Battlefield 6: Thoughts on the Launch
When Battlefield 2042 launched on 19th November 2021, it was a complete dog’s dinner. There were technical issues, including widespread bugs, poor performance and inconsistent hit registration. The launch was also criticized for the removal of core gameplay features like the class system, a scoreboard, and a server browser, which led to the game being considered unfinished and incomplete at release. Although developers, Battlefield Studios, worked hard to address many of the issues arising from the launch, the net result was that the franchise’s reputation was harmed. However, the beta testing of Battlefield 6 throughout August this year, has done much to restore the franchise’s good standing with a game that has clearly returned to a formula that works.
When Battlefield 2042 launched on 19th November 2021, it was a complete dog’s dinner. There were technical issues, including widespread bugs, poor performance and inconsistent hit registration. The launch was also criticized for the removal of core gameplay features like the class system, a scoreboard, and a server browser, which led to the game being considered unfinished and incomplete at release. Although developers, Battlefield Studios, worked hard to address many of the issues arising from the launch, the net result was that the franchise’s reputation was harmed. However, the beta testing of Battlefield 6 throughout August this year, has done much to restore the franchise’s good standing with a game that has clearly returned to a formula that works.
Hence, yesterday’s launch of Battlefield 6 was of particular significance. Players would finally be able to experience the entirety of the new game and determine if Battlefield really was “back”. It was also a chance for developer’s, Battlefield Studios, to restore the franchise’s reputation. Fortunately, the launch went relatively well, with record player counts being set (740,000 concurrent players on Steam) as soon as the game went live at 16:00 GMT. However, there were some problems such as the game not working at all via the EA app, thus inconveniencing a sizable group of players. There were also some general errors such as “DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_REMOVED”, which PC players encountered across multiple platforms. And being a game launch, there were server queues, which at one point were over a quarter of a million.
Thankfully, within 24 hours the majority of these issues were resolved. During this period I had to use EA support and I was impressed how quick and efficient the live chat option was. The communication was clear and the troubleshooting comprehensive. I was finally able to launch and play Battlefield 6 at about 13:00 PM today. The game is extremely well optimised and immediately configured the graphics to a level my PC could handle, without any need for me to do any fine tuning. Despite there still being an extremely large number of concurrent players, finding a multiplayer game does not take long and the server performance is robust. All of which is a step up from Call of Duty: Warzone where finding and connecting to a game can sometimes take 3 or 4 minutes. It will be interesting to see what happens when Battlefield 6 releases its Battle Royale game and starts directly competing with Warzone.
It is worth noting that EA were acutely aware that there were problems with the launch of Battlefield 6 yesterday. They were not as bad as those that blighted its predecessor but a lot of people were inconvenienced. While writing this post I received an email from EA addressing the failure of the EA app and apologising for the problem. As compensation they have offered the following. “Anyone on the EA app who was impacted will receive 12 Hardware and 12 Career 60-Minute Boosters, which should be arriving in impacted players’ in-game inbox this weekend. In addition, we will also be granting impacted players full access to a seasonal Battle Pass. Phantom Edition owners will get Season 2’s full Battle Pass”. As someone who uses the EA app and who purchased the Phantom Edition of the game, I appreciated the gesture. I shall share my thoughts on live gameplay in my next post.
LOTRO: Free Transfers from Former 32-bit Game Worlds
After a six month migration period, Standing Stone Games formally closed all their legacy 32-bit game servers for the MMORPG, The Lord of the Rings Online, on the 31st August 2025. Despite this planned closure being widely discussed via the game’s official forums, professional video game websites and fan blogs, many LOTRO players were unaware of this deadline. Hence many were unable to migrate their respective alts to the new 64-bit servers. Naturally those affected by these closures were upset, especially those with longstanding characters who didn’t relish the prospect of starting from scratch with a new alt. Thankfully, SSG have been true to their word and as of today, have re-opened these “dark worlds” to character transfers. If you have an alt trapped on one of the older game worlds, then now is the time to use the transfer wizard and move them to a new active game world.
After a six month migration period, Standing Stone Games formally closed all their legacy 32-bit game servers for the MMORPG, The Lord of the Rings Online, on the 31st August 2025. Despite this planned closure being widely discussed via the game’s official forums, professional video game websites and fan blogs, many LOTRO players were unaware of this deadline. Hence many were unable to migrate their respective alts to the new 64-bit servers. Naturally those affected by these closures were upset, especially those with longstanding characters who didn’t relish the prospect of starting from scratch with a new alt. Thankfully, SSG have been true to their word and as of today, have re-opened these “dark worlds” to character transfers. If you have an alt trapped on one of the older game worlds, then now is the time to use the transfer wizard and move them to a new active game world.
Standing Stone Games have a comprehensive transfer guide on their website which is well worth reading. I have also made a video of how to use the transfer wizard, here. Due to historical differences between the US and European LOTRO game servers, alts from U 32-bit servers have to be migrated to US 64-bit servers. Similarly, alts from EU 32-bit servers have to be migrated to EU 64-bit servers. The service is free of charge and SSG is offering transfers from the “dark worlds” until 1st October 2027, which is a sizable timeframe. Players should bear in mind that depending on demand, the transfer service can take anything between 24 hours and several days to complete. Also, that the “dark worlds” are only available for character transfer. You cannot log into them. If players experience any issues when transferring alts, they should contact SSG customer support.
Playing Hell Let Loose: Buying the Game and the Practice Range
I bought Hell Let Loose last night. A decision I suspect that I shall regret. Despite the fact that I know that the YouTube videos of this game are carefully curated and therefore not truly representative of the reality of its gameplay, I felt compelled to try this World War II multiplayer tactical first-person shooter. From time to time I find a game that really appeals to me as a concept and I want to play it. However, more often than not these are online multiplayer games and as such the human element is distinctly “variable”. Hence the idealised gameplay that I imagine is a far cry from what playing the game is really like. I’m sure I am not alone in this mindset. Sometimes I have to just “get it out of my system” and the only real way to do that is buy the game in question, be disappointed and then move on.
I bought Hell Let Loose last night. A decision I suspect that I shall regret. Despite the fact that I know that the YouTube videos of this game are carefully curated and therefore not truly representative of the reality of its gameplay, I felt compelled to try this World War II multiplayer tactical first-person shooter. From time to time I find a game that really appeals to me as a concept and I want to play it. However, more often than not these are online multiplayer games and as such the human element is distinctly “variable”. Hence the idealised gameplay that I imagine is a far cry from what playing the game is really like. I’m sure I am not alone in this mindset. Sometimes I have to just “get it out of my system” and the only real way to do that is buy the game in question, be disappointed and then move on.
I wrote a post a while back where I speculated that Hell Let Loose is one of those games that it’s best to watch, rather than play and I now get to prove or disprove that theory. At least such an experiment is good for a few blog posts. The first step was naturally to buy a copy of the game and so I looked at several price comparison websites yesterday to see whether this was going to be a costly endeavour. I noticed there were about 3 permutations of Hell Let Loose (Standard, Deluxe and Ultimate) and a lot of DLC. I quickly discovered that the DLC is mainly cosmetic outfits and weapon skins. Not game maps. So I bought the cheapest version I could from a reputable vendor, spending £16 from Fanatical. There was a sale on at the time and I had just 10 minutes to spare before the discount expired and the price returned to £42 which is not such a bargain.
The game is approximately a 54GB install. Not that’s a problem as I have a 4 Terabyte NVMe M.2 SSD. One of my better purchases. On launching Hell Let Loose for the first time I didn’t encounter any issues of note, apart from my usual problem of trying to get the game to display on my second monitor. I could drag a windowed version over to my screen of choice and it stayed there once I did so. However, when I quit and relaunched Hell Let Loose, it defaulted back to the primary display. So I used MultiMonitorTool and the problem was resolved. The graphic settings were turned up to Epic by default and as my graphics card didn’t object I left them as such. Hell Let Loose is a handsome looking game that uses Unreal Engine 4. After looking at the graphic settings I spent some time pursuing the keybindings, of which there are many.
Next, I started looking through the various classes and factions in the Barracks. It was then that I noticed that all were unlocked and that I had downloaded and installed the game client for the test server. A mistake but a useful one, as it allowed me to see a much wider variety of builds other than the base ones. I then moved on to the Practice Range and experimented with various weapons. I found the bolt action rifles to be very accurate and was also surprised by the low recoil on the fully automatic weapons such as SMGs and LMGs. Grenades can be thrown over arm or under arm but there is no visual assist to help you gauge the distance. You effectively have to learn manually and assess the distance by how high you raise your arm. I also tried driving a few vehicles which are quite complex, as there are manual gears to master.
What I didn’t do after all this was to jump headlong into a live game. I have decided that due to the complexity of Hell Let Loose, which is a much different beast to Warzone or even Battlefield, I shall watch a few YouTube videos and try and orient myself first. Having a keymap on my other monitor may be useful and learning some basic tips may well improve my first gameplay experience. I also have to set up my headset as communication with other players is key in this game. This is likely to be the one aspect of the game that I’ll like least, as open microphones do seem to be a magnet for the worst sorts of gamers. I did however, install the live game client and delete the test server version. All I have to do now is find an evening when I have a few hours spare and then log into a live game and see how it goes. I’ll share my thoughts in the next post.
