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Lord of the Rings Online: Dev. Diary Looks At Monster Play

GFullsGFulls Member Posts: 478
in News & Features Discussion

Lord of the Rings Online's Developer's Diary with Allan Maki gives us a look at Monster Play in the Ettenmoors.

Welcome to the first of many Developer Diary installments discussing monster play. We've kept the wraps on this aspect of the production for long enough, so here's your first look behind the curtain at the geography of your monster playground!

Where is the Ettenmoors?

North of Rivendell are the troll-fens where Aragorn's grandfather, Arador, met his end at the hands of the Hill-trolls dwelling in the Coldfells. Long lost to corruption, the Ettenmoors once served as a home to the kingdom of Rhudaur.

In the north, flowing out of the Misty Mountains, is the Hoarwell River. The great river flows toward the south, becoming impassable until the Last Bridge at the border of the Lone-lands and the Trollshaws. It is rumored that Fallohide Hobbits may once have migrated along the shores of the Hoarwell River, perhaps even making themselves a home along its banks as they journeyed west across the Misty Mountains.

In the Northwest, a terrible peak rises to cast its great shadow far to the east. This mountain, once home to the goblin Golfimbul, is known as Mount Gram and at its foot, the fearsome forces of Angmar have laid claim to the land.

Hope is not yet lost in the Gramsfoot. An Elf, Lainedhel, discontent with Elrond's choice to trust the power of the Elven-ring Vilya to defend Rivendell from the host pressing through the North Downs into the Ettenmoors, has rallied the Free Peoples of Eriador to the Ettenmoors. Their fortress in the southeast stands as a bastion of Light against the ever-growing darkness.

Read more here.

Comments

  • MeonMeon Member Posts: 993

    I love reading these articles on how turbine will open the middle earth to us. I have no doubt it will be a great game, but i have my doubts i'll actually be playing i

  • VallenarVallenar Member Posts: 124

    I liked and didn't like this dev diary.  I thought it gave a nice look at the area where Monster Play will take place but it said aboslutley nothing about how Monster Play will actually work.  I'm sure Turbine did this to create a backdrop on which to base the rest of their information around, but I was hoping for a little meat on the actual system than just POIs.

  • xrebelxrebel Member Posts: 133
    Originally posted by Vallenar


    I liked and didn't like this dev diary.  I thought it gave a nice look at the area where Monster Play will take place but it said aboslutley nothing about how Monster Play will actually work.  I'm sure Turbine did this to create a backdrop on which to base the rest of their information around, but I was hoping for a little meat on the actual system than just POIs.
    I second that... I love lore but... uhm... it's a game, I want to know how it PLAYS :)



    This is what we're waiting for:

    "We hope you enjoyed this introduction to the monster play environment. Watch for our next installment, which will delve deeper into details about the monsters themselves!"

    Retired from WoW
    Rebellion - 60 Warlock || Kalaa - 60 Warrior
    Littlerebel - 60 Hunter || Albie - 60 Shaman
    Played: Erm, a lot more.

  • TymoraTymora Member UncommonPosts: 1,295
    Originally posted by Meon


    I love reading these articles on how turbine will open the middle earth to us. I have no doubt it will be a great game, but i have my doubts i'll actually be playing i
    These articles are great, but I would give most of the credit to J.R.R Tolkein for that.  When LotRO is complete and I've played, then I'll decide just how well Turbine has done.  That game looks promising, but there are far too many mmorpg norms and too little innovation.  I am afraid it will be just another ordinary mmorpg but cast in the best fantasy setting ever.  That can only go so far, so I am really hoping that the gameplay will be strong and most of all, I hope that Turbine represents the books well.
  • MeonMeon Member Posts: 993

    Originally posted by Tymora
    Originally posted by Meon I love reading these articles on how turbine will open the middle earth to us. I have no doubt it will be a great game, but i have my doubts i'll actually be playing i
    These articles are great, but I would give most of the credit to J.R.R Tolkein for that. When LotRO is complete and I've played, then I'll decide just how well Turbine has done. That game looks promising, but there are far too many mmorpg norms and too little innovation. I am afraid it will be just another ordinary mmorpg but cast in the best fantasy setting ever. That can only go so far, so I am really hoping that the gameplay will be strong and most of all, I hope that Turbine represents the books well.

    Obviously, alot of credit should go to Tolkien. But many areas included in Turbine's game have never been talked about by both J.R.R and Christopher Tolkien.

  • gpettgpett Member Posts: 1,105
    I've talked with some pople in the LotRO beta.  Monster play is a fun way to PvP.  But, it lacks the organisation of other true PvP games.  LotRO moster play is more like a ton of individuals running around trying to war instead of well regimented armies inspired or controlled by thier leaders.  Doesnt really sound like the wars of middle earth to me.
  • TiranorTiranor Member Posts: 14
    It's up to the players how organized Monster Play is. They have their own chat channel as far as I know. They can also identify other Moster Players.

    So if they don't use it to form groups it's not the fault of the system.



    It was always dependent on the players to ruin or "honour" a feature like that.
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