Summer LOTRO Executive Producer’s Letter

[Dmira]

I don't see how releasing a brand-spanking new store is going to keep Turbine in business for the next few years. It certainly isn't going to attract people back into the game. Sure, it may let those of us who are still here to buy things easier, but really, wouldn't it be more cost effective to come up with something that, I don't know, might interest players or (gasp in horror) actually get them to give the game another try? I can think of several things Turbine could do to improve the game and potentially attract people back. A new store isn't one of them.

[Rufkin]

We found a new store partner that would give us more flexibility and options, while improving upon some things we knew needed some love. Overall we hope this is going to be good for all involved.

As to the second part, I will answer in bold so as to not cause any doubt: We are not going to raise any of the prices for anything with this transition. The cost you see in the store now will be the same cost you will see in the new store.

Thanks Frelorn! Glad to hear it.

[ertr]

I don't see how releasing a brand-spanking new store is going to keep Turbine in business for the next few years. It certainly isn't going to attract people back into the game. Sure, it may let those of us who are still here to buy things easier, but really, wouldn't it be more cost effective to come up with something that, I don't know, might interest players or (gasp in horror) actually get them to give the game another try? I can think of several things Turbine could do to improve the game and potentially attract people back. A new store isn't one of them.

It might not attract new players, but do not underestimate the effect of making it easier to use.
For example, I have never bought any cosmetic items from the store, and one major reason for that is that the store is so slow and clumsy to use that I loose my interest before I find anything I want.

[Frelorn]

Any word on what is going to happen with the player music system and when or if anything is going to be done?

Check out this thread. :https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthr...em-adjustments

[Thorgrum]

I don't see how releasing a brand-spanking new store is going to keep Turbine in business for the next few years. It certainly isn't going to attract people back into the game. Sure, it may let those of us who are still here to buy things easier, but really, wouldn't it be more cost effective to come up with something that, I don't know, might interest players or (gasp in horror) actually get them to give the game another try? I can think of several things Turbine could do to improve the game and potentially attract people back. A new store isn't one of them.

Based on your proclamation on cost effectiveness can we assume you've done the research to determine how much the "several things" you would propose would cost?

I would put forth the notion to you that Turbine has the best possible data on its game, consumption of the product and subset system and costs to add new features and or enhance others. While I find the company completely shady, it is not out of the realm to suggest that they understand how best to maximize their profits and deliver a decent product. They have been at it for years, people still play. The fact they are not producing the products you want is frankly your issue.

If you are choosing to consume a product you dont like, why on earth would they change anything?

[Jillymala]

@ Frelorn

Thanks for the heads up and effort to communicate, it's always appreciated as you know.

Whats the word on the new Players Councils for this year? When will you be posting the new appointees lists?

[Arnenna]

Have to wait and see if Withy is on the merger list or not. If so, let's hope we merge with a good server then.

Everything seems pretty solid to me although i do have a few pointers:

* Minas Tirith: prolly a bb involved with it, hope the scale of the movie then.

Oh god no, just no. IMO Minas Tirith is probably the most iconic thing in the whole trilogy. I really don't want to be running through this as an engineer, or worse, trying to compete with other members of a group for hits to build killstreak. I'm hanging on the words "something like you've never seen before" to assume it won't be a BB. They can create the battleground atmosphere without the need to go down the BB road (isengard map table questline). I'd like to see opportunity for lots of different playstyles in this area (MC, on foot combat, areas in the fields where you shouldn't wander alone, where as areas around the edges are safe for lone players, operating siege from the city walls for those that do like the BB feel), and while I don't mind too much if we have to enter MT and pick up sticks, clean, fetch and carry for a while, I hope that isn't given too much emphasis.

Other features to be considered:

* Mount vendor. Tired of being halfway the map and ur bag is full? Nps, just summon ur vendor mount and you're good to go again.

Hint, we already have one - it's called Ost Dunhoth

* Scale old dungeons and raids also to lvl 100 so we not bored of doing the same stuff over and over again. Who wouldn't love to run dungeons and raids from back in Moria right @lvl 100? Everyone would.

No from me - scaling just breaks things elsewhere. New stuff, not scaled stuff.

* Flying mounts? no? yes? The lore makes it possible so why not.

I hope you're joking

[bucko39]

Anyway the spelling of the minas tirith wrong? pish posh, how is that important at all ?

When you can't get the small details right, what does that say about the big details?

You would at least think they would spell their money maker (mithril coins) correctly.

But you are right, I'm being petty.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a kin meeting in WoW. Oops, sorry I meant I have a guild meeting in WoW.

[cdq1958]

I would take this a step further. As Turbine has proven they can't scale instances properly, revert all the instances to their initial level only. Implement a "mentor" program similar to RIFT where we can level down to whatever level the instance requires (in the event we are feeling nostalgic or what to help out lower level kinnies).

This would include the Big Battles, with the exception of Pelargir as I consider that current "end-game" content. (sad, I know)

Implement a "Legendary Instance Cluster" program where only a few select instance clusters are scaled to current level cap (OD, BG and ToO would be my vote along with a few other 6-mans). Revamp the entire loot system for those instance clusters as well as the current Osgiliath instance clusters.

T1 loot table needs to have guaranteed essence drops (purple) with a % chance for teal

T2 and challenge needs to have a guaranteed essence drops (purple, teal and gold) depending on the number of "bosses" in the instance. Personal loot is guaranteed with an additional roll for bonus group loot.

