Official Discussion: Community Update July 22, 2014

[Sapience]

There are a lot going on with LOTRO this year. Update 14 is here and we’re in Gondor! Our Executive Producer Aaron Campbell laid out the rest of 2014 and gave some insights into 2015 and beyond in his most recent post.

Now I would like to update you all on some changes happening on the Community team. Frelorn, whom I’m sure many of you already know , will be returning to manage the LOTRO community. He’s going to be taking over all the projects currently in the works for community in addition to bringing in his own ideas and programs. Frelorn will be making his own post and re-introducing himself to you very soon.

I’ll be taking on something very different. I’ll be joining Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals as their new Community Manager for Extra life. I think anyone who has been around the past three years knows this is a cause I’m deeply passionate about. It was not an easy decision as you guys are the most passionate community in gaming (we have an award to prove it!) and being your Community Manager for the past six years has been a tremendous honor. Frelorn is a lucky guy to be able to join you on your journey to the Black Gate and the destruction of the Ring.

I’m more than happy to answer any questions, as I’m sure Frelorn is, but I’ll start with two I think most people will have.

What about the SHIELD live Streams?
We’ll finish what we started. I will need to change some of the dates and will try to speed things up. Maybe we can even sneak in some weekend runs, but we’ll get it done! Yes, the fastest time will still get a Festival of their choice for a week.

What about Extra Life 2014?
Everything promised will happen. From the titles, to the cloaks, to mounts, and the pets. Even that tattoo will happen if we make it to $100k. I still encourage everyone to participate, donate, join Team Turbine, and show the Extra Life Community that the LOTRO Community is the gold standard when it comes to gamers helping kids.

[Sezneg]

There are a lot going on with LOTRO this year. Update 14 is here and we’re in Gondor! Our Executive Producer Aaron Campbell laid out the rest of 2014 and gave some insights into 2015 and beyond in his most recent post.

Now I would like to update you all on some changes happening on the Community team. Frelorn, whom I’m sure many of you already know , will be returning to manage the LOTRO community. He’s going to be taking over all the projects currently in the works for community in addition to bringing in his own ideas and programs. Frelorn will be making his own post and re-introducing himself to you very soon.

I’ll be taking on something very different. I’ll be joining Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals as their new Community Manager for Extra life. I think anyone who has been around the past three years knows this is a cause I’m deeply passionate about. It was not an easy decision as you guys are the most passionate community in gaming (we have an award to prove it!) and being your Community Manager for the past six years has been a tremendous honor. Frelorn is a lucky guy to be able to join you on your journey to the Black Gate and the destruction of the Ring.

I’m more than happy to answer any questions, as I’m sure Frelorn is, but I’ll start with two I think most people will have.

What about the SHIELD live Streams?
We’ll finish what we started. I will need to change some of the dates and will try to speed things up. Maybe we can even sneak in some weekend runs, but we’ll get it done! Yes, the fastest time will still get a Festival of their choice for a week.

What about Extra Life 2014?
Everything promised will happen. From the titles, to the cloaks, to mounts, and the pets. Even that tattoo will happen if we make it to $100k. I still encourage everyone to participate, donate, join Team Turbine, and show the Extra Life Community that the LOTRO Community is the gold standard when it comes to gamers helping kids.

That's a fantastic fit - I hope to see the continued growth of Extra Life. I appreciate the time you have given outside of your work schedule - it was a lot of fun meeting you and other players twice in the Orlando meetups. I know we won't forget the work you've done here, and I hope you won't be able to forget this quirky community as well.

[Ravynne]

This is definitely bittersweet news. I wish you the best of luck and happiness at your new job, but you will be missed. I look forward to getting to know Frelorn better. He definitely has some BIG shoes to fill.

[Lethareth]

That's a wonderful thing for Extra Life, and I'm happy that they will have you, but you will be missed here (at least by some of us). Looking forward to meeting and interacting with Frelorn.

How soon will this change be taking place?

[ChiaJesus]

See ya. xxxxxxx

[Dernudan]

By Sapience, you are doing a good thing.

And welcome back Frelorn, glad to meet you
I hope you continue with the live streams btw

[Yicky]

Best of luck to you, Rick. You have been a great blessing to this community through good and bad and I am glad you are able to follow your passion. You will be missed however.

