Too linear, lack of variety, and endless repetition

Brabus

Guys you've hyped this game way too much.  Ive tried LOTRO again to see maybe it has gotten better, but no. 

How do you guys cope with the lack of variety of character progression (now please do not come with traits, most gamers collect the same traits).  In addition, it is difficult to even seperate the gamers around you, every body looks very similar, similar colors, wheres the individuality??  This was like it even at higher levels during the closed beta and so shortly before launch it is still the same.

Quests boil down to delivery and kill quests, nothing innovative here.  If you create another char you are forced do the same scripted instances in the beginning, and even in the village its always the same few quests, no wonder they are not bugged, there are not that many as people think.

This game is only about killing, in spite of providing some nice rp tools,

So shortly before launch there are quite a few bugs, no weather, many emotes do not work.

And for the people who state the animations are good... gosh it reminds me utterly of animatronics. The lack of polygon really shows also on the bodies of the chars, eg look at the arms and hands. 

Cerion

Originally posted by Brabus


Guys you've hyped this game way too much.  Ive tried LOTRO again to see maybe it has gotten better, but no. 
How do you guys cope with the lack of variety of character progression (now please do not come with traits, most gamers collect the same traits).  In addition, it is difficult to even seperate the gamers around you, every body looks very similar, similar colors, wheres the individuality??  This was like it even at higher levels during the closed beta and so shortly before launch it is still the same.
Quests boil down to delivery and kill quests, nothing innovative here.  If you create another char you are forced do the same scripted instances in the beginning, and even in the village its always the same few quests, no wonder they are not bugged, there are not that many as people think.
This game is only about killing, in spite of providing some nice rp tools,
So shortly before launch there are quite a few bugs, no weather, many emotes do not work.
And for the people who state the animations are good... gosh it reminds me utterly of animatronics. The lack of polygon really shows also on the bodies of the chars, eg look at the arms and hands. 

 

Translation: The current Vanguard chunk I was playing in just crashed me to desktop.

Orphes

Originally posted by Cerion

Originally posted by Brabus


Guys you've hyped this game way too much.  Ive tried LOTRO again to see maybe it has gotten better, but no. 
How do you guys cope with the lack of variety of character progression (now please do not come with traits, most gamers collect the same traits).  In addition, it is difficult to even seperate the gamers around you, every body looks very similar, similar colors, wheres the individuality??  This was like it even at higher levels during the closed beta and so shortly before launch it is still the same.
Quests boil down to delivery and kill quests, nothing innovative here.  If you create another char you are forced do the same scripted instances in the beginning, and even in the village its always the same few quests, no wonder they are not bugged, there are not that many as people think.
This game is only about killing, in spite of providing some nice rp tools,
So shortly before launch there are quite a few bugs, no weather, many emotes do not work.
And for the people who state the animations are good... gosh it reminds me utterly of animatronics. The lack of polygon really shows also on the bodies of the chars, eg look at the arms and hands. 

 

Translation: The current Vanguard chunk I was playing in just crashed me to desktop.

No the Vanguard servers was empty (besides me) so the OP wasn't there playing, nor crashing.

Brabus

First, I havent mentioned vanguard once in my post, second, I do not have an active account there anyway. So why change the topic??

Manmadegod

Originally posted by Brabus

First, I havent mentioned vanguard once in my post, second, I do not have an active account there anyway. So why change the topic??

His argument didn't stand a chance, so he changed topics... It's typical of a poster who doesn't read the entire post usually.... Like I could be doing right now, I didn't actually read a lot of what was said, but still gave an oracle like answer...

Orphes

Originally posted by Brabus


Guys you've hyped this game way too much.  Ive tried LOTRO again to see maybe it has gotten better, but no. 
How do you guys cope with the lack of variety of character progression (now please do not come with traits, most gamers collect the same traits).  In addition, it is difficult to even seperate the gamers around you, every body looks very similar, similar colors, wheres the individuality??  This was like it even at higher levels during the closed beta and so shortly before launch it is still the same.
Quests boil down to delivery and kill quests, nothing innovative here.  If you create another char you are forced do the same scripted instances in the beginning, and even in the village its always the same few quests, no wonder they are not bugged, there are not that many as people think.
This game is only about killing, in spite of providing some nice rp tools,
So shortly before launch there are quite a few bugs, no weather, many emotes do not work.
And for the people who state the animations are good... gosh it reminds me utterly of animatronics. The lack of polygon really shows also on the bodies of the chars, eg look at the arms and hands. 

When I do a fast calculations I tend to figure it out by these means.



1 +5 -4 -2 +4 -5 +7 -4



You see I colorcoded some of those thing that you actually could leave out cause they add upp to each other, for lack of better english.

