The One Fund Cloak

[Lestache]

I understand the desire to donate to charity and to help the victims of tragedy, and I also understand that tragedy that hits close to home seems more important than tragedy that happens to other people.

Now that Turbine has shown itself willing to bring such things to the game, I do hope that we'll see more in-game cloaks which will allow us to indirectly donate to help victims of tragedies around the world.

[TJH-LOTRO]

Was really shocked when news of the Marathon came back down here, I will gladly use this item and the one on DDO as I suppot this move

As a side note: please do put the code for the cloak in the store extra info.

[Lethareth]

The cloak isn't bound. You can get 10, put 1 on each of your characters, and then pass them out to anyone and everyone, and have them do the same and pass them on. Some people won't pass them on, which is why you should have multiples to pass along to the people you know will pass them along. Everyone should be able to get one free, regardless of whether or not they know the coupon code.

[Kasich40]

That's a pretty sharp looking cloak. Some good art work on it, in my opinion.

I'll be grabbing some for my toons.

[Mizzaroo]

Although I regret the fact that terrorist attacks do happen all around the world, I'm inclined to say that it's a bad idea to bring this topic into the game.
It has literally nothing to do with MiddleEarth or the Lord of the Ring!

So, turbine is somehow MAKING you buy it? Wow. That's amazing.

You don't like it? That's fine. No one cares.

Have a nice day!

[Sapience]

As a side note: please do put the code for the cloak in the store extra info.

We have, it's now there in the long description.

[Fredelas]

I would suggest a different method of implementing this kind of thing in the future.

Provide players with an account-level promotional code, like the kind that have been used in the past for things like the PAX mounts.

The player can then sign in at https://myaccount.turbine.com/ and apply the code to a subscription. Thereafter, the first time any character on that subscription logs in to the game, the item appears in the character's inventory.

That keeps the LOTRO Store out of it, and helps avoid confusion for Turbine's customers.

In fact, Turbine could have automatically applied this promotional item to every account, and players wouldn't have to take any action at all. If the player wasn't interested in supporting the cause, the player could simply destroy the item.

[Fortinobrand]

I would suggest a different method of implementing this kind of thing in the future.

Provide players with an account-level promotional code, like the kind that have been used in the past for things like the PAX mounts.

The player can then sign in at https://myaccount.turbine.com/ and apply the code to a subscription. Thereafter, the first time any character on that subscription logs in to the game, the item appears in the character's inventory.

That keeps the LOTRO Store out of it, and helps avoid confusion for Turbine's customers.

In fact, Turbine could have automatically applied this promotional item to every account, and players wouldn't have to take any action at all. If the player wasn't interested in supporting the cause, the player could simply destroy the item.

I suspect that coding and testing protocols make it much simpler to toss an item onto the store than either of the other suggestions you offer. I personally like both of your suggestions better, but from an implementation and man-hour point of view, the store is probably the cheaper/easier path.

[Rudion]

The picture shows only a hooded cloak. Any chance you might consider a version without a hood, also? I love the cloak, but hoods make me feel claustrophobic.

+1 for "without a hood"-version

[Rufus_T_Fyrfly]

I understand the desire to donate to charity and to help the victims of tragedy, and I also understand that tragedy that hits close to home seems more important than tragedy that happens to other people.

Now that Turbine has shown itself willing to bring such things to the game, I do hope that we'll see more in-game cloaks which will allow us to indirectly donate to help victims of tragedies around the world.

+1 to you. 100% in agreement here. This should include everywhere, not just one section of the planet.

[CookieArtisan]

The cloak is beautiful and I will proudly wear it. Love you Boston, from, a pennsylvanian <3

[StavroMuellerBeta]

Saying the cloak shouldn't be in there, its against the lore, whatever. It just means its time for you to get up from your computer, go outside, move around, and breath in the real world.

I have been in the real world. I have seen the aftermath of disaster areas (and I don't mean the sanitized evening news version). I come to Middle-earth to escape that reality, not to be reminded of it with cloaks, pets, mounts, etc.

If you want to show support, then by all means do so in any way you wish. But please, do not insult those who just want a place to go to escape the realities they face every time they take a volunteer assignment.

[Armaius]

I have been in the real world. I have seen the aftermath of disaster areas (and I don't mean the sanitized evening news version). I come to Middle-earth to escape that reality, not to be reminded of it with cloaks, pets, mounts, etc.

If you want to show support, then by all means do so in any way you wish. But please, do not insult those who just want a place to go to escape the realities they face every time they take a volunteer assignment.

They don't have to. The cloak isn't exactly in your face - its not like you have someone screaming at you to buy the cloak. It wasn't even displayed all that prominently in the store when I checked - I had to look it up.

It's not that hard to ignore.

[Rufus_T_Fyrfly]

They don't have to. The cloak isn't exactly in your face - its not like you have someone screaming at you to buy the cloak. It wasn't even displayed all that prominently in the store when I checked - I had to look it up.

