Just thought I'd jump in with my opinion about the combat:
Sum up: WoW combat is fast paced. EQ/LOTRO is slower.
Speedwise, LoTRO to me is between WoW and EQ combat, with WoW at the high end and EQ is slow. (Not the slowest, I'm sure there's slower.) I've watched my friends play WoW, and usually they rapidly hit 1 or 2 buttons. I'm surprised they havn't broken their keyboards (Logitech G15 FTW!) Then when I've played EQ, I'm waiting to use the next ability/spell. So it's noticebly slower.
In LoTRO, I have to wait a bit to hit a skill. That seems to be across all the classes, having to wait for a skill to refresh or to wait for reactive skills to open up. Hence, I can understand why it would seem slower. In groups though, combat is fast with mobs dropping left and right.
Nothing wrong not liking the speed my fellow gamers. I can see how this could be a turn off if you are used to faster. I personally like it slower.
I have been playing LOTRO on and off from launch and I have the same problem. It's fun for maybe a month and then I just dont want to log in. The reason for me are: - Slow boring combat Opinion. OK. - Your race means absolutely nothing. Not true. Depending on the race you choose you can gain or lose stealth, a feign death ability, or a once per hour full self heal in addition to other abilities.
- Every stat in the game means very little so everyone ends up being pretty much the same. ? Again not true. Believe me when I say that you can tell a big difference between someone pushing the cap in their core abilities (varies by class) and someone with a funky build. Not to imply that some funky builds aren't perfectly viable. You can sacrifice offense for defense or vise versa and still solo perfectly well, for example.
- Class traits have the same problem. There are only few of them and few of them are good so everyone has the same traits on with-in the class. No, not true at all. This wasn't true at launch for most classes, it's even less true now with the additional legendary traits and trait line bonuses. Any class has more useful traits than can possibly be slotted. It's not an awesome system in terms of flexibility (see DAoC, CoH, or any skill based MMO [AC, EVE, Uo, ect.]). But it's similar in flexibility to most class based MMOs (WoW, EQ II, WAR, EQ, ect.). "Everyone has the same traits within the [same] class" is a flat out lie. Haven't logged on once in 4-5 months now but I doubt anything has changed. So not only are you misinformed about what the game used to be like 4-5 months ago (I can only assume you never played it long enough to see the full depth of the trait system...or you were hoping for something as flexible as AC or UO...um duuhhh LoTRO is class based), you haven't got the foggiest idea what the game is like now. Nice....
Crap like this is why fans of this game get so tweaked out on this board. I don't mind someone having a different opinion than me. But bitching about things that aren't true is assinine.
I don't want to write this, and you don't want to read it. But now it's too late for both of us.
I too found myself growing bored with this game very quickly. The quests are not unique, pretty much the same as every other mmo, go fetch, kill this many blah blah blah. The classes aren't interesting to me, they seem bland at best. The spell graphics are mediocre. If I am going to cast a spell, I want too see some nice graphics or animation, I felt it was lacking in pizazz. The story line in this is good, the ability to solo things is good as well. I also think the overall graphics of the game were well done and the colors were brilliant (minus the boring spellcasting animations). This game is great to play for about 2 months or so, then the boredom sets in.
I haven't read much of the posts in this thread but I'm probably quoting someone... or i'll just use phrases we've all heard a billion times to best explain it...
Different strokes for different folks.
or...
You can't please everyone.
I have been playing for almost 2 years now and still not bored, so... yea...
With a title like that, I was expecting a review on the Harvard Lampoon's book and how Turbine should of based their game on that instead of tolkien's version !
A few token pieces of content does not an effort to encourage and facilitate grouping make, LotRO is a solo game plain and simple save the grindy grin end game. From the noob areas on up the core game design rewards the same XP.items for solo quests that it does for groups quests ignoring the extra effort needed for group quests (forming up, the dynamics of multiple people, and the extra difficulty and time of dealing with areas that are mostly all elite MOBs).
WTF? No, just no. This is not even close to being true.
---------- "Anyone posting on this forum is not an average user, and there for any opinions about the game are going to be overly critical compared to an average users opinions." - Me
"Hello person posting on a site specifically for MMO's in a thread on a sub forum specifically for a particular game talking about meta features and making comparisons to other titles in the genre, and their meta features.
Observation. All the negative comments I have read on this forum, like this thread and its OP point to one thing. This game is not for someone with a short attention span. May I suggest Super Mario Brothers.
QFT ) also, for laughs.. this really made me laugh out loud... so true, so true )
DB
Denial makes one look a lot dumber than he/she actually is.
"Bored of the Rings" I bet never before has a person been so proud of their thread title from thinking it is so creative, just to later figure out is was in fact pretty lame.
