What do you usually do on an expansion launch day?

[Nymphonic]

I'm curious, what do you good people do on launch day for an expansion? Historically, I've played lower level alts for a week or so to let things die down before I step into the new content. How about you folks?

[Whart]

Definitely wait by playing lower level alts for a couple weeks, and focus on crafting for the capped characters. I don't like the crowds--people can get really hyper in the race for who gets finished with everything first (especially when shiny loot is involved) and behave more badly than they normally would. But on launch day itself? Sit back, stay out of the game, and watch the forums for all the rage posts about how people can't log in :P .

[wachkussen]

Yeah. No point attempting to patch it up from the starting line. Let those who are in a hurry queue against each other, then attempt patching at what you hope will be a quiet point, a day or two later. I'm usually quite happy to start the new content once I get in, however. I play slow as molasses anyway, so the floating new pub crowd are always well ahead of me.

[Whart]

Sorry, forgot the most important advice for patch day: mac 'n cheese and a quality single-malt whisky. That will sustain and entertain you through the most extreme forum drama!

[Goodgoing]

I've been playing since January 2011. And it took me almost a year to get my first toon to lvl cap. I caught up during the time period between RoI and RoR though. Really only been around waiting at lvl cap for the next expansion once, which was RoR. It was my first expanison I got to jump in and experience during my time with Lotro. And I enjoyed every second of it. Rohan was one of my most anticipated regions for the game.

Anyway, I bought the Expansion quest pack on launch day. And first did the epic story that leads you to the East Wall. I really wanted to see the breaking of the fellowship first before I got my warsteed. I fully enjoyed it.

I think I will do the same thing again with Helm's Deep aswell. I have the day off that day. And what better way of spending your free time than with a new expansion for Lotro? Though I really hope Turbine does something with the reduced awareness and lag that has been going on for awhile.

[Khafar]

I'm usually stupid enough to play on launch day, despite the bugs, lag, etc. It's just fun to be in on the excitement. I'll tinker with some part of the new content or features for maybe an hour, then log off and come back later. Like... 2AM, when populations are low .

This time, I'm going to be spending much more time on alts, trying out the class changes. Some of those characters haven't really been played for 2-3 years, so it'll be fun to dust them off and give them another go.

Khafar

[Roberto_the_First]

I usually catch up on tv, maybe read a book. I don't play patch day

[robbie1435]

I... go to school...

Yes, my life is that shallow.

Glorgnorbor

[Beastnas]

Start on the Epic and regular quests, maybe crafting a bit in the new tier.

Also, reading the patch notes in depth.

[timmyloo22546]

It will probably take me 20 minutes learning the new trait tree system on the toon I decide to level first. After that I will quest. I will likely start with the new Epic Books (assuming there is no prerequisite to have completed the previous book) and work in landscape quests along the way.

[Crell_1]

I'm curious, what do you good people do on launch day for an expansion? Historically, I've played lower level alts for a week or so to let things die down before I step into the new content. How about you folks?

Traditionally, I login each character and hand in all my reputation to reach the new guild max. Then I attempt to reach level cap within a few hours of the first non-accelerated (+XP boosters) player hitting it. This time, that seems unlikely with all the class changes looming. Upon reaching level cap, I settle down to enjoy some NEW end-game content if there is any. (Draigoch....QQ!)

[robbie1435]

(Draigoch....QQ!)

I read somewhere that Big Battles were the end game, so if 1 or 2 of them are raids, it should be SORTA like Draig... Let's cross our fingers and have some HOPE

Glorgnorbor

[LaGere]

I'm curious, what do you good people do on launch day for an expansion? Historically, I've played lower level alts for a week or so to let things die down before I step into the new content. How about you folks?

Check to see when it goes on sale. I have way more tps than cash.

[terrymaydaniel]

I usually can't even get in on launch day, lol. But when I finally get logged in, I start in on the epic right away, doing landscape quests as they come up. The second or third day I try to get caught up on what changes were made the classes.

[Shadowhunter78]

It will probably take me 20 minutes learning the new trait tree system on the toon I decide to level first. After that I will quest. I will likely start with the new Epic Books (assuming there is no prerequisite to have completed the previous book) and work in landscape quests along the way.

The Epic Quest line that starts from an Expansion does not have pre-requisites. At least, they haven't before.

I will buy the expansion and start on it with my guard. Same thing I have done since Moria.

[Isharra]

Same thing I do every expansion launch day... re-do my LIs.

[Leixy]

Agreed, every expansion launch day is basically a multi-hour LI fest, since all LI points are almost always re-set, as well as skill slots, etc.... it takes forever to re-program them all.

Also, logging into alts, using up guild reputation that was saved, and buying / checking out new recipes.

