Star Trek Online: Summer Festival 2017
The Star Trek Online Summer Festival 2017 or Risa annual Lohlunat Festival to give it its proper name has been running for over a week now. It started on the June 8th and is available through to 20th July. Although many MMOs have festival and seasonal activities, STO’s Summer and Winter events are outstanding, being accessible, enjoyable and very rewarding. Not only are cosmetic clothing and pets available as barter items, the game also offers kit modules and bridge officer skills as rewards. Then of course each event always allows players to earn a new Tier 6 ship. This Summer it’s a Vorgon Ryn’Kodan Carrier.
The Star Trek Online Summer Festival 2017 or Risa annual Lohlunat Festival to give it its proper name has been running for over a week now. It started on the June 8th and is available through to 20th July. Although many MMOs have festival and seasonal activities, STO’s Summer and Winter events are outstanding, being accessible, enjoyable and very rewarding. Not only are cosmetic clothing and pets available as barter items, the game also offers kit modules and bridge officer skills as rewards. Then of course each event always allows players to earn a new Tier 6 ship. This Summer it’s a Vorgon Ryn’Kodan Carrier.
What I especially like about the Summer event in STO is it’s setting on the vacation resort Risa. Holidays are typically about, sun, sea and surf and Risa has that in spades. You can also dress accordingly with a variety of beachwear and other cosmetic items. The use of Floaters and Powerboards in several events is great fun. The addition of the Biathlon this year combines both in a single race. The transition from one mode of transport to the other can be quite challenging and there are still the odd bug to be worked out. I like the fact that despite being a “race” the winner is determined by the claiming of a flag. It helps level the playing field for those with slower internet connections. Half the fun is listening to players carp in chat about how they came first but overshot the flag and lost their placing.
Then there’s the Dance Party. Although it’s just a question of hitting the right emote when it’s called out by the Dance Instructor, the catchy music and the player interactions on the dance floor, really adds to the atmosphere. As for the contest itself, rather than click on individual emotes or type the necessary command in the chat window, you can simply pin the list of dance emotes to your UI for easy access. STO actually has quite a variety of dance emotes, the majority of which are available by default. Then there are a few extra that can be unlocked by specific quests or purchased using various barter currencies.
I’m sure that gamers may well claim that similar fun and larks can be had in other MMOs and that these also offer similar bespoke events. But STO has one remaining trump card up its sleeve that no other games can compete with. Gorns. Gorns in Bermuda Shorts. Gorns on Powerboards and Flaoters. Gorns tearing up the dance floor. Yes, Gorns in party mode are a thing of beauty as the gallery below shows. They are the embodiment of grace and style. So, if you have a STO account and haven’t played for a while, log in to the game and get your ass to Risa. Get out on to the dance floor and bust a move. Still not sold? Here’s the Dance Party tune, the Risa Calypso, for your edification.
Pick Up Groups
Out of all my recent gaming, Sniper Elite 4 has proved the most entertaining. The engaging mechanics and stealthy gameplay have held my attention and kept me engaged. So far, I spent over seventy-two hours playing through the campaign and DLC. After watching several You Tube videos I was tempted to try the co-operative mode, something that I don’t always do in these sorts of games. Overwatch allows two players to work together as sniper and spotter respectively, to complete objectives within a custom map. It requires communication and co-ordination. It should also be noted that multiplayer in Sniper Elite 4, is dependent on peer-to-peer connection rather than dedicated servers, with the players hosting the games themselves.
Out of all my recent gaming, Sniper Elite 4 has proved the most entertaining. The engaging mechanics and stealthy gameplay have held my attention and kept me engaged. So far, I spent over seventy-two hours playing through the campaign and DLC. After watching several You Tube videos I was tempted to try the co-operative mode, something that I don’t always do in these sorts of games. Overwatch allows two players to work together as sniper and spotter respectively, to complete objectives within a custom map. It requires communication and co-ordination. It should also be noted that multiplayer in Sniper Elite 4, is dependent on peer-to-peer connection rather than dedicated servers, with the players hosting the games themselves.
So far, I’ve found that my enjoyment of co-op mode has been significantly less than that of the campaign due to the human factor. None of my Steam friends own Sniper Elite 4, so I’ve have been dependent on the grouping service built in to the game. You either host a game yourself and wait to be assigned a partner or join an existing game. Therein lies the proverbial rub. Pick up group mechanics have no scope for quality control. So far, I’ve grouped with players who have refused to communicate, have no concept of teamwork and who quit when things don’t go their way. Furthermore, if they’re hosting the game then you find yourself kicked back to the lobby with nothing to show for your work. It’s an old story. One that will be very familiar to anyone who has ever played an MMORPG and used the instance finder tool.
Pick up groups can often bring out the worst in human nature. You are randomly grouped with complete strangers who are anonymous and are driven by their own need for gain. Manners, decorum and social etiquette are purely optional as the system has no means to impose them. Thus, we encounter players that do not know how to play the instance they have joined, or those who are happy to just go AFK and wait for the end reward. Abuse and unpleasantness are common place in chat and if the group undertaking is unsuccessful, then blame is often thrown about. Even if your PUG manages to avoid these problems, they are often extremely soulless experiences. The auto grouping in Guild Wars 2 and the PVE queues in Star Trek Online simply facilitate tasks and require minimal or even zero social interaction.
Now some players will argue that the frictionless grouping that PUGs provide with no need to communicate directly, is a boon rather than a bane. I will concede that this really is a matter of personal preference. However, mechanics that allow you to abandon a game that you are hosting at the expense of others, or quit a group thus leaving the rest of the players in the lurch, are problematic. For Honor had a major problem with the this. If you or your team are losing then there is no imperative to stick around. There is often no penalty or sanction for abandoning an ongoing game that you may be hosting and no recompense for the other players. This is something I also regularly encounter in Overwatch, which seems to have more than its fair share of petulant and bellicose players.
Justin Olivetti referenced the group finding tool in LOTRO recently and discussed how compared to other MMOs, it was an underused facility. Group content seems to more driven by Kinships in that game so players tend to look directly to their colleagues and friends to run group content. Using the instance finder will seldom provide you with a group. STO has a similar problem. Featured group content or that which provides tangible rewards attracts players. However, older and less popular content doesn’t fair so well therefore you can spend hours looking for a group. I also think there is a particular type of troll in that game that delights in joining group queues and then waiting to the last moment to decline the launch invitation, thus consigning the remaining players back to the lobby again.
Sadly, many of the flawed mechanics we encounter in online games exist because they are the most practical way to address a logistical issue. Player hosted games negates the need for dedicated servers and their associated cost. Group finding tools do exactly that, yet offer no further options. The burden to police the group’s activities falls to the players themselves and there’s precious little they can do if things go pear shaped. But what are the alternatives? If grouping with other players is problematic, then bots are really the only immediate alternative. This is an option in games such as Overwatch, For Honor and some of the Call of Duty franchise. However, it is not necessarily an ideal solution as bots do not provide a comparable experience to human interaction. Their use also doesn’t address the root cause of this problem, namely human behaviour.
Like many things in life, the lowest common denominator disproportionately shapes the experience for the majority. Returning to Sniper Elite 4, although I did have some poor co-operative games due to bad grouping, I also had some thoroughly enjoyable interactions. It’s just a shame that PUGs are such a lottery. Ultimately, it is down to the developers of games to maintain community standards. What is the point of having strict terms and conditions if you have no intention of enforcing them? Furthermore, if I cannot enjoy aspects of a game due to others, I am effectively being excluded from experiencing the entire product. Considering the cost of premium titles these days, why should I pay the full price for a game I can only partially play?
Junior Officer Appreciation Weekend: A Tale of Competitive Nodes
This is a tale about Star Trek Online but as competitive nodes are a common game mechanic in numerous MMORPGs, it is pertinent to many gamers. From today till Monday 5th June, it’s Junior Officer Appreciation Weekend, an in-game event that allows players to earn a rare duty officer. Strange particles can be found around the grounds of Starfleet Academy. If these are scanned with a tricorder, they either disappear, become stable or summon a combat hologram that attacks you. The particles then drop fragments that can be exchanged for event rewards. Collecting the particles is fun but hardly anything groundbreaking. I’m sure that most MMOs have a comparable activity.
This is a tale about Star Trek Online but as competitive nodes are a common game mechanic in numerous MMORPGs, it is pertinent to many gamers. From today till Monday 5th June, it’s Junior Officer Appreciation Weekend, an in-game event that allows players to earn a rare duty officer. Strange particles can be found around the grounds of Starfleet Academy. If these are scanned with a tricorder, they either disappear, become stable or summon a combat hologram that attacks you. The particles then drop fragments that can be exchanged for event rewards. Collecting the particles is fun but hardly anything groundbreaking. I’m sure that most MMOs have a comparable activity.