[Belnavar]

Sorry to see that you're moving on, but at least the new job will be for a very worthy cause

Thank you for your contribution to the game and community over the last six years, and best of luck with your new position at Extra Life.

And, welcome back, Frelorn

-Bel

[Frelorn]

I am already here and getting up to speed on everything that is going on. Doing much reading and playing to get me reacquainted with the game as I have been working on other projects.

[JaredKatyaFan]

You are going to be missed, Mr. Heaton. But you did a fantastic job as community manager for our game. I wish you the best of luck in your new adventure with the Extra Life people.

Now, I don't know Frelorn (I haven't been around long enough), but you, sir are going to have MASSIVE shoes to fill!!

Jared

[lf2536]

wow, this is certainly the end of an era, not only is Patience just a virtue (if you get the reference then you've been here a while ) but now we'll lack some of the wisdom these forums have had guiding it for the past 6 years. thank you very much for your time trying to keep this bunch of misfits in line. I wish you all the good luck you may need in your new job.

[Asileth]

Good luck in your future endeavors.

[Sapience]

That's a wonderful thing for Extra Life, and I'm happy that they will have you, but you will be missed here (at least by some of us). Looking forward to meeting and interacting with Frelorn.

How soon will this change be taking place?

He's here! I'm going to get him caught up on everything like the Council, Live streams (Though I'll be continuing the SHIELD runs), and release notes (Update 14.1 is coming up pretty quick). But my last official day at Turbine will be August 1.

[Brinswith]

good luck and great for supporting a good cause.

[Damojo]

It's a great cause and I wish you all the very best in your new role. Thanks for your work here.

[Thornelas]

Good luck Sapience, safe travels wherever you go and a huge thank you for all you've done for us... You'll surely be missed here!

[Finranduil]

I'm sorry to hear that you're going to leave us But you are going to do something else that is even more important then us (yes it's possible ). Thank you for helping us by clearing things up in the streams and the forums. And of course thank you for all those many other things that you do for us and that we are not even aware of I wish you all the luck on the things that you're going to do and I hope to see you in-game! And to Frelorn: Welcome to one of the best communities around the globe! I hope that you'll feel home soon. Have fun!

Lorim

[Eirithdiel]

Do come back and visit us players once and awhile ok? We wish you the best of luck for the future.

[Thundertrain]

"For he's a jolly good fellow...for he's a jolly good fellow..."

Sapience, I wish you all the best at Extra Life. I'm not sure what the terms and conditions are of your new position, but would Turbine let you come back and comment on the forums as a player from time to time?

Frelorn, welcome back! Make sure Rick runs over the expansive list of definitions for "Soon". You're going to need it.

-Thundertrain

[greatmom]

Good luck with the new direction that your career is taking you, Rick , you will be missed here in the community.

[Beaniemooch]

Sapience, I wish you the best with Extra Life.

Frelorn, welcome, and I look forward to talking to you in the future.

[NynofArk]

What an amazing opportunity for you! Sad to see you go, glad I got to meet you earlier this year. Best of luck to you!

[Batel]

I haven't played LOTRO regularly in well over a year, but still feel the need to say a resounding "thank you" to Sapience for your hard work, your dedication, your level head (well, most of the time...lol) and your sense of humor. Your contribution meant much to me during my time in Middle Earth, and should I return one day, I know your absence will be felt.

With that, a huge congratulations on your new position - and yet again, a thank you for accepting a position with such a worthwhile organization. I have full confidence that your insight and passion for the cause will help make the world for sick and injured kids a better place.

The road really does go ever on and on, eh?

Best wishes,

Bat/Barb

[Bel-Astarte]

It's clear that this is a passion for you, and being able to work every day on something you're passionate about is a too rare gift.

May you enjoy every moment, and thanks for your great work with the Lotro community.

On that note, welcome Frelorn (or welcome back, I guess), and I look forward to seeing you in action.

[ArsSupervivendi]

I wish this was the type of "soon" that means "Never gonna happen!" Will miss you, Sapience. I Wish you all the best for your job at Extra Life. I hope they know, what they gain with you.