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Hope there is not forced cinematic scripting
Fugnudz
Member Posts: 480
What I mean is forced introductory scenes where you have to follow a certain number of steps, watch some movie play out, and follow a narrow path of actions almost like being on railroad tracks just to get into the world. Some games have done this with very forced, very limited tutorials and it just sucks.
Just drop my character into a starting town in the world and let me find my own drama. Please, no "escape from the Nazgul" starting quest and any such nonsense. That might be cool once or twice, but will get old very fast.
The real lure of Middle Earth is the beautiful magical world itself, not the scripted Lord of the Rings saga.
Comments
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
That's basically the entire game of LOTR:O my friend.
Every race has a cinematic introductory quest that you have to do, which leads to more of the same quests from every other game. Kill wolves, kill rats, give this message to x, go pick me y type of flower. Each subsquent quest leads you to wherever else it is that you are supposed to be.
When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty, and there is nothing to fear from them, then he is always stirring up some war or other in order that the people may require a leader.
-- Plato
That's basically the entire game of LOTR:O my friend.
Every race has a cinematic introductory quest that you have to do, which leads to more of the same quests from every other game. Kill wolves, kill rats, give this message to x, go pick me y type of flower. Each subsquent quest leads you to wherever else it is that you are supposed to be.
I think that's where these newer games are making a mistake. Just dropping a player into the Shire ought to be enough. Half the fun is wandering freely about, not trekking through the same old quest paths again and again.
That's basically the entire game of LOTR:O my friend.
Every race has a cinematic introductory quest that you have to do, which leads to more of the same quests from every other game. Kill wolves, kill rats, give this message to x, go pick me y type of flower. Each subsquent quest leads you to wherever else it is that you are supposed to be.
I think that's where these newer games are making a mistake. Just dropping a player into the Shire ought to be enough. Half the fun is wandering freely about, not trekking through the same old quest paths again and again.
That's exactly my issue with LOTRO is that I like to explore, and run around doing whatever the heck I want, but everything is so self contained in the small area open in the current build that there really isnt any freedom of movement. I mean hell, you can't even submerge yourself when swimming...you just kinda doggie paddle.That's basically the entire game of LOTR:O my friend.
Every race has a cinematic introductory quest that you have to do, which leads to more of the same quests from every other game. Kill wolves, kill rats, give this message to x, go pick me y type of flower. Each subsquent quest leads you to wherever else it is that you are supposed to be.
I think that's where these newer games are making a mistake. Just dropping a player into the Shire ought to be enough. Half the fun is wandering freely about, not trekking through the same old quest paths again and again.
That's exactly my issue with LOTRO is that I like to explore, and run around doing whatever the heck I want, but everything is so self contained in the small area open in the current build that there really isnt any freedom of movement. I mean hell, you can't even submerge yourself when swimming...you just kinda doggie paddle.Actually it is quite a nice American Crawl when the human swims. It is definitely not the doggie paddle.
Currently playing:
LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too:
Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
Vanguard's mistake (one of their mistakes) was having a big world with a small player base, the latter which is forced to group.
However, by '"forced cinematic" stuff, I don't mean the occasional cut scene, but when players are forced to go from A to B to C to D to E as if they were actors on a film set, with no freedom of their own. Forced gameplay is what I'm talking about. We've all seen it in some games; where you feel you might as well sit back and watch a movie if the game is going to dictate your actions.
You only have to do the intro once, each subsequent character you make can skip it, and essentially just get 'dropped into Archet' (or Ered Luin).
And doing it takes all of 10 minutes...
Gaming? That's not gaming!
That's just people sat 'round in costumes drinking...
Vanguard's mistake (one of their mistakes) was having a big world with a small player base, the latter which is forced to group.
However, by '"forced cinematic" stuff, I don't mean the occasional cut scene, but when players are forced to go from A to B to C to D to E as if they were actors on a film set, with no freedom of their own. Forced gameplay is what I'm talking about. We've all seen it in some games; where you feel you might as well sit back and watch a movie if the game is going to dictate your actions.
"Don't corpse-camp that idea. Its never gonna rez"
Bladezz (The Guild)
My main concern with Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online was its linear quest path. There are "acts" that most players will be doing to progress, and they do lead you from one area to the next doing the same quests. I thought this would be a major turn off, but it is shaping up to be very fun.
I used to love the early concept of Middle Earth Online, so you can imagine how disappointed I was to learn about all the changes that were made, especially after Turbine took over development. I am very surprised at how the game has progressed, though.
I chose Vanguard: Saga of Heroes first, and played it for over a month before I quitting due to incompleteness and poor community. Even though the concept of Vanguard is more like what I prefer, I am finding LotRO to be much more fun, despite the major difference in design. I don't mind being led around, because it's turning out to be fun. Ordinarily, I'd like to do whatever I want, go where I want, etc. and I think I still can to a certain degree in LotRO, but doing the quests is the main part of the game, so if you prefer a more open, free world type of game, maybe LotRO isn't the one for you, but would still urge anyone to check out the Open Beta, because its a very well made mmo that has some great features.
Well, I have the beta client downloaded and ready for Friday when they open it. I'll check out the game. Just hoping it isn't more linear that WOW, for example. I can see areas having their quests which, like a trail of breadcrumbs, lead you to the next area. Just hope things are not more forced than that.
I'll see.
