Middle-earth Feedback: The Midgewater Marshes

[Ramen]

Upon accepting Strider’s guidance in Bree, the path of the Hobbits soon led through a place they would likely just as soon forget about – the Midgewater Marshes.

Read about the Midgewater Marshes, then post your comments below!

[Aristoi]

Did the marshes get a lot mistier since closed beta? It's thick fog out there now....

[Xix13]

The Marshes are a good challenge for pre-lvl-12 or so toons. They're disgusting and populated with a lot of disgusting stuf, but the drops from the goblins in particular have been VERY good. It's the one spot so far that I've found has recipes and even some jewelry in a decent, though not "frequent" drop rate. Great atmosphere with the fog and stuf too. For humans and hobbits, this is a good spot and has been a lot of fun so far. Got some scholar stuf out of there too.

[Aristoi]

Having visited it a few more times, I think I just hit an early morning fog, which was very thick.

[Delirium]

Incredibly the easiest way to navigate in the marsh is at night when the fog lifts. I'd like the marsh to be bigger, as wide as it is tall, so you could really get lost in there, it's a fun place.

[gome]

i just wonder i am thinking about getting the game is it worth the monthly fee over and is it a godd game

[Naithin]

I have found the marshes to be a fantastic area; but there is one technical glitch with it's visuals that I have. I'm aware of why it happens, and that the fix would be rather costly to render, but..

I just find it a little jarring that I can stand just outside the borders of the atmospheric effects of the Marshes and see clear for miles across the Marshland.. And then take a few steps inside and at times barely see my hand in front of my face.

[ObsidianCrow]

Good point on seeing clearly. almost seems like cheating

[Aristoi]

I've also seen that on areas that are darker. It does seem a bit odd.

[hugorune]

I just find it a little jarring that I can stand just outside the borders of the atmospheric effects of the Marshes and see clear for miles across the Marshland.. And then take a few steps inside and at times barely see my hand in front of my face.

Yeah, I feel the same about it. It doesn't really bother me, but it would be great if they could add 'fog from distance' effects - although I can understand it's not easy technically.

[HUDMAN]

I had my first "Oh Wow, pretty" moments there. I was the marsh a few times for combe quests and it was dark, foggy, and scary like people have been describing. I went back in later for a Staddle quest and it was clear, sunny, and humid looking. With all of the pools reflecting the world, it was really very striking. I had to stop and admire it for a few minutes. This showed me the power of the weather/ time of day variations.

[Tessek_Barrowden]

Excellent area, with lots of nasty critters and plenty of opportunities to decimate goblins. Great atmosphere, with a startling discovery at the main goblin camp (forgot the name of the place, however). Regarding a quest to kill goblins there and at the Sunken Stones, I found the Marshes very effective at getting me turned around. I stumbled across the Sunken Stones the first time, then found my way very easily to the second camp, thanks to clear directions and the size of the camp, itself. I'd just finished off those goblins when my son joined me from Staddle, and I shared the quest with him.

Of course we started at the main camp, then tried to find our way back to the Sunken Stones... Oh dear. Hmm, not that way. Wait, we're back at the Fort again; I know it's right around here, somewhere. Just ignore the spiders and neeker-breekers, dear, we have to go THIS way before I get turned around again. How did we get way over here by the cave? Heheh, I must have checked my location on the main map about ten times... and when we found it again, it was, in fact, by stumbling on it. I thought I recognized the formation of the stones, just visible in the distance through the fog, and was relieved to discover I was right. To me, that's exactly how this area should be.

[Winsom]

Much too small. The marsh outside of Staddle is more like a very large pond rather than extensive geographic location. I can look down from a high bluff and see almost all of the bog. That is much too small.

I think that certain locations in game should disable the RADAR easy-mode. Wilderness areas should be like this, at least until they are explored. Some locations should be confusing enough, dense forests, foggy swamps, strange environmental effects, that the player will never be able to activate a comfortable mapping/radar system. Let the player use his own sense of direction and let him find Point of Interest on his own rather than giving tips.

I like the fog effects and the difficulty of the fire goblins. Insects need to more dangerous in general in special locations such as this.

[silvereel]

They are pretty nice. They fit my ideas of what it looked like as I read. The only problem is there isn't much to it. Its just a big swamp. Same monsters everywhere it seems like. A cave or two might help, but otherwise I think its nice