However, the particles that appear during this event are competitive nodes. Despite fairly generous respawn rates, due to the volume of players in the vicinity, getting to the particles in time to scan and claim them becomes a race. And like any game mechanic that forces players to directly compete with each other, there is scope for rancor and unpleasantness. It took me all of twenty minutes tonight, before I ran into my first ill-tempered player who seemed to think that whatever they saw was immediately theirs. This particular individual after losing out on a particle to me, decided to follow me around for the next ten minutes to try and “avenge” himself upon me, for the heinous outrage I had perpetrated against them. Zone chat also revealed several players arguing over similar incidents.
Now I tend not to rush through events such as these, preferring to go about them at a steady pace. If I spot a particle that is available, I try to ensure that there isn’t a crowd of other players heading towards it. If it does end up in a race, I tend to let the matter go and allow the other party to claim the item. The advancing years have taught me a degree of patience that others seem to lack. However, I don’t concede every race and will compete for a particle, if the fancy takes me. Yet, this entire situation could be avoided if Cryptic simply did away with the competitive node mechanic. In fact, it’s something I’d like to see go from the entire MMORPG genre. ArenaNet have eliminated it from Guild Wars 2 and it is a massive “quality of life” improvement for the game.
Over the last decade, I have gone from being an ardent opponent of egregious behaviour in online games, to just accepting the fact that any gathering of humans will include a tangible percentage of idiots, malcontents and trolls. Developers habitually demonstrate that they have no real interest in dealing with this problems through community policing but some do sometimes use game mechanics as a means to limit shenanigans, tomfoolery and general douchbaggery. Changing competitive nodes to shared one, is a prime example of this. It eliminates a potential avenue for griefing and general bad behaviour. Sure, you can argue that making such a change is allowing a small percentage of players to dictate policy but frankly it’s a small price to pay for a change that inherently improves players in-game experience and overall perception of the community.
Star Trek Online: Life After the Balance Changes
There has been a great deal of discussion on the STO subreddit about the recent balance changes. The subject has also been explored on numerous Tube videos over the last four weeks. As with any game, there’s a lot of technical jargon associated with the various systems and mechanics. Players also use a lot of acronyms and bespoke phrases when referencing content. Subsequently, there can be a steep learning curve to min-maxing and pursuing DPS in STO. Despite having regularly played since the Delta Recruit Event of May 2015, I still struggle to absorb all the subtleties of this MMOs. Certainly, the minutiae of the balance change are lost on me. However, I understand the obvious alterations and have no doubt in my mind that Space combat “feels” different.
There has been a great deal of discussion on the STO subreddit about the recent balance changes. The subject has also been explored on numerous Tube videos over the last four weeks. As with any game, there’s a lot of technical jargon associated with the various systems and mechanics. Players also use a lot of acronyms and bespoke phrases when referencing content. Subsequently, there can be a steep learning curve to min-maxing and pursuing DPS in STO. Despite having regularly played since the Delta Recruit Event of May 2015, I still struggle to absorb all the subtleties of this MMOs. Certainly, the minutiae of the balance change are lost on me. However, I understand the obvious alterations and have no doubt in my mind that Space combat “feels” different.
Unlike some players who go to extremes to experiment, I have broadly taken the path of least resistance with my ship builds in STO. I followed the recommended skills point allocation by the DPS league for tactical officers after that system was revised last year. I also stuck to the prevailing meta of Antiproton Beam Arrays when it came to weapons choice. I ensured that I used the most commonly referenced, consoles, traits and Bridge Officer skills. Overall this has served me well and I managed to reach a DPS parse of 34K. However, the recent thirty percent reduction in power of “Fire at Will” and the obsolescence of Embassy Plasma consoles has reduced my DPS by nearly half. Combat takes longer now and forces the player to think more strategically. I can no longer just rely upon brute force and ignorance.
Furthermore, the balance changes have been universal so NPCs are now more robust. Red Alerts can be more challenging, especially the Tholian invasion. On several occasions, I’ve been in a low DPS PUG which has resulted in the countdown timer expiring before the team has cleared all enemy vessels. The current Mirror Invasion Event can also be a bit of a slog, especially if the portals aren’t closed quickly and there’s an excess of Terran ships to dispose of. Due to the drop in DPS, I’ve been swapping out consoles and ship sets to see if I can improve the situation. So far, tactical and Lobi consoles seem to have a positive impact. Basically, anything that can boost damage, critical chance and severity is beneficial. However, on a positive note Beam Overload and Energy Siphon have been boosted. Pets now feel like they’re pulling their weight. I may also return to a torpedo or cannon based build, although success with these is still very much dependent on piloting skills.
In all fairness, I can’t really complain about the balance changes that Cryptic have implemented. STO has endured a set of meta builds for too long, resulting in a substantially overpowered player base. Those with very high DPS records, pursuing minmax excellence, have not been handicapped by this rebalance but instead have been present with an opportunity to explore a wider variety of builds. PVE remains relatively easy, allowing casual players to advance through the story arcs. Furthermore, the rebalance has meant that previously side-lined gear and equipment may well prove viable again. For players such as myself, I can continue with my low-level experimentation or simply wait for some generic builds to become established.
LOTRO: Going Off Map
One of the greatest attractions of LOTRO is the opportunity to explore Middle-Earth. Standing Stone Games have done a very good job of interpreting Tolkien's world, offering a rich and diverse environment. I often like to cross reference the in-game environment against such books as Journeys of Frodo by Barbara Strachey and The Atlas of Middle-Earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad. Whenever a new region becomes available, I always like to see what lore based references I can find there. Overall the Middle-earth featured in LOTRO is remarkably faithful to the source text, given the practical compromises regarding scale that have to be made.
One of the greatest attractions of LOTRO is the opportunity to explore Middle-Earth. Standing Stone Games have done a very good job of interpreting Tolkien's world, offering a rich and diverse environment. I often like to cross reference the in-game environment against such books as Journeys of Frodo by Barbara Strachey and The Atlas of Middle-Earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad. Whenever a new region becomes available, I always like to see what lore based references I can find there. Overall the Middle-earth featured in LOTRO is remarkably faithful to the source text, given the practical compromises regarding scale that have to be made.
Exploring is an integral part of LOTRO. The game itself offers a wealth of deeds rewarding the finding specific locations. In many respects exploration is a sub-game in its own right. Therefore, we should not be surprised that this particular aspect of LOTRO has its enthusiasts, who take their curiosity to the next level. The invisible walls, rivers and mountains ranges that the developers use to enclose regions and zone that are under development, are seen purely as challenges. Nothing more than obstacles to be overcome by some players, so they can access these obscure and off map places. There is always the hope that a secret will be discovered therein.
I wrote a recently about the abandoned graveyard near Bree and how it’s an example of a storyline that was dropped from the final release of Shadows of Angmar. Over its ten-year lifespan, LOTRO has gained several test areas as well as locations for quest lines that have been omitted from the game. Often these are behind obstacles or hidden from direct line of sight. I'm sure many of you may be familiar with the infamous (and now totally inaccessible) hidden hobbit village, west of the Ered Luin gate. There was a time when such places could be reached quite easily but over the years the Devs have taken steps to put them out of reach. Posts on the official forums, referencing going "off map" are closed promptly and such activities are discouraged.
Initially, back in the day of the Isengard test program, participants were encouraged by Turbine to test the maps boundaries and log any faults. This policy was never formally extended to the live servers. However, players being the curious bunch that they are, have naturally continued to do so and a sub culture has built up around it. Thus, there are players who will try and go anywhere, if it is possible, regardless of the complexity. I’ve heard of complex sequences of jumping that can take hours. Yet, the practice of going "off map" is not without consequence. Characters straying into these areas can become permanently stuck. There have also been instances of such incursions affecting the servers and localised roll backs having to be carried out.
Despite the dangers and the risk of incurring the wrath of Standing Stone Games, players still continue to explore the game environment to the full. Irrespective of the rights and wrongs of such activities, it certainly makes for some very interesting screen captures and provides a new insight into the games development. I have collated a small collection of “off map” images. None of these screen captures were taken by myself and due to the controversial nature of such activities, I will not credit the sources. I am simply referencing information that is publicly available on the internet and am not endorsing one way or the other, the practice of going "off map".
Contracting Out Work in LOTRO
I recently decided to focus upon crafting on my new Hunter. I’ve opted for the explorer professions on this character as refining raw material is always a good way of making in-game gold. However, over recent weeks I’ve focused on levelling and have not processed any wood or ore from the various zones that I worked through. Thus, last week I found myself in Eregion and I couldn’t mine any of the ore nodes or gather timber. If I wanted to progress, I had to consider the following options. I could return to the starter zones and farm the resources I needed then process them, unlocking the next levels. Or I could buy what stocks of wood and ore that I required from the auction house and again work through the crafting tiers. The first option didn’t really appeal to me and the second was dependent on stock levels of various resources on Auction House. So, after some thought I decided the best alternative was to contract out the gathering work.
