Bullroarer Update 22 (#2) - Preview and Release Notes

[Herwegur]

This looks like a DOWNGRADE if anything. Less detail? WHY?

The texture looks flatter than before, less shading, less color variation... less realistic.


Are we heading for minecraft-levels of texture?

The same issue is still affecting new avatar hair on other races as well. Hair needs more work to remain visually consistent with the more fleshed-out and polished new avatar faces.

I get the intention behind the artistic direction being taken: less "charcoal drawing" hair and more "air-brushed" fluffier hair. The new dwarf beards are already looking better than new hair on elves/humans, but there's still a way to go and more needs to be done.

Perhaps adding more... highlighting to particular strands here and there, adding more shading to particular strands: just something to make it stand out more. Not the cartoon shading of old hair, but a more polished "realistic" shadow effects between strands, more detailing, etc.

Don't let it stay the way it is: this is still very much beta appearances... please keep working on the hair.


Edit to add:
The hair textures are great - they just really need more shading and contrast to make it look alive and not like a bland cotton drape.

[Fenix43]

That looks like Bag End to me, not just a house and a tree I haven't logged in on Bullroarer but I imagine if you turn the screen it might actually show the Party Tree below and a view of Hobbiton, but someone who's been on Bullroarer would have to confirm. I really like the updated backgrounds, I think they look great

Oik are beautiful but ... the hobbits have more life needs according to me in humans, elves and dwarves there are NPCs in the background ... because they have not done so for the hobbits? and then those 2 chairs are just ugly there so ... it was better 2 pillars with sopre of torches-lanterns as they are in Micheldelving ... ok Bag End and another iconic place though ... more iconic there is MichelDelving and the Party Tree..or also hobbiton ... there .. in short ... I repeat ... SSG must dare more against the background of the hobbits ... add him some NPC walking dance or a mandolin ... let me see the spirit of the hobbits in that background!

The same issue is still affecting new avatar hair on other races as well. Hair needs more work to remain visually consistent with the more fleshed-out and polished new avatar faces.

I get the intention behind the artistic direction being taken: less "charcoal drawing" hair and more "air-brushed" fluffier hair. The new dwarf beards are already looking better than new hair on elves/humans, but there's still a way to go and more needs to be done.

Perhaps adding more... highlighting to particular strands here and there, adding more shading to particular strands: just something to make it stand out more. Not the cartoon shading of old hair, but a more polished "realistic" shadow effects between strands, more detailing, etc.

Don't let it stay the way it is: this is still very much beta appearances... please keep working on the hair.


Edit to add:
The hair textures are great - they just really need more shading and contrast to make it look alive and not like a bland cotton drape.

MA Go? Now do you realize it ?! and from the beta of mordor that I keep repeating to the nausea that the hair and the beards need more care1 it would be enough that SSG did a similar job as for some hair of tall elves, giving them those 2 or 4 three-dimensional locks that give a feeling of volume at all, without having to force a feeling too "chap" as many said in the first beta of mordor ... the key words that must keep in mind SSG are these "Equilibrium", "realism", "personalization" and "modernity" "These are the things that SSG must keep in mind, ok take a cue from the past, but do not be a copy and paste of the same model and make me a texture of the coffins and hair different ... as a famous movie scene says. ..

"Run Forest run!"

[Oelle]

they really had nothing better to do than go over all the text in the game to find typos

time better spent adding use-stack of scrolls of empowerment

well... they didnt have to go over any text to FIND typos. There have for sure been hundreds of reported typos (there were even more than a hundred from me alone). So no, they didnt. They just did their QA job of the last year here (at least thats what I hope, didnt check it yet).

and stacksize of empos is a nonissue. There are good reasons not to increase them at all
If you have too many, just sell them. The intention of the LI system never was to get everything maxxed on login of a raise.

[NeoBasilisk]

[*] PREVIEW ONLY: Malledhrim Bronze Feathers have now been replaced with Token of the Lake and Rivers on quest rewards and barter vendors in the new regions[/list]

Good, now we won't have to see the geniuses running Mirkwood dailies anymore.

