Tell the Community Team: July 10, 2009

[Sapience]

How it works:
From time to time we'll be asking you questions, and here in our thread, you tell us: What comes to mind; what you think; how you feel; etc, as it relates to the question(s) at hand.


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Because we want this to be a place where we can gather valuable feedback from our community we're going to be a little tougher on the rules enforcement here. Please read both the Ground Rules and the Forum Guidelines posts before you do anything else. These will be strictly enforced.
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Question 1
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

[KainXI]

Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

Not personally, but I think its a good addition.

What does “end game” mean to you?

Tons of things. Raiding, crafting (not lately ), PvMP, LIs. Anything that keeps me busy and entertained.

Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

I always prefer something practical, but you don't want to give players a real advantage just because they got here first. Writ of Passage was the best special gift you have done so far. Maybe something that reduces your travel rations from porting, or gives a very minor discount at potion vendors.

Along the fluff side, something that has an on-use affect and is not consumable. I'm thinking something along the lines of fireworks that can be set off once a day or something like that.

Oh and finally, why don't your "welcome back weekends" provide an IEXP boost along with the EXP boost? That would make a lot of people very happy

Best one I saw from someone else was a trait to decrease map cooldown slightly. THAT would be awesome.

[Sandriell]

Question 1
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

No. If you don't want monster kill XP, then don't kill monsters. You may argue that you have to kill monsters for quests, but then why are you questing if you don't want XP?!

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

Any content that is available to level-capped and near level-capped characters. This is not limited to instances and mobs, but also includes things like chicken-play, tag and monster-play because that is still viable content at level-cap.

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

Never really thought about it, so I don't have any ideas off-hand, but I am sure others will have plenty.

[CaptainSnark]

Question 1
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

I wouldn't be likely to use it, but I would never object to giving people more options. Clearly there are some that would like it and make use of it if it were implemented.

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

That feels like a really abstract question, Sapience! I suppose "end-game" to me is whatever I feel like at the time - whether that's running instances with my kinship, or farming/rep grinding/deed grinding, catching up with the epic questline, heading to the 'Moors for some PvP fun, crafting, or even switching focus to an alt. I rarely find myself bored at the "end game".

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

Next you should give us all an item for a permanent discount to all NPC vendors in Middle Earth... or maybe just a repair discount! Hehe. All joking aside, I'd say you should put in more unique housing items but I need more room in my house first!

[Arrabell]

Question 1
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

This would be a great idea.

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

I don't see end game like most people, in fact I can't really envision what end game is. I manage to keep pretty busy just experiencing and enjoying the game world. I know for a lot of people it's raiding and instances etc. but for me it's probably when the game no longer exists or if I stop playing it, hence end game.

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

Hmm I'm a lover of fluff so anything really like a housing item that does something cool or perhaps a title that when activated gives your character some kind of buff. Lots of ideas just can't think of them right now.

[Slayanor]

1) I wouldn't use it but having it there wouldn't harm my experience in any way, so I'd be all for it.

2) End-game content is anything you do at level cap. It must be rewarding and fun enough in itself to continue to keep interest without funneling into any given way of doing things. Read: If all end-game content is fun, but only 1 type is rewarding, somebody missed the boat. If all content is rewarding, but none of it is fun, same thing.

3) Never thought about it. Repair discounts? Tokens for cosmetic items (cool ones... not like some cape with a flaming butterfly on it).

[bstrothe]

Question 1
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

I would not personally want such a feature, though I understand those that may wish for it. I rather like the options offered in City of Heroes, where you have the sidekick/exemplar system and leveling pacts, both of which allow you to have fun and be challenged with your friends, staying at even levels or temporarily matching levels.

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

To me "end game" is a loaded term. I prefer to think of the climax of an epic story when you are given a chance to shine as heroes, the old Carn Dum, the Rift, Helegrod all captured that well for me. Volume II, not so much, largely because the radiance gear requirements make it nearly impossible for my casual kinship to participate. Hopefully, if there ever is a real "end game" in LotRO, it will be as the armies of the Free People challenge Sauron at the Black Gates.

