all possible worlds .

I think its pretty cool to be honest. It is by far the best game with a free to play option on the market right now. I know a lot of people are upset and seem to be mis-representing the facts when it comes to the quest packs but in the end its not that big of a deal.

MMO's have never been about the software or the game itself; they have always been about the sub fee. Why do you think, if you have purchased the game once, you can go and download the game itself. Even when you originally buy the game you are buying the subscription key; the software just saves you from a massive download.

Think of the quests packs this way: You pay roughly $17 bucks for a one time download of content that, for a casual player, will take a good while to play through on ONE character. But now, you own it forever and can play through it several times over several months...for a one time charge versus a repeating $15.

In addition, you can wait and purchase the content as you need it. Heck, with starting over, I may not need the content for several weeks so I will wait and purchase it when I need it; instead of paying $15 a month for it even when I cannot use it yet.

I think the new system is great and is highly customizable for each player. Its about options. And if you don't like, pay the $15 fee like you always have and be done with it.

I am glad I get to keep my adventure pack and xpac content...but I still think it's ridiculous that I get nearly nothing for the $50.00 box set I bought 2 years ago should I choose to go premium. We should at least get the quest content. I can (kind of) understand if they shave back the original traits..bank and wardrobe slots ..among other things....then resell them in the shop but at the least the quests should remain. Any future content would of course be store bought. Oh well..it's their game.

Originally posted by Elidien

I think its pretty cool to be honest. It is by far the best game with a free to play option on the market right now. I know a lot of people are upset and seem to be mis-representing the facts when it comes to the quest packs but in the end its not that big of a deal.

MMO's have never been about the software or the game itself; they have always been about the sub fee. Why do you think, if you have purchased the game once, you can go and download the game itself. Even when you originally buy the game you are buying the subscription key; the software just saves you from a massive download.

Think of the quests packs this way: You pay roughly $17 bucks for a one time download of content that, for a casual player, will take a good while to play through on ONE character. But now, you own it forever and can play through it several times over several months...for a one time charge versus a repeating $15.

In addition, you can wait and purchase the content as you need it. Heck, with starting over, I may not need the content for several weeks so I will wait and purchase it when I need it; instead of paying $15 a month for it even when I cannot use it yet.

I think the new system is great and is highly customizable for each player. Its about options. And if you don't like, pay the $15 fee like you always have and be done with it.

You make good points. I just think  that if they treat the xpacs like content you have already purchased...which also come with a product key...then why is the content of the original box not treated the same way. Just my opinion that  past quest content that you have purchased should be include. Then ..now that I am writng this..I am thinking that the boxed set is included...and what we are really paying for is all the past updates that contained new quests. Now that makes more sense I guess. lol.

Something noone seems to be mentioning is that it is physically possible to get all the content in the game with out paying a cent. it will cost you time though. In DDO there were a few groups of people that were devoted to completely unlocking the game with out paying a dime. IIRC, some of them had it down to a method of making over 100 TP an hour consitently. The game setup for LotRO is slightly different, but I don't think it will be too long before we see an efficient method of making TP.

Originally posted by BarCrow

I am glad I get to keep my adventure pack and xpac content...but I still think it's ridiculous that I get nearly nothing for the $50.00 box set I bought 2 years ago should I choose to go premium. We should at least get the quest content. I can (kind of) understand if they shave back the original traits..bank and wardrobe slots ..among other things....then resell them in the shop but at the least the quests should remain. Any future content would of course be store bought. Oh well..it's their game.

Is 50.-$ what you payed for 2 years in total ?

If so, i'd say its very cheap.

Or have you payed a monthly fee too ?

You wont know, what i pumped into Anarchy Online already because i love the game and want to see it going and improving, but i have serveral accounts there anyways, so its above the normal what i pay for that game, and im very fine with it since years.

I have tried many F2P MMO's and most of them suck! LotRO, however, is different. Most F2P games just expect you to pay just to even enjoy it. LotRo is different because even if you have to take a break from paying, Turbine is still leniant and you can still do a ton of stuff.

I have to say that I am actually impressed with this F2P/P2P hybrid. As soon as I can get a job, I would be glad to get MoM, SoM and maybe some VIP access. Hell if they still do it, I would try to buy a lifetime subscription as well as the expansions.

Originally posted by Johnchief117

I have tried many F2P MMO's and most of them suck! LotRO, however, is different. Most F2P games just expect you to pay just to even enjoy it. LotRo is different because even if you have to take a break from paying, Turbine is still leniant and you can still do a ton of stuff.

 

I have to say that I am actually impressed with this F2P/P2P hybrid. As soon as I can get a job, I would be glad to get MoM, SoM and maybe some VIP access. Hell if they still do it, I would try to buy a lifetime subscription as well as the expansions.

u kidding me right ?

theire whole F2P is a joke.  Lotro store is total rip off.   The GAME IS FREE FROM LVL 1 - 16 . after that, you wont be able to accept any quest.

so you either grind mobs that gives low xp forcing you either cough up 7 bucks for 1 quest pack. or give in and get a regular 15 sub and get the whole thing open up for you.

Originally posted by rawfox

Originally posted by BarCrow

I am glad I get to keep my adventure pack and xpac content...but I still think it's ridiculous that I get nearly nothing for the $50.00 box set I bought 2 years ago should I choose to go premium. We should at least get the quest content. I can (kind of) understand if they shave back the original traits..bank and wardrobe slots ..among other things....then resell them in the shop but at the least the quests should remain. Any future content would of course be store bought. Oh well..it's their game.

Is 50.-$ what you payed for 2 years in total ?

If so, i'd say its very cheap.

Or have you payed a monthly fee too ?

 

You wont know, what i pumped into Anarchy Online already because i love the game and want to see it going and improving, but i have serveral accounts there anyways, so its above the normal what i pay for that game, and im very fine with it since years.

$50.00 is for the digital  download of the original Shadows of Angmar. Then $15.00 a month for several months off and on.(I guess since Oct.2007) on top of the expansions and adventurers pack (maybe $80 for the 3) There were some months I didnt sub. I haven't even touched any higher level content because I usually end up roaming around where I can..talking to other players and the occasional quest thrown in. My highest level character is only 23rd level..lol. Just been taking it  really..really...slow.

It's not really a free game. Many other games have tried this pay model, where you can play for free through the lower levels but have to pay to experience the rest of the content. It never works.

Actually, every game I can think of that's done this, no longer exists. The exception behind Cartoon Network's MMO which still exists (it's empty, but playable) though they opted to go completely F2P eventually.

Honestly, either go the DDO route, or stick to a subscription. At least with DDO I could play to level cap even if it meant not getting to do all of the quests. There never came a time where my friends were higher than me and I could no longer play with them.

Originally posted by BarCrow

Originally posted by Elidien

I think its pretty cool to be honest. It is by far the best game with a free to play option on the market right now. I know a lot of people are upset and seem to be mis-representing the facts when it comes to the quest packs but in the end its not that big of a deal.

MMO's have never been about the software or the game itself; they have always been about the sub fee. Why do you think, if you have purchased the game once, you can go and download the game itself. Even when you originally buy the game you are buying the subscription key; the software just saves you from a massive download.

Think of the quests packs this way: You pay roughly $17 bucks for a one time download of content that, for a casual player, will take a good while to play through on ONE character. But now, you own it forever and can play through it several times over several months...for a one time charge versus a repeating $15.

In addition, you can wait and purchase the content as you need it. Heck, with starting over, I may not need the content for several weeks so I will wait and purchase it when I need it; instead of paying $15 a month for it even when I cannot use it yet.

I think the new system is great and is highly customizable for each player. Its about options. And if you don't like, pay the $15 fee like you always have and be done with it.

You make good points. I just think  that if they treat the xpacs like content you have already purchased...which also come with a product key...then why is the content of the original box not treated the same way. Just my opinion that  past quest content that you have purchased should be include. Then ..now that I am writng this..I am thinking that the boxed set is included...and what we are really paying for is all the past updates that contained new quests. Now that makes more sense I guess. lol.

 

You are paying for ACCESS. You are not re-purchasing anything. How hard is that to understand?  How much access to the game did you have when you took a break and weren't paying a subscription? That's right, zero access. You still had purchased the game for 50$  Why not complain then?  The one time fee to access the content in the f2p model is just like the subcription fee you'd pay if you resubbed. Except now in the f2p you don't have to continue paying the access fee.  If people weren't so hell-bent on feeling slighted, they'd see what a good deal this actually is.

And yes, MoM and Mirkwood were given free access. Are you complaining that Turbine is being generous?

Their f2p pay model is pretty good actually. I play with my wife casualy, and for the price of two months sub, we bought three areas of content (roughly 300 quests), mounts, and the removal of the gold cap. Since we only play limited hours a week, It could take us 3 - 4 months or longer to go through it. We already own the expansions, so we should be able to play straight to the level cap whenever we like, and without spending any more money.

If we were to start up new alts, there would be a few gaps in low level content that we would have to grind through, but with rest xp, its not so bad. But I guess I like the fact that I can keep going back to a great game whenever I like, and not worry about wasting money on unused time.

@ gaeanprayer, nothing is free. However, if you like grinding mobs, you can hit the level cap in lotro with spending a dime.

My only problem with the F2P system is the cost of the quest packs.  If you were to buy all quest packs for the level 20 areas, you would be spending almost as much, if not more, than you would simply by subscribing for a month.

Originally posted by Dredphyre

Originally posted by BarCrow

Originally posted by Elidien

I think its pretty cool to be honest. It is by far the best game with a free to play option on the market right now. I know a lot of people are upset and seem to be mis-representing the facts when it comes to the quest packs but in the end its not that big of a deal.

MMO's have never been about the software or the game itself; they have always been about the sub fee. Why do you think, if you have purchased the game once, you can go and download the game itself. Even when you originally buy the game you are buying the subscription key; the software just saves you from a massive download.

Think of the quests packs this way: You pay roughly $17 bucks for a one time download of content that, for a casual player, will take a good while to play through on ONE character. But now, you own it forever and can play through it several times over several months...for a one time charge versus a repeating $15.

In addition, you can wait and purchase the content as you need it. Heck, with starting over, I may not need the content for several weeks so I will wait and purchase it when I need it; instead of paying $15 a month for it even when I cannot use it yet.

I think the new system is great and is highly customizable for each player. Its about options. And if you don't like, pay the $15 fee like you always have and be done with it.

You make good points. I just think that if they treat the xpacs like content you have already purchased...which also come with a product key...then why is the content of the original box not treated the same way. Just my opinion that past quest content that you have purchased should be include. Then ..now that I am writng this..I am thinking that the boxed set is included...and what we are really paying for is all the past updates that contained new quests. Now that makes more sense I guess. lol.

 

You are paying for ACCESS. You are not re-purchasing anything. How hard is that to understand? How much access to the game did you have when you took a break and weren't paying a subscription? That's right, zero access. You still had purchased the game for 50$ Why not complain then? The one time fee to access the content in the f2p model is just like the subcription fee you'd pay if you resubbed. Except now in the f2p you don't have to continue paying the access fee. If people weren't so hell-bent on feeling slighted, they'd see what a good deal this actually is.

