In what way is LOTRO special compared to other MMOs?

[Wardrat]

Hi all,

I've been thinking a while about this question. I hope I do not come across as a negative criticaster. Don't get me wrong: I still like the game and I will probably buy whatever update comes next.

However, the more I think about it, I realise that LOTRO is no more than an average MMO. In nothing it is really impressive or special. This used to be different. When I first started playing during early SoA, LOTRO was special for me due to the following reasons:
1. Unique atmosphere and stunning graphics;
2. Very social and helpful community;
3. Interesting story-line;
4. "Difficult" (still not extremely hard, but compared to other MMO's it was sometimes quite tough).

None of the above points are still applicable. The atmosphere and graphics are not really better than other MMO's. It's still quite good, but nothing special.
The community is also still fun, but not in the same way as it was before. Probably mainly because the whole game is solo gameplay. There's no need to help each other or team up. By making everything solo, the community has in my eyes gone downhill as well.
The story-line is getting more and more "forced". It's like we "must" follow the fellowship instead of having our own adventure in Middle-Earth. During SoA and MoM we had our own journey, without having to hear about the fellowship all the time. The current story-line isn't special or unique, it feels forced.
Also the game has become extremely easy.

The reasons why this game was special, don't really count anymore. Are there new points these day in which LOTRO stands out? I'm not sure, but I think not. Combat system isn't unique at all, except for mount combat but I don't really think that's any fun at all. PvMP used to be pretty fun, but is currently extremely boring compared to PvP in other MMO's.

I honestly don't see any point in which LOTRO is above average. Or am I missing something? I hope I do.

[StrideColossus]

Other than the fact that LOTRO is the only MMO based on JRRT, I would suggest that the one unique feature is the landscape in comparison to other MMOs, or at least the ones I've tried or seen.

Yes as you say the graphics are no better than any other game, there are no features in the game that cannot be found elsewhere, etc. but the attention to detail in recreating a 'believable' Middle Earth landscape is IMHO second to none.

I've played SWTOR and Neverwinter amongst others, and while those games are visually as good (if not better) the world somehow feels flat in comparison to LOTRO.

[Whitestones]

And naturally, since this is a very subjective question, the answers will be all over the place.

For me, the atmosphere never left. I can still go and sit on one of the islands in Nen Harn and contemplate, or listen to music on my iPhone, or whatever - I have never, in all my days of gaming, ever found a game where I could have my character 'put his feet up' and just look at the vistas. Are the graphics out-of-date? Perhaps, but to me, what is the point of having a highly-detailed graphical world if everyone just races by them, the sights unseen in the rush to get the next quest/achievement/doodad/whatever? That I can still, after 7 years, go and sit at the Prancing Pony and watch others play music, or sit by the Boar Fountain in Bree, and feel content is just... well, it's just awesome.

You're right - the story in SoA is very unique in many respects - and I'd like to see a return to that sort of storytelling. Who knows - maybe they will... but even if they don't, the stories they're telling are still enjoyable - at least to me. Plus, I have to give the dev team props for at least trying to tackle some pretty major challenges. The Battle of Helm's Deep may not be what everyone wants, but at least we're involved! IMO folks who were clamoring for a PVMP-style match of dozens (or more) players... well, it sounds cool but I don't think Lord of the Lag Online is all that fun.

Now I could go on - though I'm not touching the 'We want the questing easier!/We want questing harder!/Easier!/Harder!' 7-year yoyo-fest with a 10-foot halberd - but ultimately, you have to decide for yourself whether LoTRO is worth staying or not. Your Mileage May Very, as the saying goes.

[rosey21]

Graphics are no better then any other mmo- pffft

IMO the lotro graphics are much better then wow. Actually I have tried many mmo's & one of the things that turned me off from them is I do not like there graphics. I think the new regions in lotro are superb to other games.

[Dernudan]

Graphics are no better then any other mmo- pffft

IMO the lotro graphics are much better then wow. Actually I have tried many mmo's & one of the things that turned me off from them is I do not like there graphics. I think the new regions in lotro are superb to other games.

