Few more Dock-Masters?

[AaylaKheledlire]

Mae Govannen,

I know there are some new dock-masters in the game, but I think you can put few more to the capital places:
- Shire-Hobbiton (popular place in festival time)
- Shire-Budgeford
- Ered Luin - Celondim docks (new players can see this option too)

- Add some animated fishing boats (Evendim lake, Trader's Wharf, Celondim)

[Morgahad]

Wut? xD

xD

...

xDxDxD maybe spaceships between shire and dale

[AaylaKheledlire]

Shire and dale??? Read again, please

[Pontin_Finnberry]

Adding a Dock-master to Meliuinen makes no sense at all given there's a waterfall that falls down flows to water around there that doesn't go anywhere, same with Treslebridge you have waterfall that falls down into brandywine.

[Scenario]

Dock-masters are, largely, a new UI treatment for previously boat-based "stable-masters". For the first run of connected docks is focused on the Brandywine River (meant to be a subtle hint at what was to be expected for our Update 29 content update).

In the future, I could see a dock-network for the Anduin as well (and other major rivers where appropriate). And in the future future, actual boat routes (similar to slow-travel stable routes) would be awesome but that kind of system is not something that is currently on our schedule.

[kn1123]

And in the future future, actual boat routes (similar to slow-travel stable routes) would be awesome but that kind of system is not something that is currently on our schedule.

Since I started playing the game in 2013, this has been on my wishlist. Boats. I think it would add a fantastic new way for folks to interact with Middle-earth's overworld.

[Thurinuor]

Since I started playing the game in 2013, this has been on my wishlist. Boats. I think it would add a fantastic new way for folks to interact with Middle-earth's overworld.

It's my wish as well. Slow boat travels would be awesome!!!!!!!!!!

[Aleziana]

Dock-masters are, largely, a new UI treatment for previously boat-based "stable-masters". For the first run of connected docks is focused on the Brandywine River (meant to be a subtle hint at what was to be expected for our Update 29 content update).

In the future, I could see a dock-network for the Anduin as well (and other major rivers where appropriate). And in the future future, actual boat routes (similar to slow-travel stable routes) would be awesome but that kind of system is not something that is currently on our schedule.

Why you pretend like is something that will cost you more than 10 minutes to create? For example if the boats that travel arround the Lake town weren't ghosts and could go close to a platform you could just jump over them and travel arround. This technique is used by many games with elevators and boats.

P.S: Stop using Gondorian ships and buildings everywhere.

[LeRaginAsian]

In the future, I could see a dock-network for the Anduin as well (and other major rivers where appropriate). And in the future future, actual boat routes (similar to slow-travel stable routes) would be awesome but that kind of system is not something that is currently on our schedule.

Adding another YES PLEASE to this idea. It's a no-brainer to start laying the groundwork for this with the freaking River Hobbits.

Then when we get to Nurn and Rhun we can fully appreciate/explore the largest landlocked bodies of water in TA Middle Earth. Maybe added layers of complexity (Epic Battles on ships???) if we ever get all the way down to Umbar.

[Nelya]

+1

Dont need new areas (yet), just revamp the old ones and add full of life. More animals, npc-s, beautiful places etc. This little things much better than a new small instance or a zone with same buildings. Boat travel is a good idea. My suggestion are caravan npces They're patrolling between towns and you can sell/buy items

[YamydeAragon]

Dock-masters are, largely, a new UI treatment for previously boat-based "stable-masters". For the first run of connected docks is focused on the Brandywine River (meant to be a subtle hint at what was to be expected for our Update 29 content update).

In the future, I could see a dock-network for the Anduin as well (and other major rivers where appropriate). And in the future future, actual boat routes (similar to slow-travel stable routes) would be awesome but that kind of system is not something that is currently on our schedule.

Oh my, oh my...! For Ulmo! I am so glad that you listened & finally doing the boat rides, in both swift & slow versions for a relaxing travel to enjoy the scenic route. I will wait patiently that the codes are builded nice & bugless, so take your time.

