Today Kate “Nereid” Paiz talks about LOTRO's 4th birthday, Update 3, and more! Click here for her latest Producer's Letter and post your comments here!
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Today Kate “Nereid” Paiz talks about LOTRO's 4th birthday, Update 3, and more! Click here for her latest Producer's Letter and post your comments here!
Err 2011 :)?
While saddened to hear about the raid not being finished until ROI, and a little annoyed by the plugs for store items (wonder if you are required to mention the store a certain number of times), I'm quite glad to hear that there's another update scheduled just a couple months away.
Don't get me wrong. I love the new patch and all there is to do, but my kin lost a lot of people in the long dark time between mirkwood and update 2, and people are still leery about an announcement devoid of any new group content.
interesting:
After that, we’ll be introducing a new festival-like event where players will get a chance to spend a few days frantically searching for buried treasure. It’ll have some cool in-game rewards, and will likely be open for play periodically over the year.
we’ll be introducing a new Anniversary Festival, for players to enjoy as we celebrate our 4th birthday in April!
Sad to hear about the delay:
To answer one question about Isengard: some of you have been asking about the other raid we have in development – it’s going to be an amazing experience, as it has a monstrous dragon boss with custom voice-over and lip-syncing animation, but it’s also been challenging to get all those pieces intertwined so we’re going to keep working on it and it will now be a part of the Isengard release this fall.
Good to hear info on update 3 and a date:
We’re also working on Update 3, currently scheduled for late May, with 2 new mid-level instances and 2 new Skirmishes, all of which support scaling to level 65.
Hehehe thanks! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by JeanCarlo
Hooray for 2 new mid-level instances and 2 new skirmishes in May. I was actually wondering if there was going to be another big update before Isengard, so I'm glad that the answer is yes.
I wonder, will the May update include a new book as a prelude to Isengard? Or is that something that will launch with Isengard itself?
The advertisement for the newly improved (and more expensive) LOTRO Store potions in the first paragraph kind of ruined the rest of it for me. At least players now know not to expect another raid until Isengard is released.
My overall feedback: LOTRO needs less "store" and more "story".
Though I question the slightly blatant store item plugs [sorry, just my opinion] I did like the information that was presented. I like that there will be a SM reset token coming to the LotRO store [this is something I can definitely live with being store only - it isn't a requirement, just something nice to have in case you make a mistake w/ your soldier].
The treasure hunt thing reminds me, going by her words only, of the latest DDO anniversary event... I hope it isn't like the DDO event [not only to keep the products unique, but because that particular event didn't sit well with me - opinion again]. Please let it not be Goblin Pirates and Miners... :)
I don't have much of an opinion on the raid delay, but it looks like they are working some new tech into the game via it and can understand why it may take longer than expected. New skirmishes and instances coming in may? That is the quick pace we have been hoping for since F2P was announced - Considering the time between the last pre-F2P content patch, then between F2P and Update 2 - Update 3 will be coming in quicker than we have gotten used to :)
In terms of end-game instances:
What we have now is all we're gettting till Isenguard..6-8 months of nothing new, wonderfull to hear.
:(
If anyone wants to know what was in the letter and not read it...
The store is doing great!
The Raid is delayed 8 months for a fluff feature in it with moving lips on a voice over.
We are getting 2 instances (no disclosure on group size) and 2 skirmishes for mid to max level!
YAY!
Hrm - figured what I said may be taken out of context so I have removed it before a moderator has to. I will keep quiet now.
Agreed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fredelas
This was a bit of a cheap shot IMO.Quote:
The improved Morale potions and Battle potions of Restoration have also found permanent places on my hot bar, as have my new milestones.
I sincerely hope, that when you design your end game raids, you don't have store pots hot keyed to make it playable, as a set variable of design.
That would be highly dishonorable, profitable yes, but highly dishonorable, and not a sustainable practice in the long run.
Profit now, pay for your sins later.
I have to stay I have been enjoying this new update and cant wait to see what comes out in may.. Only thing i want to complain about is I want custom weapon slots so i can hold a fish and still fight with my regular. As for the raid all good things come in time. I don't get why people complain if you compare the amount of content that this game puts out as apposed to WOW and others, LOTRO brings out more raids/ dungeons than any other game. Keep up the good work guys. Im so glad I became a lifer when I did =D!!
Another festival? I guess that's ok since I have no time to explore the one currently on.
Note to Turbine: Releasing a festival at the same time as 5 brand new instances, including a raid, is a really bad idea.
"The improved Morale potions and Battle potions of Restoration have also found permanent places on my hot bar, as have my new milestones."
Easy when you work for Turbine and have access to unlimited Turbine Points. Not so easy when you have to pay cash.
Well to be fair the letter was a little forum trollish. It plugged the store heavily, it brought up a cool raid that is being pushed back a release, it mentions more skirmishes, and its biggest news was low level and fluff stuff. That is practically a bingo.Quote:
Originally Posted by carlosjuero
Personally, I am very happy to hear about the new skirmish soldier reset and I hope the new instances are the Fornost revamp. I was hoping to hear there would be a new book, but no word.