Ya, the graphics are amazing. They might not have the greatest tech to create it, but the detail put in is superb.
The cosmteic system in this game is also not matched by any other game.

Finally, Turbine is putting in new features that are not seen elsewhere. MC might not be everyones cup of tea but it is for a lot of people. For people who like to fight on horseback, this is by far the best MMO for them.

Also, the concept of EBs is completely original. With improvements, it can be something truly extraordinary. And what I have heard in the Hobbiy Streams suggests those improvements are coming.

And lastly, it the Lord of the Rings. No ither MMO can boast a story like that.

[StrideColossus]

The cosmteic system in this game is also not matched by any other game.

Good call, I hadn't thought about cosmetics, definitely superior to any other MMO I've seen. Pity LOTRO housing isn't...

[Jeffor]

One word: hobbits!

[anthonyx]

I think the reason that so many have stuck with LOTRO even if the current direction they are going in is not what they want (I would be part of that group) is because it is middle earth and JRRT. When LOTRO came out it was by far way ahead of other MMMOs in terms of landscape. Years later and other MMOs can now match it but not many can exceed it. This is with a now dated engine. So the landscape is what keeps me here. The story lines are still way above average (over all). I can still do my version of RP. For 7 years I have escaped to ME after stressful days on the job, in life and even after good days in job and life. 3 of my kids have been part of this journey. No other game have had that pull. So I complain and wish that LOTRO would be a certain way, but in the end they will have to pry my bow from my dead Elf's hand before I quit.

[Fratonia]

1. Unique atmosphere and stunning graphics;

Actually I would divide this into:

1a) Unique atmosphere
To me the game always had and still has a unique atmosphere. Where else can you play Lord of the Rings with your friends? Where do you have this kind of detail in world design which makes you feel like you are venturing through Middle Earth? For me Lotro has excellent atmosphere and I can do what I want in Middle Earth. Nobody forces me to do anything. Also for me Middle Earth is not just end game. It's the whole game and I regularly find myself in situations where I think "Have I seen this before?".

1b) stunning graphics
I really like the graphics but I have pimped them with SweetFX to get a crisper look. What I also like is the more "realistic" look. I'm no fan of the colorful fantasy manga whatever style that some other MMOs have.
I also like the cosmetic item system (would like to have cosmetic weapons and shields too) and the war steeds. In my opinion they are a great addition to the game.

2. Very social and helpful community;

This is still partly true. There are very friendly and helpful people around but also a lot of idiots. I guess we will get that in any online community so this is nothing special to Lotro. I stick to the people I know/like and ignore the rest. This works fine for me.

3. Interesting story-line;

I think that this still applies. I know that some players are bored by repetitive quests (sometimes I am as well) but still Turbine does a good job in developing quest chains that make sense and the epic quest line is also interesting to me. I take the time to read all the quest text. It's part of the way I'm playing and how I want to experience my characters but I'm a little more of the RPG type than others maybe.
The fact that there are much more fixed quest chains may be a bit of a hindrance for some players but I must say that I like this way of telling a story. Sometimes it may be nice to start at point C instead of A in order to take a shortcut but the story flow would suffer from that. Of course the player could just say "I don't care about the story flow!". I guess it's a matter of personal taste.

4. "Difficult" (still not extremely hard, but compared to other MMO's it was sometimes quite tough).

I can only speak for the questing part and there difficulty is ok for me. Some parts are still hard especially fighting elites with the squishy classes but these are rare encounters. I don't think that questing should be very hard because the game already takes a lot of time as it is and at least I want to relax when playing a game. I have enough work during the day.
Sometimes I take part in a raid or skirmish and I must say that this has become easier compared to what I used to know from the past. I won't complain about that but I can understand other players who do because raids and skirmishes are what they like most. I hope that Turbine can once again find the balance and doesn't break landscape for raids or vice versa.

After all I play the game because I like to play in Middle Earth. As long as Turbine can deliver nicely designed areas with enjoyable quest content I will continue playing.