A few token pieces of content does not an effort to encourage and facilitate grouping make, LotRO is a solo game plain and simple save the grindy grin end game. From the noob areas on up the core game design rewards the same XP.items for solo quests that it does for groups quests ignoring the extra effort needed for group quests (forming up, the dynamics of multiple people, and the extra difficulty and time of dealing with areas that are mostly all elite MOBs).
WTF? No, just no. This is not even close to being true.
I don't think that was the point anyway. No bother is worthy trying to explain the difference between facts and opinions, to a naysayer, especially when they don't even know the actual facts (like this post, or the one from Darth_Pete that Yeebo took apart
DB
Denial makes one look a lot dumber than he/she actually is.
I made no claim about growth, or lack of growth, I only responded to someone who claimed the game was growing when in fact there is no evidence to suggest it is. The reality of MMOs says it is not (as all MMOs, save the rare exception, peak early and taper off over time) as does the lack of additional servers. Of course, this has nothing to do with the OP but let's be clear - some fanboy made the unsubstantiated claim about LotRO growing I only countered saying that what we can see from the outside looking in doesn't show that to be the case.
Of course there's no evidence, but anyone who has played the game somewhat consistently over the past two years might have a pretty good feel for it. I can only tell you the two servers I play on seem more populated now than ever before. Mines of Moria definitely bumped the population up. Did it bump it to a level higher than the SoA launch? I have no idea, only Turbine knows. I know you want LOTRO to fit into your "reality of MMOs", but what other P2P MMO offers a lifetime subscription? When you put that into the equation, LOTRO probably doesn't follow the typical subscriber turnover patterns of other MMOs.
Don't think you are alone, i personally found it very boring. I don't often go out of my way to pay for a game due to lack of money, and i put some money together, and lasted a short while and got bored. I think it just wasn't for me.
I made no claim about growth, or lack of growth, I only responded to someone who claimed the game was growing when in fact there is no evidence to suggest it is. The reality of MMOs says it is not (as all MMOs, save the rare exception, peak early and taper off over time) as does the lack of additional servers. Of course, this has nothing to do with the OP but let's be clear - some fanboy made the unsubstantiated claim about LotRO growing I only countered saying that what we can see from the outside looking in doesn't show that to be the case.
YES! Launching in 3 other territory's is not a sign of growth! The need for more server stability because of over population on 2 of the server is no sign! The constant awards across many media outlets means the game is on its last legs! The constant free updates of expansion sizes means they are running out of subscribers and subscription money!
---------- "Anyone posting on this forum is not an average user, and there for any opinions about the game are going to be overly critical compared to an average users opinions." - Me
"Hello person posting on a site specifically for MMO's in a thread on a sub forum specifically for a particular game talking about meta features and making comparisons to other titles in the genre, and their meta features.
Jeez, more 'millions of characters' misleading and non specific artificial claims, enough allready. LotRO is a succesful game I am sure, but it is nto a WoW nor a junior WoW nor anythign of the sort no matter what unsunstantiated and specious ambigious claims you people and Turbine try to make. It has its audience and more power to it, btu at the same time despite many good qualities it has some bad qualities as well, big surprise it is not perfect.
I made no claim about growth, or lack of growth, I only responded to someone who claimed the game was growing when in fact there is no evidence to suggest it is. The reality of MMOs says it is not (as all MMOs, save the rare exception, peak early and taper off over time) as does the lack of additional servers. Of course, this has nothing to do with the OP but let's be clear - some fanboy made the unsubstantiated claim about LotRO growing I only countered saying that what we can see from the outside looking in doesn't show that to be the case.
YES! Launching in 3 other territory's is not a sign of growth! The need for more server stability because of over population on 2 of the server is no sign! The constant awards across many media outlets means the game is on its last legs! The constant free updates of expansion sizes means they are running out of subscribers and subscription money!
I can see how, from the outside looking in, launching additional content in Korea and Russia would be a sign of stagnation and decay. I can also see how not seeing any more servers in my region, regardless of whether there's a new test server or servers in other regions would be a bad sign. Being nominated for 3 golden joystick awards is definitely an indication that everyone's disappointed with the title. What is Turbine thinking coming out with a game like this that is just destined for failure?
"I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak." - O
Jesus, LotRO fanboys are some of the most annoying in games, and that says something. I didn't say the game was dying or even unhealthy nor did I say it was a piece of crap or even a bad game. In fact, I said a number of good things about it and said it is most certainly worth the box price and a sub period or two. Man, I am really trashing the game unrasonably aren't I, man what a hater. But with the fanboys, particuarly the LotRO fanboys, if you are not proclaming this game flawless and secodn only to WoW in its success and billions of subscribers then you are a total basher.
Jesus, LotRO fanboys are some of the most annoying in games, and that says something. I didn't say the game was dying or even unhealthy nor did I say it was a piece of crap or even a bad game. In fact, I said a number of good things about it and said it is most certainly worth the box price and a sub period or two. Man, I am really trashing the game unrasonably aren't I, man what a hater. But with the fanboys, particuarly the LotRO fanboys, if you are not proclaming this game flawless and secodn only to WoW in its success and billions of subscribers then you are a total basher.
