Introducing the 2013 LOTRO Player Council

[Gilean-EU]

I wonder if all 7 (?) unrevealed names got e-mail saying they were selected, sent reply back but for some reason that info never reached Turbine...

[Yridiel]

"shesgotnyctips".

What the hell? is that a joke?

Names like that got banned or deleted some time ago. Even on a non-RP-Server, a name like that is inappropriate. I thought that the players council in some way is representing the players.
I do NOT feel represented by someone bearing a name like that. Sorry. Obviously, TURBINE has no interest whatsoever in naming rules or lore conformity anymore. I am not a militant, not at all, but a name like that is a no-go.

By The Way....how can someone represent the players community with his char at a max level in the 40's or 50's? Just asking.

Of course, this council should not be made out of raiders only or out of 6-year-players only. But still, I think that if you want contribute in a useful manner, MOST council members shouls be in their 80's at least. If there's one or two that aren't, OK, but I am not sure if it is like that.

[FundinStrongarm]

Wow. There seems to be much doom and gloom among some of the hard core raiders. That WAS one of the questions asked on the application and I would think at least some who said raiding was their prime focus were picked for the council. Also, keep in mind that just because some on the player council have not cleared T2C mode raids on level doesn't mean that raiding (or even progression raiding) views aren't represented. (Personally, if I ever HAD cleared T2C raids you'd never know about it from reading the progression raiding threads on the forums as I likely wouldn't post about it. I imagine there are others in the same boat.)

Personal Profile:
Main: Elebuil, a Hunter
Alts: all other classes at level 85 except Warden (have a lvl 60 and 23)
I play at least a few hours per day and am an officer of a medium (-large-ish?) sized diverse kin on Brandywine (Tolkien's Army of Middle Earth or TAME). I do weekly crafting, often do 3-6-12 mans, occasional (though rare) PvMP (and even more rare creeping) and hold kin events (we were surprised and happy to win most fashionable kinship this year). Most of my grouping is with kin though I do join the odd pug. My wife also plays so am used to solo and duo levelling.

Edit: I've been playing for about 4 years. VIP.

Please send an ingame or website mail if you'd like to contact me as I'm open to hearing from people and look forward to working with other members of the player council. (Hopefully my inbox will not overflow )

[Starbuck1771]

congrats and good luck to you all!

Yes because they will need it. I have seen this type of council before and they usualy end in Epic Failure. Star Wars Galaxies had a council that started the same way. Eventualy it had to be completely changed for many reasons but mainly because they served for their own purposes and not the communitys as a whole.

The way it should be set up is one person for each class, crafting profession, game system (Housing, kinships, instances/raids) The only exception would be PvMP which should have 2 one for Freeps & one for Creeps. Also the community as a whole should be kept in the loop otherwise we end up with a bunch of self-serving players who are dictating how the game should be. The council should also be picked by the community so we don't end up with a bunch of yes men.

[Eartholloth]

"shesgotnyctips".

What the hell? is that a joke?

Names like that got banned or deleted some time ago. Even on a non-RP-Server, a name like that is inappropriate. I thought that the players council in some way is representing the players.
I do NOT feel represented by someone bearing a name like that. Sorry. Obviously, TURBINE has no interest whatsoever in naming rules or lore conformity anymore. I am not a militant, not at all, but a name like that is a no-go.

By The Way....how can someone represent the players community with his char at a max level in the 40's or 50's? Just asking.

Of course, this council should not be made out of raiders only or out of 6-year-players only. But still, I think that if you want contribute in a useful manner, MOST council members shouls be in their 80's at least. If there's one or two that aren't, OK, but I am not sure if it is like that.

I went through most of the list & from that most were 85's.

[Cefely]

Definitely a few names listed that I would have bet my lifetime sub would most certainly be chosen, but I am very glad to see them & not a couple of others that I was expecting...

