A thread of things missing in LOTRO's world that "should be there and somehow isn't"

[Ethuilir]

Going back to the original post, some other things that the world is missing:

• Farms: There are a tiny fraction as many farms as there need to be to feed the people, except in the Shire and parts of Rohan. Even Bree, which has quite a few, is way too few.
• Prey: Almost every region has 10x as many predators as prey, and it should be the other way around.
• Children: Until Dunland I don't remember seeing a single child. Though a few got retroactively added to Bree.
• Ordinary Trades: That cheesemonger in Cliving sure made you realize there was never before that a butcher, a chandler, a cobbler, or a soap-maker. Sure are a lot of smiths though, though when you talk to them, every one talks about armor and weapons; not one of them makes cooking pots, sewing needles, or farming tools.

To be fair, though, some of this reflects the source material. Tolkien was writing high myth; he barely mentions trade, only mentions coins a handful of times (and only gives us a price for something once), and rarely discusses everyday needs of everyday people except for when it's relevant to the story (notably in making the Shire-folk feel like everyday people). LOTRO only takes that farther, by filling the world's empty places with danger so we have something to do everywhere.

All of this, yes~

Also, I don't know if this is possible but I'd like to see a few traveling NPCs.

[YamydeAragon]

Going back to the original post, some other things that the world is missing:

• Farms: There are a tiny fraction as many farms as there need to be to feed the people, except in the Shire and parts of Rohan. Even Bree, which has quite a few, is way too few.
• Prey: Almost every region has 10x as many predators as prey, and it should be the other way around.
• Children: Until Dunland I don't remember seeing a single child. Though a few got retroactively added to Bree.
• Ordinary Trades: That cheesemonger in Cliving sure made you realize there was never before that a butcher, a chandler, a cobbler, or a soap-maker. Sure are a lot of smiths though, though when you talk to them, every one talks about armor and weapons; not one of them makes cooking pots, sewing needles, or farming tools.

To be fair, though, some of this reflects the source material. Tolkien was writing high myth; he barely mentions trade, only mentions coins a handful of times (and only gives us a price for something once), and rarely discusses everyday needs of everyday people except for when it's relevant to the story (notably in making the Shire-folk feel like everyday people). LOTRO only takes that farther, by filling the world's empty places with danger so we have something to do everywhere.

I can ensure you that all those things you mentioned are at LOTRO already, but i agree they aren't represented often enough. IMO all those you mentioned should be well represented on all towns & cities even if it is only for cosmetic value of the places.

[Carallot]

All of this, yes~

Also, I don't know if this is possible but I'd like to see a few traveling NPCs.

There are, but a very tiny amount. If I recall correctly a few ones walking in The Shire and later immobilized ones (Gondor, Rohan and recently in The Angle of Mitheithel).

If they could add this somehow using "enemy" burglars o minor "mirage-creators" (if we go to Umbar we can have desert/dunes/sandstorms/snakes/scorpions/mirages...):



Also animals hidden underground all-time (moles, worms...), giving a small hint in the soil (that is not always the same one). Or standing in trees (like big cats).

Is me or surprise attacks in landscape (really surprising ones, not the evident ones) are a rarity?

[Ethuilir]

Is me or surprise attacks in landscape (really surprising ones, not the evident ones) are a rarity?

Yeah, we need a few more Elite(?) mobs that patrol the map like that troll in Southern Mirkwood that came at me from nowhere (and chased me to death) yesterday while I was already handling a few normal and signature mobs that I aggro'd while riding. @_@ Was fun, though, especially 'cause I'd outleveled the zone by 5+ levels.

I know there are some patrolling NPCs but I'd still like some more that are traveling the road and maybe getting attacked by mobs.

[Boraxxe]

Is me or surprise attacks in landscape (really surprising ones, not the evident ones) are a rarity?

Yeah, we need a few more Elite(?) mobs that patrol the map like that troll in Southern Mirkwood that came at me from nowhere (and chased me to death) yesterday while I was already handling a few normal and signature mobs that I aggro'd while riding. @_@ Was fun, though, especially 'cause I'd outleveled the zone by 5+ levels.

I know there are some patrolling NPCs but I'd still like some more that are traveling the road and maybe getting attacked by mobs.

