What Fantus is doing with PvMP is great, can we expand to other areas of the game?

[Strider5548]

The communication happening around PvMP is exceptional right now, namely the fact that we have a dedicated Discord server run by an SSG dev where feedback can be received and implemented in near real time.

Can we please expand this concept to other areas of the game? A few ideas:

-Class balance (perhaps Vastin runs this one?)
-Raids (whoever replaced Lansu?)
-Player Housing (looking at you Scenario!)
-Legendary Servers

I know it's a lot to ask and the team already has a lot on their plate, but the PvMP process has been very effective and if there's an opportunity to expand on it I think it will benefit both players and SSG.

[Thalian39]

Where can I find this discord server? And yeah, great idea, would be awesome to have other Dev's climb on board, even if they just hopped on once a month to answer questions or something. Discord is popular these days.

I use it 24/7.

Thanks.

Thalian from Gladden

[Fegefeuer]

I saw that poll and read the pvmp updates and they are awesome, I actually feel excited about it really good job in pvmp at last!

[Arantha]

Want to thank Fantus very much.

[Raninia]

It's something we're discussing internally. In the short run, probably not, because Fantus is spending a lot of his time on this both during and after work. It's great he's doing it, but we wanna figure out how we can make this more scalable if we're going to scale it.

[LagunaD2]

It's something we're discussing internally. In the short run, probably not, because Fantus is spending a lot of his time on this both during and after work. It's great he's doing it, but we wanna figure out how we can make this more scalable if we're going to scale it.

Life lesson: Sometimes, to be successful, you have to work longer and harder than the minimum required.

[Hallandil]

It's something we're discussing internally. In the short run, probably not, because Fantus is spending a lot of his time on this both during and after work. It's great he's doing it, but we wanna figure out how we can make this more scalable if we're going to scale it.

I doubt players are asking that developers spend expanded hours on Discord, but there could be more levels of transparency and open communications like what occurred during the PvMP Testing where Fantus actively engaged with a large portion of the community. Instead of dumping feedback onto a forum thread on the hope of someone actually reading it- players were given a greater level of agency and interaction with a live staff member of SSG.

Surely this method of communication could be better utilised in engaging members of the LOTRO Community, especially given the large amount of Discord use by players across each server.

Without tearing developers away from ongoing work- or asking them to work overtime.

[Belnavar]

Life lesson: Sometimes, to be successful, you have to work longer and harder than the minimum required.

That's a nice thought, but sometimes work/life balance is also (and arguably more) important than being "successful." While I applaud what Fantus is doing (he really is doing wonders for PvMP), and agree that it would be beneficial if employed in other aspects of the game, I also recognise that the devs are people, and deserve time off too. Getting the right balance of work done versus good working conditions is likely not an easy task. I am, however, glad to see the team are looking at this.

-Bel

[Nubja]

Life lesson: Sometimes, to be successful, you have to work longer and harder than the minimum required.

What a ridiculous mindset.

What Fantus is doing is fantastic and would be great to expand to other areas, but not at the cost of these real people's personal lives

[mr_toad]

Life lesson: Sometimes, to be successful, you have to work longer and harder than the minimum required.

This vile trollish comment is pathetic and insulting. It'll encourage the devs to not read the forums as much and in my opinion not put in overtime to the game.

[Frisco]

Life lesson: Sometimes, to be successful, you have to work longer and harder than the minimum required.

Wow, I'd never heard that. /s

But ideally one would get compensated for that work. Hopefully that's the case here, and we don't have a million dollar company exploiting its devs to put out a quality product.

[Harvain]

This vile trollish comment is pathetic and insulting. It'll encourage the devs to not read the forums as much and in my opinion not put in overtime to the game.

I wouldn't say it's trollish comment.

It honestly is a "Are you doing this just for the job and pay check or the love of X?" with X being the Lord of the Rings Online.

If you were cut would you bleed LOTRO?

[Rainith]

Life lesson: Sometimes, to be successful, you have to work longer and harder than the minimum required.

Sounds like something a Dwarf would say...

[Strider5548]

It's something we're discussing internally. In the short run, probably not, because Fantus is spending a lot of his time on this both during and after work. It's great he's doing it, but we wanna figure out how we can make this more scalable if we're going to scale it.

Of course that's fair, I think it ultimately comes down to resources, it's clear SSG needs more. None of us can help with that since we don't have any insight into the P&L, I think for many of us this game is so close to our hearts that we have difficulty seeing things through the business lens. It's without question that a huge part of the money coming in from VIP subs and store purchases is going straight to overpaid folks at the top (as with any company), it's just a tough thing to swallow for people who care about this game.

In any case, another comment I would like to make is that Fantus is also on Ghyn's Discord and occasionally posts in the pvmp thread. SSG engagement on Ghyn's discord is something I've suggested in the past, and I think it's fantastic he's doing it. At the very least, I think lurking on that server would be helpful for any of you folks at SSG. The forums are OK, but Ghyn's community is overwhelmingly players who are either pushing the game to its limits or aspiring to, so you get a much more informed perspective than you would here on the forums.

[Snowlock]

It's something we're discussing internally. In the short run, probably not, because Fantus is spending a lot of his time on this both during and after work. It's great he's doing it, but we wanna figure out how we can make this more scalable if we're going to scale it.

Plz give Fantus a nice bonus this year for his participation with the pvp community. Not the jelly of the month club type bonus either; we're talking $$. We're not an easy bunch.

[LagunaD2]

I wouldn't say it's trollish comment.

It honestly is a "Are you doing this just for the job and pay check or the love of X?" with X being the Lord of the Rings Online.

If you were cut would you bleed LOTRO?

Exactly.

And in a well-led organization, employees will be motivated to work harder for the success of the team, the company and most of all themselves. In part because the company recruited, hired and promoted people with a willingness to do that in the first place. Pride in one's work has many positive side effects.

I heard Steve Jobs spent a lot of his time on creating the Apple both during and after work.

Ditto for the people who made Project Apollo a reality.

Ditto for Elon Musk, the Tesla and Space-X.

These are obviously extreme examples compared to a video game. But if you want to get ahead, you have to work harder than the people who are content with mediocrity.

[sapienze]

It's something we're discussing internally. In the short run, probably not, because Fantus is spending a lot of his time on this both during and after work. It's great he's doing it, but we wanna figure out how we can make this more scalable if we're going to scale it.

When you put the call out no one raised their hand. I get it. It will take a year or so for you to work out this team is twice shy. I do know over the years many small side projects were personal endeavors and likely done on their own free time outside of work hours. I imagine though most are putting in the 9 to 5 grind, all the while thinking about retirement.

Hopefully Fantus doesn't become ostracized for his openess and eagerness to engage and develop. You know, status quo and such.

[auximenes]

When it's time to clock out it's time to clock out. People have lives, people have family, people have other responsibilities. If they spend even a second of their not-on-the-clock time to work on LotRO then they should be thanked. They should not be shamed for not donating their time.

[Arantha]

When it's time to clock out it's time to clock out. People have lives, people have family, people have other responsibilities. If they spend even a second of their not-on-the-clock time to work on LotRO then they should be thanked. They should not be shamed for not donating their time.

Very true. Only ignorants can demand such stupid things. I think that some Devs and Staff do much more than paid. Fantus, Scenario and Cordovan f.e. They really earn thanks for that and if something isn't like it should friendly critics. From my side I'm really thankful of all who are working for SSG and deeply impressed from the people who donate extratime.