Now there is open beta. Why don't you get your key and see for yourself? some people say that lotro sucks and other say it's great. It is obvious that games are a matter of personal taste.
I wanted to play Vanguard but my PC can't handle it. Lotro plays fine even with my nvidia fx5950. But they say that vanguard has everything. Houses Boats mounts even the crafting of SWG. Well i can't say that about lotro.
But whatever you do don't play lotro for 5 minutes. Lotro has some features that cannot be seen from the begining. I don't ask yout to reach level 50 and say that the game sucks. Just finish the tutorials and try to do some quests, earn some titles and traits.
LotRO is playable on most computers, even now in beta before its optimized more. Vanguard is already released and is simply unplayable on many computers.
LotRO's graphics blow VG away unless you have a top of the line computer.
Vanguard has a larger world, but that world often seems cold and soulless. LotRO a realistic feel, is FAR more immersive, and has a charm that most worlds lack.
Vanguard is more hardcore, LotRO is more casual.
Vanguard is more complex than LotRO, but LotRO is more FUN.
I have nothing against Vanguard, indeed I plan to play the game again someday when the game is more 'finished', and I have buy a new computer. But I am having a blast playing LotRO NOW, if is far more finished' in beta with two months to go, than Vanguard is now, a couple weeks after release.
If one day, the reality of Vanguard attains its ambitions, I will certainly be there. But right now, its not, its not even close, even assuming we all had computers that could play it.
Play LotRO for the fun, the quest-driven stories, the world's immersion, the potential to RP, the beautiful graphics, the low learning curve that allows you to ease into the game, the ability to solo or group.... and especially if you are a Tolkien fan. Plus its fun knowing that the new areas (Moria, Mirkwood, Isengard/Rohan, etc etc) that Turbine will introduce in expansions etc will be even more fun than the area included in the initial release.
Play Vanguard of you want a more complex game, more challenge, more hardcore, have more time, want a larger world, have a great computer, and are willing to wait while the game gets finished.
They are totally different games in their design, their implementation, and their appeal.
If you are going to play Vanguard now then that is what you are going to do.
If you are going to play LotR now then that is what you are going to do.
If you cannot decide or there is some part of you that wants to do both then what seems obvious to me is that you play LotR now. It is a much more finished product. And if you finish LotR sometime later this year or maybe next then you can have another look at Vanguard. Who knows, in 12 months time it might have finished all the initial patches and hardware might have come out that can handle it properly. They might manage it in 6 months - whatever; the fact is you will not have to play through the constant patches, server crashes and character nerfs/balancing that is taking place. Seems like a no brainer to me.
As far as expansions go Sigil, we were told, pulled everyone off the expansion to work on the bugs. Turbine, having a polished game, will be able to devote resources to working on extra content.
If you cannot decide or there is some part of you that wants to do both then what seems obvious to me is that you play LotR now. It is a much more finished product. And if you finish LotR sometime later this year or maybe next then you can have another look at Vanguard. Who knows, in 12 months time it might have finished all the initial patches and hardware might have come out that can handle it properly. They might manage it in 6 months - whatever; the fact is you will not have to play through the constant patches, server crashes and character nerfs/balancing that is taking place. Seems like a no brainer to me.
Almost, except one other difference - LOTRO is still in beta, Vanguard is not (technically speaking, of course) For me, this means that my characters in Vanguard will be there indefinately, while my LOTRO characters will be wiped prior to the open beta / free trial / headstart. So, I'm playing Vanguard.
It has approximately one month and thirteen days to undergo some sort of dramatic improvement that will change my plan to switch over to LOTRO.
When I want a single-player story, I'll play a single-player game. When I play an MMO, I want a massively multiplayer world.
Well, I have both, Vanguard and Lotro beta access, you actually cant compare them directly with each other. Both are influenced by wow, however, lotro is nice to look at but gets really bland after a while, its just too simplified. Still a good game to play for 30 min, but I couldnt imagine a 2h or longer session. Vanguard has a lot more to explore and do (ships, housing already in, crafting, diplomacy). Since I've vanguard, I havent logged into my lotro beta account.
I kinda have my doubts you've played Vanguard then. It has all that stuff, sure, but is it fun or even engaging? Not really.