I recently decided to focus upon crafting on my new Hunter. I’ve opted for the explorer professions on this character as refining raw material is always a good way of making in-game gold. However, over recent weeks I’ve focused on levelling and have not processed any wood or ore from the various zones that I worked through. Thus, last week I found myself in Eregion and I couldn’t mine any of the ore nodes or gather timber. If I wanted to progress, I had to consider the following options. I could return to the starter zones and farm the resources I needed then process them, unlocking the next levels. Or I could buy what stocks of wood and ore that I required from the auction house and again work through the crafting tiers. The first option didn’t really appeal to me and the second was dependent on stock levels of various resources on Auction House. So, after some thought I decided the best alternative was to contract out the gathering work.
Laurelin is a busy role-play server with a lot of new players. Many of whom are time rich and gold poor. The hyperinflation you’ll find in a decade old MMO, put’s new players at a disadvantage. As a longtime LOTRO player the one thing I do have is substantial gold reserves. Let it suffice to say that after a quick conversation in the trade channel, I secure three eager players who were happy to go to the various zones and farm ore, wood and hides for me. Within an evening, I had sufficient materials to unlock all processing tiers I required. The cost was 300 gold and a few class specific items that I had been stock piling for exactly such an occasion. The players I contracted went away content as they felt that they had been adequately rewarded and had gained XP while farming for me. All round, it was a “win, win” situation.
Having played LOTRO for years, although I still find a lot of the game’s arbitrary tasks enjoyable, some can be a little tedious. However, I must admit I had a lot of fun arranging this recent outsourcing of work. It reminded me of the halcyon days of LOTRO when raiding was still a big thing. I used to buy morale and power potions when they were cheap and then sell them high over the weekend when people would play through group content. I always found auction house speculation an amusing mini game and suspect that regular contracting out of gathering tasks may serve a similar purpose. Furthermore, isn’t this a classic example of so-called “emergent content” that stems from player interaction in MMOs? Although there may be a few purists who frown on such activities, I think you have to take your pleasures, where you find them, be it in LOTRO or any other MMO.
LOTRO 10th Anniversary: Remembering LOTRO Part 1
On Monday 22nd December 2008, I visited the Game store at Colliers Wood, South West London. I was working at St George’s Hospital in Tooting the time at and the nearby shopping centre was an ideal place to spend the lunch hour. As I perused the shelves in the PC gaming section, I spotted a “compilation pack” that contained not only the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online but it’s recently released expansion pack, Mines of Moria. Although I was aware of the MMO genre at the time, I had never played one beyond a trial of Star Wars: Galaxies. However, as I had recently moved and was living alone, I was in the perfect position to start playing such a game. So, I decided to take the plunge and buy LOTRO for the bargain price of twenty pounds. There was also a sizeable display for World of Warcraft in the shop, which was by far the market leader at the time. Yet because I’ve always been a Tolkien fan, I just naturally gravitated toward buying LOTRO and it never crossed my mind to buy another product.
On Monday 22nd December 2008, I visited the Game store at Colliers Wood, South West London. I was working at St George’s Hospital in Tooting the time at and the nearby shopping centre was an ideal place to spend the lunch hour. As I perused the shelves in the PC gaming section, I spotted a “compilation pack” that contained not only the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online but it’s recently released expansion pack, Mines of Moria. Although I was aware of the MMO genre at the time, I had never played one beyond a trial of Star Wars: Galaxies. However, as I had recently moved and was living alone, I was in the perfect position to start playing such a game. So, I decided to take the plunge and buy LOTRO for the bargain price of twenty pounds. There was also a sizeable display for World of Warcraft in the shop, which was by far the market leader at the time. Yet because I’ve always been a Tolkien fan, I just naturally gravitated toward buying LOTRO and it never crossed my mind to buy another product.
I installed and started playing the game that very night. It should be noted that the European version of LOTRO was distributed and administered under license by Codemasters at the time. So, I set up a subscription and on a whim decided to create my first character on Gilrain server, which met my language and social requirements. Having spent some time reading about the various classes in LOTRO, I can remember now that I was still a little confused by it all. Yet there was something about the Lore-master that just seemed to appeal to me. Perhaps it was the pets, or its semi-magical status. Although I wasn’t that au fait with control classes, I found the explanation of how the Lore-master fought intriguing. “The Lore-master uses his knowledge of ancient wisdom to stave off the advance of the shadow for a time. He can use his knowledge to attack his foes or to treat the wounds and suffering of his companions. He can even communicate with animals and request their aid”.
Let it suffice to say that the tutorial quickly got my orientated in the game. Having been a gamer prior to LOTRO, meant that the learning curve was not so steep. The other advantage I benefitted from by playing LOTRO at this particular time, eighteen months after its launch, was that there was a wealth of online resources for the game already in place. This proved invaluable because things were pretty different in LOTRO back in late 2008. For example, the location of quest objectives were not directly marked on the map. The quest bestowal details usually referred to a specific area which you then had to find and search. Sometimes this would be a very intuitive process but from time to time there would be frustration. Thus, fan sites and blog would often have map coordinates to aid this process. Obtaining a mount was also a challenge. A player didn’t become eligible to purchase a horse until level 35. It also cost a tidy sum of gold and was dependent on a somewhat convoluted quest.
Looking back now at these early days of LOTRO, the most pronounced difference was the fact that much of the game was designed to be completed in a group or fellowship. The Epic storyline frequently had group content as did a percentage of the regional quests. Zone chat was filled with requests for fellowships. Yet because of the volume of players in the game and that fact that Middle-earth had not yet grown to the size that it has now, finding a group was never an issue. There was also a prevailing sense of camaraderie. If a random stranger sent you a tell, you’d more than likely answer it. For the most part, the game was populated by mature Tolkien fans and as a result, things remained mainly civil. Plus, the concept of multiplayer gaming was still novel.
It took me nine months of to reach the then level cap of sixty. That meant playing most evenings and investing a considerable amount of time into LOTRO. There were occasions over weekends where I’d spend a whole day playing. There were also plenty of late nights, although I never did this at the expense of my personal life or work. However, let me be clear, LOTRO at the time became my primary means of entertainment and therefore I was happy to lavish it with attention. As I’m not the sort of player to experiment with multiple alts, this time was exclusively invested into my Lore-master. Lore-master crowd control skills were a key part of group play back then, so I found myself regularly grouping. As a result, friendships were formed and eventually I found the right kinship for me. Eight years on I’m still an active member of it.
Kinships always have been the heart and soul of LOTRO. They come in many shapes and sizes, catering to all types of gameplay. Yet they all have mutual support and friendship in common. What I particularly like about my kinship is its diversity and inherent good humour. It includes people from all over Europe and various walks of life. As a result, interacting with such a cross section of people has been a very positive experience and has certainly broadened my horizons. Then of course there’s the community outside of the game itself. The bloggers, podcasters, streamers and such like. Many are still active today but seven or eight years ago the scene was much bigger and very lively. Because of that community I changed my existing website to a LOTRO blog and instantly it got traction. LOTRO also inspired me to podcast. I can honestly say I’ve not encountered anything similar in all the subsequent MMOs that I’ve experienced.
To be continued.
The Geography of LOTRO: Part 3 Filling in the Gaps
I would like to once again return to the matter of the geography of Middle Earth. David Braben, co-creator of seminal video game Elite, called truly open-ended game design and sandbox gaming environments "The Holy Grail" of modern video gaming. He cited games like Elite and the Grand Theft Auto series as early steps in that direction. For many gamers, the idea of being able to freely roam a virtual world without any deliberate restrictions is a very enticing one. For Tolkien fans, the notion of being given complete freedom of movement throughout Middle Earth would be a dream come true. However, due to the way that LOTRO has been designed, Standing Stone Games vision of Middle Earth, although well-conceived is not such an environment.
I would like to once again return to the matter of the geography of Middle Earth. David Braben, co-creator of seminal video game Elite, called truly open-ended game design and sandbox gaming environments "The Holy Grail" of modern video gaming. He cited games like Elite and the Grand Theft Auto series as early steps in that direction. For many gamers, the idea of being able to freely roam a virtual world without any deliberate restrictions is a very enticing one. For Tolkien fans, the notion of being given complete freedom of movement throughout Middle Earth would be a dream come true. However, due to the way that LOTRO has been designed, Standing Stone Games vision of Middle Earth, although well-conceived is not such an environment.
The latest stable map for LOTRO shows all the various regions that currently feature in the game. Furthermore, the map highlights a significant amount of Middle-earth that does not at present exist within the MMORPG. This includes areas in Eriador such as The Grey Havens, The South Farthing and Tharbad. When looking across the Misty Mountains to Rhovanion, even more noteworthy locations are conspicuously absent. Esgaroth, Mount Gundabad and The Iron Hills spring to mind. Until recently, LOTRO players and Tolkien aficionados have just written off these missing territories. Their omission is due to the realities of developing an MMO, set in a vast Lore filled world. However, more recently new developers Standing Stone Games have indicated that they have a game plan beyond the scope of the book and that there is a possibility of many “blanks” being filled in at a later date.