[Galuhad]

I first started playing this game, like many I suspect, because of the IP on which it's based. I have been a fan of Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings for as long as I can remember. If this was Jane Doe MMO I probably wouldn't have been half as interested, but being able to explore parts of Middle-Earth is second-to-none. I don't always agree with the direction the game is heading in, but I still eat-up the landscape as soon as new regions are added.

The other major influence for me is the social aspect. Whilst grouping has become almost alien for many players, it is the people in my kin that add depth to the game, and keep me engaged at times when I have little else to log in for.

I think there comes a time for all of us when we feel it's time to move on and try other things. When it feels like the game is becoming a chore and the fun has gone, it's probably time for a break and to experience something new. I've taken to playing other games when I need a break, but I always come back to LotRO - and will do for many years to come.

[rosey21]

One word: hobbits!

Bingo!!!!

[Brya]

When I first started playing during early SoA, LOTRO was special for me due to the following reasons:
1. Unique atmosphere and stunning graphics;
2. Very social and helpful community;
3. Interesting story-line;
4. "Difficult" (still not extremely hard, but compared to other MMO's it was sometimes quite tough).

None of the above points are still applicable.

IMHO, Points 1-3 are still true. To each his/her own opinion though.

I'll grant you 4 though

Given that LOTRO is built on an engine that's close to 10 years old (The game is 7 years old, but don't forget, it had the engine had to be made well before that!), some allowance has to be given for the fact that of course any new game released today will have a better graphics engine.

That said, the LOTRO team do continu to do some stunning graphical stuff for the new content they make, improving with each release.

[Galuhad]

some allowance has to be given for the fact that of course any new game released today will have a better graphics engine.

You'd be surprised how many new games still use older engines.. New engines are good in some ways, but risky in others. An older engine that has been tried and tested is probably a safer investment.

[TheCrossbow]

As someone who as played a few different MMOs, I can tell you what makes LOTRO special...


1. The story-line that this game is based on is truly second to none in quality. Of all of the "fantasy" stories in existence, Lord of the Rings still reigns supreme. It is one of only a handful of stories that people don't seem to care how old it is... it is still enjoyed by people of all ages.

2. Related to that... I would have to say the developers do an excellent job of really allowing us to experience the depth of Middle-Earth. You may not enjoy every quest (killing x-number of wargs or cleaning dishes) or every method they use to tell the story (quests, PvP, raids, etc) as much as someone else. But, the vastness of Middle-Earth is conveyed well... and the depth of the story is there in heaps.

3. The "community" of LOTRO is a lot more mature and enjoyable than I have experienced elsewhere. Not all servers are equal. Some are bigger/smaller. But, apart from the occasional "jerks" you'd run into anywhere (LOTRO isn't exempt from this)... the vast majority of the players you interact with are great people who are here to enjoy the story the same as you.

4. The role-playing in LOTRO is second to none (IMHO). And I don't mean just hanging around the Prancing Pony. The "world" is designed very well to the point that you can find any occasion to "RP". The housing may not be as good as elsewhere... but it does a great job of supporting role-play.

5. Respect for the "lore" can be seen in the design of the game. Sure, there are plenty of times where the game departs from the lore. This is an "online game" with mechanics that people expect to be filled. However, I think the development team does a good job of respecting the lore while also balancing the mechanics.

6. I believe the "raids" and "instances" in this game are well done... for the most part. Each "raid" does a very good job of telling the story of what you are encountering... whether you are storming Carn Dum, Isengard, or defending Helms Deep... again, the mechanics involved you may or may not always like... but the attempt at conveying the "epicness" of those encounters is certainly there and often well done.


Are there things that could be done better? Absolutely. But, I think the game is still one of the more fantastic games *still* in existence.

[cdq1958]

As someone who as played a few different MMOs, I can tell you what makes LOTRO special...


1. The story-line that this game is based on is truly second to none in quality. Of all of the "fantasy" stories in existence, Lord of the Rings still reigns supreme. It is one of only a handful of stories that people don't seem to care how old it is... it is still enjoyed by people of all ages.