I don't think anyone here said that ether, we just said, sarcastically, that just like you thought someone was pulling "Its growing" out of their ass, you pulled "No its not" out of yours.
My personal views, outside of the external signs, are that the game has been growing since Moria, as evidenced by my purely observed evidence of population on my server.
Originally posted by AgtSmith
Jeez, more 'millions of characters' misleading and non specific artificial claims, enough allready. LotRO is a succesful game I am sure, but it is nto a WoW nor a junior WoW nor anythign of the sort no matter what unsunstantiated and specious ambigious claims you people and Turbine try to make. It has its audience and more power to it, btu at the same time despite many good qualities it has some bad qualities as well, big surprise it is not perfect.
Its still the second largest subscription based MMO in North America, no matter how many times you say its not. This also, does not matter. I do have to say, most of your postings have been rather wrong in content. How long did you play, and when?
I made no claim about growth, or lack of growth, I only responded to someone who claimed the game was growing when in fact there is no evidence to suggest it is.
Really? This wasn't you:
I can prove that the game is not exhibiting the common external factors of a growing game
---------- "Anyone posting on this forum is not an average user, and there for any opinions about the game are going to be overly critical compared to an average users opinions." - Me
"Hello person posting on a site specifically for MMO's in a thread on a sub forum specifically for a particular game talking about meta features and making comparisons to other titles in the genre, and their meta features.
Jesus LoTRO trolls are some of the most annoying on MMORPG, and that says something. I did not say the game had a 1,500,000 subscribers or a WoW killer or that it is for everyone or even a perfect game. In fact in the past I have criticized the game and some of their design decision. But the trolls, particularly the LoTRO trolls if you claim the game is doing well, or think that it is a pretty good game then you are a total fanboy.
Jesus, LotRO fanboys are some of the most annoying in games, and that says something. I didn't say the game was dying or even unhealthy nor did I say it was a piece of crap or even a bad game. In fact, I said a number of good things about it and said it is most certainly worth the box price and a sub period or two. Man, I am really trashing the game unrasonably aren't I, man what a hater. But with the fanboys, particuarly the LotRO fanboys, if you are not proclaming this game flawless and secodn only to WoW in its success and billions of subscribers then you are a total basher.
I don't think anyone here said that ether, we just said, sarcastically, that just like you thought someone was pulling "Its growing" out of their ass, you pulled "No its not" out of yours.
My personal views, outside of the external signs, are that the game has been growing since Moria, as evidenced by my purely observed evidence of population on my server.
Originally posted by AgtSmith
Jeez, more 'millions of characters' misleading and non specific artificial claims, enough allready. LotRO is a succesful game I am sure, but it is nto a WoW nor a junior WoW nor anythign of the sort no matter what unsunstantiated and specious ambigious claims you people and Turbine try to make. It has its audience and more power to it, btu at the same time despite many good qualities it has some bad qualities as well, big surprise it is not perfect.
Its still the second largest subscription based MMO in North America, no matter how many times you say its not.
This also, does not matter. I do have to say, most of your postings have been rather wrong in content. How long did you play, and when?
Also, if you read my post above, Mr. Smith, you'll find your "no evidence" in the links (the text with the different color.) That was the whole point. The articles are available for anyone to read. If you want to make assertions of fact regarding what there is or isn't evidence to support, at least read the news that's out there on the web.
I don't think anyone here said that ether, we just said, sarcastically, that just like you thought someone was pulling "Its growing" out of their ass, you pulled "No its not" out of yours.
My personal views, outside of the external signs, are that the game has been growing since Moria, as evidenced by my purely observed evidence of population on my server.
They where pulling it out of their ass, there is nothing in evidence other than speculation to suggest that LotRO didn't do exactly what most all other MMOs do - peak early and taper off as time passes even if Moria brought some folks back. As for since Moria - perhaps, but that doesn't account for the rather obvious fat that before the expansion it was most likely tapering as all MMOs do - Moria might have reversed that some but it is highly dubious to suggest in any context that LotRo has more subs today than at its peak as there is zero evidence that this is the case jsut as there is zero evidence that the game is dying or otherwise unstable.
Originally posted by Mrbloodworth
My personal views, outside of the ex
Its still the second largest subscription based MMO in North America, no matter how many times you say its not.
This also, does not matter. I do have to say, most of your postings have been rather wrong in content. How long did you play, and when?
Ahh, that lovely and meaningless Turbine double talk where they try to sound like they are uniquely big and blockbuster but don't simply announce the one fact that would prove they are. I say BS, plain and simple. Turbine made it clear prior to launch they had WoW like plans for lotRO and after launch they came out with a number of dubious statements to try to further that perception. If they truly acheived anything of note in subscriptions they would have announced the subs, the onyl reason not to is that they simply didn't.