 

And yes, MoM and Mirkwood were given free access. Are you complaining that Turbine is being generous?

Damn dude.Take a pill.   I am giving my opinion. Nothing more. I understand perfectly that the $15.00 montlhy fee was paying for access to their servers..hence..the game. I am merely of the opinion that the initial content/quests that were offered with the initial box set (sans any updates ) should be included if I already bought the $50.00 box (which is not merely access to the game...but a product itself). Having not started an alt since the headstart....I may discover that  initial content is the included  and the store packs would merely be all the updated questing.That's all I'm trying to say. I still play the game. I don't hold a grudge or feel slighted. Just stateing an opinion that you(obviously)..and yes many others don't agree with. Have a great day. Enjoy LOTRO. I still am.. despite perceptions otherwise.

Originally posted by SuperXero89

My only problem with the F2P system is the cost of the quest packs.  If you were to buy all quest packs for the level 20 areas, you would be spending almost as much, if not more, than you would simply by subscribing for a month.

 

 So pay the VIP monthly fee which gives you all this for the same price as monthly subscription if you enjoy the game enough to play it on more than a casual basis which allows you access to all the conten tbut  if you only want to play on casual basis maybe on the side of your main mmo and hit that wall and dont want to grind to get free access to that content for free pick want you want to play and make a micro payment and slowly pay throught the content at your leasure . The Hybrid model gives you the power and freedom to play as you want and never pay more than you would a normal mmo subscription . Tis pretty simple and easy to understand .

Dont believe all this f2play negativity superxero89 most of  the people that are against it don't understand that theres a huge difference between the hybrid model and the asian cash shop model or have vested interests . Truth is a lot of them are worried thier p2p game of choice will suddenly die when this game changer takes hold . Theres only really one mass appeal fantasy game that needs to worry about this movement .

The way the mmo industry funds itself is changing . I think it will not be applied to games that are a few years old but new games as well .

The furture is either the Guild Wars buy to play model or the Hybrid DDO model or the EvE earn to play model .

The Subscription model will die within a decade.

Originally posted by BarCrow

Originally posted by Dredphyre

Originally posted by BarCrow

Originally posted by Elidien

I think its pretty cool to be honest. It is by far the best game with a free to play option on the market right now. I know a lot of people are upset and seem to be mis-representing the facts when it comes to the quest packs but in the end its not that big of a deal.

MMO's have never been about the software or the game itself; they have always been about the sub fee. Why do you think, if you have purchased the game once, you can go and download the game itself. Even when you originally buy the game you are buying the subscription key; the software just saves you from a massive download.

Think of the quests packs this way: You pay roughly $17 bucks for a one time download of content that, for a casual player, will take a good while to play through on ONE character. But now, you own it forever and can play through it several times over several months...for a one time charge versus a repeating $15.

In addition, you can wait and purchase the content as you need it. Heck, with starting over, I may not need the content for several weeks so I will wait and purchase it when I need it; instead of paying $15 a month for it even when I cannot use it yet.

I think the new system is great and is highly customizable for each player. Its about options. And if you don't like, pay the $15 fee like you always have and be done with it.

You make good points. I just think that if they treat the xpacs like content you have already purchased...which also come with a product key...then why is the content of the original box not treated the same way. Just my opinion that past quest content that you have purchased should be include. Then ..now that I am writng this..I am thinking that the boxed set is included...and what we are really paying for is all the past updates that contained new quests. Now that makes more sense I guess. lol.

 

You are paying for ACCESS. You are not re-purchasing anything. How hard is that to understand? How much access to the game did you have when you took a break and weren't paying a subscription? That's right, zero access. You still had purchased the game for 50$ Why not complain then? The one time fee to access the content in the f2p model is just like the subcription fee you'd pay if you resubbed. Except now in the f2p you don't have to continue paying the access fee. If people weren't so hell-bent on feeling slighted, they'd see what a good deal this actually is.

 

And yes, MoM and Mirkwood were given free access. Are you complaining that Turbine is being generous?

Damn dude.Take a pill.   I am giving my opinion. Nothing more. I understand perfectly that the $15.00 montlhy fee was paying for access to their servers..hence..the game. I am merely of the opinion that the initial content/quests that were offered with the initial box set (sans any updates ) should be included if I already bought the $50.00 box (which is not merely access to the game...but a product itself). Having not started an alt since the headstart..may discover inital content is the included content.. That's all. I still play the game. I don't hold a grudge or feel slighted. Just stateing an opinion that you(obviously)..and yes many others don't agree with. Have a great day. Enjoy LOTRO.

 

Listen, no one is angry at you. Sorry I hurt your feelings.  But hiding behind the oft touted, seemingly unassailable 'internet opinion' doesn't pass muster when there are people who are deliberately mischaracterizing the f2p model as 're-purchasing'.  If they were to give access to all quest content for free, then how does Turbine pay the bills? That's like saying, during the P2P days, I want to play the game, but I don't want to pay a subscription because I already paid $50 for the box.  I guess what you're looking for is the Guild Wars model?  Now if that is what some people really want, then that is a valid argument to make.

Originally posted by Dredphyre

Originally posted by BarCrow

Originally posted by Dredphyre

Originally posted by BarCrow

Originally posted by Elidien

I think its pretty cool to be honest. It is by far the best game with a free to play option on the market right now. I know a lot of people are upset and seem to be mis-representing the facts when it comes to the quest packs but in the end its not that big of a deal.

MMO's have never been about the software or the game itself; they have always been about the sub fee. Why do you think, if you have purchased the game once, you can go and download the game itself. Even when you originally buy the game you are buying the subscription key; the software just saves you from a massive download.

Think of the quests packs this way: You pay roughly $17 bucks for a one time download of content that, for a casual player, will take a good while to play through on ONE character. But now, you own it forever and can play through it several times over several months...for a one time charge versus a repeating $15.

In addition, you can wait and purchase the content as you need it. Heck, with starting over, I may not need the content for several weeks so I will wait and purchase it when I need it; instead of paying $15 a month for it even when I cannot use it yet.

I think the new system is great and is highly customizable for each player. Its about options. And if you don't like, pay the $15 fee like you always have and be done with it.

You make good points. I just think that if they treat the xpacs like content you have already purchased...which also come with a product key...then why is the content of the original box not treated the same way. Just my opinion that past quest content that you have purchased should be include. Then ..now that I am writng this..I am thinking that the boxed set is included...and what we are really paying for is all the past updates that contained new quests. Now that makes more sense I guess. lol.

 

You are paying for ACCESS. You are not re-purchasing anything. How hard is that to understand? How much access to the game did you have when you took a break and weren't paying a subscription? That's right, zero access. You still had purchased the game for 50$ Why not complain then? The one time fee to access the content in the f2p model is just like the subcription fee you'd pay if you resubbed. Except now in the f2p you don't have to continue paying the access fee. If people weren't so hell-bent on feeling slighted, they'd see what a good deal this actually is.

 

And yes, MoM and Mirkwood were given free access. Are you complaining that Turbine is being generous?

Damn dude.Take a pill.   I am giving my opinion. Nothing more. I understand perfectly that the $15.00 montlhy fee was paying for access to their servers..hence..the game. I am merely of the opinion that the initial content/quests that were offered with the initial box set (sans any updates ) should be included if I already bought the $50.00 box (which is not merely access to the game...but a product itself). Having not started an alt since the headstart..may discover inital content is the included content.. That's all. I still play the game. I don't hold a grudge or feel slighted. Just stateing an opinion that you(obviously)..and yes many others don't agree with. Have a great day. Enjoy LOTRO.

 

Listen, no one is angry at you. Sorry I hurt your feelings.  But hiding behind the oft touted, seemingly unassailable 'internet opinion' doesn't pass muster when there are people who are deliberately mischaracterizing the f2p model as 're-purchasing'.  If they were to give access to all quest content for free, then how does Turbine pay the bills? That's like saying, during the P2P days, I want to play the game, but I don't want to pay a subscription because I already paid $50 for the box.  I guess what you're looking for is the Guild Wars model?  Now if that is what some people really want, then that is a valid argument to make.

 You don't have the ability to hurt my feelings.lol. It's often touted and does "fly" because it IS opinion. What someone likes or dislikes IS opinion.  Now..the only thing  that I consider a rebuy is the original box set and content as advertised as far as available areas..just like the xpacs content is available to me because I purchased it already.  Charge me for other things like bank/character slots....mounts ..unpaid past updates and future content..fine.... ..but on day one of the original launch ..after installing LOTRO...If I could go over and talk to Dwarf "X" and get a quest...then I should be able to now as well.  If Dwarf"x" was not available then send me to the store.

   I guess it's just as simple as this...though I'm not unhappy that xpac  quests are available if you've already purchased them prior(who would be)...I don't see why they  didn't follow this example and  include the base queststhat came with the original box. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of the profits they make in DDO and now this game are from moslty fluff items...weapons..consumables or quickly upgradable items...and not one time quest pack purchases. So I don't understand why deny that one thing as far as content. That's all I'm saying. I'm not screaming for people to leave the game because of one minor issue..on the contrary I've always recommended the game to anyone I could and  that will not stop.

Originally posted by BarCrow

 You don't have the ability to hurt my feelings.lol. It's often touted and does "fly" because it IS opinion. What someone likes or dislikes IS opinion.  Now..the only thing  that I consider a rebuy is the original box set and content as advertised as far as available areas..just like the xpacs content is available to me because I purchased it already.  Charge me for other things like bank/character slots....mounts ..unpaid past updates and future content..fine.... ..but on day one of the original launch ..after installing LOTRO...If I could go over and talk to Dwarf "X" and get a quest...then I should be able to now as well.  If Dwarf"x" was not available then send me to the store.

   I guess it's just as simple as this...though I'm not unhappy that xpac  quests are available if you've already purchased them prior(who would be)...I don't see why they  didn't follow this example and  include the base queststhat came with the original box. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of the profits they make in DDO and now this game are from moslty fluff items...weapons..consumables or quickly upgradable items...and not one time quest pack purchases. So I don't understand why deny that one thing as far as content. That's all I'm saying. I'm not screaming for people to leave the game because of one minor issue..on the contrary I've always recommended the game to anyone I could and  that will not stop.

I think your points are valid BarCrow.

I am on the fence about LotRO as well. I purchased the original box at release and played for a few months with a subscription. I left the game, came back after buying the first expac and left again. I feel hard done buy thinking that if I came back now as a F2A player, I'd have to buy locked content I could do at release with the purchase of the original box.

Yes, the subscription gives access in the old model, and I wouldn't be able to play at all without one, but then what was buying the original box for, if not to play all of the original content once a subscription was paid?

That's what I don't like about Turbine's schemes for returning players. Unless someone never bought the original game, it's great. If someone bought the original game, it is in fact paying for content you probably already played through with the old payment model. Sure, I could unlock it forever and ever with the a la carte method, but fact still remains that those players who paid the 40 euros or so on the original box are ending up paying 40 euros more than someone starting out with the F2A game today.