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

The Bree-horse was great, the writ of passage is sure to be handy for saving silver on all those goat-rides through Moria. I would like to see something that reduces the number of kills you need for the high-level slayer deeds in Angmar and Moria, as the less time I need to spend there on my alts, the happier I'll be.

[Xaden]

Question 1
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

I wouldn't personally use it but I think it's a good addition. Though I think it would be easier to just have an on/off switch for XP advancement...that's what I've seen in other games.

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

Content that is only achievable / winnable by completing prerequisites. This could be in the form of simply getting your traits high enough, decent gear...or in a more tangible way like radiance / raid gating. If something is classified as end game content, you shouldn't be able to just walk up and do it. You should need to prepare and earn the right to experience it.

In general I think LOTRO does a good job developing end game content (Rift, DN, 6-mans, 3-mans) but there traditionally hasn't been enough of it...so after a while it gets stale.

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

I like the "gift" concept but in general would rather see things like what you did with Morderith a while back (random appearances, turn-ins for rare gear / cosmetic items). Unfortunately I never got to experience it...but the idea that you're adding something or giving something away that isn't simply "available" to everyone is much cooler.

In terms of a simple gift, I like that the Writ of Passage was something that's still useful in the end-game. Getting things like candles, 5% run-speed pocket items etc. are essentially useless after a certain level. I can't think of anything specific though.

[ararax2]

Question 1
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?
Nope, but some would so its fine by me.
Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?
Far time from now when we are at mordor and beyond.
Question 3
[COLOR=DarkOrange]Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?
Less armor wear.
cheaper vendors

[henry316]

Question 1
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

I'll never let the great be the enemy of the good. Absolutely! But if done please don't tie to destiny points or some such. Let it just help our style of play and progression, not force us into doing SOMETHING ELSE to finally get what we want (ability to lessen XP gain)

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

Epic battle maps like the camps in Annuminas and the Ettenmoors. Or epic adventures like Uru, BG, and CD. I absolutely can't stand the roll around for raiding for rad gear as it currently stands. I'm bored in Moria now and see no reason to go to Lothlorien.

I find myself going back to Angmar because I have more fun there...

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?


Discounts on AH posting fees, or discounts on mailing fees. (not permanent though, so as it not be too disruptive to the eceonomy)

Maybe instead of the Welcome back weekend Bonus XP, and rested XP, that everyone is forced into, How about items that give people the XP buffs... Mail them out on special occasions, heck, let people buy them! People could use them or not to suit themselves. <-- Everyone is happy now!
.
.

[Reillan]

Question 1
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

I personally wouldn't, but I think it's a great option for those people who complain so vehemently about leveling too fast... so they can stop complaining here!

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

What I do after I reach level cap.

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

The Writ of Passage was really a game-changing item, so I hope that it is made available to other players in other ways in the future. It will probably save me 100s every single day.

I'd love to see much-more-customizable cloaks, with the ability to craft our own heraldry and put it on the cloak. Likewise, shields with said heraldry would be amazing. More options for captain banners in terms of their look, additional maps (can we please get a 21st hall rep map?), and maybe something that looks like honest-to-goodness full plate armour from the 16th century rather than a dress.

[Benucio]

Question 3
What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

A stack of consumable summoning horns without class or level restriction.

[Mikaela1]

Question 1
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

Yes

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

Raiding, Hard Challenges, Accessing features that let you improve yourself and do better at those hard challenges. Accessing gear and items that you couldn't get leveling up. Rare items and acheivements that are rewards for putting so much time into one character.

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

You know, you could open up a whole world of possiblities if you only had freeform housing....

-horses
-clicky's for fun and utility
-items to use for alts
-items to increase exp or crafting exp

[Reillan]

A stack of consumable summoning horns without class or level restriction.

These are actually in game

I suppose they are actually level-restricted, since they require lorien rep and gold leaves/silver branches. But they really do need to be heavily restricted or the captain ability ceases to be useful.

[oinn]

Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

Yes, as it is now the journey to 60 is much more entertaining than being at 60.