In the past, Turbine have taken a very practical approach to the way they have developed Middle Earth. The areas that have been included are all there to underpin the story. Regional quest hubs facilitate players advancement, then migrate them to new locations via the narrative. The game mechanic is heavily orientated towards playing through certain areas at specific levels. Simply put, any part of Middle Earth that does not have any relevance to the ongoing epic storyline has been somewhat ignored. Although, there are plenty of explorer deeds to be completed in each area, Turbine never really intended to make the game weighted towards players who simply wished to wander through Middle Earth. Due to the levelling mechanic and region phasing, you cannot simply travel from Ered Luin to Mirkwood just exploring.
Despite these restriction, there is still much to see in LOTRO and clearing regional quest is no guarantee of seeing all that Middle Earth has to offer. If you have a curious nature there are still many nooks and crannies to explore and little embellishments that the developers have added through their love of the source text. There are also scattered around Middle Earth, hidden villages that were created in the early devlopement of the game which were then removed from the final release. In the early days of LOTRO these could still be accessed but it would appear that Turbine have sealed these off now. One example was the hidden Hobbit villages, West of the Shire. There was another on the Western bank of Lake Evendim.
With LOTRO’s increased focus on themed festivals such as Winter-home and new events such as the treasure hunt, there is an opportunity to utilise these vacant areas of Middle Earth. Frostbluff for example seems to be located between Northern Ered Luin and Western Forochel. Furthermore the appearance of new locations and settlements can often now be spotted in advance of these areas being made available. Northcottons farms and Stoneheights were both copiously documented and discussed prior to Update 2 going live.
Although I very much enjoy the world that Turbine, now Standing Stone Games has created, I still find it a little saddening that there are some locations in Middle Earth that I cannot get a chance to visit and discover at present. For instance I would very much like to visit the Elf Towers to the West of The Shire. Whenever I am confronted with a barrier, be it a gate, a convenient range of mountains or cliff face, I always try to look beyond it. I am always curious to know how much landmass the developers actually created. I recently travelled to the South Farthing gate and by adjusting the camera perspective tried to see as much as what was beyond it. The view is very tantalising. In a true sandbox environment the road beyond would ultimately wind a path all the way down to Enedwaith.
As a gamer, I would like to see an MMO that allowed a player to choose a non-combat class and to simply be able to travel, explore, trade and move on again. It would be engaging to find quests and deeds specifically created around such characters, out in the wider world. Placing items or information in obscure locations could be an interesting game mechanic. Obviously, with a game such as LOTRO that now has an established methodology, the likelihood of adapting this may well be impossible , even if the developers were in favour of it. However, despite the restrictions that exist Standing Stone Games vision of Middle Earth still lends itself to a degree of exploration. New events can potentially open up the world. Narrative freedom beyond the end of text, offers even further opportunity. I think that in the years to come we may yet see many of these missing areas coming to life.
First Contact Day
Star Trek Online is an MMO that likes an event. They have numerous scheduled over the course of the year. The latest is to celebrate First Contact Day (5th April), when Humans and Vulcans first met on Earth. The event takes place at the Zefram Cochrane Memorial and Historical Museum and participants are tasked with building their own replica Phoenix ship. To build an effective vessel, players have to search the immediate vicinity for engine, hull and stabiliser parts. These vary in quality following the games standard colour coding system. Thus, in theory, purple colour parts will perform better. Once the Phoenix replicas are assembled, they are launched simultaneously, with the winner being the one that reaches the highest altitude.
Star Trek Online is an MMO that likes an event. They have numerous scheduled over the course of the year. The latest is to celebrate First Contact Day (5th April), when Humans and Vulcans first met on Earth. The event takes place at the Zefram Cochrane Memorial and Historical Museum and participants are tasked with building their own replica Phoenix ship. To build an effective vessel, players have to search the immediate vicinity for engine, hull and stabiliser parts. These vary in quality following the games standard colour coding system. Thus, in theory, purple colour parts will perform better. Once the Phoenix replicas are assembled, they are launched simultaneously, with the winner being the one that reaches the highest altitude.
As ever with STO, events run over a fixed period and can be played once every twenty hours. There is a reward at the end that requires a fixed number of vouchers to be handed in. Players receive both a voucher and a choice of rep marks each time the participate. Yet despite the competitive framing of the event and the mechanic involving variable part quality, the outcome is actually random. Phoenix replicas with blue and green parts frequently outperform those with purple parts. Furthermore, your place in the race results table has no impact upon the number of rep marks you receive as a reward. In fact, some players simply elect to join the event and then go AFK during its short duration. I tried this myself today, collecting no parts for my Phoenix. Although I came last I still got the event voucher and full rep marks of my choice, for doing nothing.
I don’t claim to be the most driven MMO player and do not like events or activities with excessive complex criteria. Yet even I balk at this situation that Cryptic has created. An event that allows you to simply sit and wait rather than participate is certainly ill-conceived. Plus, the random nature of the outcome totally contradicts the competitive aspect that the event implies. At least ensure that the quality of the parts that you use does have an actual bearing on race results. First Contact Day is only a six-day event, so it won’t remain a bone of contention for long but as a player of STO I don’t wish to see its flaws perpetuated in any future activities. Perhaps Cryptic will learn from this situation and tweak the event for next year, making it more equitable and removing the AFK flaw.
Am I a Whale?
Whenever reading about game monetisation, I often come across the term “whale” and their alleged importance to the free-to-play business model. Primarily they seem to be associated with the mobile gaming industry, due to the way the games are constructed. Paying does more than enhance game play, it is required to facilitate it. However, the whale is no stranger to the MMO genre. The proliferation of cash stores, lock boxes and cosmetic customisation means that there’s always something that people want. Furthermore, gaming in many respects can be a more economic form of entertainment compared to others. Therefore, occasional expenditure is often seen as providing value for money. Fans also like to support the developers that create the games that they enjoy, so again spending money is perceived as a positive thing.
Whenever reading about game monetisation, I often come across the term “whale” and their alleged importance to the free-to-play business model. Primarily they seem to be associated with the mobile gaming industry, due to the way the games are constructed. Paying does more than enhance game play, it is required to facilitate it. However, the whale is no stranger to the MMO genre. The proliferation of cash stores, lock boxes and cosmetic customisation means that there’s always something that people want. Furthermore, gaming in many respects can be a more economic form of entertainment compared to others. Therefore, occasional expenditure is often seen as providing value for money. Fans also like to support the developers that create the games that they enjoy, so again spending money is perceived as a positive thing.
I play at present three MMOs. Lord of the Rings Online, The Elder Scrolls Online and Star Trek Online. I subscribe in LOTRO and do not own a life time account. ESO is a buy to play title with an optional sub for access to additional content. At present, I have bought the base game only. STO is the one game in which I bought a life time account. All these titles have in-game stores offering cosmetic or convenience based items. As I’m relatively new to ESO, I’ve yet to determine if the store has anything I desire. In LOTRO, I have bought milestone skills, stat tomes and other items that improve “quality of life”. Beyond these items, I have purchased relatively little, despite receiving a monthly stipend of in-game currency. It is in STO that I have regularly spent the most money, mainly because they sell ships, weapons and equipment.
Over the course of 2016, I spent £143.89 in Star Trek Online buying Zen, one of many in-game currencies. I bought items from the C-Store that I either used, traded or converted into Dilithium. Compared to other games in which I spend very little, this can be seen a large amount. Does this make me a whale? Probably not within the STO community. My primary character in STO is part of the Reddit Alert Fleet and you’ll frequently find other members discussing their relative expenditure in the chat channel. In this fleet you’ll find a lot of high end players who will regularly buy new ships and often in the cross faction bundles. For example, prior to the launch of the Agents of Yesterday expansion, Cryptic marketed the Temporal Agents Pack, featuring a wealth of ships, gear and items. It retailed at the time at £99.99 and I was surprised at how many colleagues bought this.
This picture is tenuously relevant. No clues. You figure it out.
Now regarding my non-whale status in STO, it should be noted that I spent a further £153.83 via the “grey” market. Bringing my total spend over the year to nearly £300. To put that number in to context, that averages out to broadly £6 per week. A comparable cost to coffee, sandwiches or beer. It is also unlikely that I will spend a similar amount of money on STO this year. I have maxed out my primary character and a lot of the items I’ve bought, are available account wide. However, what I think this minor analysis proves is that, if I deem it viable, I will spend money in a game. Therefore, I may well invest in another game at a future date if it suits my needs to do so. Considering that in most F2P games, the majority of the player base spend nothing, maybe I do have Cetacean tendencies after all. According to research 46% of all revenue comes from .22% of player base. If I am part of that group, all I can say is “Thar she blows of the starboard bow!”.