That's what I dislike about this payment model change and in my view, there is no way it can be a rational change especially in light of what you mentioned in your post with the expacs. The fact that people here are saying it's ok has me scratching my head in puzzlement. If someone loves the game so much they don't care that they paid 40 euros more for no reason than someone starting the game fresh today as a F2A player, that's fine. But don't be hard on us players who don't think it's a good way of handling things because it doesn't make sense.

I agree it is unfortunate that those that paid 50$ for the SoA box don't have anything to show for it besides Premium status. But you have to be realistic about these things, because the going rate for SoA is no longer 50$ but 5$. And 5$ for access to all the content of the original game(without a subscription and as long as the game exists) is just a ridiculous thing to ask for. I mean yeah sure its doable, but Turbine would have to get the money elsewhere from us, so we would still end up paying. Kinda reminds me of the old saying "You can have any discount you want, you just have to tell me how much you want so i can add it to the baseprice before".

Your 50$ have been spend on a game 3 years ago and you where never promised access to the content without a subscription. Its a clean slate now, you want access to the content you either subscribe again(which was the original deal you had with turbine, box + subscription = get content, they honor that), or you pay for it(which is a new way, pay for content = get content, without subscription). The difference between your purchase back then and your purchase now is that this time you get assured access to the content without a subscription. 

It might look as if the original purchase of SoA and the current questpacks are related, but really they are two different things. One was a purchase tied to a subscription(like phone companies do with mobiles), and the other is a purchase not tied to a subscription. Most people are just understandably ticked off since the current model is a much better bang for your buck. Because 50$ +15$ per month is a much worse deal than buying all the zones once for 100$ and be done forver.

But really content + required subscription is obviously something different than just content. 

Btw did you notice how i avoided the whole discussion wether you actually bought the content? Thats entirely seperate from what i wrote here, and something i don't really see gaining any ground in the discussion here(or elsewhere).

Looks like I may have been right all after all about Codemasters not wanting free to play . Can't link anything or disclose my source but if what I'm hearing is correct expect an annoucement within the next few weeks along the lines that Codemasters don't feel they are set up to deal with the numbers of people who will want free to play and the European servers being merged with the Turbine ones . 

Dunno how true this is but knowing the source this is comeing from I'm inclined to believe it .

Originally posted by MurlockDance

Originally posted by BarCrow

You don't have the ability to hurt my feelings.lol. It's often touted and does "fly" because it IS opinion. What someone likes or dislikes IS opinion. Now..the only thing that I consider a rebuy is the original box set and content as advertised as far as available areas..just like the xpacs content is available to me because I purchased it already. Charge me for other things like bank/character slots....mounts ..unpaid past updates and future content..fine.... ..but on day one of the original launch ..after installing LOTRO...If I could go over and talk to Dwarf "X" and get a quest...then I should be able to now as well. If Dwarf"x" was not available then send me to the store.

I guess it's just as simple as this...though I'm not unhappy that xpac quests are available if you've already purchased them prior(who would be)...I don't see why they didn't follow this example and include the base queststhat came with the original box. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of the profits they make in DDO and now this game are from moslty fluff items...weapons..consumables or quickly upgradable items...and not one time quest pack purchases. So I don't understand why deny that one thing as far as content. That's all I'm saying. I'm not screaming for people to leave the game because of one minor issue..on the contrary I've always recommended the game to anyone I could and that will not stop.

I think your points are valid BarCrow.

I am on the fence about LotRO as well. I purchased the original box at release and played for a few months with a subscription. I left the game, came back after buying the first expac and left again. I feel hard done buy thinking that if I came back now as a F2A player, I'd have to buy locked content I could do at release with the purchase of the original box.

Yes, the subscription gives access in the old model, and I wouldn't be able to play at all without one, but then what was buying the original box for, if not to play all of the original content once a subscription was paid?

That's what I don't like about Turbine's schemes for returning players. Unless someone never bought the original game, it's great. If someone bought the original game, it is in fact paying for content you probably already played through with the old payment model. Sure, I could unlock it forever and ever with the a la carte method, but fact still remains that those players who paid the 40 euros or so on the original box are ending up paying 40 euros more than someone starting out with the F2A game today.

That's what I dislike about this payment model change and in my view, there is no way it can be a rational change especially in light of what you mentioned in your post with the expacs. The fact that people here are saying it's ok has me scratching my head in puzzlement. If someone loves the game so much they don't care that they paid 40 euros more for no reason than someone starting the game fresh today as a F2A player, that's fine. But don't be hard on us players who don't think it's a good way of handling things because it doesn't make sense.

Finally... someone who understands what I'm trying to say without accusing me in some way...of trashing turbine. It's like you can't disagree with certain things about a game and not be accused of trying to besmirch it as a whole. I agree with your comments as well. The model works well in DDO...which was always set up as a series of instanced quests. It works for me..you didnt really lose anything ..especially one you bought all the modules/adventure packs....but it is very easy to spend money..quickly..if you're not careful.lol. Looking for sales I may have spent about $70 total for all the DDO packs up til now. I've probably spent 3x that amount on other stuff over the time I've played.

Anyway...once I start a new alt I may find that all the original quests ARE included...and only the updated quests I had access to as a sub will require re-purchasing. That's fine with me. Both this game and DDO are going to become fallback games anyway..as I have started to really enjoy AoC and Fallen Earth....and then there is DCUO and SW:TOR coming . The latter of which will likley be my new perma-game. Then theres the WOW expansion coming...but I am really having a hard time imagining I will even bother..though I have enjoyed myself with WOW...I think it's run it's course .Who knows...so much to do so little time.

In the end I must welcome the turbine free2play models...because there will always be at least 2 MMOs I can play for free and actually enjoy ( that is to say...I will have 2 F2p MMos to play once I re-purchase the LOTRO SOA quests.).

Originally posted by Rocketeer

I agree it is unfortunate that those that paid 50$ for the SoA box don't have anything to show for it besides Premium status. But you have to be realistic about these things, because the going rate for SoA is no longer 50$ but 5$. And 5$ for access to all the content of the original game(without a subscription and as long as the game exists) is just a ridiculous thing to ask for. I mean yeah sure its doable, but Turbine would have to get the money elsewhere from us, so we would still end up paying. Kinda reminds me of the old saying "You can have any discount you want, you just have to tell me how much you want so i can add it to the baseprice before".

Your 50$ have been spend on a game 3 years ago and you where never promised access to the content without a subscription. Its a clean slate now, you want access to the content you either subscribe again(which was the original deal you had with turbine, box + subscription = get content, they honor that), or you pay for it(which is a new way, pay for content = get content, without subscription). The difference between your purchase back then and your purchase now is that this time you get assured access to the content without a subscription.

 

It might look as if the original purchase of SoA and the current questpacks are related, but really they are two different things. One was a purchase tied to a subscription(like phone companies do with mobiles), and the other is a purchase not tied to a subscription. Most people are just understandably ticked off since the current model is a much better bang for your buck. Because 50$ +15$ per month is a much worse deal than buying all the zones once for 100$ and be done forver.

But really content + required subscription is obviously something different than just content.

 

Btw did you notice how i avoided the whole discussion wether you actually bought the content? Thats entirely seperate from what i wrote here, and something i don't really see gaining any ground in the discussion here(or elsewhere).

Very good points. My posts have always been based purely on my dislike of one minor aspect of how Turbine counts te original...out of the box..quests from SOA.  I still love the game and realize they can't actually just give it all away for free..despite the F2P changeover. I know I will likely go back and gobble up all the quests..just to know they will be there whenever I log on to enjoy LOTRO again...which I hope I will be capable of doing for years to come.

what a rip off !!!!    

Are there booby sliders on the female toons?

Originally posted by seabeast

Are there booby sliders on the female toons?

I heard that they're adding them for the female dwarves only.

Originally posted by BarCrow

Originally posted by Dredphyre

Originally posted by BarCrow

Originally posted by Dredphyre

Originally posted by BarCrow

Originally posted by Elidien

I think its pretty cool to be honest. It is by far the best game with a free to play option on the market right now. I know a lot of people are upset and seem to be mis-representing the facts when it comes to the quest packs but in the end its not that big of a deal.

MMO's have never been about the software or the game itself; they have always been about the sub fee. Why do you think, if you have purchased the game once, you can go and download the game itself. Even when you originally buy the game you are buying the subscription key; the software just saves you from a massive download.

Think of the quests packs this way: You pay roughly $17 bucks for a one time download of content that, for a casual player, will take a good while to play through on ONE character. But now, you own it forever and can play through it several times over several months...for a one time charge versus a repeating $15.

In addition, you can wait and purchase the content as you need it. Heck, with starting over, I may not need the content for several weeks so I will wait and purchase it when I need it; instead of paying $15 a month for it even when I cannot use it yet.

I think the new system is great and is highly customizable for each player. Its about options. And if you don't like, pay the $15 fee like you always have and be done with it.

You make good points. I just think that if they treat the xpacs like content you have already purchased...which also come with a product key...then why is the content of the original box not treated the same way. Just my opinion that past quest content that you have purchased should be include. Then ..now that I am writng this..I am thinking that the boxed set is included...and what we are really paying for is all the past updates that contained new quests. Now that makes more sense I guess. lol.

 

You are paying for ACCESS. You are not re-purchasing anything. How hard is that to understand? How much access to the game did you have when you took a break and weren't paying a subscription? That's right, zero access. You still had purchased the game for 50$ Why not complain then? The one time fee to access the content in the f2p model is just like the subcription fee you'd pay if you resubbed. Except now in the f2p you don't have to continue paying the access fee. If people weren't so hell-bent on feeling slighted, they'd see what a good deal this actually is.

 

And yes, MoM and Mirkwood were given free access. Are you complaining that Turbine is being generous?

Damn dude.Take a pill.   I am giving my opinion. Nothing more. I understand perfectly that the $15.00 montlhy fee was paying for access to their servers..hence..the game. I am merely of the opinion that the initial content/quests that were offered with the initial box set (sans any updates ) should be included if I already bought the $50.00 box (which is not merely access to the game...but a product itself). Having not started an alt since the headstart..may discover inital content is the included content.. That's all. I still play the game. I don't hold a grudge or feel slighted. Just stateing an opinion that you(obviously)..and yes many others don't agree with. Have a great day. Enjoy LOTRO.

 

Listen, no one is angry at you. Sorry I hurt your feelings.  But hiding behind the oft touted, seemingly unassailable 'internet opinion' doesn't pass muster when there are people who are deliberately mischaracterizing the f2p model as 're-purchasing'.  If they were to give access to all quest content for free, then how does Turbine pay the bills? That's like saying, during the P2P days, I want to play the game, but I don't want to pay a subscription because I already paid $50 for the box.  I guess what you're looking for is the Guild Wars model?  Now if that is what some people really want, then that is a valid argument to make.

 You don't have the ability to hurt my feelings.lol. It's often touted and does "fly" because it IS opinion. What someone likes or dislikes IS opinion.  Now..the only thing  that I consider a rebuy is the original box set and content as advertised as far as available areas..just like the xpacs content is available to me because I purchased it already.  Charge me for other things like bank/character slots....mounts ..unpaid past updates and future content..fine.... ..but on day one of the original launch ..after installing LOTRO...If I could go over and talk to Dwarf "X" and get a quest...then I should be able to now as well.  If Dwarf"x" was not available then send me to the store.

