International Picture Posting Month: The Lord of the Rings Online
The Lord of the Rings Online is unique in so far as there are no other Tolkien based MMORPGs available at present (although another is currently in development). I have played LOTRO since 2008 and what I have discovered during that time, is that although the game attracts MMO players, it also attracts dedicated Tolkien aficionados. Many of those who play LOTRO do not play other games or even consider themselves as gamers. The intellectual property is a magnet for fans and frequently a steppingstone into the world of gaming. Hence you have a player base that is heavily invested and forgiving, because of their affection for the source material. Few other MMOs have this sort of community. LOTRO offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in Middle-earth. For many, the game’s vision of Tolkien’s world is superior to Peter Jackson’s movie adaptations. LOTRO has its own original aesthetic and style. Furthermore, after twelve years there is a prodigious amount of Middle-earth to explore. No other MMO can offer players access to The Shire, or Rohan or the Dead Marshes. So, in many respects LOTRO is an MMO occupying a unique niche in the video games market.
The Lord of the Rings Online is unique in so far as there are no other Tolkien based MMORPGs available at present (although another is currently in development). I have played LOTRO since 2008 and what I have discovered during that time, is that although the game attracts MMO players, it also attracts dedicated Tolkien aficionados. Many of those who play LOTRO do not play other games or even consider themselves as gamers. The intellectual property is a magnet for fans and frequently a steppingstone into the world of gaming. Hence you have a player base that is heavily invested and forgiving, because of their affection for the source material. Few other MMOs have this sort of community. LOTRO offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in Middle-earth. For many, the game’s vision of Tolkien’s world is superior to Peter Jackson’s movie adaptations. LOTRO has its own original aesthetic and style. Furthermore, after twelve years there is a prodigious amount of Middle-earth to explore. No other MMO can offer players access to The Shire, or Rohan or the Dead Marshes. So, in many respects LOTRO is an MMO occupying a unique niche in the video games market.
Another aspect of LOTRO in which the game excels is the story structure and quest lines. All are driven by strong narratives and couched in the lore of Middle-earth. The writers have always shown an abiding love for the work of Professor Tolkien and this is reflected in both the main epic storyline, right down to the smallest regional quest. You’ll often find references both big and small to various events found in the original books, as well as links to tales dating further back in the history of Middle-earth. For example, there’s a minor quest in the South Farthing of The Shire, in which a young Hobbit falls asleep onboard a small covered wagon. He subsequently recounts a tale of travelling to a tower in a circle of rock and a scary old man dressed in white. It would appear that he has unwittingly hitched a ride to Isengard, via one the supply wagons Lotho Sackville-Baggins is sending to Saruman. It is minor asides such as these that embellish LOTRO and delight those who enjoy the source texts upon which they’re based.
Although some may argue that the halcyon days of the MMORPG are gone, there are still several enduring titles that can offer new players an engaging virtual world to explore and quest in. LOTRO is definitely one of these. Not only can it satisfy your MMO itch but also provide a franchise specific experience that no other game can directly compete with. Furthermore, after celebrating its twelfth anniversary this year, the developers have plans to expand the game further, adding yet more of Middle-earth to the game. Mount Gundabad is currently in development and will be available in 2020. So, if you’re looking for an original and immersive depiction of Tolkien’s world, with a narrative driven story and a welcoming community, then look no further than LOTRO. Just remember the wise words of Bilbo Baggins. “It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
In addition to the pictures in this post, here is a link to a gallery of screenshots from LOTRO via Google Photos. All are available at the original screen resolution of 1920 x 1200.
International Picture Posting Month: Star Trek Online
Although I pre-ordered Star Trek Online in early 2010, I was initially disappointed with the game. It took three attempts over several years for me to warm to this MMORPG and make it a mainstay of my gaming activities. STO was a mess when it launched. The game had switched game studios during its development and its new owners Cryptic, were legally obliged to abide by the existing release date. Hence the game was incomplete and somewhat lacking. Furthermore there were systems and mechanics in place that were geared towards a more traditional MMO methodology. Many of these were subsequently sidelined as Cryptic endeavoured to tidy up and refine the game. The MMO went F2P in January 2012 and it proved beneficial in so far as providing the developers with a stable business environment. Over the next three years, Cryptic made the game more coherent and orderly. Long term story arcs were presented in episodic feature episodes, reputation and gear procedures were refined and eventually the skills system was overhauled into a simpler “tree” format. By 2015, STO was finally the game it should have been at launch.
