I Remember When...

[EMurphy]

First off, I havn't been playing ths game long at all, only about 2 weeks. But I thought it was amazing reading through all your memories you still had of this game, about how excited you were, the suprise and amazement of the beauty of it all, and want to know if a lot has changed? You mentioned nerfs and stuff, but what changed? Is it not as fun as it used to be? I think it's truly a brilliant game, but it's all new to me. Now that you guys have been playing so long, is it just the fact that there's not much new?

[lf2536]

First off, I havn't been playing ths game long at all, only about 2 weeks. But I thought it was amazing reading through all your memories you still had of this game, about how excited you were, the suprise and amazement of the beauty of it all, and want to know if a lot has changed? You mentioned nerfs and stuff, but what changed? Is it not as fun as it used to be? I think it's truly a brilliant game, but it's all new to me. Now that you guys have been playing so long, is it just the fact that there's not much new?

there have been many many changes to the game over the past 3 years. I would not say the game was nerfed but the challange (in the starter zones at least) has been reduced considerably. getting the Undying title used to be a challange for a new character, these days it's a fairly common achievement for anyone who's already run the zones once, it's probably doable on a first toon aswell if you're careful.

it's not that the game got worse, just easier.

[SpankyPenzaanz]

A friend and I played a prank on his brother. We took his hunter stripped him down to no armor, no cash, and no horse. We stored everything in his bank and left him by the elite master troll camp behind the Rift Camp.

I also remember the 30 - 45 minute trek from GF to the entrance of CD before campsites and the npc's at Tarmunn Sursa. Run through the spider caves, drop down behind the angmarim and fight your way through the gates and then all the orc, uruks, and Gatekeeper trolls. I understand the whole skirmish thinning out by DG but I would have liked to have seen something similar to this in Mirkwood

I also remember the nerd moments I had when you find out who Sara Oakheart is, then who Amarthiel is and then who Mordirith is.

[Gumawerian]

I remember when Turbine said they would not change Lotro to an RMT model

As do I, Harry. As do I.

I have memories very similar my friend, but don't give up. Hang in therer. Be like an elf and honor the days of old while swallowing your pain and sadness.
I'll be in LOTRO to the very end because ever since I was 9 and reading the LOTR books I dreamed of there being an MMORPG in the LOTR world.

I made similar posts years ago, believe it or not, when the creator of the "Riddles" thread wrote his first "goodbye" letter. I was much more hopeful then, not because I liked what Turbine was doing, but because this game was set in Middle-earth, and I feared it would be the only Middle-earth MMO in my lifetime. Sorry to say I've become less and less thrilled with my defense of Turbine since then, for many reasons, and I can only hope you're right where I was wrong.

I remember when turbine said they had new and interesting things in store for us all and I actually thought they were talking about game content.

I know, I know...

I remember when I started out on a trial account and EVERYTHING in the game was so incredibly cool. I died a lot but I didn't care, it was so cool to be in Middle-Earth.

It was then, while on my first character, a Guardian, grouping with Rune-keepers that that was the class for me. The cool zap-zap sounds they used to have let you know there was a RK nearby. Their sigils of healing were sooo coool!!! I loved having them around.

But more than that, I loved being there in Ered Luin being a dwarf and killing goblins. My love affair with Ered Luin lasted a very long time until I finally gave in and admitted that Bree-land was easier and quicker. I was so elated, in fact, when they revamped Ered Luin to make it more lowbie-friendly.

My wife was leveling an elf recently in the revamped Ered Luin level 1-7 starting zone and commented, "Isn't that the aurochs that killed you on your guardian over a year ago? He sure was easy to kill just now."

It is still fun to hang out with friends, take in the sights, and play music on my lute. But I sincerely miss that feeling of wonder I had starting out. Now all I can think about is "I gotta run SG a few more times" "I hope ____ drops this time" "I gotta do more skirmishes".

I remember going into the Old Forest for the first time and thinking, "Holy ____, you can attack the trees??? I'm not going anywhere near those trees! It says Elite!" Then there was the day I realized I could get to Tom Bombadil's house via the Barrow Downs instead of through the Old Forest maze and I was elated.