What does “end game” mean to you?

a challange for both solo and group in design that is not restrictive, the ability to craft stuff for my friends, finding cool items (weapons, armour, jewellery, a nice cosmetic cloak)


Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

I’ve always been a fan of passives, writ of passage is cool and it was neat to get an instruction to a instrument with one of the festivals and more things like this would be nice.

[CaidBaraka]

Question 1
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

No, but There certainly seems to be a demand for it. How ever it's implemented it should reset to xp enabled on log out to prevent the "Oh I forgot complaints."

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

Content that keeps me occupied at level cap. Preferably without a grind feel to it. With incentives to do it that include ways to advance my character beyond normal leveling such as gear, stats, traits, skills.

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

Unique mounts. Different housing designs. Special one off craft recipes. Trait to decrease map cool downs. Map table for your house that lets you map to any stable you have visited once an hour. Pet boar. Full 6pc set of cosmetic armor, 1pc awarded for every 6 months you've been a subscriber.

[Blangadanger]

Question 1
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

I do not understand the context of this question.

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

When I hear the term "end game" I think of instances immediately, and that's attributed to my personal experiences within my kin. We do lots of instances and not just the Moria radiance instances. We reran the entire Rift one night on our original characters recently, and we still take runs into classics like CD, Fornost, and the "original" turtle in Evendim.

I've also taken up Moors raiding in the past few months, though I still prefer the intimacy of instances instead.

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

I have one of the cloaks that Amarthiel dropped when she and her baddies popped up randomly across the world (pre-Book 15? I can't remember), and that really made my day/month/year. I still wear the cloak regularly and get tells all the time asking how to get it. (I always have to respond, "Sorry, it was a limited-edition item that dropped in Vol 1."). I also like the newest festival cloak. Housing items would be cool, but I can never get anyone to come to my house, so I'd prefer more unique decorative items for my chars, maybe based on race or class. Perhaps if you completed a hidden deed you'd earn an item. For instance if you crafted 200 hats of the same name, you'd get a special, cool-looking one in the mail.

[nimrodblack]

Question 1
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

Yup. I would suggest a toggle to turn XP off. That way you can get slayer deeds done and not outlevel your other friends. (EQII i think had this option)

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

End game means activities designed for when leveling is done. I realize thats more broad then most people's definition. But thats my opinion as I don't need the activity to be Raid related.

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

I enjoy unique items. Things that can alter the visual appearance of the character like cloaks and clothing. I would like to see more Armour appearance outfits in the future as opposed to normal clothing. Otherwise i like the kinds of items I have seen so far.

[Benucio]

These are actually in game

I suppose they are actually level-restricted, since they require lorien rep and gold leaves/silver branches. But they really do need to be heavily restricted or the captain ability ceases to be useful.

You are right, they are already available.
I was thinking more along the lines of Scented Candles though. Everyone gets 5. No restrictions. The Lothlorien ones have a lengthy cooldown I think?

As I captain, I wouldn't mind at all. Turtle group forming. Summon me please. Thanks.

[Thane9]

Question 1
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

No. In fact, given the nature of this game, the lack of any NEED to be a specific level to complete, aid in the completion, or even participate in any way in any material LOWER than your current level I think any development time spent on such an implementation would be wasted.

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

"End game" to me are those things one does once reaching max level and approximately max gear to continue playing the toon at it's optimum build. Right now in LotRO that equates to aiding others in PvE and playing in PvMP, or playing alts.

I'd like to see more material that really stretches what "end game" means. Or alternatively an expansion upon the PvMP system to make it less grindy and more dynamic. Since V1 B12 it's had a grindy feel due to the population that flocked to it. Since MoM the combat mechanics have made it more of a button mash game and less of a combat dance. I'll stop there...I could really go on...

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

Start by making the "unique" cloaks unique. Currently the HIGH 10+ rank cloak art from the Ettenmoors can be found in common yellow drops in Moria.

