Is LOTRO just another WOW?

Tearsnsorrow

Bored with Wow, but looking for a new MMORPG, is LOTRO different enough? or just more of the same? Better or worse than WOW? I honestly cant say as I'm waiting for my copy of LOTRO to come in the post.

If any of you have a view, I'd love to read it!

Antipathy

Similar sort of game. Similar sorts of quests. If you are bored with WoW then expect to quickly become bored with LotRO.



Good graphics



No PvP



Characters are all a bit samey. No way to customise their abilities to the same extent WoW allows with feats. For example, if you play a guardian then you are a tank, a tank and nothing but a tank (contrast this with the variety of roles a druid could play in a WoW party given the availability of gear and willingness to respec).



I've heard content gets very thin at high levels, but I haven't bothered to play nearly that far.

flood950

I still dont understand how someone that claims to have played the game says it doesnt have PvP, it does.  Its just a variation on PvP from WoW, one side plays monsters, then other their heroes, how someone could possibly say that is not Player Vs Player is beyond me..its not Hero vs Hero..but it is most defintiely players going against each other...just in a different way than WoW, IE this is something that is different between the two games.



There are things that are going to feel and look the same between games.  I dont think many people are going to claim this game is revolutionary.  At the get-go, when you only have basic attacks/abilties the game feels very similar.  But, once you progress the distinctions show up.  I tried the game first during Beta and quit almost immediately as it felt just like WoW which I was incredibly sick of.  I was given a 10 day buddy key and tried it a second time after release.  I played more, and got further in and have since purchased the game and am enjoying it very much.



I think a better question to ask yourself is what type of WoW player are you?  That will help people give a better answer on if its a good game for you.  The hardcore end-game instance runners from WoW seem to not enjoy LoTRo that much, unless they are looking for a break from that.  There are raid instances, and people do them, but it is not the type of game where you have the mentality like WoW where you want to just rush to max level so you can raid.  The game is the storyline (which unfolds via a massive quest chain) and progressing through it.  If you are the type to want to just get rid of those levels, and constantly just want more XP, I would say pass on it.



Without me having given a lot of specific examples I think this should indicate they are quite different games.  They may look similiar, they both have quests, they have user interfaces..blah blah blah..but the game itself is quite different in most areas.

Zsavooz

Originally posted by Tearsnsorrow


Bored with Wow, but looking for a new MMORPG, is LOTRO different enough? or just more of the same? Better or worse than WOW? I honestly cant say as I'm waiting for my copy of LOTRO to come in the post.
If any of you have a view, I'd love to read it!

you already posted this on the LOTRO forum. How about trying it for yourself,

Kyleran

I left WOW last fall when I realized that the since released TBC expansion was bringing nothing new to the game (for me).  So when LoTRO offered a closed beta starting in early April I jumped on it, and had a bunch of fun right through the open beta and launch.  I got a Guardian up to 30 and a Minstrel up to 24.....



and then... things changed.....



I mean, LotRO was fun and all that...but I felt that there was nothing new for me to learn about the game, after only 2 months of playing.  Oh sure, lots more quests to complete, instances to overcome...but really, that was more a matter of execution, there was no sense of wonder about it all, I was just going through the motions.... but didn't seem to find anything really "new" from day to day.



So 10 days ago I finally took the plunge and loaded the EvE 14 day trial.  And while EvE isn't for everyone, I've taken to the game like a moth to a flame.  Sure, it has its boring parts, and combat issues, and of course, the problems in high level space that everyone's read about. 



But for me...its been a completely new experience, trying to figure out how to cram another missile launcher on my frigate, while keeping under the CPU/Power requirements.  So far I've worked myself up to a real nice missile cruiser and sitting on 12 million Isk (just a rounding error in many players fortunes I realize)  



But now I find myself bewildered by the vast amount of choices set in front of me, from which skills to train in, to a variety of ship loads, and have yet to begin working on the game's pvp/mining aspects of the game, focusing strictly on agent running/salvaging for now.  Its an entire new world for me to explore .... and I've yet to even try to join a corporation which I'm told can also enhance your game experience.