   I guess it's just as simple as this...though I'm not unhappy that xpac  quests are available if you've already purchased them prior(who would be)...I don't see why they  didn't follow this example and  include the base queststhat came with the original box. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of the profits they make in DDO and now this game are from moslty fluff items...weapons..consumables or quickly upgradable items...and not one time quest pack purchases. So I don't understand why deny that one thing as far as content. That's all I'm saying. I'm not screaming for people to leave the game because of one minor issue..on the contrary I've always recommended the game to anyone I could and  that will not stop.

 

Originally posted by BarCrow

Originally posted by Dredphyre

Originally posted by BarCrow

Originally posted by Dredphyre

Originally posted by BarCrow

Originally posted by Elidien

I think its pretty cool to be honest. It is by far the best game with a free to play option on the market right now. I know a lot of people are upset and seem to be mis-representing the facts when it comes to the quest packs but in the end its not that big of a deal.

MMO's have never been about the software or the game itself; they have always been about the sub fee. Why do you think, if you have purchased the game once, you can go and download the game itself. Even when you originally buy the game you are buying the subscription key; the software just saves you from a massive download.

Think of the quests packs this way: You pay roughly $17 bucks for a one time download of content that, for a casual player, will take a good while to play through on ONE character. But now, you own it forever and can play through it several times over several months...for a one time charge versus a repeating $15.

In addition, you can wait and purchase the content as you need it. Heck, with starting over, I may not need the content for several weeks so I will wait and purchase it when I need it; instead of paying $15 a month for it even when I cannot use it yet.

I think the new system is great and is highly customizable for each player. Its about options. And if you don't like, pay the $15 fee like you always have and be done with it.

You make good points. I just think that if they treat the xpacs like content you have already purchased...which also come with a product key...then why is the content of the original box not treated the same way. Just my opinion that past quest content that you have purchased should be include. Then ..now that I am writng this..I am thinking that the boxed set is included...and what we are really paying for is all the past updates that contained new quests. Now that makes more sense I guess. lol.

 

You are paying for ACCESS. You are not re-purchasing anything. How hard is that to understand? How much access to the game did you have when you took a break and weren't paying a subscription? That's right, zero access. You still had purchased the game for 50$ Why not complain then? The one time fee to access the content in the f2p model is just like the subcription fee you'd pay if you resubbed. Except now in the f2p you don't have to continue paying the access fee. If people weren't so hell-bent on feeling slighted, they'd see what a good deal this actually is.

 

And yes, MoM and Mirkwood were given free access. Are you complaining that Turbine is being generous?

Damn dude.Take a pill.   I am giving my opinion. Nothing more. I understand perfectly that the $15.00 montlhy fee was paying for access to their servers..hence..the game. I am merely of the opinion that the initial content/quests that were offered with the initial box set (sans any updates ) should be included if I already bought the $50.00 box (which is not merely access to the game...but a product itself). Having not started an alt since the headstart..may discover inital content is the included content.. That's all. I still play the game. I don't hold a grudge or feel slighted. Just stateing an opinion that you(obviously)..and yes many others don't agree with. Have a great day. Enjoy LOTRO.

 

Listen, no one is angry at you. Sorry I hurt your feelings.  But hiding behind the oft touted, seemingly unassailable 'internet opinion' doesn't pass muster when there are people who are deliberately mischaracterizing the f2p model as 're-purchasing'.  If they were to give access to all quest content for free, then how does Turbine pay the bills? That's like saying, during the P2P days, I want to play the game, but I don't want to pay a subscription because I already paid $50 for the box.  I guess what you're looking for is the Guild Wars model?  Now if that is what some people really want, then that is a valid argument to make.

 You don't have the ability to hurt my feelings.lol. It's often touted and does "fly" because it IS opinion. What someone likes or dislikes IS opinion.  Now..the only thing  that I consider a rebuy is the original box set and content as advertised as far as available areas..just like the xpacs content is available to me because I purchased it already.  Charge me for other things like bank/character slots....mounts ..unpaid past updates and future content..fine.... ..but on day one of the original launch ..after installing LOTRO...If I could go over and talk to Dwarf "X" and get a quest...then I should be able to now as well.  If Dwarf"x" was not available then send me to the store.

   I guess it's just as simple as this...though I'm not unhappy that xpac  quests are available if you've already purchased them prior(who would be)...I don't see why they  didn't follow this example and  include the base queststhat came with the original box. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of the profits they make in DDO and now this game are from moslty fluff items...weapons..consumables or quickly upgradable items...and not one time quest pack purchases. So I don't understand why deny that one thing as far as content. That's all I'm saying. I'm not screaming for people to leave the game because of one minor issue..on the contrary I've always recommended the game to anyone I could and  that will not stop.

 

Sure what you like and dislike is opinion. Trying to characterize the mid-level content as a re-purchase, however, is not opinion, and in fact is a distortion -- sort of like when people have the opinion that lunar landings never occured. Both opinions are factually wrong. Now I guess you can STILL believe falsehoods, but then there's no point in discussing further.

What you fail to realize is that buying the box at $50 wasn't enough after the first month. You also had to buy access in the form of a subscription. The new f2p model replaces that subscription access fee with a one-time access fee.  You are in no way repurchasing content, no more than you would be repurchasing content under subscription.

Originally posted by Dredphyre

Originally posted by BarCrow

Originally posted by Dredphyre

Originally posted by BarCrow

Originally posted by Dredphyre

Originally posted by BarCrow

Originally posted by Elidien

I think its pretty cool to be honest. It is by far the best game with a free to play option on the market right now. I know a lot of people are upset and seem to be mis-representing the facts when it comes to the quest packs but in the end its not that big of a deal.

MMO's have never been about the software or the game itself; they have always been about the sub fee. Why do you think, if you have purchased the game once, you can go and download the game itself. Even when you originally buy the game you are buying the subscription key; the software just saves you from a massive download.

Think of the quests packs this way: You pay roughly $17 bucks for a one time download of content that, for a casual player, will take a good while to play through on ONE character. But now, you own it forever and can play through it several times over several months...for a one time charge versus a repeating $15.

In addition, you can wait and purchase the content as you need it. Heck, with starting over, I may not need the content for several weeks so I will wait and purchase it when I need it; instead of paying $15 a month for it even when I cannot use it yet.

I think the new system is great and is highly customizable for each player. Its about options. And if you don't like, pay the $15 fee like you always have and be done with it.

You make good points. I just think that if they treat the xpacs like content you have already purchased...which also come with a product key...then why is the content of the original box not treated the same way. Just my opinion that past quest content that you have purchased should be include. Then ..now that I am writng this..I am thinking that the boxed set is included...and what we are really paying for is all the past updates that contained new quests. Now that makes more sense I guess. lol.

 

You are paying for ACCESS. You are not re-purchasing anything. How hard is that to understand? How much access to the game did you have when you took a break and weren't paying a subscription? That's right, zero access. You still had purchased the game for 50$ Why not complain then? The one time fee to access the content in the f2p model is just like the subcription fee you'd pay if you resubbed. Except now in the f2p you don't have to continue paying the access fee. If people weren't so hell-bent on feeling slighted, they'd see what a good deal this actually is.

 

And yes, MoM and Mirkwood were given free access. Are you complaining that Turbine is being generous?

Damn dude.Take a pill.   I am giving my opinion. Nothing more. I understand perfectly that the $15.00 montlhy fee was paying for access to their servers..hence..the game. I am merely of the opinion that the initial content/quests that were offered with the initial box set (sans any updates ) should be included if I already bought the $50.00 box (which is not merely access to the game...but a product itself). Having not started an alt since the headstart..may discover inital content is the included content.. That's all. I still play the game. I don't hold a grudge or feel slighted. Just stateing an opinion that you(obviously)..and yes many others don't agree with. Have a great day. Enjoy LOTRO.

 

Listen, no one is angry at you. Sorry I hurt your feelings.  But hiding behind the oft touted, seemingly unassailable 'internet opinion' doesn't pass muster when there are people who are deliberately mischaracterizing the f2p model as 're-purchasing'.  If they were to give access to all quest content for free, then how does Turbine pay the bills? That's like saying, during the P2P days, I want to play the game, but I don't want to pay a subscription because I already paid $50 for the box.  I guess what you're looking for is the Guild Wars model?  Now if that is what some people really want, then that is a valid argument to make.

 You don't have the ability to hurt my feelings.lol. It's often touted and does "fly" because it IS opinion. What someone likes or dislikes IS opinion.  Now..the only thing  that I consider a rebuy is the original box set and content as advertised as far as available areas..just like the xpacs content is available to me because I purchased it already.  Charge me for other things like bank/character slots....mounts ..unpaid past updates and future content..fine.... ..but on day one of the original launch ..after installing LOTRO...If I could go over and talk to Dwarf "X" and get a quest...then I should be able to now as well.  If Dwarf"x" was not available then send me to the store.

   I guess it's just as simple as this...though I'm not unhappy that xpac  quests are available if you've already purchased them prior(who would be)...I don't see why they  didn't follow this example and  include the base queststhat came with the original box. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of the profits they make in DDO and now this game are from moslty fluff items...weapons..consumables or quickly upgradable items...and not one time quest pack purchases. So I don't understand why deny that one thing as far as content. That's all I'm saying. I'm not screaming for people to leave the game because of one minor issue..on the contrary I've always recommended the game to anyone I could and  that will not stop.

 

Sure what you like and dislike is opinion. Trying to characterize the mid-level content as a re-purchase, however, is not opinion, and in fact is a distortion -- sort of like when people have the opinion that lunar landings never occured. Both opinions are factually wrong. Now I guess you can STILL believe falsehoods, but then there's no point in discussing further.

What you fail to realize is that buying the box at $50 wasn't enough after the first month. You also had to buy access in the form of a subscription. The new f2p model replaces that subscription access fee with a one-time access fee.  You are in no way repurchasing content, no more than you would be repurchasing content under subscription.

Ok man.... You have your ideas on what the $50.00 inital box included ... I have mine and the EULA can allow it to mean anything  at any time regardless. No problem. We'll continue to play an excellent  game ..whatever account type we choose. Have a great time.

Just in-case some of you might have missed this, this giveaway is still applicable to your account.

http://www.mmorpg.com/giveaways.cfm/offer/25

I'm confused on this quest pack thing.  I hate questing, so what if I just want to grind mobs to level?  Is that somehow impossible in LOTRO?

Originally posted by prototypo

Just in-case some of you might have missed this, this giveaway is still applicable to your account.

http://www.mmorpg.com/giveaways.cfm/offer/25

  Ah thanks, totally forgot about that key, just used and it still worked. :D~

Originally posted by dreamscaper

Originally posted by seabeast

Are there booby sliders on the female toons?

 

I heard that they're adding them for the female dwarves only.

But, everyone knows that there ARE no dwarf women, and that dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground! 

Originally posted by dlunas

Originally posted by dreamscaper

Originally posted by seabeast

Are there booby sliders on the female toons?

 

I heard that they're adding them for the female dwarves only.

But, everyone knows that there ARE no dwarf women, and that dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground! 

