While no one has asked for High Elves, I certainly didn't, a lot of the community has asked for new classes and play options. ...
That's true, and while I'm fine with the current class variety, I'd support new classes any day. And if the high elves would be a class, with new class mechanics even, I'm sure there won't be much debate, just maybe some lore concerns. Too bad that's not the case.... they mentioned new race, multiple times. If you think back, with beornings it was all about the new class mechanics and the race (lore background, new starter area) only came up as second. It was obvious from the start that beornings are ment to be a new class, and the race-lock is only supplementary. For high elves, there's no such thing - sure, not yet, I might add. It was so out-of-the-blue, maybe they're still undecided about it and it will be a new class, race-locked. Can't wait for more details about it, that's for sure The first dev diary about it will clear it hopefully.
While no one has asked for High Elves, I certainly didn't, a lot of the community has asked for new classes and play options. ...
That's true, and while I'm fine with the current class variety, I'd support new classes any day. And if the high elves would be a class, with new class mechanics even, I'm sure there won't be much debate, just maybe some lore concerns. Too bad that's not the case.... they mentioned new race, multiple times. If you think back, with beornings it was all about the new class mechanics and the race (lore background, new starter area) only came up as second. It was obvious from the start that beornings are ment to be a new class, and the race-lock is only supplementary. For high elves, there's no such thing - sure, not yet, I might add. It was so out-of-the-blue, maybe they're still undecided about it and it will be a new class, race-locked. Can't wait for more details about it, that's for sure The first dev diary about it will clear it hopefully.
People, let's all head to Bree and drink to celebrate this instead of fighting with each other! One round on me!
Agree, to the Pony for a few pints! Wait, you get comission from Barliman for the gathered customers?
Good points. I wonder how set in stone it is because the reaction on the forums was mixed. A few RP people seem cautious but most of them and the lore nuts hated it. There was a loud complaint from people who didn't care about the lore but cried money grab and want more pvp and raid content.
I'm not sure what would be a good option for a race or a class, but the more I think about it I like the idea of a race/class combo like the Beorning. I'm just not sure what options they have access to that would work good.
Yeah it's mixed. Still, one of the posters there, Esterian, mentioned this ...
The prologue to The Fellowship of the Ring states that "there is
no record of the day when at last he sought the Grey Havens, and with
him went the last living memory of the Elder Days in Middle-earth"
My guess is that they are looking at the idea that One of the more famous High Elves went "at some point but no one knows when" therefore it's possible that others did the same.
It bends the lore/uses the imagination a bit but I can see this being valid.
Some of the forum goers feel that they are introducing a character that can solo Balrogs and because they are High Elves they "must" be able to do this but I think that's just being pissy.
Of course the developers aren't going to do that. It's probably more for "role play" purposes.
huh ... I should also add that Gildor Inglorion along with companions were high elves and left with Frodo and Gandalf:
Gildor and the Elves continued on their way. Gildor had told Frodo they were tarrying in Middle-earth before heading to the Grey Havens to pass over the Sea to the Undying Lands. Where they wandered is not known, but on September 22, 3021, Gildor and Frodo met once again in the same spot in the Woody End where they had met three years earlier. Along with Elrond, Galadriel and Gandalf, they journeyed to Grey Havens and together they departed over the Sea into the West.
Post edited by Sovrath on
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
huh ... I should also add that Gildor Inglorion along with companions were high elves and left with Frodo and Gandalf:
Was amazing when the first time I've bumped into that camp site... These added small details from the books are one aspect I always loved in LotRO. (it's above Woodhall as described in the book, and now with the added frills on the landscape it looks great)
This is the same team that killed the game with the horrendous Helms Deep "content". It's great for the people still playing the game, but man they had some of the laziest zone and quest designs, starting in Rohan and continuing to gondor, I've seen in recent MMO's.
They were asked twice how many people are in the company and totally cock blocked it. That stood out.
How many employees does Standing Stone have? Are they split firmly between teams or do some personnel overlap?
Jerry Snook: We were fortunate to be able to bring
over our live teams and add some additional personnel. In general, the
teams are split in a way where we work as separate teams with the
ability to do some overlap as the demands of upcoming releases require.
There are also some shared resources like community, eCommerce, and art.
(We don't provide specific head counts, though, sorry.)
How many former Turbine employees made the jump to Standing Stone?
Jerry Snook: All of the employees who worked on the LOTRO and DDO teams moved over to Standing Stone Games.
This is the same team that killed the game with the horrendous Helms Deep "content". It's great for the people still playing the game, but man they had some of the laziest zone and quest designs, starting in Rohan and continuing to gondor, I've seen in recent MMO's.