Another Update in MAY?!?!?
http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/ph...12/12/woot.gif
No mention of continuing class updates? I'm sure Guardians and Wardens are all anxious for their class updates...
I really like the new look of the character panel, as well as the new content. My highest level toon is 45 Hunter, at which point I had to go back to Evendim to re-coup the benefits of Rep. At any rate I have a question: Will there in the next up date a way for Kinships to have a Kinship bank? Not to make this game like WOW. But it would prove to be helpful for Kinsmen to share profession items amongst the Kin.
I really think this game is great alot better than WOW, as I have played that for 6 years, and most of the people that I have come acrossed are very helpful, and polite, as I do pay attention to in game chat as well.
Thanks again for your hard work.
I hope that the Wardens, Guardians and Champion's class revisions are also in Update 3. Did Kate forgot to mention that or are they gonna be delayed?
As a member of the EU I can say that the new Update is great for most players so a great job there and a round of applause to the dev team for your hard work.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darej
However I agree that the store is becoming an in your face thing, i paid less than a year ago for my life-time subscription despite being with the game since Beta, and am not seeing that many "rewards" anymore for being as such. I don't have a lot of money so i cant buy points, yet all the good things are going there? Plus saving points inst the best option because when you have enough points as a life-time subscriber new things you want are out. Perhaps some consideration to those who didn't start at F2P? Such as separating ways to get things to VIP's and then a different way for F2P?
+1, baby! Our time is due! And please don't nerf us? Please?Quote:
Originally Posted by Morcanden
I have to agree with other posters that bludgeoning me over the head with the Store items in the first paragraph of the Producer's letter gives a clear indication of where the priorities are for the game - and they are not in the game itself. /sadpanda
That said, it's nice to be given a reason for the raid delay (whether or not people find it convincing is beside the point). Bonus points for new scalable instances and skirmishes unlooked-for before the aptly-acronymed ROI expansion. I, too, had grown resigned to seeing no appreciable increase in updates after F2P despite the hype to the contrary. Still not up to what was anticipated, but better than none.
And I am looking forward to seeing what this treasure hunt thing is like - hopefully it's something anyone at any level can participate in, and not something that higher level players can make undoable for others - seen enough of that in other games to last me a lifetime. If so, it will be something new and different than we've really seen - and as such will be a very welcome celebration.
My hot bar contains skills/items that I NEED like food, tokens, scrolls or the everyday skills that are part of the skill rotation. Often, useless things like Ardour on my champ, the dance emote on my minie or the bow emote on my captain are out of my hot bars because I don't need them.Quote:
"The improved Morale potions and Battle potions of Restoration have also found permanent places on my hot bar, as have my new milestones."
The day I need your super pot from the store it will be a sad day. That will probably mean the end of an era. And that part of the letter feels exactly that: pots are like food or tokens or pip gen skills...
The rest of it is just compliant with the direction the game is taking. Store as the money maker. I agree with one thing though: no promises of LIs leveling with you and other BS. It is what it is.
I was under the impression that RoI would also have a raid, with the delay of the Anniversary raid does that mean that the plan is to launch RoI with 2 raids or that the RoI raid will be delayed? Or was my initial assumption incorrect?
I always thought that a second raid so soon after OD was going to short change one of them, unless it was a single dungeon raid a la Watcher or Turtle.
Personally, I could care less about group content or festivals. So basically nothing currently on the radar that would even moderately interest me. Glad I'm going Premium next week.
I suspect many players won't even notice the lip-syncing on the dragon, honestly. But one can always hope, I guess.
And yeah, the blatant store plug was a bit tacky. It gives me absolutely no confidence that Turbine will see the error of its current ways, or even acknowledges just how many veterans are unhappy. But hey, maybe it will all work out for Turbine in the long run. They'll just have to do it without any more of my money, is all.
If the new raid is as well done as OD then I will gladly wait. Would love to hear more about how many bosses & if this means that Isengard will launch with multiple raids.
"...and the Gorthoron Raid (thank goodness the wings stay unlocked once finished – I just can’t quite hack those all night raids anymore)."
What is she talking about here? That's what a raid lock has always done. Maybe she was thinking about the excessive trash pulls in BG or the gauntlet re-spawning, which has nothing to do with locks. If so, I can agree that it would be a much better raid if it got a once over and 3/4 of the trash was pulled out.
Looks interesting, it's a shame that the raid is being delayed (sounds cool though, everyone likes a dragon).
I think the dwarves would have something to say about this.Quote:
Originally Posted by dotfive
So a May update probably means mostly a "class update" patch. Wardens, Guards, Chumps?
Anniversary rewards this year for VIP or Lifetime subscriptions this year are not mentioned. I think we all enjoy those.
The masses want festibals!
:rolleyes:
Show me the money, Turbine...
Rewards?? For Lifers? You have my attention =PQuote:
Originally Posted by Beimez
Big thanks to the money machine at WB/T for providing yet another game improvement only available for cash via the Store.
