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LotRO, the new WoW?
Starbear
Member Posts: 37
I like WoW, and I also like LotRO, but I do have to ask: 'am I the onlyone who notices that these two games are twins? I've tryed mentioning this in my Kinship but they don't seem to agree with me. This isn't to say that the game is bad but I will admit LotRO has already become "repetative" to me in the fact that its so similar to WoW.
-Crafting System is almost the same thing, this includes Nodes and such.
-The UI is nearly identical, map in the same are, backpacks in the same spot heck even the exp bar is floating at the bottom of the screen just like in WoW (not that LotRO is the first game to copy that).
-Elites and Elite quests, this system of "uber spawns" seems taken right out of WoW. Sure you've got differnt flavors like your Signatures are somewhat stronger than your normals, and you move up to the Elites with the nice ring around there photo to let you know they're stronger... heck you even have the "super" elites and your Nemesis types. In the end though this is just like any raid content that WoW had.
It dosn't end with that but I wont continue the list, aside from the travel system not flying its also the same. I'm not trying to bash the game, but I'm pointing this out to anyone who is interested... that I'm 100% sick of the WoW style of gameplay. I've played it in WoW and this game is fun, the story has kept me going upto 25, but I'm starting to lose my steam. One must ask... is WoW copying the future of all MMOS?
Comments
Well another posts on LOTR/WOW...
LOTR has so many features that compare it to AC2 more than it does to WoW (in my opinion). Have you ever played AC2? UI, Graphics, Crafting, Combat. Why even when you complete a epic instance and get the cut scene, it did the same thing when you did the vaults in AC2. I am even going to wager the same narrator, because it sounds a lot like him.
To me LOTR is a beefed up AC2. I enjoyed AC2 as well.
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Promote what you love instead of bashing what you hate.
Because STO is "vaporware" you need to troll the LOTRO forum. Too funny.
"Don't corpse-camp that idea. Its never gonna rez"
Bladezz (The Guild)
2) Crafting is similar to WoW only due to the fact you can track ore/wood nodes. You don't have critial success in WoW's crafting system.
3) Both games have quests that are given by easily tracked quest givers.
If you want to see similarities between the games, you can find them. I played WoW for 2 1/2 years and LOTRO since Sept (Closed Beta).
I don't see that many similarities between the two.
"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
LOTRO is a step back in MMO development and for a title that can boast a story that inspired most fantasy games, it falls short.
From what I gather, Turbine realised the failures of their past ventures and wanted a title that will not do greatly but will not fail...
Something to milk for a time so they can finish licking their wounds...
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Hmm I didn't mention anything about STO... where did you get that from? I'd have to say stay on topic... yes I'm a big STO fan, as you can tell from my avatar but that has nothing to do with what I'm talking about.
I can see where people are saying its AC2 (though I stand by what I said with it being a lot like WoW). In the end though AC2 or WoW its still a rehash of an old MMO. With that said I birng up the question... when are we going to get somthing new?
Also some of you seem to get the idea that I hate LotRO... I don't I like it very much, it has a very well done story system... I just feel a bit cheated because they didn't create an origonal game, rather they have copied many older styles of MMOs. Again not a horrible thing and I'm not trying to attack people, but rather bring up a point that MMOs (and using LotRO) have started copying eachother a ton.
Because STO is "vaporware" you need to troll the LOTRO forum. Too funny.
- Deeds (sub quests and accomplishments that give bonuses to a stats). This seems to promote exploring and not skipping quests. A power leveler will not be a strong as a well traveled player who really puts their time into the quests and exploration. Completing deeds also give you access to various player titles. I like this feature.
- Traits - (given to you by completing quests and sometimes by leveling. You can only have a few active at any one time and they can boost skills/attributes and some unlock heroic skills.
- Mounts - level 35+
- Combat chain maneuvers in groups. A little different than other mmos
- Destiny Points - PvP points gained by leveling and killing monster players. use to buy temporary buffs
- Play as a monster. Yup, at level 10, you can create a level 50 monster to kill players with in a special zone.