On another note, can anyone tell me the official way that we are supposed contact a member of the counsel with our ideas/thoughts etc?

[Starbuck1771]

I went through most of the list & from that most were 85's.

Which further invalidates Turbines selection. The newbies, low , and mid levels need to be represented too.

[Cefely]

Which further invalidates Turbines selection. The newbies, low , and mid levels need to be represented too.

Yea but they have all been "newbies, low and mid levels", probably more than once.

[Starbuck1771]

Yea but they have all been "newbies, low and mid levels", probably more than once.

It doesnt matter anyways the community as a whole is not being supported and whoever decided on this form of player council should be fired because it is not a possitive thing for the game or community. In the end it will only backfire and the players on that list will be hated for being Turbines stooges when things start to go bad. I saw it happen in SWG. But in the end Turbine will have to learn from it's own screw-ups.

[Aineas.]

Wow. There seems to be much doom and gloom among some of the hard core raiders. That WAS one of the questions asked on the application and I would think at least some who said raiding was their prime focus were picked for the council. Also, keep in mind that just because some on the player council have not cleared T2C mode raids on level doesn't mean that raiding (or even progression raiding) views aren't represented. (Personally, if I ever HAD cleared T2C raids you'd never know about it from reading the progression raiding threads on the forums as I likely wouldn't post about it. I imagine there are others in the same boat.)

I'm a hardcore raider and was in many groups that did server first / world first. All those ppl I have met including the other kins are ppl that are competitive in nature and are posting about it just to compare to other kins on other servers.

The doom and gloom is coming from the problem that that group of players hasn't felt valued since Isengard and especially since Rohan. t2's are a faceroll while hardcore raiders ask for content they can barely manage, why? because it's what they love to do: challenge themselves to push further. It's in their nature. Now that the council is appointed and actually appearantly none of the members were in kins that did orthanc on level suggests highly that that group is not represented... Saying that raiders can be represented by others that haven't managed to complete orthanc on level suggests a more casual attitude. Why? because hardcore raiders spend hours and hours wiping on nights to complete stuff. They don't mind going deeply into the night raiding to get the hard stuff beaten. They like wipes in a way because it's how they learn and improve. So by not chosing one amongst those means they are not represented. Others saying they can represent them is men saying, don't worry women, I'll stand up for your women's rights. It's not believable and most of all it cannot be done because the understanding isn't there.

This whole discussion shows already the misunderstanding between the groups and will only widen the gap and will actually make the hardcore raiders feel more underrepresented. Not understanding this mindset of raiders, which is different from the so called casuals, is the problem. Ofcourse you can say you are, but your actions will show don't they. Does it mean that ppl can't consider them hardcore raiders? ofcourse not and I"m not saying you can't call yourself a hardcore raider either. I'm merely pointing out that there's a world beyond a word and title where actually a mindset, attitude and actions are more valid. Something that is easily overlooked. So instead of saying: I can represent hardcore raiders because I raid too won't do. You have to show it, and to be honest... if you haven't completed a t2c erebor raid by now then it kinda suggests a different nature from the hardcore raiders I'm talking about. Saying they won't post is just not true, because it's against their nature (highly competitive so Always looking to compare to see if they're winning...).

sorry for the long post, but I felt it was needed because there seems to be a lot of arguments going back and forth about raiders, casuals, elitist etc. It's not needed if we actually just admit who we are and try to understand eachother. Accepting yourself is a fine start and then there will be room for all

well, my philosofical input for this morning and haven't even had wine yet :P

Congratz to all who were selected.

[Starbuck1771]

How is this a 'go to hell' message to the community? And what does SWG have to do with this game? Completely irrelevant.

Because Turbine wants their personal opinions not that of the community as a whole. As for SWG it is relevant because they are doing exactly what SOE did. In the end it always ends badly for these types of groups because it is a negative program that goes against the community as a whole by focusing on a select fews opinion.