Back to the topic at hand.... I've played LotRO for about 4 hours since I started the EvE trial...and haven't had any real desire to go back just because it does seem like a whole lot of more of the same (level based, fantasy gaming) and I really need something new and different to hold my interest.  Since I'm a founder I'll keep paying my 9.99 for now, but my play time is likely to be very limited.



MIght just be me....you should give the game your own trial, some folks really love it and are having a great time.....

Meridion

no it's not. It features the same basic mechanic, which is essentially a derivate of classic P&P modified for PC-usage by Eeverquest (classes, levels, items with stats) but it has a large variety of customizable feats to gain. Sure, you won't get a damage machine out of a tank or let a nuker become a healer... But you can specialize, boost damage, threat reduction, boost armor or taunting, go for high reg or not...

Nonetheless, you keep your role which is an advantage compared to WoW, where you could pretty much make a warrior outdamage a rogue, a paladin outheal a priest and a warlock outdamage a mage if you specced and equipped appropriate. This is not the case in LotRO, and I consider this VERY pleasing; finally you have all rights in the world to shout at wannabe multitalentet heal-o-damage uber-geeks: "Do your f****ing job or get the hell outta here"... To me, it's a relief, to speccing nerds its prolly not...



Meridion



@Kyleran: Funny you say the same things about EvE that I did when I had played this game for 6 weeks or so. Took me another 2 weeks then to realize I was playing a spread sheet game with pictures, i totally lost any emotional contact to the game... EvE was about the only game I quit not out of frustration but out of pure boredom.

Amalaric

Lord of the Rings Online is not like World of Warcraft, it's World of Warcraft that's like Lord of the Rings Online. 

MorningStarGG

Its a wow wannabe i mean look at the things auction house interface etc... Except one thing! Lacks real PVP big letdown i mean least they could have done it GvG or sumthing but no they went with monsters which is a joke that is not PVP its crap

Nothing touches wows depth and wow just keeps getting bigger and better with each patch

EliteMarine

i have to agree but i will give lotro good graphics woot good job turbine other than that lotro is a joke

tiki

Originally posted by spyder2k5

Its a wow wannabe ...

 Except one thing! Lacks real PVP big letdown

yes lotro doesnt have good pvp, but its no worse then WOW, WOW's PVP is the biggest joke, yay lets play capture the flag

EliteMarine

what lotro pvp lol sparring isnt pvp lol you dont earn or win anything out of it and most people ignore it

flood950

Originally posted by EliteMarine

what lotro pvp lol sparring isnt pvp lol you dont earn or win anything out of it and most people ignore it

Depends on the server as far as most people ignoring it.  



Both WoW and LoTRo have pretty poor PvP, but it does exist in both.

EliteMarine

again sparring lol how can that be considered pvp its just a 1v1 that lasts 20 seconds at least WOW has diffrent games and try to make it more interesting

flood950

Originally posted by EliteMarine

again sparring lol how can that be considered pvp its just a 1v1 that lasts 20 seconds at least WOW has diffrent games and try to make it more interesting

Sparring 1v1?  Please elaborate..lol..are we talking about the same game?  I am very interested to hear of your LoTRo PvP experience based on that comment.

EliteMarine

o i apologize i forgot about monsterplay i know how much fun that can be in ettenmoors

Ruthgar

LOTRO has PvP. I think that Monster Play is superior to WoW's PVP., but that is just my view. I never played much on WoW's PvP servers, and spent most of my time PvPing in AV. AV used to be great until they started nerfing it. In a way, Monster play is similar to how AV was when it was released 2 years ago.



I played WoW from Nov 2004 until March 2007. I raided when MC was the only end game raid dungeon. I raided BWL when it was released, or should I say I spent hundreds of gold in repair bills when it was released.



I guess I just don't know enough about WoW, because I don't see that they are that much alike. I guess in a way all MMOs are alike, but I see more differences between LOTRO and WoW than similarities.