Many of us have wanted an option to "Trade In" our Soldier, in whom we have often invested a lot of SMs, to try a different model, but just can't stomach the idea of paying out vast amounts of SMs to level another model just to find it doesn't work.
Instead of making the Scroll to return the SMs from a Soldier only available by paying yet more money to WB/T this item should be available for SMs. This would be entirely logical and consistent with the basic premise of a Skirmish Soldier; but it obviously runs counter to the micro-transaction approach to the game where extra cash is milked from every opportunity.
I guess the next thing will be Skirmish Soldier improvements, or to use WB/T-speak "convenient enhancements", that are likewise only available for cash through the Store?
Brilliant! Now, fix the wallet so it can hold all the danged tokens, branches, leaves, twigs, medallions, badges, and assorted other "currencies" so we can have some of our Vault space back. (snarky comment about liking our vaults full of this stuff to sell more Vault space in Store with held).Quote:
We’ll also be introducing a new item to the LOTRO store that allows characters to reset the Skirmish Marks spent on Skirmish Traits.
I'll add my 2 cents here.
The blatant store advertising is disheartening. Do, the developers actually think people LIKE how in your face the store is? It makes me wonder.
I would offer more of my opinion, but it appears I need to buy an item from the store to continue.
I agree with the rest of the thread that the store plugins in the first paragraph were tacky and unnecessary.
Nice to know that there is an update planned for May, not surprised about the delay of the raid, though this "dragon" bit made me wondering. Will it be an undead Ancalagon? XD Maybe she meant drake... ah, who knows.
Also, folks, I imagine that more class updates are on the way. I doubt that every upcoming update for May was announced in this letter, especially since, while 2 instances and 2 skirmishes are cool, that's still nothing compared to this last update. I would imagine more class improvements, and maybe some more UI changes and core element revamps (like some kinship improvements).
And dang it all, I want housing revamped :(
I really love the new content so I'm really happy with the last update. I think all the instances are great, and i'm glad to hear that bugs are being worked on. Glad to hear some news about the raid, even though it's being delayed. Also glad to see some fluff festival stuff, regardless of what some people say I think the festival stuff is a lot of fun. However the letter just leaves more questions than answers, I would like to have some more details so for now I think the letter was a little meh..
Now that The Raid is delayed are we getting 2 raids with Isengard? or is the Raid that was suppose to come with Isengard getting pushed back also..
Also are there any incoming updates to the Legendary item system? I thought it was suppose to be a 2 or more phase update. however maybe I'm mistaken.
Now I'm not one usually to complain, but unfortunately the only time things get fixed are when enough people complain so..
Raid pushed back for a fluff mechanic? really?
Skirmish points reset, cool? Store only? What is the reason again for being VIP?
Just to reiterate what others have said.
I got to say my stomach turned when I read the blatant plug for the Store and the pots. I mean really, come on... Stuff like that just gets under my skin. You have already broken the promise about not adding anything into the store that couldn't be acquired in game also. Then you talk about the new raid and store pots right after? I don't like to try and read in between the lines that often but when it's so blatant its kind of hard not to... Now I'm starting to wonder if I should just get out before things turn sour and these store items will be required to beat content on a consistent basis.
- Smoki
I'm really glad you asked this because it gives us an opportunity to explain a common point of player confusion. There is a very natural tendency to assume serial events have causal relationships. That A leads to B as it were. In development, especially game development this is almost never the case. Most work is done in parallel, not serially. So something impacting A almost never leads to B and B doesn't always follow from A. They're unique, stand alone, events.Quote:
Originally Posted by Smokey050
The raid being pushed to the expansion is not due to prioritizing a festival ahead of it, it's due to the scope of the raid being such that its simply not possible to complete it in the time allotted. So the option was, scale it back dramatically and make is less interesting, or keep the original design and allow the team more time. Rather than make a raid that neither the team nor you guys would be happy with, we took the second option.
As for the comment that no one will notice the lip-syncing. Oh, I don't know about that. :cool:
That's not how I read the comment. I don't think the poster was referring to the festival as the 'fluff mechanic' delyaing the raid, but rather the lip-synching mechanic that the letter cited as the reason for the delay. However, reading your response, it seems like that is not the only reason for delaying the raid but just one easily-identified aspect.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sapience
Not mine. Sorry Kate, I consider these potions to be an unacceptable store-exclusive advantage. If content is designed that requires the use of these potions, I can assure you I won't financially support this game again.Quote:
The improved Morale potions and Battle potions of Restoration have also found permanent places on my hot bar
Disheartening Store commercial is disheartening.
Since The Hobbit?Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrickwg
I imagine those store pots don't cost her as much as us :/Quote:
Originally Posted by Ciryandir
Skirmish mark reset store only also strikes me the wrong way. Yes, recovering many skirmish marks on a soldier you decided not to use is a "convenience", so this at least doesn't break game balance like the pots could if they became a requirement.
Would have really liked to see something saying "Lifers and VIPs, we have something
special for you...". Whatever came after, would at least feel that the howling
going on was acknowledged, rather than hearing that there has been lots of
"positive feedback ... on the changes in the store".