Star Trek Online: Beyond Endgame
The recent Arena of Sompek Event in STO was immense fun and presented me with an opportunity to fine tune the ground build on my primary character. Furthermore, the current return of the Phoenix Prize Pack has allowed me to spend a lot of my surplus Dilithium. I obtained a Kobali Samsar Cruiser [T6] last night which allowed me to complete the Kobali Space Set. It’s also nice to be able to finally own the iconic Red Matter Converter, which was only previously available in the Collector’s Edition of STO on launch. However, for me the best item available from the Phoenix Prize Pack is the special Phoenix Upgrade Tech (equivalent to multiple Universal Superior Tech Upgrades, with no Dilithium costs). I have used a hundred plus and have now managed to upgrade a lot of my gear to Epic quality. Finally, after months of tweaking and customising, I’ve broken the 30K DPS barrier.
The recent Arena of Sompek Event in STO was immense fun and presented me with an opportunity to fine tune the ground build on my primary character. Furthermore, the current return of the Phoenix Prize Pack has allowed me to spend a lot of my surplus Dilithium. I obtained a Kobali Samsar Cruiser [T6] last night which allowed me to complete the Kobali Space Set. It’s also nice to be able to finally own the iconic Red Matter Converter, which was only previously available in the Collector’s Edition of STO on launch. However, for me the best item available from the Phoenix Prize Pack is the special Phoenix Upgrade Tech (equivalent to multiple Universal Superior Tech Upgrades, with no Dilithium costs). I have used a hundred plus and have now managed to upgrade a lot of my gear to Epic quality. Finally, after months of tweaking and customising, I’ve broken the 30K DPS barrier.
Once you reach level cap in STO you quickly find that the bulk of the endgame is focused upon experimenting with builds and striving to increase your DPS. Although featured episodes and events are regularly added to the game, there are no traditional dungeons offering fancy gear as rewards. Gear is created through the reputation system and then upgrading it offers the opportunity to add modifiers. Events and PVE queues are effectively used as proving grounds. Once a player reaches a certain level of DPS, it requires a comprehensive program of subtle changes to see any further improvements. It also requires a great deal of in-game resources, such as Dilithium and Energy Credits to facilitate improvements. Success requires multiple alts to farm materials and a liking of spreadsheets and min-maxing.
Eighteen months ago, I wrote a post asking advice about a suitable tactical build for a Guardian Cruiser. I fortunately received none whatsoever, which then forced me to trawl through various subreddits and websites and learn about the mechanics of STO. I’ve now reach a DPS level that is certainly above average and I’m pleased with that achievement. However, I don’t see any reason to pursue any further increase because I suspect it will not be that much fun. So, I’ve decided to take heed of my recent return to LOTRO, where I am currently starting from scratch with a new alt. In the case of STO, rather than create a new character I already have three that remain incomplete. The most prudent one to focus upon is my Agents of Yesterday Federation Tactical Officer. Working my way through all the old content will yield multiple account unlocks that would be very beneficial. I can already craft Ultra Rare Mark XIII gear due on all my alts due to a reputation achievement on the AoY character.
Accolades, duty officer missions and cosmetic customisation are all other potential avenues of interest and fun to pursue in STO. Something else that is always overlooked is the fact that you can play through the various story arcs in the game in a group if you see fit. STO is an MMO yet I’ve spent so little time of the game in groups, apart from STFs and events. Playing through some of the stories with others can put a fresh perspective on them. Certainly, grouping in the Delta Quadrant will definitely give you an advantage and allow you to progress through the zone a lot more quickly. And of course, there is always the potential to role play, if that is your thing. Although, I find some of the activities and chat that goes on in Drozana Station and Risa beyond my ken.
As you can see, the endgame in STO doesn’t have to be DPScentric if you don’t want it to be. Like many MMOs, you get out of the game exactly what you put in. The people you associate with can also improve or kill the game for you. Finding the right fleet helps and there are plenty out there. There nothing wrong with taking your time and trying a few before committing to one. Also rushing to level cap is not essential second or third time round. There is plenty of detail and lore to be experienced along the way in the old content. So, I’m going to broaden my outlook and return to an older character and see where it takes me. If everything else fails I can always fall back upon cosmetic changes and goals for my away team. If you can’t be good be beautiful.
The Average LOTRO Player
Despite my claims to be a casual gamer, I tend to go all-in when a title takes my interest. Therefore, I will make it my business to read and learn about the various mechanics and systems in a game. I also like to be active in the wider community, so I write and podcast about the games I enjoy. Social media is an invaluable way to keep up-to-date with both developers and publishers. Forums and websites also play an integral role in keeping a player informed, by providing guides, press releases and a platform for sharing opinions. In recent years, many games have looked to Reddit as an additional way of communicating with their player base and fostering a community.
Despite my claims to be a casual gamer, I tend to go all-in when a title takes my interest. Therefore, I will make it my business to read and learn about the various mechanics and systems in a game. I also like to be active in the wider community, so I write and podcast about the games I enjoy. Social media is an invaluable way to keep up-to-date with both developers and publishers. Forums and websites also play an integral role in keeping a player informed, by providing guides, press releases and a platform for sharing opinions. In recent years, many games have looked to Reddit as an additional way of communicating with their player base and fostering a community.
When I started playing LOTRO in late 2008 the focal point for information and interaction between players and the development team was the official forums. Then in 2010 there was a brief time where the unofficial forums became essential reading. There were also a great many guides available online providing a wealth of information about armour, crafting and other facets of the MMO. In many respects, at the time of its free to play conversion, LOTRO was one of the most well documented MMOs around. Seven years on, the official forums can still answer most questions a new player may ask. You Tube also provides an alternative repository of information.
When you consider all these options, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the average LOTRO player is well informed. The latest news is even emblazoned on the game launcher. Yet something happened recently in kin chat that made me realise that this is not the case and that the official forum and twitter are more of a haven for active and vocal gamers. They are not really a true cross section of a games player base. The developers have said this many times in the past. The forums, the fansites and other sub-communities are populated by players affiliated to specific niche groups, such as raiders, role players, or ardent solo completionists. Yet my kinship on Laurelin is filled with people who do not fall into these categories.
With regard to the incident I mentioned, someone in kin chat referenced how they were looking forward to High Elves being added to the game. A point that was met with surprise by many other kinship members who were logged in. Needless to say, an interesting discussion followed. To cut a long story short, I would estimate that about two thirds of our kin are oblivious to the finer points of the last producers letter. Furthermore, most of them never go to either forums, read the developer diaries or do any sort of proactive research into the game. Fan blogs and guides are effectively ignored. The Bullroarer test server is also an unknown quantity to many that I talk to. Overall I believe the majority of our kinship on Laurelin, just play the game and have no major interest in everything else.
I’m of the opinion that there is nothing unique about our kinship and its approach to LOTRO. I’m persuaded to think that a lot of LOTRO players are of a similar mindset. Therefore, this beggars the question is there such a thing as an average LOTRO player? This is not a term that I mean in a pejorative way. It’s just that for all the ardent raiders and high achievement players, there are many others that are just content to play through the game in their own way and at their own pace. They work things out as they go along and take their pleasure along the way. So, I’ve been trying to collate ideas regarding the average LOTRO player to try to form a sort of profile, based around common attributes and habits. Here are a few bullet points of some that I’ve considered.
- LOTRO players are not always gamers per se. Most of my kinmates only play LOTRO and are simply not interested in any other games. They do not own high end gaming PCs or have fast broadband connections.
- By far the biggest selling point of LOTRO for such players is the IP. They are first and foremost Tolkien fans. The most common refrain I hear is that the game provides an opportunity to play as a Hobbit, Elf or Dwarf in Middle-earth. There is no alternative MMO or game that offers the same experience.
- Many of the players in our kinship, or those I have spoken to outside of it, have never participated in a raid of any kind, despite the opportunities to do so. The idea either does not interest them, they simply do not have the time or they are not disposed towards the perceived social pressures of such activities.
- For every member of my kin who has multiple alts at level cap, there is another who has a list of alts that have been abandoned or who are still work in progress. Again, this is mainly due to time commitments or the fact that some folk just like to roll new alts for fun, rather than to pursue a structured levelling path.
- The officers in kinships I’ve been involved with tend to be those who play a lot and to the highest level. It is these people who are often the most informed about the game and the kin looks to them for the dissemination of news. In our kin, if you want to know anything about anything, you ask a handful of senior players.
I spend a lot of time talking to other LOTRO players, both in and out of the game. From what I have discerned a large amount of the player base are satisfied with what the game has to offer. Infact they always have been. Despite the calls from the raiding and PVP communities for more content that favours their needs, many players are happy to play casually and just "potter" about LOTRO. They’re not fussed about statistical changes, the Flora barter system, grinding for essences or the complexities of imbuing your legendary items. The game as it stands provides them with exactly what they want. A Middle-earth themed environment for them to explore and hangout in. This seems especially true of the RP players. Bree appears to serves all their needs.