They were asked twice how many people are in the company and totally cock blocked it. That stood out.
How many employees does Standing Stone have? Are they split firmly between teams or do some personnel overlap?
Jerry Snook: We were fortunate to be able to bring
over our live teams and add some additional personnel. In general, the
teams are split in a way where we work as separate teams with the
ability to do some overlap as the demands of upcoming releases require.
There are also some shared resources like community, eCommerce, and art.
(We don't provide specific head counts, though, sorry.)
How many former Turbine employees made the jump to Standing Stone?
Jerry Snook: All of the employees who worked on the LOTRO and DDO teams moved over to Standing Stone Games.
I'll agree that Helm's Deep was beyond horrible. I can't recall an mmo activity that I never wanted to experience again more than Helm's Deep. And that's sad, that's a main event. It should have been epic.
However, to be fair, no one knows how that came about and who made the final decisions. For instance (and I can't remember their names to save my life) there was that married couple that seemed to be in charge. I believe it was the husband who first decided to move DDO to the Free to Play model.
Jeffrey Steefel told me at a PAX that he was the one who decided to change the "Old Forest" as the first design made people lost and had higher difficulty. He told the designer to change it.
As far as "how many employees", I'm going to have to say "good on them". Gamers seem to have this score card that they like to trot out where they want to know details that simply aren't their business. Might as well ask how much they have in the bank.
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
I'm all for a new race/class and some updates to animations but for gods sake release the new class/race with the expansion, don't try to make a cash shop grab on us unless you buy the collectors or the ultimate editions.
The fact that this will cost extra on top of the expansion is just ridiculous and for the prices they are asking for the expansion you can buy several games.
Without those extra things it remains to be seen whether it's truly an xpac or just a glorified quest pack.
Or maybe it's a Chapter!
"Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community ... but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots”
― Umberto Eco
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?” ― CD PROJEKT RED
You would think they want to attract new people to the game, charging what they are is not only pushing away loyal fans, (ive been playing lotro since 07 btw), but I can't see anyone not invested heavily in the game will be willing to drop the cash on this expac, not when you have games like FFXIV that just offer so much, and it's affordable....take a look at the lotro FB page, no one is happy about this pricing....
Mordor is their biggest expansion pack in years (since Moria according to the devs). $40 is in-line with a normal expansion price plus a level boost as a bonus. That the high elves are only available in the next higher tier is unfortunate, though.
You would think they want to attract new people to the game, charging what they are is not only pushing away loyal fans, (ive been playing lotro since 07 btw), but I can't see anyone not invested heavily in the game will be willing to drop the cash on this expac, not when you have games like FFXIV that just offer so much, and it's affordable....take a look at the lotro FB page, no one is happy about this pricing....
It's a good point but I suspect anyone wanting to try the game can "try the game". After all, it's not buy to play.
If they get hooked then they can make the decision on whether or not to buy any expansions.
The high elf race "should at least" be part of the expansion at any price point. I think they will keep it as it is now and then (from what I've been reading/not sure if it's true) allow one to purchase it a la carte at a later date.
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
Don't know why people are so upset by lore. MMO's that try to stick blindly to lore just die because they are far too inflexible. I think the Lotro devs have been very concious of the lore and have done a great job trying to keep at least close to it.
You have to remember despite all the lore Tolkien developed, it was only a tiny glimpse into the Lotro world.
No. Just no.
He developed a LOT. A lot that is being circumvented. I know, I know, video game logic. And gameplay > lore. But adding HEs won't affect gameplay(or in a minor way at best) it'll just downgrade the lore side. Remember, only THREE(four with that character, but still) are present on ME.
If you don't understand why lore is important in big IP titles, imagine if in Vermintide you could play as a Marauder. Which is kinda ok due to those kinda friendly Norscans from Thorshafn and the like, but still...wtf? And where do we draw the line? a Warrior Priest and a Chaos Chosen working together? an Archmage and a Sorceress?
The books as far as I know only mention directly a few but allude that MOST had already gone back. That is vague to others and their numbers hanging around. If I am wrong please educate me to a direct statement that only those mentioned directly in the book are left.
Do you have access to new character models with basic client?
Nope.
I don't think that's the case, Suzie. The hi-res client mostly applies to the world, I'm fairly certain that the new char. models are available on the normal client as well.
Patch notes says nothing about the clients either: Avatars have been updated for the Human and Elf. Players can choose to
view the older avatars through an Avatar Update Visible check box
available in the Options panel.