I remember saying goodbye to many good friends in this game because they were tired of the lack of updates and were quitting the game. I remember never getting a chance to say goodbye to friends who quit with no notice. I still remember most of their names, too. I remember Twidge, my old dwarf questing buddy who disappeared right before I founded my dwarf-charter kinship. I remember Ferrante, a great guy who would craft the fruitiest looking armor for me because my gear sucked, but quit for Aion while I was on hiatus. I remember some friends who still play on and off but we've lost contact somehow.

I remember having to leave the game for 7 months, then watching the kinship I had built fall apart; I remember coming back and rebuilding it.

I remember enjoying Monster Play and loving raiding with the tribe I joined. I remember players from other servers rolling creeps on my server and completely ruining PvMP. I remember spending countless mindnumbing hours gearing out my RK so I could help the losing side, and finding myself not having fun anymore.

I hope the new changes to the game make it fun again. If not, it may be time to say goodbye to the wonderful world Turbine originally created.

Great post, Crunchbite, and I'm sorry if anyone misinterprets your remarks as harsh criticism when in reality I'd say quite a few people have the right to feel that when more and more people they know are leaving the game. This community used to be much more tight-knit than it is today, and there was a time when I didn't think Turbine would be willing to sacrifice it for the effort of reaching "mass market" numbers, instead of catering more to the fans who were already there.

Suffice to say, I also remember when the original pre-beta community (which was quite strong at the time) was promised there wouldn't be any shark-jumping Balrog bosses, magic-heavy classes, or RMT model. I also remember when people posted on the Hall of Fame forums.

I really don't know where that changed so much, but looking at the game now I can honestly say that the hugely empty neighborhoods, zounds of frustrated monster players, endless grinds, dozens of contradictory quotes from Jeffrey Steefel and hordes of players drowning in never-ending swamps of "Legendary items"... well, I could go on for too long.

Truth be told, I'd say that for a while I've been thinking the same things -- that something just isn't quite right with the direction the game is going in. The Loremaster saber-tooth tigers and "bog lurkers" alongside glowing-handed minstrels and oathbreaker heralds I recall seeing all the time in Bree were only the start of the experiences I've had where I just didn't feel like I was in Middle-earth anymore, and instead was in a squashed up amusement park with similar names, cheap eye candy and over-blown attempts to lure in more and more typical MMO-fans at the expense of actually giving fans of the books a look at what actually made adventures in Middle-earth so unforgettable. And I wish I'd been more critical of Turbine instead of being so naive.

So I guess all people can do is take a break, wait it out and see. My only regret is that I may never see another, more revolutionary attempt at bringing the Middle-earth the truer MMO it deserves... but I can always hope players like TheNoseofSauron (quoted above) might be able to help bring about more content truer to the vision of Tolkien's stories where players like me had failed.

[azureal1977]

I can remember applying for beta and waiting...waiting....waiting for so damn long for that email to arrive. But it never did. I can remember telling some WoW fans at work (in a casino, even Pit Bosses play WoW) that LOTRO was coming, and not being able to sway them, no matter how hard I tried.

I remember instead playing WoW.

I can remember finally getting a buddy invite key after release, and trying LOTRO for the first time. I played a Captain. I can remember feeling the Archet starter area was a hell of a lot bigger than it is now. But all game worlds feel smaller now. I made it through to Combe, and Chetwood forest. And the swamp. I remember getting to the Barrowdowns and being afraid.

I remember quitting too. After only 3, maybe 4 weeks. I wish I hadnt.

[Forjo]

I remember when I didn't identify ... quite so much ... with those who complain about the game.

I hold on to hope, for what could be more Tolkien than that?

-Forjo

[Gumawerian]

I remember when I didn't identify ... quite so much ... with those who complain about the game.

I hold on to hope, for what could be more Tolkien than that?

-Forjo

Well said, friend.

