Dev Diary Feedback: Spring Festival of 2010

[Fredelas]

The shrew-stomping event has bugged out twice now on Brandywine.

That was 25 disappointed players.

/bugged

[augustgrace]

I've enjoyed the hedge maze, the races and the drunken fence walking so far. Tried the shrew stomping but it is too crowded. I think if the instances were limited to 15 players the shrew stomping would be a bit more fun.

Other than the shrew stomping though, bravo! Especially amused by the fence walking. Keep up the great work!

[celticrocks]

I was excited to have a dwarven ale association, until I saw that we had to steal from Hobbits and gain dishonour! BAH!

I'm not offended by the love for ale. In fact I love the inclusion of tobacco and beer in this game.

I do highly object to the honor of Thorin's Hall being subjected to an Ale Association that calls for Dwarves to steal from Hobbits. Yeah, yeah yeah, humour and all that - I get it. It should have been done in a more tasteful lore-respecting manner.

Badge of Dishonor attained in Thorin's hall by stealing from Hobbits? No thanks. It offends my Dwarven honor. My dwarven champion would rather drink with the Hobbits any day.

Not to mention the fact that Dwarves would never need to steal a recipe to out-brew the other races in the divine art of brewing. BAH!!!!

[MissGrace]

I love the Hedge Maze! Thanks for bringing it back

[Losstari]

The first toon I logged on with got the invitation to the Spring Festival, but every other one I've logged on with has only gotten acknowledgement that they completed the Spring Festival deed. No invitation to go see what's-his-name in Duillond, nothing... Huh? What's going on?

Also, don't you guys recall Weird Al Yankovic's highly satirical song, "Weasel Stomping Day"? The whole Stomp-a-Shrew idea is in very bad taste, even if it is all virtual.

[Music-chan]

I'm loving the events for this and I'm having a blast. I just wish Duillond had some more direct stable paths to and from places of note in Middle Earth. All the festivals are there and yet you can't ride from there to Michael Delving, or Bree.

[NimNai]

Any word on when the mount vendor will be back up? This is my first time at a festival, and the only thing I wanted was the mount... I spent a lot of time getting the materials together and when I went to get it, the vendor was gone. Please tell me he will be back before the festival is over!! =(

[cretheridge]

Can someone give me an end-date so I can make sure to get all my lovelies?

[Amethrayne]

The first toon I logged on with got the invitation to the Spring Festival, but every other one I've logged on with has only gotten acknowledgement that they completed the Spring Festival deed. No invitation to go see what's-his-name in Duillond, nothing... Huh? What's going on?

Did you stay logged in for very long? It's a known issue that if you logout before the mail arrives it never will. It takes some time after you login for the mail to arrive with the invitation. However, your alts can still participate even if they didn't receive the official invitation. I received it on all of my alts except for one, but I didn't stay logged in for very long on that one the first time I logged in after the festival started. This is mentioned in the announcements on the login page as a known issue as well as the known issues area of the forums. The same thing seemed to happen with the mail that has the gift box. One of my alts didn't get it, and I think it's because I didn't stay logged in long enough for the process to complete.

Also got a mail from "A Friend" after completeing the bree flower running thing. It was also empty but the mail didn't specifically say there was a reward involved. It just said something about letting me know I am appreciated.

I also got this mail with nothing attached. I hope there wasn't supposed to be a reward that I'll now never get. I haven't finished all the Hedge Maze challenges yet so I haven't gotten that mail.

Any word on when the mount vendor will be back up? This is my first time at a festival, and the only thing I wanted was the mount... I spent a lot of time getting the materials together and when I went to get it, the vendor was gone. Please tell me he will be back before the festival is over!! =(

I don't think there has been an announcement about when he will be back, but I'm pretty certain he will be back well before the end of the festival. The Spring Festival lasts almost an entire month and I'm sure you are not the only person who is primarily interested in the mounts. If Turbine didn't get that NPC back in time for people to get their horses, there would be a huge uprising from the players I am certain. I am sure it's a top priority for them. So no worries! You will have your horse! Hold onto your tokens and keep an eye on the announcements on the login page.

Can someone give me an end-date so I can make sure to get all my lovelies?

If you click on the button that says "Calendar" here on the forums and click on "April" it says the tentative end date for the Spring Festival 2010 is April 20. I seem to recall that Winter Festival 2009 and Fall Festival 2009 went a little past the estimated dates, but there are no guarantees.