Although I pre-ordered Star Trek Online in early 2010, I was initially disappointed with the game. It took three attempts over several years for me to warm to this MMORPG and make it a mainstay of my gaming activities. STO was a mess when it launched. The game had switched game studios during its development and its new owners Cryptic, were legally obliged to abide by the existing release date. Hence the game was incomplete and somewhat lacking. Furthermore there were systems and mechanics in place that were geared towards a more traditional MMO methodology. Many of these were subsequently sidelined as Cryptic endeavoured to tidy up and refine the game. The MMO went F2P in January 2012 and it proved beneficial in so far as providing the developers with a stable business environment. Over the next three years, Cryptic made the game more coherent and orderly. Long term story arcs were presented in episodic feature episodes, reputation and gear procedures were refined and eventually the skills system was overhauled into a simpler “tree” format. By 2015, STO was finally the game it should have been at launch.
It was during the 2015 Delta Recruitment event that I finally got bitten by the STO bug. I created characters from all three of the faction then available, as each has a unique story for the first third of the game’s narrative. Playing Federation, Klingon and Romulan alts also offers a different perspective on the central story. The game has grown since then and a further three factions have been added. But although it is enjoyable to play such diverse characters, the greatest strength of STO lies in the lore. Set after the events of Star Trek: The Next Generation the story line explores some very interesting themes. The peace treaty with the Klingon Empire breaks down and leads to war. The destruction of the Romulan home world causes a schism in the Star Empire, leading to a Romulan Republic born out of the Vulcan reunification movement and the Reman Resistance. And being Star Trek there is naturally time travel resulting in the player visiting past era’s and even the alternative Kelvin Timeline. It is quite convoluted at times but the stories are frequently marbled with references to classic Trek lore.
STO lacks some of the polish of other MMOs. Its character models are somewhat dated and there are bugs in the game that have persisted for years. But its space combat is dynamic, engaging and satisfying. It also has a wealth of options for short, targeted gameplay, if you do not want to play through the various major story arcs. Plus the game regularly has events throughout the year, which unlike other MMOs offer more than just cosmetic rewards. There are Tier 6 ships to be earned along with other items that enhance gameplay. But the jewel in the crown of STO is its official support from rights holders CBS and the involvement of so many of the cast of the various TV shows. Interacting with such characters as Odo, Weyoun, Worf and Seven of Nine and having them voiced by René Auberjonois, Jeffrey Combs, Michael Dorn and Jeri Ryan is an absolute joy for Trek fans. Plus any game that has pet Hortas and allows you to use a Lirpa or Bat'leth in melee combat has to be doing something right. But as I’m a Trek fan and a lifetime account holder in STO, I guess I’m somewhat bias.
In addition to the pictures in this post, here is a link to a gallery of screenshots from STO via Google Photos. All are available at the original screen resolution of 1920 x 1200.
International Picture Posting Month: The Elder Scrolls Online
As my first post for International Picture Posting Month, I have decided to share some pictures and thoughts on the MMORPG, The Elder Scrolls Online. Out of the three games from this genre that I currently play, it’s the one that I’m currently enjoying the most. It has plenty of content to play through, the virtual world is immersive and the stories, characters and lore are very detailed and satisfying. As a more recent MMO, the game engine is robust and the visuals are far from dated. The game mechanics are multi-layered but combat is straightforward. There is no obvious skills bloat as you choose what you want on your hotbar. I also greatly enjoy the ambient music and recurring themes that play throughout the game. ESO is both solo and group friendly. You can also greatly augment your UI and the way you interact with the various systems, through the use of addons if you like. Alternatively, if you feel bold enough, then you can go with the default layout. From my perspective, ESO offers a great deal and ticks many of the boxes I favour. Yes it can have its foibles but name me an MMO that doesn’t?
As my first post for International Picture Posting Month, I have decided to share some pictures and thoughts on the MMORPG, The Elder Scrolls Online. Out of the three games from this genre that I currently play, it’s the one that I’m currently enjoying the most. It has plenty of content to play through, the virtual world is immersive and the stories, characters and lore are very detailed and satisfying. As a more recent MMO, the game engine is robust and the visuals are far from dated. The game mechanics are multi-layered but combat is straightforward. There is no obvious skills bloat as you choose what you want on your hotbar. I also greatly enjoy the ambient music and recurring themes that play throughout the game. ESO is both solo and group friendly. You can also greatly augment your UI and the way you interact with the various systems, through the use of addons if you like. Alternatively, if you feel bold enough, then you can go with the default layout. From my perspective, ESO offers a great deal and ticks many of the boxes I favour. Yes it can have its foibles but name me an MMO that doesn’t?