Now, I've been away for some months now, so I have to ask... what's all this I hear about RMT? I distinctly remember an official statement from Turbine saying it would never be in LOTRO!

[lf2536]

Well said, friend.

Now, I've been away for some months now, so I have to ask... what's all this I hear about RMT? I distinctly remember an official statement from Turbine saying it would never be in LOTRO!

LOTRO is going F2P, that means a store where you can buy stuff for Turbine points that you for real money.

[Carysta]

I remember when I didn't identify ... quite so much ... with those who complain about the game.

I hold on to hope, for what could be more Tolkien than that?

-Forjo

You and I both, Forjo!

I remember when all was shiny and new, and a kinship meant something more than a vehicle to run raids with, more than a group to be joined and then left hastily, without words. I miss the days when everyone was exploring the world together with wonder - now it seems like it's always a race to the finish line. I find lately there's more nostalgia to my playing - a lot of reminiscing, not a lot of planning for the future. I'm excited for Enedwaith - it's a lovely zone - and some of the upcoming changes I'm really looking forward to, but I think that perhaps this cost will be higher than any of us anticipated.

[mychemguy200]

I, too, remember my first Old Forest run and how I got lost. I picked up my Fellowship of the Ring and was able to find my way to Tom's house using strictly that.

I remember when Bloodtusk in Archet and Frostmantle in Thorin's Hall were difficult mobs.

I remember wandering into the Great Barrows right after running Othrongroth, and not expecting to be hit by two elite spiders.

I remember when Garth Agarwen was one single instance, and it took six 35's to kill Ivar.

I remember when Agamaur was strictly a fellowship-only area.

I remember crossing the Fords of Bruinen and thinking "I have to climb up that?" and then stumbling into Rivendell with 4 or 5 mobs trailing me, nearly crying because of that first breathtaking view and the fact that I had made it (I was so excited that I called my entire family over to see; I was the only one who appreciated it that much though).

I remember stumbling across Bilbo's three trolls while running from some mob.

I remember when I didn't have to be nostalgic about this game...

[she-elf]

I remember exploring Forochel with my husband. We got separated in-game and, since I'm directionally-challenged, I had trouble getting back to him. While he's trying to help me find my way, he suddenly shouted in excitement. When I tried to see his screen, he wouldn't let me, instead directing me through multiple mobs in order to find: King Arevudi. I shrieked. Even without any quests relating to him (that we had), it was such a marvelous moment.

I remember mousing over the "seals" for the Flowers in the Forest deed and reading the little stories attached to the various flowers.

I remember being rescued by Tom Bombadil in the Barrow-downs and laughing. I also remember taking screenshots of my character sitting in Goldberry's chair.

Remember? Heck, I still have those moments. Every one of my characters who's high enough level travels to see the last king. I still have characters sit in Goldberry's chair and I still read the little stories that go with the different "explore" deeds.

[Agatha1]

...Crafting was a *****.

- Different kinds of items were needed to crit. Now, it's just one per profession.
- You needed boiled hide to craft armor, making armorsmith a longer process and tailoring also since half of it was gone for armor or weapon. To me, it was just more logical than today
- I was often asking other players if someone can boil my hides. Now, with a few toon at my disposal, I do it myself.

... Questing before the quest tracker.

- Had a lot of helpful sites to gave me info on how to complete a quest. To questing process took longer. Now, I don't need those sites anymore.
- Ask a lot of people around to know where a certain mob was or where a specific object is. We don't really have to ask anymore. We just follow the arrow.
- I prefer to have the quest tracker but it was part of the game to search half an hour for something. Now, questing is quick and easy.

[Nymphonic]

After three and a half years I still have those moments of loving being in Middle Earth and checking out the landscape and reading the quests. Did it last night. I love this game.

[Maeshani]

Go to Tom Bombadil's house, walk through the door and don't move... grab your copy of Fellowship of the Ring (or for those of us that have the real thing... 3 in 1 since Tolkien wanted it originally as ONE book..) and read the description of Tom's house... as you do so turn your camera around and just look in amazement at the detail

[Fawulf]

You and I both, Forjo!