Still playing now, played two weeks from head start into live, played couple months last summer, been playing now for coming up near 70 days. As I said, it is a great game in terms of construction and polish 9save some minor things here and there) but the grouping leaves a lot to be desired in terms of how secodn fiddle it is to the easier and just as rewarding (if not more rewarding since it is faster and easier) solo path. It is also bland in some ways with little charicterization in terms of a player really making their own hero or adventure, in LotRO you mostly (not entirely) play their heros and their adventure.
I am just behind another "lets try out LOTRO" 3-week period. *sigh* What I dont get is, why LOTRO is so damn boring. Really, no trolling meant, but... ya know LOTRO looks great. And I am a huge Tolkien-fan for a long time. There are funny quests, great atmosphere in the various landscapes, it is all very true to the books... and yet every time I think, "hey I am bored... why not try out LOTRO?" it goes the same way. I play it, have fun for 2 weeks, then in week 3 my enthusiasm drops severly, and at week 4 I stop playing. Usually I keep sub another 2-3 weeks until I realize I don't miss the game a heck. The thing is, I can't even say 100% why. In every other MMO I could say exactly why, and usually there are some things which clearly miss. Surely its the dull classes and races, for one thing. But there is some... excitement missing. Some variation. I cant say 100%. Its so much like a theme park of entertainment point A, B and C... When I look at LOTRO rationally, most things seem to be alright, but I cant for the love of the Maker find myself entertained, and that puzzles me. Maybe the world is too "safe" and "known". After playing the game the first 2 months I felt like EQ2 after 3 years. I really dont want to drive you from LOTRO when you like it, thats all fine, but it kinda puts me at odds, but LOTRO is so... DAMN BORING. And that is a pity. Sorta. Anyone else? Oh well... /rant off
I can understand a little why some people may find parts of Lotro boring , Lotro is my number one game and has been since even Beta ... however there are a couple of Elements I find Boring in Lotro
Deeds are fun for a while and soon become a huge grind and Boring
Fishing just does'nt "Float my Boat " and I find the experience just to " Shallow " ... ( pardon the puns !
The crafting kind of ok ish but I dont really bother with as that too can become a little tedious .
and there are far too many Kill x 10 of whatever quests
also some areas have a ridiculous amount of Elite mobs in them so it can become boring trying to get a Group to do them.
but even saying this I am still a Huge Fan of Lotro and the positives far out weigh the little gripes I have with it .
So "Bored of the RIngs" you say ?
I pefer " Can get a little boring now and then of the Rings " ( one of the great things about having a lifetime sub too is that you can pop in and out of the game whenever you like , especially at those times you are a little bored )
I'll end this response with " Whatever Floats you Boat ! "
Ps I hav'nt listed the positives as I need about 6 pages of forum space !
I didn't read the whole thread, so I'll start off by apologizing if I missed something.
But just reading the first few posts, I have to say that I definitely agree with the OP. The game hooks me in for about a month at at ime, and I can't get enough of it, but then it just randomly lets go and I have no idea why. I played Closed Beta for about three weeks, got up to about lvl 39, and all of a sudden had no desire to play.
Played Open Beta to death (first Grand Master Prospector on my server), then hit 50 in two or three weeks and had a blast playing Freep in PvMP for about three more weeks until I just stopped playing.
Came back, played a Creep and fell in love with Creep side of the game for about a month, and then some RL stuff happened and I couldn't play for about a week and that was it for six months, no desire to go back.
Played a Creep again for a few weeks, got to hang out with some old friends from the launch days, and then once again had no desire to play.
Did the Moria thing, got to lvl 60 on my Freep and started collecting Radiance gear, helped out the all-of-a-sudden grossly underpowered Creep side for a few weeks, then entirely lost interest again.
I'm not an ADD kind of guy, in fact most people think I have too much patience. I love everything about LotR as a franchise and when I'm playing LOTRO it's great, but when I'm taking a break there's just nothing to pull me back. Maybe it's the linear aspect of the game, maybe it's because I know that when I do go back I'm going to have to completely relearn my character (playing a Guardian now is nothing like playing a Guardian at launch, and I used to love my Guardian to death), maybe it's because everybody else has the same problem with taking extremely long breaks from this game. Will my friends still be playing? Probably not, and when they do they'll come back for a week or two and leave again.
Or maybe it's just the fact that I know going back now will be no different than going back a month or even a year from now, so what's the hurry? Rohan's not coming out any time soon, the Mines are beautiful but I really prefer Creepside now anyway for its simplicity and relative lack of politics and drama. And as somebody else said, we already know the ending. It's not like the Watcher came as a surprise to anyone, and the movies already did a **** of a job portraying the larger action sequences.
