Lord of the Rings Online - BRANDYWINE SERVER

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Kharybdis
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Post by Kharybdis »

Darith wrote:
Kharybdis wrote:
Darith wrote:If folks want to get together and play it I can probably be convinced to play it after release. I'm seriously considering preordering it to lock in the price of $9.99/month. If you feel you want to spend extra $$ you can preorder and pay $200 for a lifetime membership and avoid monthly fees altogether.
Well, I've actually been given the go-ahead from the wife if I wanted to game again, so color me interested in this one.
Heh, it's not going to take much to push me to buy this game.. :)

Pre-order though, you can lock in a $9.99/month instead of $14.95 (or you can pay the $200 and never have a monthly charge).
$200 makes sense if you think you'd play the game for a couple of years. But I'm guessing that's something best reserved for a couple of months in.
LOTRO: Brandywine Server

Wyllraen: 50 Minstrel
Caeta: 27 Burglar
Wyllough: 15 Hunter
Kharybdis: 15 Champion
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Lilae
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Post by Lilae »

Kharybdis wrote:
Lilae wrote: oh what the hell. Don't you dare make me buy another game.
Yeah, because it's always a big twist of your arm to make you start a new game. :P

Haven't you been looking for something fresh and new, anyhow?
That's not the point!! :p

Yeah, getting tired of WoW, but now I hate to quit without even one lev. 70 char :(
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Lilae Peutiann - 50 shaman DAoC Galahad
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Lylae - 60 NE Druid WoW - Kilrogg
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Lilae - Cow Druid WoW - Kilrogg
Darith
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Post by Darith »

Lilae wrote:
Kharybdis wrote:
Lilae wrote: oh what the hell. Don't you dare make me buy another game.
Yeah, because it's always a big twist of your arm to make you start a new game. :P

Haven't you been looking for something fresh and new, anyhow?
That's not the point!! :p

Yeah, getting tired of WoW, but now I hate to quit without even one lev. 70 char :(
Let me know if you folks are headed to a game and I'll see about joining you there.
Feldenak - 50 Elf Hunter
Avarys - 23 Human Burglar
Darith - 30 Elf Champion
Amanddal - 21 Elf Minstrel
Tagnarn - 24 Dwarf Guardian

Lord of the Rings - Brandwine Server
Kharybdis
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Post by Kharybdis »

Lilae wrote:
Kharybdis wrote:
Lilae wrote: oh what the hell. Don't you dare make me buy another game.
Yeah, because it's always a big twist of your arm to make you start a new game. :P

Haven't you been looking for something fresh and new, anyhow?
That's not the point!! :p

Yeah, getting tired of WoW, but now I hate to quit without even one lev. 70 char :(
Well, I don't think dragging my level 1 ass around WoW would be the answer for you getting to 70, either.

I loved when Andrew and I were still learning our way through DAOC, though he did start a lot earlier than I did. I absolutely love the idea of a bunch of us starting out fresh on something new.

I visited the LOTR site and signed up to try the beta, but I don't know if they're even allowing more folks in yet or not.
LOTRO: Brandywine Server

Wyllraen: 50 Minstrel
Caeta: 27 Burglar
Wyllough: 15 Hunter
Kharybdis: 15 Champion
Darith
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Post by Darith »

Kharybdis wrote:
Lilae wrote:
Kharybdis wrote: Yeah, because it's always a big twist of your arm to make you start a new game. :P

Haven't you been looking for something fresh and new, anyhow?
That's not the point!! :p

Yeah, getting tired of WoW, but now I hate to quit without even one lev. 70 char :(
I visited the LOTR site and signed up to try the beta, but I don't know if they're even allowing more folks in yet or not.
Check your email Khary. :)
Feldenak - 50 Elf Hunter
Avarys - 23 Human Burglar
Darith - 30 Elf Champion
Amanddal - 21 Elf Minstrel
Tagnarn - 24 Dwarf Guardian

Lord of the Rings - Brandwine Server
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farf
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Post by farf »

Yeah, they sent me the email and I figured "why not?"

Downloading the beta client now.
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Darith
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Post by Darith »

farf wrote:Yeah, they sent me the email and I figured "why not?"

