LOTRO Thoughts...

I decided to make this thread to give some fun ideas on what to do with the game when it shuts down. Now I don't really know what standard procedure is for that, but to me it could potentially be fun. These suggestions would most likely be implemented in the last week or so before the game shuts down, as it inevitably and unavoidably will. These would be:

1. Tell us what Erebrandir's Horseshoe does. The mystery has bothered me ever since I got the thing.

2. Orc apocalypse! I know it sounds silly, but think about it. What would be more crazy and/or awesome than having all the NPC Orcs, Goblins, Trolls, etc. Start rampaging the countryside like War-bands and attacking... everything? Since the game would be on the verge of shutting down, you might as well do all the crazy stuff you want to with it. I mean, why not?

3. Unleashing the Creeps. I understood the three million times that this has been shot down as a *serious* suggestion, but again, none of this could be considered serious. Give the Creeps some way out into Middle-Earth, and let the fun begin. Similar to the Orc apocalypse, but still different.

4. All gear for free! so that the few players left can survive suggestions 2&3, you know. All gear no longer costing marks, barter-able items, or anything.

Note once again that these ideas are supposed to be stupid and out-of-the-question, since they are supposed to be at the ending day/week of lotro. Feel free to share your ideas, no matter how ridiculous, in a comment on what should happen with the game when it's about to shut down! Have a good night.

Hehe. Personally I'd definitely vote for Creeps being allowed to run a muck on a new map for a change - before this scenario too 8)

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Originally Posted by Iscus

I decided to make this thread to give some fun ideas on what to do with the game when it shuts down. Now I don't really know what standard procedure is for that, but to me it could potentially be fun. These suggestions would most likely be implemented in the last week or so before the game shuts down, as it inevitably and unavoidably will. These would be:

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When AC2 shut down in 2007 or whenever it was (and, mind, it has since returned and is in beta), Turbine did several interesting things. I'll name some of them.

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1. Tell us what Erebrandir's Horseshoe does. The mystery has bothered me ever since I got the thing.

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Alas, they NEVER DID tell us the secret behind the Cerulean Throne of the Seaborne Empire of Yalain. You have to finish a quest to find out, and the quest involves
solving a puzzle, and I am a total dumb-dumb when it comes to puzzles. This time I'll find out or bust.

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2. Orc apocalypse! I know it sounds silly, but think about it. What would be more crazy and/or awesome than having all the NPC Orcs, Goblins, Trolls, etc. Start rampaging the countryside like War-bands and attacking... everything? Since the game would be on the verge of shutting down, you might as well do all the crazy stuff you want to with it. I mean, why not?

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Well, lag for one thing. SZC might object, for another. In AC2, on the other hand, when Turbine was working from its own IP (very
important), we got top-level monsters (Olthoi Queens, e.g.) in semi-newbie towns like Cragstone. Some of us were even able to kill them.

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3. Unleashing the Creeps. I understood the three million times that this has been shot down as a *serious* suggestion, but again, none of this could be considered serious. Give the Creeps some way out into Middle-Earth, and let the fun begin. Similar to the Orc apocalypse, but still different.

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See above. *If*, as we have been led to believe, SZC flatly forbade real PvP in LotRO, they won't allow it in the last couple months.

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4. All gear for free! so that the few players left can survive suggestions 2&3, you know. All gear no longer costing marks, barter-able items, or anything.

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Well, in the last eighteen weeks of AC2 (that's how long we had between the announcement and lights out), Turbine gave out all kinds of goodies. Crafting trait, which
otherwise we would have had to go out and mine, a rather tedious process (but much easier in Crafting 2.0 than in 1.0). Mobs and NPCs dropped "eggs" that gave
level boosts, Health boosts, Vigor boosts, and all sorts of goodies.

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Note once again that these ideas are supposed to be stupid and out-of-the-question, since they are supposed to be at the ending day/week of lotro. Feel free to share your ideas, no matter how ridiculous, in a comment on what should happen with the game when it's about to shut down! Have a good night.

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One of the saddest things about the AC2 shutdown was that in the Legions expansion (about a year before) Turbine had introduced two new PC races,
a new continent, and oodles and gobs of fascinating Lore -- and we didn't get a chance to explore them. I wound up writing a seventeen-volume
fanfic (I spent the first week plotting) giving the story as revealed so far some kind of closure. I am now looking forward to what Turbine will do
instead. At the moment they're still repairing bugs left behind by the software's having been sitting idle on a disk somewhere for so many years.