[Silmelin]

The same issue is still affecting new avatar hair on other races as well. Hair needs more work to remain visually consistent with the more fleshed-out and polished new avatar faces.

I get the intention behind the artistic direction being taken: less "charcoal drawing" hair and more "air-brushed" fluffier hair. The new dwarf beards are already looking better than new hair on elves/humans, but there's still a way to go and more needs to be done.

Perhaps adding more... highlighting to particular strands here and there, adding more shading to particular strands: just something to make it stand out more. Not the cartoon shading of old hair, but a more polished "realistic" shadow effects between strands, more detailing, etc.

Don't let it stay the way it is: this is still very much beta appearances... please keep working on the hair.

Yes, the updated hair for all races lack depth, but not only that, curls have been removed, wavy hair has been turned straight, and the hair grows out of the wrong places due to being straightened. Where it should for example hang across the forehead and go behind the ear, the curve of the hair has been replaced with a bunch of straight lines so now it starts growing from it's own middle. I really hope they go through all hairstyles for all races/genders and work on them more. I really miss having curls, wavy hair and feathering. It's all quite flat now and it makes the hairstyles look flat and uninteresting

[Hallandil]

Yes, the updated hair for all races lack depth, but not only that, curls have been removed, wavy hair has been turned straight, and the hair grows out of the wrong places due to being straightened. Where it should for example hang across the forehead and go behind the ear, the curve of the hair has been replaced with a bunch of straight lines so now it starts growing from it's own middle. I really hope they go through all hairstyles for all races/genders and work on them more. I really miss having curls, wavy hair and feathering. It's all quite flat now and it makes the hairstyles look flat and uninteresting

Bit of an exaggeration here. It’s the exact same texture just with the contrast turned way down to prevent the black edges around the bottom of the beards. Not sure if singed beards are all the rage or anything, but Thorins Halls and Erebor would be pretty bad places to be, because all you could smell is the charred facial hair.

[rodin12]

405/5000






I like very much the new hobbit fund that, and the house is Bag End the house of Frodo Sam and Bilbo, it is very nice for once it recognizes the house of the hobbit protagonist as own of the race and for once not he puts a hobbit singing and laughing I like that background a lot Frodo Sam Bilbo are hobbits who write Elfico and books and they are also hobbits a 10 for that fund I like

[Herwegur]

Bit of an exaggeration here. It’s the exact same texture just with the contrast turned way down to prevent the black edges around the bottom of the beards. Not sure if singed beards are all the rage or anything, but Thorins Halls and Erebor would be pretty bad places to be, because all you could smell is the charred facial hair.

For new dwarf hair yes, but if you take a look at new hair on new elf/human avatars, those are the ones looking even more visually primitive in comparison to new dwarf hair (which are themselves lacking in shading/contrast and need some detailing, as I commented earlier).

New dwarf hair is step in the right direction... but compare that to new human/elf hair and you will see the inconsistency (new human/elf avatars were rushed to meet the Mordor launch deadline, and were handled more roughly overall...hence the much-needed further polishing and touch-ups now).

[Kaeneth]

I also think that hair is the biggest issue with the avatars overall. I tend to concur it seems that the elves and men were rushed to get out in time for Mordor, that includes the high elves. A couple of the hairstyles that were nice on the old models just got eviscerated on these new ones.


This is a good example. It was nice looking before. It looked like a thick, full head of hair that was swept over to the side some. With the new one it looks like thinning hair, with a slightly receding hairline, doesn't flow at all on the side and much of the hair that was swept there is now gone, and clips into itself to almost look like a toupe.





The hairstyle above is simply a mirror of this style for high elves, which was stolen from the original elf models. See how on the old model it's thick, has volume, fits the head great, and doesn't look receding at all. On the high elf it looks slightly receding, fits awkwardly, looks paper thin, especially around the bottom, thinning, has no volume, and has the same clipping issue that makes it look like a toupe. The original one had the front of the hair pushed to the side, and it flowed down where as the front of the hair kind of stops on the high elf and the weird clipping from the side comes in.