2. Related to that... I would have to say the developers do an excellent job of really allowing us to experience the depth of Middle-Earth. You may not enjoy every quest (killing x-number of wargs or cleaning dishes) or every method they use to tell the story (quests, PvP, raids, etc) as much as someone else. But, the vastness of Middle-Earth is conveyed well... and the depth of the story is there in heaps.

3. The "community" of LOTRO is a lot more mature and enjoyable than I have experienced elsewhere. Not all servers are equal. Some are bigger/smaller. But, apart from the occasional "jerks" you'd run into anywhere (LOTRO isn't exempt from this)... the vast majority of the players you interact with are great people who are here to enjoy the story the same as you.

4. The role-playing in LOTRO is second to none (IMHO). And I don't mean just hanging around the Prancing Pony. The "world" is designed very well to the point that you can find any occasion to "RP". The housing may not be as good as elsewhere... but it does a great job of supporting role-play.

5. Respect for the "lore" can be seen in the design of the game. Sure, there are plenty of times where the game departs from the lore. This is an "online game" with mechanics that people expect to be filled. However, I think the development team does a good job of respecting the lore while also balancing the mechanics.

6. I believe the "raids" and "instances" in this game are well done... for the most part. Each "raid" does a very good job of telling the story of what you are encountering... whether you are storming Carn Dum, Isengard, or defending Helms Deep... again, the mechanics involved you may or may not always like... but the attempt at conveying the "epicness" of those encounters is certainly there and often well done.


Are there things that could be done better? Absolutely. But, I think the game is still one of the more fantastic games *still* in existence.

Seconded. Very well said, mate.

MMOs are not easy things to develop and operate. I've been around these games nigh on a decade now. When these were first launched, there was no way I was going to take on a virtual job while having a real life and work that took up most of the 178 hours in a week. They were niches that I didn't have time for with worlds and lore that was too generic 'fantasy' versus 'legendary mythology' for my tastes.

The first MMO that I found acceptable was SW:G. Two things happened in my life that made that possible. One, it was a well done Star Wars world and while I did make a virtual job in it as a trader, you could do so solo, non-combat, and 'casually' and still make it work. The second was illness that resulted in a temporary disability. I would have come to this one sooner, had I heard of it near its launch; but I did hear about it just before it went F2P, because of Warner Brothers and the other publicity surrounding the impending transition to the F2P option. That was almost exactly four years ago today. I now had time, due to serious chronic illness, but no money. I still got a trial, liked the game and scratched for the first couple of months subscription and got into the F2P beta. No game of any kind has gotten anywhere near the money this one has outside of SW:G.

Since those days, I've had issues with keeping employment due to recurring medical complications and had to retire. I'm living on my T-bills, so I do have some money coming in . I was able to get into the betas for two other hyped 'modern' MMOs. I bought both, but in the end found that their lore and worlds do not work for me. They were not anything special combat wise, graphics wise, or any otherwise. I spent more on one of them than the other because a family member wanted to try it out, but he quickly put it down. I've not put in another month since purchase of the buy-to-play game and put in 60 days subscription in the other one, which went F2P despite vociferously poo-pooing the possibility and my own input that said you need to consider building in the F2P capability before the original launch. Well we know how that went. That game got about $100 total from me. The other one about $60. I've put in over $1000 here and about $1000 in SW:G over the years I've played these.

I have several other MMOs on my system right now. None of them get any play or money. None of the most recent highly touted MMOs out there have any appeal to me. MOBAs are not my cup of tea, and yes, those are not MMOs. Unless things change, I suspect that no other MMO will ever get the time and money from me that this one has or SW:G did. When they pull the plug on the servers, I will go back to simulators, provided that I'm still alive. And yes, I have greatly enjoyed the direction the game has taken since I've been here.

So back to the OP. This game is unique due to its IP and how the lore and world have been implemented. This game is also unique in how its F2P model works and is to me the most solo and casual friendly of the 'AAA' MMOs.