On the positive side, glad new bugfixes and content are coming. On the negative
side, the number of times the store dialog pops up when I click on random things
is getting really disgusting.
Yes Northcotton Farm is great! Love more hobbit/shire goodness, and the extensive farm has a real authentic feel to it. Good job. (Hope to see the South Farthing one day too. I can never have too much Shire.)
The new upcoming raid sounds REALLY interesting! I agree, take the time needed to do it as much justice as possible. I'd rather have things polished and excellent than rushed out the door half-baked.
But a dragon??? What's up with that? I'm curious as to how it fits the lore.
Well all-in-all it sounds like some exciting changes coming, though you know us, we always want more, more, MORE! :D
P.S. I also was turned off by the Store bought pots plug. I never liked them in the first place, and to see them pushed like that certainly doesn't improve things, and continues my concern that these are going to be seen as necessary items.
lol sorry i never read the books so was not sure never knew there was talking animals in lotr like chronicles of NarniaQuote:
Originally Posted by Macfeast
Since their creationQuote:
Originally Posted by Patrickwg
Well we have talking wolf-like creatures, tree-like creatures, spiders, eagles, etc...Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrickwg
I would HIGHLY recommend you read the books, they are awesome!
I'm enjoying Update 2 and like hearing about coming changes/content.
^^Quote:
Originally Posted by Lomeloth
I agree also, I find the first paragraph of the letter to be insulting actually. We don't need these pots to complete content supposedly and we get a "Producer's Letter" with blatant plugs for store items. I'm very disappointed by the tone of the letter. It doesn't come across as very sincere.
They let dwarves talk, why not more intelligent creatures?Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrickwg
/couldn't help myself
You can run across a couple of them in the Shire.Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrickwg
So far I am very pleased with the Free to Play transfer. I am a beta lifetime account member, I can say Turbine has done a very good job of keeping LOTRO a top MMO on the market. However I am not happy about the LI relic scroll issue. I would rather spend my Turbine points on perks. I don't wish to rant but on it, but keep it simple. So here it is.
I feel that if there was a in-game quest to gain a scroll it would solve many hard feelings some players have about being forced to buy this item. As a lifetime member I can pool my TP(500 per month), but for new players..this seems like a cash grab to me.
I have faith in Turbine. This from a AC2 player ;)
Go read them! Start off with the lighter "Hobbit" to encounter a few talking animals... ravens and a great dragon especially stand out... and then go to the denser, larger LOTR :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Patrickwg
I wonder if the delayed raid will replace the raid promised with Isengard, or if it will be in addition to the Isengard raid. (Whether a part of that package or not).
Also, am I to understand that there will be no updates between May and Isengard in December?
As for the quote
"The improved Morale potions and Battle potions of Restoration have also found permanent places on my hot bar, as have my new milestones."
I fear that these pots will be "required" in the new raids/instances, as they would be balanced towards using them and tested with characters that has access to them.
Which makes me wonder... how is content tested on Palantir anyways? Are instances run with characters with average or low quality equipment, or just high/maxed characters?
Store Plugins - definitely a turn off. I fear the day that this game is completely built around the store, and unfortunately it seems like its getting closer every day. That turned the entire post sour for me at least. That and the new update being full of little advertisements for the store. Little buttons that jump out and say "buy me! buy me!"
I just hope Isengard is not another Mirkwood.
Hi, thanks for the info about coming updates! I would like to take a second to respond.
I also enjoy the new content like many other people. It is challenging yet fun and not overly tedious. I play on crickhollow primarily and started with F2P, so my gear is a bit lacking for tier 2 stuff, but I am working on it!
My main issue is the PVP content. First, the free people's armor requires shards from the delving of fror, which to be honest is not the most fun place. Also it would be nice for free peoples to get their pvp ranks and flat out buy the gear with coin, not pve grinding. A lot of people tend toward one side of the other.
Secondly, I think the creep changes are a step in the right direction... I honestly would like to see creep raids and freep raids almost on equal footing. With the new update and future updates free peoples dps is going to far surpass creep dps... I would like to see creep skill and passive updates to keep up with freeps. Some kind of a pvp skirmish with even teams would be a nice addition to the raid zone too ^_^. And lastly, it seems that some undergeared free peoples complain about well... being underpowered. Please try the pvp out for yourselves on both sides and come to equally fair decisions.
Keep up the good work
P.S. Stealth class with 50% healing debuff? What were you thinking? May as well give freeps a lightning bolt that instantly vaporizes a creep of choice.
I think the Store generally puts people off. Don't get me wrong, I like to peruse the items, but when a high ranking employee starts their letter off with a store plug or two, it leaves a sour taste. I have really enjoyed the new content, but have had some pretty bad issues with it as well. Getting locked out of the gate for the Tree Wing in OD was more than off-putting and not getting a GM response when 4 of us posted tickets and waited 45 minutes. When the producer cites that as our "patience" it's kind of a slap in the face. I had a similar issue with Stoneheight. I still haven't gotten credit for beating the final boss on Tier 1 or 2. These issues all seem like Class "A" bugs to me. They are as game-breaking as a crash/lock. I would even go so far as to say they are worse, because if my game client crashes in town, I can just restart. A gate in the game NOT opening at the final boss fight for 12 people is worse in my opinion. So to have the Producer in the letter just "thank me for my patience", it feels like a really canned, insincere response to the problem.