Leave the quest, grinding, same start blah blah out of the equation.



What is left in you post maybe that is one of thing that  LOTR are. And if you dont want a somewhat (or in some eyes, completely) linear MMORPG then well, cya. GL HF



Otherwise it is always the same same, just different shades of grey. So uh nvm actually.

Mars505

Originally posted by Brabus


Guys you've hyped this game way too much.  Ive tried LOTRO again to see maybe it has gotten better, but no. 
How do you guys cope with the lack of variety of character progression (now please do not come with traits, most gamers collect the same traits).  In addition, it is difficult to even seperate the gamers around you, every body looks very similar, similar colors, wheres the individuality??  This was like it even at higher levels during the closed beta and so shortly before launch it is still the same.
Quests boil down to delivery and kill quests, nothing innovative here.  If you create another char you are forced do the same scripted instances in the beginning, and even in the village its always the same few quests, no wonder they are not bugged, there are not that many as people think.
This game is only about killing, in spite of providing some nice rp tools,
So shortly before launch there are quite a few bugs, no weather, many emotes do not work.
And for the people who state the animations are good... gosh it reminds me utterly of animatronics. The lack of polygon really shows also on the bodies of the chars, eg look at the arms and hands. 

Think you misread a lot of what people said.  People are having fun, fun does not translate into "innovation" it translates into enjoyment. I really don't recall the word "innovation" being thrown around by the developers or the forum posters.



You also forgot escort quest. As well as the main Story line Quest.



The game is Lord of the Rings Online, it is just that , nothing more , nothing less and I am having a blast

Mars505

What shows ? My guy has dirt under his nails...





Weather is bugged ? Snow ?  Weather mean over casts , clear sky , rain snow and thunderstorms, which I seen them all . Just because you didn't see it doesn't mean it is not there. It is like just because YOU entered the game , it should be cycling through all the weather effects, doesn't work that way , it is very random for rain and storms.

Kyleran

Originally posted by Brabus

Guys you've hyped this game way too much. - Very true, all games get hyped too much in these forums, but my post generally contain what my opinions of the game are, w/o much hype. 

How do you guys cope with the lack of variety of character progression - I like it...keeps it simple for me, I know that as a Guardian I'm as good as the one next to me, and there's no way I could have screwed the build up somehow

(now please do not come with traits, most gamers collect the same traits).  - Uh...maybe so, but we can only slot a subset of them, and I'm pretty sure we don't all slot the same ones.

In addition, it is difficult to even seperate the gamers around you, every body looks very similar, similar colors, wheres the individuality??  - Eh...who needs it... individuality isn't real important to me, I don't "identify" with my avatar, he's just a tool like my car is.  Do I care if my Porshe looks the same as 20 other people in town (including the color?) No..and its the same with my avatar (of course, would be nice if I owned a Porshe instead of a pick-up, but you get the concept)

This was like it even at higher levels during the closed beta and so shortly before launch it is still the same. - I never got past level 14 in closed beta, so I wouldn't know

Quests boil down to delivery and kill quests, nothing innovative here. - Well, there are some quests that advance the story line, but I'll concede, nothing new here. But I would ask..what sort of quests are you looking for, because you've just described the play system of every MMORPG that has been ever released I think. (if they included quests as part of their design). I confess, I like kill tasks.... my favorite ones actually......

If you create another char you are forced do the same scripted instances in the beginning, and even in the village its always the same few quests, no wonder they are not bugged, there are not that many as people think. - Very true... but same is true with other games... I made 5 level 60's in WOW and pretty much I did the same 1000 quests for each of them. In fact, most people will skip the elf starter quests and move their elves to Stormgard/Ironforge to do the same starter quests as the other races because they are the most efficient. (I had to mention WOW so that people could bash it..cause every thread in the forums must mention and bash WOW/VG.)

This game is only about killing, in spite of providing some nice rp tools, - Excellent!  My son and I can't stand doing much of anything in games except exploring new areas and killing more stuff.  Crafting, stinks.  Role-playing - OK I guess, Socializing with guildmates/friends... hey, I'm a 20% Social on the Bartle's scale, PvP - Can be fun at times..but involves killing stuff so that's all good.

So shortly before launch there are quite a few bugs, no weather, many emotes do not work. - I don't know, when I go in stupid swamps the fog is very annoying. I remember during closed beta it seemed to rain all the time, but during open beta I've not seen any rain. Maybe they turned it off?  Fine by me..the rain made me lag.  I'm not seeing "quite a few bugs", in fact, might be the most bug free launch I've seen. Heck, some released games have more bugs (VG cough, cough) than this one does.  As to emotes... sort of like emoticons... fun fluff but mostly useless unless you are role-playing a Mime or something.