I'll be lucky if I make it to west rohan by the end of the day :P

[Kaynith]

Typically I log on my lowest level toon and see what goes boom. Then I'll log on a mid level toon that has LI's to see what's been changed/altered/obliterated.

Then maybe if I feel safe enough that I at least have half a clue what I'm doing, I'll log on my level 85. Maybe.

[Jeb682]

I still haven't caught up to the ROI expansion, so I'm not directly affected by the new one. But I'll probably try to figure out the trait trees. My highest level alt is just short of 70, so I haven't experienced them at all yet and it always takes me awhile to learn something new.

[Crell_1]

I read somewhere that Big Battles were the end game, so if 1 or 2 of them are raids, it should be SORTA like Draig... Let's cross our fingers and have some HOPE

Read the 20 (SUPERSIZED TO 40) questions.

https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthr...persized-to-40

A5: jwbarry: 8 total instances. Helm’s Dike, The Deeping Wall, The Deeping-Coomb, The Glittering Caves, and the Hornburg all available on solo/duo (tuned for one player but allowing two in). The Glittering Caves will feature a three player size, Helm’s Dike a six player, and The Deeping Wall a twelve player.

Helms Dike (1OR2, 6)
The Deeping-Coomb(1OR2)
The Deeping Wall (1OR2, 12)
The Glittering Caves (1OR2, 3)
The Hornburg (1OR2)

There is only one NEW space designed for 12 players.

Additionally you get scaled to level 95 no matter what your level is, so there's no rush to level.

[Sapience]

I'm curious, what do you good people do on launch day for an expansion? Historically, I've played lower level alts for a week or so to let things die down before I step into the new content. How about you folks?

Get up entirely too early.
Drink entirely too much coffee.
Spend most of it in a very big room with glass walls.
Eat take out of questionable nutritional value and origin for lunch.
Read every last bit of player commentary i can find.
Realize I haven't seen the sun today and it's already set.
Discover I probably wasn't wrong about the questionable origin thing.
Watch a whole lot of squiggly lines go up and down all day.
Eat the equally questionable food brought in for dinner.
Deeply re-evaluate my food choices for the day.
Go Home.
Spend too much time on my laptop making sure nothing exploded during the drive.
Set ringer on high.
Set phone next to pillow.
Stare at ceiling unable to fall asleep because I know it's going to ring.
Double check mail, just in case.
Smack Alarm with a firm belief I'm trapped in a recreation of Ground Hog Day.

[BackAgainAndThere]

Get up entirely too early.
Drink entirely too much coffee.
Spend most of it in a very big room with glass walls.
Eat take out of questionable nutritional value and origin for lunch.
Read every last bit of player commentary i can find.
Realize I haven't seen the sun today and it's already set.
Discover I probably wasn't wrong about the questionable origin thing.
Watch a whole lot of squiggly lines go up and down all day.
Eat the equally questionable food brought in for dinner.
Deeply re-evaluate my food choices for the day.
Go Home.
Spend too much time on my laptop making sure nothing exploded during the drive.
Set ringer on high.
Set phone next to pillow.
Stare at ceiling unable to fall asleep because I know it's going to ring.
Double check mail, just in case.
Smack Alarm with a firm belief I'm trapped in a recreation of Ground Hog Day.

Oh man.. at least you have thanksgiving to look forward to a day off. Unless of course you are going to have turkey in the office!

[Yulin-Gladden]

Mostly watch the progress bars as the patching takes place.

[Tarlywyn]

Get up entirely too early.
Drink entirely too much coffee.
Spend most of it in a very big room with glass walls.
Eat take out of questionable nutritional value and origin for lunch.
Read every last bit of player commentary i can find.
Realize I haven't seen the sun today and it's already set.
Discover I probably wasn't wrong about the questionable origin thing.
Watch a whole lot of squiggly lines go up and down all day.
Eat the equally questionable food brought in for dinner.
Deeply re-evaluate my food choices for the day.
Go Home.
Spend too much time on my laptop making sure nothing exploded during the drive.
Set ringer on high.
Set phone next to pillow.
Stare at ceiling unable to fall asleep because I know it's going to ring.
Double check mail, just in case.
Smack Alarm with a firm belief I'm trapped in a recreation of Ground Hog Day.

I would have thought launch day would be a good day to coincide with taking annual leave

[Sapience]

Oh man.. at least you have thanksgiving to look forward to a day off. Unless of course you are going to have turkey in the office!

I don't think so. Usually that schedule holds for a couple of days and the first weekend. Then we're usually pretty confident that anything major or game breaking has been found and have a mitigation plan or hot fix plan under discussion.

I would have thought launch day would be a good day to coincide with taking annual leave

LOL for some it is.