Massively Helm's Deep news and pictures!!!

[Elderban]

I guess you missed what Sapience said.

Yes I did...my bad.

Place holder icons. A regrettable choice of icon, but still, just placeholders.

Yeah...won't create an uproar using store icons, now will they...?

[ColorSpecs]

interesting...

Not even remotely. Please tell me what is so interesting about a concept that is used in every other MMO?

I'd also like to know who demanded these changes that Turbine keeps saying in their pressers that they were demanded. Also, it would be interesting to know how they think it will accomplish their goals of a variety in trait builds?

The original system could've used a tweak, but it was something that had a nice simple interface, was uniquely LOTRO, and worked.

Of all the things in this game to redo, why must you guys constantly fix the stuff that isn't broken and leave broken the stuff that is?!?!?!?!!??!?!

[AaylaKheledlire]

I like this talent tree! But, blue dark neon colour :S Can you add some lotr style things? Leaves, jewellry, etc

[zagreb000]

Helm's Deep doesn't look quite how I imagined, but once I go there myself I am sure it'll feel right.

Tolkiens inspiration for Rohan came from Gothic and Scandinavian culture.. Gothic castles look kinda similar to HD here, even though i would prefer HD being a bit more grayish in color....

[kurp]

So does Sapience play a LOREMASTER ???? He seemed to get that picture up pretty quick, whereas if there was a beta, and auto level to 95 to create a new toon to be able to post that, it might of taken more time.

And here I thought the DEV's played Burg's all the time, somehow, they have gotten the most love.

And I think the picture looked pretty good, I have lots of toons I run different traits on, and it takes to much time to change back and forth on.

Don't dwell on details on the sneak peek pictures, just be glad it shows progress.

[Minquinn]

remove your tin foil hat please and calm down.

read the posts here. think rationally. look at the picture. remember lotro is already in a ###### state. stop day dreaming.


depends what class tbh. warden is very cookie cutter at times. other classes have completely useless lines and completely useless traits. hunter for example, can live 100% play time in one line maybe changing 1/2 traits for raiding. that, is terrible, terrible depth in choice.


they have got rid of legandaries iinc. there at the bottom of the line now, capstones. I guess other lesser legandaries have just been converted into traits in lines. for example, you see the eagle picture in the blue line. you see the bog learker in the blue line. I suspect others like maybe hunters bards arrow and rain of thorns will be gated to yellow for example.

class traits are all on the picture I presume. no more

race and virtue traits are apparently having a little work over. but I don't expect much.

stats are a form of reward system. armor rewards bigger stats, biggers stats makes us happy. we're humans, watching numbers go higher seems to make us happy.

Which definition of tin foil hat are you attempting to dismiss us with?
Maybe this one:
limit the transmission of voices directly into the brain

I find that a bit insulting. My concerns with the game are based on my past MMO experiences. I'm simply looking at the class trees as I have always seen them. They limit choice. This forces cookie cutter specs. Which is why many players are fearful this will happen again. I took pride in being able to play cross tree toons. If my guardian wants to take 4 blues and 3 reds he can. If I want to take 3 yellows and 3 reds I could. You were only limited to the traits you earned not forced to take a bunch in a single tree.

I'm not panicking and neither are the other posters. We are voicing our concerns before it's too late.

And my fears about tanking are well warranted. I have not been invited to many 3 or 6 man groups lately because the groups usual intention is to farm it with dps and a cappy heal.

The mobs in the last xpac hit like wet noodles. We had a mini tank an Annum boss while I was afk. When players realized this they stopped inviting tanks.

So no I'm not wearing a tin foil hat. I am listening. I'm just voicing my concerns before it is too late.
Thanks for assuming I was stupid though.

[Sapience]

So does Sapience play a LOREMASTER ???? He seemed to get that picture up pretty quick, whereas if there was a beta, and auto level to 95 to create a new toon to be able to post that, it might of taken more time.

And here I thought the DEV's played Burg's all the time, somehow, they have gotten the most love.

And I think the picture looked pretty good, I have lots of toons I run different traits on, and it takes to much time to change back and forth on.

Don't dwell on details on the sneak peek pictures, just be glad it shows progress.

Check my avatar. I play a hunter. I do have an almost capped LM (I need to stop being lazy about it and get it finished).

