LotRO not working on new dungeons, has no plans to merge servers from massively.joystiq.com

[Angadan]

Kinda funny, since he wrote most of the books originally in letters as stories to his kids at home, while he worked as a war correspondent.

Well, most is an exaggeration, I think. Some, yes. But he started on them before WWII began (way before, if you include The Hobbit and ideas for the Silm), and continued them well after. LOTR Trilogy wasn't published until mid-50s.

Also, he wasn't a war correspondent, he worked Intelligence for the British Army, IIRC.


EDIT: correction -- wasn't the Army, was the Foreign Office (Brit equivalent to US State Dept). Just looked it up.

[Bel-Astarte]

I have a feeling I'd be over-level for the Isengard stuff. I am guessing the Paths and Gondor would be the level-cap ish 'end-game' stuff? I don't have 6 toons spread out along the level range unfortunately,..and no,..I don't wanna restart,..heh.

Well, I'm an altoholic-I have 17 characters on my main server, Gladden, and several others for when I want to visit elsewhere.` Right now keeping the spread out so I have a character to help out at almost every level for my friends and kinnies is floating my boat, but thinking about grinding them all to endgame is just unlikely.

Now the whole of 2014 will be a series of (smaller than expansion) content/updates Free for VIPS. I can't complain. Especially since I didn't even purchase HD yet.
and the only income is reliant on the store,..which is optional. Is that risky?

Yeah this is a point I'd like to emphasize-there's an awful lot of "what is the point of subscribing long term?" discussion-and as a long term subscriber I've had the feeling of being taken a bit for granted myself. I don't regret subscribing by any means. I like supporting the development of a game I enjoy. I did experiment with not re-upping, and did decide that it made sense for me to continue to do so. If for no other reason than it gives all my alts variables in how I level them up.

I won't complain,..but I can be disappointed( more of a broad sigh of overall direction)


If I get bored I will swap MMO's for awhile,..or go and do Moors. Though I feel terrible playing a Warg,.so mean sneaking up on people,.how do you live with yourselves!

Perfectly understandable I'm sure.

And wargies are fun!!!! Sneak!Pounce!!!

[Bel-Astarte]

I'd say it is quite disingenuous to charge for an expansion pack without any real content. Epic battles are a joke. All the game has, and will have from the sound of it, is solo quests and upscaled throwaway instances. All of them mindlessly easy. This is a disservice to the players— it requires a a constant revolving door of a new population with a dead/dying older population for longevity. Not a desirable or fulfilling experience for anyone involved. Almost a scam, even.

But you're right, this has been the general trend for a very long time, it hasn't caught me unawares, but all the same I don't like it and want to contribute to the hope of changing Lotro's direction.

I have to ask...if you don't do endgame content why do you feel compelled to volunteer your opinion on the matter? I mean this in the most innocuous way possible but...

You'll be doing the endgame raid a month hence? Bad news, there isn't one. I've often entertained the thought that this sort of thing (and it has become a thing in lotro) is because of casuals blindly defending the game...it's an amusing thought, as eventually the day comes when the casual hits level cap and starts looking around and wonders what's new, what to do next....and finds nothing. Turbine has completely destroyed their raiding population. Don't even bother trying to contest this, it's a fact to anyone who knows anything about it (I direct this to everyone in this thread, when was the last time you heard of someone who was happy with the endgame content? It's literally been years for me.) And so—the newbies that are smelling the roses, they shouldn't be so quick to defuse the opinions of older and more serious players, particularly on content they've not experienced, honestly why try to tone down the debate when these criticisms coincide with the newbies eventual interests? You're hurting yourself and the game in the end. I'd say the current state of Lotro and this announced lack of instances is proof.

Thanks for the thinly veiled "if you don't like it, leave" advice. Myself and my entire former kin have largely abandoned the game already, there's nothing here. This after literally thousands of hours playing, mind you. All the same I check in...I've invested a lot of time and once had a lot of fun in Lotro... I love it for what it was and what it could have been.