The game is very linear. Much worse than wow
If you like having no freedom, and being spoonfed everything, then this game is for you
this poster must not have played the game - or if so - not past the noobie area which indeed shuffles you from place to place
in the game proper i have not been pushed or pulled anywhere - lvl 10 hobbit and a 9 elf
have not done any of the quests for the main story from what i can tell and have wandered all over the shire (which is a really huge area since i'm walking - not paying for the expensive horse ride) and into out lying areas and am having a great time doing tons of side quests and working on crafting
i'm not attempting to defend the game cause - well, i don't care if you play or not - but after reading all these posts about being lead by the nose i thought i would chime in here to explain that you don't have a linear path unless you are doing the typical hardcore power leveling thing
i don't think the game was designed with that in mind
Some of the storyline missions are quite good despite their scripted movie-like nature. To give a short example of the first elf/dwarf mission (thats not spoilering much, you can do that within 20 minutes of starting, and its a solo mission)
You start following a dwarf through a Moria-XXS-sized dungeon to free an elf. First, you encounter 2 mobs which you kill, while you have to protect the dwarf. He then steps on a bridge, shows you something down, then first dialogue with bad guy. Bad guy puts a fire between you and him and escapes. You must go to a water pool conveniently located behind you, get some water, bring it to the fire and extinguish it. Another fight. Later on the dwarf opens a door, you get more dialogue, kill bad guy, see even bigger bad guy chuckling at his evil masterplan, he gates out while you cannot act, you fight his lackey that constitutes as boss of the area and you are finished.
In essence, its very linear and you just go through the motions told to you, but its something like an interactive movie. Later story instances become slightly more free, in terms of how you pull mobs, but many of them have some NPC helping you, which pretty much forces you to babysit him and take his route.
That really sucks if they designed it that way. Linear gameplayer, heck, might as well watch a movie. That's like controlling the player character and the environment instead of just the environment, which any self-respecting MMORPG should limit itself to.
So bottom line: Sounds like Turbine plays your character for you for 20% of the time, or something like that.
That really sucks if they designed it that way. Linear gameplayer, heck, might as well watch a movie. That's like controlling the player character and the environment instead of just the environment, which any self-respecting MMORPG should limit itself to.
So bottom line: Sounds like Turbine plays your character for you for 20% of the time, or something like that.
No, it's just that they made a very storyline focused game. You're playing a storyline. It isn't a FFA/sandbox/exploration game like Vanguard or EQ.
how about you try it for yourself tomorrow
free-free-free
Thanks for the info.
I'm not interested in Turbiine's scripted storyline. In fact, I never particularly liked the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but enjoyed The Hobbit and the concept of Middle Earth. I wanted to play a character who resides in and freely wanders Middle Earth. Guess I'll have to wait for a future game to deliver that.
I still have the beta downloaded and will try that when it goes live, but I do not have my hopes up for this game at this point. Glad I didn't uninstall WOW.
and that basically translates to "We want to grind on the same mobs all day long." type of game play. Hey these guys should be playing Lineage 2 or EvE Online. Big worlds filled with very little in the way of questing and all you do is grind on mobs or farm for mats without a real propose other then leveling up.
Games I've played/tried out:WAR, LOTRO, Tabula Rasa, AoC, EQ1, EQ2, WoW, Vangaurd, FFXI, D&DO, Lineage 2, Saga Of Ryzom, EvE Online, DAoC, Guild Wars,Star Wars Galaxies, Hell Gate London, Auto Assault, Grando Espada ( AKA SoTNW ), Archlord, CoV/H, Star Trek Online, APB, Champions Online, FFXIV, Rift Online, GW2.
Game(s) I Am Currently Playing:
GW2 (+LoL and BF3)
and that basically translates to "We want to grind on the same mobs all day long." type of game play. Hey these guys should be playing Lineage 2 or EvE Online. Big worlds filled with very little in the way of questing and all you do is grind on mobs or farm for mats without a real propose other then leveling up.
Have you played Vanguard beyond level 2 ?Well, the nazi douchbags already FORCE you to play a dogooder, and dont allow you to play a weakling orc, struggling to work his way up the food chain.
You know, things that would require roleplaying, and violence against other players. See, that costs MONEY. And we all know that greedy bastards cant lose MONEY.
/spit
That really sucks if they designed it that way. Linear gameplayer, heck, might as well watch a movie. That's like controlling the player character and the environment instead of just the environment, which any self-respecting MMORPG should limit itself to.
So bottom line: Sounds like Turbine plays your character for you for 20% of the time, or something like that.
Uhm, yeah, I just have to jump in here as there are several mischaracterizations of the game in this thread.
Turbine doesn't play your character 20% of the time. There are story lines you can follow--IF YOU CHOOSE TOO. There are so many self-proclaimed sandbox lovers (me being one of them) that seem to loose that ability (not me) when they enter LOTRO. Just because LOTRO has very structured game play doesn't mean you can't do things on your own and play outside that structure. People seem easily infatuated with the quests and think nothing else exists.
Straight MOB xp is not insignificant. Typically the MOB xp is 10% of what an equivalent quest might give you. For example, a quest to kill 10 wolves might give you 400xp. Each wolf slain will give you 40xp. Now factor in the time it takes you to run to the quest giver, read the quest, and return to the quest giver. In that time you probably could kill at least 5 wolves (guess of course). So when you analyze it (if you have no agenda that is) the xp is pretty close--800 xp total quest and kill compared to 600xp for straight slaughter. And that difference in xp is offset by the increase in loot you can get from straight killing.
The intro quest has some cinematics, but once you complete the tutorial quest once for each race, you can skip it later.
The short, simple anwser: You don't have to let the game hold your hand if you don't want to.
_____________________________
Currently Playing: LOTRO; DDO
Played: AC2, AO, Auto Assault, CoX, DAoC, DDO, Earth&Beyond, EQ1, EQ2, EVE, Fallen Earth, Jumpgate, Roma Victor, Second Life, SWG, V:SoH, WoW, World War II Online.
Games I'm watching: Infinity: The Quest for Earth, Force of Arms.
Find the Truth: http://www.factcheck.org/