That said, the image is actually from the image pack we sent to all the press who were present (wasn't just Massively) on the call and stream. Not sure why they used a placeholder.

[Gardhik]

The tour given to the press was done with a LM... and that image was done in order to be given to the press... that's why he was so quick to put it.


Every older beta member know that sapience has a hunter who can one shot everything and pops balrog like candy. P

[Mirnir]

So far, I like it.

I'm particularly intrigued about what you get for spending 3 points in the Posing with Bear trait.

[4tesZeitalter]

THIS is the correct screen shot that we sent them after the tour. The skills on the left unlock as you progress through the trees. They're not gated by Turbine Points.

When I watch this screen shot, I hope, that skinning informations for this window will be available a launch of Helms Deep.

I personally don't like such a colorful user interface. I prefer darker themes with less colors.

[zagreb000]

Posting a pic of the trait trees for each class, on their respective forums, would be nice..
Too soon? hehe

[bohbashum]

Of all the things in this game to redo, why must you guys constantly fix the stuff that isn't broken and leave broken the stuff that is?!?!?!?!!??!?!

hunter yellow line was epic

it's totally fair that a warden can do great dps in tanking build

remember when people think lore-master is a dps class

maybe it does need fixing... did you even read there explination to why there doing this?

Which definition of tin foil hat are you attempting to dismiss us with?

you assuming way to much into the negative. sure, nothing wrong with sharing your concerns but there crazy thoughts that by design, they would remove the tanking side of tanks. it's clearly going to be removing the tanking side of a dps roll traited class, because, you know, everyone knows dps classes should tank...

I would like to add that to the list of reasons why there class revamping too. so classes are actually played around there designed rolls.

The mobs in the last xpac hit like wet noodles. We had a mini tank an Annum boss while I was afk. When players realized this they stopped inviting tanks.

actually. they were hitting too much at it's release. remember the insane crits?

however they felt the need to both add a new critical defence AND nurf enemy damage values. one would of been fine turbine... that was U10 too, before that scaled content did have a challnge, but the crits were a little silly. however, the oppisite side we see now is just as silly. they really went to far and it's a shame they havn't done anything about it yet. I hope HD does

"Miscelaneous

Fixed a bug that was causing monster damage to grow at exponential rates (leading to auto-attacks and standard skills that could potentially wipe groups). "

http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Upda..._March_6,_2013

it sounds like it was needed, but it wasn't like any content out wasn't able to be completed. it went way too far imo. for example, scaled LT in BG's purple eye is hitting under 100... stupid, completely stupid.

so now you know where to point your finger at difficulty. the mechanics on instances are fine, just we take too little compared to what we output. NEEDS a fix.

Thanks for assuming I was stupid though.

not stupid. just taking your fears too far. over thinking the negatives instead of what they could actually be doing.

[Dirlettia]

Actually it's not. We stated repeatedly to the press (I know, I was there and actually typed it out in explicit detail) that the in game screen we showed them at the time of their preview was place holder and that the turbine point icons on the left hand column were entirely place holder art and would be replaced in the next build. Which we sent them a screenshot for.

THIS is the correct screen shot that we sent them after the tour. The skills on the left unlock as you progress through the trees. They're not gated by Turbine Points.

So does the mithril coin icon on the left mean it costs mithril coins to unlock new specs or costs mithril coin to respec?

[Sapience]

So does the mithril coin icon on the left mean it costs mithril coins to unlock new specs or costs mithril coin to respec?

You mean the one on the bottom RIGHT of the image I posted? It means you can purchase additional stored trait configurations. You start with two for free and can purchase more. So you can save multiple "builds".

[Dirlettia]

yes thats the one, trust me to type while watching tv. So respec is free then?

[TinDragon]

yes thats the one, trust me to type while watching tv. So respec is free then?

Respec costs silver, but free as far as mithril coins/TP goes.

[ColorSpecs]

hunter yellow line was epic

it's totally fair that a warden can do great dps in tanking build

remember when people think lore-master is a dps class

maybe it does need fixing... did you even read there explination to why there doing this?

Why do you think fixing trait line issues requires the removal of the system? Did you even read my questions? Cause you didn't bother to try and answer them.