[Comstrike]

LOTRO and gaming are not actually the majority of my time and far from my only interest. But video games and virtual communities have been part of this life since I can remember and MMORPGs such as LOTRO are the highest form of that pass-time.

In 2006 I finally had the computer, broadband and lack of a spouse which made finally getting into online gaming possible. (excluding direct-connect games of checkers on Q-link in the late 80s, Perfect General in college and BBS games aside from that.)

I was finishing my first month in SWG when the closed beta invite to LOTRO arrived. I applied to it because I was a huge Tolkien fan and MMORPGs were the vision of games I had waited for since before anybody had defined the genre. SWG was a shadow of what it had been. WoW struck me as a cartoonish rip-off of Lord of the Rings. So the chance to see a version of Middle-earth and dwell in it drew me to it.

To this day I can remember the feeling when the original theme and character screen came up. The intro video left me feeling like I was about to get sucked into the book. The subtle action, attention to detail, long-form quest notes, all pointed to a game made by people who really cared about Tolkien. The audio was lush and added a depth which helped suspend reality. I was able to totally lose myself in the game.

This was closed beta on Brandywine. Though I found the RP lacking on that server, there was a true community. The humor was something I appreciated. Folks helped each other. I had actually founded Sons of Numenor on Brandywine using alts and some community help. But I felt the seemingly legendary quality of Landroval’s RP community was too much to ignore. So I transferred Benjamir (named after my then 1 year old son,) to Landy. Renamed to Benjimir I was sold on the community and worth while expense instantly.

What kept me deep into LOTRO was and always has been the ability to lose myself in the game world. The graphics are modest in technical sophistication these days. Yet the look and feel of the game world continues to allow me to relax, and for a few hours just escape into Middle-earth. I’m not just playing “a game,” and I’m surely not concerned about raids or some game mechanic. Just as sitting in a comfy chair reading the books, I am in Middle-earth.

Then somebody with a giant bear pet starts playing the bagpipes and it’s all screwed.

I’m kidding.

Mostly.

Ultimately it is the tie to the source Lore. It is a player base that is more mindful of what the game represents in relation to the lore than in any other game. It is a community of real people who do more to create and make the game world come alive than in any other game-so much so that you can spend years utterly unaware of new zones or content.

What makes LOTRO special and different is that this game could exist without single quest, epic book, raid, or bone-head class addition, and people would continue to play it forever. It is a home, a place made real by the deeds and sentiments of the community. Other games have communities, good ones in some cases. There is nothing wrong or invalid about people being passionate about other games. Yet in the end, this game resonates with me more than the others. From the devs to the newbies, this game has made all the time spent worthwhile in real ways. Someday it may go away, and that will be sad, yet I will never regret what time I’ve spent here and I know I will take much away into the real world for having been part of this.

That is why I play LOTRO.

[Lunasa]

I've been thinking a while about this question. I hope I do not come across as a negative criticaster. Don't get me wrong: I still like the game and I will probably buy whatever update comes next.

This type of questions is always very subjective. I can't really compare to an "average" MMO, only to those which I played. No matter how many games I try, there are always Lotro features I miss so I keep returning here.

1) Community. Yes, I heard all the concerns about community degrading since F2P. Maybe it is, past times are often seen through rose-tinted glasses. I played since 2009 and I still find community in this game far more polite, respectful and mature than in other - especially newer - MMOs. This does not mean I never met players I would add to /ignore, but it does not happen in every playing session as it does in every other game I played.

2) Graphics. What I do find important in graphics is "realism" in my personal definition of course. I like medieval settings and realistic looking nature - all that I can find in Lotro. Flashy skills, sparkles and excessive glow effects never attracted me. It just happened that Lore Masters and Rune Keepers in Lotro are demonstrating the limit of flashiness which I can bare. When I am tired of it, I can always enjoy other classes. In all other MMOs I have big troubles finding a combination of skills which would be both effective for the gameplay and not irritating for my eyes.