Furthermore, many players are not in any way aggrieved by the alleged “iniquities” of the LOTRO store. When the total cost of everything they have ever spent on LOTRO is averaged out, many still feel that it is an extremely cheap form of entertainment, compared to other real world activities such as going to the movies, or out for a meal. Overall LOTRO is looked upon as a pleasant means of relaxation, in a virtual environment that most find agreeable. It is common for players in my kin to come home from work, cook some food and then spend time in LOTRO unwinding from the pressures of the day and enjoying the company of their fellow kinmates. The importance of the social ties associated with the game cannot be stressed enough. Gear grinds or the tedium of crafting are actually considered positive things by many of the players I know. Some folk like structured goals.
So, after considering these points, I'd say that there are lots of players that are content with LOTRO and who have little concern or even knowledge of the various changes that are coming this year. The major alterations that caused furor on the official forums over LOTRO’s lifespan, such as the move away from raids to epic battles and the introduction of the class skills tree, have had little impact upon such players. As long as they can continue to do the things that keep them happy, then all is right in their virtual world. Such players will continue to play and pay LOTRO until the servers close. They do not have any major beefs with the development team or community manager because they simply do not move in the same circles.
There are many subsets of LOTRO players but I get the feeling that this relatively low profile group of quiet and content players are by far the largest. When the fancy take’s them they will use the store because it is not an ideological anathema to them. It offers fun and useful items that enhances their play. That should make them a very important demographic to developers Standing Stone Games. In the meantime, the official forums although a useful portal are in danger of slowly becoming an insular private members club, busy preaching to the converted. Although many good points are raised and debated there as well on such site as Massively OP, they never really never travel beyond their virtual confines.
So, the average player that I have described is potentially the majority group that is now bank rolling LOTRO. If that is the case, then all SSG needs to do is to keep producing content that meets their requirements. That means that the trend towards streamlining and refining LOTRO, rather than adding to its complexity, seems to be the way to go. Now naturally, there will be a percentage of players and ex-players who will state that it is this very process that is "killing the game". Ultimately it comes down to a question of taste of what you want in a MMO. However, if I am right in my summation about the average LOTRO player, I think it proves why the MMO is facing its tenth-year anniversary, where so many others have gone to the wall. It is this groups loyal support and quite pursuit of their own style of game play that is LOTRO’s foundation
Starting from Scratch
I was watching a LOTRO stream this week by Kaz Travio who is currently levelling a Dwarf Hunter on the EU server Laurelin. The Hunter class is both enjoyable and straightforward to play. It can satisfy your “pew pew” itch and doesn’t have a particularly steep learning curve. It’s porting and poison curing skills use to be invaluable. Overall, the Hunter is a great way for a new player to discover and explore the Lord of the Rings Online. This becomes very apparent in Kaz Travio’s stream. So, to cut a long story short, I decided to create a new Hunter myself and go tool around in Middle-earth.
I was watching a LOTRO stream this week by Kaz Travio who is currently levelling a Dwarf Hunter on the EU server Laurelin. The Hunter class is both enjoyable and straightforward to play. It can satisfy your “pew pew” itch and doesn’t have a particularly steep learning curve. It’s porting and poison curing skills use to be invaluable. Overall, the Hunter is a great way for a new player to discover and explore the Lord of the Rings Online. This becomes very apparent in Kaz Travio’s stream. So, to cut a long story short, I decided to create a new Hunter myself and go tool around in Middle-earth.
Much to my surprise, instead of being the five-minute wonder that I thought it would be, I’ve been quite engaged with my new character. It’s been a long time since I’ve spent some time in the starter zones of LOTRO. Due to the streamlining of much of the content in recent years by the developers, you can quickly out level a region and are encouraged to forge ahead. However, I have not felt disposed towards doing that. I particularly want to refresh my memory on some of the quest story lines, plus there’s a good chance there’s some new content in there that wasn’t about when I last breezed through these zones in 2009. So it would appear that my new Dwarf Hunter Gryg, is going to be around a while. However, that presents me with another problem.
I am mainly starting from scratch for narrative reasons; I’m here for the story. What I don’t especially enjoy in the early stages of LOTRO, is the gear, virtue and skills point treadmill. With 105 levels ahead of me, there’s a great deal of disposability with regard to armour, weapons, and jewellery. You’ll not find much of this kind of gear on the auction house nowadays. The alternatives are running skirmishes to barter for equipment or simply crafting it myself. Neither of these options appeal to me. So, I’m considering a different approach. I can purchase from the LOTRO store, either the Gift or the Blessing of the Valar and instant level to 50 or 95. That way I can return to the start of the game, overpowered and geared to a suitable level to bypass any grind or in-game obstacle.
Now I’m sure my approach will not suit everyone, which is fine. Some players are happy to do everything over again. If this delights them, then that’s fine by me. I just don’t want to be burdened with the usual game mechanics that you experience on your first play through of content. I want to be able to focus on the stories the game offers and not have to worry about my ability to perform. Yet my instant levelling solution does come with a price tag. The Gift of the Valar cost approximately £30 and the Blessing of the Valar about £40, which are not exactly pocket change. There is the option to earn the LOTRO points in-game but the effort it would entail would negate the need to buy the aforementioned items. By the time I had amassed sufficient points, I’d be level 60 or so.
As of yet, I have not made a decision as to what I shall do. I also think that my personal “dilemma” actually touches on a bigger issue. I think many players would like to create new characters and have access to classes they have not played before. However, many people, like myself, are not enamoured with the prospect of replaying 105 levels and all the content that goes with it. So, I’d like a fair and equitable means to create a level cap alt (or as near as damn it). Now I realise that means bypassing a lot of content and so I’m happy to consider some way of supporting Standing Stone Games, if they can accommodate my needs.
For example, in Star Trek Online once you’ve gained maximum reputation with a faction, you can create a token that you can use on one of your alts, that reduces the reputation experience required by 50%. How about introducing s similar system in LOTRO, allowing a player to similarity fast path an alt? I want to play LOTRO and logically it is to Standing Stone Game’s advantage if I continue to do so. I hope now that the company is free of the shackles of Warner bros. they will now pursue a more creative business policy. One that finds a way of accommodating long time players, such as myself. In the meantime, I shall continue to my Dwarf Hunter but I suspect the moment an obstacle emerges, be it a gear check or an especially difficult quest, I’ll more than likely stop. Fun is surprisingly not universal and very subjective. Convenience is king.
Arena of Sompek Special Event
Star Trek Online regularly runs short term events with unique rewards to keep the player base engaged. The latest of these, the Arena of Sompek Special Event, has just gone live today and will run until to February 27th at 9:00 AM PST (17:00 PM GMT). Level 50 to 60 Captains can queue publicly or form bespoke groups to battle in the ancient Klingon tradition of the qaD HoS; an endless battle against allies and enemies alike. Set in a holodeck, teams of six players face waves of ever increasingly powerful enemies as well as environmental hazards. There are infinite respawns as long as there’s one active player. Once all players are incapacitated, the event ends and rewards are distributed based on how many rounds are completed. These include a choice of reputation marks, Dilithium, crafting materials and a voucher once per day, that can be applied toward a special reward, The Sompek Lightning Universal Kit Module.
Star Trek Online regularly runs short term events with unique rewards to keep the player base engaged. The latest of these, the Arena of Sompek Special Event, has just gone live today and will run until to February 27th at 9:00 AM PST (17:00 PM GMT). Level 50 to 60 Captains can queue publicly or form bespoke groups to battle in the ancient Klingon tradition of the qaD HoS; an endless battle against allies and enemies alike. Set in a holodeck, teams of six players face waves of ever increasingly powerful enemies as well as environmental hazards. There are infinite respawns as long as there’s one active player. Once all players are incapacitated, the event ends and rewards are distributed based on how many rounds are completed. These include a choice of reputation marks, Dilithium, crafting materials and a voucher once per day, that can be applied toward a special reward, The Sompek Lightning Universal Kit Module.
The Arena of Sompek is extremely enjoyable as well as quite challenging. I jumped straight in to this event today as soon as the servers came up after patching, joining a team via the group finder. Fortunately, all participants were well geared and soon came to grips with the event mechanics. Fire barriers, lighting strikes and the central zone becoming toxic, soon teach you to main your situational awareness and not to stay in one position. The enemies become increasingly stronger each time they spawn and can be from any of the factions, races and species that exist in the game. You may face the Borg so bring a frequency remodulator or a TR-116B rifle. Cover shields, overcharge turrets, solar gateways and other devices are invaluable. Teamwork helps.
