Developer Diary: Episodic Content

One of LOTRO's defining features (and indeed a defining feature of all the MMOs we have developed) has been the steady release of updates and patches that expand the game in every direction. There have been more than thirty major updates to LOTRO over its history, adding new regions, new dungeons, new quests, and new stories to the world of Middle-earth. The release of a new update sees us excitedly checking the chat in-game and reading the forums to see what players think of the new content and to get ideas for the next update. And then we put our heads down and get to work on everything to include in the next one. Read more here.

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Originally Posted by Frelorn

One of LOTRO's defining features (and indeed a defining feature of all the MMOs we have developed) has been the steady release of updates and patches that expand the game in every direction. There have been more than thirty major updates to LOTRO over its history, adding new regions, new dungeons, new quests, and new stories to the world of Middle-earth. The release of a new update sees us excitedly checking the chat in-game and reading the forums to see what players think of the new content and to get ideas for the next update. And then we put our heads down and get to work on everything to include in the next one. Read more here.

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Thank you for this - thank all those involved I look forward to reading it!

Lothhil

Episodic content for casual gamer, as planned. But new PvMP map + new monster update are awesome.

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Originally Posted by Frelorn

PvMP is one area where the excitement level remains high between updates, by virtue of its dynamic nature. The Ettenmoors aren't always overflowing, but this is an area where much of the fun is player-created. The battles can be different every night, which has always contributed to the longevity of that Freeps and Creeps battleground.

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I laughed.

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Originally Posted by Papou_sous_la_montagne

I laughed.

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He clearly means a different zerg every night.

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One possible answer was hiding in plain sight: every Monday morning, groups of developers would gather in the Content Pit to talk about the previous evening's TV.

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So.... basically you were goofing off?

Question: Have you implemented all 52 quests already or are you going to make it up as you go along? (emergent gameplay or whatever)

Question: If you haven't implemented all of them already is there a risk that you will miss a week due to other (unforseen) priorities?

Very excited for this!

I always hoped the devs will find a way to revitalize older game zones that have already been "played through", and this sounds like just such a solution. It will be a joy to have a reason to go back through some favorite SoA regions. It's always a bit sad to be "done" with a region after completing every single quest and deed there. And I hope more of such dynamic content will arrive in the future, that makes new and nuanced uses of older zones.

I'm excited! I've been on tenterhooks since Donnamira Took showed up in the Thain's library in Tuckborough.

Unfortunately I recently started slowly leveling my long-time level 8 hobbit max-guilded scholar, so I'm going to have to pick or start another [Stone of the Tortoise]d character to do the Bingo Boffin Bash on-level. But which server? Any guesses on which servers will be voted off the island first? With a year's worth of Bingomania I'd like to make sure I have at least one character going through it "live".

Thanks, MoL!

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Originally Posted by Tuco

I'm excited! I've been on tenterhooks since Donnamira Took showed up in the Thain's library in Tuckborough!

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Me too! Although I do admit I was tempted to take her away after she appeared and threatened to spoil what was coming, you guys were so welcoming to her that I decided to let her stay. :)

MoL

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Originally Posted by Papou_sous_la_montagne

Episodic content for casual gamer, as planned. But new PvMP map + new monster update are awesome.



I laughed.

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How can u like the new map its just the same as the old lugz grams shuffle but in a smaller area so more hugging 1 shots :(

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Originally Posted by q945

Question: If you haven't implemented all of them already is there a risk that you will miss a week?

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According to projections, the implementation of the entire event is far enough along that there shouldn't be a problem. I've been working on it since last fall, so the time for 'making it up as we go along' is well past. :)

MoL

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Originally Posted by MadeOfLions

According to projections, the implementation of the entire event is far enough along that there shouldn't be a problem. I've been working on it since last fall, so the time for 'making it up as we go along' is well past. :)

MoL

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I realized today there was a graphical revamp on the Barrow Downs. Does this new episodic content mean new graphics on the old areas? :D

I know our kin keeps getting a few new/returning players every week. This is something all can enjoy, no matter how long they've been in Middle Earth.

Hmm, I'll have to check my family tree--I think we had a few Boffins sprinkled in there a while back. Maybe Bingo is a long lost cousin. ;)

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Originally Posted by DiogoVP

I realized today there was a graphical revamp on the Barrow Downs. Does this new episodic content mean new graphics on the old areas?

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Occasionally! When reviewing the Bingo quest content, our Art Director saw a few places he wanted to touch up, so some regions might have gotten a few new coats of paint.

MoL

What sort of quests can we expect? Are they simple "Grab Ten X and Bring Them To Me" type quests? Will they be completed in like five minutes or will they be long and drawn out? Being the pessimist I am, I don't see this holding my attention at all until it's fully released if I can complete each week's single quest in a matter of minutes.

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Originally Posted by MadeOfLions

Occasionally! When reviewing the Bingo quest content, our Art Director saw a few places he wanted to touch up, so some regions might have gotten a few new coats of paint.

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Ah, sneaking work on old areas into the development budget. Clever. “I swear it's to support new content, boss!” ;)

Here’s hoping Bingo visits that ramp leading up to the front door of Thorin’s Hall… :)

Bingo Boffin: The journey is so close now!

This somehow reminds me of the journey a lot of us are going on during the next weeks. Can't wait for it to start! :) *fidgeting impatiently*

Could you please lower the respawn timer for items we have to pick up during these quests? People are already piling up, waiting for the walking stick or the bag to show up again. Please also keep that in mind for the future quests.

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Originally Posted by Fratonia

Could you please lower the respawn timer for items we have to pick up during these quests? People are already piling up, waiting for the walking stick or the bag to show up again. Please also keep that in mind for the future quests.

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It shouldn't be a problem for future Bingo quests, since the item interactions for most of them are done on a client-side basis; these items in Week 5 slipped through the cracks and were made in the original item respawn style that LOTRO had at launch. It's an inconvenient reminder of the way MMOs used to be, when we had to form orderly lines to get the items we wanted. One difference with these items is that the respawn timer is one minute, when back in the old days it might have been five or eight minutes! I'm working on a solution for these Week 5 items that will make them respawn in 10 seconds instead.

MoL

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Originally Posted by MadeOfLions

Occasionally! When reviewing the Bingo quest content, our Art Director saw a few places he wanted to touch up, so some regions might have gotten a few new coats of paint.

MoL

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For a while i was puzzled a lot about this change in Barrowdowns... Wonderd if something changed in my PS, in my DX driver, or whatever else, checked graphical settings and all...

Now i know, and thanks for making this change

Wow, the new episode allowed me to invite the brave hobbit girl Marigold to my home. Wonderful. :)

Now I can also display the relics I collected in Annuminas during last week.