The Lord of the Rings Online producer has taken to the game's official forums to post a note to players about changes coming to the loot box system with the arrival of Update 23. The basic premise is that, while loot boxes will still be present, they will never contain gear that can't be earned through completing content or by purchasing it from vendors with in-game currency.
Other components of the loot box system include:
- When new content is released, players will not be able to obtain brand new gear "with end game currency for Store purchases". Gear will be rewarded through completing content. New vendors for gear and loot boxes will not be present in the game for a few weeks after a new content drop.
- Raid gear "will always have more power than comparable gear that comes directly from loot boxes".
- Raids will need to be completed at least once in order to access the vendors.
During game play, players will be earning a new currency called Embers of Enchantment.
One big difference in U23 and beyond is we will reward Embers of Enchantment to you directly when you do endgame quests, rather than indirectly through lootbox keys. You'll accumulate enough Embers to buy the gear you want from a vendor. This helps fight random luck when trying to get the stuff you want. The Ember vendors won't have gear from the most recent end game group content until around two or so weeks after that content is released. So, the only way to get this gear when content is first released is to play the content. Finally, the vendor may have a requirement that you complete the content before you can pick any of the gear.
Players who enjoy older content will earn Motes of Enchantment that can be used to purchase gear from special Motes vendors.
While loot boxes will still be present, they will contain cosmetic items and gear that is identical to gear found at the Embers vendors.
Lastly, "loot boxes are not required to gear up, but can be used to help you catch up on gearing, and acquire cool new cosmetics".
Read the full post on the Lord of the Rings Online site.
