Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
What do you MMORPG players think of LOTRO?
ParkCarsHere
Member Posts: 666
I've been on an MMORPG hiatus for the past year. While it's been good, I kind of want to get back into the MMORPG scene. I've played EQ I, WoW, FFXI, EQII, Auto Assault, Eve, Vanguard, and a few others I can't think of right now. Now that I'm choosing an MMORPG again, two choices are left: Everquest 2 and Lord of the Rings Online. I left Everquest 2 originally because the community was fairly snobbish and didn't really help out at all, at least on the server I played. LOTRO when I played the Beta seemed fun, but most gamers say that it is way too casual to enjoy for a long time.
My question is, what do you guys think of LOTRO, and do you think it will stand the test of time? Maybe Everquest 2 really is the best choice for me, although if I join in it I hope I get a better community >_<.
Comments
I found the community on the Permafrost server in EQ2 to be really great and helpful. I've also heard good things from some friends playing on Antonia Bayle. As far as LoTRO...it's very similar to WoW and EQ2, if you enjoyed both those games and don't mind a similar game, give it a shot. It does tend to be very laid-back but if you are a casual player there will be plenty of content for you. And, if you have a good computer and video card the scenery is incredible.
If the only thing that stopped you from playing EQ2 was the community though, it may be worth your time to check it out again, perhaps on a different server.
For me playing LOTRO was like playing DDO version 1.5, same awkward character movements, substandard menus and so on, it looks good though. I agree with previous poster that it seems very laid back and casual, and I have to admit that the quest line was pretty interesting. On the other hand it got old INCREDIBLY quickly, and I felt held in hand the whole time, there was very little challenge. Combine that with only one faction and no real pvp, and you get good looking, but shallow game.
If you are a very casual player (preferably new to the MMOs) this may be a good game for you, if you expect to be challenged to some degree, like to pvp or like some diversity in your mmo, then you are better off somewhere else.
(and no I am not saying that it is a bad game... Just shallow)
Lotro is best game evar. It's rank is #1 here for a reason.
i actually just purchased another lifetime sub ($299) for my 2nd account
If you still wish to purchase lifetime sub,you can still do it.
I found it to be lacking a quality which made it distinct. The game relies too heavily on the Lord of the Rings franchise (as a selling point) and seems to mimic many other games to a point which makes it feel very cheap.
The game could have been a very involved sandbox game with skill sets instead of classes. The world of Middle Earth is very rich with content that could easily transfer to an MMORPG. Instead of harboring this, the game chose to copy the style of World of Warcraft with only a few changes (see also: gimmicks).
Doktar - 70 Troll Priest - Perenolde
Someone above described the game very well. "a shallow mmo geared towards casual gamers".
I would describe it as "A mediocre carebear PVE game with lots of trivial questing."
What do I think? Bored of the Rings Online is what I think.
It is a quality game, well made and all. But it lacks any real challenge, originality, or anything resembling the ability to create and develop a character that is in any way differant from other characters of similar level and class. Combat is boring, mash button wait for recharge and mash another, blah, blah, blah. It is the MMO equivalent of pizza in so far as it is something that appeals to everyone even if it is something you wouldn't want everyday and not something even remotely creative in terms of food preparation - it is mass consumption through and through. My guess is that once Age of Conan, PotBS, and some of the other due later this year with at least some to allot of originality are out LotRO will fade away quietly.
Words I would use to describe LotRO:
Shallow
Linear
Unoriginal
Well made
Generic
Boring
Sophmorish
--------------------------------
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
Exactly.
It is one of the worst but polished and stable MMOs I ever played. I thought it was terrible. I am glad I tried, and I feel sorry for people that bought "lifetime" memberships. Hehe.
-----
WoW and fast food = commercial successes.
I neither play WoW nor eat fast food.
No other game out lets you customize your abilities to the point that LoTRO does. Through questing, grinding mobs and exploration you can gain traits to customize your character to fit your own idea of how you want him to play out. The graphics are top notch and the game runs fairly smooth, plus Turbine puts out new updates on a regular basis that most companies would charge you as an expansion. The game does not bring anything totally unique to the MMO game industry but it does take alot of whats out there and really make it shine and make it their own
LoTRO has been a very enjoyable experience for me and the majority of people I have seen. You get the flamers and hardcore players here crying about how bad it sucks, when in fact it is a great game and has a reason its one of the top selling games on the market (along with a near flawless launch).
EQ2 by far is the better of the two games due to its great depth and complexity, LOTRO is a very solid game but like others have said its very shallow at this point. It runs like a champ and the graphics are excellent but its just not very deep as far as content.
Be fair - there is NOTHING about any one character of a class/level that is functionally any differant than any other toon of the same class/level. Sure, get a trait that gives you a minor bonus to this or that, very minor - woo hoo. Even armor and such has a very minor effect on things. It is like playing a single player game in so far as the characters are allready built, you just go throguh the motions of progressing them along the path laid out by the DEVs. If this is what you like and what you are looking for then go at it, but don't make it out to be more than it is.
--------------------------------
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 like it. Here are some reviews. If you listen to people on this site you will never play any games as there are always more haters than fans for every game. Also haters always have a louder voice than the fans because fans are busy playing.
http://www.lotro.com/article/276
Best to decide for yourself rather than let a bunch of strangers decide for you.
In America I have bad teeth. If I lived in England my teeth would be perfect.
