Update 11 - Volume III, Book 10 Quest Notes

[Sapience]

By: Jeff "MadeOfLions" Libby

"Welcome to another edition of Quest Notes! I like to take a few pages every so often to keep you all posted on the current state of the Epic Story in LOTRO and to provide some choice tidbits concerning the adventures on which your character soon will embark."

Read the Update 11 - Volume III, Book 10 Quest Notes

[Fredelas]

I really like the idea of these solo session play interludes, which players can do at their leisure, and even repeat if they enjoy them.

I still miss group encounters in the epic quest, though. But I know if it's in the epic, everyone will consider it required anyway, even if it has OPTIONAL right in the name. That's why I liked how the inspiration buff was implemented in Volume I. Whether you had one player or six players, it still felt epic.

I know it makes storytelling more difficult when you can't guarantee where each player is standing and offer them all their own interesting choices to make. But maybe that part could be done on the landscape, either before or after a quest. Then maybe you could offer some truly epic feeling private group encounters again.

[Nakiami]

This is the kind of meat in dev diaries that I like. A humorous anecdote. A glimpse into the process. And more than a paragraph of text.

Thanks for making the session plays optional. I have my fourth 85 stuck before the first Rohan epic session play because I can't bear the thought of doing it again. The carrots (2nd age bridle & T8 relics) are not enough to get me to play Boromir, or Frodo, or whomever it is, again.

[SPARTIOTIS]

Well done guys, it's a thumbs up from me. Thank you ever so much for making the session plays optional. I HATE them and I am so glad that I wont have to do them with all my alts again. After taking so many alts through the last epic book, it got really boring and slow. So again a very big thank you for making them optional.

[Urwendil]

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Well written MoL!
​

[HunterGreen]

This sounds great, and very eagerly anticipated.

I wonder if you're teasing us with a picture of Nona because we're going to see her again, or because we're not!

[Tamandra]

Similarly, during Volume III Book 4 we experimented with drawing landscape content into the Epic with quests that advise you to ‘help the people at this quest hub before meeting me at the next one!’ but this was met with confusion. ‘How do I know when it’s safe to move on?’ players asked. ‘Are these optional quests or required for me to progress?’

I actually really liked this approach personally, I never had any trouble understanding what was required and it helped lead me from hub to hub.

[OldMadeOfLions]

I actually really liked this approach personally, I never had any trouble understanding what was required and it helped lead me from hub to hub.

Yeah, it's not quite as clear cut as I presented it in the diary (and there are several people on the team who really liked that approach!) but it did seem to confuse quite a lot of players. I'm sure there's probably a way to do something similar, but with less confusion.

MoL

[Boraxxe]

Does Nona have piercings?
Did she always?
I never noticed them before.

[Widmore]

I love this new approach to session play!

I myself do enjoy session play, but I was never a big fan of having to drop everything I was doing in the middle of a quest line to participate in it.
So the whole, do it now/do them later/don't do them at all, options are fantastic!

Nona appears slightly less confused....

Good job guys and gals.

[Cliford]

I am not a big fan of vol 3, and I hope next chapters will change my mind. Main flaw of vol 3 in compare to vol 1 and 2, is the place of my character. Becouse of story and all session play (to much of it) I do not have any more feeling that I am part of story, I do not longer participate in it, I am just next to it. In SoA, or in Moria I was one of main heroes of tale, now mostly (especially becouse of session plays) I am just listener. Its no longer epic for me.
Still think that SoA was ideal, and tale there just got me. Which of us wasn't suprised with Sarah? And ofcourse group quests... but it's already mantioned in diary. I guess trend is for solo, and I can only miss that times...

[ShadowPet]

>>> Even Nona’s not sure how much of this is optional <<<

LOL!

The new approach to session play sounds like a definite improvement to me. I enjoy most of the session plays (volume III had some of the best yet) but don't like having to drop everything to complete one.

Being able to complete them when I feel like it without being blocked from continuing the epic is a good compromise. I do miss epic group quests though, and inspiration god mode!

[Gedachtnis]

>>> Even Nona’s not sure how much of this is optional <<<

LOL!

The new approach to session play sounds like a definite improvement to me. I enjoy most of the session plays (volume III had some of the best yet) but don't like having to drop everything to complete one.

Being able to complete them when I feel like it without being blocked from continuing the epic is a good compromise. I do miss epic group quests though, and inspiration god mode!

How do we do the Interludes after finishing Book 10? I can't find Gleowine's map anywhere.

[Danchir]

How do we do the Interludes after finishing Book 10? I can't find Gleowine's map anywhere.

It's in the cave to the north where the Epic finishes.