Dissapointed in SSG i.e. 10 year giftbox

[Starliteyes]

But this, this gives me no incentive as a player to continue playing for ten years.

I don't need ANY incentives to play. It's a game I enjoy--I play it. A cloak isn't going to change that.

[Arnenna]

I don't need ANY incentives to play. It's a game I enjoy--I play it. A cloak isn't going to change that.

Nor will a cloak make people stay. People that are generally unhappy with the state of the game - want the game to change, and a gift, no matter how great or small it is, won't change that.

[Nosdracir]

I didn't particularly care for the 5 year steed and war steed cosmetics because I didn't care for the color. The keys were pretty useful as were the battle potions of restoration. The permanent fireworks got used a few times to check them out and then put into inventory. They get brought out for kin events.

I thought the orb emote was the bees knees. I played with that off and on for a couple of weeks. I think it's the best gift I've gotten so far and I'm looking forward to getting it on my second account this year.

Now if this year's dragon firework is indeed an animated dragon like the one at the birthday party then the orb emote will be demoted to second place.

[Maximilan]

I wasn't expecting much anyway so this isn't a surprise. The best anniversary gifts have always come from the associated 'festival' event, even if they are generally silly quests. I remember that bounders quest where you competed with other players for a title and your name on a stone - the rewards for that were pretty decent even if it was a grind. At least I'll get that blue orb thingy .... I should get the 9 year box in a few days.

The best gift SSG could give us is to keep the servers running and reduce the lag!

[Arwen1965]

I have been playing this game since alpha and I bought the life time account when it first came out and every expansions that has come out and I buy points every so often to get steeds and cosmetics from the store. I consider this 10 year gift box a slap in the face.

[BangoTwinkletoes]

Yeah so the anniversary gifts for those of us who were around at the start look a bit uninspiring. Of course I would have preferred a personal email from the Prod Exec thanking me for all /played months that I have sunk into this computer game over the years, the no doubt £1000+ I've spent on that store and countless hours gracing this forum with my presence...

But of course that's all irrelevant, as the real prize is the memory of playing this game during SOA, when it was the best MMO out there.

[Arnenna]

I have been playing this game since alpha and I bought the life time account when it first came out and every expansions that has come out and I buy points every so often to get steeds and cosmetics from the store. I consider this 10 year gift box a slap in the face.

I've been playing 4.5 years, and paid a sub for every year of it (on 5th sub now). I've also bought every expac (twice) and bought many items from the lotro market place as well as in store.

I've bought subs and expacs for others too.

The only difference between you and I, is that you've been here longer. What you've spent - is irrelevant, as it's possible for a brand new player to step into the game tomorrow and exceed what you and I have spent put together, or an old timer to spend nothing for 9 years. What is spent, shouldn't even come into it.
I had my 53rd birthday recently, and it was no more special than my 5th. At five, toys were the most important thing to me, but nowadays, I appreciate more a well thought out line of handwriting on a card.

[Amorey]

the real prize is the memory of playing this game during SOA, when it was the best MMO out there.

That is true and I agree, now one will ever take away the memories we have accumulated in 10 years, the friends we made, the good or even the bad times we experienced. I agree the anniversary should be a special time for ALL players and I am sure it will be wonderful for many - however for once I agree with siipperi, a unique title would have been nice, or even just a silly painting to hang on my wall , something to remind me I have been here form the start, though the good and the bad times and enjoyed every minute of it. I almost feel stupid for feeling like this I know it is silly, this is just a game, but for some of us it has been a big part of our gaming lives. And just for the record I am very grateful for what I will get.

[Catburg]

For a start has anyone actually seen the dragon fireworks to know if they are good, bad or indifferent?

I think the best anniversary gifts and rewards should go to those who actively participate in the celebrations and not necessarily to those who have just existed in the game. I bet there are some 10 year players who loathe anything to do with festivals and see all the fluff gifts as inconsequential trash. What we get in our personal gift boxes, based on our length of account should be heavily secondary to what is available to those currently participating in the here and now of the game. For those who have been here longest you at least get the privilege of getting the gift boxes first and will always be able to show off your service "badges" for a year longer than anyone else even if you are less proactive* or financially contributing than some much shorter living account holders.

* Proactive as in logging in and doing anything not to do with difficulty of content.

[Joetzim]

Just to put things into perspective, if you were playing Black Desert Online, you would get an RNG box like this,

"You will receive one of the following items:

Fancy Flying Mount of The Ainur
Full Raid Armor Set Appropriate For Your Class
Ithilien-Infused Essence Box
Blemished Symbol of the Elder King
10-year Anniversary Portrait Frame
Universal Toolkit
Anórien-bound Lootbox
10 Rejuvenation Potions
10 Legendary Fragments"

The RNG would be such that 3 out of 1000 people would receive the top 2 rewards and 899 out of 1000 people would receive the bottom 2 rewards. The difference between a 5-year player and a 10-year player is that the 5-year player would get 1 of these boxes and the 10-year would get 3.

Would you want to live in a game where people of the exact same achievement end up with vastly different rewards? Trust me on this, I play both games regularly and LOTRO is much friendlier.

[Gyes]

For a start has anyone actually seen the dragon fireworks to know if they are good, bad or indifferent?

The fact that there are four pages of gripes before the servers were up and anyone had even seen the reward should tell you a lot. I also fail to understand why a mount or a cloak is OK but a firework launcher isn't. The only anniversary item I ever use is my portrait frame.

