A letter from the game producer

[Lumbercamp]

I seem to be unable to find the customary letter from the game producer concerning the expansion launch. Can anybody please post the link?

The closest i got to was https://www.lotro.com/en/game/articl...nline%E2%84%A2 but this is nearly a year old now.

I woul really like to know who is in charge and what does that person has to say about the state and future of this game.

[ertr]

I seem to be unable to find the customary letter from the game producer concerning the expansion launch. Can anybody please post the link?

The closest i got to was https://www.lotro.com/en/game/articl...nline%E2%84%A2 but this is nearly a year old now.

I woul really like to know who is in charge and what does that person has to say about the state and future of this game.

To the best of my knowledge there has not been any letter from the producer since the one you linked to.

[Bhoris_they_spider]

I woul really like to know who is in charge and what does that person has to say about the state and future of this game.

Such letters are basically just marketing spiel with no real substance to them. They contain no trace of frankness or honesty.

[Lumbercamp]

Such letters are basically just marketing spiel with no real substance to them. They contain no trace of frankness or honesty.

maybe, but having nothing only gives rise to the impression nobody is in charge. And since it is impossible to get a refund, at least and explanation about the reason why some parts of the game are broken (mpvp) and partly bugged (big battles side quests), while presenting a plan of what is being done about it, would be most welcome, at least for myself.

[Khafar]

And since it is impossible to get a refund, at least and explanation about the reason why some parts of the game are broken (mpvp) and partly bugged (big battles side quests), while presenting a plan of what is being done about it, would be most welcome...

That sort of letter will never happen. It might if a producer's letter were released once a month, but with a yearly letter the norm around here, that letter becomes "news" - widely reported in the gaming press. No way they're going to draw attention to what's broken and plans to fix it so that can be the focus of articles about LOTRO. If anything is said on those topics, it will come from some post by Sapience, buried in the middle of some thread.

Khafar

[Lumbercamp]

That sort of letter will never happen. It might if a producer's letter were released once a month, but with a yearly letter the norm around here, that letter becomes "news" - widely reported in the gaming press. No way they're going to draw attention to what's broken and plans to fix it so that can be the focus of articles about LOTRO. If anything is said on those topics, it will come from some post by Sapience, buried in the middle of some thread.

Khafar

Such a letter, admitting a major mistakes (radiance) and pesenting changes made a hugely positive impact back in MoM era.

[Yula_the_Mighty]

Such a letter, admitting a major mistakes (radiance) and pesenting changes made a hugely positive impact back in MoM era.

My personal opinion - That letter was a one time event that will never be repeated made by the former producer (Jeffrey Steefel) of Lotro. I do not see Kate Paiz writing anything like that. Community team including Sapience isn't into airing dirty laundry either.

[Sapience]

My personal opinion - That letter was a one time event that will never be repeated made by the former producer (Jeffrey Steefel) of Lotro. I do not see Kate Paiz writing anything like that. Community team including Sapience isn't into airing dirty laundry either.

Kate wrote the December 2010 Producer's letter you're referring to. Her comment as it appeared...

Radiance & its removal in Q1 –We’ve received a lot of feedback on Radiance gating since its introduction and are pleased to announce that Radiance gear will no longer be a requirement for any of our instances or raids. In fact, with the release of our Q1 update next year, we will be removing Radiance from the game entirely. It will not be present in the new Instance Cluster or Epic Book and will be removed from all current instances. You should get your first look at a Radiance-free LOTRO on Bullroarer in early February of next year.

[Vandervahn]

Such letters are basically just marketing spiel with no real substance to them. They contain no trace of frankness or honesty.

I dont think that is truem if you´re talking about the biz as a whole. I have read many a piece from the higher ups in games development, and while they rarely reach out directly to the community, when they do they often tackle the difficult issues. Turbine chose different communication policies.

If you think about it, it really makes no sense for the bosses´ to waste time on writing insubstantial or mundane pieces. I´d rather have no producer communication than read something like that 2012 letter from Lotros bearded ex-producer again.

[mr_toad]

Such letters are basically just marketing spiel with no real substance to them. They contain no trace of frankness or honesty.

The same could be said of some forum posts, whose veracity or lack thereof we all end up individually determining based on whatever standards we prefer.

[Wilfrum]

I think that things like passion, a sense or urgency, community relations are dwindling at the top circle of Lotro. It kind of shows with the way patches are released. I may be wrong and if I am wrong then its just a communication issue between the player base and the people who are putting the product out. A little info on what is being done goes a long way. When there is no info. Makes you wonder whats going on with Lotro beyond what the messenger can tell you. In regards to PvMP. Example.. Lotro PvMP. It may be on a thin budget but is still part of the game. Every expansion has been keeping PvE fresh. How many expansions kept PvMP fresh?

[Rainothon]

Kate wrote the December 2010 Producer's letter you're referring to. Her comment as it appeared...

I much desire to read from Kate Piaz again. Her visits have been sparse and far between indeed.

There's nothing wrong with you correcting Yula on a memory of end 2010. Even the Mighty can forget. I would have much preferred an answer to the OP's request though.

I can sort of predict Kate will write another letter Januari 2014, but my prediction just isn't as good as your answer.

Kate's letter matters to me. It'll likely be less concrete and more vague than any prediction by Nostradamus , but I'm not looking for her letter for concrete details (nor looking to extract them from it - tinfoil has better uses), but for the vision, the course, the gist, the producer's perspective on last year and how it shapes the future.

[Roberto_the_First]

I just read Rowan's Producer letter for DDO this weekend. Pretty interesting stuff...and one thing that kind of made me shiver - the thought of bringing something akin to LI to DDO next year.

Looking forward to the LOTRO Producer's letter, though

[Belnavar]

I'm looking forward to the next Producer's Letter and hope it is as exciting as that promised in Rowan's one for DDO. There are quite a lot of good things listed in the DDO one, and the letter was more detailed than I recall many of LOTRO's ones being. Hopefully Kate will deliver some similar good news, and hopefully we will see more of the promised major revision to housing soon.

-Bel

[EGONIL]

Next one may be Jan 2014....?

[Yula_the_Mighty]

Kate wrote the December 2010 Producer's letter you're referring to. Her comment as it appeared...

It wasn't Jeffrey Steefel changing one of his decisions. Instead Kate Paiz arrives to replace Jeffrey Steefel in June, 2010. Kate decides - I do not like what was done in this area on Steefel's watch. We are going to do it a different way. If what I am reading is correct. This decision was announced to us about six months after the announcement that she was replacing Jeffrey Steefel.

Thanks Sapience for correcting my defective memory. Reminding me that I should spend some time researching on the web instead of using the memory for something that happened 3 years ago.