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Originally Posted by djheydt

See above. *If*, as we have been led to believe, SZC flatly forbade real PvP in LotRO, they won't allow it in the last couple months.

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Clearly the issue isn't licensing, because the feature was developed *BY TURBINE* and put into use on more than one occasion. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dja-BqrlSA for one example where the Russian operator made use of this feature.

I would love to find out what that horseshoe does. I have it in my vault for just in case I ever find out.

I Would have thought the obvious outrageous suggestion for shut down week would be a nemesis elite roaming say through Bree, called sauron.

I seem to remember that guy being of some importance :P

The Horseshoe pocket item removes on equip any stat that all other pockets have. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Iscus

1. Tell us what Erebrandir's Horseshoe does. The mystery has bothered me ever since I got the thing.

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Originally Posted by Nymphonic

I would love to find out what that horseshoe does. I have it in my vault for just in case I ever find out.

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It amazes me how many times we've answered this and how many times people say we never have. And how many times we continue to answer it, and people still say we never have.

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Originally Posted by Sapience

It amazes me how many times we've answered this and how many times people say we never have. And how many times we continue to answer it, and people still say we never have.

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that's what your government claims about UFO's and the moon landing too :-)

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Originally Posted by Sapience

It amazes me how many times we've answered this and how many times people say we never have. And how many times we continue to answer it, and people still say we never have.

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The horseshoe has been explained about as well as Helm's Deep has been. You've given some vague descriptions of where and how it will work, but provided nothing concrete. Some people want more info than the vague statement that it will effect some Epic and Festival NPC interactions.

Personally, I find the whole Horseshoe thing hilarious. Every now and then I'll see someone in the 'moors or running an instance with their horseshoe equipped and some outlandish claim about what they think it does, so in this case, keep it up.

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Originally Posted by Sapience

It amazes me how many times we've answered this and how many times people say we never have. And how many times we continue to answer it, and people still say we never have.

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Sorry, but this: http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Erebrandir's_Horseshoe is not answer, although it IS funny :D

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Originally Posted by phobossion

Sorry, but this: http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Erebrandir's_Horseshoe is not answer, although it IS funny :D

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Rather than linking to a 3rd party site that simply links back to the forums you could have just linked the forum post.

This isn't an answer?

"Some portions of the Epic story and certain festival events benefit from having this lucky horseshoe. In fact, the winter festival would be a good time to dust it off!"

and

"And it does reveal several things. And with a little thought it should actually tell you quite a bit about both what it does now and will do in the future (that's another tip off BTW).One of the dwarves in the Treasure Hunt suggests to take something lucky into the fields, saying that "one should always carry a lucky item in their pocket, like a horse shoe."

Three pretty clear examples. Also, as we've said many times, It changes. As developers add new things to it it does more. So to say it does "X" would be untrue. It does impact a portion of the epic story (which is where you get it remember), and the winter festival, and some other things and probably more that I am not aware of.

As for what players think it does (based on that site). False.

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Originally Posted by Sapience

Three pretty clear examples. Also, as we've said many times, It changes. As developers add new things to it it does more. So to say it does "X" would be untrue. It does impact a portion of the epic story (which is where you get it remember), and the winter festival, and some other things and probably more that I am not aware of.

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Which is why players will never be done asking for what it does NOW. Especially what it does NOW that it didn't do before. =) ; Its not like we even have a little 'The Horseshoe now does 2 more things' in the patch notes so we can enjoy trying to figure out what the new interactions are!

I have had this vision for awhile. When the game is about to be closed down, as as the final chapter in the Epic Storyline I want the option of entering a Final instance where my character is farewelled at the Grey Havens by the surviving (and still present) members of the fellowship and is allowed to sail off to the undying lands in recognition of all of his efforts in the War of the Ring. It could be announced across the server whenever someone elects this option, so that others could wish him well, along perhaps with the total # of deeds he has achieved in the game. :-)

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Originally Posted by Crell_1

Its not like we even have a little 'The Horseshoe now does 2 more things' in the patch notes...

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And I can promise, with very high confidence, you never will. ;)

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Originally Posted by Sapience

And I can promise, with very high confidence, you never will. ;)

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But think of the torture you would put us thru. :cool:

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Originally Posted by Sapience

It amazes me how many times we've answered this and how many times people say we never have. And how many times we continue to answer it, and people still say we never have.

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In fairness, you have never completely answered the question, and the portion of the answer you did give was intentionally vague. So don't be surprised when people refuse to give you credit for a vague and incomplete answer. It didn't work in your college history course, and it won't work here, mister. :)


College Professor: "When was George Washington born, and where, and what is he most famous for?"

