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What's the "END-GAME"?
Alejux
Member Posts: 17
I'm trying to decide if I should start this game, and join some of my friends who have just started on it. But I have this doubt.
What's the end-game of LOTRO?
1. Can you and your clan/guild affect changes in the world?
2. Is there any territorial dispute?
3. Is it a game where you want to level your character to a max?
This post is really out of ignorance of the game. I want to know if this is a game for me, and if I should invest time and money on it.
The games I have played so far have an element of PvP and territorial dispute, that makes it exciting and makes you want to level your char and your clan. Being that there is no "my char/clan can beat your char/clan" in this game, what do you really strive for in LOTRO? What make you want to play more and more?
What's the end-game of LOTRO?
1. Can you and your clan/guild affect changes in the world?
2. Is there any territorial dispute?
3. Is it a game where you want to level your character to a max?
This post is really out of ignorance of the game. I want to know if this is a game for me, and if I should invest time and money on it.
The games I have played so far have an element of PvP and territorial dispute, that makes it exciting and makes you want to level your char and your clan. Being that there is no "my char/clan can beat your char/clan" in this game, what do you really strive for in LOTRO? What make you want to play more and more?
Comments
But to answer your question, i dont think there is any territory dispute type clan stuff, although it would be a fun MMO, i dont think that is for this game, or at least not right now.
You are asking for a PvP focused game. LotR is not, its a PvE focused game.
It has monster play but that is not really what you are looking for I can tell. The game is story / quest driven like a traditional RPG. Sounds like you might be better suited to DAOC, Lineage 2 or EVE. These games allow player impact on the game world. LotRs does not.
I too cannot decide if this is the game for me. In WoW, there is a reason for wanting better gear. The better your gear, the better you are at pvp. The better you are at pvp/pve means there is more things that you can accomplish. What I want to know is, If there is no pvp, why would you even want better gear? What is the motivation to get to tha last big boss in an instance? This is the thing I dont get about LOTR.
I love doing quests and such. I find them fun in an mmo. But I just want to know what the motivation factor is in getting to the highest levels and having awsome gear?
You guys ever hear about the "bartles test"?
It really helps you figure out what type of gamer you are and how well you match up to certain style games.
http://www.guildcafe.com/zQuest.php
Players looking for the best gear and the highest levels as fast as possible are usually "achievers" or "killers". While players who are heavy into RP are usually "Socializers" or "explorers".
There is a HUGE difference in playstyles and some types do not get along.
I agree with everything youre saying, but..........If you like to roleplay, What do you do after youve reached the top level? What motivates you to keep playing? If it isnt to get better gear than what is it? This is the answer Im lookin for to decide if I am gonna try it or not. Your Honest answer is very much appreciated.
and then we have:
Right here is the growing divide, and the continuous clash between MMO/RPG gamers. Each side feels more and more like the other is ruining the MMO industry. It's also why I think we see so much vitriol on forums like this and even within games these days. So the WoW haters come out in droves and try to squash anyone that may like the game. The LOTRO haters come out and do the same. To one side it's all about the gear and pvp and taking on human players for fame and recognition. To the other side, it's all about the world and immersion and taking on new challenges (whether it's quests, exploration, or social roleplaying). The roleplayer despises the arrogance and attitude of the pvper, the pvper despises the fruity "thee & thou", tavern dancing roleplayer.
Sadly, gaming companies try to cater to both of these markets at once....with usually mixed results that end in one side being pissed because the other side "whined and the game changed too much now". However, when a company makes a game geared more, if not wholly toward one side it gets massive hate from the other side. This hate is a response I don't much understand...I mean, if you don't like it, don't play *shrug*. Is it neccessary to go bash those that do like it, or thinking about liking it? Go find a game you like and play it.
To the OP : Like above, I doubt this is the game for you. I'm sure your aware of all the other games out there more down your alley. If your thinking of trying LOTRO in order to play with guildies, or friends....I would wait a few months and see if they are still playing, and if so, maybe give it a shot. But as it stands, I doubt there is much in LOTRO that would appeal to you.
Right here is the growing divide, and the continuous clash between MMO/RPG gamers. Each side feels more and more like the other is ruining the MMO industry. It's also why I think we see so much vitriol on forums like this and even within games these days. So the WoW haters come out in droves and try to squash anyone that may like the game. The LOTRO haters come out and do the same. To one side it's all about the gear and pvp and taking on human players for fame and recognition. To the other side, it's all about the world and immersion and taking on new challenges (whether it's quests, exploration, or social roleplaying). The roleplayer despises the arrogance and attitude of the pvper, the pvper despises the fruity "thee & thou", tavern dancing roleplayer.
Sadly, gaming companies try to cater to both of these markets at once....with usually mixed results that end in one side being pissed because the other side "whined and the game changed too much now". However, when a company makes a game geared more, if not wholly toward one side it gets massive hate from the other side. This hate is a response I don't much understand...I mean, if you don't like it, don't play *shrug*. Is it neccessary to go bash those that do like it, or thinking about liking it? Go find a game you like and play it.