Then this one is a brand new one, but just look how awful and unpolished it is. Clipping on the side through the face, again looking paper thin just sitting on top of the head like a wig, and plenty of empty spots throughout the whole head where you can just see through. It doesn't help that this, along with the above hair are the only two long hairstyles for high elves that just fall down. Aside from that there's only like...even three other long hair choices, so it's very limiting. Especially for a "premium" race.



I really hope they do some more work on hair for all races. I love my high elf but the hair choices are lacking, and it doesn't help that some of them already have the issues mentioned above. Hair is definitely the weakest points on avatars right now, and it doesn't matter how good the faces look if the hair doesn't look equally good.

As a side note, compare to these hairstyles. Textures aside, these look thick, full, they fit the head well, and don't look receding or thinning. I would LOVE to get these two styles added to high elves, as I think they are both far better than any of the long hairstyles high elves currently have.

[mmogaming]

Yes, please update the old maps with the new style!

Do not spend resources on maps. The game has issues that need to be worked on first - class balance, broken instances, armors that have wrong stats, PvMP, etc.

[auximenes]

I like the new hair, although I think a few more little highlights would be a good addition.

I'm loving the new Rhovanion map. It looks so beautiful and detailed!

Yeah, that's good.

Do not spend resources on maps. The game has issues that need to be worked on first - class balance, broken instances, armors that have wrong stats, PvMP, etc.

Different jobs for different teams.

[Hallandil]

Do not spend resources on maps. The game has issues that need to be worked on first - class balance, broken instances, armors that have wrong stats, PvMP, etc.

Graphics designer doesn’t work on game balance.

[Hallandil]

I like the new hair, although I think a few more little highlights would be a good addition.


Yeah, that's good.


Different jobs for different teams.

It seems many players are getting an uncanny valley style shell shock shock due to the changes in proportions of the entire elf body (see head is smaller) and how the hair os scaled to meet this.

[Vanyaerunanethiel]

"Regarding Eryn Lasgalen" A foreshadowing indeed.

I cannot wait to gaze upon the full complete map!

The North calls me once again! You have absolutely no idea how thrilled I am to venture into Mirwkood! Erebor! Esgaroth! It's been far too long. I predict the future title Master of the Lake-Town!

Vanya Sulie!

https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthr...alen&p=7798074

[Rakanor]

Trait tree cooldown


1min cd for swapping trait trees is a bad way to go about fixing this imo. You can wait out the 1min cd do the buffs and instantly swap for the traits you want for the fight.


How about a 15sec induction to swap trees? This would give the desired effect. It would also mean accidentally swapping to the wrong tree wouldn't screw you over for 1min, you could realize during the induction and stop it. This 15sec induction would be more than long enough to fix this issue.

[Caanwick]

Trait tree cooldown


1min cd for swapping trait trees is a bad way to go about fixing this imo. You can wait out the 1min cd do the buffs and instantly swap for the traits you want for the fight.


How about a 15sec induction to swap trees? This would give the desired effect. It would also mean accidentally swapping to the wrong tree wouldn't screw you over for 1min, you could realize during the induction and stop it. This 15sec induction would be more than long enough to fix this issue.

Gotta give my vote to this! Much better, more effective option than the one minute cooldown.

[Oelle]

the deadly meal thingy quest instance in laketown still doesnt work. at least, it can be started now... but after mr dwarf couldnt resist eating and fell, nothing happened anymore.
And theres still lots of english stuff... see you next beta^^

[Daniyel]

Can I be honest? I do not like the background ... there is not completely bad... the background itself is nice ... but there are those 2 chairs .... that are a bit sad ... and behind the character does not There is Life ... not like the backgrounds of dwarfs, humans, and elves (the high elves do not touch them because they already have many details) ... the hobbits ... it does not seem to me a thing made with love .. not completely ... for me they should remove those chairs and put type ... I know ... a fence with some flowers and some Hobbits walking down the street ... even though ... it was not better to do the bottom behind in front of the Party Tree? and more iconic and more beautiful to see ... with all those decorations and the stage of events ... there ...HAaa Ok ok! I do not like it at all! for me, SSG must dare more that background and sad and does not reflect the spirit of the Hobbits, festive, cheerful and carefree. there is no life ... where are the Hobbits dancing? Where are the hobbits playing, playing well and joking and partying? there is nothing of all this ... it seems to me only an empty background with a hobbit house and a giant tree behind ... also the statue of MichelDelving was much better ... there .... I do not understand why the hobbits have given him a background like that ... there is the SSG ... dares more please.