Guaranteed that item X or Y will drop in these instances, but you will have to roll on it. No. More. Bloody. RNG.

Put daily locks on the level cap instances, but double or triple the marks and medallions that drop (you can do the instance more than once per day, but the essence and item X drops will only be available once a day).

Say goodnight, Sammy--you've earned your rest.

Bucko, I hope you realize that if you make people /roll, you're invoking the pRNG. Thus, it is clear to me that your problem isn't with the pRNG. It is with your feeling of no control over the result of the pRNG.

Loot locks would be great.

Given the way LoTRO is coded, with respect to scaling, there is no way to properly scale down. Scaling up is possible but problematic because of a number of poor choices dating back to SoA. You'd have to rewrite the game for mentoring to work better than upscaling does now. I think rewriting would be a good thing; but not economically possible. Thus, we have what does work with the base code, which is upscaling.

[Jorlien]

many thanks Frelorn for your answers........

Is there hope for the release of blocked/baned accounts?

[bucko39]

Bucko, I hope you realize that if you make people /roll, you're invoking the pRNG. Thus, it is clear to me that your problem isn't with the pRNG. It is with your feeling of no control over the result of the pRNG.

Perhaps, but I would prefer that an LM and Minstrel roll on an item either of them could use instead of what is in place now: three non-agility based classes do a 3-man and a purple agility based armour drops.

[cdq1958]

Perhaps, but I would prefer that an LM and Minstrel roll on an item either of them could use instead of what is in place now: three non-agility based classes do a 3-man and a purple agility based armour drops.

Personal loot fixes that, which could be enhanced by adding a container with a pick-list in it.

[Gandolf_TheOld]

... we will also be making more character slots available to all players as well.

[BangoTwinkletoes]

Personal loot fixes that, which could be enhanced by adding a container with a pick-list in it.

Turbine could learn a lesson or two from Blizzard on how to implement a personal loot system for group content:

http://blue.mmo-champion.com/topic/3...ization-in-62/

Anyhow, back on topic - I think that the news in the producers letter is on the whole both positive and very welcome. Good to see the current store interface getting the boot - what we have right now is downright shocking - it takes forever to refresh and the overall buying experience is somewhat similar to how the internet was back in the mid 90s. Interestingly I've been looking at Infinite Crisis and the "store" on that game is altogether a better experience so hopefully we'll get a replacement along the lines of that.

[Mar-Evayave]

Correct. They're not going to, say, take the entire of Imladris and shove it into Landroval.

That is my understanding as well, even if the term merge is used, which does comply with their previous statements as well as this letter.

[ddave]

It's not a merge of servers, it's a migration of player's characters from servers which are closing to servers remaining open.

[mrfigglesworth]

Loot locks would be great.

God bless you. +1

[mrfigglesworth]

double post....deleted

[Primenyc]

.... The ones that we will be closing down, will have transfer to them turned off.


I hope that clears up a couple things.

Any chance you would be able to hold off on free transfers to Brandywine till some dust settles a bit? A large number of PvMPers have already paid, quieting action on other servers...

I am hoping the new datacenters are in North Bergen County. Let me know if you need something re-booted.

[KayleahSunshine]

Fantastic! So excited to see changes made.

Especially the new servers... no lag? Heaven.

[ShireDweller]

I thought that we have been pretty clear about this, but lets see what I can do. At some point in the not so distant future we will announce the servers that will be remaining open, and the ones that will be eventually shut down. When that time comes, transfers will only be allowed to those servers that are remaining open and will be free of charge. The ones that we will be closing down, will have transfer to them turned off.

We have not yet made the server list available in part because without the new tools and free services yet available, players will still have to go through some part of the process again anyway because right now you can not transfer over account items and a few other things that will be available with the new tools. And on top of that, we do not want to promote an early land rush to the servers that will be remaining because they are still on the old hadware/in the old datacenter and could cause a negative experience for everyone when the servers get overcrowded.

I hope that clears up a couple things.

That does clear it up for me, thanks!

I remember already seeing the part about not making the server list and free transfers available till the technology supports it.

I hadn't seen the part about transfers to closing servers being turned off, that part I may have missed. So I'll just chill till I know whether it affects me or not. Thanks again.

[cdq1958]

It's not a merge of servers, it's a migration of player's characters from servers which are closing to servers remaining open.

This is still a merge, just not a brute forced action. Call it a server merge, server consolidation, or open migration with a smaller list of playable servers, in the end, the result is fewer accessible servers.

[HeirOfNumenor]

Frelorn
Community Manager

Originally Posted by HeirOfNumenor

So are we to understand that by the end of September 2015 when the servers have moved to the new datacenters, that Turbine will then AT THAT TIME publicly announce the list of servers which are slated for closing?



No, the plan is for the announcement and the start of transfers to happen before then.

Thank you for this - and the additional character slots

[DanteIL]

[*]Adventures of Bingo Boffin: Also set for a summer release is this new episodic quest in which you will follow the trail of a new Hobbit friend Bingo Boffin as he traverses Middle-Earth. Each week a new episode of the quest will unlock showing you where Bingo is off to next.

So I'm interested in knowing more about this. A new episode *each week*?? Are these episodes also going to scale in level? How many episodes will there be? Will Bingo have a death-wish and will we have to protect him? Does Bingo know any good songs to keep us entertained on the road?

[LagunaD2]

How likely are people to accept having to rename a character they've played for 7+ years because the name is already taken on all surviving servers?