But this is the kind of game that I think Turbine wanted to create. It caters to the casual gamer as well as to the hardcore grinder. Yes, you can go back and play whenever you want to. Yes, you can spend 1000 hours getting the best gear and stats on the server, but yes a green Creep can still pull you into some guards and kick your tush. I can log on my R5 or R6 Creeps and if I have any leadership ability whatsoever, I can successfully lead a raid of other casual players. Or I can roleplay in Bree or the Shire to my heart's desire at level 5. The game literally has no limitations, but that also means it has few incentives.
All I can say is, I'm glad I bought a lifetime sub.
I don't think I'd call it boring. I still play and enjoy LOTRO, but I understand what the OP is talking about. Honestly, I think it is similar to what used to turn people away from some of the sandboxes out there like SWG (pre-cu), EVE, and SoRyzom. At some point they realized that they didn't really have anything more to do that they hadn't done before. Now that might sound silly, as most mmorpgs are just rehashing the same things over and over, but in this case it sticks. LOTRO might not be a sandbox, but the reality is that eventually it starts to feel like one, in that you have to find fun things to do for yourself. And after being spoonfed your progression from 1 to 60, that becomes difficult many people. And honestly, Turbine has not done a good job of providing entertainment beyond they typical levelling and gear.
For example, some things I have done for fun: Made a hobbit and pretended I was on Frodo's journey out of the shire, attempting to recreate his exact path in game. It has become quite difficult actually, and is currently an unfinished challenge (my hobbit is only level 11 now, just out of chance). I only wish I had taken more screens, or FRAPSed it or something.
I ran into a similar feeling playing different MMO's. Sometimes something is missing you just can't quite put your finger on...
Hindsight has helped. Maybe you simply found LOTRO didn't live up to your personal established expectations of MMORPG's in general. Once you play one it forms the basis of your opinion of what to expect when trying out another.
I say keep trying out different one's until you find one that suits you. At the rate they're being released, you should be able to try out a new one that initially suits your eye at least a few times a year.
Me? I went almost two years playing unsatisfying MMO's but am now in my 6th month playing LOTRO. Best MMOPG I've ever played -given what I look for in one, but we all look for different things. So, the problem is not LOTRO itself, it's just that you don't like LOTRO and you find it boring. I can say the same for a bunch of MMO's other people have played for years at a time.
There's gotta be an MMORPG out there that suits you and can hold your interest for several months. You'll probably find one that doesn't bore you if you just keep looking but first you have to figure out what compels you to keep playing one in the first place.
Jesus, LotRO fanboys are some of the most annoying in games, and that says something. I didn't say the game was dying or even unhealthy nor did I say it was a piece of crap or even a bad game. In fact, I said a number of good things about it and said it is most certainly worth the box price and a sub period or two. Man, I am really trashing the game unrasonably aren't I, man what a hater. But with the fanboys, particuarly the LotRO fanboys, if you are not proclaming this game flawless and secodn only to WoW in its success and billions of subscribers then you are a total basher.
Dude pulling the "fanboy" card, when you're factually proven wrong, is soooo old. BTW, it's hysteria you're experiencing Ease off mate.
DB
Denial makes one look a lot dumber than he/she actually is.
Comments
Just thought I'd jump in with my opinion about the combat:
Sum up: WoW combat is fast paced. EQ/LOTRO is slower.
Speedwise, LoTRO to me is between WoW and EQ combat, with WoW at the high end and EQ is slow. (Not the slowest, I'm sure there's slower.) I've watched my friends play WoW, and usually they rapidly hit 1 or 2 buttons. I'm surprised they havn't broken their keyboards (Logitech G15 FTW!) Then when I've played EQ, I'm waiting to use the next ability/spell. So it's noticebly slower.
In LoTRO, I have to wait a bit to hit a skill. That seems to be across all the classes, having to wait for a skill to refresh or to wait for reactive skills to open up. Hence, I can understand why it would seem slower. In groups though, combat is fast with mobs dropping left and right.
Nothing wrong not liking the speed my fellow gamers. I can see how this could be a turn off if you are used to faster. I personally like it slower.
Crap like this is why fans of this game get so tweaked out on this board. I don't mind someone having a different opinion than me. But bitching about things that aren't true is assinine.
I don't want to write this, and you don't want to read it. But now it's too late for both of us.
I too found myself growing bored with this game very quickly. The quests are not unique, pretty much the same as every other mmo, go fetch, kill this many blah blah blah. The classes aren't interesting to me, they seem bland at best. The spell graphics are mediocre. If I am going to cast a spell, I want too see some nice graphics or animation, I felt it was lacking in pizazz. The story line in this is good, the ability to solo things is good as well. I also think the overall graphics of the game were well done and the colors were brilliant (minus the boring spellcasting animations). This game is great to play for about 2 months or so, then the boredom sets in.
"Freedom is just another name for nothing left to lose" - Janis Joplin
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I haven't read much of the posts in this thread but I'm probably quoting someone... or i'll just use phrases we've all heard a billion times to best explain it...
