Introducing the 2013 LOTRO Player Council

I'm very honored to be included in this first round and to have the opportunity to represent my fellow players in this focus group. There are several names on this list that I recognize from their writing in this community and in the LOTRO community at large, and I cannot wait to get to know them and the rest of the council members better.

Over six years playing this game (going strong) and I am still having a wonderful time with it. I care about it. I'm sure the same can be said for anyone who applied and/or has been watching this thread. I hope we do a good job of holding the bullhorn for the fandom this year, and that we're able to represent the diverse ideas, thoughts and opinions found throughout the player base.

Thank you so much for this opportunity!
:)

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Originally Posted by Sapience

I'll have to speak with her. Press were excluded.

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Oy oy.

I do not think so she is from press. Well, Jol is not an association nor a corporation I think. It's just volunteering.


I will let you sort it out obviously, and I hope she will stay on board. We need her ;)

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Originally Posted by TinDragon

Grats to everyone! I have to say, I am 0% surprised that Blackhawk was picked. (For those of you unfamiliar with character names, that's TheStormKing.) Sad to see that neither of Silverlode's folks seem to be heavy raiders, though I think BH will be close enough at least. Doubly sad that I don't even recognize the other guy, since I do know most of the people on Slode. I'm sure whoever it is will go to bat for us though. :)

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LMAO! I told my husband...you watch...Blackhawk will be on the council.

Two quick notes..

Three was 0 effort to include players from every server. it was a happy coincidence. The game is the same game regardless of which server you play on. Saying X play style isn't represented by your server's participant(s) is missing the entire point.

Also, there is an issue that's locking councli members out of the council area. We'll try to get it sorted out as quickly as possible.

These are the kinships that beat Orthanc on T2C on level.

Anduin - Avorthalier
Arkenstone - Noldor
Belegaer - Beleaffen, Legion der Freunde
Brandywine - Entropy, Shock and Awe
Eldar - The Illuminati, The Mellowship
Elendilmir - Apex, Off Peak, Ramble On, Vanguard
Evernight - Ascension
Gladden - House of Elders
Maiar - Nedh Anwar
Morthond - Amlug Herth, Erznemessis, Krieger des Lichts, Sturmbringer Rhovanions
Vanyar - Divide et Impera, Mixed Raid Alliance, Soldurii
Sirannon - Unquale
Snowbourn - Element Zero, Paprotniki

Another 14 or so kinships have beaten the Battle for Erebor T2C, which includes some from above plus...

Maiar - Zorn der Maiar
Meneldor - Methestel
Nimrodel - We Got This
Snowbourne - Resurrection
Vanyar - Hecki Hecki Pateng

If I left anyone off, I apologize.


What's the one thing that all of these kinships have in common?

As far as I can tell not a single representative from this player base was appointed to the Council.

That's a minimum of 360 players that Turbine couldn't find one spot for on the Council. I know for a fact that a couple of individuals from different raiding kinships cited above were nominated and applied. I know one that was nominated by several individuals. I accept this as a very deliberate indication that LoTRO no longer intends to support challenging raiding gameplay as part of its overall service.

I was holding out for two glimmering hopes that this wasn't the case. I thought that if someone from Vanguard, or Ramble, or Shock, or Ascension, or Legion or Krieger were on the Council it would be an indication that LoTRO hadn't yet abandoned these players. My second hope was that Turbine would have learned a lesson from the last two expansions and decided to announce a new raid with Helms Deep. Oh for two.

As they say, "It is, what it is, yo."

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Originally Posted by YesMaam

Nobody who does end-game content on our server :( I was hoping to see some new direction for raiders and the looting system at least possible inputs. I don't know the individuals on the other servers so hope there are some there at least that meet the criteria of doing more than 3 and 6 mans.

Also doesn't releasing these names undermine everything this is trying to accomplish? You just made of a list of names for people to harass through PM's and mail. This was supposed to be about input and output, not about the reward of social Lotro standing. I am quite pleased I was not elected, when I read through the player council notes I was under the impression that these names would be confidential and my purpose would be to coordinate with Turbine staff to make this a better game.