Downloading the beta client now.
Farf, if you get on the Brandywine server look me up (Feldenak, Darith, & Avarys)
Feldenak - 50 Elf Hunter
Avarys - 23 Human Burglar
Darith - 30 Elf Champion
Amanddal - 21 Elf Minstrel
Tagnarn - 24 Dwarf Guardian

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farf
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Post by farf »

Forgive me for the wall of text.



It's in beta, but my first impression is that it's pretty good. Aside from the occasional fruitcakes you may see in any game (which there really isn't an abundance, it's still in beta), my overall opinion is a good one.

The game has two features so far that I am absolutely in love with. The first, is what I think, should be a staple in any MMO; the /anon option. That's the single best feature any game could ever have. The second is something that I found today while roaming and killing anything big enough to die on my hunter. The game has an anti exploit code in it. If you shoot a mob or attack it from range from a spot that is normally in accessable, you receive the anti exploit pathing notice. The notice is a little box, similar to a help box like in many games. The notice is quite simple, it tells you that you shot a creature in an area where you are inaccessable, so the creature is instantly teleported on top of you.

Those are my two favorite things in the game at this time.

Now the things I don't really care for, but am partially indifferent to are few and far between. I'm indifferent to the fact that you pretty much have to quest for any xp after level 2. WoW has trained me to break from a habit of grinding on mob after repeatative mob to gain levels. Another thing I'm indifferent to is the grouping required in the game. To access the fellowship skills you need a group, simple as that. I'm indifferent because this is, after all, a Lord of the Rings game. Fellowships should be neccessary. I don't really care for the fact that there is no pvp as of yet, nor do I know that there will ever be any. You can duel, but it isn't the same.

The class makeup and designs are unique somewhat. Archers are your main nukers. The one caster class is pretty much described as crowd control/ pets. The two real tank classes are the champion and the guardian. The champion is a melee dps class, built for offtanking from my understanding. The guardian is your meat shield. It's designed to take a beating and hold up under the stress. The rogue, or burgalar, as they're called, have the described role of debuffer on the character creation screen, but they can also contribute dps to the fight. Minstrels are the healing class. They heal and restore mana through songs. The captain class is a melee class that contributes with buffs, weaker heals, and weaker pets. My description doesn't really do it justice, as it is quite an interesting class. All pretty much fill a desired roll in a group that I've seen.

Overall, I can see the reason behind not really having any pvp system in place. If they do, I sure don't know about it. I do see the need for grouping in the game, and in all actuality, I don't mind grouping. My only real complaint with the game so far is that the quest journal can be a bit vague at times, and the crafting system, I have yet to figure out. Other than these few things I've mentioned, my overall impression is a good one. I've had quite a blast so far playing it.


(edited: the captain's herald, or pet, is more of a buff thing. It carries a battle standard into the battle for you that acts as a buff of sorts. It really is an odd class)

and Darith, I think I have a captain on Brandywine, but I started on the other server just before I saw your post the other day. I'll start working on my captain some more though, as my hunter just wrapped up the introduction quests.
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Kharybdis
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Post by Kharybdis »

Darith has been kind enough to let me take a glance via his account, and I have to say that I've enjoyed the couple of nights I've played.

I've been running a dwarven guardian - imagine that. Most of what I've been doing is exploring and questing. It's been a long time since I've played any MMORPG, so it's taking me a while to adjust. I'm not sure of most of the commands (especially because it's a new system, as well).

I haven't figured out the crafting yet, either, but then I haven't tried all that hard.

One big problem I've been having is with the graphics. I'm getting some pretty severe graphics glitches (example http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id ... 713&size=o). and it's very difficult to eliminate them. They don't appear all the time, but in some areas, they are constant. FWIW, I have a Radeon 9800 Pro graphics card with the most recent drivers, so I'm not sure if that's the problem or not.

Based off of a couple of nights of soloing, I'll most likely play the game, but that will depend on whether or not I can get the graphics glitch corrected.
LOTRO: Brandywine Server

Wyllraen: 50 Minstrel
Caeta: 27 Burglar
Wyllough: 15 Hunter
Kharybdis: 15 Champion
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WUNBadassTHANE
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Post by WUNBadassTHANE »

Remember it is beta, they graphical upgrades always come last. That has been a un-written rule in mmo's and thier testing. Game Mechanics come first then the eye candy/fluff.
BEHOLD!!!! The gaseous stench of SKELETOR's breakfast burrito!!!!