(Not knowing enough about WoW, was a joke. I had 2 level 70s, 2 other level 60s, and played since US release).

knightaudit

Originally posted by Tearsnsorrow


Bored with Wow, but looking for a new MMORPG, is LOTRO different enough? or just more of the same? Better or worse than WOW? I honestly cant say as I'm waiting for my copy of LOTRO to come in the post.
If any of you have a view, I'd love to read it!

You ask for a review and yet it is coming to you in the mail. Does anyone else find that a bit odd? Why buy and then ask if it is good or not?

Besides read over the reviews that others have given it and see what you think based on that.

Quingu

Originally posted by EliteMarine


o i apologize i forgot about monsterplay i know how much fun that can be in ettenmoors

from your posts i see you never played lotro.

Zsavooz

albeit, both games have a lot in common, including AH's, you can only play the good side, elves, men, Dwarfs etc. I wasn't real happy when I first started playing not being able to choose an evil side char other than in MPVP, but I have gotten used to it.  The biggest difference I see is in the community. LOTRO does have it's share of younger players but it seems much more mature and friendlier than I experienced in WoW. WoW's RP servers were a bit better than the general servers, but I think many players are Tolkien fans and are there to enjoy the lore. I stopped playing WoW after I hit 70 and just needed a break. I doubt I'll come back, but who knows.

gothmog56

i'll tell you the biggest difference is this. wow is designed to level people as fast as it can.it encourages power leveling to an extreme.

you tag a monster with a spell then someone else kills it,you get the xp and loot.UNLESS you call for help in lotro no one can attack your mob.once you callhelp you LOSE the xp and loot.ie you have to actually work for your kills.even eq you had to do over half the dmg to get the kill.wow system is just a joke.there is really no penalty for deaths.hell i even use deaths to finish quests that are to high for me.

Zsavooz

Originally posted by gothmog56

i'll tell you the biggest difference is this. wow is designed to level people as fast as it can.it encourages power leveling to an extreme.

you tag a monster with a spell then someone else kills it,you get the xp and loot.UNLESS you call for help in lotro no one can attack your mob.once you callhelp you LOSE the xp and loot.ie you have to actually work for your kills.even eq you had to do over half the dmg to get the kill.wow system is just a joke.there is really no penalty for deaths.hell i even use deaths to finish quests that are to high for me.

there really is no penalty for death in LOTRO other than high repair costs as you level up.

Ruthgar

LOTRO has pie eating contests, tag and freeze tag games, and a music system where you can play instruments (the next patch allows you to play .abc music files), grow pipeweed, unlock hidden emotes, etc.



LOTRO isn't about getting that new epic item or raiding  instances 5-6 nights a week. It has a more laid back style.

DarkEssence

I've heard that LOTRO is pretty much like a WoW clone and I hated WoW . However, reading your post has encouraged me to want to try it. I don't want to have the huge download and I don't know if my comp will run it, but it sounds like it's worth a try.

Zsavooz

Originally posted by Ruthgar

LOTRO has pie eating contests, tag and freeze tag games, and a music system where you can play instruments (the next patch allows you to play .abc music files), grow pipeweed, unlock hidden emotes, etc.



LOTRO isn't about getting that new epic item or raiding  instances 5-6 nights a week. It has a more laid back style.

I think you've said it best, LOTRO is not about raiding or getting the best gear, it's about enjoying the ride, which may not be for everyone, granted. I'm not here to bash WOW, at all. I loved the game since Beta but it grew stale for me and LOTRO gives me a different feel, which is what I wanted. I'll still try Warhammer and Age of Conan when they come out. BTW, I have the title, Pie Eating Champion, thank you very much.

Tearsnsorrow

I posted a similar thread on the LOTRO forum to see if reaction differed.

Thanks to all who took the trouble to respond. Much appreciated everyone. 

HensenLiros

Not sure if posting the same topic on different forums was necessary.

But whatever.



Actually LOTRO is a WoW clone for sure, I mean, the health bars on both games are red and you can even craft armor on Lotro.



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