And for the people who state the animations are good... gosh it reminds me utterly of animatronics. The lack of polygon really shows also on the bodies of the chars, eg look at the arms and hands. - Its about the gameplay son...the graphics are a secondary concern.

Now you may notice that I basically contradicted everything you said, and turned many of them into a positive experience.  My point in doing this is that what one person hates about LoTRO, another person will love.  Its that kind of game, where I'd guesstimate about 60% of those who try it will enjoy (not necessarily buy) it and 40% will dislike it. (no, these numbers aren't totally pulled out of my behind, someone ran a poll last week and that was about the ratio in the breakdown)



I understand why you don't like this game..if I had to guess you are a former UO/SWG/AC who really wants a new sandbox game or a former EQ player looking for a more difficult, old school feel.    (or maybe you're like me...a bored former DAOC player who is just killing time until WAR comes out) 



useless emoticon incoming 

Xpheyel

Personally I like the quests and quest-based advancement. My feeling is that otherwise I'd be out killing anyway to ding, except I'd calculate what gives the best XP/hour and camp that along with dozens of other people instead of moving through the game, finding landmarks, working on accomplishments, gathering materials for my trade skill, and fighting different enemies. Even though the quests are usually about killing something or bringing something to someone, they all at least have an effort of backstory put into them.

As for being linear, it might have something to do with it being based on a book (not a choose your own adventure book). I don't feel like I'm really repeating things except for starting new characters, each area has its own story and problems which, if you pay attention, you can follow. I enjoy that, within the context of the larger story Breeland is having to cope with Brigands that are actually being controlled by Mordor and Isengard. The North Downs are facing an army of Orcs out of Angmar. I love this aspect of the game, and it is why I like it.

The systems are not very complex which doesn't allow for individuality in building. The class traits are very useful but mostly focus on your character's main thrust. This much is true.

I don't really feel that way about the character's look if you take some time on them and maybe collect a nice looking set of equipment. Someone recognized my name when I was chatting in OOC just because I'm nattily outfitted.

Innovation is a buzz word. Saga of Ryzom was innovative and its parent became insolvent. I wish people that want innovative games would play them and make them successful instead of putting down new releases and the genre for not delivering something different than what they've bought several times already, thereby telling the companies that make, publish, and invest in games that they should keep making that.

I'm not sure what you're saying about bugs.

MortisRex

Originally posted by Cerion

Originally posted by Brabus


Guys you've hyped this game way too much.  Ive tried LOTRO again to see maybe it has gotten better, but no. 
How do you guys cope with the lack of variety of character progression (now please do not come with traits, most gamers collect the same traits).  In addition, it is difficult to even seperate the gamers around you, every body looks very similar, similar colors, wheres the individuality??  This was like it even at higher levels during the closed beta and so shortly before launch it is still the same.
Quests boil down to delivery and kill quests, nothing innovative here.  If you create another char you are forced do the same scripted instances in the beginning, and even in the village its always the same few quests, no wonder they are not bugged, there are not that many as people think.
This game is only about killing, in spite of providing some nice rp tools,
So shortly before launch there are quite a few bugs, no weather, many emotes do not work.
And for the people who state the animations are good... gosh it reminds me utterly of animatronics. The lack of polygon really shows also on the bodies of the chars, eg look at the arms and hands. 

 

Translation: The current Vanguard chunk I was playing in just crashed me to desktop.

Translation: I'm just as much a mindless lemming like everyother fanboi, but instead of choosing team blue (WoW, Vanguard, etc) I choose team red (LoTRo) so that somehow makes my idiotic ramblings less annoying.

swede2

Originally posted by Mars505

What shows ? My guy has dirt under his nails...





Weather is bugged ? Snow ?  Weather mean over casts , clear sky , rain snow and thunderstorms, which I seen them all . Just because you didn't see it doesn't mean it is not there. It is like just because YOU entered the game , it should be cycling through all the weather effects, doesn't work that way , it is very random for rain and storms.

Without a doubt the worst screenshots ive seen ported on MMORPG and you say thats LoTR , a game thats just coming out in 2007 no wonder it runs on most peoples machines its got graphics from 2004

Jackdog

Sounds like the OP pretty much described every non sandbox MMORPG ever released to me.

