Dev Diary Feedback: Book 13: Welcome to Forochel!

[Scenario]

Really now, isn't it time to let the cat out of the bag - You've been teasing us for weeks now - HIT US WITH IT ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHATS THE DATE!?!?!?!?!?

Well... today is the 10th.

[Serin36]

Well... today is the 10th.

This post is made of win.

[darkchronus]

Scenario > all

[dennisconrad]

speaking of which, can we get a pet "Norwegian Blue" Parrot up there?

That would be a cool (pun intended) non-combat pet for Lore-masters.

But probably it would just go pining for the fjords and we would need to nail it down.

[kingdain]

great... MORE stupid animation effects to bog down gameplay fluidity instead of fixing the engine...

Since book 9, gameplay performance has decreased with EACH update...

Wonderful...

then why are you still playing?

[Dean340]

then why are you still playing?

who said he plays?
he just loves the forums

[Zaggles]

Looks great... I love the auroras.
Wasn't there a thread a while back complaining about no pink dye? Looks like that dwarf stole it all to decorate his war-mammoth. Those are definitely not colours I was expecting to see

[Baelwf]

Interesting design and I love the weather effects (would like to see that realized in other climates). But I am concerned with so much of the lotr world waiting to be designed and the multitude of rings fans who play the game to be immersed in rings lore why Turbine would be so bent on veering off the path. I'm sure lots of hard work went into Forochel but it seems more of what Turbine wanted instead of what your customers are waiting patiently for. Sorry to rain on your achievements but it's just my lowly opinion anyway.

[Amonceleb]

Interesting design and I love the weather effects (would like to see that realized in other climates). But I am concerned with so much of the lotr world waiting to be designed and the multitude of rings fans who play the game to be immersed in rings lore why Turbine would be so bent on veering off the path. I'm sure lots of hard work went into Forochel but it seems more of what Turbine wanted instead of what your customers are waiting patiently for. Sorry to rain on your achievements but it's just my lowly opinion anyway.

I wouldn't consider it a "lowly" opinion, Baelwf; it's one I'm sure is echoed by many who play.

Consider it this way if you will:

The "path" of the Fellowship will likely come as annual expansions (Mines of Moria being the first.) In the interim, the developers will "flesh out" the surrounding areas by adding content. Some of that content will be rich in Tolkien lore, others will have only been hinted at in his work. Either way, those "side" areas are not only new content, but also show the progress of the devs in brainstorming new concepts for future expansions. The environment and terrain in Forochel are two examples. The devs have as much as said that these are new ideas that will likely see some representation in the bigger world of Middle Earth as it expands.

This can only be good in the long run. Sure, everyone wants to see their favorite places in-game. I want to see Rohan and Gondor and all that as much as the next guy. But these "add-ons" are not diversions from those goals, but are rather stepping stones that will make that final experience far more fulfilling and enriched in the end.

And that's my "lowly opinion."

[Dinara]

Well... today is the 10th.

And you guys are running out of time if the book goes to Roheryn for 2 weeks before it is released to the rest of the servers and you want to hit the announced "Comming in April" release.

[Baelwf]

I wouldn't consider it a "lowly" opinion, Baelwf; it's one I'm sure is echoed by many who play.

Consider it this way if you will:

The "path" of the Fellowship will likely come as annual expansions (Mines of Moria being the first.) In the interim, the developers will "flesh out" the surrounding areas by adding content. Some of that content will be rich in Tolkien lore, others will have only been hinted at in his work. Either way, those "side" areas are not only new content, but also show the progress of the devs in brainstorming new concepts for future expansions. The environment and terrain in Forochel are two examples. The devs have as much as said that these are new ideas that will likely see some representation in the bigger world of Middle Earth as it expands.

This can only be good in the long run. Sure, everyone wants to see their favorite places in-game. I want to see Rohan and Gondor and all that as much as the next guy. But these "add-ons" are not diversions from those goals, but are rather stepping stones that will make that final experience far more fulfilling and enriched in the end.

And that's my "lowly opinion."

Well said. But I'm not getting any younger here..I'd like to see more parts of the stories before I succumb to my wounds.

