Feedback: Producer's Letter March – 2011

[DarkCntry]

I have a feeling that, if not when RoI launches, then at least within 6 months of the launch, there will no longer be lifetime/VIP/Premium tiers. Everyone will be F2P. I include lifetimers because they have effectively paid for 2 years of play ($300.00/$15 per month subscription), and those 2 years will be almost over in December 2011 (I'm not sure when the lifetime option was discontinued, but I don't remember seeing it when I signed up in April 2010, and it was most certainly gone by the time F2P was announced - sometime in June 2010). I could even see Turbine simply "buying out" the remaining "lifetime term" with TPs.

By then, they will have a significant number of players who came aboard with the F2P move, and who are used to having the store as just another game mechanic, and it much more profitable for Turbine to have 1 player paying $20/month for points (or 2 players, one who buys the $8 package and one who buys the $30 package) than it is to have that player on subscription.

Just to get this out...

No, you're incorrect about lifetimers...they didn't pay for 2 years, they paid once for the life of the game, that is the contract and that is one Turbine has to honor, even in a change to service.

As for the change to service tiers, if anything you'll see benefits change, but tiers will remain.

[FoxFire]

I sincerely hope you're just goofing around and aren't asking in any sort of serious manner. From what I've seen most LotRO players dislike the idea of flying mounts and dislike it vehemently.

Nah, his was the most blatantly obvious troll post I've seen in a while. I simply did a , rather than laugh, let alone take him seriously.

[ThomasFlora]

I agree with the rest of the thread that the store plugins in the first paragraph were tacky and unnecessary.

Nice to know that there is an update planned for May, not surprised about the delay of the raid, though this "dragon" bit made me wondering. Will it be an undead Ancalagon? XD Maybe she meant drake... ah, who knows.

Also, folks, I imagine that more class updates are on the way. I doubt that every upcoming update for May was announced in this letter, especially since, while 2 instances and 2 skirmishes are cool, that's still nothing compared to this last update. I would imagine more class improvements, and maybe some more UI changes and core element revamps (like some kinship improvements).

And dang it all, I want housing revamped

ME TOO!!! I want housing revamped too....

[jayspeed]

So this is interesting. Are we on a 2 month content cycle now? A May release for Update 3 leaves lots of room for an Update 4 and Update 5 in July and September with RoI launching in November. I was under the impression we were on a quarterly update cycle but I'd happily accept more content updates on a more frequent pace.

But I don't see what the big deal is with the raid delay. The new cluster just launched so it's not like people will be sick of it in a few weeks. This isn't a raid centric game so people shouldn't be expecting a new raid every 3 months. Expect the norm for LOTRO, 1-2 raids a year. It's good that they delayed it. Why release a new raid 2 months after the last raid released. That takes people away from the previous raid and gives it a very short life span.

[hallasan]

They could easily shut down the game, restart it under a new title, and toss all the lifetimers away...but the point is not what they can do, but the after-effect of doing it.

There's nothing positive that Turbine can do to salvage relationships with lifetimers and alter the agreement. They generally will not have a satisfactory compensation to offer those that do hold lifetime access and they would actually have issues standing up in court in regards to changing of the terms.

TP compensation will not cover it, as the lifetime setup was advertised pretty explicitly (which was surprising) and pounded in as "pay once, never pay again" under a subscription plan. To change this, they'd have to alter it to function essentially the same way, in other words change how the subscription system works at that tier, and then have it a comparable alternative to the current agreement.

Changes/alterations in the subscription agreements that would be viewed as negative by lifetimers would have already been factored so salvaging would not be on the 'A' list of issues.

Compensation would be a 'courtesy' but would not be required.

While all the different scenarios are possible, the probability is unknown so everything is conjecture until its announced.

[Reximus]

However I am not happy about the LI relic scroll issue. I would rather spend my Turbine points on perks. I don't wish to rant but on it, but keep it simple. So here it is.

I feel that if there was a in-game quest to gain a scroll it would solve many hard feelings some players have about being forced to buy this item. As a lifetime member I can pool my TP(500 per month), but for new players..this seems like a cash grab to me.