[Wanderv]

Why you pretend like is something that will cost you more than 10 minutes to create? For example if the boats that travel arround the Lake town weren't ghosts and could go close to a platform you could just jump over them and travel arround. This technique is used by many games with elevators and boats.

Except that Lotro doesn't have this technique. Adding non-existant feature is obviously more than 10 minutes like x1000 times...

I guess boats could be made as water-"horse" - special animation mode with speed buff to swimming.

[Strider5548]

In the future, I could see a dock-network for the Anduin as well (and other major rivers where appropriate). And in the future future, actual boat routes (similar to slow-travel stable routes) would be awesome but that kind of system is not something that is currently on our schedule.

I would love this, really love it. Having boats that arrive on a schedule, hopping on, and slowly traveling to your destination would be amazing. This was a great feature in EQ1, and WoW has it for a couple minutes before you teleport across the ocean.

What I would not like to see is the exact same mechanism for slow stable rides where you can just go on demand. I'd rather boats be something special, where players can wait for them, you hop in together, and ride together to your destination.

In most games people might say "why would anyone do that if you can fast travel", but this is LOTRO, this game is special, and there is a very nice RP element to riding on boats that we shouldn't take for granted.

[Scenario]

One of the major reasons why we continue to support the landscape with standard stable routes is because there is still a lot of value in having them. For those wanting to be immersed in the world, these kinds of routes are great for "taking a tour". Standard stable routes also allow players to jump off when they are near a en-route location (for whatever purpose), something that swift travel doesn't offer as it is purely point-to-point travel.

Should some sort of boat-based travel system in that same vein ever happen, those same uses apply here as well!

And no - making personal boats/travel routes with boats is not as simple as taking the static animations from non-interactive assets on Long Lake. There would be considerable animation, technical and implementation requirements to be met in order to bring such a system to life.

[Druidsfire]

In the future, I could see a dock-network for the Anduin as well (and other major rivers where appropriate).

This would be super-amazing, esp if you include a story nod to a rediscovering/revitalizing of the ancient portage around Rauros for flavor (slow mount?)

And in the future future, actual boat routes (similar to slow-travel stable routes) would be awesome but that kind of system is not something that is currently on our schedule.

Just as long as it's not as slow and painful as the Jawa balloon ride in SWTOR (where the ride is so long, people's chars would hit the AFK trigger and the ride bugged out, so you fell off and went kersplat. You'd have to go back to the start and wait another hour or so for the next pass - and it was needed to pick up an otherwise inaccessible Datacron). A successful ride took about 40 mins.

[Scenario]

I wouldn't set any thoughts on it being a communal mode of transport in that way. If/when it is implemented, it would most likely be like stables are, but with boats instead of horses.

[Laurelinarien]

I'd enjoy a non-swift boat ride a ton. When I'm stressed I usually launch Witcher 3 just to sail around Skellige... relaxes me.. would love to have a Middle Earth version, even if I don't get to control the boat xD

[Widmore]

Standard stable routes also allow players to jump off when they are near a en-route location (for whatever purpose), something that swift travel doesn't offer as it is purely point-to-point travel.

I do this quite, quite often. For that alone I'm glad you still have standard travel when swift is available. Having the boats, eventually, do this too would be a great feature.

[Strider5548]

I wouldn't set any thoughts on it being a communal mode of transport in that way. If/when it is implemented, it would most likely be like stables are, but with boats instead of horses.

Thanks for managing expectations. Despite the plan as you stated, I would throw a vote in for having a more complex system where boats are objects with a fixed schedule going back and forth between locations, and enough space for players to hop onto, walk around on, and do things like fishing from.

I do like the idea of personal boats/ships as well (i.e. controlling a vessel yourself), but I believe this would be significantly more challenging to implement and (at least personally) don't find as much value in it.