[Ashloiren]

Good grief! Shall we let the Council actually assemble and get started before we proclaim its doom?? Oh ye of little faith...
With this attitude, the Fellowship would have never left Rivendell and Sauron would have ruled the day!

[Boraxxe]

Good grief! Shall we let the Council actually assemble and get started before we proclaim its doom?? Oh ye of little faith...
With this attitude, the Fellowship would have never left Rivendell and Sauron would have ruled the day!

I am amazed that you have the audacity to try and make sense.
Don't you understand what's at stake here?

[Ashloiren]

Because Turbine wants their personal opinions not that of the community as a whole. As for SWG it is relevant because they are doing exactly what SOE did. In the end it always ends badly for these types of groups because it is a negative program that goes against the community as a whole by focusing on a select fews opinion.

A *select few*? I hardly think 75 people is a a *few*. and from what I know of the people I am familiar with on the list, all game interests are represented. I know a few of the new Council members personally and I can guarantee they are not *yes* men/women. How about you give them a chance to get started?

[Starbuck1771]

A *select few*? I hardly think 75 people is a a *few*. and from what I know of the people I am familiar with on the list, all game interests are represented. I know a few of the new Council members personally and I can guarantee they are not *yes* men/women. How about you give them a chance to get started?

Because I am not daft or a sheep and will not lead around as such. I have seen such idiotic ideas before and as I said they always end in failure. You may be willing to have the wool pulled over your eyes but I am not.

As for a select few that is a *metafore. Also it is 69 players not 75. And compaired to the thousands of players I would consider 69 a select few even without the term being a metafore.


* met·a·phor
1. A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison.
2. One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Metafore

[Cefely]

Good grief! Shall we let the Council actually assemble and get started before we proclaim its doom?? Oh ye of little faith...
With this attitude, the Fellowship would have never left Rivendell and Sauron would have ruled the day!

Seriously! 'World first/Server first Raiders' have their feathers all fluffed out and on display for all the mere mortals to admire; counsel-haters are already hating on the day the members are chosen, It's actually quite fascinating....lol! Waiting to hear from the 'casual' and 'role-playing' crowd since we are all so fond of categorizing & then criticizing one another. *yawn*

...I'd just like to know the answer to my question & then I'm out of this discussion...what is the official way we are supposed to submit our ideas/suggestions to our player counsel members, so that we are not bothering them with in-game /tells, etc?? Has there been a format set up for this?

[Starbuck1771]

I am amazed that you have the audacity to try and make sense.
Don't you understand what's at stake here?

It is clear she does not.

[Kerin_Eldar]

Character names. So those on their servers will know who they are.

Why not both, so we know who they are when they're posting on here? Giving only character names is useless when it comes to viewing what they say here, I have no way of knowing when one of these is posting and so no way to evaluate their comments based on their self-interest in being on the council.

[Kerin_Eldar]

The person needs their name banned. "She's got nice tips." Really. I'm ashamed to be from the same server as them.

THIS!

So many people get forced-name changes or even bans due to inappropriate names, and now Turbine have one with a patently obvious name crudely referring to female anatomy on the Council.

Question to Sapience: double standards or what?

[Starbuck1771]

Seriously! 'World first/Server first Raiders' have their feathers all fluffed out and on display for all the mere mortals to admire; counsel-haters are already hating on the day the members are chosen, It's actually quite fascinating....lol! Waiting to hear from the 'casual' and 'role-playing' crowd since we are all so fond of categorizing & then criticizing one another. *yawn*

...I'd just like to know the answer to my question & then I'm out of this discussion...what is the official way we are supposed to submit our ideas/suggestions to our player counsel members, so that we are not bothering them with in-game /tells, etc?? Has there been a format set up for this?

It is not that kind of counsil. It is a focus group for Turbine to push their ideas on. Our opinions and ideas as community members are not wanted. Thats why us as you say counsil-haters are up in arms. Because focus groups such as this are a huge mistake. An even bigger mistake was announceing who got selected because those will be the players targeted at the first foul-up.

