Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
anyone?
Empyre
Member Posts: 46
ok so i've been listening to everything about LOTRO on this site... and i'm kinda confused it seem like a good game... but i have some question before i go and blow money on it.... what are the basics from someone who has played if possible because i don't understand exactly there are no warring factions or anything... its just everyone against mobs? and is there a good guild system set up? i just dont get the exact basis for the game seeing as it seems to go the exact opposite way of most mmorpg now by no means would that discourage me from actually buying it but i want to see if it is worthwhile because i know a trial is way way in the future... so if anyone would be so kind as to explain some of it for me that would be great... thx
Empyre
Empyre
Comments
I miss DAoC
the game is mostly a PvE game but the PvP (or should i say MvP) is very well done! there arent many people on the monster play areas because to go into that area as your normal character and not your monster requires u 2 be level 40+ but soon the monster play part will be 1 of the funnest things in this game! guilds in this game are called kinships and being in 1 gives you a kinship member title. the second u log in u r put into a simple instanced mission which isnt very hard but it gives u the basic feel of the game. after that u go thru an instanced area with a series of intro quests and optional quests. after the intro quests u go thru another instanced mission which is a little more challenging than the 1st one but still is somewhat easy but its still fun. after that the world is completely open to explore and there are quest givers everywhere. that gets me 2 my next point, LotRO is definately one of the best MMOs for u if u want to RP. monster play becomes avaiable at level 10. using your monster character u can not only fight other players, but they have their own share of quests and stuff! all in all i think this game is very well made and is a huge improvement from DDO!!!
This game has no PvP instead it has an odd system where you could paly the part of a NPC monster. Its a way of keeping the lore behind the game ok.
If you went to the official forums you'd find the same thing, hundreds of threads patiently explaining all aspects of the game to anyone who asked.....
And reviews, already this site has a first look and I've read at least 4 or 5 other reviews in other forums about their thoughts on the game as of the end of the World tour...
Speaking of that..why didn't you get in on the world tour...they let anyone in who wanted to join for free....was a great chance to see what the game was all about.
Heck, go to a nearby EB games and see if anyone's broken the celophane on one of the Prima game guides... great source of intro material....
Oh well, I'm told the game boxes all contain buddy keys... you're best bet right now would be to try and get someone to give you one...then you could see for yourself....
If you really want good responses to your forum posts...ask very specific questions.... and you'll likely get answers....
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
If you are a fan of the books you will probably like it. You get to adventure in middle-earth, that is a big draw for fans.
If your looking for something new and different then stay away from this one. It is just like a lot of other online games.
If you went to the official forums you'd find the same thing, hundreds of threads patiently explaining all aspects of the game to anyone who asked.....
And reviews, already this site has a first look and I've read at least 4 or 5 other reviews in other forums about their thoughts on the game as of the end of the World tour...
Speaking of that..why didn't you get in on the world tour...they let anyone in who wanted to join for free....was a great chance to see what the game was all about.
Heck, go to a nearby EB games and see if anyone's broken the celophane on one of the Prima game guides... great source of intro material....
Oh well, I'm told the game boxes all contain buddy keys... you're best bet right now would be to try and get someone to give you one...then you could see for yourself....
If you really want good responses to your forum posts...ask very specific questions.... and you'll likely get answers....
First to try and answer your questions:
1. can you own any buildings i.e. castles guild halls... houses?
Not right now. Guild halls and player housing is promised for a future update. Seeing how tubine actually deliver, I believe them.
2. mounts?
Yep. There are mounts for fast travel, and you can buy a mount (horse or pony) at level 35, if you have the cash.
3. any expansions planned or anything for PVP?
Yes. There is a free expansion coming in June, with another zone, extra features, improvements to the music system (where you actually play an instrument on your keyboard) and item sets. Turbine also promise that Monster Play will get additions, extra features and improvements as time goes on. There won't be any PvP like other games - it's solely based on Monster Play as described above.
4. how does this compare to Wow... i've heard a lot of comparisons and i used to play wow so it's a reference point for me...