Atomfall: The Red Strain DLC
The Red Strain is the second DLC for the RPG Atomfall. It provides another interesting side story that is adjacent to that of the main game. Set in the new region of Stafell Crag, the player finds a secret installation called Test Site Moriah, run by C.O.R.E. (Co-ordinated Orbital Research Establishment). C.O.R.E. have seniority over B.A.R.D. (British Atomic Research Department) and have taken much of their research and used it for their own experiments. This includes the Red Strain, a genetically modified version of the Blue Infection. However, this has escaped containment and spread throughout the entire site. Once again the player must explore the zone, looking for leads and collecting resources, while trying to piece together what has happened. As in the previous DLC and main game, not every NPC that you meet in The Red Strain can be trusted.
The Red Strain is the second DLC for the RPG Atomfall. It provides another interesting side story that is adjacent to that of the main game. Set in the new region of Stafell Crag, the player finds a secret installation called Test Site Moriah, run by C.O.R.E. (Co-ordinated Orbital Research Establishment). C.O.R.E. have seniority over B.A.R.D. (British Atomic Research Department) and have taken much of their research and used it for their own experiments. This includes the Red Strain, a genetically modified version of the Blue Infection. However, this has escaped containment and spread throughout the entire site. Once again the player must explore the zone, looking for leads and collecting resources, while trying to piece together what has happened. As in the previous DLC and main game, not every NPC that you meet in The Red Strain can be trusted.
The DLC offers new weapons, including a silenced pistol and SMG, as well as several new skills. The player can now scavenge weapons from the C.O.R.E. Robots that patrol the region, although their high destructive power is offset with slow rate of fire. There is also an upgraded version of the Signal Redirector (MK II), which now allows the player to control turrets, swarms and robots, as well as switch power to locked or deactivated areas. Stafell Crag, a former rocket research site, is a far more vertical zone and as such adds a further degree of interest while travelling the area. The infected guards are all armed with SMGs and the C.O.R.E. Robots patrolling the various buildings have organic brains. Hence they are more aggressive when challenged and persistent if you retreat. As ever, stealth is the safest approach when exploring.
Stafell Crag is pleasingly different in its aesthetic, compared to the Midsummer Isle and the main regions of the base game. The railway station is atmospheric but also tactically useful, as the bridge and signal box offer elevated positions. Test Site Moriah is dominated by the rocket testing facilities and radar domes. I have referenced previously how aspects of the game draw upon the writings of Nigel Kneale. This area is very reminiscent of the military facility that features in Quatermass II. The story in The Red Strain DLC is far more science fiction driven and an interesting contrast to the folk horror themes found in Wicked Isle. The main characters are unusual, being disembodied brains in life support jars. The voice acting for these curious individuals is very good and the banter between them reflect the sociopolitical and class idioms of the time.
The Red Strain offers two new endings to the main game and they are quite different to those from the base game and the Wicked Isle DLC. Although well conceived, they may not satisfy all players, especially those who have not completed the game before. New players may be better served by playing through the Atomfall base game first and choosing one of the original six endings. Another notable difference in The Red Strain DLC, is that the Voice on the Phone does not offer as much guidance this time. He frequently calls and makes comments on developments but he doesn’t appear to have a preferred course of action. This is possibly because the story in the DLC does seem to be tangential to that of Atomfall, whereas the Wicked Isle was more closely linked. The entire Oberon issue doesn’t really materialise in The Red Strain until there is a plot requirement at the end to bypass the Interference Field.
Atomfall developer, Rebellion, have managed to craft three very engaging narrative arcs. The base game blends a mixture of science fiction and horror elements in a uniquely British idiom. The investigative approach, rather than simply undertaking clearly defined missions, is one of the game’s greatest strengths. The Wicked Isle DLC has a specific narrative tone referencing folk horror and the gameplay is stealth focused. The Red Strain has a far more science fiction driven story with a more aggressive approach to combat. However, the endings for the latest DLC do seem more specific and definitive than those available in the base game. Also, The Red Strain does not add any further details to the existing lore. We learn nothing further about Oberon or the Voice of the Phone. Hence I wonder if this marks the end of the development cycle for Atomfall or whether there will be any further DLC?
LOTRO: Kingdoms of Harad Expansion Announced
MMORPG announced earlier today and it was subsequently confirmed by Standing Stone games, that the new expansion for The Lord of the Rings Online will be Kingdoms of Harad and that it will launch later in the year. The expansion will see the conclusion of the epic Song of Waves and Wind storyline and the level cap raised from 150 to 160. There will be a new region to explore, Mûr Ghala, comprising four zones. Adagîm, Idagâl, An Shêru and Kighân. The latter contains the main trading hub of Zajâna. Players will travel into the region with Gandalf the White, along with allies of the Kindred of Coins and Mizadi as they seek to counter the regional power struggle brought about by the fall of Sauron. Canonically, this takes place three months after the destruction of the ring, hence King Elessar and Eomer are busy with domestic affairs in their respective kingdoms.
MMORPG announced earlier today and it was subsequently confirmed by Standing Stone games, that the new expansion for The Lord of the Rings Online will be Kingdoms of Harad and that it will launch later in the year. The expansion will see the conclusion of the epic Song of Waves and Wind storyline and the level cap raised from 150 to 160. There will be a new region to explore, Mûr Ghala, comprising four zones. Adagîm, Idagâl, An Shêru and Kighân. The latter contains the main trading hub of Zajâna. Players will travel into the region with Gandalf the White, along with allies of the Kindred of Coins and Mizadi as they seek to counter the regional power struggle brought about by the fall of Sauron. Canonically, this takes place three months after the destruction of the ring, hence King Elessar and Eomer are busy with domestic affairs in their respective kingdoms.
Kingdoms of Harad is the thirteenth expansion for LOTRO, the first five of which, along with the later Before the Shadow are now bundled as part of the free-to-play base game. As of today the new expansion is available for pre-purchase from Standing Stone Games and is available in the usual three different, digital permutations. The Standard Edition, Collector’s Edition and the Ultimate Fan Bundle. All packages come with the new story content as well as the instance and raid cluster. There is also a single, one per count, “150 level up package” that can be used to instantly take a character of your choice to level 150, so you can immediately explore the new region. The provisional release date for the new Kingdoms of Harad expansion is 3rd December, with the usual caveat of a delay if there are technical issues.
Standing Stone Games can be accused of many things but not dragging their heels with regard to releasing new content. Kingdoms of Harad will be the seventh yearly expansion since 2019, which shows a degree of commitment to the MMOs future. Not bad for a game that is over 18 years old. Furthermore, there should be a new “Development Update” letter at the end of the month, which hopefully will show some progress with some of the longstanding technical issues that continue to impact upon the game. Such as the improved GUI with 4K support and the persistent problem of game lag that still seems to intermittently blight the new 64-bit servers. Although it is good to get new story content, it is important to address the essential nuts and bolts of this ageing game. In the meantime, Kingdoms of Harad will more than likely be available on the Bullroarer test server in the next few weeks.
LOTRO: The Problem With Skirmish Soldiers
Skirmishes were added to the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online, in 2009 with the release of the Siege of Mirkwood expansion. Skirmishes are a repeatable and scalable combat system that allows players to access various instances for solo or group play from anywhere in the in-game world. Players can choose a Skirmish Soldier from a variety of classes to accompany them and provide healing, tank or additional DPS. On paper it’s a great system which is why many other MMOs offer something similar. I recently decided to tinker with my Skirmish Soldier build on my main character to see if I could optimise their performance. As my primary alt is a Lore-master, for the last few years I have had a Warrior as their Skirmish Soldier, to take some of the aggro from attacking mobs. I used the excellent guide by FibroJedi and swapped over a few Training and Personal Traits.
Skirmishes were added to the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online, in 2009 with the release of the Siege of Mirkwood expansion. Skirmishes are a repeatable and scalable combat system that allows players to access various instances for solo or group play from anywhere in the in-game world. Players can choose a Skirmish Soldier from a variety of classes to accompany them and provide healing, tank or additional DPS. On paper it’s a great system which is why many other MMOs offer something similar. I recently decided to tinker with my Skirmish Soldier build on my main character to see if I could optimise their performance. As my primary alt is a Lore-master, for the last few years I have had a Warrior as their Skirmish Soldier, to take some of the aggro from attacking mobs. I used the excellent guide by FibroJedi and swapped over a few Training and Personal Traits.
I do not find playing Skirmishes at the default difficulty setting with my level cap Lore-master to be particularly challenging. Mainly because my primary character is well specified with good gear and an optimised Legendary Weapon. On occasions, I will send my Warrior to attack a specific target, if for example, one of my main attack skills is on cooldown. Most of the time, they simply follow in my wake, providing what support they can. Or so I assumed. Recently, I decided to look at my combat log after playing through Thievery and Mischief Skirmish. Let it suffice to say, there were few entries regarding their contribution and what was there showed minimal damage. The Skirmish Soldier in question had all their skills and abilities maxed out. I subsequently ran several other Skirmishes with other alts, all of which had Skirmish Soldiers of a commensurate rank to the level of the alt. The results were similar.