Anyways, trolling is not my purpose but I am rather shocked at this and felt compelled to speak out. Congrats to those that were selected and I hope you accomplish what you wished to!

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Don't be so quick to assume nobody from BW does endgame. I know of at least one that does some of it. ;)

I will try to do the community proud and feel honoured to be selected. :)

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Originally Posted by Sapience

Firefoot

• Shezgotnyctips USA

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The person needs their name banned. "She's got nice tips." Really. I'm ashamed to be from the same server as them.

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Originally Posted by robbie013

Concrat all...
Ook tegen de Nederlandse deelneming.

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Bedankt :)

And thanks all for the congratulations... I'm surprised and honored to be chosen and hope to serve you all.
To all people on Laurelin: Feel free to contact me in game.

That's ALOT of people from landroval.
iirc Landy is an RP server? I suppose they were picked because of their love of RP?
So are the majority of players RPers?

Just wondering.

Thanks once again for choosing me too, I'm really happy and proud! I think/hope we'll do our best.

Thanks Gardhik for your message! Of course I'm not only here for Sirannon's players but Estel too and all the community.

I understand Toffee, what a pressure! ;)

I'm reading your message Sapience while I'm writing, so I confirm that I'm only a volunteer for JoL, I wrote it on my application... so... As you want :)

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Originally Posted by Fortinobrand

Based on the three servers I play or haunt, I'm impressed at the mix of players. I see creeps, craft fanatics, raiders, a soft-core RP'er, a self-aggrandizing pvp farm exploiter, and a guy who thinks "fellowship" means his warden and a pint of beer. I hope they can have a positive impact on future direction.

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I'm also impressed by the diversity of players represented on the council!

Now my only burning question is, do multi-boxers get multiple votes on important council issues? :p

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Originally Posted by Aalix-JoL

Thanks once again for choosing me too, I'm really happy and proud! I think/hope we'll do our best.

Thanks Gardhik for your message! Of course I'm not only here for Sirannon's players but Estel too and all the community.

I understand Toffee, what a pressure! ;)

I'm reading your message Sapience while I'm writing, so I confirm that I'm only a volunteer for JoL, I wrote it on my application... so... As you want :)

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I was already feeling bad for posting here... I hope all will end well for you :) I will have hard time to find sleep in the mean time ^^

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Originally Posted by bastiat1

I was holding out for two glimmering hopes that this wasn't the case. I thought that if someone from Vanguard, or Ramble, or Shock, or Ascension, or Legion or Krieger were on the Council it would be an indication that LoTRO hadn't yet abandoned these players. My second hope was that Turbine would have learned a lesson from the last two expansions and decided to announce a new raid with Helms Deep. Oh for two.
"

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The #Inkling's rep is probably the closest thing to what you're looking for. I know they've actively worked on the games hardest content on-level for some time. They may simply like our server, not have cleared all of the wings in orthanc CM on level. Our server as a whole did 3/5 on level (Acid [non-zerg], Shadow, Lightning);

and while I dont know that particular player by name, I know there are other raiders among the group. I'm pleased with the mix I've seen so far.

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Originally Posted by Sapience

Two quick notes..

Three was 0 effort to include players from every server. it was a happy coincidence. The game is the same game regardless of which server you play on. Saying X play style isn't represented by your server's participant(s) is missing the entire point.

Also, there is an issue that's locking councli members out of the council area. We'll try to get it sorted out as quickly as possible.

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Ah, thought there was something amiss.
Thank you for letting us know.

Congrats to all of the other Council member who were chosen. I look forward to working with you all.

As a lifetime, founder, and player for over 6 years, I want this game and community to thrive just as much (if not more) then anyone. I look forward to help improving the game and get it on track to keep it going strong for another 6+ years.

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Originally Posted by Laire

Are there *any* heavy raiders on the list?