Sapience: Well, he was born in the 1700s, and he did several good things, one of which has to do with American politics and another involved a big battle.

College Professor: *sigh*

Sapience: It amazes me how many times I answer this, professor, and how many times you sigh. And how many times I continue to answer it, and how you still sigh!

[lol just having fun with you, but you know this is true!]

First: I couldn't stop Loling through this whole post rofl. It's going to be interesting on what's going to happen.

Second:

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Originally Posted by Bard85

I have had this vision for awhile. When the game is about to be closed down, as as the final chapter in the Epic Storyline I want the option of entering a Final instance where my character is farewelled at the Grey Havens by the surviving (and still present) members of the fellowship and is allowed to sail off to the undying lands in recognition of all of his efforts in the War of the Ring. It could be announced across the server whenever someone elects this option, so that others could wish him well, along perhaps with the total # of deeds he has achieved in the game. :-)

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Idk; maybe because a cold breeze of wind passed by me or what; but I got goosebumps when I read this. If this really happend? Great way to end LOTRO.

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Originally Posted by Tosaf

But think of the torture you would put us thru. :cool:

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the masochist asks the sadist: when will you torture me?
the sadist answers: soon!

I think i see it work in the amount of harvesting extra's you get, ie clumps of peat and pinch of herbs.

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Originally Posted by Sapience

As for what players think it does (based on that site). False.

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I still got kinnies that equip it before looting instance chests or fusing relics. It's adorable.

I'll stick to my main definition: it's a social experiment in cognitive biases and superstition (even though it wasn't necessarily meant as one). There was amazing potential for research there though, too bad no one explored that.

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Originally Posted by Taravith

There was amazing potential for research there though, too bad no one explored that.

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...that you know of...:)

The horseshoe has been proven to give a slow immunity or something like that in the snowball fight in the Winter Festival.

What it does beyond that, I don't know. But some players figured that out after the hints came out.

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Originally Posted by Sapience

It amazes me how many times we've answered this and how many times people say we never have. And how many times we continue to answer it, and people still say we never have.

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Well, if you could bring yourself to tell us just once more, those of us who are reading this thread would know, and that would cut down the questions to some extent.

If you say you've answered it, I believe you; but I for one have never seen it.

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Originally Posted by djheydt

Well, if you could bring yourself to tell us just once more, those of us who are reading this thread would know, and that would cut down the questions to some extent.

If you say you've answered it, I believe you; but I for one have never seen it.

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Follow this link. It is the full text of the only thing +Sapience revealed at the time, a note written by the developer as a result of the Extra Life fundraising.

https://www.lotro.com/en/forums/show...86#post6458886

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Originally Posted by djheydt

Well, if you could bring yourself to tell us just once more, those of us who are reading this thread would know, and that would cut down the questions to some extent.

If you say you've answered it, I believe you; but I for one have never seen it.

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I did, scroll up.

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Originally Posted by Sapience

It amazes me how many times we've answered this and how many times people say we never have. And how many times we continue to answer it, and people still say we never have.

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To be fair, Turbine hasn't been terrible specific about exactly what it all does, which is what I read the OP as asking be revealed at such a time in the far far future that LOTRO might shut down. Yes, we know to wear it for festivals and epic quests, and the treasure hunt, because it does something, but we don't know what it does for festivals and the epic quest and the treasure hunt.

Sigh, okay I'll bite:

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Originally Posted by Sapience

"Some portions of the Epic story and certain festival events benefit from having this lucky horseshoe. In fact, the winter festival would be a good time to dust it off!"

and

"And it does reveal several things. And with a little thought it should actually tell you quite a bit about both what it does now and will do in the future (that's another tip off BTW).One of the dwarves in the Treasure Hunt suggests to take something lucky into the fields, saying that "one should always carry a lucky item in their pocket, like a horse shoe."

Three pretty clear examples. Also, as we've said many times, It changes. As developers add new things to it it does more. So to say it does "X" would be untrue. It does impact a portion of the epic story (which is where you get it remember), and the winter festival, and some other things and probably more that I am not aware of.

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Three examples, yes, but not all so clear:

1) Treasure Hunt -- presumably helps chance of getting bigger treasure caches (my guess; has it been demonstrated?)