Different strokes for different folks.
or...
You can't please everyone.
I have been playing for almost 2 years now and still not bored, so... yea...
With a title like that, I was expecting a review on the Harvard Lampoon's book and how Turbine should of based their game on that instead of tolkien's version !
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bored_Of_The_Rings
A few token pieces of content does not an effort to encourage and facilitate grouping make, LotRO is a solo game plain and simple save the grindy grin end game. From the noob areas on up the core game design rewards the same XP.items for solo quests that it does for groups quests ignoring the extra effort needed for group quests (forming up, the dynamics of multiple people, and the extra difficulty and time of dealing with areas that are mostly all elite MOBs).
WTF? No, just no. This is not even close to being true.
----------
"Anyone posting on this forum is not an average user, and there for any opinions about the game are going to be overly critical compared to an average users opinions." - Me
"No, your wrong.." - Random user #123
"Hello person posting on a site specifically for MMO's in a thread on a sub forum specifically for a particular game talking about meta features and making comparisons to other titles in the genre, and their meta features.
How are you?" -Me
QFT
) also, for laughs.. this really made me laugh out loud... so true, so true 
)
DB
Denial makes one look a lot dumber than he/she actually is.
"Bored of the Rings" I bet never before has a person been so proud of their thread title from thinking it is so creative, just to later figure out is was in fact pretty lame.
A few token pieces of content does not an effort to encourage and facilitate grouping make, LotRO is a solo game plain and simple save the grindy grin end game. From the noob areas on up the core game design rewards the same XP.items for solo quests that it does for groups quests ignoring the extra effort needed for group quests (forming up, the dynamics of multiple people, and the extra difficulty and time of dealing with areas that are mostly all elite MOBs).
WTF? No, just no. This is not even close to being true.
I don't think that was the point anyway. No bother is worthy trying to explain the difference between facts and opinions, to a naysayer, especially when they don't even know the actual facts (like this post, or the one from Darth_Pete that Yeebo took apart
DB
Denial makes one look a lot dumber than he/she actually is.
Of course there's no evidence, but anyone who has played the game somewhat consistently over the past two years might have a pretty good feel for it. I can only tell you the two servers I play on seem more populated now than ever before. Mines of Moria definitely bumped the population up. Did it bump it to a level higher than the SoA launch? I have no idea, only Turbine knows. I know you want LOTRO to fit into your "reality of MMOs", but what other P2P MMO offers a lifetime subscription? When you put that into the equation, LOTRO probably doesn't follow the typical subscriber turnover patterns of other MMOs.
Don't think you are alone, i personally found it very boring. I don't often go out of my way to pay for a game due to lack of money, and i put some money together, and lasted a short while and got bored. I think it just wasn't for me.
YES! Launching in 3 other territory's is not a sign of growth! The need for more server stability because of over population on 2 of the server is no sign! The constant awards across many media outlets means the game is on its last legs! The constant free updates of expansion sizes means they are running out of subscribers and subscription money!
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"Anyone posting on this forum is not an average user, and there for any opinions about the game are going to be overly critical compared to an average users opinions." - Me
"No, your wrong.." - Random user #123
"Hello person posting on a site specifically for MMO's in a thread on a sub forum specifically for a particular game talking about meta features and making comparisons to other titles in the genre, and their meta features.
How are you?" -Me
Jeez, more 'millions of characters' misleading and non specific artificial claims, enough allready. LotRO is a succesful game I am sure, but it is nto a WoW nor a junior WoW nor anythign of the sort no matter what unsunstantiated and specious ambigious claims you people and Turbine try to make. It has its audience and more power to it, btu at the same time despite many good qualities it has some bad qualities as well, big surprise it is not perfect.
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Achiever 60.00%, Socializer 53.00%, Killer 47.00%, Explorer 40.00%
Intel Core i7 Quad, Intel X58 SLi, 6G Corsair XMS DDR3, Intel X-25 SSD, 3 WD Velociraptor SATA SuperTrak SAS EX8650 Array, OCZ 1250W PS, GTX 295, xFi, 32" 1080p LCD
YES! Launching in 3 other territory's is not a sign of growth! The need for more server stability because of over population on 2 of the server is no sign! The constant awards across many media outlets means the game is on its last legs! The constant free updates of expansion sizes means they are running out of subscribers and subscription money!
I can see how, from the outside looking in, launching additional content in Korea and Russia would be a sign of stagnation and decay. I can also see how not seeing any more servers in my region, regardless of whether there's a new test server or servers in other regions would be a bad sign. Being nominated for 3 golden joystick awards is definitely an indication that everyone's disappointed with the title. What is Turbine thinking coming out with a game like this that is just destined for failure?