 Will the Dwarve female toons have booby sliders?

Originally posted by Madimorga

I'm confused on this quest pack thing.  I hate questing, so what if I just want to grind mobs to level?  Is that somehow impossible in LOTRO?

F2P LotrO will be perfect for you :)

Originally posted by Dredphyre

Sure what you like and dislike is opinion. Trying to characterize the mid-level content as a re-purchase, however, is not opinion, and in fact is a distortion -- sort of like when people have the opinion that lunar landings never occured. Both opinions are factually wrong. Now I guess you can STILL believe falsehoods, but then there's no point in discussing further.

What you fail to realize is that buying the box at $50 wasn't enough after the first month. You also had to buy access in the form of a subscription. The new f2p model replaces that subscription access fee with a one-time access fee.  You are in no way repurchasing content, no more than you would be repurchasing content under subscription.

The mid-level content now being locked for returning players who go Premium is not a re-purchase in the sense that those who bought the box in fact OWNED the content. We do not ever own the content, even if we go the a la carte method and buy the adventure packs. We don't even own our characters.

Through payment, we get the right to access the servers and the content.

The problem comes from the fact that Turbine has changed its payment plans three years into the game that does not really lend itself to being butchered up in this way. This bothers me because I don't like it when companies make changes to their payment plans on this scale and in this fashion. It's similar to when cable companies take channels away from subscription packs you get with them and then ask you to buy another package to get the channels you once had.

Is it legal? Yes. Is it good business practice? I guess it is for the company but for the customer it doesn't seem to be that great. What happens if Turbine decides to change other things and makes you pay for accessing old content again in those new changes?

In comparison, despite a lot of stuff being restritced on the EQ2X bronze and silver memberships, everyone has access to levels 1-80. No one is missing content for levels 30-50 or some such. People are inticed to pay for removing restrictions from bronze/silver characters to make the game easier. I prefer the model of EQ2X at the moment over Turbine's in that sense. Yes there are other issues with EQ2X that I like less than Turbine's proposed shop, but that's a different post for a different day.

Originally posted by Papadam

Originally posted by Madimorga

I'm confused on this quest pack thing.  I hate questing, so what if I just want to grind mobs to level?  Is that somehow impossible in LOTRO?

F2P LotrO will be perfect for you :)

You mean by NOT paying, I get to avoid the thing I hate most in MMOs? 

*Rubs hands together and smiles* 

*Makes plans to buy bagspace out of sheer gratitude*

Originally posted by Robokapp

Originally posted by bugse82

Please, tell what "real game" means...

 one that we can enjoy for itself, not to go in denial and pretend we're helping a company just to refuse to admit we're ashamed of our investments.

 

you know...like "those games we loved back then"...

 

personally i loved mario. i think it's a great game. The old one. It's cheap, fun, kept me entertained for years. Also lets look at super-revolutionary games of even earlier.

 

tetris

pacman

 

even further back...

 

pong

 

What makes them "real games" ? well they were original for one...they had emphasis on gameplay not on graphics...they were cheap, addictive, fun, stimulating and challenging.

You'll have to forgive me if I don't think a guy with a sword, a guy with a lightsword and a guy with a mace are too different from eachother.

 

what's a real game? look at the big things that happened in the industry. Guys with swords were "it" once too. But now we want to move on. I don't know how or where, if I did I'd be a millionaire. I'm just here to force progress.

 

    Basically then you are on the wrong web site (MMORPG) and if you are playing LotRO you are playing the wrong game for you. LoTRO is a MMO-RPG, what part of that don't you understand? The games you listed as examples are "NOT". Get a clue.

Originally posted by MurlockDance

Originally posted by Dredphyre

Sure what you like and dislike is opinion. Trying to characterize the mid-level content as a re-purchase, however, is not opinion, and in fact is a distortion -- sort of like when people have the opinion that lunar landings never occured. Both opinions are factually wrong. Now I guess you can STILL believe falsehoods, but then there's no point in discussing further.

What you fail to realize is that buying the box at $50 wasn't enough after the first month. You also had to buy access in the form of a subscription. The new f2p model replaces that subscription access fee with a one-time access fee.  You are in no way repurchasing content, no more than you would be repurchasing content under subscription.

The mid-level content now being locked for returning players who go Premium is not a re-purchase in the sense that those who bought the box in fact OWNED the content. We do not ever own the content, even if we go the a la carte method and buy the adventure packs. We don't even own our characters.

Through payment, we get the right to access the servers and the content.

The problem comes from the fact that Turbine has changed its payment plans three years into the game that does not really lend itself to being butchered up in this way. This bothers me because I don't like it when companies make changes to their payment plans on this scale and in this fashion. It's similar to when cable companies take channels away from subscription packs you get with them and then ask you to buy another package to get the channels you once had.

Is it legal? Yes. Is it good business practice? I guess it is for the company but for the customer it doesn't seem to be that great. What happens if Turbine decides to change other things and makes you pay for accessing old content again in those new changes?

In comparison, despite a lot of stuff being restritced on the EQ2X bronze and silver memberships, everyone has access to levels 1-80. No one is missing content for levels 30-50 or some such. People are inticed to pay for removing restrictions from bronze/silver characters to make the game easier. I prefer the model of EQ2X at the moment over Turbine's in that sense. Yes there are other issues with EQ2X that I like less than Turbine's proposed shop, but that's a different post for a different day.

 It's funny you mentioned the cable comparison..because that happened to me last month...which is part of what led me to my original post. Right in the middle of watching a HOUSE marathon on Sleuth channel (VERIZON FIOS)...ok..i'm a loser..but the show rocks...the show cuts off and a message says I do not subscribe to the channel. I've had the channel on my package for about 2 years. Customer Service tells me exactly what you stated and offered to re-bundle my package...at a cheaper rate. Translation: We'll give you a good rate with the new bundle on a new 2yr contract(my original contract expired) then when the discount runs out..which is only for a limited time...they jack the price even higher than anything I paid prior. It's bullshit and it's happening with more and more businesses..not just mmos and cable companies. The workers and consumers of this country have less and less rights every day. Just my opinion.

Originally posted by MurlockDance

Originally posted by Dredphyre

Sure what you like and dislike is opinion. Trying to characterize the mid-level content as a re-purchase, however, is not opinion, and in fact is a distortion -- sort of like when people have the opinion that lunar landings never occured. Both opinions are factually wrong. Now I guess you can STILL believe falsehoods, but then there's no point in discussing further.

What you fail to realize is that buying the box at $50 wasn't enough after the first month. You also had to buy access in the form of a subscription. The new f2p model replaces that subscription access fee with a one-time access fee.  You are in no way repurchasing content, no more than you would be repurchasing content under subscription.

The mid-level content now being locked for returning players who go Premium is not a re-purchase in the sense that those who bought the box in fact OWNED the content. We do not ever own the content, even if we go the a la carte method and buy the adventure packs. We don't even own our characters.

Through payment, we get the right to access the servers and the content.

The problem comes from the fact that Turbine has changed its payment plans three years into the game that does not really lend itself to being butchered up in this way. This bothers me because I don't like it when companies make changes to their payment plans on this scale and in this fashion. It's similar to when cable companies take channels away from subscription packs you get with them and then ask you to buy another package to get the channels you once had.

Is it legal? Yes. Is it good business practice? I guess it is for the company but for the customer it doesn't seem to be that great. What happens if Turbine decides to change other things and makes you pay for accessing old content again in those new changes?

In comparison, despite a lot of stuff being restritced on the EQ2X bronze and silver memberships, everyone has access to levels 1-80. No one is missing content for levels 30-50 or some such. People are inticed to pay for removing restrictions from bronze/silver characters to make the game easier. I prefer the model of EQ2X at the moment over Turbine's in that sense. Yes there are other issues with EQ2X that I like less than Turbine's proposed shop, but that's a different post for a different day.

How is it being butchered?  You say it so vaguely that I don't know which part you're even talking about.  You say the payment plan has chenged so much?  You can still subscribe just the same way you have always been able to.

Originally posted by dlunas

How is it being butchered?  You say it so vaguely that I don't know which part you're even talking about.  You say the payment plan has chenged so much?  You can still subscribe just the same way you have always been able to.

Just think about it a little bit: the game is getting cut up for F2A players or people on Premium memberships. I'm not talking about people who subscribe. I never meant people who subscribe if you reread my posts.

Someone who has bought the original box + expacs but goes Premium will have the entire middle part of their content locked. They'll have to rebuy it piece-meal or work for it through Turbine points or whatever. There is no natural flow through one area to the next in the original areas of the game unless you subscribe.

Considering that LotRO was designed with the intent of being an immersive world, I think that locking content in such a way, compelling F2A or Premium players to go through the cash shop goes counter to that.

It is a break of spirit and I fear that the F2A carrot-on-stick will compel more players to opt for this style of play over immersion and RPG-like worlds.

Originally posted by MurlockDance

Originally posted by dlunas

How is it being butchered?  You say it so vaguely that I don't know which part you're even talking about.  You say the payment plan has chenged so much?  You can still subscribe just the same way you have always been able to.

Just think about it a little bit: the game is getting cut up for F2A players or people on Premium memberships. I'm not talking about people who subscribe. I never meant people who subscribe if you reread my posts.

Someone who has bought the original box + expacs but goes Premium will have the entire middle part of their content locked. They'll have to rebuy it piece-meal or work for it through Turbine points or whatever. There is no natural flow through one area to the next in the original areas of the game unless you subscribe.

Considering that LotRO was designed with the intent of being an immersive world, I think that locking content in such a way, compelling F2A or Premium players to go through the cash shop goes counter to that.

It is a break of spirit and I fear that the F2A carrot-on-stick will compel more players to opt for this style of play over immersion and RPG-like worlds.

If you're not talking about subscribing players, then there's nothing being butchered, as the game was only available to them before the change.

You don't go premium, premium is simply an account that has subscribed or spent money on the game at some point, as opposed to an account that has never spent anything.  There comes certain small perks once that happens.  Even those of us that bought the original box aren't re-buying anything, so much as paying a one time, subscription fee to permanently unlock that content.  So, yes, the full experience of the flow is restricted to subscribers or those who drop a little more than a single month's price to unlock them.  The epic quests are apparently available for everyone, just not all the stuff on the side.

The game still felt as immersive up to the point that I played during beta.  What would you suggest to improve upon the model to prevent the de-immersion?  ...why the hell is immersive show up as misspelled?  That's annoying the hell out of me.

I don't really think it is a break of spirit to allow players to experience the first chunk of the game, the entire epic story quests and much of the gameplay, but not the mid-level side stuff.

Originally posted by Liljna

Regarding Codemasters.  As Papadam said, they are also opening new servers, I don't know how many but I know of at least one german and one english.

In the light of Codemasters having been delayed, they have also opened up all old accounts so people can play for free.

This means if you are a former subscriber (or just had a trial) with Codemasters and you were looking to return for f2p, you can actually still return and play for free, except you still get all the old content. If I was bold, I would say that is a better deal than the 'real' f2p vresion :P

So I think it is fair to say the Codemasters are trying to make amends.