[Starbuck1771]

Why not both, so we know who they are when they're posting on here? Giving only character names is useless when it comes to viewing what they say here, I have no way of knowing when one of these is posting and so no way to evaluate their comments based on their self-interest in being on the council.

Because when the player counsil makes a big mistake they would rather the threats and harassment be kept in-game, rather then flooding the forums with the same. That is fine by me though.

[Cefely]

It is not that kind of counsil. It is a focus group for Turbine to push their ideas on. Our opinions and ideas as community members are not wanted. Thats why us as you say counsil-haters are up in arms. Because focus groups such as this are a huge mistake. An even bigger mistake was announceing who got selected because those will be the players targeted at the first foul-up.

OK, in that case I will go back to leveling my alts, running instances with my friends, crafting, skirmishing solo & with my Kinfolk & waiting patiently for the next update or expansion. *shrug* In other words...I'll just go & have fun doing what I always do & let the rest of you wring your hands over this stuff...enjoy! :P

[Cithryth]

THIS!

So many people get forced-name changes or even bans due to inappropriate names, and now Turbine have one with a patently obvious name crudely referring to female anatomy on the Council.

Question to Sapience: double standards or what?

I definitely agree. As a woman on the council, this name makes me uncomfortable and is not something I want to be put into the same hand-picked group with. Ultimately I understand that it is Turbine's decision, but if the name/player remains I will be sorely disappointed.

[Starbuck1771]

I definitely agree. As a woman on the council, this name makes me uncomfortable and is not something I want to be put into the same hand-picked group with. Ultimately I understand that it is Turbine's decision, but if the name/player remains I will be sorely disappointed.

I agree but personaly nothing against you but this entire player council situation is disapointing. Leave it to Turbine to divide the community.

[Burio]

These are the kinships that beat Orthanc on T2C on level.

Anduin - Avorthalier
Arkenstone - Noldor
Belegaer - Beleaffen, Legion der Freunde
Brandywine - Entropy, Shock and Awe
Eldar - The Illuminati, The Mellowship
Elendilmir - Apex, Off Peak, Ramble On, Vanguard
Evernight - Ascension
Gladden - House of Elders
Maiar - Nedh Anwar
Morthond - Amlug Herth, Erznemessis, Krieger des Lichts, Sturmbringer Rhovanions
Vanyar - Divide et Impera, Mixed Raid Alliance, Soldurii
Sirannon - Unquale
Snowbourn - Element Zero, Paprotniki

Another 14 or so kinships have beaten the Battle for Erebor T2C, which includes some from above plus...

Maiar - Zorn der Maiar
Meneldor - Methestel
Nimrodel - We Got This
Snowbourne - Resurrection
Vanyar - Hecki Hecki Pateng

If I left anyone off, I apologize.


What's the one thing that all of these kinships have in common?

As far as I can tell not a single representative from this player base was appointed to the Council.

That's a minimum of 360 players that Turbine couldn't find one spot for on the Council. I know for a fact that a couple of individuals from different raiding kinships cited above were nominated and applied. I know one that was nominated by several individuals. I accept this as a very deliberate indication that LoTRO no longer intends to support challenging raiding gameplay as part of its overall service.

I was holding out for two glimmering hopes that this wasn't the case. I thought that if someone from Vanguard, or Ramble, or Shock, or Ascension, or Legion or Krieger were on the Council it would be an indication that LoTRO hadn't yet abandoned these players. My second hope was that Turbine would have learned a lesson from the last two expansions and decided to announce a new raid with Helms Deep. Oh for two.

As they say, "It is, what it is, yo."

That's really disappointing. I thought from all play styles people would be choosen. Reading T2 Challengemode content is a play style in my opinion. From our Server atleast 2 people that i would call "raider" applied for the council.