[Amorey]

Slightly off topic, but somehow relevant - the game is back online after the update and the Party Tree field had a bit of a makeover in preparation for the Anniversary event, so that is nice. Don't mind me I am just a silly sentimental hobbit

Back on topic, carry on ...

[BangoTwinkletoes]

How about I thank you for every forum post you've made up to this point?

TYTYTYTYTYTYTYTYTYTYTYTYTYTYTY TYTYTYTYTY

Nah, a box of jaffa cakes would have been enough!

[peachykins]

Slightly off topic, but somehow relevant - the game is back online after the update and the Party Tree field had a bit of a makeover in preparation for the Anniversary event, so that is nice. Don't mind me I am just a silly sentimental hobbit

Back on topic, carry on ...

I don't see anything different then before down time.

[Catburg]

Nah, a box of jaffa cakes would have been enough!

ONE box of Jaffa cakes is never enough

[Amorey]

I don't see anything different then before down time.

Looks a bit different to me, with all the flags, also looks like the party stage has been finally been spruced up......or maybe I have been in NI picking flowers for too long, I am such an adventurous hobbit

Also on Laurelin we have a 'floating flag' on an invisible tent

[OldMadeOfLions]

Also on Laurelin we have a 'floating flag' on an invisible tent

There's celebration in the air!



MoL

[Arnenna]

That is true and I agree, now one will ever take away the memories we have accumulated in 10 years, the friends we made, the good or even the bad times we experienced. I agree the anniversary should be a special time for ALL players and I am sure it will be, that is wonderful for many - however for once I agree with siipperi, a unique title would have been nice, or even just a silly painting to hang on my wall, something to remind me I have been here form the start, though the good and the bad times and enjoyed every minute of it. I almost feel stupid for feeling like this I know it is silly, this is just a game, but for some of us it has been a big part of our gaming lives. And just for the record I am very grateful for what I will get.

I do agree, that the 10 year vets should get something a little better, but if it's just something to remember the marking of the passing of time that you want - you're getting it, with dragon fireworks as a perma skill. It's different, it's unique to only 10 year vets. When someone sets one off, it will make them instantly recognisable as a founder. Nobody that has been here less than 10 years, will have one.

This doesn't affect me right now, but it will in five years time. What I would have liked to have seen for the 10 years this year is fireworks as the standard giveaway
and then something like a housing trophy to mark the 10 years in a significant "ten" fashion. Example, Nanu's playpen - click it, and out run 10 baby turtles.

[Joetzim]

Slightly off topic, but somehow relevant - the game is back online after the update and the Party Tree field had a bit of a makeover in preparation for the Anniversary event, so that is nice. Don't mind me I am just a silly sentimental hobbit

Back on topic, carry on ...

The difference is lost on me but maybe others will see it better.

[peachykins]

Looks a bit different to me, with all the flags, also looks like the party stage has been finally been spruced up......or maybe I have been in NI picking flowers for too long, I am such an adventurous hobbit

Also on Laurelin we have a 'floating flag' on an invisible tent

Those flags were there during the spring festival.

[Sheaezra]

My only thoughts here guys would be . . . . . wait.

Wait until the update arrives and the boxes are distributed and see what's what when the time comes.

The team have been exceptionally quiet on the forums for weeks. I'd hazard a guess they have been extremely busy with festival development and U20.1. To me, everything has a feeling of being very rushed lately, with errors getting through and fixes taking ages after they break through the cracks.

Maybe they will surprise the 10 year old vets.

That may be, but should SSG let a situation develop that causes a negative attitude towards them over this to develop in the meantime?

They really need to hire some kind of customer satisfaction expert person or agency to think this kind of stuff out for them ahead of time.

[Amorey]

There's celebration in the air!



MoL

It certainly feels that way

[Amorey]

Those flags were there during the spring festival.

Awww ok then, my bad. I did not do the Spring Festival this year, I was too busy in The Wastes and NI so to me the Party Field looks more 'festive' than usual. I usually do the Yule fest and the Anniversary event, but rarely all the others because I have done them so many times before, unless there is a cosmetic or decoration I need, then I get enough tokens for that

[Amorey]

I do agree, that the 10 year vets should get something a little better, but if it's just something to remember the marking of the passing of time that you want - you're getting it, with dragon fireworks as a perma skill. It's different, it's unique to only 10 year vets. When someone sets one off, it will make them instantly recognisable as a founder. Nobody that has been here less than 10 years, will have one.

This doesn't affect me right now, but it will in five years time. What I would have liked to have seen for the 10 years this year is fireworks as the standard giveaway
and then something like a housing trophy to mark the 10 years in a significant "ten" fashion. Example, Nanu's playpen - click it, and out run 10 baby turtles.

Oh yes, that is true. As I said I am a bit disappointed just because for me this Anniversary is also a milestone in my gaming life. LOTRO has been part of my world for so long and it has been a wonderful journey. The frame is enough to remind me of the passing of time and the firework will be awesome, that I am sure, but it will probably end up in my bag to be used only on very special occasions. I am grateful, it is free so much appreciated. I would have like a tittle though, something like 'Old Fart' or 'There And Back Again' but maybe those will come one day

[Sheaezra]

I began playing during a November, so I'm only on year 4
I get the festive azure cosmetic set, which I've been itching to get for ages.

That's exactly what a significant milestone gift box should contain. That is a completely no brainer concept.

You would think avoiding customer dissatisfaction/disappointment would be a top priority.

Even the people who aren't affected by this are annoyed with it.