I remember when all was shiny and new, and a kinship meant something more than a vehicle to run raids with, more than a group to be joined and then left hastily, without words. I miss the days when everyone was exploring the world together with wonder - now it seems like it's always a race to the finish line. I find lately there's more nostalgia to my playing - a lot of reminiscing, not a lot of planning for the future. I'm excited for Enedwaith - it's a lovely zone - and some of the upcoming changes I'm really looking forward to, but I think that perhaps this cost will be higher than any of us anticipated.

Couldn't agree more, especially regarding kinships.

Oh, and I remember Fell Scrying Pools.
Makes me miss the SoA days even more.

[Ascus]

I remember
... getting dumped into the river by the horse from Dulliden
... Being the first player on Nimodel, and running around the Shire without anyone else there.
... First sight of the Troll in the Shire, and telling people who would no believe there was a troll in the Shire
... Running to Rivendell at level 10
... Ghost Bear

More recent..
Running through Moria at level 49, after I got to first hall, I found out Moria stables have level 50 minimum, so I had to run back through.

[RusselDog]

I remember when.....

The Forums contained discussion about what they'd like to see come to the game, not endless complaining about what people don't want to see.
People played the game for the joy of it, rather than for that "winning" feeling. Further than that, when the game didn't give you a "winning" feeling, but other feelings instead.

Oh, and the old old Old Forest. Of course.

[Shrubery]

I remember when...

Shiby was a noob
CoTS first formed as a kin and their membership requirements
Garren still crafted and ran Hele raids
Farming pages in Misty Mountains
unite chat was useful for more the humor
Riding through the gate in Bree and being able to get a cup of coffee before I got to the stables
Spending a week farming ore to sell on AH so I could get a horse
hearing "THOROG DOWN !!!!" was an actual accomplishment and elicited gratz in chat

[Stanimir]

I remember when defeating sambrog was an awe-inspiring feat.

I was with my first kin, there were only 6 of us in the entire kin and we treated the great barrows as if it was the hardest raid ever devised. As we leveled, we did GA, Fornost etc. It was fun experiencing all the content for the first time and running with those guys.

Now I've done instances countless times, have leveled countless characters. But sometimes I still find the random/immersive things in game that make it fun.

[Gaurdman]

I remember when.....

My first kin went on almost 100 raids of Helegrod to get top of the line armor and gear for everyone.

When PVP ranks actually rewarded freeps with decent armor and gear as a alternative then Helegrod also best suited for PVPers.

People (majority) looked forward grouping with others joining kins even pugs at times to meet new people and explore and complete quests with.

When areas could be challenging & fun and needed groups instead of as mentioned before in a previous post. Altered to have everyone get that "winning" feeling for soloies.

When having reputation mounts mean something and if you had a Ettenmoors mount you would be praised because of there rarity.

Great Barrow was alot more challenging as someone said before made it more fun and when you had to have a guy stay inside GB while the rest of your group ran to Bree town to turn in quests it was my favorite thing to do personally i became friends with every skeleton in the main entrance.

24 man raids frequently open weekly were you could sign up on these (on the old) forums and everyone was welcomed.

And i remember my very first kinship the number one reason why i have played as long as i have it broken up quite a bit ago but it truly was a good kinship gave everyone the right amount of aid and fun to make this game worth more then money can give you.



Sorry if some of my memories is a bit negative but they are true sadly Happy Hunting Everyone!!!

[Dolnor]

I remember when Scenario posted pictures of the Spire in the Barrow Downs... before SoA was in alpha/beta testing... teasing us even way-back-when with tidbits of upcoming content... trying to answer everyones' questions about the pictures.

I just realized.... boy am I OLD! And it is amazing what my old noggin' remembers!

TQQdles™,

Dolnor Numbwit
Eternal Newbie

[Regero]

I remember when I didn't know the difference between /say and /ooc. It took me about 2 days to figure it out, but in the meantime I was very depressed that everyone seemed to be ignoring me.