"I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak." - O
Jesus, LotRO fanboys are some of the most annoying in games, and that says something. I didn't say the game was dying or even unhealthy nor did I say it was a piece of crap or even a bad game. In fact, I said a number of good things about it and said it is most certainly worth the box price and a sub period or two. Man, I am really trashing the game unrasonably aren't I, man what a hater. But with the fanboys, particuarly the LotRO fanboys, if you are not proclaming this game flawless and secodn only to WoW in its success and billions of subscribers then you are a total basher.
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Achiever 60.00%, Socializer 53.00%, Killer 47.00%, Explorer 40.00%
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I don't think anyone here said that ether, we just said, sarcastically, that just like you thought someone was pulling "Its growing" out of their ass, you pulled "No its not" out of yours.
My personal views, outside of the external signs, are that the game has been growing since Moria, as evidenced by my purely observed evidence of population on my server.
Its still the second largest subscription based MMO in North America, no matter how many times you say its not.
This also, does not matter. I do have to say, most of your postings have been rather wrong in content. How long did you play, and when?
Really? This wasn't you:
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"Anyone posting on this forum is not an average user, and there for any opinions about the game are going to be overly critical compared to an average users opinions." - Me
"No, your wrong.." - Random user #123
"Hello person posting on a site specifically for MMO's in a thread on a sub forum specifically for a particular game talking about meta features and making comparisons to other titles in the genre, and their meta features.
How are you?" -Me
Jesus LoTRO trolls are some of the most annoying on MMORPG, and that says something. I did not say the game had a 1,500,000 subscribers or a WoW killer or that it is for everyone or even a perfect game. In fact in the past I have criticized the game and some of their design decision. But the trolls, particularly the LoTRO trolls if you claim the game is doing well, or think that it is a pretty good game then you are a total fanboy.
I miss DAoC
I don't think anyone here said that ether, we just said, sarcastically, that just like you thought someone was pulling "Its growing" out of their ass, you pulled "No its not" out of yours.
My personal views, outside of the external signs, are that the game has been growing since Moria, as evidenced by my purely observed evidence of population on my server.
Its still the second largest subscription based MMO in North America, no matter how many times you say its not.
This also, does not matter. I do have to say, most of your postings have been rather wrong in content. How long did you play, and when?
Also, if you read my post above, Mr. Smith, you'll find your "no evidence" in the links (the text with the different color.) That was the whole point. The articles are available for anyone to read. If you want to make assertions of fact regarding what there is or isn't evidence to support, at least read the news that's out there on the web.
My personal views, outside of the external signs, are that the game has been growing since Moria, as evidenced by my purely observed evidence of population on my server.
They where pulling it out of their ass, there is nothing in evidence other than speculation to suggest that LotRO didn't do exactly what most all other MMOs do - peak early and taper off as time passes even if Moria brought some folks back. As for since Moria - perhaps, but that doesn't account for the rather obvious fat that before the expansion it was most likely tapering as all MMOs do - Moria might have reversed that some but it is highly dubious to suggest in any context that LotRo has more subs today than at its peak as there is zero evidence that this is the case jsut as there is zero evidence that the game is dying or otherwise unstable.
Its still the second largest subscription based MMO in North America, no matter how many times you say its not.
This also, does not matter. I do have to say, most of your postings have been rather wrong in content. How long did you play, and when?
Ahh, that lovely and meaningless Turbine double talk where they try to sound like they are uniquely big and blockbuster but don't simply announce the one fact that would prove they are. I say BS, plain and simple. Turbine made it clear prior to launch they had WoW like plans for lotRO and after launch they came out with a number of dubious statements to try to further that perception. If they truly acheived anything of note in subscriptions they would have announced the subs, the onyl reason not to is that they simply didn't.
Still playing now, played two weeks from head start into live, played couple months last summer, been playing now for coming up near 70 days. As I said, it is a great game in terms of construction and polish 9save some minor things here and there) but the grouping leaves a lot to be desired in terms of how secodn fiddle it is to the easier and just as rewarding (if not more rewarding since it is faster and easier) solo path. It is also bland in some ways with little charicterization in terms of a player really making their own hero or adventure, in LotRO you mostly (not entirely) play their heros and their adventure.
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Achiever 60.00%, Socializer 53.00%, Killer 47.00%, Explorer 40.00%
Intel Core i7 Quad, Intel X58 SLi, 6G Corsair XMS DDR3, Intel X-25 SSD, 3 WD Velociraptor SATA SuperTrak SAS EX8650 Array, OCZ 1250W PS, GTX 295, xFi, 32" 1080p LCD
I can understand a little why some people may find parts of Lotro boring , Lotro is my number one game and has been since even Beta ... however there are a couple of Elements I find Boring in Lotro
but even saying this I am still a Huge Fan of Lotro and the positives far out weigh the little gripes I have with it .
So "Bored of the RIngs" you say ?