Hence I did some research via the official LOTRO forums and the subreddit and it would appear that Skirmish Soldiers are generally considered ineffective and often a liability in high-level content due to poor scaling and unintelligent AI. At lower levels, soldiers can be overpowered but still have a tendency to pull aggro and break crowd control. This beneficial over powered state only lasts for a ten levels or so. The main problem after their AI, is that their damage and utility do not scale well at higher levels, making them less useful compared to player-controlled companions like Captain's Heralds or Lore-master pets. A Herbalist Skirmish Soldier is the most recommended and reliable choice because its primary function is healing. A role that tends to keep them adjacent or behind the player. They help keep you alive during difficult fights, which is more important than the negligible damage output from other roles.
Over the years, the level cap increases have further exacerbated this problem. Hence, my fully maxed out Warrior doesn’t contribute that much to any fight. I mainly use them as a decoy. Similarly, when deployed during general PVE questing the Skirmish Soldier (or Landscape Soldier in this circumstances) suffers the same problems with skill scaling and damage output. Therefore, their primary role at present, is one of psychological prop. Making the player feel supported and thus, boosting their confidence. Making Skirmish Soldiers the equivalent of Andrew Ridgeley from Wham. LOTRO developers, Standing Stone Games need to fine tune and rebalance this game mechanic, so that Skirmish/Landscape Soldiers become a more reliable and universal companion within the game. I’d also like more cosmetics options for them. However, knowing SSG, I won’t hold my breath.
LOTRO: Standing Stone Games and Support Tickets
On 2nd August 2025, I was playing the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online, on my primary character, a level cap Lore-master. I decided to continue with one of the Allegiance Quest lines, specifically Durin’s Folk. I played through several quests and earned the appropriate tokens that advance the Allegiance system. I then handed these in to the NPC in the Hall Under the Mountain, expecting the next quest in the series “Chapter 3: Gimli’s Request” to be unlocked. An item appeared in my inventory that I then clicked on, which should have bestowed the quest. Unfortunately, nothing happened. Furthermore, the item vanished from my bag and therefore I could not attempt to click it again. I checked the LOTRO Wiki and then looked around the Hall Under the Mountain to see if any NPC had a ring icon above their head. As they did not, I surmised that this was a software glitch and logged a support ticket with Standing Stone Games.
On 2nd August 2025, I was playing the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online, on my primary character, a level cap Lore-master. I decided to continue with one of the Allegiance Quest lines, specifically Durin’s Folk. I played through several quests and earned the appropriate tokens that advance the Allegiance system. I then handed these in to the NPC in the Hall Under the Mountain, expecting the next quest in the series “Chapter 3: Gimli’s Request” to be unlocked. An item appeared in my inventory that I then clicked on, which should have bestowed the quest. Unfortunately, nothing happened. Furthermore, the item vanished from my bag and therefore I could not attempt to click it again. I checked the LOTRO Wiki and then looked around the Hall Under the Mountain to see if any NPC had a ring icon above their head. As they did not, I surmised that this was a software glitch and logged a support ticket with Standing Stone Games.
Tonight, 40 days later, I received an email response from SSG and opened the message expecting to read that they had manually advanced the quest for me and I could continue with this story arc. However, that was not the case. I have attached a screen capture of my original support request along with the response from SSG, for readers edification. I believe I made myself quite clear in my initial communication. Hence I am somewhat confused by SSG’s response. There are several points to consider.
I have removed the name of the Customer Support member of staff out of courtesy
Firstly, are SSG claiming that they cannot advance a quest for a player when they state “Our ability to provide gameplay help or walkthroughs is limited from here in in-game CS”? If that is their assertion, I do not believe it. In the past, both I and friends have had quest lines advanced by Turbine/Standing Stone Games staff, when a bug has occurred.
Secondly, why write “I would suggest consulting with the community either in-game or on our official forums to gain a better understanding of gameplay content”? I gave a very clear breakdown of the fault I encountered and the problems most certainly can’t be remedied by reading the LOTRO forums. The comment implies that SSG has not read what I have written, for whatever reasons, which is hardly good customer relations.
Thirdly, I am further puzzled by the statement “If you believe there is an error with the in-game content, please provide a screenshot containing your character and the occurring issue to assist in further investigation, thank you”. My initial support request clearly indicates that I do indeed believe that an error occurred. It is why I raised a “ticket” in the first place. A quest bestowal failed, which is the very definition of a game error. As for supplying a screen capture, how exactly can I do this after the event? Again, this gives me the impression that my support request has not been read. I will not jump to any conclusion as to why this is but the most obvious answers that come to mind are far from edifying for SSG.
Finally, by what criteria is this support request “solved”?
Details of the Allegiance quest in question
There is always a temptation to consider a minor customer service matter such as this, too trivial to pursue any further. However, such a course of action ultimately makes matters worse for all players and paying customers. As a European, I am used to robust and good quality customer services. This example is the opposite of that. I waited 40 days, only to receive a generic response which neither addressed my in-game problem or even had the courtesy to offer the most basic of apologies for the inconvenience. This will not do.
If on the off chance that anyone from SSG reads this post, do you think this reflects well on your company? Not so much the fault, as bugs will occur in video games. I’m more concerned about the casual dismissal this official response infers and the fact that no one seems to have bothered to read what I wrote. Beyond this, can my game related problem be resolved? If you cannot advance a simple quest line for me after an obvious error, then please say so. A polite “sorry” would be well received.
In the meantime, I would be very interested to hear from fellow LOTRO players as to their experiences when seeking technical support from SSG. Did you wait long for a response? Do you feel that your request was read and understood? Was your game related problem resolved?
Star Trek Online Needs an Expansion
If you check the Star Trek Online Wiki, you’ll find that there has been a steady stream of new content added to the MMORPG over the last 15 years. However, it doesn’t quite feel that way, mainly because more recent material seems weaker and less memorable. The last two major story arcs in STO have been somewhat lacklustre and demonstrably inferior to those that went before. Both Terran Gambit and Kings & Queens suffer from uninspired, repetitive ideas as well as an infrequent release schedule. Effectively weak stories have been dragged out over too much time. No doubt changes among the STO writing team have had an impact on content but it also seems that some of the newer stories have been tailored around whatever former Star Trek cast members that are available. As a result there has been a somewhat “square pegs in a round holes” aspect to both story arcs, where the pieces just don’t seem to fit together well.
If you check the Star Trek Online Wiki, you’ll find that there has been a steady stream of new content added to the MMORPG over the last 15 years. However, it doesn’t quite feel that way, mainly because more recent material seems weaker and less memorable. The last two major story arcs in STO have been somewhat lacklustre and demonstrably inferior to those that went before. Both Terran Gambit and Kings & Queens suffer from uninspired, repetitive ideas as well as an infrequent release schedule. Effectively weak stories have been dragged out over too much time. No doubt changes among the STO writing team have had an impact on content but it also seems that some of the newer stories have been tailored around whatever former Star Trek cast members that are available. As a result there has been a somewhat “square pegs in a round holes” aspect to both story arcs, where the pieces just don’t seem to fit together well.
Another factor that is leading to a sense of fatigue in STO is the never ending treadmill of events. If you want something quick and easy to get into, then STO always has some sort of event or activity going on. Events are devised that if you complete a specific number of Taskforce Operations or episodes from a story arc, you are rewarded with something “useful”. An armour set, or a ship’s console or even a Tier 6 ship. These can be beneficial but they are not essential to all players. A console that enhances plasma damage is of no use to you if you use disruptors on your ship’s build. And talking of ships, there comes a point when you simply don’t need anymore. I have several dozen and have been using an Inquiry Battlecruiser for the last three years. As the saying goes “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
Which is why I think that STO would benefit greatly from the release of a new expansion for the game. This could include an increase in level cap, possibly a new tier of ship or some sort of tangential system. An additional reputation faction could be added as well. But the most fundamental requirement would be a well written, immersive and engaging story arc. Furthermore, rather than the standard, “the galaxy in peril” storyline, it would be preferable to have something based upon exploration and diplomacy with a new alien culture. A sociopolitical themed story that required thinking and making informed choices, rather than the usual “pew pew” Starfleet just kicked your ass, sort of stuff. A plot that is grounded more in the sort of intrigue we saw in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Sadly, I do not think this is going to happen. DECA Games have been responsible for the ongoing development of STO for over a year now and so far there have been no indication of any ambition beyond events, new ships and scaled down story arcs. No sign of an expansion of the calibre of Legacy of Romulus. There is a degree of similarity between STO and LOTRO (The Lord of the Rings Online) as both MMORPGs have loyal playerbases that effectively have nowhere else to go. Both communities are very accommodating and supportive of their respective games, often finding their own entertainment within the games. Unfortunately, the LOTRO community enjoys a more regular content schedule and a better calibre of writing. I suspect that it is only a matter of time before the STO community gets fed up with the status quo.