I think it is important to let people know, in the midst of all this doom and gloom :)

 

 Yes they are also letting people create trial accounts which as access to all SoA content that will run until new version released and have added enhanced XP and free stable travel.

Originally posted by scabbedangel

 I thought the mmorpg communtiy would have had an absolute fit over lotro going pay to win.

    Some people were screaming that early on, and some still will do so. However I must ask, what excatly is there to 'win?'  This isn't a PvP focused game, and never was; the little bit of PvP there is was already slanted in favor of the Free People.

Originally posted by Kremlik

It just tickles me that the 'SAY NO TO F2P' lot are basing it seems all their 'information' with LOTRO on the F2P market as a whole - LOTRO is vastly a different system to all the easten 'gimped at high end if you don't pay more then the normal monthly sub' system.

   It doesn't help that Turbine originally marketed it as free to play, before they started refering to it as a hybrid model. Those who write game related articles took up that free to play moniker and ran with it (on this website and others).

Originally posted by Kokushibyou

 I think designing raids so that you need to have bought permanent stat boosts and heal pots to get through them is a rip off, yes.  And before you claim that you don't have too; I have already been kicked out of a pug Helegrod raid because I refused to buy HoT pots in the cash shop.

 That is more a reflection on the character of the people in that raid, rather than the game itself. You'll find those types in any MMO (the WoW add-on Gearscore, and the guilds that live and die by it, is a perfect example).

Originally posted by Ditto

 Its amazing how some ppl think :)

 

A measly 17 bucks per customer that already bought the game at retail and and a couple of months or more subscription money.those poor developers sure deserve to get payed [b]again[/b] by those customers.

  It definately is amazing what some people think! $17 for a one time fee, versus a continuing subscription of $15 per month, both for a game you already 'bought.' Gee, which is going to cost a customer more now? Besides, you never actually bought anything except for a game box and an installation disc. Here's a hint: Try reading the EULA/ToS next time when you install a MMO game; you were leasing the game.

Purchase quests as well as other things one needs in order to advance in the game? No thanks and that doesn't seem like "free to play" to me...more like an enhanced demo at best. I'll pass...same with DDO once it became F2P as well. Kudos to those who want to tough it out though. I think it's probably  best if one makes an official subscription like any other P2P game because I feel that this F2P label is misleading.

Originally posted by seabeast

Are there booby sliders on the female toons?

 There always have been, as far as I know.

Originally posted by Madimorga

I'm confused on this quest pack thing.  I hate questing, so what if I just want to grind mobs to level?  Is that somehow impossible in LOTRO?

 Not at all, just grind to your heart's content!

Originally posted by odinfish

Purchase quests as well as other things one needs in order to advance in the game? No thanks and that doesn't seem like "free to play" to me...more like an enhanced demo at best. I'll pass...same with DDO once it became F2P as well. Kudos to those who want to tough it out though. I think it's probably  best if one makes an official subscription like any other P2P game because I feel that this F2P label is misleading.

   It is misleading, because in LotRO you can still pay a subscription and bypass all of the purchasing of quest packs and related charges. In other words, paying a subscription now is pretty much just like paying a subscription before, only now you get free points to use in the store every month. In point of fact, this is a hybrid model and not the standard free to play model.

Regardless of what blabber is spewed here in the whine section, the F2P is already a smash hit. The servers are packed. There are people questing together and soloing everywhere. New kinships (guilds) have sprouted up all over the place. OOC and RP chat is alive and kicking. Soon this game will be 2nd only to WOW in North America subscription and players wise.

Originally posted by Jyiiga

Regardless of what blabber is spewed here in the whine section, the F2P is already a smash hit. The servers are packed. There are people questing together and soloing everywhere. New kinships (guilds) have sprouted up all over the place. OOC and RP chat is alive and kicking. Soon this game will be 2nd only to WOW in North America subscription and players wise.

 

Sure, maybe number 2 until this fall, when Vindictus offically launches. And if not by then, then at least by next year, when GW2 hit stores.

After buying the SOA boxed set, all of the expansions (and extras) as they came along, and then paying a monthly subscription for over 2 years, I bought a lifetime subscription.

I am not upset that new folks can come along and unlock the game for life for only $70.00 (or $100.00 whatever it is). It is peanuts what they have to pay compared to what I paid. I'm just glad they have the opportunity to enjoy LOTRO.

I'm here and always will be (except for death or disaster) on the Meneldor server to help (in game) anyone who needs it . Enter Middle Earth and enjoy the experience, and if you are like me, stay.

Rmoin, Bastion of Light kinship, Meneldor.

Originally posted by dlunas

If you're not talking about subscribing players, then there's nothing being butchered, as the game was only available to them before the change.

You don't go premium, premium is simply an account that has subscribed or spent money on the game at some point, as opposed to an account that has never spent anything.  There comes certain small perks once that happens.  Even those of us that bought the original box aren't re-buying anything, so much as paying a one time, subscription fee to permanently unlock that content.  So, yes, the full experience of the flow is restricted to subscribers or those who drop a little more than a single month's price to unlock them.  The epic quests are apparently available for everyone, just not all the stuff on the side.

The game still felt as immersive up to the point that I played during beta.  What would you suggest to improve upon the model to prevent the de-immersion?  ...why the hell is immersive show up as misspelled?  That's annoying the hell out of me.

I don't really think it is a break of spirit to allow players to experience the first chunk of the game, the entire epic story quests and much of the gameplay, but not the mid-level side stuff.

To me if I had a subscription to the game at one time and came back as a Premium without access to stuff I did once before, it would be a non-immersive experience because there would exist a huge hole in the content that wasn't there before.

My way of improving the lack of immersion is to not limit the content itself in the way they have done. I would have a B2P model instead but with a small trial for people to see if they like the game enough to get it. I would keep restrictions in place that would induce people to pay money either through the cash shop or by getting a normal subscription. They have this already in place, but it could be added upon to increase revenue if they see fit and then they can always lock new content they add to the game (new books, adventure packs, etc.). And of course I'd keep in place the P2P payment scheme.

I find that the current model is better for a game like DDO that lends itself to have dungeon instances locked until you purchase them somehow.

I disagree with you about your last sentence. To me it is a break of spirit because the original world is no longer an open world.

I just hate the Idea of the LVL cap to 50 unless you purchase the expansions. its like free until you hit 50 and totaly addicted to it you have no choice but to shell out cash if not other playes will kick your butt because they are levels ahead of you this makes an imbalance but i agree the devs do need to make money but i wish they would be more open about it istead of putting a really tiny fine print under the game features

Originally posted by thecrap

I just hate the Idea of the LVL cap to 50 unless you purchase the expansions. its like free until you hit 50 and totaly addicted to it you have no choice but to shell out cash if not other playes will kick your butt because they are levels ahead of you this makes an imbalance but i agree the devs do need to make money but i wish they would be more open about it istead of putting a really tiny fine print under the game features

 

 I think most of us pre-f2p paid month after month to get to 50, it took me 3 weeks to max my first toon. So paying $50 for box with a free month is what you could say it cost me, originally. It now costs around $18 to unlock all the questpacks to 50 forever with no box fee, I think that is a sweet deal for an older game.

Originally posted by Rmega

After buying the SOA boxed set, all of the expansions (and extras) as they came along, and then paying a monthly subscription for over 2 years, I bought a lifetime subscription.

I am not upset that new folks can come along and unlock the game for life for only $70.00 (or $100.00 whatever it is). It is peanuts what they have to pay compared to what I paid. I'm just glad they have the opportunity to enjoy LOTRO.

I'm here and always will be (except for death or disaster) on the Meneldor server to help (in game) anyone who needs it . Enter Middle Earth and enjoy the experience, and if you are like me, stay.

Rmoin, Bastion of Light kinship, Meneldor.

Hey, I'm on Meneldor.  I might say hi sometime.

Originally posted by Jyiiga

Regardless of what blabber is spewed here in the whine section, the F2P is already a smash hit. The servers are packed. There are people questing together and soloing everywhere. New kinships (guilds) have sprouted up all over the place. OOC and RP chat is alive and kicking. Soon this game will be 2nd only to WOW in North America subscription and players wise.

I know that I logged into my account, saw my Captain standing there in the armor my buddy made me, and even though he's only level 25, kinda fell in love with the game again.

Originally posted by Jyiiga

Regardless of what blabber is spewed here in the whine section, the F2P is already a smash hit. The servers are packed. There are people questing together and soloing everywhere. New kinships (guilds) have sprouted up all over the place. OOC and RP chat is alive and kicking. Soon this game will be 2nd only to WOW in North America subscription and players wise.

Even if it manages to attain that distinction, which I rather doubt it will, it will still only be a VERY short reign. Between GW2 and SWTOR, LotRO doesn't stand a chance in that regard.

Originally posted by thecrap

I just hate the Idea of the LVL cap to 50 unless you purchase the expansions. its like free until you hit 50 and totaly addicted to it you have no choice but to shell out cash if not other playes will kick your butt because they are levels ahead of you this makes an imbalance but i agree the devs do need to make money but i wish they would be more open about it istead of putting a really tiny fine print under the game features

Even if you were paying the $15 a month sub, you'd still be having to buy that expansion to get past level 50. That's how the majority of mmos work.

Originally posted by MurlockDance

Originally posted by dlunas

If you're not talking about subscribing players, then there's nothing being butchered, as the game was only available to them before the change.

You don't go premium, premium is simply an account that has subscribed or spent money on the game at some point, as opposed to an account that has never spent anything.  There comes certain small perks once that happens.  Even those of us that bought the original box aren't re-buying anything, so much as paying a one time, subscription fee to permanently unlock that content.  So, yes, the full experience of the flow is restricted to subscribers or those who drop a little more than a single month's price to unlock them.  The epic quests are apparently available for everyone, just not all the stuff on the side.

The game still felt as immersive up to the point that I played during beta.  What would you suggest to improve upon the model to prevent the de-immersion?  ...why the hell is immersive show up as misspelled?  That's annoying the hell out of me.

I don't really think it is a break of spirit to allow players to experience the first chunk of the game, the entire epic story quests and much of the gameplay, but not the mid-level side stuff.

To me if I had a subscription to the game at one time and came back as a Premium without access to stuff I did once before, it would be a non-immersive experience because there would exist a huge hole in the content that wasn't there before.

My way of improving the lack of immersion is to not limit the content itself in the way they have done. I would have a B2P model instead but with a small trial for people to see if they like the game enough to get it. I would keep restrictions in place that would induce people to pay money either through the cash shop or by getting a normal subscription. They have this already in place, but it could be added upon to increase revenue if they see fit and then they can always lock new content they add to the game (new books, adventure packs, etc.). And of course I'd keep in place the P2P payment scheme.

I find that the current model is better for a game like DDO that lends itself to have dungeon instances locked until you purchase them somehow.

I disagree with you about your last sentence. To me it is a break of spirit because the original world is no longer an open world.

You mean when you come back, without a subscription, you'd have a problem with not having all the perks of a subscription?

They have a B2P model, it's called a lifetime subscription.  Turbine has had that, I believe, for the life of the game so far.