Yes.
It always gets my heart-rate up when I get surprised by a powerful attack from some direction where I assume I will be safe.

"If it's not dangerous, it's not fun."

I will never forget when I was questing/deeding to the north of Esteldin and WHAM! There is a huge purple Drake in all it's glory strolling toward me (and he looked hungry).
An old shard-dropper...but at that point I didn't know what a shard-dropper was. I ran away...fast.
I miss that stuff.

[Carallot]

Got a new one (well, partially as YamideAragon described above): natural small fountains, tiny streams and oxbow lakes.

I've seen a few streams in Vales of Anduin and regions after that. Also this amazing one in Entwood (minute 1:16):



I would expect streams (or dry ones between fields) from fountains or other minor water features.

Maybe they could add a few ones in The Shire? I haven't seen any in Yondershire but.

Tiny/small 100% natural fountains (without stream or pond) are AFAIK non-existent in the game:



Oxbow lakes are 100% non-existent at the moment, but maybe in Harondor we see a few (in desert plains they are pretty common) :

[Carallot]

Edited: Originally here I wrote "no geysers!", well, I was wrong, there are in the Anvil thermal area. Still maybe they should add a few in Malenhad and Forochel (small thermal area). The rest of the post is still fine.

I found strange that was not present in Mordor: a huge Malenhad-like place. Maybe Lithlad will be the one? Or that unnamed southwestern corner of Mordor?

And another that I found strange that was not present in Moria and even more in Gundabad (or Erebor): Underground thermal areas (with water, no lava, we have cold water and lava but not hot water, pretty strange right?). That was a huge miss IMHO!

What about humanized Hot Springs (like in the photo below)? I only remember the baths in Minas Tirith. No bath ruins somewhere? Like the Baths of Caracalla in Rome? No traditional hot springs like in Iceland?




*BTW, Mount Gram is a volcano in Lotro! That's why Malenhad is a thermal region! There is a volcano near Bree! Was Fell Winter (Long Winter is more suited for Orodruin) caused by a Mount Gram activity period (without eruption)?

[HunterGreen]

There are hot springs in Forochel, near Zigilgund. They're kind of full of worms though.

[Carallot]

There are hot springs in Forochel, near Zigilgund. They're kind of full of worms though.

Thank you but I was referring to "humanized" hot springs, a building with internal ones or a small rustic resort like Japanese onsen (but with the correct architecture of course). Also underground AND natural ones? None, and that is strange (Moria). Underground and humanized? None, even more strange. Imagine dwarvish underground baths with huge fountains and steam everywhere, special fountains with ferric or other mineralized waters...

AFAIK the only ones (and not hot) are only found in the posh section of Minas Tirith.

Dwarvish culture is somewhat based in Jewish/Ancient Semitic (so Arab somewhat too, that's why Moria, Gundabad an similar all have these decorations in walls) cultures so bathing (especially as a ritual) is a normal thing in their life. You know, BAPTISM!

[Carallot]

What about this:



Maybe we can be inside one of these (https://lotr.fandom.com/wiki/Were-worms , I know that Tolkien mixed "worm" and "dragon", still we can get "huge snake"):



Somehow the Foundations of Stone is asking for one of these! (without us getting brilliant blue eyes)



Or... Well... Other parts... (The Boys S3... "That" scene, yeah)



And yes, I find this whole idea missing in the game when the world has a history of gargantuan animals and we even explore a place created by them (Foundations of Stone or maybe the Last Desert near the Orocarni).

[Carallot]

Carnivore plants!

We have "bad trees" and "bad roots" but what about more variety with this? Maybe if we hit a jungle area in southern Harad?

We lost some introduction opportunity for these in Morgul Vale...



Also a nice video for having some new ideas and not the classic Plants vs Zombies options:

[YamydeAragon]

Carnivore plants!

We have "bad trees" and "bad roots" but what about more variety with this? Maybe if we hit a jungle area in southern Harad?

We lost some introduction opportunity for these in Morgul Vale...



Also a nice video for having some new ideas and not the classic Plants vs Zombies options:

Found many of those at some indoors garden of Car Bronach, Gundabad. I really want them as house decoration!

[Carallot]

Found many of those at some indoors garden of Car Bronach, Gundabad. I really want them as house decoration!

Err? I checked well Clovengap and none found. Maybe I missed something?