I think players are overstating the need for the relic scroll. I haven't had much time to group lately so in my spare time I've been doing the old Moria solo instances in Dolven View, the ones that take the infused gems. After 3 full runs of the set of 6 and taking the sealed relic rewards, which are 4 tier 1 and 2 Tier 2 sealed relics, I have been able to make some new tier 5 relics, and a tier 6 relic. Players who are doing other content with access to higher tiered sealed relics would be able to progress much faster, and the changes to the LI system would tend to make it easier to make a weapon you'll keep for longer periods of time, allowing you to further accumulate higher tiered relics. I can see how players being used to the old system, and in the near term trying to get new LIs might feel the scrolls are a necessity, I just don't think that will really be the case long term.

On another topic, I'd really like to hope that we'll start hearing about a housing revamp soon, mostly locked neighborhoods that feel out of the way and disconnected with the rest of the worlds, plus the lack of slots to place all out cool housing stuff that keeps getting added needs some good solutions!

[UndeadKing]

Nah, his was the most blatantly obvious troll post I've seen in a while. I simply did a , rather than laugh, let alone take him seriously.

I figured it was, but this is one of my hot button topics so I posted anyways. That if any WoW fanbois see it and think it's a good idea they'll have the simplest and most obvious reasons why it shouldn't ever happen.

[Anarmur]

And dang it all, I want housing revamped

ME TOO!!! I want housing revamped too....

Yay!

Housing needs love too!

Housing needs love too!

They let dwarves talk, why not more intelligent creatures?

/couldn't help myself

Oh oh.

Don't answer your door cicdle. I saw a few stunties heading yer way . . .

May, Cheers!

[zantor]

Looks like some good things to come. The store is looking great. Changes to content have been superb. Thanks

[Quavosh]

I'm really glad you asked this because it gives us an opportunity to explain a common point of player confusion. There is a very natural tendency to assume serial events have causal relationships. That A leads to B as it were. In development, especially game development this is almost never the case. Most work is done in parallel, not serially. So something impacting A almost never leads to B and B doesn't always follow from A. They're unique, stand alone, events.

The raid being pushed to the expansion is not due to prioritizing a festival ahead of it, it's due to the scope of the raid being such that its simply not possible to complete it in the time allotted. So the option was, scale it back dramatically and make is less interesting, or keep the original design and allow the team more time. Rather than make a raid that neither the team nor you guys would be happy with, we took the second option.

As for the comment that no one will notice the lip-syncing. Oh, I don't know about that.

Thanks for giving an explanation of it, I figured as such but I'm sure there are numerous players who thought the raid is being pushed back for a festival event. It would be cool if the new raid was a "flashback" instance where we encounter Smaug or an ancestor of his

[Oryaan]

My feedback to the LOTRO team after this letter is this:

The presence of the LOTRO Store is becoming so ubiquitous, so pervasive that it is negatively impacting my player experience. The Store's presence is on the Virtue panel, Character panel, Hotbar panel, LI panel, Character selection screen, Barter wallet, Quest Log Panel, Deed Log, Crafting Panel, I could go on and on, it's EVERYWHERE!! Now it's presence is strongly reflected in the Producer's Letter's blatant plugs for silly items (in poor taste, I might add).

I understand you are selling a product, and the LOTRO store is a part of that product. Having multiple access points increases ease-of-access to the items found on your LOTRO storefront, I get it. However, my opinion (and it seems quite a number of my fellow players might agree) is that the LOTRO Store's presence is becoming excessive, far beyond what I had anticipated when the F2P transition was announced. Please develop a plan to provide adequate access to the LOTRO store without making players feel stifled by it's presence.

That's my primary feedback. Oh by the way, I love the new instances so far and the class changes to my minstrel were fantastic! Disappointed to see content promised in a former Producer's Letter get delayed, but the content we have will probably keep me plenty busy .

[anwar]

Big thanks to the money machine at WB/T for providing yet another game improvement only available for cash via the Store.

Many of us have wanted an option to "Trade In" our Soldier, in whom we have often invested a lot of SMs, to try a different model, but just can't stomach the idea of paying out vast amounts of SMs to level another model just to find it doesn't work.