Sometimes I feel there is a distinct disconnect between player>Community Support>Turbine Decision Makers and feedback. The store comments at the beginning of this producer letter kind of cement that for me.
One last thing: There should be a "Custom Stat Pack" to mix and match 5 different Tomes of Agility/Vitality/Might etc.
But the current raid is less than two weeks old...Quote:
Originally Posted by geoboy
It hyped the store very slightly only at the start. The majority was not about the store. It brought up a raid that I hadn't even heard of, there's no reason to trash them based on the time since I think most raiders haven't even finished the current one yet, and this has never been a raid-heavy end game. It announced more instances and skirmishes. This sounds like BIG news. I'm baffled why it makes people angry.Quote:
Originally Posted by cicdle
Ah, that explains the question, my apologies. Well, there are a fair number of talking animals in Middle-Earth, some of which we even see speaking in-game (the warg-chief in the Misty Mountains, for example).Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrickwg
I must admit, I did not believe we would see another dragon with the next raid. Still, the part about the lip-synching caught my interest; Thorog, being a wight, was not very articulate. Encountering a dragon speaking, and in general acting more like Smaug, and less like a wild animal gone berserk, ought to be an interesting experience.
I don't get it. Some people are never happy... we have updates almost double as quickly as before, and still some people are scorning Turbine. I didn't much like the gap between instances either, but now they have picked up the pace a ton.
Another thing I glanced at higher in the thread... why does Isengard=December? Last I checked, it was "Fall".
I'm curious about the dragon raid too... Thorog, like above, was more a wild beast than dragon. So how does this fit with the Isengard plot... well, Saruman's known for breeding and experimenting, so maybe he somehow created a dragon? Or perhaps Dunlendings have a dragon in the mountains that they worship, but are jealous and don't want to tell anyone about it directly (remember the extinct Enedwaith tribe of the Algraig with their symbol a "Dragon"? [seems most likely in my opinion])? Maybe there has been a dragon in the southern Misty Mountains, unnoticed until now?
Im happy that story line is continuing south but as a fan of the hobbit id rather start to see expansion in the north go north into mirkwood and see the palace of the elven king (legolas' father) I think the game fluffed with mirkwood because they did a quick fix of only the southern section and didnt expand the whole way through also they're missing the entire wilderland between mirkwood and the mistie mountains through goblin town. Then again i havent yet gone through all of goblin town myself but never the less i havent seen any section on the map where you can get through the mistie mountains and into mirkwood. I understand that going to rohan will be key but i do believe the game has forgoten the war in the north. Besides id rather see what the town of dale and the lonely mountain and the iron hills look like before i start to go south i've seen all that in the movie why not something new?
I don't know if this one has been asked yet. First things first, love the update. Lots of cool stuff, I was right in the middle of evendim quests when the update came out, and I love all the new stuff there.
Ok now that that is out of the way, when are we getting flying mounts? Srsly, get with the program. That's what we want. Giant Eagle mounts, Fell Creature mounts, and Dragon Mounts. No excuses about it not fitting with the lore or whatnot, it's you guys' interpretation, so I am sure you can figure out a way to make it work. They should be immensely difficult to earn, but still possible, and only for 65's. And I say this without even having a 65, yet.
I mean cmon, that reject that we murder in siege of gondamon rides in on some flying beast, and he's a pushover. If he can get a flying critter to bend to his will, I don't see why players shouldn't be able to also.
Oh, I also think that monster players should be able to acquire Warg mounts. This seems much more reasonable, alot easier to code, and it fits with the lore even. It's a win-win. Oh, and for Warg and Spider monster players, just give them a "travel" mode that they could just toggle on to allow them mounted speed also.
So, again thank you for all your hard work. Look forward to the day when we can fly in middle-earth. Wouldn't want to be shown up by WoW eh, they made it work there, surely it can be done here.
Regards,
Goon
First, I'm glad to hear that we'll get another update before Rise of Isengard expansion. New Skirms and maybe new instances will be good things (I've been saying we need more "formal" group content between 20 - 50). I hope there's a bit more too it (like an update to housing, wardrobe/shared storage, and crafting).
But come on, yet another store exclusive? Can we please have these things drop in-game (at a slightly higher rate than .0000000001% chance)?
Sigh.
I'm sort of imagining a raid level session-play in Lake-town :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Macfeast
If I wasn't laughing so hard, I'd be crying.Quote:
Originally Posted by Goondalf
Thanks for the update, the Dragon encounter sounds really exciting.
On another note, if anyone from Turbine is reading who may be interested in knowing more about the effect of their current marketing strategy, I'd just like to let them know that, for this particular customer, it is extremely off-putting.