But to actually answer your question...I think this is an area where the items being offered are right on. Given the obvious limitation that they can't really have any practical effect on gameplay that limits your options considerably. How about....hmmm...some sort of quest starter...but the end of the quest has a substantial reward. The quest could be very arduous and require a lot of time to complete, perhaps with some form of randomly generated steps, like a treasure hunt or something like that. Find Joe Schmo (some random npc in Angmar for example) click him and it advances your quest...maybe 50 steps like that leads to some significant, treasure...maybe a class specific item that is a "teensy" bit better than the top item for that class currently in the game.

This could potentially really get people 'out there' exploring assuming the steps in the search were pretty random. And it could circumvent the "need" to make these items relatively useless, by adding in a significant time sink/work needed to get the item.

[KitsuneGirl]

Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

Yes! As long as its not a faction item, as long as its something that any level can get for a reasonable price. And as long as it doesnt disappear once used.

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

Crafting and instances, Ive never raided, but would like to if raids werent so gear-dependant. In EQ2 housing decoration was something I loved to spend time doing... that was end-game for me. Sadly housing decoration is in need of an over-haul.

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?t=278276
This I would like to see.

I would also like to see all hairstyles for all races... or how about some human female facial types that dont look so blasted masculine?
How about some new dresses that dont need an insane amount of faction rep?

[JohnQPublic]

Question 1
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

I wouldn't use it, but I understand that a lot of people would.

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

What DOES "end game" mean to me? Grind. Grind. Grind. Pain. Grind. Boredom. Grind. Roll a new character to avoid the grind.

What SHOULD "end game" mean to me? Powerful new enemies, challenging encounters, raids like the rift.

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

More of the same I guess. The bree-steed was nice. Housing decorations are 'OK', but (as has been stated many many times) without free-form decorating they are kinda pointless.

[Reodred14]

Question 1[/B]
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

I would not use it myself, but it would be a good option to use for players who do not want the extra boost

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

End game really means content that requires you to be at the level cap to do, raids, rad instances (for the most part) PvMP and the like

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

What I woud like to see is a new housing trophy that is a life-size model of your character to display proudly and for neighbors to bow in envy of while having anybody near it given 15 dread and 15 hope at the same time!



but cloaks are good too I guess

[wondecr]

Question 1
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

I have no need for it personally, but I hear others requesting it. As long as it didn't affect me negatively, I'm all for the addition.

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

What I do when I reach the level cap. I'm not really a "raider" so I'm doing traits, rep, crafting, etc. I help with some of the others, like Carn Dum and Uru.... Not so fond of the raid gear funnel personally.

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

I think it's a good idea. I'd like to see more unusual items like the summoning horn you get from Forochel so we can get our teams together easier when there's no cappy available. Or perhaps more camps with muster horns. Or unique food items that have odd effects, like a short term OOC run speed increase, or food for pets other then bears, etc.

[Eluros]

How it works:
From time to time we'll be asking you questions, and here in our thread, you tell us: What comes to mind; what you think; how you feel; etc, as it relates to the question(s) at hand.


Ground Rules:
Because we want this to be a place where we can gather valuable feedback from our community we're going to be a little tougher on the rules enforcement here. Please read both the Ground Rules and the Forum Guidelines posts before you do anything else. These will be strictly enforced.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Question 1
Would you be interested in an item that would allow you to disable “monster-kill” XP for a fixed period of time?

Question 2
What does “end game” mean to you?

Question 3
Occasionally we offer ‘special’ items like the Writ of Passage or Unique Cloaks to our players. What kind of special items would you like to see in the future?

Question 1:
No, I would not use such an item. However, I don't believe it would cause me any harm, so I would not have any opposition to its implementation. I would much rather have the option to dynamically scale back my level so that I could perform quests at level with other friends.

Question 2:
To me, "end game" refers to gameplay after the completion of the standard method of character advancement tracking. A level 59 who raids is not experiencing the "end game", because their character is still on the standard development track. Upon completion of this track, anything from deed grinding, reputation building, or Auction-House trading is considered "end game" gameplay.

Question 3:

I would like to see items that unlock the use of new emotes. Additionally, I would like to see a veterancy system in place that would reward players for having a toon that has been active for at least X amount of hours, and have certain "special items" rewarded to them.