Instead of making the Scroll to return the SMs from a Soldier only available by paying yet more money to WB/T this item should be available for SMs. This would be entirely logical and consistent with the basic premise of a Skirmish Soldier; but it obviously runs counter to the micro-transaction approach to the game where extra cash is milked from every opportunity.

I guess the next thing will be Skirmish Soldier improvements, or to use WB/T-speak "convenient enhancements", that are likewise only available for cash through the Store?

hehe, so true.



I'm beginning to feel like I'm paying a monthly fee for an info-mercial.

Sheesh, it's getting so almost everything is either pushing the store or making folks kin-hop to hardcore kins if they want to progress at level cap without fruitless grinding or doing hard modes...and some stuff not available at all without paying extra cash.

Now what I'd like to see is that EVERYTHING in game is accessible to subscription paying customers, without the store or hardcore membership, with reasonable effort through alternate routes.

That would be nice..but I suspect it's only going to get worse and worse...and nothing anyone can do about it...the suits are just worried about increasing income every month (job security). Don't be surprised if the expansion makes the game even harder so we have to buy something just to do anything without dying.

BUT, I'm enjoying finally being able to work on vol 2. Now if I could only figure a way to hack a 1st ager or eight so I felt like less of a wimp....remember when you felt like a powerful hero playing these games?

Remember when you had contempt for anyone who bought gold? The store is only different in as to who gets the money.

[tomcat211]

THe LOTRO store is understood the be the main source of income, but it shouldn't impact loyal paying players. Can I please change the key command from ctrl+s to somthing else? it pops up in every group using vent whenever you try to move backwards. I don't like that relic scrolls are required now to get your hard earned relics back. If you want to keep it that way fine, then get rid of the level cap and match it to the players level. (ie let me keep my legendary if I want to). Sorry for the LI rant but damage types should be tied to slayer deeds. Westernesse and Beleriend should be the ultimate slayers awarded by reforgers after you have completed the slayer deeds for x types of evil beasts. Wasternesse should for example should grant a bonus for +3 to all evil enemies and beleriend should be +5 for all evil types(ie not certain beasts). Gotta run, just the 2 cents of a loyal paying player who started in Alpha2........

[Tholinstronginthearm]

that would be great about dale and northern mirkwood coming out in time with the Hobbit movie and mounted combat would be great...then again i supose mounted combat will be another LOTRO store perchase on top of the riding trait. i honestly dont mind the additions to the store i doubt that they will be absolute need to haves. and being a free player im happy to get through the story line quests. Besides there is enough TP in game to get just about everything you need. Ive unlocked Lonelands before it went free, Evendim, Enedwaith when it went on sale for 75 off, two extra character slots, the trait slots for most of my characters are finished... all in all im not complaining just hope the northern secction comes out before going south

[Sarmon]

Turbine/WB the new Zynga.

Comming soon 10 skill uses per hour. Store up to 500 skill uses and when you run out just buy more from the store to keep playing.

/sarcasmoff

Seriously this store thing is getting out of hand.

[joev]

For those who keep addressing his/her post as though it's serious -- or at least apprehensively approaching it as such -- it's satire in the finest of Jonathon Swift traditions. Indeed, if teh interwebz had a Swift Prize for forum posts, I'd nominate Goondalfs.

Don't they teach "A Modest Proposal" in 6th grade anymore?

I don't know if this one has been asked yet. First things first, love the update. Lots of cool stuff, I was right in the middle of evendim quests when the update came out, and I love all the new stuff there.

Ok now that that is out of the way, when are we getting flying mounts? Srsly, get with the program. That's what we want. Giant Eagle mounts, Fell Creature mounts, and Dragon Mounts. No excuses about it not fitting with the lore or whatnot, it's you guys' interpretation, so I am sure you can figure out a way to make it work. They should be immensely difficult to earn, but still possible, and only for 65's. And I say this without even having a 65, yet.
I mean cmon, that reject that we murder in siege of gondamon rides in on some flying beast, and he's a pushover. If he can get a flying critter to bend to his will, I don't see why players shouldn't be able to also.

Oh, I also think that monster players should be able to acquire Warg mounts. This seems much more reasonable, alot easier to code, and it fits with the lore even. It's a win-win. Oh, and for Warg and Spider monster players, just give them a "travel" mode that they could just toggle on to allow them mounted speed also.