[Fronta]

Does anyone know when the spring festival will end?
I need to know how long it is going on, so I can plan my kin event before it is over!
Thanks!

[lf2536]

Does anyone know when the spring festival will end?
I need to know how long it is going on, so I can plan my kin event before it is over!
Thanks!

would have been faster to check the calender on the forums main page, but April 19th iirc.

[Fronta]

would have been faster to check the calender on the forums main page, but April 19th iirc.

Sweet!
I didn't know where to look, so thanks!

[arwentonks]

Fun Fun Fun thou it can be a bit lagey

[Morgado]

Just wanted to say thank you to Turbine for allowing the designers to exercise creativity in the festival events. It is encouraging to see the designers trying unusual things and utilizing unique parts of the LOTRO game world like the hedge maze. I did not particularly like the shrew stomping game because the lag and tagging issues was making it hard to play as intended, but the effort and intent is much appreciated.

And of course, thank you to the designers for their work in doing all of this. Not everything always works out perfectly and smoothly, as pointed out in the Dev Diary article, but that's okay. It would have been easy to just make more of the same old, same old and avoid the problems by making safe but boring "content." This kind of material is much more interesting and makes me feel my lifetime membership was a worthwhile investment.

[Shawnolas]

I can't fathom why it is taking this long to get the horse vendor NPC back??? It is a bit ridiculous at this point. Hopefully he will find his way back during the downtime this morning.

[Darej]

I can't fathom why it is taking this long to get the horse vendor NPC back??? It is a bit ridiculous at this point. Hopefully he will find his way back during the downtime this morning.

Patience explained why a few days back.

but if you are unable to fathom that...no sense trying to explain further.

you just gonna have to wait.

[Dasein]

With so much actual cruelty to animals in the world already, is it really necessary to develop a mini-game where shrews are stomped for fun?

What's next? Kick-a-dog? Punch-a-cat? Squash-a-hamster? Whip-a-horse?

[DarkCntry]

With so much actual cruelty to animals in the world already, is it really necessary to develop a mini-game where shrews are stomped for fun?

What's next? Kick-a-dog? Punch-a-cat? Squash-a-hamster? Whip-a-horse?

Yes, because they are actually smashed under your boot...

Shrews are classed as pests, hell there's several quests that have us killing them outright, so why is it suddenly such a bad thing because we can now kick them out of a garden?

[Carysta]

Yes, because they are actually smashed under your boot...

Shrews are classed as pests, hell there's several quests that have us killing them outright, so why is it suddenly such a bad thing because we can now kick them out of a garden?

Maybe people are boared of shrews


...I couldn't resist!

Seriously, kudos on the festival - it's been very fun and exciting Although - is it a bad thing when your kin knows something's wrong because the festival started and you weren't logged in?? (ps. I broked my foot )

[Sakshale]

I was excited to have a dwarven ale association, until I saw that we had to steal from Hobbits and gain dishonour! BAH!

I'm not offended by the love for ale. In fact I love the inclusion of tobacco and beer in this game.

I do highly object to the honor of Thorin's Hall being subjected to an Ale Association that calls for Dwarves to steal from Hobbits. Yeah, yeah yeah, humour and all that - I get it. It should have been done in a more tasteful lore-respecting manner.

Badge of Dishonor attained in Thorin's hall by stealing from Hobbits? No thanks. It offends my Dwarven honor. My dwarven champion would rather drink with the Hobbits any day.

Not to mention the fact that Dwarves would never need to steal a recipe to out-brew the other races in the divine art of brewing. BAH!!!!

You have clearly stated my problems with the Ale Association. My guardian was shocked to find himself "slapping" another dwarf!

Setting role play aside, this seems to echo all of the worst stereotypes about dwarfs. Let's hope the developers find a way to make it more "fun" and less "dishonorable".

[Sorangie174]

You have clearly stated my problems with the Ale Association. My guardian was shocked to find himself "slapping" another dwarf!

Setting role play aside, this seems to echo all of the worst stereotypes about dwarfs. Let's hope the developers find a way to make it more "fun" and less "dishonorable".

hehe First time I did..my hunter realized that the Ale Association was the Dwarf mafia. Was funny after see the rewards, I dont think it was worth it.