1000 things that set LotRO apart from EQ2:
- Music system
- Coloring
- REAL deed system, like DOING something for achievement
- Monster Play System
- LotRO
- scripted and exciting, partly instanced questlines
- No goofy froggish lizardish races
- No goofy sparkling whizzing whirling overloaded effects
- Top notch, very smooth gfx engine
- Top notch, very fitting sound engine
- Top notch, very fitting lore implementation
- Zoneless, homogenic world design
- Original crafting, from peasant to elder
Agt. Smith; I like your consequence, still, your approach was wrong 5 weeks ago as it is now. The deed/trait system DOES make a difference. Having legendary traits DOES make you a vastly more powerful XY, choosing medium/heavy over light armor; ever fought a bear with the -800 armor debuff, two bears are a tough fight already, where I can take on 3 bandits easily.
Some things Deeds actually DO in this game:
- Transform attack skills into buffs and vice versa
- Increasing overall critchance up to 5%
- Armor-type switch
- Granting access to completely new skills (e.g. Teleport)
- Improving spells and skills you use often (like giving them stun ability, giving them 200% damage)
and QFT poster above... Don't listen to the hardcore crowd on these boards, they will bash every game except EvE ('Well, EvEs nice, just not my cup of tea')... No wait, since the CCP-affair even this game gets bashed.
All you will find here while asking advice is a) Recommendations of totally off-track hardcore semi-MUDs or b) a general rant how badly designed, executed, maintained and programmed modern MMOs are (and why it all can't be like back in preCUSWG/UO/EQ)
Well LOTRO is fun, but it didn't do a few things right on the start:
1) More particular class specialization (Some deeds do this, but some are mediocre and often high-end/veteran players advise not wasting coin to slot them, rightly so.).
2) More equipment for more customized look and feel of characters (This is a common problem because the quests are currently the only way to get particularly useful weapons, especially weapons).
3) Player housing (And yes, we like to have stuff that isn't just for character hack'n'slash, maybe some more social stuff to make idle time between quests and hunting more enjoyable and fruitful.).
4) Social/RP clothes and etc (Gee, don't we all just want to look good sometimes?).
And much much more, but who knows, maybe I'm wrong. :-/
-- Brede
I was in LOTR beta.
I created all chars to test them and lvl-ed them to 15. Then I lvled a couple to 20+. Before I continue (I got enlightened...lol) I thought to check monster play out, since pvp for me is what the early, medium and high end game is all about.....So, I try it out and well, needless to say it was a disaster. A blah of blah and more blah. I immediately quit and uninstalled never to look back.
However, if you like pve games, LOTR online is not bad, even though, imo it seemed it was a bit.....too little of a game. Like, no playbility (like, to want to make an alt and keep playing, etc), cuz you get bored....bored......bored.
As far as EQ2, I can not comment since I have not tried the game.
PS: I don't understand what's all the fuzz about the music system. I mean, we're talking about games, not some orchestra here. I mean, it can be fun for a few ppl out there that like music, but to say that this feature is one of a game's "pro's" (good things), it's like......DUH - For crying out loud...lol
The fact that this game got a "9" rating in almost every review is a shame for all the MMORPG industry.
Well, I have read most, if not all, of the reviews for this game. The problem is the game has changed quite a bit in the few months it has been out, but those reviews don't reflect that. I even read some reviews that were on the Beta of the game... that doesn't tell me I'm getting an accurate response. I'd rather ask here at a place full of people who actually play MMORPGs a lot rather than critics who are just playing another game, reviewing it, and moving on. Yes, there are a lot of fanboys here but I'd rather risk that to get a few good responses on what the game is like now. If it's shallow, like many others are saying, I don't want to waste the $50 to pick it up, no matter how good the story is. Gameplay matters a lot more.
Save your money. This one will just be another one on your bookshelf 30 days after you buy it.
I only played in the beta, so not much help except I thought it was boring, neat to look at but boring. Also, which it may have been fixed by now, when the toons run it looked like they were clenching a turtle head from coming out there ass anymore trying to make it to the bathroom. That bothered me alot.
I would'nt think it has gotten much more fun in the couple months it has been out, I'm going to go buy EQII today and try it again, you should do the same. Or if you're still interested in LOTRO isn't there a buddy key so you can try it?
Im new to EqII, and Ive started on the permafronst server with my gf (new to mmorpgs) and everyone has been really nice and helpfull teaching us the ropes and the ins and outs of mmorpgs. We tried WOW and we got so pissed at every person going around jumping and asking for duels when their 15 lvls higher than you, and generally not being helpful at all. Luckly we everquest because after wow we were gonna give up on playing a MMorpg. LOTR sounds seams like a great game but i also could not get into it.
What do i think about LOTRO?
Nice graphics but the rest is absolutly sh*t.
Playing: Archlord
Played: EQ1//EQ2//WoW//GW//L2//GB//RS//LoTRO//VG
Waiting For: **WAR**
One feature that I was impressed by is the in game instruments that are playable. Although I would not classify it as an innovation. Other games have used this feature including a previous title by the same devs.
Doktar - 70 Troll Priest - Perenolde
Meh, the game brings nothing new to the table, and the devs are proud of it. Its polished, but to me Turbine doesn't have a very wide range of creativity. Take DDO and LOTR, 2 HUGE fantasy names, and they were able to make it seem like the smallest places ever. The lack of size in their games takes out a huge immersion factor for me, not like swg where the planets were huge and were diverse.
Raven
They don't provide any facts they just make ignorant comments.
Raven
I personally see it as a game that is out of its place in the next generation. I would probably have played this 3 ~ 4 years ago. But in 2007, I expect either big improvements or originality, And lotro does neither of those.
I see it as a shameless rip off of previous MMO's.