- crafting - similar to wow but chance for critical success giving you a better item than normal. 10 professions
- bank / mail system / auction house
In summary, after playing EQ/EQ2/WoW and then getting burned out, I tried Guild Wars, Vanguard, Eve, CoH/CoV, Ryzom, and find LoTR more fun personally. Will probably be my new thing until AoC and GoH come out.
The problem is very little, as previously stated, of WoW is original. I mean that in gameplay mechanics and UI. Blizzard has the talent and the manpower to refine a design to almost perfect.
Blizz fanbois will take issue with this but Blizz is not an innovator. They just make great games by refining what others tried to do in previous efforts. WoW is a great example of this.
DIKU based MMOs all have very similar components. Visually (UI, quest givers, etc....) there is only so many ways to represent specific aspects of the UI. So I'm not sure what you would want to make different and honestly what's the difference if the xp bar is across the bottom of the screen or a blazing bright lime green ball in another area of your screen. It all represents the same thing.
As for the Minimap, I'm not sure how many MMOs you've played but the minimap in WoW is hardly a new invention, even it's placement.
Infact Star Wars Galaxies had a round minimap in it since release.
Anyhow, I'm completely sick of the WoW gameplay as well and I'm having the most fun I've had since my first MMO back in 1998. LotrO offers so many interesting things and on so many levels to keep things interesting. The already mentioned deeds, traits, etc.... all give a point to killing mobs other than XP or gives a point to using that special attack.
The fellowship conjunctions are nice as well (and previously done in other games).
Also, the monster PvP is hands down the funnest thing I've done in an MMO ever. It has a point, it has a story, it mixes things up. It's not some retarded medieval CTF or capture and hold.
While your complaints are your opinion and you're very much entitled to them. I wish people could be a little more informed of the history and game designs of MMOs. But not everyone is an MMO nerd like me so I suppose I shouldn't expect that.
The blind WoW comparisons LotrO is suffering (and WAR for that matter) will continue sadly.
I guess that's what happens when so many people play a particular game.
I didn't like DDO but i have to say Turbine out did themselves with this one. The game interface and graphic wise reminds me more of DDO i believe for obvious reasons. This game truely captures the feel of Lord of the Rings, and if you ask me that is a very very good thing.
However no I do not believe WoW and LotRO are anything alike.
Raven
If these games are "twins", then so are Britney Spears and Rosie O'Donnel.
Elites and Elite quests, this system of "uber spawns" seems taken right out of WoW. ...
Uhm.. you obviously have never played any other MMO but WOW.
EQ1 and AC1 had all that 9-10 years ago. Not like WOW invented anything, all they did was repackage the same stuff in simple to play form for the masses.
QFT!
You could argue that LOTRO is a clone of WoW but its kinda a laughable argument since WoW is a clone of EQ. Its like saying that Enzo Ferrari just copied Henry Ford. Just cause Ford's and Ferrari's both have four wheels, engines, and steering wheels doesn't mean Ferrari's are just friggin Ford clones.
And I've found the gameplay in most MMO's gets stale quite quickly. The quests are always repeatative (kill X of this, gather Y of that), large chunks of the game are always filled up with grinding (you will have to make the same thing over and over to level your crafting), and you inevatibly end up playing the same content over and over if you play a given game for more than 2-3 months or so.
This is the same for games of EVERY genre. For the most part you are always doing much the same thing over and over.
For me the most important aspect of an MMO is the social aspect. Its nice to be able to log on at home and play for a couple of hours while having a conversation with someone from the other side of the world. If I try and play an online FPS there is no time for conversation. Its fast and frantic.
Hell with LotRo I can even sit in the Prancing Pony Inn and play my friggin lute and other people can hear it.
It also seems there is a low ratio of immature WoW type dickheads who just want to tell everyone how 1337 they are because d00d they have 1337 epix, don't sweat the fact that they failing high school because they're playing some stupid game for 15 hours a day. Personally I don't really appreciate being called a n00b just because I have a life outside of the friggin game.