2) Winter Festival -- demonstrated to help in Snowball Fight

3) "a portion of the epic story" --> no clue here

You may think you've answered, but clearly many players don't think you've answered sufficiently. What we have here is a failure to agree upon what exactly constitutes an adequate "answer" in this case. The justification of being coy is the fact that its effects change over time, and so no one answer will ever suffice. But as long as its functions remain ambiguous, then people will continue to ask. You shouldn't be surprised by this.

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Originally Posted by DanteIL

1) Treasure Hunt -- presumably helps chance of getting bigger treasure caches (my guess; has it been demonstrated?)

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Verifably False.

The caches locations are set when the round spawns. ; At best it influences the outcome of the RNG pull from a specific cache (IE better odds of a mount on the huge, etc.); Or possibly such things as a 'pick return' (opening a cache and just getting a pick back along with the other stuff) etc.

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Originally Posted by Sapience

This isn't an answer?

"Some portions of the Epic story and certain festival events benefit from having this lucky horseshoe. In fact, the winter festival would be a good time to dust it off!"

and

"And it does reveal several things. And with a little thought it should actually tell you quite a bit about both what it does now and will do in the future (that's another tip off BTW).One of the dwarves in the Treasure Hunt suggests to take something lucky into the fields, saying that "one should always carry a lucky item in their pocket, like a horse shoe."

Three pretty clear examples. Also, as we've said many times, It changes. As developers add new things to it it does more. So to say it does "X" would be untrue. It does impact a portion of the epic story (which is where you get it remember), and the winter festival, and some other things and probably more that I am not aware of.

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Well, instead of trying to be funny (during the times in past when asked about it), you could have said things like this two(?) years ago. Numerous amounts of people didn't pick that thing up simply because it looked like borderline april's fool day item, and there were no informations about it at all.
I won't cry about it, because you can still get things done in festivals, but your reply sort of annoyed me a little bit from general principle. You Turbine guys should really think about being a bit more serious when asked about stuff (that doesn't mean you should throw away any sense of humour, however!). This is more or less what I mean.

I used the Horseshoe for the Treasure Hunt event in early 2012 (I can't remember the exact date but it was well before RoR released) and got a Worn Symbol of the Elder King from the one and only Unearthed Sack I opened. I wore it again at the Winter Festival the same year and got a Tarnished Symbol of Celibrimbor from a Sack of Presents. I can't say whether the Horseshoe had any actual effect on my getting these items, but you can bet I've used it at every festival since!

I tend to put it on at any time the RNG comes into play as well, such as opening chests after instance runs and opening Hobbit Presents etc.

...I'm gonna keep playin' anyway

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Originally Posted by Bard85

I have had this vision for awhile. When the game is about to be closed down, as as the final chapter in the Epic Storyline I want the option of entering a Final instance where my character is farewelled at the Grey Havens by the surviving (and still present) members of the fellowship and is allowed to sail off to the undying lands in recognition of all of his efforts in the War of the Ring. It could be announced across the server whenever someone elects this option, so that others could wish him well, along perhaps with the total # of deeds he has achieved in the game. :-)

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This is what I'd been thinking of myself for the end of the game. I'd like it to take us away on the boat after the farewell too, so we can go into the West and beyond the veil, and have that be the last thing we see in LOTRO.

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Originally Posted by The-Walrus

Well, instead of trying to be funny (during the times in past when asked about it), you could have said things like this two(?) years ago. Numerous amounts of people didn't pick that thing up simply because it looked like borderline april's fool day item, and there were no informations about it at all.

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But most of the fun of the item is precisely because it's mysterious and intentionally meant to be funny. Some people don't have a sense of humor in that regard perhaps. Any effect the item has is very small, so very small that it's not worth worrying about. If some players didn't pick up the item when they had the chance, then there is no loss to them! Then again, the alternative items lose all their value completely once you get better replacements.

I'm honestly baffled why this still annoys people. I'm very positive that if the full effects are ever revealed, many players without any humor will immediately start writing rage posts about how their valuable time was wasted carrying around the things. Well maybe not that these players don't have humor but they're firmly entrenched in the old school MMO mindset where everything is fully revealed in fine grained detail.

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Originally Posted by ShireDweller

This is what I'd been thinking of myself for the end of the game. I'd like it to take us away on the boat after the farewell too, so we can go into the West and beyond the veil, and have that be the last thing we see in LOTRO.

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Exactly! Though there really should be four versions - elf characters sail into the West, other races do an appropriate farewell of their own. Hobbits return and settle down in the Shire; Dwarves - probably join Gimli's settlement of the Glittering Caves (we know that the Moria Expedition we did so many quests for is not actually the successful one that finally reclaims Moria); humans - maybe origin specific, returning and settling down in Bree/Rohan/Gondor. Not sure what the Dalemen would do.