It's a matter of opinion. Mine is that LOTRO is better than WoW in many areas - especially with the "bread and butter" of LOTRO - the quests. They are two very different games, despite what the haters might say, but there are similarities with the UI and certain features - I expect for ergonomical reasons. Combat in LOTRO is slower and more tactical, if you like the quick fire system of WoW, you might be dissappointed here. There is hardly any balance issues because there is no (open style) PvP. LOTRO isn't as itemised as WoW, nor does it have the same skill system. Finding groups (fellowships) is MUCH easier with LOTRO because of the excellent social panel. Because of the depth and the well known story, roleplaying is much easier and fun too in LOTRO. In my experience, the LOTRO community is one of the best I have ever encountered.
Like WoW, LOTRO runs well on mid range systems, though not quite as hardware forgiving as WoW, LOTRO makes up for it with incredible scenery, artwork and lighting. IMO, LOTRO also has a better "feel" than WoW, because of the setting, graphics and certain special effects that add a great deal of atmosphere to the game. To find out truely how it measures up, you'd have to take the plunge and play the game for yourself.
5. magic users? i've heard LOTRO is really lacking on magic users... is this true...
Yes and no. Magic is handled based on the lore of the original books. Wizards are a very very rare thing in middle earth; only a handful have ever existed. The "wizard-type" class that LOTRO offers is the Lore Master, and while some may think they use magic to defeat their foes, they actually use science and lore for their range of abilities. They are not a nuker, or a DPS class - they are crowd control, insane debuff, secondary heal pet classes, so offer a more tactical role in the game. They are also a challenge to play correctly. If you ever played EQ - they are pretty much like the enchanter. The pets they get are the Raven, the Bear and eventually a (Giant?) Eagle. The pets do not start off small and get bigger as you level - they are actual animals of an appropriate size from the moment you get them. They also can't tank everything you send them up against, but are supposed to be a helper in order for you to defeat your foes.
The devs have said that they are "discussing" the possibility of Lore Masters being able to tame other animals in Middle Earth in a future update, so that sounds promising.
Magic itself is everywhere in LOTRO - it's just more subtle, like it is in the books. LOTRO plays, feels and works very differently to any other MMO I've played, of course within the constraints of what actually works in an MMO. I suggest you try and find a buddy key to try the game out to see if you like it, as it seems that some people love it for what it is, and some hate it for what it isn't.
Hope this helps.
thanks that really does help a whole lot!!!! one final question because i'm really close to just going out and buying the game at this point... but is there a specific healer class... because most of the time that's what i end up being... so is there?
and does anyone have a buddy key they would like to give me... it would really be appreciated...thank all of you for the responses most of them were very well thought out and extremely helpful...
That being said, I think the thing with LotRO comes down to this - it is probably fair to say it is a great game of the IP (LoTR) but it is only an average MMO (although well made). What I mean by that is that if you are looking for a way to play LoTR then you will probably like LotRO but if you are looking for a good MMO then try something else. The only real appeal of this game is the IP, LotRO - without that the mechanic of playing is boring and not very involved.
--------------------------------
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
"Don't corpse-camp that idea. Its never gonna rez"
Bladezz (The Guild)
That being said, I think the thing with LotRO comes down to this - it is probably fair to say it is a great game of the IP (LoTR) but it is only an average MMO (although well made). What I mean by that is that if you are looking for a way to play LoTR then you will probably like LotRO but if you are looking for a good MMO then try something else. The only real appeal of this game is the IP, LotRO - without that the mechanic of playing is boring and not very involved.I disagree with the idea of LotRO's being a mediocre MMO. I played EQ1, Horizons, EQII, Wish (very brief beta {:-( sadly), EVE, WoW and Vanguard, and for me, LotRO is right up there with the best of 'em. Comparing features doesn't really tell you how the game feels; there's too much of the chef's art involved. But for me LotRO is a lot of fun, and I bought the founders' lifetime offer.
The main healing class is the Minstrel. My main is a minstrel and I can say it's one of better designs for a healer class in terms of how I like to play. They use different ballads and such to both cause damage to opponents, give themselves and their fellowship buffs, as well as the usual heal skills.
Fun class to play in groups, and you can solo fairly well also when you get used to the class due to the heals, buffs, and damaging shouts and ballads. Is a melee class, at least up as far as I've played it.