[Shriya]

I'm already looking forward to this! I'll need to do a lot of retraining, as each of my character has her ...... preferences. They'll need to learn But it will be fun.

But there's one thing I do hope: Have the expansion before November 1st or after November 30th. Cause November is NaNoWriMo and I really, really, really can't use the Expansion Distractions! Cause it will be a big distraction!
Better not yet tell my Cook there's a new tier. She might want to force me into Lotro during NaNoWriMo....... Playing Lotro instead of writing..... Too much temptaion lol

[bohbashum]

Why do you think fixing trait line issues requires the removal of the system?

so you admit there are issues now?

[ColorSpecs]

so you admit there are issues now?

Huh? I asked you once already, i'll ask it again: Why does fixing issues with trait lines require changing the trait system? Or to put it another way, what makes you think that changing the trait system is going to fix a trait line? The hunter yellow line could easily remain just as broken in the new system, or could've been as easily fixed in the old system. There is no correlation, other than your assumption that there is one.

[Chris2]

"Of course, the main event of the expansion is the Helm's Deep epic battle system (also known as the "big battle" system). Starting at level 10, players can jump into the heroic defense of this iconic landmark, earning medals through a whole new advancement system. It's being called "the big bad brother of skirmishes" in the office, and Turbine expects that's how players will see epic battles. It's such a big system, in fact, that it'll be the new endgame, replacing the typical expansion addition of new skirmishes, instances, or raids. "


So we've already seen the last of the traditional raids? That would be a pretty bold move.

[bohbashum]

why must you guys constantly fix the stuff that isn't broken and leave broken the stuff that is?!?!?!?!!??!?!

so you admit that it's not WAI yet?

just need to get that over and done first.

the current trait system also is too open ended. we've been told many times that there new designed is each spec having a set roll and classes unable to do as much all at once. anyway they do the buffet system with a greater focus on the set bonuse (which we're basically in a tree system tbh...) would mean that it's too open ended. so trees was the simplest solution to focus classes into rolls

[Mirnir]

So we've already seen the last of the traditional raids? That would be a pretty bold move.

Only large scale events will be handled with this system. There will continue to be traditional raids and other instances in future...

This new system is another vehicle for us to deliver and package gameplay in order to tell certain stories. There are locations and events where it will be the correct method, and others where instance clusters or skirmishes are the correct choice.

...

There’s a scale factor required for an event before it makes sense for it to be conveyed in this way. You would expect something of the scale of thousands of characters coming together in battles mentioned somewhere in the books. That being said, if a compelling story can be told that enhances the less detailed portions of the world and lore and this is the best system to tell that with then we’ll certainly look to utilize it.

[TheCrossbow]

Overall, I liked what I read. It will give me plenty to do prior to any new raids or instances coming out. I mean... spending time fleshing out how I want to build my current batch of 85s (and level them to 95) will eat up ample time.

However, I would warn against jumping to too many conclusions just yet. We will need to await the beta testing to start learning more in-depth information (as much as they will allow it to be distributed).

[Radhruin_EU]

True, bit of a lore stretch, but an understandable one. Hell, given the prudence and competence displayed by Erkenbrand, it isn't even that much of a stetch. I could easily see him having a few catapults built and ready. The way I look at lore is a bit different that others, I'll grant. I'm less concerned with "this didn't happen"(or did happen, within reason), than I am with questions of character.

You're neglecting that too, because it's rather out of character for the Rohirrim to have siege engines. It's not a straightforward question of prudence or competence, there's also the need to have the requisite technical savvy in military engineering. That's one likely reason why Tolkien didn't mention them at Helm's Deep, and also why he had Sauron's lot using massive trebuchets during the siege of Minas Tirith (going by the description of projectiles being hurled very high, way over the walls into the city behind) without the Gondorians apparently being able to respond in kind.

It fits the game, though, if only because Turbine have always been cavalier about the war-gear in use - hence all the plate armour, two-handed swords, crossbows and so on, so it's not worth arguing about a catapult or two. So it's understandable on that basis, but lore-wise nope, it's a non-starter even if you try to dodge around it and look at character. (And for that matter Turbine's Edoras is way too big and grand to be in character, either, but then they always make places like that madly huge and showy so no change there).