I guess a simpler version would be for us to be at the Gray Havens in the background as the Ringbearers sail into the West. Though saying farewell to the NPCs lacks the sense of closure of Bard85's suggestion that our characters be the one to leave in the last scene of the game.

Re: the Horseshoe, I too find the existing "explanations" linked in this thread unhelpful. Then again I haven't been to a Winter Festival in a couple of years, and never did much with the snowball fight anyway. Tried the Treasure Hunt once, didn't find it interesting. I have absolutely no idea what part of the epic quest the horseshoe is supposed to affect, and I've done that through GR with six characters and through Wildermore with three... I do tend to equip it when farming Riddermark Ore (it's hardly going to make the Tarnished Crest drop rate even lower), and opening instance quests when I think to do so (again, not going to make the drop rate of useful loot any lower than it already is).

Spoilery-

So something you can check for yourself if you have appropriate alts.. In Vol 3, Book 2, Chapter 15 (An Echo of Days Past)- if you have the horseshoe on, when you travel to the top of the instance to open the locked gate or whatever it was, you will see a very... Wizardly figure standing below you. I have done this a couple of times to verify, and feel pretty 100% sure about it, but feel free to test on your own.. If you don't have it on, nothing to see below.

Makes me wish I hadn't sold my horseshoe. sigh.

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Originally Posted by Iscus

1. Tell us what Erebrandir's Horseshoe does. The mystery has bothered me ever since I got the thing.
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Hopefully LoTRO will never truly "Shut Down" as Turbine will always support it... I would like to know what this shiny horseshoe does though =D. How about ell us when HD is out?

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Originally Posted by WBS

I used the Horseshoe for the Treasure Hunt event in early 2012 (I can't remember the exact date but it was well before RoR released) and got a Worn Symbol of the Elder King from the one and only Unearthed Sack I opened. I wore it again at the Winter Festival the same year and got a Tarnished Symbol of Celibrimbor from a Sack of Presents. I can't say whether the Horseshoe had any actual effect on my getting these items, but you can bet I've used it at every festival since!

I tend to put it on at any time the RNG comes into play as well, such as opening chests after instance runs and opening Hobbit Presents etc.

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Apparently a dev or someone posted on a "What do it do" thread saying, "Just remember to wear it at festivals"

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Originally Posted by Sapience

It amazes me how many times we've answered this and how many times people say we never have. And how many times we continue to answer it, and people still say we never have.

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They actually were good answers, in my opinion... I really like the mystery of trying to find out what the exact properties are... Sure there are many hints in the game, and the slight unveiling on the forums, but the specifics are a good thing to find out on my own.

Returning briefly to the concept of the last week activities, Suaron gets the Ring and the Darkness begins. Creeps would run amok along with all of the Servants of Sauron in the wave of destruction that would sweep to the Sea! Player characters would be hard pressed to hold off the tide to let any of the last boats sail into the West.

I love the idea of sailing off Into the West (perhaps we watch the Fellowship leave, and then Cirdan tells us: "Your ship is almost ready to sail as well"....


What concerns me more is: once the final expansion is released (Mordor/Mount Doom) and the endcapped players get their satisfaction with the final quests/raids, in the first 1-3 months after release....then what? How long do you suppose that the servers will be populated? How long will Turbine keep the servers running as the playerbase dwindles - with no reason to return (story is over)? Think it's bad NOW, trying to do a Fellowship quest, 6 man instance, or raiding?

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Originally Posted by HeirOfNumenor

What concerns me more is: once the final expansion is released (Mordor/Mount Doom) and the endcapped players get their satisfaction with the final quests/raids, in the first 1-3 months after release....then what?

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According to Jeffrey Steefel in a 2009 interview:
"There's another approach that says we work through our very recognisable content in five years or so and then let the community evolve and see what the world becomes; that's when it becomes interesting, seeing a living, breathing world that takes on a life of its own. We still have to do it within a licence, but the world itself is so complete you can imagine all kind of interesting things happening. How do players, someday, participate more in what that world actually is?"

The original plan was for the game to be called Middle-earth Online, taking place entirely within the fourth age, but that plan was scaled back when Turbine acquired the game. If Vivendi could come up with enough post-Mordor content to cover an entire MMO, I'm sure Turbine could come up with enough content to squeeze out a few more years. After all, Sauron wasn't the only big bad guy in Middle-earth, he was just the only one directly fighting against the fellowship.