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farf
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Post by farf »

best write up i've found to describe it...

_________________________________________
It is what it is. Stop trying to hide the fact that its a mix between WOW and D&D) with the AC2 engine. That is what it is, that is what the developers were aiming at, and that is what they got.

I personally like the game, BUT you have to play it in a certain mindset.

First off, the game does have epic chapter quests for each race and class quests that you have to do. You must (and should) do the class quests, as for the chapter quests I dont know what the final rewards are but you can skip them though everyone does not for some reason.

The game does lead you, it is very specific as to where you can and where you should go. You have your newbie instanced area, so a Elf will never start off anywhere but their newbie area. From there, they want you to go to your racial area. Humans in Bree, Elves and Dwarves in there area and Hobbits in the Shire. Bree and the Shire are the most complete and polished, for obvious reasons. Elf town and Dwarf town are very scare and underpopulated.

From that point everything goes east, Barrow Downs, Forsaken Inn, Rivendell. You can go to each of the other areas like the old forest and do those quests but you dont have to.

The reason is you have racial lore and area lore that you should complete. A Human gets human lore stuff in Bree, not in the Shire. You can do the shire quests if you are a human but you will be missing out on your specifically designed human content, and that may gimp you in the end.

You cannot powergame this MMO and you cannot grind off mobs. It is too slow for grinding. This is a quest game and only a quest game. Play it as a grinding EXP game and you will quit after two weeks.

Powergamers will gimp themselves. You have to do a lot of lore things to make your toon better. Staying in one area grinding will gimp you in the end. All of those lore things add up over time and a powergame level 50 will almost assuredly be gimpier than a casual leveled 50 of the same class.

Loot is scarce. Quest items are nice, but each level the bar raises a bit so in two levels those quest items are underpowered. Do you class quest at 15 cause that will be the best weapon you get for a while.

Tradeskills are copied from WOW with a bit of nice additions. Much more easier than EQ2 and much faster. Resources are spawned and will be stolen from you just like Chests (think WOW)
Tradeskill items are nice, but here is the thing...there is an auction system and 99% of the people do NOT use buyouts. This means you have to wait 6 hours to a day to get that item, and if someone outbids you (which will happen on 99% of the items) you will be SOL unless you park yourself at an aution guy....not fun at all.

Loot is by far overpriced....so much so that you will not afford even the most basic of stuff unless you can work the autions. I am levle 17 but decked out in NPC bought armor because that is the best and only available option. I have seen some nice stuff on the brokers, but of course, no Buyout...and the price is like 400 silver (too much for something that is outleveled in a few)

Best to do a tradeskill to equip yourself. I see no other way around that. And that is for basic stuff, then you get into the dungeons where things get a little better.

This is a casual players game and a small group game. You will not like it if you cannot adapt to those stlyes. Powergamers will quit, and Lore junkies will quit. They have visions of themselves hanging out in the prancing pony smoking pipeweed with Butterman....but in reality he is just a simply NPC with one quest who just stands there.

It is MMO-Lyte to be sure. Everything that you want is there, but it does not have the massive depth if you are looking for that.

But here is the really good thing about this game. They built a GREAT foundation which to lay further expansions on, and by looking at the map they can and will add a lot.

I think this is Turbines turn to strike gold just like WOW....but only if they keep the content coming.
________________________________________

however the "strike gold like WOW" part is a bit of silliness

oh and then there's this right here baby:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-XBFIZcamo

yes, you can do that in game, if you know how to work the system.
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Turcotte
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Post by Turcotte »

I just got the beta client downloaded so I'm sure I'll be trying this out over the weekend on the brandywine server. Hmmm what to make?
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farf
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Post by farf »

a turcotte post is more rare than a photo of bigfoot playing hopscotch with the loch ness monster
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Kharybdis
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Post by Kharybdis »

Luckily, I don't have to use Darith's account anymore, so I'll be starting anew this weekend, as well.
LOTRO: Brandywine Server

Wyllraen: 50 Minstrel
Caeta: 27 Burglar
Wyllough: 15 Hunter
Kharybdis: 15 Champion
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farf
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Post by farf »

on brandywine, look up
Farfig - captain...or

Fugel - minstrel.


weeeee
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