My money pays to support the game same as anyone here, and what I said was we will start doing the HD raid at the end of the month. Assuming there's interest, we usually run a weekly raid.

And while we being all appreciative, thanks for the "why do you think you should have an opinion anyway" slam.

I didn't think I was being thinly veiled, but I'm also not saying it to be mean. Many folks seem very genuinely unhappy with the way the game is going. I've taken a break from games myself, or even abandoned characters I had really enjoyed leveling up, and found myself much happier for it.

The advice is genuine, whether you believe it or not.

[Bel-Astarte]

lol,..this made me chuckle,.. like you just knocked someones ice cream cone from their hand. Slap!






I'm sorry,...just found it funny. the visual. nothing personal at all. I don't even know who's on whos side.

My ice cream cone is perfectly intact, and delicious. Thank you.

[Martigan]

My money pays to support the game same as anyone here, and what I said was we will start doing the HD raid at the end of the month. Assuming there's interest, we usually run a weekly raid.

And while we being all appreciative, thanks for the "why do you think you should have an opinion anyway" slam.

I didn't think I was being thinly veiled, but I'm also not saying it to be mean. Many folks seem very genuinely unhappy with the way the game is going. I've taken a break from games myself, or even abandoned characters I had really enjoyed leveling up, and found myself much happier for it.

The advice is genuine, whether you believe it or not.

There isn't an HD raid. There is no new raid coming in 2014, nor 6 man, 3 man, craft instance, rep dungeon, or skirmish. There is no clarification for 2015 on the same.

[Bel-Astarte]

There isn't an HD raid. There is no new raid coming in 2014, nor 6 man, 3 man, craft instance, rep dungeon, or skirmish. There is no clarification for 2015 on the same.

Good lord, you just cannot wrap your mind around that there is more than one way to do group play can you?

[CosaNostraPizza]

Kinda funny, since he wrote most of the books originally in letters as stories to his kids at home, while he worked as a war correspondent.

and his kids were very critical from what i understand.

[Reximus]

Nobody said Turbine is losing money as a whole, but each one of their projects is evaluated separately I'm sure. I'm not even saying that LotRO is losing money now, it is probably profitable. However, just being profitable is not always enough to justify a game's existence. It's a question of opportunity cost.

Turbine obviously considers this game its flagship product, just last year they spent a lot of money to decorate their lobby after this game. While of course anything could happen, and a sudden change in market or profitability could cause a product, any product from any company, to go the way of the dodo, Turbine's actions don't really fit that it is happening now or in any nearly foreseeable future.

[Martigan]

Good lord, you just cannot wrap your mind around that there is more than one way to do group play can you?

I apologise for posting something that didn't agree with you.

[Bel-Astarte]

I apologise for posting something that didn't agree with you.

I accept your apology with the exact amt of sincerity with which it was tendered.

[Sapience]

Guys, the sniping and personal attacks end or the thread does. Your call.

[enginekid88]

Good lord, you just cannot wrap your mind around that there is more than one way to do group play can you?

The guy you attacked with your sentence above, typed: new raid coming in 2014: no 6 man, 3 man, craft instance, rep dungeon, or skirmish.

What other ways are there to do level-cap "group play" pray tell? And please don't say taking Hobbits to Isengard.

[pvdtheking]

http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01...merge-servers/

So very sad to read.

http://www.containsmoderateperil.com...ngard-gilrain/

Well done turbine.....really well done. I come home from a days work to read this.

Not only are we not getting a new expansion, were now not getting any new raids/instances.....what the hell are you focussing on?

Why the hell do i even have lvl 95 toons when theres nothing new coming out for us??? for what 12-18 months...nice one turbine.....

You know what? im so glad TESO comes out in a few months, dont have long to wait!

My time heres been great, but its coming to an end....i play mmos for dungeons/raids and pvp....lotro has pvp only atm, i cant stay knowing turbine wont release any more for the next 12 months

[dannypl]

How you managed to glean any of this from me responding to someone else about what is or isn't a rude post is beyond me. You know absolutely nothing about me, my play style, opinion of the current game state -- NOTHING. I didn't say anything, one way or the other, regarding the state of the game. I didn't provide a "spirited defense" of the game. I didn't call or even suggest that anyone who disagrees with me is a whiny troll. All I said (to someone else) is that they should look at a particular post as an example of rudeness. Too bad that post happened to be yours.