Atomfall: Wicked Isle DLC
Wicked Isle DLC for the RPG Atomfall was released on 3rd June, two months after the base game launched. As with its predecessor there are no specific missions, the DLC requires the player to explore the environment to pick up leads. These ultimately provide a coherent story but the clues may not necessarily be obtained in the correct order. Hence, again there is a requirement for players to look, listen and think. Referring to the in-game notebook is beneficial for narrative clarification. As well as a new story, Wicked Isle DLC also has new weapons, items and skills. This includes a Blunderbuss shotgun which inflicts huge damage but has a limited range, as well as a cutlass and some ritualistic weapons. There is also an upgraded metal detector along with the Decomposition skill, which causes enemies to rapidly dissolve into fungal spores after a takedown. This means that dead NPCs cannot be discovered.
Wicked Isle DLC for the RPG Atomfall was released on 3rd June, two months after the base game launched. As with its predecessor there are no specific missions, the DLC requires the player to explore the environment to pick up leads. These ultimately provide a coherent story but the clues may not necessarily be obtained in the correct order. Hence, again there is a requirement for players to look, listen and think. Referring to the in-game notebook is beneficial for narrative clarification. As well as a new story, Wicked Isle DLC also has new weapons, items and skills. This includes a Blunderbuss shotgun which inflicts huge damage but has a limited range, as well as a cutlass and some ritualistic weapons. There is also an upgraded metal detector along with the Decomposition skill, which causes enemies to rapidly dissolve into fungal spores after a takedown. This means that dead NPCs cannot be discovered.
One of the most interesting aspects of Wicked Isle DLC, is that rather than being a sequel to the events of Atomfall, it is a tangential story that links into the main narrative. It also provides two additional endings to the main game and sheds further light on the existing lore. Taking place on Midsummer Isle which is adjacent to the Windscale site, the player can access the DLC by going to the docks in Wyndham Village and talking to boatman Bill Anderson. It should be noted that if a player has progressed too far into the main story of Atomfall, they will not be able to access the DLC and the game will notify them accordingly. However, this can be remedied by loading a prior save game, or by starting the main game again and proceeding straight to Wyndham Village.
The Wicked Isle DLC story is very much in the same idiom Atomfall. Midsummer Isle is home to yet more druids and bandits, suffering from the same fungal blight. However, the main story centres on the remnants of an Abbey and its mysterious demise in the seventeenth century. The player is afforded glimpses of the past, through the use of a strange mead brewed from the fungal spores. It is via these flashbacks that we learn how the Abbey discovered an “angel” which bears an alarming similarity to Oberon. The blending of the supernatural with science again is very reminiscent of the works of Nigel Kneale and this DLC has a definite Quatermass vibe to it. Again there are significant choices to be made while playing, which can alter the story outcome of both the DLC and the base game.
Again there are some excellent easter eggs in the Wicked Isle DLC, making more British pop culture references. Something akin to the Lochness Monster can be seen briefly swimming off the shore and there is a creepy nod to Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. However, despite a strong story and new elements to the game, the lack of a fast travel system continues to be a nuisance. On occasions a lead may send a player from Midsummer Isle back to Wyndham and then across another two zones to expedite the plot. This all has to be done on foot and can be ponderous. As with Atomfall, relying on stealth or simply running away is often the best option, rather than direct combat. The new Aquatic Ferals are especially dangerous at close range and are often in pairs. Unless a player has obtained a decent ranged weapon, combat options can be at times limited.
I enjoyed Wicked Isle DLC and in some respects preferred it to some of the storylines in Atomfall. It is singularly creepy and the ending I chose actually clarified the overall story a lot more. Overall I still like the fact that developer’s Rebellion has chosen not to make the protagonist over powered. The world is hostile and needs to be navigated with caution. You can choose to play as quickly as you see fit but the game does reward a steady and measured approach. If you immerse yourself in the lore, read all information that comes your way and make use of the notebook, the story is both atmospheric and rewarding. The ambience and tone of Wicked Isle DLC along with its uniquely British setting, is for me its biggest selling point. It is not an afterthought as some DLC can be, instead being a solid addition to the game.
Update:
While writing this post, Rebellion have just announced a further “story expansion”, The Red Strain, coming to Atomfall on 16th September. At this point it is not clear if this content is included in the Deluxe Edition of the game or whether it will be chargeable.
Battlefield 6 Open Beta Part 3
The second Battlefield 6 Open Beta test started earlier today. A 7.6GB download added additional maps, new game modes and also resolved some technical issues. I was able to select my second monitor to display the game this time round and also made some basic performance related tweaks. The colour grading is still an issue for me and I struggle at times to correctly identify players and objects at distance due to the muted palette. Minor gripes aside, the game still performs well and all the game modes have something to offer. King of the Hill and some of the other close quarters maps are a little too intense for my skill level but I still had fun with projectiles and explosives. I still prefer the Conquest mode with its bigger maps and greater variety of gameplay options.
The second Battlefield 6 Open Beta test started earlier today. A 7.6GB download added additional maps, new game modes and also resolved some technical issues. I was able to select my second monitor to display the game this time round and also made some basic performance related tweaks. The colour grading is still an issue for me and I struggle at times to correctly identify players and objects at distance due to the muted palette. Minor gripes aside, the game still performs well and all the game modes have something to offer. King of the Hill and some of the other close quarters maps are a little too intense for my skill level but I still had fun with projectiles and explosives. I still prefer the Conquest mode with its bigger maps and greater variety of gameplay options.
For me, the key to enjoying any of the Battlefield games is to find yourself something useful to do. Something that is within your skillset so you don’t get frustrated. I am not especially good at a straight forward infantry role. My aim is too poor. So I tend to favour the Engineer class. I can ride in vehicles and then fix them when they’re damaged. I can also use RPG and Surface-to-air Missiles to destroy enemy armour and aircraft. All of which are beneficial to the team. I became quite competent today using the Sidewinder Missile. My technique was to position myself towards the rear of the map and wait for aircraft doing strafing runs. I would aim and achieve weapons lock, then stop aiming. The enemy aircraft would then use its countermeasures which have a cooldown. I would then immediately aim again and fire, once I had a weapons lock. It proved quite a successful procedure.
This current beta is available till 17th August. It should be noted that this is still not a complete build of the game. Team Deathmatch and Escalation Modes are not currently included. The tactical ladders and sledgehammer are also conspicuously absent for the time being. Yet there is sufficient to play and try, to be able to get a handle on Battlefield 6. Overall I think the developers have retained enough of the old school elements and added just the right amount of new mechanics. The game certainly has a “wow” factor. The question is will it retain it. There still isn’t a server browser but there is a gameplay filter in the latest build that allows you to select the modes you prefer. So far, I have not had to wait too long to access content I enjoy playing the most. I have also not encountered any server queues.
Finally, there is one aspect of Battlefield 6 that is perennial. Each game you play is only as good as the people participating in it. So far, during both beta tests, I have had some excellent games where your squad sticks together, works towards objectives as well as spot, heal, resupply and repair. These games were rewarding and enjoyable. Then there have been others where everyone does their own thing. Thus you have dozens of snipers dug in, vehicles being driven away the moment they spawn, without waiting for a full crew and irrespective of whether the player can use them effectively. I did find things to do in these games but they were demonstrably weaker. It’s the one aspect of this genre that developers can’t fully fix. It’s why many players would happily play against bots instead. That’s a post for another day. In the meantime, Battlefield 6 is proving to be one to watch.
Battlefield 6 Open Beta Part 2
I spent several hours today trying Battlefield 6 during its first Open Beta weekend. Trying being an apt word as I experienced some technical difficulties during that time. There were server queues as there often are during test periods, which took 5-10 minutes to clear. I also found that when a multiplayer game ended the client would often freeze, requiring me to use the task manager to shutdown the .exe file . As I then had to restart the entire game it meant having to rejoin the server queue again. Furthermore, despite various methods, I could not get Battlefield 6 to display on my second monitor. Although there is a clear option within the graphics settings, I could not get the game to output to my Dell S2421H monitor. If I used the Windows + Shift + → key combination, the game would briefly appear on the second monitor then instantly snap back to the first. I also could not take any screen captures or use OBS to capture video. I believe this is down to the game’s anticheat software.
I spent several hours today trying Battlefield 6 during its first Open Beta weekend. Trying being an apt word as I experienced some technical difficulties during that time. There were server queues as there often are during test periods, which took 5-10 minutes to clear. I also found that when a multiplayer game ended the client would often freeze, requiring me to use the task manager to shutdown the .exe file . As I then had to restart the entire game it meant having to rejoin the server queue again. Furthermore, despite various methods, I could not get Battlefield 6 to display on my second monitor. Although there is a clear option within the graphics settings, I could not get the game to output to my Dell S2421H monitor. If I used the Windows + Shift + → key combination, the game would briefly appear on the second monitor then instantly snap back to the first. I also could not take any screen captures or use OBS to capture video. I believe this is down to the game’s anticheat software.