3) Storytelling and humour. I adore the quests and the subtle jokes hidden in the NPCs' stories or quest names. I keep reading quests every time I roll a new alt - and it still happens regularly. It is like rereading a favourite book or rewatching a movie again and again while whispering the following line. I still hope to find any other MMO where I would enjoy storytelling as much as I do in Lotro, but I still can't. My latest disappointment in this regard was ESO.

4) Cosmetics system. Wardrobe, dyes, preset cosmetic outfits are all amazing. I am so spoiled by it now that in all other games I feel the lack of outfit customization and for me it is just as important as the variety of skills.


Other things I like (variety of skills on the UI bars, lack of global cooldown, design of instances, "the holy trinity" and so on) are not unique or better than in other games. They do however come in a package together with the unique features listed above and thus they further improve the positive feelings I have towards Lotro.

Is there something negative I see in Lotro? Of course there is. Sometimes I wonder if those negative (or better "not accepted by me") features would ever overweight the positive ones. I don't see that happening any time soon though.

[Sthrax]

I think the only two things that still keep LOTRO special are the lore (big plus here) and the cosmetic system. I appreciate the fact the graphics stay closer to realistic than cartoon, but the graphics do look dated at times. The epic quest is still well done, but most of the newer landscape quests are less than inspiring.

The one thing that was truly special compared to other MMOs- the trait system - was trashed in order to give us a trait tree system that is not only derivative of the systems in other MMOs, but also done much more poorly than in those games.

[Nymphonic]

Because its freakin' Middle Earth and I get to be a Hobbit. Being able to walk around in Middle Earth is a dream come true.

[elfincat]

It seems to be getting less unique.*cough trait trees cough*

For an old game though, I do think the graphics are as good as most other MMOs.

The community is generally a little friendlier than other MMOs I have played.

[RJFerret]

Sadly much of what made it special has been removed.

1. Graphics, the graphics they have now wouldn't past beta testing for amateur free games. There are obvious texture seams, and spots with z-buffer fighting because two objects have been placed in the exact same spot. There's a building in Rohan with multiple doors to exit, one of which places the player in a totally different location on a different side of the building! You can't get into that door from the exterior.

2. Community used to be good, but now you can't talk about anything here, threads just get closed arbitrarily it seems. Unlike other communities there's no respect for customers, never an indication of why a thread was closed. The reply button still exists for this one at the moment. In game community is lacking. Quality of it can't really be judged due to the lack of people.

3. Interesting story line is harder to access now. It used to be you'd go to a quest hub and be able to pick the interesting stories from what was available. Now you go to a quest hub and there are no rings. Turns out to get quests in that area you have to go to another area and do hours of FedEx quests. They also have been stripping out content that used to bring players together and build community. Each region revamp/solofication has stripped story and experiences from the game.

4. "Difficult", the recent rebalancing helped a bit, characters can actually be hurt now. But we can't use all our skills as MOBs are dead from the first couple hits. They stripped out threat tanking and no need for healing, and made it so mindless DPSing is king.

The cosmetic system is piddling compared to an environment like Second Life, where players can make their own outfits, designs, animations, etc.

Tolkien lore, when one of the devs recently included budget as a reason they couldn't bring some lore to life, well, they missed what they used to say about bringing players to the iconic moments of the story. This year was the very first time I'd ever seen money mentioned in that way.

What used to make Lotro special to me was the flexibility and fun options players had available to them, which is reflected in this thread, you could log on and pursue your style of play.

Now admittedly I didn't find some of these things special years ago when I started playing Lotro, as I'd seen such things implemented to a greater degree elsewhere; but the overall design allowed for fun, instead of railroading players into lousy quest chains, horribly restrictive skill trees and the general limiting philosophy that seems to pervade development now. Friends and I used to log on with, "What do you want to do tonight?" Now the answer is, "We have no choice, the thing they provided next for us is ___."

I guess in my case, "special" is not an adjective I'd use in reference to Lotro anymore.

