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Lord of the Rings Online: December Producer's Letter
SBFord
Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129
The latest edition of the Lord of the Rings Online Producer's Letter has arrived on the official site. This month, Kate “Nereid” Paiz discusses a few of the reasons behind the changes implemented in the November update. In addition, Paiz reveals that Radiance armor will no longer be required for instances and will be removed from the game entirely with the January update.
Radiance & its removal in Q1 –We’ve received a lot of feedback on Radiance gating since its introduction and are pleased to announce that Radiance gear will no longer be a requirement for any of our instances or raids. In fact, with the release of our Q1 update next year, we will be removing Radiance from the game entirely. It will not be present in the new Instance Cluster or Epic Book and will be removed from all current instances. You should get your first look at a Radiance-free LOTRO on Bullroarer in early February of next year.
Read more here.
Comments
The people who aren't "ready" to purchase Moria or Mirkwood or Lonelands will NEVER be ready.
Playing: Rift, LotRO
Waiting on: GW2, BP
I agree. This is going to make a lot of people happy. I wonder if it will upset the people that took the time to get radiance sets? I don't know how hard that is since I've never gottne a toon that high yet.
I suffer from alt-itus and too many games syndrome.
I have a full radiance set and I"m thrilled. reason being is that I'm not interested in chasing the "next" radiance set and then the one after that.
I don't mind updating my gear but quite frankly I'd rather purchase it from players.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
Well as long as they pull the gate out im thrilled, im sure the hard core raider hates the idea.
And I am glad were getting another revamp to LI's.
It only took took years of complaining to get that fixed. Its about time they listened to their vet players about the end game problems.
LOTRO has only been out for 3 + years and LI only a year or so. The devs are responding and that is what's important. LOTRO has been the most compelling MMO to come around in years. Removing the radiance gate could not have been a simple matter and to revise an entire LI system takes a lot of hard work. Not to mention doing all of this while introducing new content and even new content within the quarterly festivals.
Saying "It only took took years of complaining to get that fixed. Its about time they listened to their vet players about the end game problems" just makes you sound like a whining little kid.
Although I'm nowhere near the point where I'd need to chase Radiance gear, I always thought the idea of Radiance and Dread was deeply rooted within the lore of the books. The fellowship at times felt dread, and were often heartened by elven items.
Getting rid of Radiance, is probably the result of marketing/sales driving the lore of the game as opposed to the books. Truth be told, when Blizzard's marketing department took over lore development of WoW was when I gave that game up. I suspect, now, that my time in LotRO isn't going to be for any extended duration either then.
The vast majority of the community (myself included) has always disliked radiance gear especially where going into certain instances (and people being excluded from them) is concerned. To be honest the first time I heard about the prospect of losing radiance was sometime right after the Mines of Moria expansion so I don't think you can blame any marketing department for this one either.
but yeah, to call this game Fantastic is like calling Twilight the Godfather of vampire movies....
During the time I subscribed to LOTRO the one thing that caused the most dissention within guilds was the issue of radiance gear. Friends in other guilds would tell me horror stories between those who had it (the "haves') and those who didn't (the "have-nots").
When radiance gear was introduced apparently there was no idea of the vicious cycle it would create - players wouldn't get invited to raids if they didn't have the gear but they couldn't get the gear unless they were part of a raid.
I also heard that there were plans to do away with radiance items as far back as when Mines of Moria was released. While I'm kind of surprised it took this long I'm equally surprised that Turbine followed through on their plans to take it out of the game completely. Now I guess the question to ask is if removing radiance gear is sort of admitting that it didn't truly work the way it should have?
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. - Marie Curie
I believe there is still dread, just not the need for "special gear" to combat that dread.
The dread idea is great. But the way it is implemented for some raids is that a very specific gear is needed in order to counter an overwhelming Dread. And one needs to gather a certain amount of tokens in order to get it. It used to be where you had to do certain instance runs but I believe they changed it so that all the instances drop coins that can be used for any gear. If I am correct in remembering that then what I believe is happening is that players are just running the easiest instances and dismissing the longer more challenging ones.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
Naw, if you heard they were removing radiance back during mines of moria then that was probably player gossip as they indicated that Radiance was going to be their "thing" going forward. Remember, they introduced the first radiance run for the watcher. I think they even added some pieces for mirkwood if I'm not mistaken?
I don't think it's that it didn't work the way it was intended, I think they mistakenly thought that this was what players wanted. Of course raiders wanted it, and I completely understand. But players who would like a chance at doing a raid, even if they fail, didn't seem to be able to get those pieces. Or, there would be shouts for groups but it would only be for one instance "all the time".
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
Amen. The highest level I've reached is 34th because this game is so relaxing to cruise through and explore. I was pondering whether I was about halfway to the end of what would become an armor set grinding mini game. I really enjoy the game so far and just didn't want it to turn into frustrating exercise in complete futility. Much like WOW had become to me.(Though I did just order Cataclysm from Walmart.com...couldn't help myself..wanted the option to level a new race through the changed lands...I expect to get to Northrend then quit again for another game...likely SW:TOR or a game for which I am testing right now and find enjoyable) .
So glad I've pumped so much cash into LOTRO (and DDO) that I can pretty much go back whenever I want without ever paying another dime. Not that I even needed to in the first place..but I like my character to look decent from the start..so a lot of storage /wardrobe and cosmetic options were a must to me.
So glad they are changing the radiance and LI system finally. I have 5 capped and 3 more 59 and up, I find myself messing with lower characters instead of wanting to do more of the "grind a bit for nothing" game.