LoTR Online

[Bloo]

Was just wondering if anyone was following this game and if anyone is in beta for this.

I just got invited to closed beta a few days ago and have been playing around with it. So far, I'm more impressed with it than DDO. First off, the graphics are stunning. I was simply blown away. Sure, I've looked at the official screenshots posted on the main site, but those screenshots really don't do it justice. I guess I was prepared for a let down because it's a Turbine game and they are technically using the same engine as DDO, but let's just say the graphics look 10x better and the game play is too. It's also relatively smooth for something that is still in closed beta. I've only crashed once and had one disconnect. I haven't encountered any game play bugs yet either.

I am currently running a minstrel elf. At level 11 so far. I haven't had much trouble soloing at all. And I think they did a pretty good job in balancing solo play with group play. What I hated about DDO was that I was forced to group with strangers all the time if I wanted to progress at all. With this game, there have been tons of quest I can solo, yet there are a few group quests that come along too that can probably be saved until you can get some of your friends together.

Crafting is pretty fun and interesting too. They took the immersion aspect of EQ2 with the simplicity of WoW crafting system. Let's just say there's a huge farming community in the game at the Shire. Everyone just seems like they are having a blast with it. I still need to try it out.

One key thing that I LOVE and I know you guys will appreciate too is that you can actually buy, equip, and play instruments such as a lute, clarinet, flute, etc. It's the first game I've seen since SWG that has done this. What's even cooler about this is that while there are no "flourishes" per say, but they do treat the numbers 1-8 as real musical notes, etc. So 1 = doe, 2 = ray, etc. It makes for something a bit more challenging to play and I'm loving it so far. I think I've spent more time fiddling with my lute than doing quests!

Anyway, if anyone is also in beta, I'm on the Brandywine server. My bard's name is "Amuse." I tried to get Bloo, but some jerk took it.

And if I've peaked your interest in the game, you can sign up for this beta at www.lotro.com/. There's actually an open stress test for this on the 23rd.

I hope to see some of you guys there so we can jam once again!

<3

[summer]

I had actually played in part of the closed beta already and I probably still have access to the game, but I stopped playing it.

I don't know, I just didn't like the feel of the game. It didn't feel anything like Middle Earth to me, just another run-of-the-mill MMO sucking off a big selling name. The graphics have probably been updated, but at the time I was not impressed and there were lots of server issues when lots of people were in one area, but that's beta issues.

Weird things like horses turned me off. It's a lot of cash to use one, but it isn't YOUR horse it just runs on a predesignated path.

The support was very good though. If you were having an issue you could directly contact support and they would do what they could to help out.

Another person that plays is Danea. She's in the beta, but I'm not sure how much she plays still.

[Kikra]

You can also use shift and controll to change the octaves and such as well as hold down two notes to make a chorde. The instruments a class can play is limited to only one unless you are a minstrel, then you can learn all of them.

One of the threads I have bookmarked has a bunch of songs that people have come up with from the Imnperial March, to Ode to Joy.

I am not in the beta, but I know someone who is and I have played a little bit on it with a human loremaster and I really like that class.

[AidinStark]

I was invited to beta and i played it a bit. For the short time i played i liked it. I do hate how they have to go out of their way to not let you be anything from the books, i.e. Wizard or Ranger. I didn't know about the musical instruments 'cause it kept saying i wasn't high enough level to use it.

The bit about it letting you actually play songs makes me wonder. Wasn't the number one reason SWG didn't let you do that, the copyright issue? How are they gonna deal with this i wonder.

I'll have to update it and try to find ya.

[simmuskhan]

I got my beta, but no luck so far downloading the client =(
Will let you know if I ever manage to get it downloaded and running =)

[Kikra]

simmuskhan said:

I got my beta, but no luck so far downloading the client =(
Will let you know if I ever manage to get it downloaded and running =)

Try downloading from here.

turbine.fuzeqna.com/lotro.support/consumer/kbdetail.asp?kbid=1226

[Billie]

bloo said:

One key thing that I LOVE and I know you guys will appreciate too is that you can actually buy, equip, and play instruments such as a lute, clarinet, flute, etc. <

Now why would anyone find that interesting?