I wanted the game to run Battlefield 6 on my second monitor as it is FHD and so any recordings or screen captures would be in the standard 16:9 ratio. However, I had to use my main monitor which is a Dell U2412M which has a slightly larger 1920x1200 resolution which is an aspect ratio of 16:10. A minor problem when it comes to uploading to YouTube. However, my current GPU, an AMD Radeon RX 6650XT, seemed to handle the game’s graphics adequately and I certainly didn’t encounter any visual issues during my gameplay. As with previous versions of the game, Battlefield 6, continues to use a colour scheme that features muted, desaturated tones, with a focus on browns, greens, and greys. This aesthetic is done to enhance realism and immersion, as these colours are commonly found in military camouflage and environments. However I do find it rather drab and at times a visual impediment when it comes to identifying distant objects.
The first multiplayer game that I joined was in Breakthrough mode. This is a large-scale battle where attackers have to advance and claim territory. The rounds last between 20 and 40 minutes. Set in a mountainous village in Tajikistan, Liberation Peak is a substantive and craggy map, with terrain that is ideal for vehicles. I spawned into the game and moved forward with my squad, only to get immediately shot by a sniper. It was a very Battlefield moment, to say the least and one that highlights a common issue arising from games with large maps. Although in open beta, players have already established where the optimal sniper points are on specific maps. Hence players spawning into the game with no prior knowledge are easy pickings. However, this is a foible of the larger maps. The next game was set in an urban area of Cairo and the densely packed streets offered greater protection.
The amount of time I spent in Battlefield 6 today was insufficient for me to make a definitive personal opinion on the game at present. My overriding impression so far, especially in the smaller urban maps, is one of functional chaos. The destructible environment is a major factor in all engagements, as you cannot really dig in and hold a position in the traditional sense. Squads have to continuously move around capture points, laying down suppressing fire, rather than remain static. Vehicles can be used effectively, if adequately supported by infantry. The lone wolf that tries to take a tank deep into enemy territory is extremely vulnerable. The guns feel well balanced with regard to firing and recoil. However, I find that the amount of hits it takes, especially with SMGs, to kill other players is a little high. I appreciate the necessity of “bullet sponge mechanics” but this does at times kill immersion.
Perhaps the most interesting addition to Battlefield 6 is the ability to drag an injured player to cover to revive them. This really does impact upon the ebb and flow of the game, as it reduces the amount of time spent respawning and returning to your last position on the map. However, for this mechanic to work, just like re-arming players or repairing vehicles it requires players to embrace the role of the class that they’ve chosen. Spotting is another ability that is key to effective squad gameplay. Speaking of classes, I prefer maps where weapons are locked to specific classes, although in this iteration of Battlefield, there is support for multiplayer games that allow you to “mix and match”. I like the fact that Battlefield embraces the fact that not all players have the same level of skill or wish to do the same things. Hence the clear class distinctions allow players to find a role that suits them. Altering the loadouts for classes, diminishes that philosophy.
I have tried my best not to read too much about the ongoing beta test, as I want my opinions to be based directly upon my experience. That said, I am aware that there have been concerns raised over the size of the maps available in this latest round of testing as well as the TTK, that I have already discussed. However, this is a beta test and as such, I expect aspects of the game to be adjusted in accordance to player feedback. I certainly hope that Battlefield Studios addresses the veracity of their anticheat software as it is a problem that I can’t record any game footage or take screen captures. So far, I have enjoyed what I have seen and experienced of Battlefield 6 and it certainly does seem like a welcome return to the halcyon days of Battlefield 3 and 4. I look forward to next weekend’s test to see what else the game has to offer.
Update: I managed to take some screen captures using AMD Adrenalin software.
Battlefield 6 Open Beta
I was reading through my RSS feed this morning and found a post by Heartless Gamer, regarding how Battlefield 6 requires Secure Boot enabled on your PC. If it is not, then the game will not launch and you’ll get an error message. Naturally, this raised several questions. First off, what is Secure Boot and do I have it on my PC? Well apparently it is a security feature that protects a computer from malware during the startup process, by verifying the digital signatures of bootloaders and other software components before they are allowed to run. By using the msinfo32 command in the Run Window, I determined that I do indeed have it and went directly to the BIOS and enabled it. The next question to address was, why have I not been invited to the open beta for Battlefield 6? I subsequently checked the EA Game Launcher and discovered that I had. So I installed the game.
I was reading through my RSS feed this morning and found a post by Heartless Gamer, regarding how Battlefield 6 requires Secure Boot enabled on your PC. If it is not, then the game will not launch and you’ll get an error message. Naturally, this raised several questions. First off, what is Secure Boot and do I have it on my PC? Well apparently it is a security feature that protects a computer from malware during the startup process, by verifying the digital signatures of bootloaders and other software components before they are allowed to run. By using the msinfo32 command in the Run Window, I determined that I do indeed have it and went directly to the BIOS and enabled it. The next question to address was, why have I not been invited to the open beta for Battlefield 6? I subsequently checked the EA Game Launcher and discovered that I had. So I installed the game.
I like the Battlefield franchise and have played them all to varying degrees. I found Battlefield 3 to be the most enjoyable but a lot of that was due to the time and the place. Call of Duty: Warzone claimed my attention during the pandemic but that franchise has continuously shot itself in the foot over the intervening 5 years, with an innate ability to always make the wrong decision in development terms. Hence Battlefield 6 has appeared at the perfect time and the developers and publishers have made it abundantly clear that they’re aiming to take CoD’s crown. From what I’ve seen so far via the various reveal trailers, the game has embraced all its old school features and tempered them with the contemporary ones that work. So the game will have big maps, vehicles, environmental destruction, as well as a viable form of omnimovement, a variety of game modes and an aesthetic that stays broadly with “milsim” parameters.
The first major open beta test for Battlefield 6 multiplayer is on the 9th-10th August. I have checked my PCs specifications and they are close enough to the recommended settings, which are as follows: Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X or Intel Core i7-10700. Memory: 16GB. Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 6700-XT or Nvidia RTX 3060Ti. Direct X: DX12. Hard Drive Space: SSD - 80GiB. I have started the game client to see if I need to optimise any settings but the game by default seems to have gotten the measure of my PC and set everything accordingly. The only minor issue I’ve encountered so far is that I cannot get the game to switch to using my second monitor. My go to app, DisplayMagician, that usually resolves this problem has not managed to do so at present. However, I can simply change the default monitor within Windows if need be.
Although optimistic about Battlefield 6, I am aware that YouTube footage curated by influencers gives a somewhat skewed perspective. Edited highlights show all the fun aspects of a gaming session that could have lasted hours. In between those highlights there’s a lot of arbitrary gameplay, more so during a beta. Players are busy learning the maps and trying to get around efficiently. Hence you don’t see the endless runs from the spawn point to the battlezone, only to get immediately shot by a well positioned sniper. It also takes a while to learn how to effectively use vehicles in any Battlefield game, so many of us won’t be pulling off any fancy moves immediately. Yet despite these reasonable caveats, I am hoping that this latest iteration of the franchise maintains its past equanimity. Offering useful roles to players of all skill, thus providing an entertaining experience.
LOTRO: The Problem With MMOs and Mathematics
Let’s start with a quote from a classic Walter Hill film, The Warriors. “Can you count, suckers?” says Sirus. The gang leader was referring to the number of Police in New York City at the time. Whereas, for the purpose of this post, I am referencing how many Delving Writs a player needs to acquire 6 pieces of level cap armour in LOTRO. Because, next to the gear you get from endgame instances and raids, Delving gear is a good alternative.. It is marginally better than the items you can get from lootboxes. Hence, Delving armour is a good source of high end gear for the solo player. Through the miracle of mathematics, the number of Delving writs required to acquire a full set of this armour is 9,000. At first glance, that seems like a lot. If you then do some further research to put the number in context, you realise it is indeed a lot and a substantial undertaking.
Let’s start with a quote from a classic Walter Hill film, The Warriors. “Can you count, suckers?” says Sirus. The gang leader was referring to the number of Police in New York City at the time. Whereas, for the purpose of this post, I am referencing how many Delving Writs a player needs to acquire 6 pieces of level cap armour in LOTRO. Because, next to the gear you get from endgame instances and raids, Delving gear is a good alternative. It is marginally better than the items you can get from lootboxes. Hence, Delving armour is a good source of high end gear for the solo player. Through the miracle of mathematics, the number of Delving writs required to acquire a full set of this armour is 9,000. At first glance, that seems like a lot. If you then do some further research to put the number in context, you realise it is indeed a lot and a substantial undertaking.
Like most repeatable activities in The Lord of the Rings Online and indeed the MMORPG genre, there is a cap on how many a player can undertake a day. The point being to time gate the rewards and possibly foster a sense of achievement. You work toward a goal and deferred gratification. Or if you’re more cynical about this mechanic, it is designed to draw out content and keep players “occupied”. Whatever the reason, in LOTRO you can only do a maximum of 10 Delvings a day. Delvings are scalable and the harder they are, the more Delving Writs you receive as a reward. Theoretically, you can play 10 Delvings a day. On Tier 12 (the maximum tier) each Delving yields 50 Delving Writs. Hence you can potentially earn 500 Delving Writs a day. Thus you can possibly earn your full set of Delving armour in 18 days.