Or they could look to the part of your post that I quoted.

I actually managed to glean that from one of your 900 other posts actually:

I can't answer your question for you, no one but you really can. I suspect that if you were a serious raider or PvPer, you'll be disappointed. If you were more of a casual player, you'll probably still enjoy the game. I will say that if peruse the negative threads, you'll notice that its the same core of people posting in each thread.

Wow -- glad you have all the answers. I guess those of us who were politely reading about Khafar's company's experiences (which oddly enough actually transcends what the business makes because the business models are universal) can now move along to something less enlightning now that you have posted your slightly angry/slightly rude rant. Thank you.

The common thread throughout your posts is a condescending attitude that you know more than the other poster.

[pvdtheking]

My money pays to support the game same as anyone here, and what I said was we will start doing the HD raid at the end of the month. Assuming there's interest, we usually run a weekly raid.

And while we being all appreciative, thanks for the "why do you think you should have an opinion anyway" slam.

I didn't think I was being thinly veiled, but I'm also not saying it to be mean. Many folks seem very genuinely unhappy with the way the game is going. I've taken a break from games myself, or even abandoned characters I had really enjoyed leveling up, and found myself much happier for it.

The advice is genuine, whether you believe it or not.

He did say in an earlier post there is no 'HD Raid'.....the only resemblance it has to a raid is the number of people (12)....and its ridiculously easy...as all big battles are..

But i suppose what else have u got.....BFE/Smaug/Flight....the 3 parts that should have been made into a proper raid....No wait u have OD i suppose. The guy earlier was right about all the casuals..once u hit the lvl cap and look around, you will see what we all mean. If you can hang on till 04/04, TESO will be launched, and at least for the beginning will show turbine how a proper mmo should be (and how lotro used to be)

[Martigan]

He did say in an earlier post there is no 'HD Raid'.....the only resemblance it has to a raid is the number of people (12)....and its ridiculously easy...as all big battles are..

But i suppose what else have u got.....BFE/Smaug/Flight....the 3 parts that should have been made into a proper raid....No wait u have OD i suppose. The guy earlier was right about all the casuals..once u hit the lvl cap and look around, you will see what we all mean. If you can hang on till 04/04, TESO will be launched, and at least for the beginning will show turbine how a proper mmo should be (and how lotro used to be)

Agree with your sentiment here. Thing is ESO doesn't have a raid either. However a significant chunk of my kin will be going there to try it out, it is the main topic of conversation on our facebook page, which has about 50 members, now that there are no raids coming to LOTRO for the foreseeable future and since the content has got so easy. ESO end content will similarly need to stand the test of time. There is also some conversation about trying Rift for raiding as they put dev time into quality raids.

Also some people who have drifted to other games or consoles that still chat on facebook do say that they would come back to LOTRO for raids because they miss the fun, challenge and comradery.
r
Those of us that have stuck with LOTRO, clinging to the hope of refreshing end content are now falling off for sure. My loyalty is now stretched too thin. I don't feel too bad, like someone else said Turbine has made the decision for me.

[Beschutzer]

If you can hang on till 04/04, TESO will be launched, and at least for the beginning will show turbine how a proper mmo should be (and how lotro used to be)

Sockpuppets for you all!

TESO,...please don't use that as the savior and bigger better fotm. Especially as a threatening manner. I am just saying that because well,..it may suck,..sure,..it's shiny and new and may make you feel like you've found a new home. But soon the cracks will show. It always does. Yeah,..I know a certain sockpuppet who beta'd.

Will I play it? You're darned right I will. Just like I played Rift, how I am still playing DDO, and even some TSW.

The new model of MMO Multitasking multiplaying gamer! Behold!