What I really like about LotRO in particular is the way they have handled PvP. By allowing one to start off with a high level monster character from the outset it eliminates the traditional need to grind your character all hours of the day and night just to remain competative. Lets face the real truth about WoW style PvP - its not about your skill its about how many hours you can sacrifice to grind the same raid level instance over and over to ensure you can get yourself the most powerful armour sets.
So if you think LotRO is just a WoW clone fair enough. Just move onto the next game, and after you've been playing it for a couple of months and realise that its getting kinda repetative again you can start another thread about how that game is also just another WoW clone too.
While you're at it, go play Farcry or F.E.A.R. and start a thread about how they are just Quake 2 clones. People have been cloning successful game formats since video games were invented. Anyone remember how similar Galaga seemed to Space Invaders? Or how many 100's of platform games appeared after Mario Bros???
When someone has a good idea, someone else will always try to copy it. Deal with it.
MMO wish list:
-Changeable worlds
-Solid non level based game
-Sharks with lasers attached to their heads
I miss DAoC
Good then let me expand your knowledge.... Earth and Beyond.
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Promote what you love instead of bashing what you hate.
Someone else has noticed and commented on this.
Yes, if anything, LoTRO is borrowing from another of Turbine's games, Asheron's Call 2 (as Sevenwind mentioned)... It's even using the same engine (with a *very* improved terrain system).
Asheron's Call 2 came out in 2002, only a year after WoW was even announced and was still in development. So, to say that LoTRO is copying anything from WoW - when it bears so much resemblance to AC2, is very inaccurate. Though, I'm not scorning anyone here.. many people aren't aware of AC2 - esp. since it's no longer around (unfortunately :-( ).
If WoW has brought anything to the genre that other games are "copying", it's the faster paced, more "casual" gameplay, with lighter penalties and more generous rewards and overall easier gameplay than many of its predecessors.
and the cash shop selling asphalt..." - Mimzel on F2P/Cash Shops
I would agree, WoW is superior.
I burned out on WoW, hence dont play it anymore and I tried LoTR on my friends computer and thought the very same thing, except not as varied.
Now playing: VG (after a long break from MMORPGS)
Played for more than a month: Darkfall online, Vanguard SOH, Everquest, Horizons, WoW, SWG, Everquest II, Eve
WOWs emotes are good fun but it is insane to suggest that overall character animation is better than that in any number of other games. In terms of fluid combat animation I think you would be hard pressed to better that in COH/COV but if it is bettered, it sure isn't by WOW.
LOTRO's combat animations are adequate (certainly better than those in EQ2 and on a par with those in Vanguard) but I am disappointed by the skeletons beneath it's skins which, again by comparison with COH/COV are stiff and inflexible. This is particularly annoying when equipped with a cape as it makes your avatar appear hunch-backed.
If you are a WOW fanboy, at least back up your argument with something approximating knowledge of the alternatives.
I would agree, WoW is superior.
I burned out on WoW, hence dont play it anymore and I tried LoTR on my friends computer and thought the very same thing, except not as varied.
Clueless, weak trolling. Any arguments to back it up? ....No?
I thought so. Kinda sad
DB
Denial makes one look a lot dumber than he/she actually is.
I completely agree LOTRO is becoming the new WOW. I played WoW in the past, and im playing LOTRO atm, and I strongly thing LOTRO is a new tailored version of WoW.
both have same good and bad points, bad LOTRO has some important advantages:
1.- its newer so they learned about the Blizzard mistakes
2.- its based on Lord of the rings ands thats a huge pro imo
Anyway, am wondering if blizz if getting any legal action against tourbine as LOTRO is a kind of WoW clone in lots of aspects
bye bue WoW, welcome LOTRO
No hope of succesful legal action by Blizzard. As mentioned earlier Turbine released AC2 and if anything WOW copied from them. Then someone could say AC2 copied from something else it would be a never ending story.
As much as people hated it i liked ac2 and wish they brang it back that would make me quit WOW :P.
Anyway, we will have 2 other imba games , Conan and Warhammer.