T2 raiding, I mean. Running stuff that isn't just GB and School for u10. Someone who's run the Fornost cluster 300 times without a flipping gold item yet and curses the ridiculous RNG every day. Someone who beat the hardest content without anything to show for it.

I hope someone who was selected is one of those.

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I consider myself a heavy raider.. and I have not gotten a single gold piece from any of the instances. So you bet I will have something to say about this when the subject comes up. ;)

I too am honored to be selected as a council representative, and look forward to meeting/working with the rest of the player council. Congrats to all!

Gratz to all those selected. Go forth and do great things!

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Originally Posted by Exion_Blade

That's ALOT of people from landroval.
iirc Landy is an RP server? I suppose they were picked because of their love of RP?
So are the majority of players RPers?

Just wondering.

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The only name I recognize is a very big Turbine supporter. That doesn't give me too much faith in this council, when people like that will agree with whatever Turbine does and be enthusiastic about it.

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Originally Posted by Gardhik

All good lucks to you and the other two as well.

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Being one of the 'other two', thanks for your good luck wishes and those from all the community.

Very excited to be part of this adventure and to get a chance of representing you guys.
Hope I'll prove worthy of such trust. :)

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Originally Posted by FundinStrongarm

Don't be so quick to assume nobody from BW does endgame. I know of at least one that does some of it. ;)

I will try to do the community proud and feel honoured to be selected. :)

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My philosophy as to this has many holes and flaws I'm sure but endgame is a very unfocused word when it comes to players making suggestions and recommendations about it to developers. A prime example of this was Hytbold and the continuation of it update 11 by stating that we will have the next half year to engage in solo "endgame" content.

What I was speaking about in my original post was specifically raid mechanics (what mobs do, what kind of mobs, where, how hard they hit) testing, making suggestions and so forth. The "end" part of it was specifically mean for T2 or T2C content only. I believe the only way to really even discuss this on a level playing ground with a developer is to truly understand how the mechanics work and how hard they are for "hardcore" players. As a writer of guides on how defeat such content I found myself realizing how many aspects there are to really understand and to understand those aspects you need to have defeated it to suggest ways to make it harder if its too easy or vice versa.

I realize as an MMO the above is only a fraction of the pie for raiders but it is a population segment and I was simply stating I hope we haven't been ignored. If there are such players on the council from other servers simply correct me to set my mind at easy so I know purples will not start dropping from T2C runs next year in raids :)

I'm sure you will do a great job for the community and we are lucky to have you. I've seen some of your forum posts and they usually informative and helpful.

Grats all :)
May your term of service bring many great ideas to the game :)

gratz to those who made it

1 question though, why did some servers get more representation than other servers? like E only has 2 yet has a very large population while Landroval has 7 members and Brandywine has 6 which from my understanding have about the same population if not less.

Congrats to all who were successfully accepted on the players council, especially those on Laurelin :) very pleased for Haki, whom I know through a friend and have quested with before. At least we know he wasn't chosen for his activity on the forums :P haha

Good luck to you mate, and to all :D

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Originally Posted by trancejeremy

The only name I recognize is a very big Turbine supporter. That doesn't give me too much faith in this council, when people like that will agree with whatever Turbine does and be enthusiastic about it.

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There are a few outspoken critics among the names I recognize, so it's not exactly the fan club that so many (myself included) were certain that it would be.

Honestly, when I applied, I was certain that my name was already blacklisted for being a naysayer. Since I actually made it on the council, that gives me some hope that they're looking for meaningful discussion and real criticism, not just fans who sign off on everything they propose.

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Originally Posted by Astrozom

Yicky! Grats man.

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Thanks! Hope to see you back out soon!

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Originally Posted by Lestache

Last I knew, Yicky's freeps are in MA, but I don't know if MA is still doing T2C raiding.

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Yes MA (or Misadventurers) still does T2 content so there are end gamers here :)


Congrats to all! I will hopefully be focusing mainly on PVP, and trying to make pvp a massive enjoyment for everyone and bring more people to the moors, get some goodies out there, so on and so on.

Looking forward to what is ahead