Try writing in complete sentences, it will be easier for other to understand you, and harder for them to misinterpret what you write.

[Oelle]

how about giving ALL buffs every class has the "expires after 9s outfight" and add 10s induction/silence to traitswapping? that should solve all issues with it.

and while we are at switch-exploits: please fix LM petskills resetting on recall. that just cries "exploit me" very loud.
(I'd even prefer not being able to summon pets infight at all. They are strong enough, if they die infight, your fault for not healing them)

[Silmelin]

Bit of an exaggeration here. It’s the exact same texture just with the contrast turned way down to prevent the black edges around the bottom of the beards. Not sure if singed beards are all the rage or anything, but Thorins Halls and Erebor would be pretty bad places to be, because all you could smell is the charred facial hair.

I think you may have quoted the wrong person I wasn't talking about beards, my comment was about the hair of all races/genders

[Thorondir]

Trait tree cooldown


1min cd for swapping trait trees is a bad way to go about fixing this imo. You can wait out the 1min cd do the buffs and instantly swap for the traits you want for the fight.


How about a 15sec induction to swap trees? This would give the desired effect. It would also mean accidentally swapping to the wrong tree wouldn't screw you over for 1min, you could realize during the induction and stop it. This 15sec induction would be more than long enough to fix this issue.

They need to remove any single buff/effect active that a player has if you either switch your trait line or reset your trait line - else this bug/feature/.. cannot be fixed.

Also, if you are looking into it, it is still possible to get certain War steed buffs if you are not on a war steed...

[Drarin]

Not sure if this has been discussed yet; any chance we can get a revamped model for the Erebor external/internal door? It feels odd that the door of Thorin's Hall is much more grand than Erebor's.

[Oelle]

Also, if you are looking into it, it is still possible to get certain War steed buffs if you are not on a war steed...

Minstrels +10% outgoing and +10% incoming healing for everyone that lasts 20 or 30 minutes?
so... you think it might not be intended to have that permanently up in non-mounted-instances?
then... why would they implement it in a way that allows it?
/sarcasm

[Samsgaard]

and while we are at switch-exploits: please fix LM petskills resetting on recall. that just cries "exploit me" very loud.
(I'd even prefer not being able to summon pets infight at all. They are strong enough, if they die infight, your fault for not healing them)

No! Combat summoning must stay! And in a raid setting, I will be kicked very quickly if I am wasting my attention and my heals on my pet.

But a cooldown on summoning after a pet is dismissed would be OK. That would address the (probably unintended) consequences of unlimited combat summoning.

[Herwegur]

No! Combat summoning must stay! And in a raid setting, I will be kicked very quickly if I am wasting my attention and my heals on my pet.

But a cooldown on summoning after a pet is dismissed would be OK. That would address the (probably unintended) consequences of unlimited combat summoning.

Just putting in my two cents: cooldown on pet summon after dismissal would _not_ be ok.

As a "collector" of different combat pet appearances, I like summoning different-looking ones for various situations, and I want to keep the ability to quickly change to another pet if I accidentally call a weathered bear instead of wildpaw bear, for example.

Plus, I want to keep the ability to swap between different pets quickly when questing solo in tough landscape, if I change my mind about which one I just called. I don't even know what buffs may reset or not because after Helms Deep DPS increases I stopped even paying much attention to pet skill bars and have them auto-toggled anyway.

Before Helms Deep trait changes, we did not have combat summoning... (unless traited full blue, as capstone bonus). If any changes have to be made to prevent "pet buff resets", I'd honestly rather go back to this old way and give up combat summoning, since that's how the original LM gameplay used to be. Losing a pet in a raid is really no biggie with actual raid fellows fighting alongside... and aoe heals on them would cover the pet too.