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Lord of the Rings Online: or GRRR again

7:37 AM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQnKL5-33cr2gTQ_QyzFz3Dt4Jdn4FTcKRGnrF43KXJkL5ME16aHzKtk259k3WuqDIWgyylZ9-LZNl8u3Dq_o8QXf1kGJyfnZXJkCiVulbHCakHekTcMIPIofIw6rBODn0VCDRrjy3yZU/s1600-h/ScreenShot00008%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="ScreenShot00008" border="0" height="476" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XE0pPrxjWyM/Un5Wv26QwDI/AAAAAAAADJI/wUv7htDX3TA/ScreenShot00008_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" title="ScreenShot00008" width="844"></a> The more things change, the more they stay the same … this old axiom is very true for <a href="https://www.lotro.com/en" target="_blank">Lord of the Rings Online</a>.  There are parts I truly love about the game, it’s intense focus on lore and bringing the books to life for example.  But after taking a break from WOW and playing LOTRO for two weeks, once again the frustration outweighs the benefits of LOTRO. Bag space is a HUGE frustration in LOTRO.  Seriously, six bags of twelve slots is just not enough.  Having to stop and empty bags every time you run across a vault location or a seller is time consuming and not fun, but failure to do so means that shortly you will be out of bag space.  Another frustration as a SUBSCRIBER is that the game is overly monetized for the cash shop.  I get that it is a niche game with a smaller player base but seriously if I’m spending real world money on mounts (or anything) then those mounts need to be account wide.  And while I love the old world complexity of MMO’s that still exists in LOTRO, it is also the downfall of LOTRO.  I don’t have the bag space to carry multiple weapons of varying damage types.  And to be honest, as a casual player that flits in and out of games having to remember what damage is best against what critter is annoying.  The game play mechanics are also old and outdated, <a href="http://www.lotro.com/en/helmsdeep?utm_source=Clix&utm_medium=GOOGLE&utm_campaign=LOTROHDSearch" target="_blank">Helm’s Deep</a> may fix some of those issues but can’t possibly fix all of them.  Quest is slow and the mechanics are outdated.  I understand why it is do X, return to quest giver and then go back to the SAME EXACT AREA and do Y but it is annoying, tedious, and a huge time sync.  At some point, efficiency of my time is more important that running to and from a quest giver for the sake of lore immersion. Don’t get me wrong, the game is drop deep gorgeous but the mechanics are too flawed.  I will stop in and play every once in a while but it is too frustrating to commit long term to an overly monetized game with expansions that are over-priced for the value of what a digital only expansion offers.  I’m not leaving LOTRO with a bitter taste in my mouth, more with frustration with Turbine and the slow pace of the game. <div id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:5b554ecb-5182-4c78-b850-bfe2bc0d97d6" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Lord+of+the+Rings+Online" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/LOTRO" rel="tag">LOTRO</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Turbine" rel="tag">Turbine</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Helm's+Deep" rel="tag">Helm's Deep</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cash+shop" rel="tag">cash shop</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/free+to+play" rel="tag">free to play</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/F2P" rel="tag">F2P</a></div>

The more things change, the more they stay the same … this old axiom is very true for Lord of the Rings Online. There are parts I truly love about the game, it’s intense focus on lore and bringing the books to life for example. But after taking a…