So, again thank you for all your hard work. Look forward to the day when we can fly in middle-earth. Wouldn't want to be shown up by WoW eh, they made it work there, surely it can be done here.

Regards,
Goon

[bigsix66]

Thank you for the producer's letter. It's good to hear directly from the executive producer, something that her predecessor never deigned to do. And it's always good to get a glimpse of the future, whatever that may be.

I could have done without the in-yer-face plug for the Store, but I'm learning to try to tune out stuff like that. My ultimate goal is to tune the Store out to the point that I won't be able to find it even if, in a moment of madness, I want to. Wish me luck.

As much as I think it should be, I'm not going to bother suggesting that scrolls for resetting skirmish soldier's be made available in-game as well as in the Store. As someone said before me, it is what it is and it's not likely to change any time soon. At least the message is now straightforward and nondeceptive.

[joev]

Nah, his was the most blatantly obvious troll post I've seen in a while. I simply did a , rather than laugh, let alone take him seriously.

"Troll" post? Really? Satire to make a point is a "troll post"?

Goodness! The definition of "troll" has taken on quite the wider defintion than back in my FIDOnet and USEnet days...

[mekrikkuk]

i like the changes and all and im excited about isengaurd coming up, but the relic removal scroll need to be adjusted some. IMO and i am not happy about this is that you have taken the ability to remove relics on reforge. This is a MISTAKE, you should still allow relic removal at reforge and still sell the scroll for in-between forges and if we are going to pay TP/money to buy this scroll, it SHOULD remove crafted relics. We shouldn't have to run to the TS(Turbine Store) everytime we want to replace a weapon!

Sincerley,
Kojak

[Blorg]

All the hating done here regarding the store is getting tired.

It's the one thing that has solidified the future of my favorite game.

And frankly, if the increase in profits meant more content, I wouldn't care if they sold XP or first ages.

I'm still impressed with how much you get for free.

Thx, Turbine

[jhan75]

2 new skirmishes ah, since there is no new map added between now to exp
could it be the battle instances of angmar and lorien being converted into skirmirshes finally
with that rep for both factions as well

[Sapience]

2 new skirmishes ah, since there is no new map added between now to exp
could it be the battle instances of angmar and lorien being converted into skirmirshes finally
with that rep for both factions as well

Nope. As Kate said, they're new. Not conversions.

[UndeadKing]

THe LOTRO store is understood the be the main source of income, but it shouldn't impact loyal paying players. Can I please change the key command from ctrl+s to somthing else? it pops up in every group using vent whenever you try to move backwards.

You can change it from Ctrl+s, just go into options (Ctrl+o) select Key Bindings and scroll down till your find the store binding then change it or clear it like I did. One of the first things I did when the store was introduced, because I got tired of hitting Ctrl to do an attack and if I was moving backwards it'd open the store.

[Lohi]

Seriously this store thing is getting out of hand.

I don't think so. There was mention in the article, but it was in no way blatant advertising, no "buy now!", and it encompassed a very tiny fraction of the entire letter. It's to be expected that they mention the store, why wouldn't they? It's a part of the game, there's new stuff in it, why not point it out? You don't have to spend cash on it if you don't want to. There are no advertisements in game. If you think you're overloaded with billboards every time you log in, then you need to get out more and see what real advertisement is. It's expected that players will complain bitterly even if Turbine just says "a store exists", I think most people have learned to filter this out from the complainers.

If you don't like the store don't use it. Simple and easy. For the new SM recovery scroll, so what? You're never forced to use this, and it is obviously convenience only. So why complain that Turbine adds a new option for a feature that does not exist today, that can be easily purchased with point allowance (no way will you be buying stacks of these).

"Out of hand" sounds like a large exaggeration.

[tomcat211]

You can change it from Ctrl+s, just go into options (Ctrl+o) select Key Bindings and scroll down till your find the store binding then change it or clear it like I did. One of the first things I did when the store was introduced, because I got tired of hitting Ctrl to do an attack and if I was moving backwards it'd open the store.

THANK YOU-thought it would have been there but i didnt see it first go around.