I signed up for the beta. I'm glad Turbine is doing this game, even though I had exactly the same complaint about DDO, i.e. I'd like to adventure solo, to discover the game at my own speed, then hang out with other people in the cantina's (prefereably while jamming).

Now to use the crafting to come up with a nalargon. . . .

[Suprak]

I had just commented about the beta in the other thread. To me it just felt like they borrowed elements from EQ, WoW, and Guild Wars, slapped it all together, set it in Middle Earth and called it a new game. Nothing about it actually felt new.

[Bloo]

You're right, doc. There's nothing new in the general sense. Although reading what the devs have said, they said they weren't trying to be too innovative. Instead, they just want to perfect what's been proven to work. This is why there's some WoW feel to it along with some other more successful games. There are a few minor innovative things though ... Stuff like "Monster Play" where you can play a mob/bad guy and attack players. It's definitely an interesting system I haven't looked too far into, but I'm looking forward to it.

If they make /music better than it's current state and when they add housing like they are promising, this game looks to have potential. We'll see how it goes!

Reminder: Open Stress Test starting tomorrow at noon!

[simmuskhan]

By the way...

HI BLOO!!!!

Just thought I'd get that off my chest =)

Thanks too for the multiple smaller file link.

Still struggling with "c" at the moment, keeps hanging on about the 75% mark.

Hopefully will get it up and running tonight for the stress test.

Otherwise I'll be stressed and my patience will be tested and I'll just be ONE-de-RING what's gone wrong.

My attempt at the end of a very long hot day to be funny.

[Bloo]

<3 Simmus!

[simmuskhan]

<3 U 2

Won't be joining you soon =(
Have downloaded all the files and hit the .exe and nothing happens =(
Oh well, maybe if the game is good I'll see you when it actually comes out?

[Billie]

Sorry to hear that, Simmus. Sounds (roughly) like my experience with the Pirate game--just could not make it go! Urgh!

Meanwhile, I installed the LOTRO beta disc and used the key they sent me in the on-line invite. (All of the account keys that went out in the pre-order kits to retailers had faulty numbers and now Turbine has to rebuild their system to accept the 16-digit codes as well as the real 25-digit codes, but they won't be ready until Wednesday!)

I'm 38% finished downloading the Update Game Data but I've got to go to work for nine hours. /sigh

I hope to be on there tonight and all day tomorrow. I'll shoot for Brandywine, Bloo.

What's the best race for Minstrels?

GIV AL INSTR5MTZ!!1

;D

[summer]

billie said:

What's the best race for Minstrels?

GIV AL INSTR5MTZ!!1

;D

Hobbits!

[Billie]

Yes!

Ok, I'm in. My Hobbit is named Holiday and I made it to Archnet, but I unplugged because I'm afraid the big storm is gonna knock the power out. Hope to talk to some of you tomorrow.

[Kikra]

I am also on Brandywine. I have a Human Captain right now that I am testing named Corisonde. I have an Elven Champion, but I can't remember how to spell her name as it is something I have never used before.

EDIT: I also created a Loremaster named Tawniera that I will will be playing for a bit since a friend created his Captain. I was mostly playing it to be able to tell him how they were.

[Bloo]

Aww, Simmus!

Maybe you can try to get your hands on the beta discs like Billies did and try again for open beta? I believe open beta is March 30th.

I'm in game with Billies right now!

[simmuskhan]

Made it =)
Dwarven tank (or whatever they're called) Etako (just for variety lol)

[Billie]

And I hear that Aidin has appeared, as well.

I finally got out of the starting area and got to run around a Hobbit town with Bloo and see the crafting opportunites and the auction house, and most importantly she gave me a lute, so we can jam!

I'm gonna log on and spend some time practicing my chops tomorrow. If anyone knows of a guide for this (or general game guides), please post me a link. I'll also go explore the beta boards tomorrow.

Starting to look interesting to Billies.

Also, you can adopt kids in this game. What? Hehehe.
(Can you start a sweatshop with them?)

Thanks again, Bloo, for showing me the ropes.