Lord of the Rings Online: Helm’s Deep Expansion Class Guides

6:14 AM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--oQ4LpC44go/UnpO37z0wvI/AAAAAAAADIg/v9-KixIhbK8/s1600-h/ScreenShot00002%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="ScreenShot00002" border="0" height="509" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-o4YM8bHB2yU/UnpO4XEDx3I/AAAAAAAADIk/UxC_JMXHOb4/ScreenShot00002_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" title="ScreenShot00002" width="789"></a> <a href="https://www.lotro.com/en" target="_blank">Lord of the Ring’s Online</a> latest expansion drops in two weeks, <a href="http://www.lotro.com/en/helmsdeep?utm_source=Clix&utm_medium=GOOGLE&utm_campaign=LOTROHDSearch" target="_blank">Helm’s Deep</a>.  The NDA on the beta testers was lifted on Monday and class guides have been <a href="https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?529680-Helm-s-Deep-NDA-Dropped-as-of-Today-November-4-2013&p=6984174&highlight=#post6984174" target="_blank">posted</a> for upcoming changes for all classes.  Every class is seeing major changes this expansion, and as you might expect the forums and players are full of differing opinions.  I didn’t beta test for this expansion but personally I believe that the changes are going to be a great thing for the game. <div id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:305e2a35-544b-47d4-a72e-ee9ec4015e5e" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><div id="16369dbd-1bb9-4bf3-96b2-c045f66ee58e" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbbwoj5te2M&feature=player_embedded" target="_new"><img alt="" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('16369dbd-1bb9-4bf3-96b2-c045f66ee58e'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/Mbbwoj5te2M&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/Mbbwoj5te2M&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ICrN7H0jQOo/UnpO4tI3DRI/AAAAAAAADIs/ID4x4vZQNCw/videocb0bbf4a627d%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none"></a></div></div></div> LOTRO has a terrific story that everyone is familiar with on some level.  However, the game suffers from slow game play compared to the newer, shinier competition that exists in the flooded marketplace.  Yet, LOTRO is among the best niche games out there in my opinion.  It has positive, uplifting quest lines (helping the farmers in Oatbarton is one of my favorites), the community is generally more mature and helpful than other games out there, and there is constant communication with the development team. Now, I know a lot of people are plenty pissed off about the class changes coming in the expansion but honestly, it’s time to get over it.  Games change and adapt and players need to comprehend that to continue to enjoy the game in the real world.  Turbine needs to be profitable and adapt to the marketplace, and cash shop income will only go so far.  I think the class changes will make the game more accessible to a new generation of players, enhance game for those of us who find game play slow at times, and will work as a reboot of classes.  Yes, players who are sitting at max level right now may have to learn to replay their class entirely but with changes come opportunities. I’m looking forward to the changes and relearning my classes as I continue to level.  I just wish Turbine would implement a paid character transfer service but I’ve wished that for as long as I’ve played LOTRO and have come to accept that will never happen.  If you haven’t played LOTRO or have been away for a while, double experience is in effect until the expansion goes live on 18 November 2013.  So, drop by and have a beer with a hobbit and immerse yourself in Middle Earth. <div id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:e47815c6-5cfe-409b-8d43-0f4af1d257b6" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Lord+of+the+Rings+Online" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/LOTRO" rel="tag">LOTRO</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Helm's+Deep" rel="tag">Helm's Deep</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/class+guides" rel="tag">class guides</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/class+changes" rel="tag">class changes</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Oatbarron" rel="tag">Oatbarron</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/cash+shop" rel="tag">cash shop</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/F2P" rel="tag">F2P</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/free-to-play" rel="tag">free-to-play</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Turbine" rel="tag">Turbine</a></div>

Cash Shop F2P free to play Lord of the Rings Online LOTRO Lord of the Rings Online: Helm’s Deep Expansion Class Guides

Lord of the Ring’s Online latest expansion drops in two weeks, Helm’s Deep. The NDA on the beta testers was lifted on Monday and class guides have been posted for upcoming changes for all classes. Every class is seeing major changes this expansio…

What keeps me long term interested in playing & coming back to ANY game?