However, the average player is more than likely not to play that many Delvings and not at Tier 12. I find Tier 7 a manageable challenge and such Delvings reward the player with 30 Delving Writs. I tend to play no more than 4 Delvings a day, mainly because I like some more than others and there is a daily rotation so you don’t always get the ones you prefer. Therefore, players such as I on average can earn 120 Delving Writs per day. To earn 9,000 at this rate will take 75 days. Although I don’t mind a degree of challenge in an MMO, these numbers simply seem too much of a grind and a chore. I play for amusment and such an undertaking falls squarely out of the “amusement zone”. When compared to the gear I can get from lootboxes, the Delving armour is only a little better and that is the final nail in the coffin of this potential enterprise. Essentially maths has allowed me to make an informed choice and the choice is a resounding “no”.
I fully appreciate that lots of LOTRO players do not have the same transactional mindset as I do. As such they will happily set themselves this goal and diligently undertake it. Good for them. I however often find that the numbers that Standing Stone Games’ set for specific in-game rewards are not to my liking. They are simply too grindy in my opinion. I have a far more egalitarian opinion on what constitutes a “quid pro quo”. It’s also why I have no real interest in many of the festivals in LOTRO because you’re mainly rewarded with cosmetic items and not anything that I considered to be truly beneficial. But I digress. If you’re considering working towards a full set of Delving armour, then consider the numbers and the time frame that I’ve summarised here. Number crunching is your friend in this genre of gaming. Choose accordingly.
LOTRO Tips
I am currently enjoying a renewed interest in the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online since I migrated all my characters from the old 32-bit servers to the new 64-bit replacements. I’ve created a new High Elf Lore-master on Peregrin server and am currently levelling them in a targeted play through of the Epic Story, supplemented by curated side quests. While playing recently, I realised the game UI on this alt wasn’t as I usually have it laid out. So I checked through the various documents on my PC and found a text file I had created many years ago that had a few hints and tips written down. I’ve added a few more and decided to share them as a blog post. I’m sure veteran players will be familiar with many of them but a lot of them are worth repeating. They may prove useful to those new to LOTRO or returning to the game after a long hiatus.
I am currently enjoying a renewed interest in the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online since I migrated all my characters from the old 32-bit servers to the new 64-bit replacements. I’ve created a new High Elf Lore-master on Peregrin server and am currently levelling them in a targeted play through of the Epic Story, supplemented by curated side quests. While playing recently, I realised the game UI on this alt wasn’t as I usually have it laid out. So I checked through the various documents on my PC and found a text file I had created many years ago that had a few hints and tips written down. I’ve added a few more and decided to share them as a blog post. I’m sure veteran players will be familiar with many of them but a lot of them are worth repeating. They may prove useful to those new to LOTRO or returning to the game after a long hiatus.
Saving and loading your customised interface:
Once you’ve arranged your LOTRO user interface to your liking simply type the following command in the chat window. /ui layout save X (X being the name of choice for this saved setting). You can then load this layout for any further alts by typing the following in the chat window. /ui layout load X
Filter loot, quests and sounds:
Alt + R opens the in-game filter windows. This allows you to filter out specific quests and their subsequent reminders. It can also be used to ignore unwanted loot. I use it to avoid lootboxes that frequently drop and fill your bags. It can also be used to filter out specific in-game sounds. This is especially handy if you find certain sounds annoying, such as Minstrels constantly yelling or the incessant whinnying of horses at stables.
Renaming pets and skirmish/landscape soldiers:
The Lore-master and Captain’s classes in LOTRO have combat pets that can be renamed by right clicking on them. Skirmish/landscape soldiers can similarly be renamed. Cosmetic pets cannot have their name altered in this fashion. However, you can rename them by typing the following command in the in-game chat window. /cpet rename X (X being your name of choice).
Checking to see how much time you have spent playing a specific alt:
Type the following command in the in-game chat window in chat to see how long you've played that specific character. /played
Select which quest icons are shown on the mini-map:
If you go into Options>UI Settings and tick “Show Trivial Quest Icons in Radar” the game will display the quest icons (rings) for those quests that are below your current level, on your mini-map.
Change the order of your alts on the character select screen:
If you want to sort your characters, prior to clicking on “Enter Middle-earth” click on the small triangle just below where it says “Page”. You can then choose between Name, Level, Class and Last login.
Quick travel skills:
Travelling around the various zones in LOTRO can be difficult at lower levels. Stable access is often gated by quests and reputation etc. There are some travel locations that are more useful than others due to the amount of locations they offer. Return to Glân Vraig is one such location. Based in the Ettenmoors, this skill can be earned at level 20 just by completing the tutorial quest in the Ettenmoors. It offers quick travel to West Bree, Thorin's Gate, Michel Delving and Rivendell. From Rivendell Stables numerous other travel locations are available. Return to Glân Vraig also has the advantage of only having a 5 minute cooldown. Players just starting out in LOTRO, may wish to purchase Return to Lalia's Market skill for 3 mithril coins. It teleports the player to the centre of Bree which is an important travel hub.
Disable combat music:
Whenever you aggro an enemy in LOTRO, the game plays combat music specific to that zone. These audio cues can be useful in notifying that you’ve triggered combat. However, it can also become quite annoying, especially if you’re focused on the ambient score. Hence, you can go into Options>Audio>Sound Features and check the “Disable Combat Music” button, if you wish.
The LOTRO keymap:
I have two monitors attached to my PC. I play LOTRO on the right hand screen and have the game’s default keymap as the desktop wallpaper on my left hand screen. Despite playing the game since 2008 I still forget many of the handy keyboard commands, so it is useful to have a visual reminder in my line of sight. You can find a large keymap image here.
LOTRO: Everything Old Is New
In mid-March, while the server migration debacle raged, I created a new alt for the MMORPG, The Lord of the Rings Online, on Peregrin server. The idea was to play casually through content focusing on enjoyment, rather than worrying about progression. I was to level at a pace that suited me and had no specific plans to develop my alt in any particular way. I have been playing LOTRO since 2008 and have a primary level-cap character that has been my main focus over the years. Hence I have previously experienced all story content from all the expansions and am therefore very familiar with what the game has to offer. Which is why I thought I’d do things differently this time. So I started my new Lore-master in Mossward in Swanfleet, the new starting area added to the game in 2022.
In mid-March, while the server migration debacle raged, I created a new alt for the MMORPG, The Lord of the Rings Online, on Peregrin server. The idea was to play casually through content focusing on enjoyment, rather than worrying about progression. I was to level at a pace that suited me and had no specific plans to develop my alt in any particular way. I have been playing LOTRO since 2008 and have a primary level-cap character that has been my main focus over the years. Hence I have previously experienced all story content from all the expansions and am therefore very familiar with what the game has to offer. Which is why I thought I’d do things differently this time. So I started my new Lore-master in Mossward in Swanfleet, the new starting area added to the game in 2022.
Levelling via the Before the Shadow expansion is a far more streamlined and efficient process than doing so via the original starter areas in Shadows of Angmar. The main storyline (Epic Quests) offer far superior gear as rewards and more XP. Cardolan and Swanfleet are well designed and very atmospheric zones. They are diverse in game content and have some of the best ambient music in the entire game. The main story involving the disgraced ranger Meneldir trying to warn his former colleagues about the threat of Saruman is well conceived and fits into the existing story arcs well. Once you move onto Bree and pick up the main story there, you quickly notice the pace slow down as this is some of the oldest content in the game. It is still enjoyable but you soon realise that a lot of the gear rewards are lacklustre compared to the previous zone.
I decided to concentrate on the main story while playing my new character and if I found myself at too low a level, I would do skirmishes and missions, rather than side quests. Having played LOTRO for so long, I also benefited from various account unlocks. Hence I had access straightway to some cosmetic outfits, thus did not have to play through early levels looking like a sartorially challenged “murder hobo”. I also used my stockpile of LOTRO points to purchase a lot of travel and milestone skills to make traversing Middle-earth easier. Due to many areas of the game being restructured over the past 18 years, you do find yourself progressing across Eriador quite rapidly. I quickly found myself at Gath Forthnír and the prospect of having to navigate the nearby enemy stronghold, Barad Gúlaran. I balked at this, so I decided to move on and after some thought, I chose to tackle Moria.
Moria has been revamped several times and its current iteration is a lot more user friendly than the version which existed back in 2008/9. However, what made the Moria prologue different this time round was the new introduction to the revised Legendary Item system. I actually found the tutorial for this aspect of the game quite helpful. Mainly because an entry level LI has only a few tracery slots open and is therefore a lot easier to manage. It was also nice to find familiar NPCs moved to far more intuitive locations, making it a lot easier to hand in completed quests. Moria also has far more stables now and is therefore a lot easier to navigate. However, despite these quality of life improvements, the expansion still maintains that air of wonder that was there in 2008. Khazad-dûm is still visually very impressive, showcasing Dwarven culture at its height. Yet it also has a palpable sense of decay.