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Originally Posted by Sapience

Rather than linking to a 3rd party site that simply links back to the forums you could have just linked the forum post.

This isn't an answer?

"Some portions of the Epic story and certain festival events benefit from having this lucky horseshoe. In fact, the winter festival would be a good time to dust it off!"

and

"And it does reveal several things. And with a little thought it should actually tell you quite a bit about both what it does now and will do in the future (that's another tip off BTW).One of the dwarves in the Treasure Hunt suggests to take something lucky into the fields, saying that "one should always carry a lucky item in their pocket, like a horse shoe."

Three pretty clear examples. Also, as we've said many times, It changes. As developers add new things to it it does more. So to say it does "X" would be untrue. It does impact a portion of the epic story (which is where you get it remember), and the winter festival, and some other things and probably more that I am not aware of.

As for what players think it does (based on that site). False.

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Thanks! :)

I would like to see 6ft hobbits and 3ft men and elves. And everyone knows the horseshoe is used to check if the coffee is done:p

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Originally Posted by Sapience

I did, scroll up.

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I scrolled and scrolled and could not find any of your posts telling us about the effect in the snowball fight (that's the only confirmed effect so far), so I can say: no, you didn't.

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Originally Posted by Sapience

...Also, as we've said many times, It changes. As developers add new things to it it does more. So to say it does "X" would be untrue...

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Which is also valid for every other information about Lotro, since everything is subject to change, according to the licence agreement.

So now I am not asking about what the horseshoe actually does. Let's see if you can avoid these questions as well :)
What has been the effect of the horseshoe during the last summer festival?
What has been the effect of the horseshoe during the last spring festival?
What has been the effect of the horseshoe during the last farmer's faire?

Did the horseshoe ever have an effect on loot chances? If so, which one?

When this game shuts down I hope they learn from their mistakes and make an even better LOTRO.

This game draws from such a rich source of material it could easily become the greatest MMORPG ever made if only they would correct a few of the fatal flaws that held it back.

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Originally Posted by StavroMuellerBeta

According to Jeffrey Steefel in a 2009 interview:
"There's another approach that says we work through our very recognisable content in five years or so and then let the community evolve and see what the world becomes; that's when it becomes interesting, seeing a living, breathing world that takes on a life of its own. We still have to do it within a licence, but the world itself is so complete you can imagine all kind of interesting things happening. How do players, someday, participate more in what that world actually is?"

The original plan was for the game to be called Middle-earth Online, taking place entirely within the fourth age, but that plan was scaled back when Turbine acquired the game. If Vivendi could come up with enough post-Mordor content to cover an entire MMO, I'm sure Turbine could come up with enough content to squeeze out a few more years. After all, Sauron wasn't the only big bad guy in Middle-earth, he was just the only one directly fighting against the fellowship.

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I agree. This game took a steady decline once it changed hands. Now it's just a money trap with a lot of fluff.

In the beginning this game was something special and offered a unique experience. I understand it wasn't very successful, but I don't know why. Though I strongly suspect it was because of hardware issues. This game required top of the line equipment to play when it was released, and I think ultimately that probably caused its ruin.

I would have loved to see what this game looked like today if it had stayed in the hands of the original development team. The depth and strategy that was present in this game's early years was amazing and still hasn't been rivaled.

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Originally Posted by HeirOfNumenor

I love the idea of sailing off Into the West (perhaps we watch the Fellowship leave, and then Cirdan tells us: "Your ship is almost ready to sail as well"....

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The trouble with that is that unless our characters are Elves, they are NOT going to sail into the West. Not ever. Do you remember what happened to Ar-Pharazon?

Spoiler: he sailed into the West, and the instant his foot touched the shore, Numenor sank beneath the sea. And so did he.

Even the Ring-bearers got no further than Tol Eressea, where they could live in comfort for a few years and be healed of the physical and psychic
wounds inflicted by the Ring, before they died.

The Undying Lands are not for us mortals. Nor could we get there, now the seas are bent. You could sail to the Americas, though, if you wanted to.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neumi

What has been the effect of the horseshoe during the last summer festival?
What has been the effect of the horseshoe during the last spring festival?
What has been the effect of the horseshoe during the last farmer's faire?
Did the horseshoe ever have an effect on loot chances? If so, which one?

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None.
None.
None.
No.

Does the horseshoe do something easily verifiable during the epic quests or does it require number-crunching to verify?