I wanted to double check your side of it, so I jumped onto my Captain, who had quests in the restricted areas.  The quests are still active, didn't remove them from my log, but can't get any more.  It IS annoying, I'll give you that, but the entire zone isn't locked out, just the free experience and gear for playing around in it.  It's still not a big deal.  I already think there's too damned many quests in the game anyways, so I could see having....20% of the quests there, so it doesn't feel like a straight grind, but nothing's stopping you from finding a group and helping people with their quests, which is still decent exp in those zones.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by open world, it's a basic theme park style game.

I'm not the biggest fan of LotRO, but they've made a hell of a lot better job of this than the convoluted dog's dinner Soe have made of EQ2 FTP.

Originally posted by dlunas

Originally posted by MurlockDance

Originally posted by dlunas

If you're not talking about subscribing players, then there's nothing being butchered, as the game was only available to them before the change.

You don't go premium, premium is simply an account that has subscribed or spent money on the game at some point, as opposed to an account that has never spent anything.  There comes certain small perks once that happens.  Even those of us that bought the original box aren't re-buying anything, so much as paying a one time, subscription fee to permanently unlock that content.  So, yes, the full experience of the flow is restricted to subscribers or those who drop a little more than a single month's price to unlock them.  The epic quests are apparently available for everyone, just not all the stuff on the side.

The game still felt as immersive up to the point that I played during beta.  What would you suggest to improve upon the model to prevent the de-immersion?  ...why the hell is immersive show up as misspelled?  That's annoying the hell out of me.

I don't really think it is a break of spirit to allow players to experience the first chunk of the game, the entire epic story quests and much of the gameplay, but not the mid-level side stuff.

To me if I had a subscription to the game at one time and came back as a Premium without access to stuff I did once before, it would be a non-immersive experience because there would exist a huge hole in the content that wasn't there before.

My way of improving the lack of immersion is to not limit the content itself in the way they have done. I would have a B2P model instead but with a small trial for people to see if they like the game enough to get it. I would keep restrictions in place that would induce people to pay money either through the cash shop or by getting a normal subscription. They have this already in place, but it could be added upon to increase revenue if they see fit and then they can always lock new content they add to the game (new books, adventure packs, etc.). And of course I'd keep in place the P2P payment scheme.

I find that the current model is better for a game like DDO that lends itself to have dungeon instances locked until you purchase them somehow.

I disagree with you about your last sentence. To me it is a break of spirit because the original world is no longer an open world.

You mean when you come back, without a subscription, you'd have a problem with not having all the perks of a subscription?

They have a B2P model, it's called a lifetime subscription.  Turbine has had that, I believe, for the life of the game so far.

I wanted to double check your side of it, so I jumped onto my Captain, who had quests in the restricted areas.  The quests are still active, didn't remove them from my log, but can't get any more.  It IS annoying, I'll give you that, but the entire zone isn't locked out, just the free experience and gear for playing around in it.  It's still not a big deal.  I already think there's too damned many quests in the game anyways, so I could see having....20% of the quests there, so it doesn't feel like a straight grind, but nothing's stopping you from finding a group and helping people with their quests, which is still decent exp in those zones.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by open world, it's a basic theme park style game.

Except the quests removed pretty much cover the early 20's to 50. Grinding mobs for almost 30 levels like some crappy asian mmo isn't very fun, especially given the extremely low XP rate of mob killing in LotRO to begin with as the majority of XP is designed to come from quests. And doing quests with other people serves no purpose at all if you're trying to grind through those levels as you don't get anything from completing other people's quests AND you get lower XP grouping than you do soloing ( a major flaw of Turbine's in my book, as it really gives no incentive to ever group with anyone outside of Fellowship quests, and even those are pretty much soloable if you just wait two levels past it).

Originally posted by Mahlo

I'm not the biggest fan of LotRO, but they've made a hell of a lot better job of this than the convoluted dog's dinner Soe have made of EQ2 FTP.

Every crappy asian F2P out there is designed better than EQ2EX. So that's not saying much really.

Originally posted by eyeswideopen

Originally posted by dlunas

Originally posted by MurlockDance

Originally posted by dlunas

If you're not talking about subscribing players, then there's nothing being butchered, as the game was only available to them before the change.

You don't go premium, premium is simply an account that has subscribed or spent money on the game at some point, as opposed to an account that has never spent anything.  There comes certain small perks once that happens.  Even those of us that bought the original box aren't re-buying anything, so much as paying a one time, subscription fee to permanently unlock that content.  So, yes, the full experience of the flow is restricted to subscribers or those who drop a little more than a single month's price to unlock them.  The epic quests are apparently available for everyone, just not all the stuff on the side.

The game still felt as immersive up to the point that I played during beta.  What would you suggest to improve upon the model to prevent the de-immersion?  ...why the hell is immersive show up as misspelled?  That's annoying the hell out of me.

I don't really think it is a break of spirit to allow players to experience the first chunk of the game, the entire epic story quests and much of the gameplay, but not the mid-level side stuff.

To me if I had a subscription to the game at one time and came back as a Premium without access to stuff I did once before, it would be a non-immersive experience because there would exist a huge hole in the content that wasn't there before.

My way of improving the lack of immersion is to not limit the content itself in the way they have done. I would have a B2P model instead but with a small trial for people to see if they like the game enough to get it. I would keep restrictions in place that would induce people to pay money either through the cash shop or by getting a normal subscription. They have this already in place, but it could be added upon to increase revenue if they see fit and then they can always lock new content they add to the game (new books, adventure packs, etc.). And of course I'd keep in place the P2P payment scheme.

I find that the current model is better for a game like DDO that lends itself to have dungeon instances locked until you purchase them somehow.

I disagree with you about your last sentence. To me it is a break of spirit because the original world is no longer an open world.

You mean when you come back, without a subscription, you'd have a problem with not having all the perks of a subscription?

They have a B2P model, it's called a lifetime subscription.  Turbine has had that, I believe, for the life of the game so far.

I wanted to double check your side of it, so I jumped onto my Captain, who had quests in the restricted areas.  The quests are still active, didn't remove them from my log, but can't get any more.  It IS annoying, I'll give you that, but the entire zone isn't locked out, just the free experience and gear for playing around in it.  It's still not a big deal.  I already think there's too damned many quests in the game anyways, so I could see having....20% of the quests there, so it doesn't feel like a straight grind, but nothing's stopping you from finding a group and helping people with their quests, which is still decent exp in those zones.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by open world, it's a basic theme park style game.

Except the quests removed pretty much cover the early 20's to 50. Grinding mobs for almost 30 levels like some crappy asian mmo isn't very fun, especially given the extremely low XP rate of mob killing in LotRO to begin with as the majority of XP is designed to come from quests. And doing quests with other people serves no purpose at all if you're trying to grind through those levels as you don't get anything from completing other people's quests AND you get lower XP grouping than you do soloing ( a major flaw of Turbine's in my book, as it really gives no incentive to ever group with anyone outside of Fellowship quests, and even those are pretty much soloable if you just wait two levels past it).

 

 

Less experience total or just meaning divided among the group members?  I thought there was something similar to what everquest did with it, having it divided among the members, but slightly tweaked higher to encourage grouping?  Is the sum less than it would've been soloing it?

Im still trying to DL this game its friking huge 10GB is there a better 3rd party site where I can download it using my accelerator rather than the pando media booster?

Originally posted by dlunas

You mean when you come back, without a subscription, you'd have a problem with not having all the perks of a subscription?

They have a B2P model, it's called a lifetime subscription.  Turbine has had that, I believe, for the life of the game so far.

I wanted to double check your side of it, so I jumped onto my Captain, who had quests in the restricted areas.  The quests are still active, didn't remove them from my log, but can't get any more.  It IS annoying, I'll give you that, but the entire zone isn't locked out, just the free experience and gear for playing around in it.  It's still not a big deal.  I already think there's too damned many quests in the game anyways, so I could see having....20% of the quests there, so it doesn't feel like a straight grind, but nothing's stopping you from finding a group and helping people with their quests, which is still decent exp in those zones.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by open world, it's a basic theme park style game.

You missed what I said about keeping restrictions in place: come back as someone who would have limits on their characters (things like character slots for example, or chat, or other things that actually affect server performance and database maintenance) but access to all the areas and quests they had when they were subbed.

So you'd be happy having to pay the price of a lifetime subscription for any game? That's not how GW did it and probably not how GW2 will do it. The reason in part why GW was so popular was because of its readily affordable B2P model with some things that can be added to one's account through their cash shop.

I am dismayed at your attempting to reason away the annoyance of those quests being removed in order to support Turbine's flawed payment schemes. I don't usually say this about someone, but that is blind fanboi-ism. Only a fanboi would support the removal of content that was in the original game. Less content is never good for the customer!

That sort of reasoning would give them the go ahead to whack out other pieces of content from the game. Let's not open that can of worms!

Open world in the sense of an immersive one, one you can get caught up in and not think about real life. LotRO had an immersive world, but with quests being locked and funny icons above NPCs' heads reminding you to visit the store, I'm not convinced that it still is if you're a F2A player.

Someone was again bashing EQ2X but at least in that game you have the freedom to go where ever you want up until level 80, regardless of whether you are a brand new player, a returning player, someone with or without a membership or subscription. I prefer the EQ2X model in that sense, especially in light that I have actually spent more on LotRO than on EQ2. I don't lose out in EQ2X at all, whereas in LotRO F2A, I would.

Originally posted by thecrap

I just hate the Idea of the LVL cap to 50 unless you purchase the expansions. its like free until you hit 50 and totaly addicted to it you have no choice but to shell out cash if not other playes will kick your butt because they are levels ahead of you this makes an imbalance but i agree the devs do need to make money but i wish they would be more open about it istead of putting a really tiny fine print under the game features

 Since a lvl cap of 50 has been in place since DAY 1 of the game, just how more open could they be?

The original game; SoA, has always had a lvl 50 cap.  IF you purchased MoM it went up to lvl 62 and IF you purchased SoM it went up to lvl 65.  It's always been that way.  As a SoA player / box owner your cap didn't go up to lvl 65 just because SoM came out, it stayed at lvl 50.

"if not other playes will kick your butt".    ?????   Any chance you actually play?  Because this makes no sense at all.  It's a PvE game so just how will other higher lvl players "kick your butt"?

Originally posted by MurlockDance

Originally posted by dlunas

You mean when you come back, without a subscription, you'd have a problem with not having all the perks of a subscription?

They have a B2P model, it's called a lifetime subscription.  Turbine has had that, I believe, for the life of the game so far.

I wanted to double check your side of it, so I jumped onto my Captain, who had quests in the restricted areas.  The quests are still active, didn't remove them from my log, but can't get any more.  It IS annoying, I'll give you that, but the entire zone isn't locked out, just the free experience and gear for playing around in it.  It's still not a big deal.  I already think there's too damned many quests in the game anyways, so I could see having....20% of the quests there, so it doesn't feel like a straight grind, but nothing's stopping you from finding a group and helping people with their quests, which is still decent exp in those zones.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by open world, it's a basic theme park style game.

You missed what I said about keeping restrictions in place: come back as someone who would have limits on their characters (things like character slots for example, or chat, or other things that actually affect server performance and database maintenance) but access to all the areas and quests they had when they were subbed.