The last few months of playing my new Lore-master have certainly highlighted the substantial changes that have been made to LOTRO over its lifecycle. The addition of areas such as Yondershire, the Wildwood in Bree-land and the Angle of Mitheithel, plus the new starter area in Swanfleet give players a great deal of choice when levelling. In fact large swathes of LOTRO can be bypassed if the player so desires. The in-game store also has a major impact on gameplay. As I mentioned, I bought various skills that reduced my fast travel ability to a five minute cooldown. I also had access to a mount within minutes of creating my new alt. All of which significantly alter the pace of LOTRO compared to how it was 15 years ago. Although the journey to level cap (150) still takes time, it is most certainly not the grind it used to be.
The new 64-bit servers have also had a positive impact upon the player population. If a player wants company or to join a kinship, then this is far easier at present as all major in-game hubs such as Bree of the 21st Hall in Moria have players coming and going. The chat channels are busy for those who like such means of communication. Hence LOTRO, despite its age, seems very dynamic and novel at the moment. The servers are busy and there is plenty of social activity if you want it. The game content seems fresh mainly due to the amount of choice a player has. This stems from new zones and a wealth of revisions made over time. For me at present, everything old is new. This coupled with my long term experience of the game, means that I can stop as I progress through Middle-earth and take stock of what is around me. Something that can be overlooked when playing for the first time.
MMO Tropes: Alts
In massively multiplayer online games (MMOs), alts (short for alternate characters), are new characters created by a player in addition to their primary character (often called the “main”). Alts are often encouraged by developers as a means to keep players engaged with their game(s). Sometimes an MMO will actively reward the creation of alts either with access to exclusive content, or with additional skills or items previously unlocked by primary characters. As the myth that an MMO really begins at endgame still persists in gaming culture, some games sell boosts that will instantly raise the level of an alt to that of the current level cap. Creating alts is such a key aspect of the MMO genre, that some games will sell additional character slots, so that players can create further alts beyond the default amount allowed. There are many reasons why players create alts. Let us consider some.
In massively multiplayer online games (MMOs), alts (short for alternate characters), are new characters created by a player in addition to their primary character (often called the “main”). Alts are often encouraged by developers as a means to keep players engaged with their game(s). Sometimes an MMO will actively reward the creation of alts either with access to exclusive content, or with additional skills or items previously unlocked by primary characters. As the myth that an MMO really begins at endgame still persists in gaming culture, some games sell boosts that will instantly raise the level of an alt to that of the current level cap. Creating alts is such a key aspect of the MMO genre, that some games will sell additional character slots, so that players can create further alts beyond the default amount allowed. There are many reasons why players create alts. Let us consider some.
Trying different classes: Many MMOs offer diverse classes, races and specialisations. Alts allow players to experience these without abandoning their main character.
Experiencing alternative gameplay: Alts can offer a fresh perspective on the game world, allowing players to engage in different activities, storylines, or even roleplay.
Farming resources: In some MMOs, alts can be used to gather more resources, complete daily quests, or participate in other activities. These often offer rewards such as items or currency, which can benefit the player's main character.
Socialising: Alts can be used to play with different groups of friends, or to participate in content that requires a specific group of classes.
Avoiding burnout: Playing the same character for extended periods can lead to burnout, and alts can provide a break from the routine.
Roleplaying: Some players create alts for roleplaying purposes, developing unique backstories and personalities for each character.
Increased and unique rewards: Some MMOs offer rewards for having multiple characters, such as bonus experience, unique items or account wide unlocks.
The MMO genre handles the issue of alts in a broad fashion. Some older games such as Age of Conan (now Conan Unchained) only have one path through game content. If you roll a new alt you will still have to play through content you have already experienced. The Lord of the Rings Online takes a different approach with your character’s race determining their starter area. This offers a degree of difference for alts, although the storylines come together after a certain level. Guild Wars 2 takes a similar approach, again favouring race specific starters areas. In The Elder Scrolls Online, new characters begin in a tutorial area called Coldharbour's Wailing Prison, then are sent to their alliance's starting zone. After the tutorial, players can explore their alliance’s respective zone and choose which quests to pursue. Players then have the option to explore other alliances’ zones later.
Star Wars: The Old Republic takes a far bolder approach to alts. The starting area for each character is determined by their chosen class. There are four starting planets shared between two classes. However, every class has a completely unique story that runs throughout the duration of the base game. This greatly improves the games replayability across the eight classes. Similarly, the MMO Star Trek Online offers bespoke stories across its six main factions before the stories converge into a unified episodic arc. The game also has regular events that unlock account wide rewards. Someone who has played the game regularly with a primary character, has the benefit of being able to access numerous bonuses and items whenever they create a new alt. Items, such as ships, bought in the cash shop are also available to all alts.
Alts are often encouraged and in some specific titles an integral part of that game’s lifecycle. The MMO genre certainly has a requirement for players to roll alts. They offer increased variety, engagement and sometimes additional resources within the game world. Where other genres struggle with replayability, MMOs fare far better via the medium of alts. However, alts are not a foolproof solution to player engagement. Alts often end up abandoned, especially if the new class on offer is not a good fit for a player’s style. Many are experiments or something undertaken on a whim. Many are created purely for storage or to perform specific tasks, such as resource farming. But some choice is better than no choice and alts are an opportunity to try new things. Whether we personally take advantage of them or not, it is a positive thing that they exist.
Playing Against Bots in Warzone
Warzone added a new “casual mode” to its Battle Royale at the start of Season 4. This reduced the number of real players in-game and substituted them with AI bots. The ratio is approximately one fifth real players, four fifths bots. This new mode for Battle Royale solos, duos and quads was well received, especially among the mainstream players who are more focused on fun than progression. Veteran players who still wanted the challenge of playing against real players were free to continue playing the traditional BR modes. Hence all parties were pleased as they were both being catered for. However, and there is always a “however” when it comes to Call of Duty, the developers saw fit to remove the standard solo Battle Royale mode, leaving just the Battle Royale Casual mode with AI bots. Subsequently, a lot of players were perplexed and annoyed, as taking away choice is seldom good customer service. As a result of subsequent backlash, the mode was added back to the game mid-season.
Warzone added a new “casual mode” to its Battle Royale at the start of Season 4. This reduced the number of real players in-game and substituted them with AI bots. The ratio is approximately one fifth real players, four fifths bots. This new mode for Battle Royale solos, duos and quads was well received, especially among the mainstream players who are more focused on fun than progression. Veteran players who still wanted the challenge of playing against real players were free to continue playing the traditional BR modes. Hence all parties were pleased as they were both being catered for. However, and there is always a “however” when it comes to Call of Duty, the developers saw fit to remove the standard solo Battle Royale mode, leaving just the Battle Royale Casual mode with AI bots. Subsequently, a lot of players were perplexed and annoyed, as taking away choice is seldom good customer service. As a result of subsequent backlash, the mode was added back to the game mid-season.
After several months of consistently playing the new casual mode, I wanted to share my thoughts on replacing players with bots. It is in many respects both a boon and a bane. The principle is sound enough, replacing veteran players with less skilled bots ensures that new or less skilled players (IE the majority of the playerbase) don’t get repeatedly stomped on and thus driven from the game. However, the way the bots behave in-game is inconsistent, resulting in some rather anomalous behaviour. As there is no data publicly available regarding how the bots “work”, all I can provide are my own observations. Overall the bots mimic player behavior. If a bot sees you, it will engage. It will also pursue you but it can be lost. They will use skills such as air strikes and mortar attacks to flush players out. However, they also use some unique abilities to keep the game play “engaging”.
I play Warzone cautiously. I often go to specific locations on the map which are easier to defend or can be used for cover. I will often wait in elevated positions observing and not directly engaging in firefights happening around me. Theoretically, such a strategy should leave me unassailed except by the occasional and genuinely random incursion by a bot. But this is not the case. After a while of what the game probably classifies as inactivity, bots often appear close by. I suspect that they simply spawn near me. Similarly, the moment I collect my loadout of choice from a drop, this will often trigger a bot attack, irrespective of whether I’m in an “active area” or not. It would also appear that as your kill count against the bots goes up, the bots themselves become harder to kill. That is not to say that they become more skillful but they seem to increase their ability to be “bullet sponges”.
Another matter worth considering is that of server tick rate. Warzone has a tick rate of 20Hz, meaning the game server updates player actions and the overall game state 20 times per second. This is lower than many other popular first-person shooters, which then contributes to issues such as hit registration and perceived lag. Simply put, I can start shooting at a bot (or a real player if need be) who then returns fire but I lose the exchange. The killcam then shows the opposite of what happened with the bot firing first. Even when you take into account the type of weapons being used and their respective quality, this seems to happen a little too often. You can engage a bot who has demonstrably inferior weapons and still get “short changed”. As a player, you instinctively know when you’ve encountered this problem and the fact that it’s a known issue that persists due to infrastructure costs, makes it more annoying.
Overall, playing in a casual manner against bots and a handful of players works quite well. From time to time you’ll find a skilled real player who plays this mode to effectively troll the other players. So far I have not found that to be a common experience. Personally, I would like it if we had the option of playing a private Warzone game, exclusively against bots that you could vary the skill settings. It would finally dispense with the risk of anyone abusing voice or text chat, which is still an issue. As it stands at the moment, the casual mode is acceptable and fun, as long as you’re aware of the concessions the developer’s have made to make the game feel like a regular Warzone game. Hence you will get bots behaving as described and don’t get to play exclusively on your own terms. If you embrace this trade off then you can enjoy casual mode.