It's not that hard to ignore.

Not to play Devil's Advocate, but it'll be pretty hard to ignore as more people wear it. Like the ribbons you see others wear in support of other various causes.

[husaragi]

I have been in the real world. I have seen the aftermath of disaster areas (and I don't mean the sanitized evening news version). I come to Middle-earth to escape that reality, not to be reminded of it with cloaks, pets, mounts, etc.

If you want to show support, then by all means do so in any way you wish. But please, do not insult those who just want a place to go to escape the realities they face every time they take a volunteer assignment.

[edit] flame removed. ><

[Khorgrim]

*shakes head*

Can't win.

People complaining about 100 tp price? People would have complained about any price ( for one reason or another . Too high, money grab! etc) while too low would cause the store to blow up.

My guess is they lowered the price as low as they thought safe so people wouldn't inundate the store with lots of orders for all their characters all at once, yet, not so high that someone would get (too) upset if they bought it and then found out it was free. (100 points is not that big a deal. anyone can pick up that many in a night easily with rep items and a low level alt) .

Sending a cloak to everyone may have required more programming or work. It also would have ended up with everyone complaining about the spam, or why did they send me this cloak? are you trying to force me into something? blah blah blah.

This was, in my mind, an excellent compromise. Do you want to show support for The One Fund? Great, wear it. Or maybe show a little support to Turbine for their choice and buy a cloak. Wow, that 100 tp is a huge amount. (sarcasm)

Or even better, just say " Hey, you know, thanks for making me aware of this wonderful fund and showing me a way to help and support the tragic victims of this cowardly act."

[Eartholloth]

I have been in the real world. I have seen the aftermath of disaster areas (and I don't mean the sanitized evening news version). I come to Middle-earth to escape that reality, not to be reminded of it with cloaks, pets, mounts, etc.

If you want to show support, then by all means do so in any way you wish. But please, do not insult those who just want a place to go to escape the realities they face every time they take a volunteer assignment.

If you don't already, may I suggest you don't use glff or any other chat channels.

[StavroMuellerBeta]

It wasn't even displayed all that prominently in the store when I checked - I had to look it up.

It's in the launcher, it's literally the first thing you see as you're logging in.

Besides, I was not commenting on the cloak at all, I was commenting on the attitude of "if you don't like the cloak you should go outside".

If you want to wear the cloak, then by all means do so. If turbine wants to advertise it on every loading screen and every webpage, I won't complain. But please, do not insult others if they choose not to wear something as proof that they support some charity or event.

[Artemis023]

I have been feeling zero love from Turbine since the TB issue and then the Anniversary 'prizes'...

But this is a wonderful thing!

Thank you Turbine!

[Kasich40]

...But please, do not insult others if they choose not to wear something as proof that they support some charity or event.

Someone is insulting those who choose not to wear the cloak?

That's the first I've heard of that. I certainly don't think any less of anyone who chooses not to wear the cloak. I may not even wear it on ALL my toons...just some. I haven't decided yet.

I do support Turbine's decision on the cloak though -- sending props from Cincinnati!

[Steppenwulf]

Although I regret the fact that terrorist attacks do happen all around the world, I'm inclined to say that it's a bad idea to bring this topic into the game.
It has literally nothing to do with MiddleEarth or the Lord of the Ring!

It's just a design on a cloak! It's not like any other design on any other cloak that's ever been in the game was created by Tolkien himself! People will complain about anything, LOL!

[Darlgon]

*shakes head*

Can't win.

People complaining about 100 tp price?

Using the code BOSTON when you check out allows you to 'purchase' up to 10 cloaks for free. The 100 point value is there to prevent the store from choking on the item.

It Free, not 100 TP. If you pay the 100 TP, they go in Turbines wallet, not to the Boston Victims. Thats what the links to the charity are for.

[ShireDweller]

I got one for all the servers I play on, I think it's a lovely gesture by Turbine to honor their hometown.

[Reneko]

It's just a design on a cloak! It's not like any other design on any other cloak that's ever been in the game was created by Tolkien himself! People will complain about anything, LOL!

I have to agree. Nothing about the cloak SCREAMS earth. Its not a flag its not some map or land mark. Its a horse / unicorn head in a laurel with a small banner of runes. We as humans in the real world may know what it means after seeing it on their news page but if I didn't see the post and I was running by I wouldn't think anything different bout it than any other cloak someone wore. Its not like its alien to the people of middle earth like a jogging sneaker or pressure cooker. Its a cloak. With a design.

It was a nice gesture to show support for the men and women who were most affected by (the people who have to live there and may have actuary been present at) the bombings.

[Beleg]

It has literally nothing to do with MiddleEarth or the Lord of the Ring!

Well, it's just a unicorn head with a wreath around, with some elvish lettering that says Boston Thalion (Boston Strong in Sindarin). What's not to like?