Keogh

Originally posted by Brabus


Guys you've hyped this game way too much.  Ive tried LOTRO again to see maybe it has gotten better, but no. 
How do you guys cope with the lack of variety of character progression (now please do not come with traits, most gamers collect the same traits).  In addition, it is difficult to even seperate the gamers around you, every body looks very similar, similar colors, wheres the individuality??  This was like it even at higher levels during the closed beta and so shortly before launch it is still the same.
Quests boil down to delivery and kill quests, nothing innovative here.  If you create another char you are forced do the same scripted instances in the beginning, and even in the village its always the same few quests, no wonder they are not bugged, there are not that many as people think.
This game is only about killing, in spite of providing some nice rp tools,
So shortly before launch there are quite a few bugs, no weather, many emotes do not work.
And for the people who state the animations are good... gosh it reminds me utterly of animatronics. The lack of polygon really shows also on the bodies of the chars, eg look at the arms and hands. 

I would like to ask the original poster, what do you base your opinion on?

 

1. What experience level did you reach?
2. How many epic storyline quest did you do?
3. How many zones did you see and quest in?
4. Did you try Monster Player vs. Player combat?
5. Did you see what a talented musician could do with the in-game music tool?

The value of your opinion is directly effected by the answers you provide.

By the way, I don't know of any MMORPG that doesn't consist of the basic kill/delivery quests, and I've never read any pro LOTRO poster make the claim the game was in any way "innovative".



In the end, a game needs to be fun. If you don't think a game is fun, don't play it.

Quingu

Originally posted by Brabus


Guys you've hyped this game way too much.  Ive tried LOTRO again to see maybe it has gotten better, but no. 
How do you guys cope with the lack of variety of character progression (now please do not come with traits, most gamers collect the same traits).  In addition, it is difficult to even seperate the gamers around you, every body looks very similar, similar colors, wheres the individuality??  This was like it even at higher levels during the closed beta and so shortly before launch it is still the same.
Quests boil down to delivery and kill quests, nothing innovative here.  If you create another char you are forced do the same scripted instances in the beginning, and even in the village its always the same few quests, no wonder they are not bugged, there are not that many as people think.
This game is only about killing, in spite of providing some nice rp tools,
So shortly before launch there are quite a few bugs, no weather, many emotes do not work.
And for the people who state the animations are good... gosh it reminds me utterly of animatronics. The lack of polygon really shows also on the bodies of the chars, eg look at the arms and hands. 

This not Vanguard, this is LOTRO sorry but you on wrong forum or no one playing your game and you just come here to troll?

Quingu

Originally posted by Keogh

Originally posted by Brabus


Guys you've hyped this game way too much.  Ive tried LOTRO again to see maybe it has gotten better, but no. 
How do you guys cope with the lack of variety of character progression (now please do not come with traits, most gamers collect the same traits).  In addition, it is difficult to even seperate the gamers around you, every body looks very similar, similar colors, wheres the individuality??  This was like it even at higher levels during the closed beta and so shortly before launch it is still the same.
Quests boil down to delivery and kill quests, nothing innovative here.  If you create another char you are forced do the same scripted instances in the beginning, and even in the village its always the same few quests, no wonder they are not bugged, there are not that many as people think.
This game is only about killing, in spite of providing some nice rp tools,
So shortly before launch there are quite a few bugs, no weather, many emotes do not work.
And for the people who state the animations are good... gosh it reminds me utterly of animatronics. The lack of polygon really shows also on the bodies of the chars, eg look at the arms and hands. 

I would like to ask the original poster, what do you base your opinion on?

 

1. What experience level did you reach?
2. How many epic storyline quest did you do?
3. How many zones did you see and quest in?
4. Did you try Monster Player vs. Player combat?
5. Did you see what a talented musician could do with the in-game music tool?

The value of your opinion is directly effected by the answers you provide.

 

By the way, I don't know of any MMORPG that doesn't consist of the basic kill/delivery quests, and I've never read any pro LOTRO poster make the claim the game was in any way "innovative".



In the end, a game needs to be fun. If you don't think a game is fun, don't play it.

serious you guys should see OP post history before start feeding the trolls

jerkson

I'll make it short. I think you're absolutely right!

Hairysun

Originally posted by swede2

Originally posted by Mars505

What shows ? My guy has dirt under his nails...





Weather is bugged ? Snow ?  Weather mean over casts , clear sky , rain snow and thunderstorms, which I seen them all . Just because you didn't see it doesn't mean it is not there. It is like just because YOU entered the game , it should be cycling through all the weather effects, doesn't work that way , it is very random for rain and storms.

Without a doubt the worst screenshots ive seen ported on MMORPG and you say thats LoTR , a game thats just coming out in 2007 no wonder it runs on most peoples machines its got graphics from 2004

Lol....perhaps you should try the game out.  Obviously....you have not.

2004?