I remember when my first toon, an elf, had to go to Bree to talk to Strider at the Prancing Pony. I spent well over an hour running around before a friend took pity on me and showed me where it was lol.

I remember entering the ettenmoors for my first time on a little greenie warg. My only other toon was a level 12 hunter and I had zero experience at pvp. I went squish as soon as I left stealth.

I remember, after playing squishy classes for so long, being absolutely amazed at what a difference heavy armor and a shield made.

I remember having no clue how to turn the random bits of wood I had found on the ground into anything useful. When I figured it out I made myself a bow; I had never been prouder of myself.

I remember when I found the pass into the Barrow Downs. It was so narrow I thought I had found some sort of super secret hidden area.

I remember spending hours not doing anything but wandering around the land, fishing and staring at clouds.

I remember entering Forochel the first time, hearing the wind, practically feeling the cold, and then seeing the northern lights. I still have to go back once every few days just to look at the land... even though I ran out of anything possible to do up there a long time ago.

[imkookoo]

I remember when I first went into Gollum's Cave. There was one other random player that was there whose first time was also that night. We chatted for awhile, awing at finding the cave, took screenshots, played Gollum's Song on our lutes... This was before I was in a kin, so it was really my first time experiencing the fact that I'm playing with other people who appreciate the lore.

[thisisanewname]

-i remember freaking out the first time i heard ghost bear rawr
-my first ever death at the hands of a suicidal stable horse
-trying to do the great barrows with my 14 guard a 13 hunter and a 12 lm for the first time and breaking 3 full sets of armor and never killing a spider for a 3g repair bill
-the first time i was able to solo a fellowship quest on my burg(greatest find back when fellow quests were actually hard) after ALMOST doing it and dying 20 times
-the lag in stadle the night before the patch that stopped farming sweet galeanias from being an atm machine
-farming MM silver ore on my lv 15 burg in open beta and being the only 1 there
-TRYING to solo heal weathertop on a captain when heals had inductions
-trying to heal 5 lv 15 guards on a 15 min while they tried to get a drop for their metalsmith quest
-running to rivendell the first time with a group of 3 level 20 guards and it being hard
-trying to help a level 10 lm kinmate do that last scholar quest in angmar(right after they made the red zones) with my 50 burg and a 50 mini and getting 20 elite cows rush us the second the lm stepped outside aughaire
-seeing thorog for the first time in rivendell at the end of the world party in beta
-farming the great barrows with a 3 guard group 100's of times to buy our first horse
-being able to craft 1 crit set of weapons/armor/jewelry and pass it down to an alt when u out level it
-black dye going for 10g in the ah
-when getting red dot on a creep meant something
-seeing rivendell the first time
-the thrill from killing the balrog for the first time and not hardly being able to wait for the next time to "try"
-when i used to have an epic grudge on sambrog from killing me in beta and had to go back and kill him at LEAST once a week
-lining my kinhouse walls with nothing but sambrog helms(just kept killing him over and over on my burg till every wall spot was filled)
-when my kin actually still played this more then maybe 1 day a week
-running from the raid trying to keep me and my hatchlings from eating chickens during the moors chicken run event (while it lasted)
-being hit for a 10k heartseeker on my r5 war leader just after moria came out and having no idea there was even a level 60 yet
-following a certain creep raid leaders ba and spamming traited enrage at him cuz i knew how much that angered him
-laughing cause a raid of creeps couldn't kill a burg if u didn't want to die
-being able to to fight a 1/2 raid of creeps with 3 burgs and completely wipe them without any of us even loosing 1/2 our health
-stacking dites on a troll and /lol at him try to move with 22 dites during the first burg raid

[Forjo]

... Patience would stay up to all hours of the night updating us during server outages. Thankfully, they don't happen nearly as often these days.

... I reported that a special event had accidently gone live early and Patience replied to me saying "you saw nothing!".

... just this week, I learned on Facebook that she was leaving Turbine -- and knowing how much she'd be missed.

... a game was just a game to me, and I felt no connection to the people who made it. Thank you, Patience, for being the first to change that.

-Forjo