(on a -not too surprising- sidenote, just like with the previous attempts, I personally like the "old" models more sure, the new ones might be more pleasing to the eye, but for characters I play since start, it feels like plastic surgery... after the first login I barely recognised my good ole captain)
(on a -not too surprising- sidenote, just like with the previous attempts, I personally like the "old" models more sure, the new ones might be more pleasing to the eye, but for characters I play since start, it feels like plastic surgery... after the first login I barely recognised my good ole captain)
While I think they could have gone farther with the new models I prefer them to the older models which, to me, look like plastic dolls. The new models have more personality.
Again, they could have gone farther and they still can't do animations well.
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
That you have to pay more for the High Elf is a little suspect, but is... okay.
That it's 40 dollars more/ makes the Xpac cost twice as much, while only being a new skin with some unique race bonuses, while only adding a content area that I would generously compare to Archet content-wise... that's miles off the mark.
I can't remember for certain how much the Beorning was, I just know that I didn't hesistate to get the package that also gave you another character slot. I think it was 20 bucks.
And if you look at how much more work they had to put into the beornings:
-race bonuses -starter area -all new skills/powers, and having to balance them. -all new armor sets at all levels(I think they needed medium armor w/strength, which didn't exist before).
High Elves: -race bonuses -starter area -a pretty face
All I'll say is, thank God for Youtube. Otherwise, I'd have assumed that 40 bucks got you a Bree sized starting zone and effectively a whole new class. After buying the top tier packs all the other times, I bought the standard this time and clearly dodged a bullet.
While I think they could have gone farther with the new models I prefer them to the older models which, to me, look like plastic dolls. The new models have more personality.
I just ment with the not surprising remark, that I always used to prefer the original over the revamp, and not just with LotRO
(and maybe just my tinfoil hat and oversuspicion, but I believe they've changed some things on the core level too, because a couple characters in my stable look different even with the new models toggled off. Not speaking of some memory failing issues, I did a lot of screenies before the changes - that's a default procedure when Turbine (now SSG, yeah) changes something within the game)
I can't remember for certain how much the Beorning was, I just know that I didn't hesistate to get the package that also gave you another character slot. I think it was 20 bucks.
I think it was somewhere a bit above 10 bucks. The class was almost 10, the character slot is usually between 4 and 6, and they've bundled them together for 1300 Points. (which is, depending on your purchase timing and sales, can be somewhere between 12-14 bucks).
I agree that the prices are stupid (said the same right at the announcement), but your math is a bit off. You don't pay the extra $40 for the race, they already said that it will be 1000 Points - which is way overpriced, compared to the beornings, who are a full-fledged class. So, high elves are somewhere around $10. BUT, they're holding it back till the Winter. Which is maybe the most shitty move in this whole Mordor release. And also the answer of the slightly off math. You pay 40 for the expansion, plus 10 for the high elves, and the rest, the remaining plus $30 you pay for the early access of said race.
If you ask me, it definitely is not worth it. Personally, I'll just wait till December and buy the elves then.
ed: fixed the prices, I don't see those anymore since I have the beornings, but asked around for a double check
Comments
If you think back, with beornings it was all about the new class mechanics and the race (lore background, new starter area) only came up as second. It was obvious from the start that beornings are ment to be a new class, and the race-lock is only supplementary.
For high elves, there's no such thing - sure, not yet, I might add. It was so out-of-the-blue, maybe they're still undecided about it and it will be a new class, race-locked. Can't wait for more details about it, that's for sure
Agree, to the Pony for a few pints!
Wait, you get comission from Barliman for the gathered customers?
updating avatars and animations will help my immersion quite a bit. And that makes me want to play again.
It also shows a new interest by the developers to revitalize the game and that is a positive for the long term.
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
The prologue to The Fellowship of the Ring states that "there is no record of the day when at last he sought the Grey Havens, and with him went the last living memory of the Elder Days in Middle-earth"
My guess is that they are looking at the idea that One of the more famous High Elves went "at some point but no one knows when" therefore it's possible that others did the same.
It bends the lore/uses the imagination a bit but I can see this being valid.
Some of the forum goers feel that they are introducing a character that can solo Balrogs and because they are High Elves they "must" be able to do this but I think that's just being pissy.
Of course the developers aren't going to do that. It's probably more for "role play" purposes.
huh ... I should also add that Gildor Inglorion along with companions were high elves and left with Frodo and Gandalf:
http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Gildor_Inglorion
Gildor and the Elves continued on their way. Gildor had told Frodo they were tarrying in Middle-earth before heading to the Grey Havens to pass over the Sea to the Undying Lands. Where they wandered is not known, but on September 22, 3021, Gildor and Frodo met once again in the same spot in the Woody End where they had met three years earlier. Along with Elrond, Galadriel and Gandalf, they journeyed to Grey Havens and together they departed over the Sea into the West.