[KainXI]

And you guys are running out of time if the book goes to Roheryn for 2 weeks before it is released to the rest of the servers and you want to hit the announced "Comming in April" release.

Ooo I must have missed that info. Where did they say it was gonna be in April?

[Hellgato]

Ooo I must have missed that info. Where did they say it was gonna be in April?

When you log into the game, after the Turbine logo, there is a screen with info about book 13. At the top it says, Coming in April

[KainXI]

*smacks head

Thanks

[TheScyphozoa]

A new swift travel location and reputation faction? Interesting...

The entrance is through Evendim, correct?

Also, a map I saw a while ago looked a little strange.... shiny, almost.

[Scenario]

Interesting design and I love the weather effects (would like to see that realized in other climates). But I am concerned with so much of the lotr world waiting to be designed and the multitude of rings fans who play the game to be immersed in rings lore why Turbine would be so bent on veering off the path. I'm sure lots of hard work went into Forochel but it seems more of what Turbine wanted instead of what your customers are waiting patiently for. Sorry to rain on your achievements but it's just my lowly opinion anyway.

As you may have heard, we have an expansion pack on the way that shoots us right down the path of the Fellowship once again. Forochel was an opportunity for us to explore another tangential region of Middle Earth, tell some cool stories of our own, and develop one more "wild 'n crazy" biome for you all to play in before you head towards Eregion, Moria and beyond.

[Baelwf]

As you may have heard, we have an expansion pack on the way that shoots us right down the path of the Fellowship once again. Forochel was an opportunity for us to explore another tangential region of Middle Earth, tell some cool stories of our own, and develop one more "wild 'n crazy" biome for you all to play in before you head towards Eregion, Moria and beyond.

Yes I heard. Thanks. But I'm at 276/1600 health, out of heal potions and food, and bleeding.....send help.

[fett666]

Please note that most people playing this game are patiently waiting for everything.
If Turbine only followed the path of the Fellowship in the trilogy we would never see places like Mirkwood, The Grey Havens , or Esgaroth and The Lonely Mountain, all definitive points of interest in Middle Earth. In my opinion we don't need to see the entire world in the first year.

[toltus]

i hope they have slippery ice

[djheydt]

Please note that most people playing this game are patiently waiting for everything.
If Turbine only followed the path of the Fellowship in the trilogy we would never see places like Mirkwood, The Grey Havens , or Esgaroth and The Lonely Mountain, all definitive points of interest in Middle Earth. In my opinion we don't need to see the entire world in the first year.

Good point. WHile I'm looking forward with the others to seeing Eregion and Moria, I'm just a tad disappointed that we aren't going to see the other territories covered in The Hobbit first -- Mirkwood, Thranduil's halls, the River Running, the Long Lake, and the Lone Mountain.

But I'm going to be patient and assume they'll show up someday.

[talaras]

I would venture to say that seeing that we have read about these places in the books and seen them in the movies that we all want to see them eventually. For myself I am super-excited about these areas I have not read about, the new zone in book 13 sounds exciting and I cannot wait to see them.

[Bannor]

That would be a cool (pun intended) non-combat pet for Lore-masters.

But probably it would just go pining for the fjords and we would need to nail it down.

Personally I dont want a norwegian blue...they stun easily.



B.

[Hurin]

This looks cool overall and I'm excited about it. But one small nit-picky caveat: There sure is a lot of "teal blue" in the images I'm seeing. It looks like the native inhabitants have an inexhaustible supply of "teal dye" that they use on their ropes, spears, housing, and just about everything they can get their hands on. It sorta gives everything a "cartoony" look.

But, again, aside from that. . . I can't wait!

Best,

H

[polishfo0guy]

So still no word on a solid release date for Forochel huh?

[anwar]

Good point. WHile I'm looking forward with the others to seeing Eregion and Moria, I'm just a tad disappointed that we aren't going to see the other territories covered in The Hobbit first -- Mirkwood, Thranduil's halls, the River Running, the Long Lake, and the Lone Mountain.

But I'm going to be patient and assume they'll show up someday.

Agreed...why have they left those out anyway? Great stuff they could use w/o progressing the story line...which they seem to be reluctant to do.