I currently have three characters at level cap in ESO. A High Elf Sorcerer (Aldmeri Dominion), an Argonian Necromancer (Ebonheart Pact) and an Imperial Dragonknight (Daggerfall Covenant). Although I’ve done the most content with my Sorcerer (she’s my oldest character), I’m actually enjoying the Dragonkinight the most, so I suspect they’ll end up as my primary alt. There’s something very satisfying about melee combat with a two-handed weapon. Combined with heavy armour and a strong Stamina build, I like the sheer survivability of the class. I use a bow as my secondary means of attack and find that it compliments things immensely. I can pick off one or two mobs before the third reaches me. Then I switch to my greatsword and swing away. I’m also trying to play through the game in some semblance of narrative order on this alt. This greatly enhances my gaming experience as I enjoy the complexity of the lore.
I recently decided to take advantage of becoming a Werewolf in ESO and its associated skills line. Unlike Vampirism that requires far too much maintenance for my liking, Lycanthropy provides not only a new Ultimate skill but an entire set of five skills while transformed. Furthermore, if used in a delve or dungeon, if you continuously “devour” your victims you can remain in Werewolf form for a considerable amount of time. It is also a good way of tackling boss fights in ESO as you become very robust while in this transformed state. Like other skills in the game, all the base Werewolf abilities can be morphed. I chose to augment the standard Werewolf Ultimate into Pack Leader, as it changes your appearance to that of a white Werewolf and also provides you with two Wolf support companions. I do not know if it is the best choice from a technical or statistical perspective but it certainly looks damn cool.
In addition to the pictures in this post, here is a link to a gallery of screenshots from ESO via Google Photos. All are available at the original screen resolution of 1920 x 1200. These include images of my various alts, Dolmen farming in the Alik’r Desert and the Pack Leader Werewolf transformation.
International Picture Posting Month
I like a blogging event. They’re a great form of community interaction. I also like activities with clear parameters that can be undertaken daily. Sometimes trying to come up with new ideas for posts and content is tricky. Events can alleviate this by providing clear structure and a set of preset tasks or prompts. Chestnut over at Gamer Girl Confessions is running International Picture Posting Month throughout November. Broadly speaking it’s the image equivalent of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) where you are encouraged to write 50,000 words. With IntPiPoMo (now there’s an easy to remember acronym) the idea is to post images, be it a screen capture from a game, a photo or some of your own artwork. The target for the month is 50 images. Although the emphasis is on the visual, there is also the option to write about the images you share if you so desire.
I like a blogging event. They’re a great form of community interaction. I also like activities with clear parameters that can be undertaken daily. Sometimes trying to come up with new ideas for posts and content is tricky. Events can alleviate this by providing clear structure and a set of preset tasks or prompts. Chestnut over at Gamer Girl Confessions is running International Picture Posting Month throughout November. Broadly speaking it’s the image equivalent of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) where you are encouraged to write 50,000 words. With IntPiPoMo (now there’s an easy to remember acronym) the idea is to post images, be it a screen capture from a game, a photo or some of your own artwork. The target for the month is 50 images. Although the emphasis is on the visual, there is also the option to write about the images you share if you so desire.
So I’ve signed up and intend to give this a go over the month ahead. Like many other gamers I have numerous folders of game related screenshots on my hard drive. I also have hundreds of images from various movies stored for use in film reviews. Hence, I think I have some suitable material for IntPiPoMo. Now due to the blog template I’m currently using, there is a size limit on any image I embed in a post. Therefore I shall attempt to upload the full-size images on a third-party hosting site and endeavour to integrate a scaled version (with a link back to the original) on Contains Moderate Peril. If this solution cannot be accommodated due to some technical reason, I’ll try and fudge some other workaround. I would like to maintain the original image size, as I think that scaling content sometimes diminishes its impact.
If you want any further details on this event and the prizes available (yes, that’s right there are also prizes involved) then head over to Gamer Girl Confessions using the link above. There’s a sign-up page so that Chestnut can track who’s participating in IntPiPoMo. So far, the following bloggers have “taken the King’s shilling” and are participating in International Picture Posting Month. It will be interesting to see what pictures they share in the weeks to come.
Cal – Galactic Antics
Chestnut – Gamer Girl Confessions
Shintar – Going Commando
Bhagpuss – Inventory Full
Paeroka – Nerdy Bookahs
Stargrace – Nomadic Gamers, eh!
Atheren – The Last Chapter Gaming Blog
Arislyn – The Tanking Mage
Welshtroll – Welshtroll
