Communication

[Rowan]

And I'll give bonus points if this turns into a demonstration of concept stage art/POI things with an opportunity to provide feedback. Would you dare?

Concept art must be approved by our licensor before we share it, so unfortunately that is not something we could share early.

If you mean sharing artwork (or world) that is still in development, yes we can do that.

For example, Minas Tirith is in very early prototype but not something we can share. (Our licensor needs to review it first.) Some of the Gondor landscape we're developing is probably fair game.

The difference is subtle but meaningful.

[Nodwick]

Hello lotro community & developers,

I wanted to bring up the subject of communication.
When I am looking to previous years and the about 3+ months in 2014, communication improved with about 10^100.
Livestreams with huge amount of answers on questions. Active developers and people on the forums.
I have to say turbine, you're doing really really good on the part of communication +rep to you!
Keep it up!

PS: U13 looks cool and promising .

~Erandar

They do that part pretty well, but there are other parts where they then seem to drop the ball, and then stick their head in the sand and hide.

Of course. They,we, us... we're human. Let's be very honest here, 'passion' sometimes is expressed in some very inappropriate ways and with a lot of vitriol and less than pleasant commentary. If i'm also being honest you'll find that that is exactly why some members of the team are hesitant to engage. No one likes being called names, being told your work is sub par, or being generally insulted. Since I'm literally the only person actually required as part of my job to engage on a regular basis, you can probably guess that most people, facing some of the comments made here and elsewhere, would simply choose to stay away as there is no requirement they subject themselves to that. Even those who really enjoy engaging with players aren't going to do it often if they feel they're being insulted. Would you? Something to consider the next time you're about to hit the 'submit' button.

Off course are passionate about some things, and tempers can get heated.
But stepping up, putting something out, saying this is how it will be.
Then when it isnt like that, and is pretty different from what was said/promised/expected, then it would behoove the person to perhaps step up and explain why.
And if people disagree with the output on it, a dialogue should be opened to try and resolve it, instead of shutting down.

[Thodorin]

...For example, Minas Tirith is in very early prototype but not something we can share. (Our licensor needs to review it first.) Some of the Gondor landscape we're developing is probably fair game..

If this is a hypothetical example or a real example and Minas Tirith is in fact already in development?

[Rowan]

If this is a hypothetical example or a real example and Minas Tirith is in fact already in development?

I was wondering how long it would take to notice that. So far it's only a model.

[Crell_1]

I was wondering how long it would take to notice that.

Given how much lead time you seemed to have for the start of the assets for Gondor because of the session play, it was not shocking at all. Given that you're already talking about things like the Pelanor Fields in small doses.

Plus, you said 'is' in the example, when you could have left the post and had it be meaningful without the example at all, or used a time frame/comparison for something already released.

[Robeauch]

I was wondering how long it would take to notice that. So far it's only a model.

SAPIENCE: Minas Tirith!
JINJAAH: Minas Tirith!
MADEOFLIONS: Minas Tirith!
ROWAN: It's only a model.
SAPIENCE: Shhh!!

[JeauxLOTR]

While there has been an increase in general communication, the Rune Keeper class has been left in the dark and our suggestions seem to be ignored. I don't know if Jinjaah is still the RK developer or not - it is clear he has too much on his plate.

[Nymphonic]

SAPIENCE: Minas Tirith!
JINJAAH: Minas Tirith!
MADEOFLIONS: Minas Tirith!
ROWAN: It's only a model.
SAPIENCE: Shhh!!

Bah, someone made a Monty Python funny before I could.

[Beaniemooch]

Bah, someone made a Monty Python funny before I could.

It is a silly place.