Mars505

Originally posted by swede2



Without a doubt the worst screenshots ive seen ported on MMORPG and you say thats LoTR , a game thats just coming out in 2007 no wonder it runs on most peoples machines its got graphics from 2004

That is the graphic setting I play on, medium.  

Jackdog

Originally posted by Mars505

Originally posted by swede2



Without a doubt the worst screenshots ive seen ported on MMORPG and you say thats LoTR , a game thats just coming out in 2007 no wonder it runs on most peoples machines its got graphics from 2004

That is the graphic setting I play on, medium.   well no wonder! You are supposed to get your view positioned just right, max all settings, take the screen shot using an after market program then tweak the size and settings down to the minimum your file hosting site will allow. Thats how they do it in other games forums it seems.

Cerion

---

Originally posted by Manmadegod

---

Originally posted by Brabus
First, I havent mentioned vanguard once in my post, second, I do not have an active account there anyway. So why change the topic??

---

His argument didn't stand a chance, so he changed topics... It's typical of a poster who doesn't read the entire post usually.... Like I could be doing right now, I didn't actually read a lot of what was said, but still gave an oracle like answer...

---

No.  Actually I'm f**ing bored to death with the same old tired, unispired commentary on LOTRO.  I have on numerous occasions refuted these arguments.  I could not stand one more spleen gushing, so I wanted to make this thread less boring to me.

Oh and here's a nice summary of the OPs history:

Declining Playerbase

LOTRO Very disappointed so far

Seems the OP has a vendetta. Sad that he can't let it go.

Ciredric

Hey, no game suits everyone.  Unfortunately you cannot appreciate a well done game.   I suggest trying the free grind to death Korean MMO's out there, they seem more suited to your style.

swede2

Originally posted by Hairysun

Originally posted by swede2

Originally posted by Mars505

What shows ? My guy has dirt under his nails...





Weather is bugged ? Snow ?  Weather mean over casts , clear sky , rain snow and thunderstorms, which I seen them all . Just because you didn't see it doesn't mean it is not there. It is like just because YOU entered the game , it should be cycling through all the weather effects, doesn't work that way , it is very random for rain and storms.

Without a doubt the worst screenshots ive seen ported on MMORPG and you say thats LoTR , a game thats just coming out in 2007 no wonder it runs on most peoples machines its got graphics from 2004

Lol....perhaps you should try the game out.  Obviously....you have not.

2004?

Still looks crappy to me and as for trying the game out no thanks been  there, dont like Linear games that have zero replay value

Fargol

Originally posted by swede2

Originally posted by Hairysun

Originally posted by swede2

Originally posted by Mars505

What shows ? My guy has dirt under his nails...





Weather is bugged ? Snow ?  Weather mean over casts , clear sky , rain snow and thunderstorms, which I seen them all . Just because you didn't see it doesn't mean it is not there. It is like just because YOU entered the game , it should be cycling through all the weather effects, doesn't work that way , it is very random for rain and storms.

Without a doubt the worst screenshots ive seen ported on MMORPG and you say thats LoTR , a game thats just coming out in 2007 no wonder it runs on most peoples machines its got graphics from 2004

Lol....perhaps you should try the game out.  Obviously....you have not.

2004?

Still looks crappy to me and as for trying the game out no thanks been  there, dont like Linear games that have zero replay value

Fair enough. Now, what fantastic-looking, non-linear fantasy online games are you playing right now?

fiontar

This game is extremely beautiful and immersive when you are playing it.



You have games like EQ2 and Vanguard that can produce some great looking screen shots, but look horrible in game. With LotRO, the screenshots don't capture accurately the beauty of the game as you play.



My MMORPGs are games, not art programs, I prefer the game that looks and feels great when played over the flashy screenshot makers anyday.

Hairysun

Originally posted by swede2

Originally posted by Hairysun

Originally posted by swede2

Originally posted by Mars505

What shows ? My guy has dirt under his nails...





Weather is bugged ? Snow ?  Weather mean over casts , clear sky , rain snow and thunderstorms, which I seen them all . Just because you didn't see it doesn't mean it is not there. It is like just because YOU entered the game , it should be cycling through all the weather effects, doesn't work that way , it is very random for rain and storms.

Without a doubt the worst screenshots ive seen ported on MMORPG and you say thats LoTR , a game thats just coming out in 2007 no wonder it runs on most peoples machines its got graphics from 2004

Lol....perhaps you should try the game out.  Obviously....you have not.

 

2004?

Still looks crappy to me and as for trying the game out no thanks been  there, dont like Linear games that have zero replay value

And Hairysun chooses.......

nibble.......

NIBBLE.......

NOT..........to take the bait.

Good day sir........