[gildhur]

In the future, I could see a dock-network for the Anduin as well (and other major rivers where appropriate). And in the future future, actual boat routes (similar to slow-travel stable routes) would be awesome but that kind of system is not something that is currently on our schedule.

Yes, please!

There are already several instant-travel NPCs up and down the Anduin to help you cross between landscape zones (Lorien-S Mirk, Pel-Ithilien). Would love to see those transformed into standard Dock-masters, even with the ability to go up and down the river instead of just across (though Rauros may be a slight hurdle... )!

Also, slow boat-travel is life. Can't wait!

[SavinDwarf]

One of the major reasons why we continue to support the landscape with standard stable routes is because there is still a lot of value in having them. For those wanting to be immersed in the world, these kinds of routes are great for "taking a tour". Standard stable routes also allow players to jump off when they are near a en-route location (for whatever purpose), something that swift travel doesn't offer as it is purely point-to-point travel.

Should some sort of boat-based travel system in that same vein ever happen, those same uses apply here as well!

And no - making personal boats/travel routes with boats is not as simple as taking the static animations from non-interactive assets on Long Lake. There would be considerable animation, technical and implementation requirements to be met in order to bring such a system to life.

I understand how difficult true ship travel is... but .... It would make a great series of quests of a group to fight their way into Umbar, steal a Corsair ship and escape back to Gondor in the captured ship.
BTW, it would also allow for some quests that require craftsmen as well. Master Tailor to fix the sails, master woodworker to fix the boat planking. etc.

[Jargonaut]

Mae Govannen,

I know there are some new dock-masters in the game, but I think you can put few more to the capital places:
- Shire-Hobbiton (popular place in festival time)
- Shire-Budgeford
- Ered Luin - Celondim docks (new players can see this option too)
There is a fast river here, but maybe:
- North-downs - Treslebridge
- North-downs - Meliuinen

- Add some smaller boats would give great feeling (Evendim lake, Trader's Wharf, Celondim)
Just like was at Lake-town

As others have pointed out, Meluinen and Trestlebridge face a steep obstacle to being on any boat networks.

But, why is there not a dock-master at Girdley Island? It's got a dock already. It doesn't really matter if there are no quests or deeds connected with the island. It's part of the Brandywine and along the course of the other boat routes.

This entire batch of new content brings out the long-standing issue of perfectly good terrain that has been left inaccessible just to force people down narrow paths that serve content. This is supposed to be a world, not a training course. I would have been perfectly happy if they'd finished the landscape in the 'Wildwood' area and simply opened it up for exploration. The more-or-less empty region of the "Far Chetwood" is still an interesting part of the game even without its own quests (but for a few at Nen Harn). You pass through it to reach the North Downs by an unusual route. This is what the real world is like -- it's full of detail that has nothing directly to do with your personal business!

Why is the island in the Hoarwell just north of the Last Bridge so steep sided that we cannot get onto it? It's not like anything there needs to be hidden. There are places like this all over the game where steep walls keep us out of landscape that would add interest to the game just by existing.

[maartena]

I wouldn't set any thoughts on it being a communal mode of transport in that way. If/when it is implemented, it would most likely be like stables are, but with boats instead of horses.

Possibly a weird suggestion, but how about putting some of these stable-like boats in Celondim that can take you all the way to Dol Amroth by sea. If there are plans for e.g. Blue Mountains and maybe even South Gondor this route can be expanded upon.

[Crell_1]

Dock-masters are, largely, a new UI treatment for previously boat-based "stable-masters". For the first run of connected docks is focused on the Brandywine River (meant to be a subtle hint at what was to be expected for our Update 29 content update).

Any chance you could integrate it into the existing Stable Master network Map Overview/Port system?

[Pontin_Finnberry]

I wouldn't set any thoughts on it being a communal mode of transport in that way. If/when it is implemented, it would most likely be like stables are, but with boats instead of horses.

This would be great to have!