Your success in this event very much depends upon who you group with. Therefore, you’ll likely to do better in an organised team rather than in a PUG. However, there is immense fun to be had irrespective of how you play the event. Our group managed to last twenty-six rounds on our first attempt which I thought was respectable. No one complained or was difficult in team chat which is always an added bonus these days. Furthermore, the STO community has been quick to post videos on You Tube and share tactics on the official subreddit. As ever the DPS focused community have already clocked in high round scores and doubtless a league table will follow. Yet this is an event that can be enjoyed by all STO players and is something Cryptic intend to make available regularly throughout the year, very much like “Hearts and Minds”. If they can tweak the time delay between rounds, they may well be on to a winner here.
Mordor or Bust: A Retrospective
My friend and regular podcast co-host, Brian, celebrates a significant birthday today. So first off let me wish him many happy returns of the day. Now while the Burton & Scrooge podcast is on hiatus, Brian has been pursuing his own side project; namely the Scrooge Uncut podcast. The latest episode is a retrospective look at Brian’s former LOTRO fansite and show, Mordor or Bust. The both these creative endeavours were a significant part of the LOTRO community, back in the halcyon days of the MMO. Brian had the unique experience of predicting LOTROs transition to F2P, days before Turbine’s announcement. He also caused a minor furore when he posted screenshots of every item in the LOTRO store while the beta test was going on.
My friend and regular podcast co-host, Brian, celebrates a significant birthday today. So first off let me wish him many happy returns of the day. Now while the Burton & Scrooge podcast is on hiatus, Brian has been pursuing his own side project; namely the Scrooge Uncut podcast. The latest episode is a retrospective look at Brian’s former LOTRO fansite and show, Mordor or Bust. The both these creative endeavours were a significant part of the LOTRO community, back in the halcyon days of the MMO. Brian had the unique experience of predicting LOTROs transition to F2P, days before Turbine’s announcement. He also caused a minor furore when he posted screenshots of every item in the LOTRO store while the beta test was going on.
This particular episode of Scrooge Uncut is a very personal recording. as Brian catalogues jumping in to the deep end of content creation without any prior experience. It is also a greats snapshot of what a fan community is like during a games heyday. What is so striking is the fact that Brian got so much traction with the game developers Turbine, over such a short period of time. The story of Mordor or Bust is a short one because the website and podcast endured for less than a year. Listening to Brian recount various anecdotes brings a lot of memories back for me as well. LOTRO has always had a very passionate community. Something that is lacking with other games over recent years. So much of the fan created content that use to fill blogs and podcasts, is now mainly corralled within official forums and sub-reddits.
On a personal note, I got in to podcasting due to Brian and his show, back in the summer of 2010. At the time, Turbine handled the North American release of LOTRO, while Codemasters dealt with the European market. I contacted Brian and offered to provide LOTRO news from across the pond and subsequently created short news segments that were used on the Mordor of Bust podcast. Because we got on so well, I soon joined both Brian and Fyurae, as a permanent presenter on the show. It was a lot of fun at the time, to be part of a very active community. Furthermore, 2010 was a very interesting year for LOTRO. So, enjoy Brian’s trip down memory lane. I think the show will resonate with a lot of listeners, especially those who were involved with the scene, circa 2010.
Star Trek Online and the MMO Trinity
Although I will happily espouse the virtues of Star Trek Online, the multiplayer element of this MMO is very much optional. The central mission arcs are all solo friendly and although you can play through this content in a group, there is no major incentive to do so. The only times I have grouped during standard PVE content has been to help another player new to the game and when replaying a specific mission for the rewards if offers. The latter can be done a lot faster when grouped. The space and ground queues that are available at level 50 are designed for 6, 10 or 20 players but again the multiplayer aspect of these is somewhat arbitrary. Players can either join a PUG via the group finding system or set up bespoke event themselves with friends of fellow Fleet members. Beyond that there is no compelling interaction between players.
Although I will happily espouse the virtues of Star Trek Online, the multiplayer element of this MMO is very much optional. The central mission arcs are all solo friendly and although you can play through this content in a group, there is no major incentive to do so. The only times I have grouped during standard PVE content has been to help another player new to the game and when replaying a specific mission for the rewards if offers. The latter can be done a lot faster when grouped. The space and ground queues that are available at level 50 are designed for 6, 10 or 20 players but again the multiplayer aspect of these is somewhat arbitrary. Players can either join a PUG via the group finding system or set up bespoke event themselves with friends of fellow Fleet members. Beyond that there is no compelling interaction between players.
This difference handling multiplayer content was highlighted recently when I played through a featured instance in LOTRO. Although most of the six players present were somewhat over powered, and could blitz through most of the trash mobs, the final boss did require players to fulfil specific roles. There was a need for a tank to hold aggro, DPS dealers to burn the boss down and the healers and control class to heal and debuff. LOTRO was a game conceived and created when the MMO industry was still very much focused on the traditional trinity of classes. What I find curious is that STO was developed at the same time and technically has class distinctions that would support multiplay in such a fashion. Yet it has either never been implemented within the game or has been removed over time via various updates and patches.
However, the fleet system in STO really does foster a community spirit. My primary Federation Captain is a member of Reddit Alert and I must say that the fleet chat is extremely sociable. Where the game may lack a compelling multiplayer aspect, the discussions, debates and advice that is available in chat is invaluable. Many fleet members frequently group for the pleasure of it or to help others achieve specific goals. In some respects, this is does offer a degree of compensation for the lack of traditional multiplayer elements within STO. Considering the nature of the source material you’d have thought that the game would have been created with content that had specific roles for each class. Such collaborative play would have certainly been lore friendly.
For good or ill, mainstream MMO content has moved away from complex class interdependency and an inherent need to group for content. The majority of games now focus on PVE content that is solo friendly and offer players builds that allow them to selfheal and adapt to the content requirements. Perhaps the home of such class interaction is now the MOBA or the team shooters such as Overwatch. Taking a specific role in a group content in Star Trek Online would be very gratifying in principle. It would help create the illusion of being part of a larger Star Fleet. However, I think it is highly unlikely for the developers Cryptic to take such a step and introduce this mechanic retrospectively. Frankly the way the community now focuses on DPS builds I don’t think you could have a Tank class that could hold threat.
To Grind or Not to Grind?
As soon as I returned to LOTRO last October I immediately started replacing my level 100 gear with more appropriate items. I finally started using slotted armour and essences, using mainly the gear that dropped from quests along the way. As ever it’s not the best but it’s better than what I had. I never started the Dol Amroth repeatable quests that yield armour sets and as the gear is now only level 100, I’ve decided against that option. As I no longer have the time to regularly run instances, I can’t get a set from the Throne of Dread Terror (T2). Luckily, Turbine (now Standing Stone Games) introduced the Flora Barter system with Update 19: March of the King, which provides an alternative method of obtaining level cap appropriate gear.
As soon as I returned to LOTRO last October I immediately started replacing my level 100 gear with more appropriate items. I finally started using slotted armour and essences, using mainly the gear that dropped from quests along the way. As ever it’s not the best but it’s better than what I had. I never started the Dol Amroth repeatable quests that yield armour sets and as the gear is now only level 100, I’ve decided against that option. As I no longer have the time to regularly run instances, I can’t get a set from the Throne of Dread Terror (T2). Luckily, Turbine (now Standing Stone Games) introduced the Flora Barter system with Update 19: March of the King, which provides an alternative method of obtaining level cap appropriate gear.
So, I spent some time recently gathering the various plants in North Ithilien that yield Phials of Extract; the barter items need for the gear set. However, because I’ve been focused on other in-game tasks I didn’t really consider how long it would take to meet the criteria to obtain the full set of Light Weave Padded Armour for my Lore-master. Today I sat down with a pen and paper and did the math(s). A full set comprises of 6 pieces (no cloak). Each item requires 2 Phials of Sapphire Extract and 4 Phials of Amber. So, in total to purchase this set you need 12 Phials of Sapphire and 24 Phials of Amber. To obtain Phials of Sapphire and Amber Extract you have to combine lesser extracts such as Umber, Verdant and Crimson, which come from picking plants in North Ithilien. Sapphire requires 250 lesser extracts and Amber 125. So, to summarise here is a breakdown of the numbers needed for a full set of armour, be it light, medium or heavy:
250 Phials of Umber, Verdant or Crimson Extract x 12 to yield sufficient Sapphire Extract.
125 Phials of Umber, Verdant or Crimson Extract x 24 to yield sufficient Amber Extract.
In total a player needs to have 6000 of the lesser extracts (Phials of Umber, Verdant or Crimson) to then trade in for the necessary Phials of Sapphire and Amber Extract.
Now I spent approximately 90 minutes today collecting extracts from plants such as Horsetail, Dwarfsbeard and Elfspear (others species are available) and I managed to obtain 200 or so. The plants grow in a level cap zone populated by appropriate mobs and animals. So, you do lose some time in combat while collecting. Furthermore, like ore nodes these Flora are contested and you’ll often find yourself competing with other playes for them. Therefore, when you consider all these factors, I estimate it will take a calendar month to gain sufficient stocks of flora extracts to purchase the set. That’s a calendar month playing every day and investing and hour and a half of your time just collecting. It should be noted that there are now some repeatable quests that award random extracts as a way of trying to shorten this process but it really doesn’t make that much of a difference.