The big problem with Vanguard is that the world is super sparce, it's group only (solo is virtually non-existent in any meaningful way) and it's simply unpolished.
Sparce? not true.
is it group only? No it is not. I play solo all the time. You do benefit from grouping though.
unpolished? explain please...that is such a general term. My shoes are unpolished.
LotRO I have no direct experience with but after talking from friends in other high end guilds they say it far outstrips VG in the pure fun factor area. No feedback yet on high end game itself.
Is LOTRO small ? Yes. Compared to Vanguard it is tiny.
First off, like many posters have stated. The games are built differently.
All I can say, from playing them both in BETA, is that LOTRO is a more finished product and runs better on my computer. I prefer a game like vanguard (PVP server, etc) but LOTRO is the better product so i'll be playing that. Plus I'm having fun in BETA. I didnt think it would be my cup of tea, but I am shocked how much I enjoy it.
unpolished? explain please...that is such a general term. My shoes are unpolished.
I've wondered this, myself. I know what it can mean, but I suspect everyone uses it differently. The word gives us hope that the things we want to see in the game will be there soon, since they're just a matter of polish, as opposed to not even being on the dev radar.
Example- the animations people mention - many are pretty crappy, and things like the dance emotes shouldn't even be used as placeholders, they're so out of place. Combat attacks are often just weak, and need some tweaking and sharpening up, and more effective motion-trail effects. Does this mean the devs will ever get around to it? It'd certainly make the game feel more polished, but who knows. I don't think Sigil even does.
Another example- a lot of the environments feel bland because they lack environmental effects and interesting lighting color schemes. It's wierd how things look better at night or when it rains, as if such effects are filling the void that's usually there during daylight. Who knows if they'll add anything like that, either. But it would also make the game feel more polished.
As a final example, I have to use the /stuck command a few times a day, because the world is full of geometry traps, where I fall into, and can't move at all. If they cleaned those up, it'd certainly help, too, but I'm not sure if that counts as bugs or polish.
When I want a single-player story, I'll play a single-player game. When I play an MMO, I want a massively multiplayer world.
Comments
Now there is open beta. Why don't you get your key and see for yourself? some people say that lotro sucks and other say it's great. It is obvious that games are a matter of personal taste.
I wanted to play Vanguard but my PC can't handle it. Lotro plays fine even with my nvidia fx5950. But they say that vanguard has everything. Houses Boats mounts even the crafting of SWG. Well i can't say that about lotro.
But whatever you do don't play lotro for 5 minutes. Lotro has some features that cannot be seen from the begining. I don't ask yout to reach level 50 and say that the game sucks. Just finish the tutorials and try to do some quests, earn some titles and traits.
goto http://www.computerandvideogames.com/ and create a new account.
Then goto lotro beta section and read the instructions and get your key and a client copy.
Register your Key at www.codemasters.com/cog by using a new or an existing codemasters account.
Hope you have fun.
LOTRO is the best Fantasy MMORPG to hit the market since DAOC in my opinion.
It's better than EQ2, WoW or Vanguard. Especially for casual players.
It is also the first MMORPG since Ultima Online that I have pre-ordered.
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online.
Sig image Pending
Still in: A couple Betas
LOTRO is definitely worth a pre-order.
LotRO is playable on most computers, even now in beta before its optimized more. Vanguard is already released and is simply unplayable on many computers.
LotRO's graphics blow VG away unless you have a top of the line computer.
Vanguard has a larger world, but that world often seems cold and soulless. LotRO a realistic feel, is FAR more immersive, and has a charm that most worlds lack.
Vanguard is more hardcore, LotRO is more casual.
Vanguard is more complex than LotRO, but LotRO is more FUN.
I have nothing against Vanguard, indeed I plan to play the game again someday when the game is more 'finished', and I have buy a new computer. But I am having a blast playing LotRO NOW, if is far more finished' in beta with two months to go, than Vanguard is now, a couple weeks after release.
If one day, the reality of Vanguard attains its ambitions, I will certainly be there. But right now, its not, its not even close, even assuming we all had computers that could play it.
