Dev Diary Feedback: Book 13: Welcome to Forochel!

[Saffron]

Learn more about how a region is shaped! Join World Builder Scenario as he gives us a glimpse into how Forochel, the new region introduced in Book 13, was brought to life! Read his Developer Diary to learn more about the upcoming free content update, Doom of the Last-king!

Read the dev diary here, then post your comments below!

[KainXI]

Looks excellent so far. Always happy to hear any info from the devs

[hypdotsp3c]

great... MORE stupid animation effects to bog down gameplay fluidity instead of fixing the engine...

Since book 9, gameplay performance has decreased with EACH update...

Wonderful...

[MiideraSect]

This really does sound amazing!
I cant wait...you guys have been doing a fabulous job on LOTRO so far, in my opinion, and I have been thoroughly enjoying every aspect of LOTRO since I started way back in alpha 2!
The new breath effects and impact of the environment is going to add soo much, I love all the little details that add to the game.

I am so excited to explore Forochel, is there any way that maybe wearing warmer type clothing would help fight the cold too? I read that there will be armour sets available through the new Reputation up there...will the look of this armour reflect the culture and climate of that area? I am so hoping to get my hobbit Guardian a nice fur covered set of heavy armour

[Benucio]

great... MORE stupid animation effects to bog down gameplay fluidity instead of fixing the engine...

Since book 9, gameplay performance has decreased with EACH update...

Wonderful...

It sounds like you might need to upgrade to Windows 98

[Silverlocket]

Sounds great, and I can't wait to trek through the frozen north. I'm particularly happy that this will be in place before the hot, muggy summers we get here in South Carolina. I'll have a nice cool place to go to in my thoughts.

One question: will we leave footprints in the snow?

LOTRO is the best.


SL

[Hellgato]

Awsome! I can't wait. No seriously, you need to release this quickly!!!!

[Dean340]

It sounds like you might need to upgrade to Windows 98

OMG...i can't believe you said that





but it's very funny

[Asriel]

I hope I can use frozen fish as weapons.

[Arandil]

I hope I can use frozen fish as weapons.

That would be fun. Footprints would be cool as well.

[Northwoods]

Nice about the travel, but can we expect a new hunter guide skill for Forochel as well? Campsite?

[Beowulfe]

What about the new mount? There were, at some point, indications that there would be a new, and different, mount that we could acquire. What's the new mount, then? I was under the impression that it would not be just another different-colored horse, but something new altogether.

Maybe a dogsled? In one of the pictures previously posted, there was a sled (although it did not show the dogs, the sled certainly looked like a dogsled).

[sloth72khs]

great... MORE stupid animation effects to bog down gameplay fluidity instead of fixing the engine...

Since book 9, gameplay performance has decreased with EACH update...

Wonderful...

I really like the idea of seeing your breath, but I do hope that this can be turned off on the client-side because I have a suboptimal system and I don't want to slow down even more.

[sloth72khs]

What about the new mount? There were, at some point, indications that there would be a new, and different, mount that we could acquire. What's the new mount, then? I was under the impression that it would not be just another different-colored horse, but something new altogether.

Maybe a dogsled? In one of the pictures previously posted, there was a sled (although it did not show the dogs, the sled certainly looked like a dogsled).

Pretty sure they said it would be a different colored horse...

[Beowulfe]

Pretty sure they said it would be a different colored horse...

I coulda' sworn they said just the opposite. I hope it's not just another horse. Of course, how would dogsleds work in regions with no snow, anyhow? I know, we need mechanical ostrich mounts

[Amonceleb]

I hope I can use frozen fish as weapons.

Reminded me of this guy...

The Muppets' Lew Zealand, with his amazing boomerang fish!

With regard to Book 13, the thing that caught my eye (as an astronomer) was the introduction of aurorae (in this case, of the borealis, or "Northern Lights" variety.*) Someone did their homework...the couple of screenshots I've seen, the stars are visible through the auroral curtains, which is just how it appears naturally. Nicely done!





* There is also an australis version of the aurorae which appear in Southern regions. Aurorae are formed when charged particles from Earth's magnetosphere collide with one another in the upper atmosphere. Depending on the type of particle involved, the colors can range from green and red (oxygen) to blue/violet (nitrogen.)

[Amonceleb]

Maybe a dogsled? In one of the pictures previously posted, there was a sled (although it did not show the dogs, the sled certainly looked like a dogsled).

You're close, but it's not dogs you hitch to the sled. Think along these lines...

[sloth72khs]

You're close, but it's not dogs you hitch to the sled. Think along these lines...

That nose will be useful when we get to Moria, no need to carry a torch

[ararax2]

Looks nice, But I do wish there was a way to turn off some effects like the fire ones in the rift, that place is lag hell and I alway need to minimize everything and make it look terrible. Id rather see good textures and no fire effects.

[Benucio]

I coulda' sworn they said just the opposite. I hope it's not just another horse. Of course, how would dogsleds work in regions with no snow, anyhow? I know, we need mechanical ostrich mounts

Mechanical ostrich mounts is something I've been looking forward to since beta.

[DougHillman]

Pretty sure they said it would be a different colored horse...

No, they said the exact opposite. That it WOULD NOT be just a dirrerent colored horse. WOuldn't be a horse at all, in fact.

[sloth72khs]

No, they said the exact opposite. That it WOULD NOT be just a dirrerent colored horse. WOuldn't be a horse at all, in fact.

This is what Rhidden had to say on March 4: "The "Mount" that Keth was talking about in the dev chat is a new mount variant (IE: Rep horse, festival horse) not a brand new mount type (IE: hobbits, dwarves)."

This was in response to the content of Book 13

It's in this thread:
http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?&postid=1603538

[DBSRick]

Actuall, RE: Mounts, the EXACT comment made was...

There will be a new mount variant in Forochel, you will have to wait and see what color it is.

and also,

Our Lossoth NPcs will be able to skate and push sleds along, but players will not. As far as new Fast Travel effects goes, we have new tech for Book 13 that will allow us to set (or randomize) the appearance of the horse you travel on. It's a little thing, but it helps to make travel a little bit more interesting.

[Khafar]

Very nice! I like the sound of the environmental effects (although we'll have to see just how severe they are). Having a couple of counters to them sounds good too.

The landscape does look different than the previous snowy ones, and the aurora in that one screenshot is beautiful. Having a large, more accessible, open landscape will be great too. Nice work.

Can't say I'm particularly looking forward to another rep grind to unlock travel, but maybe the quests will get me most of the way there... I am looking forward to some more choices on 44-50 content to do!

Khafar

[NappingNow]

I coulda' sworn they said just the opposite. I hope it's not just another horse. Of course, how would dogsleds work in regions with no snow, anyhow? I know, we need mechanical ostrich mounts

I thought a dev had come and said it was another flavor horse as well. In fact I'm certain I've seen them say it was not a new type of mount.

I'll try to find the thread, but be forewarned I am rather lazy.

EDIT: Nvm. It's linked above by someone else. My work is done here.