I pefer " Can get a little boring now and then of the Rings " ( one of the great things about having a lifetime sub too is that you can pop in and out of the game whenever you like , especially at those times you are a little bored )
I'll end this response with " Whatever Floats you Boat ! "
Ps I hav'nt listed the positives as I need about 6 pages of forum space !
I didn't read the whole thread, so I'll start off by apologizing if I missed something.
But just reading the first few posts, I have to say that I definitely agree with the OP. The game hooks me in for about a month at at ime, and I can't get enough of it, but then it just randomly lets go and I have no idea why. I played Closed Beta for about three weeks, got up to about lvl 39, and all of a sudden had no desire to play.
Played Open Beta to death (first Grand Master Prospector on my server), then hit 50 in two or three weeks and had a blast playing Freep in PvMP for about three more weeks until I just stopped playing.
Came back, played a Creep and fell in love with Creep side of the game for about a month, and then some RL stuff happened and I couldn't play for about a week and that was it for six months, no desire to go back.
Played a Creep again for a few weeks, got to hang out with some old friends from the launch days, and then once again had no desire to play.
Did the Moria thing, got to lvl 60 on my Freep and started collecting Radiance gear, helped out the all-of-a-sudden grossly underpowered Creep side for a few weeks, then entirely lost interest again.
I'm not an ADD kind of guy, in fact most people think I have too much patience. I love everything about LotR as a franchise and when I'm playing LOTRO it's great, but when I'm taking a break there's just nothing to pull me back. Maybe it's the linear aspect of the game, maybe it's because I know that when I do go back I'm going to have to completely relearn my character (playing a Guardian now is nothing like playing a Guardian at launch, and I used to love my Guardian to death), maybe it's because everybody else has the same problem with taking extremely long breaks from this game. Will my friends still be playing? Probably not, and when they do they'll come back for a week or two and leave again.
Or maybe it's just the fact that I know going back now will be no different than going back a month or even a year from now, so what's the hurry? Rohan's not coming out any time soon, the Mines are beautiful but I really prefer Creepside now anyway for its simplicity and relative lack of politics and drama. And as somebody else said, we already know the ending. It's not like the Watcher came as a surprise to anyone, and the movies already did a **** of a job portraying the larger action sequences.
But this is the kind of game that I think Turbine wanted to create. It caters to the casual gamer as well as to the hardcore grinder. Yes, you can go back and play whenever you want to. Yes, you can spend 1000 hours getting the best gear and stats on the server, but yes a green Creep can still pull you into some guards and kick your tush. I can log on my R5 or R6 Creeps and if I have any leadership ability whatsoever, I can successfully lead a raid of other casual players. Or I can roleplay in Bree or the Shire to my heart's desire at level 5. The game literally has no limitations, but that also means it has few incentives.
All I can say is, I'm glad I bought a lifetime sub.
I miss DAoC.
I don't think I'd call it boring. I still play and enjoy LOTRO, but I understand what the OP is talking about. Honestly, I think it is similar to what used to turn people away from some of the sandboxes out there like SWG (pre-cu), EVE, and SoRyzom. At some point they realized that they didn't really have anything more to do that they hadn't done before. Now that might sound silly, as most mmorpgs are just rehashing the same things over and over, but in this case it sticks. LOTRO might not be a sandbox, but the reality is that eventually it starts to feel like one, in that you have to find fun things to do for yourself. And after being spoonfed your progression from 1 to 60, that becomes difficult many people. And honestly, Turbine has not done a good job of providing entertainment beyond they typical levelling and gear.
For example, some things I have done for fun: Made a hobbit and pretended I was on Frodo's journey out of the shire, attempting to recreate his exact path in game. It has become quite difficult actually, and is currently an unfinished challenge (my hobbit is only level 11 now, just out of chance). I only wish I had taken more screens, or FRAPSed it or something.
I ran into a similar feeling playing different MMO's. Sometimes something is missing you just can't quite put your finger on...
Hindsight has helped. Maybe you simply found LOTRO didn't live up to your personal established expectations of MMORPG's in general. Once you play one it forms the basis of your opinion of what to expect when trying out another.
I say keep trying out different one's until you find one that suits you. At the rate they're being released, you should be able to try out a new one that initially suits your eye at least a few times a year.
Me? I went almost two years playing unsatisfying MMO's but am now in my 6th month playing LOTRO. Best MMOPG I've ever played -given what I look for in one, but we all look for different things. So, the problem is not LOTRO itself, it's just that you don't like LOTRO and you find it boring. I can say the same for a bunch of MMO's other people have played for years at a time.
There's gotta be an MMORPG out there that suits you and can hold your interest for several months. You'll probably find one that doesn't bore you if you just keep looking but first you have to figure out what compels you to keep playing one in the first place.
Dude pulling the "fanboy" card, when you're factually proven wrong, is soooo old. BTW, it's hysteria you're experiencing
Ease off mate.
DB
Denial makes one look a lot dumber than he/she actually is.