E.g. if it made it so that you teleported from one quest NPC to another quest NPC at certain points of the epic story (rather than making you walk), this would be easily verifiable by running the quests with the horseshoe on one character and then without on another. However, if it gave you a +10% crit chance that doesn't show up on the character sheet, you'd need to analyze combat logs and do some statistical analysis.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sapience

None.
None.
None.
No.

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Thank you. That's a few small facts with no beating around bushes.

I don't do festivals, but I still have that horseshoe in my vault; if someone ever reports that it's useful in other contexts,
I could re-install it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Taravith

I still got kinnies that equip it before looting instance chests or fusing relics. It's adorable.

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That's what I do!!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dreamcreatorx

That's what I do!!!!

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And to be honest, even though I was convinced it didn't do anything, I had to force myself to not equip it. Because you never know right? :p
Ah superstition, you sneaky you!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sapience

None.
None.
None.
No.

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Gotta love Sapience!!! (I really liked this post!)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by robbie1435

Gotta love Sapience!!! (I really liked this post!)

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I was afraid people would think I was being too negative. :p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sapience

I was afraid people would think I was being too negative. :p

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Haha!!! Well, Turbine has to keep their secrets, and the big "mystery" behind the horseshoe is what I love! Always loved superstitions... And just know it does something without knowing the specifics is enough for me!! :D. No negativity there, Sapience!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deusdictum

Does the horseshoe do something easily verifiable during the epic quests or does it require number-crunching to verify?

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I didn't say 'quests' I said quest. It changes exactly one line of text in one quest in the same Epic line that you get the horseshoe. This was its first, original use.

To be clear, it doesn't make any major changes to the outcome of anything. Though you may want to use it if you're ever in a snowball fight.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sapience

I didn't say 'quests' I said quest. It changes exactly one line of text in one quest in the same Epic line that you get the horseshoe. This was its first, original use.

To be clear, it doesn't make any major changes to the outcome of anything. Though you may want to use it if you're ever in a snowball fight.

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I hate to float of topic Sapience, and I know I'll probably get a, "no spoilers! Bad Glor!" :D. Can we expect ANYTHING relating to kinships within the near future? Just curious...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by qannadi

Spoilery-
So something you can check for yourself if you have appropriate alts.. In Vol 3, Book 2, Chapter 15 (An Echo of Days Past)- if you have the horseshoe on, when you travel to the top of the instance to open the locked gate or whatever it was, you will see a very... Wizardly figure standing below you. I have done this a couple of times to verify, and feel pretty 100% sure about it, but feel free to test on your own.. If you don't have it on, nothing to see below.

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I don't want to flat out call you a liar, but let's just say this is not true at all.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The-Walrus

I don't want to flat out call you a liar, but let's just say this is not true at all.

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Guess I'll find out... My warden is about to be on that quest!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by robbie1435

I hate to float of topic Sapience, and I know I'll probably get a, "no spoilers! Bad Glor!" :D. Can we expect ANYTHING relating to kinships within the near future? Just curious...

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Hoarsedev has answered this a couple of times in dev chats. Not this year. Housing is first and then we'll take a look and see what we can do. As with Housing, whatever ends up happening with Kins you should think more adjustments and improvements than wholesale 'rip it out and start over'.

Also, renaming this thread as it's gone completely off the rails.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sapience

Hoarsedev has answered this a couple of times in dev chats. Not this year. Housing is first and then we'll take a look and see what we can do. As with Housing, whatever ends up happening with Kins you should think more adjustments and improvements than wholesale 'rip it out and start over'.

Also, renaming this thread as it's gone completely off the rails.

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Sorry... Not really active on dev chats, haha.... All I can say is, "WOOHOO!!!" I hope housing turns out great =D.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by robbie1435

Sorry... Not really active on dev chats, haha.... All I can say is, "WOOHOO!!!" I hope housing turns out great =D.

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We always post transcripts. :) You can read them in the official posts and dev diaries area.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sapience

We always post transcripts. :) You can read them in the official posts and dev diaries area.

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Silly me, hehe... I must be going blind!

With regards to housing, I'd like to see:
-A few dynamic conversations.
-Hidden doors
-A kitchen... I like food.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by robbie1435

Silly me, hehe... I must be going blind!

With regards to housing, I'd like to see:
-A few dynamic conversations.
-Hidden doors
-A kitchen... I like food.