I can only assume that you have data that suggests otherwise, since you've committed to spamming the store button on nearly every game screen, and have decided to awkwardly weave the cash shop into this latest communication. However, as a big supporter of LOTRO's continued success, I'd like to encourage you to reexamine this strategy in due time. If it is in fact raking in the dough, awesome, more power to you. But, if this new strategy hasn't significantly increased sales, could you please relent for the sake of all our sanity?
Because for some people, there's nothing in the updates for them?Quote:
Originally Posted by Travisimo
I don't group (not by choice, but that's just how it's worked out), so that leaves me out of raids and instances. So there was nothing in this recent update, there is nothing in this upcoming update, and apparently won't be until Isengard...
Beyond that, if you had played the game before Moria, there were real updates to the game every couple of months...just because content stopped almost completely after Moria, and now it's gone back to a slight drip, means that people should be satisfied.
Well, I want to start out by saying thanks for the update, it is good to be getting communication across. As most others have said, Im glad there is for sure going to be another update before Isengaurd, it would be nice if a bit more story came with it too so everyone gets really ready for it.
BUT as others have also stated...those blatant store pulls are really annoying. We know they are there, you dont have to plug them more :) These news letters are suppose to be about showing your love to the fans and for the game itself, leave the marketing to the marketing people please.
To the poster a few posts up..no flying mounts kthxbai.
"Very slightly"? I guess that's in the eye of the beholder. I counted four store plugs in the first paragraph.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lohi
I guess we should be grateful we didn't have to sit through a 30 second video on the wonders of the store before we got to read the letter...Quote:
I hope you all have been enjoying the new Book 3 content and changes! We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback on the new Instance Cluster for Eriador and Enedwaith, as well as on the changes to Evendim and the new additions to the LOTRO Store. I’ve been particularly enjoying the Northcotton Farm instance (who doesn’t love saving hobbits from poison pies?) and the Gorthoron Raid (thank goodness the wings stay unlocked once finished – I just can’t quite hack those all night raids anymore). The improved Morale potions and Battle potions of Restoration have also found permanent places on my hot bar, as have my new milestones.
Actually, I count only two, one if you want to get technical. You see, you have an opening line, which is pretty much a commonality to include everything that the interior letter is going to have in a much more targeted form, that states the topics interior to the letter. Then she later continues about her preferences and likes, not a "ZOMG BUY NOW" thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sardonyx
But alas, marketing is something I know fairly well, as is writing up messages to a company of people (note: company as in group, not business). Either way, it's her secondary job of this letter to place emphasis on aspects that are 'current'.
According to the grapvine I've been listening too we were supposed to have Dale and northern Mirkwood already. Supposedly it was already on Palantir being tested, however due to the Hobbit Movie being pushed back and a rumored agreement in which Turbine is supposed to release Dale and the Hobbit(book) zones when the movie comes out we wound up getting a truncated Volume 2 and a hastily thrown together Enedwaith.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tholinstronginthearm
Hopefully these rumors are true and we can expect Dale in 2012 when the Hobbit movie launches. Also if the rumors are true then Turbine has had several years to make sure the content is well polished and full of goodness.
I sincerely hope you're just goofing around and aren't asking in any sort of serious manner. From what I've seen most LotRO players dislike the idea of flying mounts and dislike it vehemently. There are always a few WoW fanbois who come over here and start asking for flying mounts "because WoW has them", good for WoW their lore supports it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Goondalf
LotR lore doesn't support any sort of flying mount no matter how you "interpret it". Eagles, the only viable free peoples mount are sentient beings in their own right. You are asking Turbine to enslave a whole race of people so that you can have a flying mount. The eagles carried Gandalf as a personal favor because of his actions and it was their choice and it was only done three times in LotR and once in the Hobbit.
So if you think slavery is a good thing then go ahead and keep asking for your lore breaking eagle mounts. Me I'm going to be looking forward to mounted combat in Rise of Isenguard, something WoW doesn't have btw. Something that is also fully supported by the lore.
While I do so love the news of 2 new instances in the next update, I really don't like things unfinished. Anyone remember when they made GB, Helegrod, and Annuminas level scaleable? What's the news on that for the rest?
I have a feeling that, if not when RoI launches, then at least within 6 months of the launch, there will no longer be lifetime/VIP/Premium tiers. Everyone will be F2P. I include lifetimers because they have effectively paid for 2 years of play ($300.00/$15 per month subscription), and those 2 years will be almost over in December 2011 (I'm not sure when the lifetime option was discontinued, but I don't remember seeing it when I signed up in April 2010, and it was most certainly gone by the time F2P was announced - sometime in June 2010). I could even see Turbine simply "buying out" the remaining "lifetime term" with TPs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Smokey050
By then, they will have a significant number of players who came aboard with the F2P move, and who are used to having the store as just another game mechanic, and it much more profitable for Turbine to have 1 player paying $20/month for points (or 2 players, one who buys the $8 package and one who buys the $30 package) than it is to have that player on subscription.
Just to get this out...Quote:
Originally Posted by jewahe
No, you're incorrect about lifetimers...they didn't pay for 2 years, they paid once for the life of the game, that is the contract and that is one Turbine has to honor, even in a change to service.