[Nyrion]

The story - Top notch with a particular talent for creating flowing narrative from a footnote mentioned in Tolkien's works. Even when the quest mechanics aren't interesting the reasons for embarking on them often are.

The visuals - While somewhat lacking in some older areas, they are crafted with care and attention to detail. The more recent areas are also quite impressive and easily competitive with other current MMOs.

The community - Strong as its ever been. There's a reason LOTRO has a reputation for the quality of its community and for big events like Weatherstock. They are well earned.

Other stuff - Things like the cosmetic system which is very robust and beats out most of its competition or unique mechanics like the music system are also worth mentioning.

It's *bleeping* Tolkien. No other game before or since has given me the same level of feeling like I'm in Middle-earth, and that is a very powerful draw.

[Okokdir]

I honestly don't see any point in which LOTRO is above average. Or am I missing something? I hope I do.

I have been playing MMORPGs since 1999 (started with UO). LotRO is not special. Game play is MMO generic, graphics are MMO generic, the comunity is similar to any other MMO. The only thing I notice that is kind of/sort of different? There are a lot more older people playing this game vs others I have played. At least on my chosen server of Landroval.

[StrideColossus]

Ordinarily I wouldn't want to derail an interesting thread due to whining posts but I feel the amount of rubbish in this post requires it:

1. Graphics, the graphics they have now wouldn't past beta testing for amateur free games. There are obvious texture seams, and spots with z-buffer fighting because two objects have been placed in the exact same spot.

Really!? Worse than an indie beta? Of course the graphics are somewhat dated, the character models have never been particularly detailed, etc. but LOTRO is definitely still in the same class as other modern MMOs. Your comparison with an indie beta is frankly absurd, it's an insult to both LOTRO and indie developers.

There's a building in Rohan with multiple doors to exit, one of which places the player in a totally different location on a different side of the building! You can't get into that door from the exterior.

Hardly relevant. One iffy design glitch does not make LOTRO a poor game. Or even lots of iffy glitches.

2. Community used to be good, but now you can't talk about anything here, threads just get closed arbitrarily it seems. Unlike other communities there's no respect for customers, never an indication of why a thread was closed. The reply button still exists for this one at the moment. In game community is lacking. Quality of it can't really be judged due to the lack of people.

To be honest when I read this I wasn't sure whether you were trolling or not. Comparing the LOTRO community (here and in-game) to some of the childish / chauvanistic / aggressive 'communities' I've seen in other MMO games is laughable.

Threads get closed because they're usually written by 'leavers' or whiners, serious critique threads rarely get closed in my experience.

3. Interesting story line is harder to access now. It used to be you'd go to a quest hub and be able to pick the interesting stories from what was available. Now you go to a quest hub and there are no rings. Turns out to get quests in that area you have to go to another area and do hours of FedEx quests. They also have been stripping out content that used to bring players together and build community. Each region revamp/solofication has stripped story and experiences from the game.

Harder to access now compared to what? Other than zone revamps the structure of quests hasn't changed at all, we've always had to do fed-ex quests. As for stripping content, none of it has been removed, a lot of it has been soloified which is hardly surprising since it's always hard to get people for lower-level group-orientated content.

The cosmetic system is piddling compared to an environment like Second Life, where players can make their own outfits, designs, animations, etc.

This was the comment that made me laugh the most - you're seriously comparing an MMO to Second Life!? Who cares whether Second Life has a 'better' cosmetic system than LOTRO?

- stride

[CookieArtisan]

I honestly don't see any point in which LOTRO is above average. Or am I missing something? I hope I do.

I think this is certainly the most scholarly game I've ever played. The only other "scholarly" games I can think of are games like Chessmaster and Romance of the 3 Kingdoms for the older gaming systems.

I didn't come as a Tolkien fan per se, I came here as an MMO player. I've read the Ring trilogy and The Hobbit though, and thoroughly enjoyed both. I'm not here for grouping, but there is still so much for me to do, the cosmetic system is second to none (what a great time waster and mini game in itself!!) and the world is full and fantastic and I love all the lore since I knew very little of it when I first arrived. Love the game.