To the OP : Like above, I doubt this is the game for you. I'm sure your aware of all the other games out there more down your alley. If your thinking of trying LOTRO in order to play with guildies, or friends....I would wait a few months and see if they are still playing, and if so, maybe give it a shot. But as it stands, I doubt there is much in LOTRO that would appeal to you.
"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
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"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
I agree with everything youre saying, but..........If you like to roleplay, What do you do after youve reached the top level? What motivates you to keep playing? If it isnt to get better gear than what is it? This is the answer Im lookin for to decide if I am gonna try it or not. Your Honest answer is very much appreciated.
Its very easy once you understand that there are different play styles. RPers play for the community and the opportunity to participate in an RP environment. Gear is just a prop. Yes its important but its just an ingame object that you will just need to replace anyway.
Achievers play with set goals in mind first. Reach level cap, influence the world, get the best gear....
I agree with everything youre saying, but..........If you like to roleplay, What do you do after youve reached the top level? What motivates you to keep playing? If it isnt to get better gear than what is it? This is the answer Im lookin for to decide if I am gonna try it or not. Your Honest answer is very much appreciated.
To an RPer, it's the experiance of GETTING to the end that is the reward, not actually what you collect during and at the end. It's a differant mindset. Think of it this way:
Guy 1 has a car that is pretty cool, he constantly works on it to make it better. When he is done with the car, he sells it, keeps it, gives it away, whatever...Then he goes and gets another one and does the same thing all over from scratch, and so on, and so on. He likes the process of working on the car, not the finished car. It's the work he does that brings him satisfaction, not the end result.
Guy 2 has a car that is pretty cool. He works on it and has work done on it to make it better. When he is done working on the car, and it's everything he wanted it to be, he keeps it and goes out and shows it off. He is pleased with what he has done, and wants to show others. He isn't really interested in a new car, because he likes what he has done to his. He likes the finished car, the end result. While the work was fine and maybe even enjoyable, it's the finished car that brings him satisfaction.
is that an understandable analogy?
What, then, is the end-game? Seriously, is it raiding large dungeons? Or are there other components to the game that are unique to LOTRO?
Well I sort of touched on it already.
But..."endgame" (I believe) started largely with DAoC because you needed to get to level cap to play the PvP frontiers effectively (or whatever they called it way back, I forgot) It was the first game to really put the target squarely on the achiever goal of getting to the end. The game wasn't really about RPG at all, it was about the RvR or capturing keeps and relics (flags in essence).
Since then "endgame" has evolved into mainly a raid mini-game that SOE started even further back with EQ. The only games to stick with the virtual world concept have largely died off. Games like the OLD SWG, Ryzom, UO didn't have an "end" objective, for example. They were worlds you played in with your community, did different things and followed different character developement paths. There were far less barriers to play (aside from punishing grinds which most games still have) and they were not compartmentalized like WoW or GW.
It really depends on what kind of player you are. If an achiever, you are going to want the game to give clear set objectives, like WoW or GW. Socializers are going to want community and environment and "endgame" generally doesn't exsist in those types of games. You just play until you get bored or your community moves on. They see it more as a personae living in a world rather then a toon grinding levels. Games like UO, Ryzom or old SWG are the best example of that.
So simply put: to a Socializer or explorer - endgame does not and should not exist in a game.
To an Achiever or killer - a game without clear objectives is blurred and dull.
Its a bit deeper then that.....but basically the 4 play styles are not compatible in many ways hence the huge gulf of opinions about what MMO's should be. Keep in mind everyone has all 4 qualities but its how much of each you are.
1. The world is a heavily scripted place that has instanced and shared areas. The Answer: No, you or your clan cannot affect changes in the world that is related to other players. Yes, you and your kinship/fellowship can do quests that can have permanent changes to the game but is only unique to you. Example: If you do a story quest that has a town burned to the ground, then the town is effectively destroyed in your eyes but not to other players who have not yet done the quest.
2. Well if you are referring to territorial conquests via PvP that has a worldwide impact then no this game does not have such. However, LOTRO has a unique form of PvP called Monster Play. Basically other players can play as monsters and try to kill player heroes in an area called Ettinmoor (which is part of the actual world not some instanced BG like WoW). Participating in MonsterPlay will earn you Destiny Points which are usable by ALL your characters in a particular server. As a Monster, you can use Destiny Points to upgrade your monster's armor, skill, stats, abilties, etc. (so yes, if you are a good in playing as a monster then you can build up your monster) However, as player heroes you can use Destiny Points in another way. Destiny Points can be used to purchase temporary buffs to your hero character such as more XP, buffs and such. Note, however that monster characters DO NOT level up, currently you start off as a max level monster (lvl 50) with a static skill, abilities, equipment. You can use Destiny Points to toughen up your monster characters by improving its skills and abilities as well as armor.
3. Just like any regular MMORPG the higher your characters are the more and tougher challenges you will have to face. It is the same for LOTRO.
The end-game of LOTRO is as of current is about participating in epic battles (raids) and monster play.