As for the change to service tiers, if anything you'll see benefits change, but tiers will remain.
Nah, his was the most blatantly obvious troll post I've seen in a while. I simply did a :rolleyes: , rather than laugh, let alone take him seriously.Quote:
Originally Posted by UndeadKing
ME TOO!!! I want housing revamped too....Quote:
Originally Posted by Laire
So this is interesting. Are we on a 2 month content cycle now? A May release for Update 3 leaves lots of room for an Update 4 and Update 5 in July and September with RoI launching in November. I was under the impression we were on a quarterly update cycle but I'd happily accept more content updates on a more frequent pace.
But I don't see what the big deal is with the raid delay. The new cluster just launched so it's not like people will be sick of it in a few weeks. This isn't a raid centric game so people shouldn't be expecting a new raid every 3 months. Expect the norm for LOTRO, 1-2 raids a year. It's good that they delayed it. Why release a new raid 2 months after the last raid released. That takes people away from the previous raid and gives it a very short life span.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkCntry
Changes/alterations in the subscription agreements that would be viewed as negative by lifetimers would have already been factored so salvaging would not be on the 'A' list of issues.
Compensation would be a 'courtesy' but would not be required.
While all the different scenarios are possible, the probability is unknown so everything is conjecture until its announced.
I think players are overstating the need for the relic scroll. I haven't had much time to group lately so in my spare time I've been doing the old Moria solo instances in Dolven View, the ones that take the infused gems. After 3 full runs of the set of 6 and taking the sealed relic rewards, which are 4 tier 1 and 2 Tier 2 sealed relics, I have been able to make some new tier 5 relics, and a tier 6 relic. Players who are doing other content with access to higher tiered sealed relics would be able to progress much faster, and the changes to the LI system would tend to make it easier to make a weapon you'll keep for longer periods of time, allowing you to further accumulate higher tiered relics. I can see how players being used to the old system, and in the near term trying to get new LIs might feel the scrolls are a necessity, I just don't think that will really be the case long term.Quote:
Originally Posted by Draken-Korin
On another topic, I'd really like to hope that we'll start hearing about a housing revamp soon, mostly locked neighborhoods that feel out of the way and disconnected with the rest of the worlds, plus the lack of slots to place all out cool housing stuff that keeps getting added needs some good solutions!
I figured it was, but this is one of my hot button topics so I posted anyways. That if any WoW fanbois see it and think it's a good idea they'll have the simplest and most obvious reasons why it shouldn't ever happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by FoxFire
Quote:
Originally Posted by Laire
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Originally Posted by ThomasFlora
Yay!
Housing needs love too!
Housing needs love too!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cicdle
Oh oh.
Don't answer your door cicdle. I saw a few stunties heading yer way . . .
May, Cheers!
Looks like some good things to come. The store is looking great. Changes to content have been superb. Thanks
Thanks for giving an explanation of it, I figured as such but I'm sure there are numerous players who thought the raid is being pushed back for a festival event. It would be cool if the new raid was a "flashback" instance where we encounter Smaug or an ancestor of his ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Sapience
My feedback to the LOTRO team after this letter is this:
The presence of the LOTRO Store is becoming so ubiquitous, so pervasive that it is negatively impacting my player experience. The Store's presence is on the Virtue panel, Character panel, Hotbar panel, LI panel, Character selection screen, Barter wallet, Quest Log Panel, Deed Log, Crafting Panel, I could go on and on, it's EVERYWHERE!! Now it's presence is strongly reflected in the Producer's Letter's blatant plugs for silly items (in poor taste, I might add).
I understand you are selling a product, and the LOTRO store is a part of that product. Having multiple access points increases ease-of-access to the items found on your LOTRO storefront, I get it. However, my opinion (and it seems quite a number of my fellow players might agree) is that the LOTRO Store's presence is becoming excessive, far beyond what I had anticipated when the F2P transition was announced. Please develop a plan to provide adequate access to the LOTRO store without making players feel stifled by it's presence.
That's my primary feedback. Oh by the way, I love the new instances so far and the class changes to my minstrel were fantastic! Disappointed to see content promised in a former Producer's Letter get delayed, but the content we have will probably keep me plenty busy :).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bryzinkta
hehe, so true.
I'm beginning to feel like I'm paying a monthly fee for an info-mercial.
Sheesh, it's getting so almost everything is either pushing the store or making folks kin-hop to hardcore kins if they want to progress at level cap without fruitless grinding or doing hard modes...and some stuff not available at all without paying extra cash.
Now what I'd like to see is that EVERYTHING in game is accessible to subscription paying customers, without the store or hardcore membership, with reasonable effort through alternate routes.
That would be nice..but I suspect it's only going to get worse and worse...and nothing anyone can do about it...the suits are just worried about increasing income every month (job security). Don't be surprised if the expansion makes the game even harder so we have to buy something just to do anything without dying.
BUT, I'm enjoying finally being able to work on vol 2. Now if I could only figure a way to hack a 1st ager or eight so I felt like less of a wimp....remember when you felt like a powerful hero playing these games?