Any chance of us starting some mutant breed of FX once this goes live?

[Kikra]

You can try this thread to give you some info and ideas.

lotro.turbine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15635&highlight=music

[Danea]

Well I just posted in the other thread about this.

I have been playing this since November, I really like it myself. I have pre-ordered it and will probably get a life time membership. Lots of stuff has changed since Beta 1. There is good solo and group content. I solo'd to 38 as a LRM in Beta1. The higher level zones are really cool, as is the content and the continuity with the lore. I have very little problem running it and it rarely crashes these days. The crafting is ok - probably the weakest area for me - though as a farmer I can make lots of gold My biggest issue is all the WoW comparisons in OOC chat

Turbine has the rights to the books as opposed to the movie rights and I really find the graphics to look the orginal art by Tolkien (like the Shire is amazingly like his illustrations).

I won't go on as I obviously like it more than others and am really enjoying the community. If anyone wants - I usually play Danea after 8 pst. I am on Meneldor. She is a 34 LoreMaster. I have a 21 hunter and a 15 ministral as well.

[Bloo]

I'm actually starting to enjoy it more and more as I play and progress. Maybe it's because I get to see some of you guys in game again and it's making things more exciting.

From what I'm seeing, it seems like those who are a fan of the lore are giving it more of a shot than those who are not. I've been trying to get a lot of my friends online and offline to try the game. The reactions have been so diverse it's almost mind boggling. Those who aren't really big fans of the books have either been comparing the game's shortcomings to WoW or they feel like the game plays like all the other MMOs. They decide this within a few levels and are ready to toss it aside because they could care less that they are in Middle Earth and surrounded by the rich lore created by Tolkien. While I don't necessarily disagree that there are issues, I'm enjoying the game simply because it is "fresh" and because I get to be surrounded by the lore and setting of Middle Earth. I'm not focused on finding all the similarities between LoTR and WoW or any other game. Exploring the beautiful scenary is just fun in itself and I do quests along the way. It hasn't felt like a grind at all simply because I don't grind. I explore and do quests during the game daytime and I settle down in the Shire at night to plant crops and cook what I yield. Turbine might not have done everything right in this game, but they really do manage to make their setting feel immersive if you allow it.

The community is really nice for the most part. The Community Managers appear in game frequently to run trivia games, other events, or simply just answer people's questions. I even played my lute for one of them, had a nice chat, and she ended up giving me bloo dye for my armor.

Right now, I'm 90% leaning towards pre-ordering and putting WoW aside for awhile.

[Danea]

Hey Bloo

I am glad you are liking it too! I have never played WoW so I can't compare that. I think it reminds me of EQ2 but I like it better.

I think the traits, race and class bonuses are excellent - you can have a completely different character by changing them. And the Shire is my favourite place to level because all you have to do is deliver mail and pies and you get tons of exp.

The game is beautiful too - Rivendell is just like I imagined it. I really like all the lore and they really have stayed consistent with the books. I think the PvMP is great - because no one can force me into PvP.

Hopefully we can meet up in game sometime.

[simmuskhan]

You and your shire and elven what nots.
Geez, the halls of the mighty dwarven kings are what impress me the most.

[Danea]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c0shsSGgRU

Here is the video I told you about last night

[AidinStark]

Hehe that's funny. I'd never even heard that song before.

[simmuskhan]

Hehe loved it!
Okay, I'll leave the splendiferous dwarven halls and come see this Shire of which you speak.
(Better be good ale there!)

[Ecta]

aidinstark said:

Hehe that's funny. I'd never even heard that song before.

I'm amazed there is anyone left who hasn't heard the song... Or seen the original video. *shiver* What the heck was Nimoy thinking? lol

[AidinStark]

Ha! No i didn't even know there was an 'original' video. But of course i had to go watch it, and THAT was one of the most hilariously sad things i've seen in a long while.

[summer]

aidinstark said:

Ha! No i didn't even know there was an 'original' video. But of course i had to go watch it, and THAT was one of the most hilariously sad things i've seen in a long while.

As bad as it may have been, if I could make a hundred grand doing it today, I would do it. Right now.