Play LotRO for the fun, the quest-driven stories, the world's immersion, the potential to RP, the beautiful graphics, the low learning curve that allows you to ease into the game, the ability to solo or group.... and especially if you are a Tolkien fan. Plus its fun knowing that the new areas (Moria, Mirkwood, Isengard/Rohan, etc etc) that Turbine will introduce in expansions etc will be even more fun than the area included in the initial release.
Play Vanguard of you want a more complex game, more challenge, more hardcore, have more time, want a larger world, have a great computer, and are willing to wait while the game gets finished.
They are totally different games in their design, their implementation, and their appeal.
Elladan - ESO (AD)
Camring - SWTOR (Ebon Hawk)
Eol & Justinian - Rift (Faeblight)
Ceol and Duri - LotRO (Landroval)
Kili - WoW
Eol - Lineage 2
Camring - SWG
Justinian (Nimue), Camring - DAoC
If you are going to play Vanguard now then that is what you are going to do.
If you are going to play LotR now then that is what you are going to do.
If you cannot decide or there is some part of you that wants to do both then what seems obvious to me is that you play LotR now. It is a much more finished product. And if you finish LotR sometime later this year or maybe next then you can have another look at Vanguard. Who knows, in 12 months time it might have finished all the initial patches and hardware might have come out that can handle it properly. They might manage it in 6 months - whatever; the fact is you will not have to play through the constant patches, server crashes and character nerfs/balancing that is taking place. Seems like a no brainer to me.
As far as expansions go Sigil, we were told, pulled everyone off the expansion to work on the bugs. Turbine, having a polished game, will be able to devote resources to working on extra content.
Almost, except one other difference - LOTRO is still in beta, Vanguard is not (technically speaking, of course) For me, this means that my characters in Vanguard will be there indefinately, while my LOTRO characters will be wiped prior to the open beta / free trial / headstart. So, I'm playing Vanguard.
It has approximately one month and thirteen days to undergo some sort of dramatic improvement that will change my plan to switch over to LOTRO.
When I want a single-player story, I'll play a single-player game. When I play an MMO, I want a massively multiplayer world.
I kinda have my doubts you've played Vanguard then. It has all that stuff, sure, but is it fun or even engaging? Not really.
The big problem with Vanguard is that the world is super sparce, it's group only (solo is virtually non-existent in any meaningful way) and it's simply unpolished.
Sparce? not true.
is it group only? No it is not. I play solo all the time. You do benefit from grouping though.
unpolished? explain please...that is such a general term. My shoes are unpolished.
LotRO I have no direct experience with but after talking from friends in other high end guilds they say it far outstrips VG in the pure fun factor area. No feedback yet on high end game itself.
Is LOTRO small ? Yes. Compared to Vanguard it is tiny.
Fun? perhaps. Classes are not yet working right.
First off, like many posters have stated. The games are built differently.
All I can say, from playing them both in BETA, is that LOTRO is a more finished product and runs better on my computer. I prefer a game like vanguard (PVP server, etc) but LOTRO is the better product so i'll be playing that. Plus I'm having fun in BETA. I didnt think it would be my cup of tea, but I am shocked how much I enjoy it.
I've wondered this, myself. I know what it can mean, but I suspect everyone uses it differently. The word gives us hope that the things we want to see in the game will be there soon, since they're just a matter of polish, as opposed to not even being on the dev radar.
Example- the animations people mention - many are pretty crappy, and things like the dance emotes shouldn't even be used as placeholders, they're so out of place. Combat attacks are often just weak, and need some tweaking and sharpening up, and more effective motion-trail effects. Does this mean the devs will ever get around to it? It'd certainly make the game feel more polished, but who knows. I don't think Sigil even does.
Another example- a lot of the environments feel bland because they lack environmental effects and interesting lighting color schemes. It's wierd how things look better at night or when it rains, as if such effects are filling the void that's usually there during daylight. Who knows if they'll add anything like that, either. But it would also make the game feel more polished.
As a final example, I have to use the /stuck command a few times a day, because the world is full of geometry traps, where I fall into, and can't move at all. If they cleaned those up, it'd certainly help, too, but I'm not sure if that counts as bugs or polish.
When I want a single-player story, I'll play a single-player game. When I play an MMO, I want a massively multiplayer world.