8:50 AM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNgxXcSOlQJLtVsx0gtMFOM_GLQnKHEYW88ecBy8DKINDUSEMOpDtTLRcY1HmiiGhmKIwRL9kBhvBd7DM1E0j_qn72K6X52a8G-uJxVvivmN-jKFnc4YHViWBBZr38o6r5RhyeLfFPxlC/s1600-h/ScreenShot00015%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="ScreenShot00015" border="0" height="476" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6271Xe66qNw/UbnqQ6PtIHI/AAAAAAAAC90/ok5x-J7xVt4/ScreenShot00015_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" title="ScreenShot00015" width="844"></a> I’ve thought about this a lot recently and we will completely discount story for this posting because if any game doesn’t have a great story then there is no chance of keeping me interested for any length of time. Games must have housing and wardrobe appearance slots.  These two items alone make all the difference in my long term interest in any game. I played <a href="http://www.elderscrolls.com/oblivion/" target="_blank">Oblivion</a> eons and ages ago on the XBox 360, heck it was my introduction to the Elder Scrolls IP.  It may not have had the detailed customization options that <a href="http://www.elderscrolls.com/morrowind/" target="_blank">Morrowind</a> had, which my husband still laments to this day, but I knew I could log-in and my character had a house where she could catch a nap, brew some potions, or just spend the rest of eternity safely.  <a href="www.everquest2.com" target="_blank">Everquest II</a> has done housing and housing customization the flat out best I’ve ever seen in any game.  The options for housing are seemingly endless and the developers, and now the community, continually add to the housing diversity.  All of my EQ2 characters share one house, which I must admit I love.  They’ve all got their alters to their particular gods and their trophies from questing.  I love the pillows strewn about the floor and the critters that roam the home.  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9J1NyNxM-DdVoeiK8pwyiYXVd_AlrhxebUmFiK6I13lJNdnzQ79RLcLdV5yIrhcFYXSzH0-WmUrzfTAZ9JtoQ4MNacvbLlTlf0y2xKyBxggwOMb-m9FmAVaC2uWnqC_rnJwaC-T99sd_d/s1600-h/EQ2_000013%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="EQ2_000013" border="0" height="476" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Uauz2zSn-cc/UbnqRlQWLFI/AAAAAAAAC-E/WmNSUCY2Wsg/EQ2_000013_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" title="EQ2_000013" width="844"></a> <a href="www.lotro.com" target="_blank">Lord of the Rings Online</a> has a good wardrobe system as does Everquest II (appearance clothing).  However, neither game does it perfectly.  Both have stunningly beautiful armor and clothing models that my characters drool over but they both suffer from the same flaw.  No game offers enough wardrobe space to make it expansive enough to switch outfits as often as I’d like.  <a href="www.thesecretworld.com" target="_blank">The Secret World</a> has a pretty good wardrobe system which is perfect for a game set in the modern world with modern clothing, but a lot of their clothing is geared to a much younger player and none of my characters particularly want to walk around in what I consider slutty clothing.  <a href="http://www.riftgame.com/en/" target="_blank">Rift</a> now offers a decent amount of wardrobe slots for in-game currency or real life cash.  Problem is none of my characters are that rich in-game and I’m not spending real life money on wardrobe slots. <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-m_fjHBrtWi4/UbnqSKhK_LI/AAAAAAAAC-I/4UY8EhsvmOI/s1600-h/EQ2_000124%25255B4%25255D.png"><img alt="EQ2_000124" border="0" height="364" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4y7YWZhAWlA/UbnqSozGe8I/AAAAAAAAC-U/LAX_BCb0Nnc/EQ2_000124_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" title="EQ2_000124" width="644"></a> I love the look of this NPC in Everquest II. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5FCAPbDtrxll1vamAdiBCBMNWlCp_X27WN7zVpWOLVdRzj3p1z8xQedPrgd-_xNAGdlAcuBYFdP1aGmKJ9Zg8XUow0f-m_QbacJpn8AnAWL5em931DFrt2YsxVYXaNxgwMRPz5Mwpprh/s1600-h/ScreenShot00022%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="ScreenShot00022" border="0" height="364" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1JZWt6-fgHs/UbnqTedsaII/AAAAAAAAC-k/plmjso8brig/ScreenShot00022_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" title="ScreenShot00022" width="644"></a> My Guardian Hobbit in LOTRO never wears shoes but she does love a jaunty hat and on this fine day in Rivendell she was sporting her favorite hauberk. The one thing <a href="www.guildwars.com" target="_blank">Guild Wars</a> and <a href="www.guildwars2.com" target="_blank">Guild Wars 2</a> do better than any of their competitors, and the only thing in my opinion, is the dye system.  Collecting dyes and not having them be consumed on use is brilliant and perfect system.  Other games need to adopt this model.  Yes they might lose out on some revenue but they would undoubtedly make up that revenue from players like me that won’t purchase a single use dye. No game, to date, gets housing or wardrobe perfect.  Rift has a goodly number of wardrobe slots but dyes are consumed on use and they don’t have pink dyes.  Rift does have housing but it has yet to make an emotional connection with me.  The Secret World has a decent wardrobe closet but the clothes are too revealing and cannot be dyed.  Guild Wars 2 only has the dye system in it’s favor.  Everquest II has phenomenal and extensive housing but no dyes and limited wardrobe to one outfit.  My characters NEED many, many more wardrobe slots in <a href="https://www.everquestnext.com/" target="_blank">Everquest Next</a>!  The clothing and armor in the Everquest franchise is so well done and so varied texturally that limiting appearance clothing to one slot is simply criminal.  Lord of the Rings Online has beautiful clothing but dyes are consumed on use and wardrobe storage and slots are too limited.  LOTRO housing is also lacking in comparison with Everquest franchise.   <div id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:3353e5ee-7e96-4e8f-bb47-a725ef2d36e4" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Everquest+II" rel="tag">Everquest II</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Everquest+Next" rel="tag">Everquest Next</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Lord+of+the+Rings+Online" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/LOTRO" rel="tag">LOTRO</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EQ2" rel="tag">EQ2</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EQN" rel="tag">EQN</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/The+Secret+World" rel="tag">The Secret World</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/TSW" rel="tag">TSW</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rift" rel="tag">Rift</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Guild+Wars+2" rel="tag">Guild Wars 2</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Guild+Wars" rel="tag">Guild Wars</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/housing" rel="tag">housing</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/clothing" rel="tag">clothing</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/wardrobe" rel="tag">wardrobe</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/dye" rel="tag">dye</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Oblivion" rel="tag">Oblivion</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Morrowind" rel="tag">Morrowind</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Elder+Scrolls" rel="tag">Elder Scrolls</a></div>

What keeps me long term interested in playing & coming back to ANY game?

Elder Scrolls EQ2 Everquest Everquest 2 Everquest Next Guild Wars Guild Wars 2 Housing Lord of the Rings Online LOTRO Morrowind Oblivion Rift The Secret World video games Wardrobe system What keeps me long term interested in playing & coming back to ANY game?

I’ve thought about this a lot recently and we will completely discount story for this posting because if any game doesn’t have a great story then there is no chance of keeping me interested for any length of time. Games must have housing and wardro…

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Lord of the Rings Online: or GRRR again

Lord of the Rings Online: Helm’s Deep Expansion Class Guides

What keeps me long term interested in playing & coming back to ANY game?

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