If only 10% of my game time is actually in a certain game,...well,..then I'll be content with 10% of the content!! no harm no foul!

this is the model! We've been molded! Moded,.hacked and subdued,..F2P is great!,..It takes away commitment!

Don't hate the game! Hate the player!

Why release 'The Legend of Hercules" on the same weekend as 'The Hobbit" opens? You don't! You wait,..and when everyone is done with ESO,..then you draw them back when they are done.


Play forth!

[Harbut]

So a year of cleaning house, weeding and tidying up? Sounds fine by me!
Rather have a good clean up then a new release which the wheels fall off
Carry on im not going anywhere! *munches on his pie contently*

[Angadan]

Play forth!

I missed you, Sockpuppet guy. Still don't understand anything you say, but I really enjoy reading it.

[dannypl]

No, I wouldn't be attached to it.

They have said this is going to be a year of refining and improvement-not new content. If you do not like that idea, I can respect that, but it's not precisely been a secret.

For my part, I consider there to be a lot of enjoyment in this game before we get to endgame, and my kin is healthily bringing in new members who are really continuing to enjoy the game.

We are not a raiding focused kin, but we do group and will be doing the endgame raid starting the end of this month.

If you are not enjoying the game, take a break. Check back in later to see if the joy has returned. Do not continue making yourself (and others) crazy.

I would give you plus rep if that sort of thing still existed. I strongly disagree with what you wrote, but that's your opinion and you presented it very respectfully IMO.

[Fatty_Lumpkin]

I missed you, Sockpuppet guy. Still don't understand anything you say, but I really enjoy reading it.

Ah, finally, the voices of reason and mirth! Great to see you Angadan and Beschutzer. Cheers!!

[Angadan]

Ah, finally, the voices of reason and mirth! Great to see you Angadan and Beschutzer. Cheers!!

Hey Fatty Lumpkin, you should know I didn't talk about licenses at all today. I think I didn't. Not really sure. Let me check that and get back to you.

[Beschutzer]

I missed you, Sockpuppet guy. Still don't understand anything you say, but I really enjoy reading it.

Ah, finally, the voices of reason and mirth! Great to see you Angadan and Beschutzer. Cheers!!

Gotta get some jabs in 'fore the day ends!!

The thread goes ever on and on!


I got a 2-man Raid going on in the Moors tonight!


Let's Do This!

[CaerArianrhod]

Second, my comment wasn't a statistic, it was an observation. In reality the vast majority of people I see in-game are really into the new content. In fact, I have seen with my own eyes that a lot of the people who were most vocally against epic battles and against the class changes are now enjoying both.

That is a very personal kind of observation. Not necessary an objecitve one. In my raid, we have a lot of talk about the EBs. The summary is: 2 hates them really and 2 likes them very well, the rest is parted into "it's just a raid and we can do something together" and "i would do it, if wouldn't lag so much (we are playing on a former EU server). I decided for our raid not to do the 12 man battle until the problems with the lags are adressed by turbine. It's just too frustrating.
On our server as on the most/all former EU servers people don't like the HD expansion much, not because is soooo bad*, but because this servers have a very serious problem with the lags. Maybe the acceptance would be bigger without this problem.
Ad *) Most players i have talked to says that this expansion is the most half-baked expansion they saw in an mmo ever. We still play the game, but the reason is not so much the game/the content anymore, but the fact that we play it for couple of years together as a guild/ as a raid.
I'v seen pepole come back for HD, some of them stay now again with the game, but they are only a few. I'v seen our kinship shrunk to the half of it's origin size, same with our raid(s). We have had a time, when we had three different raids running regulary. That time is over since Isengard. And this is the reality of this game, not the handful of remaining who still play.

[matalan]

ESO is just 'new' that's all it is - just like SWTOR was 'new'

I've played both in Beta, the grass is not always greener. Unless you've played to cap and can say what the state of end game is, a 'new' MMO is just a temptation.

That's all I will say in this post.

Other than this....

SOCK PUPPET GUY ROCKS!!!!

I want a sock puppet war steed cosmetic, and I want to ride it NOW!!!

That is all, make it happen.... SOON!