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
They were asked twice how many people are in the company and totally cock blocked it. That stood out.
How many employees does Standing Stone have? Are they split firmly between teams or do some personnel overlap?
Jerry Snook: We were fortunate to be able to bring over our live teams and add some additional personnel. In general, the teams are split in a way where we work as separate teams with the ability to do some overlap as the demands of upcoming releases require. There are also some shared resources like community, eCommerce, and art. (We don't provide specific head counts, though, sorry.)
How many former Turbine employees made the jump to Standing Stone?
Jerry Snook: All of the employees who worked on the LOTRO and DDO teams moved over to Standing Stone Games.
However, to be fair, no one knows how that came about and who made the final decisions. For instance (and I can't remember their names to save my life) there was that married couple that seemed to be in charge. I believe it was the husband who first decided to move DDO to the Free to Play model.
Jeffrey Steefel told me at a PAX that he was the one who decided to change the "Old Forest" as the first design made people lost and had higher difficulty. He told the designer to change it.
As far as "how many employees", I'm going to have to say "good on them". Gamers seem to have this score card that they like to trot out where they want to know details that simply aren't their business. Might as well ask how much they have in the bank.
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
The fact that this will cost extra on top of the expansion is just ridiculous and for the prices they are asking for the expansion you can buy several games.
http://store.turbine.com/store/turbine/en_US/custom/pbpage.lotro-mordor
$129.99 for the ultimate
$79.99 for the collectors
$39.99 for standard edition which does not include the new race/class
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
While I do think it's pricey you can get it for 80.00 dollars. You are just referring to the highest tier of package.
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
Except if that's the case then they SHOULD be charging more as it's not a small game that requires money.
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
It's a good point but I suspect anyone wanting to try the game can "try the game". After all, it's not buy to play.
If they get hooked then they can make the decision on whether or not to buy any expansions.
The high elf race "should at least" be part of the expansion at any price point. I think they will keep it as it is now and then (from what I've been reading/not sure if it's true) allow one to purchase it a la carte at a later date.
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
The books as far as I know only mention directly a few but allude that MOST had already gone back. That is vague to others and their numbers hanging around. If I am wrong please educate me to a direct statement that only those mentioned directly in the book are left.
Do you have access to new character models with basic client?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Patch notes says nothing about the clients either:
Avatars have been updated for the Human and Elf. Players can choose to view the older avatars through an Avatar Update Visible check box available in the Options panel.
(on a -not too surprising- sidenote, just like with the previous attempts, I personally like the "old" models more
Again, they could have gone farther and they still can't do animations well.
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
That you have to pay more for the High Elf is a little suspect, but is... okay.
That it's 40 dollars more/ makes the Xpac cost twice as much, while only being a new skin with some unique race bonuses, while only adding a content area that I would generously compare to Archet content-wise... that's miles off the mark.
I can't remember for certain how much the Beorning was, I just know that I didn't hesistate to get the package that also gave you another character slot. I think it was 20 bucks.
And if you look at how much more work they had to put into the beornings:
-race bonuses
-starter area
-all new skills/powers, and having to balance them.
-all new armor sets at all levels(I think they needed medium armor w/strength, which didn't exist before).
High Elves:
-race bonuses
-starter area
-a pretty face
All I'll say is, thank God for Youtube. Otherwise, I'd have assumed that 40 bucks got you a Bree sized starting zone and effectively a whole new class. After buying the top tier packs all the other times, I bought the standard this time and clearly dodged a bullet.
(and maybe just my tinfoil hat and oversuspicion, but I believe they've changed some things on the core level too, because a couple characters in my stable look different even with the new models toggled off. Not speaking of some memory failing issues, I did a lot of screenies before the changes - that's a default procedure when Turbine (now SSG, yeah) changes something within the game)
I think it was somewhere a bit above 10 bucks. The class was almost 10, the character slot is usually between 4 and 6, and they've bundled them together for 1300 Points. (which is, depending on your purchase timing and sales, can be somewhere between 12-14 bucks).
I agree that the prices are stupid (said the same right at the announcement), but your math is a bit off. You don't pay the extra $40 for the race, they already said that it will be 1000 Points - which is way overpriced, compared to the beornings, who are a full-fledged class.
So, high elves are somewhere around $10. BUT, they're holding it back till the Winter. Which is maybe the most shitty move in this whole Mordor release. And also the answer of the slightly off math. You pay 40 for the expansion, plus 10 for the high elves, and the rest, the remaining plus $30 you pay for the early access of said race.
If you ask me, it definitely is not worth it. Personally, I'll just wait till December and buy the elves then.
ed: fixed the prices, I don't see those anymore since I have the beornings, but asked around for a double check