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food!? damned hobbitses

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eldarian_Grace

food!? damned hobbitses

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Well... I must admit... The kitchen IS mostly for my warden... who happens to be a hobbit!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by qannadi

Spoilery-

So something you can check for yourself if you have appropriate alts.. In Vol 3, Book 2, Chapter 15 (An Echo of Days Past)- if you have the horseshoe on, when you travel to the top of the instance to open the locked gate or whatever it was, you will see a very... Wizardly figure standing below you. I have done this a couple of times to verify, and feel pretty 100% sure about it, but feel free to test on your own.. If you don't have it on, nothing to see below.

---

This is partly true. It doesn't happen when you go to open the locked gate. Rather, if you turn around right as you enter the instance and run up the stairs, you'll see a wizard, who's presumably supposed to be Saruman, walking away and abruptly vanishing. Here's a video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIjx0KIrsIg

It doesn't have anything to do with the horseshoe, though. I've seen it multiple times and I don't believe I was ever wearing my horseshoe when it happened.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sapience

I was afraid people would think I was being too negative. :p

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/prepares to dive for cover

you were beyond too negative...
you were fore negative...

/dives for cover

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by seekingerin

This is partly true. It doesn't happen when you go to open the locked gate. Rather, if you turn around right as you enter the instance and run up the stairs, you'll see a wizard, who's presumably supposed to be Saruman, walking away and abruptly vanishing. Here's a video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIjx0KIrsIg

It doesn't have anything to do with the horseshoe, though. I've seen it multiple times and I don't believe I was ever wearing my horseshoe when it happened.

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If you look at the player's buff's, he is not using the horseshoe.

Hmmm.. Is it just me or has the thread title changed hehe

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dekkameron

Hmmm.. Is it just me or has the thread title changed hehe

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Hmmm.. is it just me or didn't I explicitly say above that I was changing the title.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sapience

Hmmm.. is it just me or didn't I explicitly say above that I was changing the title.

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I am a busy person who lives a fast-paced life, i have no time to read everything!

:shifty:

On a much more serious note, I am still waiting on the Giant Goat shoe. It is beyond absurd that we only got a horse shoe and not anything for the superior Giant Goat mounts. Hopefully that is on the list to be rectified along with the addition of the Giant War Goats.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rasdun

On a much more serious note, I am still waiting on the Giant Goat shoe. It is beyond absurd that we only got a horse shoe and not anything for the superior Giant Goat mounts. Hopefully that is on the list to be rectified along with the addition of the Giant War Goats.

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You again with your wargoats ? man you never give up hahaha

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rasdun

On a much more serious note, I am still waiting on the Giant Goat shoe. It is beyond absurd that we only got a horse shoe and not anything for the superior Giant Goat mounts. Hopefully that is on the list to be rectified along with the addition of the Giant War Goats.

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Have you ever tried to shoe a goat? or unshoe one? Not a simple thing, man!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sapience

Have you ever tried to shoe a goat? or unshoe one? Not a simple thing, man!

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http://i.imgur.com/nLm1lF2.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by StavroMuellerBeta

http://i.imgur.com/nLm1lF2.jpg

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Those are boots. Not shoes. :p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sapience

Those are boots. Not shoes. :p

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Close enough! Make a "Goat Boot!"

Sapience: Any chance of seeing a "Make your own pipeweed/beer" part of the game? :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by robbie1435

Sapience: Any chance of seeing a "Make your own pipeweed/beer" part of the game? :D

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Probably not. Though there was a time when Pipe-weed growing and cross breeding was a thing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sapience

Probably not. Though there was a time when Pipe-weed growing and cross breeding was a thing.

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Really? That would be AWESOME to see in LoTRO! My hobbit wants to grow up to be a pipe-weed farmer/cross-breeder!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sapience

Probably not. Though there was a time when Pipe-weed growing and cross breeding was a thing.

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Yup, another one of those things I thought I would do "later" when I was finished dealing with the big bad guy up in Angmar, and have time to turn to the little side "games". Lesson learned: If there is a "thing" that even mildly interests you, do it right then. You never know how long it lasts... ;)

Does anyone still remember why it stopped being a "thing"?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BelamanthDE

Yup, another one of those things I thought I would do "later" when I was finished dealing with the big bad guy up in Angmar, and have time to turn to the little side "games". Lesson learned: If there is a "thing" that even mildly interests you, do it right then. You never know how long it lasts... ;)

Does anyone still remember why it stopped being a "thing"?

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It was removed when they redid the farmer profession. And there was much weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shadowhunter78

It was removed when they redid the farmer profession. And there was much weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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Not removed, but just greatly dumbed down so as to no longer be as much fun.