Remember when you had contempt for anyone who bought gold? The store is only different in as to who gets the money.
THe LOTRO store is understood the be the main source of income, but it shouldn't impact loyal paying players. Can I please change the key command from ctrl+s to somthing else? it pops up in every group using vent whenever you try to move backwards. I don't like that relic scrolls are required now to get your hard earned relics back. If you want to keep it that way fine, then get rid of the level cap and match it to the players level. (ie let me keep my legendary if I want to). Sorry for the LI rant but damage types should be tied to slayer deeds. Westernesse and Beleriend should be the ultimate slayers awarded by reforgers after you have completed the slayer deeds for x types of evil beasts. Wasternesse should for example should grant a bonus for +3 to all evil enemies and beleriend should be +5 for all evil types(ie not certain beasts). Gotta run, just the 2 cents of a loyal paying player who started in Alpha2........
that would be great about dale and northern mirkwood coming out in time with the Hobbit movie and mounted combat would be great...then again i supose mounted combat will be another LOTRO store perchase on top of the riding trait. i honestly dont mind the additions to the store i doubt that they will be absolute need to haves. and being a free player im happy to get through the story line quests. Besides there is enough TP in game to get just about everything you need. Ive unlocked Lonelands before it went free, Evendim, Enedwaith when it went on sale for 75 off, two extra character slots, the trait slots for most of my characters are finished... all in all im not complaining just hope the northern secction comes out before going south
Turbine/WB the new Zynga.
Comming soon 10 skill uses per hour. Store up to 500 skill uses and when you run out just buy more from the store to keep playing.
/sarcasmoff
Seriously this store thing is getting out of hand.
For those who keep addressing his/her post as though it's serious -- or at least apprehensively approaching it as such -- it's satire in the finest of Jonathon Swift traditions. Indeed, if teh interwebz had a Swift Prize for forum posts, I'd nominate Goondalfs.
Don't they teach "A Modest Proposal" in 6th grade anymore?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Goondalf
Thank you for the producer's letter. It's good to hear directly from the executive producer, something that her predecessor never deigned to do. And it's always good to get a glimpse of the future, whatever that may be.
I could have done without the in-yer-face plug for the Store, but I'm learning to try to tune out stuff like that. My ultimate goal is to tune the Store out to the point that I won't be able to find it even if, in a moment of madness, I want to. Wish me luck. :)
As much as I think it should be, I'm not going to bother suggesting that scrolls for resetting skirmish soldier's be made available in-game as well as in the Store. As someone said before me, it is what it is and it's not likely to change any time soon. At least the message is now straightforward and nondeceptive.
"Troll" post? Really? Satire to make a point is a "troll post"?Quote:
Originally Posted by FoxFire
Goodness! The definition of "troll" has taken on quite the wider defintion than back in my FIDOnet and USEnet days...
i like the changes and all and im excited about isengaurd coming up, but the relic removal scroll need to be adjusted some. IMO and i am not happy about this is that you have taken the ability to remove relics on reforge. This is a MISTAKE, you should still allow relic removal at reforge and still sell the scroll for in-between forges and if we are going to pay TP/money to buy this scroll, it SHOULD remove crafted relics. We shouldn't have to run to the TS(Turbine Store) everytime we want to replace a weapon!
Sincerley,
Kojak
All the hating done here regarding the store is getting tired.
It's the one thing that has solidified the future of my favorite game.
And frankly, if the increase in profits meant more content, I wouldn't care if they sold XP or first ages.
I'm still impressed with how much you get for free.
Thx, Turbine
2 new skirmishes ah, since there is no new map added between now to exp
could it be the battle instances of angmar and lorien being converted into skirmirshes finally
with that rep for both factions as well
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Originally Posted by jhan75
Nope. As Kate said, they're new. Not conversions.
You can change it from Ctrl+s, just go into options (Ctrl+o) select Key Bindings and scroll down till your find the store binding then change it or clear it like I did. One of the first things I did when the store was introduced, because I got tired of hitting Ctrl to do an attack and if I was moving backwards it'd open the store.Quote:
Originally Posted by tomcat211
I don't think so. There was mention in the article, but it was in no way blatant advertising, no "buy now!", and it encompassed a very tiny fraction of the entire letter. It's to be expected that they mention the store, why wouldn't they? It's a part of the game, there's new stuff in it, why not point it out? You don't have to spend cash on it if you don't want to. There are no advertisements in game. If you think you're overloaded with billboards every time you log in, then you need to get out more and see what real advertisement is. It's expected that players will complain bitterly even if Turbine just says "a store exists", I think most people have learned to filter this out from the complainers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarmon
If you don't like the store don't use it. Simple and easy. For the new SM recovery scroll, so what? You're never forced to use this, and it is obviously convenience only. So why complain that Turbine adds a new option for a feature that does not exist today, that can be easily purchased with point allowance (no way will you be buying stacks of these).
"Out of hand" sounds like a large exaggeration.
THANK YOU-thought it would have been there but i didnt see it first go around.Quote:
Originally Posted by UndeadKing