Some Video Games Are Better Watched Than Played
I have written about “games we cannot play” several times over the years. By this I mean video games that we lack the skill, coordination and patience to master. For example, I often struggle with video games that are primarily designed for consoles and are therefore intended to be played via a game controller. I also don’t want to have to spend an excess of time (a very subjective thing) to learn how to play a video game. Hence there are games that I am interested in but have accepted that I will never play because I cannot or will not do what is required to play them effectively. However, in this post I want to discuss a tangential point. Games which have the potential to be exceptionally entertaining but that entertainment depends on a lot of factors that exist outside of the game itself. Hence you may never get the experience you desire which is often the one that was marketed.
I have written about “games we cannot play” several times over the years. By this I mean video games that we lack the skill, coordination and patience to master. For example, I often struggle with video games that are primarily designed for consoles and are therefore intended to be played via a game controller. I also don’t want to have to spend an excess of time (a very subjective thing) to learn how to play a video game. Hence there are games that I am interested in but have accepted that I will never play because I cannot or will not do what is required to play them effectively. However, in this post I want to discuss a tangential point. Games which have the potential to be exceptionally entertaining but that entertainment depends on a lot of factors that exist outside of the game itself. Hence you may never get the experience you desire which is often the one that was marketed.
For me, the most recent example of this phenomena came about from watching a YouTube channel that collates “humourous” video game clips. A lot of these came from Hell Let Loose, a 2021 multiplayer tactical first-person shooter developed by Expression Games and Cover 6 Studios and published by Team17. Players fight in iconic battles of the Western, North African and Eastern Fronts of World War II at the platoon level. Voice chat is key to game play and the emphasis is upon realism and system complexity. It is quite different to Battlefield and comparable franchises. The various clips that I watched suggested a game featuring tactical gun battles. Players defending building or flanking defences and overwhelming the enemy. There were great plays featuring tanks, flamethrowers and creeping artillery barrages. People seemed to be having a lot of fun and judging by the voice chat, the community is mature, civil and friendly.
Enthused by what I had seen, I looked around online for a deal and found that I could purchase Hell Let Loose and the majority of its DLC for about £30 or so. However, something told me to wait and do a little more research. After all, this was clearly a game with a lot of systems and therefore it obviously had a steep learning curve. So I started being a lot more selective in my YouTube searches as well as digging around in various subreddits. The extra research was well worth it. In a nutshell, all the things I had seen in video highlights were exactly that. For many new players Hell Let Loose is essentially spawning into a squad, not knowing what class to select or how to play and being ignored by veteran players or simply being on a server devoid of them. The most common experience appears to be trying to get to where you think the action is and getting shot out of nowhere as you run there.
Essentially to get the most out of the game you need to have friends that already play it, are well versed in its systems and who are based on a server that has regular events and is well moderated. It requires a substantial investment of time, just the same as raiding in an MMORPG, or “getting gud” in a battle royale FPS game. You can potentially play for months and never experience the sort of gameplay you’ll see on YouTube. The game offers entertaining possibilities but it does not guarantee them. It is exactly the same with other titles such as For Honor, Chivalry II and Heroes & Generals. In fact this genre usually has a disclaimer along the lines of “game experience may change during online play”. As a result, I’ve learned that some video games are better watched than played. Hell Let Loose is one of these.
The Return of Star Wars Battlefront II and Error Code: 721
There has been a resurgence of people playing Star Wars Battlefront II recently. Possibly because the game was discounted on many outlets on May 4th and may be due to the success of Andor season 2. There’s a lot more people streaming it as well as videos on YouTube. Whatever the reason, it is always good to see a deserving game enjoying a renaissance. Star Wars Battlefront II was blighted at launch, back in November 2017 by some egregious business decisions and it took nearly a year for the game to recover from the negative publicity and player animosity. Setting this historical debacle aside for one moment, there was always a handsome and engaging game to be found. One that used the licensed intellectual property well. Which is why I recently reinstalled the game and resumed playing its multiplayer mode.
There has been a resurgence of people playing Star Wars Battlefront II recently. Possibly because the game was discounted on many outlets on May 4th and may be due to the success of Andor season 2. There’s a lot more people streaming it as well as videos on YouTube. Whatever the reason, it is always good to see a deserving game enjoying a renaissance. Star Wars Battlefront II was blighted at launch, back in November 2017 by some egregious business decisions and it took nearly a year for the game to recover from the negative publicity and player animosity. Setting this historical debacle aside for one moment, there was always a handsome and engaging game to be found. One that used the licensed intellectual property well. Which is why I recently reinstalled the game and resumed playing its multiplayer mode.
However, the welcome return of this old favourite has also been accompanied by another not so pleasant reappearance. Namely the dreaded “Error Code:721”. This error code in Star Wars Battlefront II typically indicates a failure to connect to the EA servers. It is a bug that has plagued the game throughout its lifecycle. Furthermore because Star Wars Battlefront II is no longer being actively patched by EA the error code has made its presence felt once again, now that people have resumed playing. While it's often only a temporary server issue often linked to the number of people playing, some users have found success with the following troubleshooting steps to work round the problem.
Check the EA Servers: Wait for a bit to see if the issue is a general server outage.
DirectX12: Ensure DirectX12 is disabled in the game's video settings and that Windows Defender isn't blocking it.
EA App: If playing on PC, try launching the game through the EA app and adding "-dx11" to the advanced launch box.
Persistence: Keep attempting to connect to the game by repeatedly clicking the "Connect" button.
Restart: Rebooting your PC or console might resolve the issue.
Verify Game Files: On PC, you can verify the game files through the EA app to ensure they are not corrupted.
I find that the best way to beat this bug is by hammering the “connect” option and eventually my game client will be flagged as being online. Hopefully if you’re having a similar issue, one of the above suggestions will work for you. As for Star Wars Battlefront II, it is still worth playing. All lootbox mechanics have been removed and cosmetics skins are now unlocked by gameplay milestones. There are a variety of game modes and you can play in either first or third person, depending upon your preference. It should be noted that you can also shoot Ewoks. At present the servers are active and there is no major difficulty finding a multiplayer game. Eight years on the game is still visually stunning and exudes the Star Wars aesthetic. Furthermore, the recent renewed interest in may well create momentum for a Star Wars Battlefront III.
LOTRO: Rebuilding Kinships
I wrote a while ago that a lot of kinships from the MMORPG, The Lord of the Rings Online, would probably not survive the recent server migration. MMOs are social endeavours by nature, often with strong emotional ties but a lot of kinships (or guilds) have already fallen into decline, simply due to gaming entropy. Hence the migration has seen players leave existing kinships to move to the superior 64-bit servers, resulting in a lot of people who may be potentially looking for a new home. This is exactly what happened to me. I opted to move to Meriadoc server promptly, at the cost of leaving a kinship I have been a member of since 2009. However, the move presented me with an opportunity to remedy this problem myself. I subsequently set up my own kinship and decided to make it available to others.
I wrote a while ago that a lot of kinships from the MMORPG, The Lord of the Rings Online, would probably not survive the recent server migration. MMOs are social endeavours by nature, often with strong emotional ties but a lot of kinships (or guilds) have already fallen into decline, simply due to gaming entropy. Hence the migration has seen players leave existing kinships to move to the superior 64-bit servers, resulting in a lot of people who may be potentially looking for a new home. This is exactly what happened to me. I opted to move to Meriadoc server promptly, at the cost of leaving a kinship I have been a member of since 2009. However, the move presented me with an opportunity to remedy this problem myself. I subsequently set up my own kinship and decided to make it available to others.
It should be noted that the Contains Moderate Peril kinship is primarily intended to be a rallying point, rather than a fully functional social entity. Somewhere to hang out in-game as it were. However, if people want to organise activities and group content, that’s fine by me. So far, several of my old kinmates from Laurelin server have joined while they attempt to round up other wayward members. They may move on in time, which is fine. They may also choose to stay, which is also fine. As I’m sure there is a growing diaspora of 32-bit refugees at present in LOTRO, I thought it would be a good idea to extend an open invitation to any players looking for an intermediate kinship. At the very least Contains Moderate Peril kinship can offer some company as well as a cool kin name under your in-game title.
If any of this appeals to you and you’d like to join the Contains Moderate Peril kinship, add the following names to your LOTRO friends list. Tercano on Peregrin server and Xusia on Meriadoc server. I’m afraid I don’t have any specific hours that I play. I tend to log into LOTRO whenever the fancy takes me. Hence if you see me online then just send me a direct message and I’ll add you to the kinship on the fly. The server migration certainly seems to have reinvigorated The Lord of the Rings Online despite some of the problems that arose. I see a lot of posts on the official forums and reddit regarding new and returning players. Rather than drifting around Standing Stone Games’ virtual Middle-earth aimlessly, why not join our kinship, so you can meander about with like minded company.