So you'd be happy having to pay the price of a lifetime subscription for any game? That's not how GW did it and probably not how GW2 will do it. The reason in part why GW was so popular was because of its readily affordable B2P model with some things that can be added to one's account through their cash shop.

I am dismayed at your attempting to reason away the annoyance of those quests being removed in order to support Turbine's flawed payment schemes. I don't usually say this about someone, but that is blind fanboi-ism. Only a fanboi would support the removal of content that was in the original game. Less content is never good for the customer!

That sort of reasoning would give them the go ahead to whack out other pieces of content from the game. Let's not open that can of worms!

Open world in the sense of an immersive one, one you can get caught up in and not think about real life. LotRO had an immersive world, but with quests being locked and funny icons above NPCs' heads reminding you to visit the store, I'm not convinced that it still is if you're a F2A player.

Someone was again bashing EQ2X but at least in that game you have the freedom to go where ever you want up until level 80, regardless of whether you are a brand new player, a returning player, someone with or without a membership or subscription. I prefer the EQ2X model in that sense, especially in light that I have actually spent more on LotRO than on EQ2. I don't lose out in EQ2X at all, whereas in LotRO F2A, I would.

Hmmmm....my last post was kinda crappy, apologies.  About this time yesterday I was half asleep, and doing things to keep myself awake during the daylight hours to run errands.  I did misunderstand the restrictions comment, I think.  Restricting chat is annoying, but I suppose could be done decently, with a level req or purchase.

I was referring to the lifetime membership because it is still a sub to f2p conversion, and GW was developed around the b2p model from the beginning, I don't think the point quite applies here.

I wasn't attempting to reason away the annoyance, just trying, badly, at expressing that I feel this is, overall, less annoying than the heavy restrictions EQ2X did.  The beginning and endgame are there, you get to choose which regions to unlock if you don't want to subscribe, and premium members don't have their bags restricted, although I didn't stop to check the vault keeper, or auction house.

I think that if they were going to lock content in such a way, I think they chose the right chunk of the game to do it, for the most part.  I don't think it should've been so severe, though, nor am I specifically supporting the removal of the content.  I'm simply recognizing that, while I think they should've left SOME of the region content, and maybe had the quest packs consisting of the mostly fluff content that feels shoved in there to give easy experience, this is the lesser annoyance.

I didn't see any funny icons above the NPCs' heads other than the regular ring icons in the Lone Lands.  The region does feel like a tragic placeholder comedy, though.  Makes the Forsaken Inn a little creepy having that many patrons that won't really talk to you.

I guess, to me, it feels like it's mostly the choice between EQ2X style or DDO style.  I definitely lean towards DDO style, but this game isn't suited to such an extreme version of it.  I think, since they went with locking quest packs, they should split them up into smaller packs, so that Turbine Points accumulated from deeds would be more likely to purchase them, or have something similar to the favor grind in DDO.

I realize I'm once again sleepy posting, but I hope this one was less horrible.  There's a difference in me supporting and endorsing a course of action and accepting it as a decent but not great way of handling the conversion.

Despite our opinions apparently being on the opposite sides of this and stubbornly there, PM me if you ever feel like jumping on Meneldor server.

Originally posted by rawfox

just installed it some days ago but ill remove it again before i play it.

in no way i support these kind of f2p, were you have to buy every bit of stuff.

i'd rather pay a mutch higher prize for a game AND a monthly fee before i support these funfree f2p models, that companies like gamigo, turbine, gpotato, ... try to establish in the gamers community.

 

give it 4 weeks free gametime with ALL content to let people see if its a game, that the player likes.

then take a monthly fee, take even a distro purchase prize, but never, never sell items like backpacks, quests or dmg stuff in a cash shop.

 

i say no to these f2p ripoff models

Thisis so true when the item shops demands you to spend to play the games thats it for me

Originally posted by dlunas

Hmmmm....my last post was kinda crappy, apologies.  About this time yesterday I was half asleep, and doing things to keep myself awake during the daylight hours to run errands.  I did misunderstand the restrictions comment, I think.  Restricting chat is annoying, but I suppose could be done decently, with a level req or purchase.

I was referring to the lifetime membership because it is still a sub to f2p conversion, and GW was developed around the b2p model from the beginning, I don't think the point quite applies here.

I wasn't attempting to reason away the annoyance, just trying, badly, at expressing that I feel this is, overall, less annoying than the heavy restrictions EQ2X did.  The beginning and endgame are there, you get to choose which regions to unlock if you don't want to subscribe, and premium members don't have their bags restricted, although I didn't stop to check the vault keeper, or auction house.

I think that if they were going to lock content in such a way, I think they chose the right chunk of the game to do it, for the most part.  I don't think it should've been so severe, though, nor am I specifically supporting the removal of the content.  I'm simply recognizing that, while I think they should've left SOME of the region content, and maybe had the quest packs consisting of the mostly fluff content that feels shoved in there to give easy experience, this is the lesser annoyance.

I didn't see any funny icons above the NPCs' heads other than the regular ring icons in the Lone Lands.  The region does feel like a tragic placeholder comedy, though.  Makes the Forsaken Inn a little creepy having that many patrons that won't really talk to you.

I guess, to me, it feels like it's mostly the choice between EQ2X style or DDO style.  I definitely lean towards DDO style, but this game isn't suited to such an extreme version of it.  I think, since they went with locking quest packs, they should split them up into smaller packs, so that Turbine Points accumulated from deeds would be more likely to purchase them, or have something similar to the favor grind in DDO.

I realize I'm once again sleepy posting, but I hope this one was less horrible.  There's a difference in me supporting and endorsing a course of action and accepting it as a decent but not great way of handling the conversion.

Despite our opinions apparently being on the opposite sides of this and stubbornly there, PM me if you ever feel like jumping on Meneldor server.

I am not criticizing DDO's model at all. I think DDO is a perfect game for what Turbine did to make it a hybrid, because of the way it is set up with dungeon instances. 

LotRO seems less ideal for this type of payment model for reasons I am not going to go over again. As annoying as EQ2X is, SoE at least have the ability to access all areas of the game except the newest xpac right. The thing SoE does wrong is by keeping in place so many limitations that can't be removed at all via an a la carte payment plan. In this last case, Turbine has done a better job of their payment model than SoE.

In that sense I wouldn't say I'm at the opposite side of the spectrum from you. Neither game does it completely right in my view except for subscribing to both games normally since that's no different from what they had before.

I don't see why though one couldn't have a B2P model in LotRO as long as the final price for upgrading everything comes out to be either about or slightly more than a lifetime offer.

Edit - Thanks for the offer of PMing you on the Meneldor server but I really don't want to leave behind my European characters completely when I do come back to the game. If I went on the F2A US version, I'd never play it that seriously. Even more than the money issue, I've invested too much time on my characters to do that.

I am not criticizing DDO's model at all. I think DDO is a perfect game for what Turbine did to make it a hybrid, because of the way it is set up with dungeon instances. 

LotRO seems less ideal for this type of payment model for reasons I am not going to go over again. As annoying as EQ2X is, SoE at least have the ability to access all areas of the game except the newest xpac right. The thing SoE does wrong is by keeping in place so many limitations that can't be removed at all via an a la carte payment plan. In this last case, Turbine has done a better job of their payment model than SoE.

In that sense I wouldn't say I'm at the opposite side of the spectrum from you. Neither game does it completely right in my view except for subscribing to both games normally since that's no different from what they had before.

I don't see why though one couldn't have a B2P model in LotRO as long as the final price for upgrading everything comes out to be either about or slightly more than a lifetime offer.

Edit - Thanks for the offer of PMing you on the Meneldor server but I really don't want to leave behind my European characters completely when I do come back to the game. If I went on the F2A US version, I'd never play it that seriously. Even more than the money issue, I've invested too much time on my characters to do that.

Yeah, DDO was an unusual IP that lent itself perfectly to that hybrid model, so it worked out great.  The part that it particularly did well was let you have something to do at all points of character progression.

LotRO does seem less suited for it, but I think it could work almost as well if they'd change it up a bit.  I think you nailed in on the head by pointing out a la carte for options.  That, and the fact that the restrictions, while annoying, are relatively cheap to lift.

Yeah, looks like we are closer to the middle of the two extremes.

With that idea, I could see a B2P that cost somewhere between 50-75% of the lifetime sub, offered all quests, lifted all the restrictions such as bags, shared storage, gold cap, auctions, crafting, but didn't include any cosmetic items or monthly points, like the lifetime.  Something of a full core feature unlock.

Comment on Edit - I meant an PM on here, or on xfire, if you use it.  I'm very casual, just started a hobbit guardian and restarted my elf hunter.  I figure I'll play through those and get some TP, then if I don't care to keep the race class combo, I'll try something else, getting a few more TP.  I think it's kinda interesting that this might actually inadvertantly(?) encourage free players to try new classes and races.

Originally posted by dlunas

Yeah, DDO was an unusual IP that lent itself perfectly to that hybrid model, so it worked out great.  The part that it particularly did well was let you have something to do at all points of character progression.

LotRO does seem less suited for it, but I think it could work almost as well if they'd change it up a bit.  I think you nailed in on the head by pointing out a la carte for options.  That, and the fact that the restrictions, while annoying, are relatively cheap to lift.

Yeah, looks like we are closer to the middle of the two extremes.

With that idea, I could see a B2P that cost somewhere between 50-75% of the lifetime sub, offered all quests, lifted all the restrictions such as bags, shared storage, gold cap, auctions, crafting, but didn't include any cosmetic items or monthly points, like the lifetime.  Something of a full core feature unlock.

Comment on Edit - I meant an PM on here, or on xfire, if you use it.  I'm very casual, just started a hobbit guardian and restarted my elf hunter.  I figure I'll play through those and get some TP, then if I don't care to keep the race class combo, I'll try something else, getting a few more TP.  I think it's kinda interesting that this might actually inadvertantly(?) encourage free players to try new classes and races.

I hope that Turbine do tweek the LotRO F2A model.

It also sounds like you're playing the game perfectly for F2A to work out well for you in the long-term. LotRO does encourage people to play it more slowly in my opinion since it's nice to go through each starter zone and get all of the deeds and having a full set of crafters that you can use to make stuff you otherwise have to rely on other people for.

Unfortunately, in my EQ2X experience, I've realised that I am not a purely casual player. So LotRO F2A would be a possibility for me as long as I am mainly playing something else, otherwise it's better for my playstyle to get a subscription.

Originally posted by dlunas

Originally posted by Rmega

After buying the SOA boxed set, all of the expansions (and extras) as they came along, and then paying a monthly subscription for over 2 years, I bought a lifetime subscription.

I am not upset that new folks can come along and unlock the game for life for only $70.00 (or $100.00 whatever it is). It is peanuts what they have to pay compared to what I paid. I'm just glad they have the opportunity to enjoy LOTRO.

I'm here and always will be (except for death or disaster) on the Meneldor server to help (in game) anyone who needs it . Enter Middle Earth and enjoy the experience, and if you are like me, stay.

Rmoin, Bastion of Light kinship, Meneldor.

Hey, I'm on Meneldor.  I might say hi sometime.

 

Cool, I'll look forward to that!