So, after figuring this logistical problem out I now have to decide whether I wish to “grind” for this armour set. It comes down to whether you feel that the time invested justifies the reward, or if it is simply too much work. Furthermore, I’ve been burnt several times in the past by Turbine when pursuing other gear grinds. I finally obtained my First Age Weapon from running Moria instances a week before Siege of Mirkwood came out with a new set of gear and weapons that made mine obsolete. The same happened with all the stuff I earned from Hytbold. No doubt Update 21 which is the Mordor expansion may well see a level cap increase. I want to be able enjoy any level 105 armour I obtain for at least six month before it gets replaced. However, I can at times be quite goal orientated so I may well embark on this project. Ultimately the deciding factor with any MMO is one of time.
MMORPGs: A Recurring Talking Point
Last night, I hosted the recording of the latest TGEN Tribunal, a quarterly roundtable podcast made up of members of The Gaming and Entertainment Network. Myself, Syl, Braxwolf and Brian discussed several subjects, one of which was regarding the MMORPG genre. The initial question was quite specific but the discussion soon expanded to cover wider aspects of online multiplayer games. Overall it was an interesting debate, as all present have been playing MMOs for years and have certainly seen their relationship with them evolve. When we finished recording it occurred to me that the subject of MMOs has been a major theme of many of the podcasts I’ve been involved with over the years.
Last night, I hosted the recording of the latest TGEN Tribunal, a quarterly roundtable podcast made up of members of The Gaming and Entertainment Network. Myself, Syl, Braxwolf and Brian discussed several subjects, one of which was regarding the MMORPG genre. The initial question was quite specific but the discussion soon expanded to cover wider aspects of online multiplayer games. Overall it was an interesting debate, as all present have been playing MMOs for years and have certainly seen their relationship with them evolve. When we finished recording it occurred to me that the subject of MMOs has been a major theme of many of the podcasts I’ve been involved with over the years.
For myself and many others, the appeal of the MMORPG lies in the concept of a persistent world that can be shared and explored with others. Although the inherent novelty of the multiplayer aspect of the MMO may have lost its lustre over the last decade, I still from time to time pause and reflect, whenever in-game, that all the other avatars around me are players like myself, sitting at their computers and looking for fun and engagement. The MMO genre also lends itself to strong narratives, often stemming from the intellectual properties they create or license. This is a major attraction. Then there’s simply the fascination of people watching. MMOs mirror aspects of real life with their economies and social hierarchies.
Over the years the genre has evolved, as have the communities that spring from them. The MMO has changed from a complex, time sink that was funded by subscriptions to a more casual and flexible experience. Free to play caused outraged, as did a move away from “hard core raiding”. But the genre still survived and the player base adapted. Allowing more players to participate with alternative business models certainly did have an impact upon content and the quality of some players. Certain MMOs that prided themselves on the rectitude of their player base, found out the hard way that not everyone was amicable by default. Yet regardless of all the challenges that have emerged and numerous prophecies of impending doom, the MMO endures and along with it so does our interest.
I played my first MMO in winter 2008 and I was not exactly an early adopter. By then, many of my peers had cut their teeth on titles such as Ultima Online, EverQuest and World of Warcraft. However my initial MMO experience came at the right moment, when I had the time and inclination to indulge my passion. And because my initial experience with LOTRO was so positive, I subsequently tried all major MMOs that were released thereafter. Thus between 2009 and 2014 the MMO genre was effectively my game of choice. In light of such an admission, it hardly seems surprising to see that enjoyment and affection reflect in my writing and podcasting. In more recent years it has also become apparent that my relationship with the MMORPG has changed, as the demands on my time mean I can no longer commit to a game in the same manner as I did a decade ago.
So, is there a point to all this introspection? Yes there is. After last night’s recording, I decided to search through my archive of podcasts that I’ve created over the last seven years. I found a roundtable discussion, similar to yesterdays. It was recorded in summer 2012 and features my regular co-host Brian, Merric from A Casual Stroll to Mordor and Syp from Massively OP and Bio Break. The show was specifically about the “future of MMOs” and although it’s very much couched in the context of the time, it still has some interesting and relevant points to make. Listening to it again, has certainly highlighted how I’ve moved on in some regards, yet in others I’m still quite enthusiastic. One thing does stand out for me; the fact that LOTRO is still a constant.
So I’ve reposted the podcast. If memory serves, this show was well received upon its original release and now serves as a quasi-historical document, in so far as being a snapshot of the MMO fan base at the time. At the very least it may raise a wry smile from among those who originally participated in the recording. Perhaps we could even do a retrospective of our own show at some future date and discuss what we got right and what we got wrong. In the meantime the MMORPG still endures and adapts to the modern gaming market. Perhaps it is that propensity for survival that makes it such an interesting subject to return to and explore.
UI Customisation
Game complexity can be both a boon and a bane; a selling point and a source of irritation. There are many titles that I enjoy that have a wealth of systems and mechanics that add greatly to the overall immersion and entertainment. The MMORPG genre excels at this. However, this data all needs to be displayed visually, in an efficient and intuitive fashion. It has to be readily available and easy to navigate. Naturally, there’s a fine balance between making such a system accessible without becoming a source of distraction. This is the challenge that all developers face when designing a user interface. However this problem is compounded further by the human element. Regardless of how well crafted a game’s UI may be, players will always wish to change it to suit their own needs and requirements.
Game complexity can be both a boon and a bane; a selling point and a source of irritation. There are many titles that I enjoy that have a wealth of systems and mechanics that add greatly to the overall immersion and entertainment. The MMORPG genre excels at this. However, this data all needs to be displayed visually, in an efficient and intuitive fashion. It has to be readily available and easy to navigate. Naturally, there’s a fine balance between making such a system accessible without becoming a source of distraction. This is the challenge that all developers face when designing a user interface. However this problem is compounded further by the human element. Regardless of how well crafted a game’s UI may be, players will always wish to change it to suit their own needs and requirements.
What I often find in the MMO genre, is that the UI is streamlined at the beginning of a game with all the essential data that you need to play, evenly distributed around the screen. This grows exponentially as the game progresses, especially with older titles that frequently suffer from skills bloat. LOTRO is a classic example of this with a wealth of data swamping the screen when you reach level cap. I remember having similar issues when I was actively playing SWTOR. I encountered the same in STO recently, especially with regard to the skills hot bar. This was growing and intruding further towards the middle of the screen, impeding combat.
Mercifully most games have the ability to customise the UI, allowing players to indulge their preferences. Furthermore custom HUD settings can frequently be saved and then loaded when required. Monitor size and screen resolution also play a part in this matter and can have a positive impact if altered. Many games also have a cottage industry of players creating and sharing their own custom user interfaces. LOTROinterface has proven to be very popular over the years. The WoW and ESO communities also have multiple sites and resources for such changes. In the competitive genre of MOBAs, a common interface between team mates can be advantageous.
I currently have a 24 inch monitor with a resolution of 1920 x 1200. It provides a fairly large gaming canvas and allows me to spread the various elements of the UI to the borders of the screen. However an excess of data on the periphery of your vision can be distracting, especially if it flashes or attempts to alert you in some fashion. I also find it an impediment if my hot bars start to encroach towards the centre of the screen. I don't know if this is due to a foible of human vision but I find it draws my eyes away from where they need to be. I've had such problems in STO recently with my hot bar resembling a pyramid, resulting is some judicious customisation.
The ability to alter a games GUI, raises some interesting questions. The most obvious is whether or not you actually need everything on-screen. My view is if you're not using a specific element of the HUD, then remove it and that goes for skills as well. Then there is the matter of whether games developers are doing their best to accommodate the needs of players with disabilities. Resizing elements and changing colour schemes, as well as assigning audio alerts can all be incredibly beneficial. Fonts can also be a bone of contention, with some not lending themselves readily to being scaled. A simple change of this nature can often improve gaming.
Personally, I would like to see more customisation options added to games. The mod scene in Skyrim really set the standard. I also like the way that some MMOs such as LOTRO have built in voice chat and access to social media. STO allows players to utilise third party audio players while in-game and The Secret World has its own internal web browser as part of the narrative. Although it is to a developer’s advantage to keep the player focused and in-game, facilitating customisation and providing multiple tools aids this process. Flexibility and accommodating change needs to be more of a driving factors in games development because no two players are alike.
The Geography of LOTRO: Part 2 Bree and Bree-land
In the second part of our look at the geography of Middle Earth, we shall be focusing of the town of Bree. It has a pivotal role in the events of the book and subsequently play a similar part Standing Stone Games Lord of the Rings Online. Before we start, let us remind ourselves exactly what Tolkien writes when introducing Bree to the reader. The following quote is the opening paragraph of chapter nine; At the sign of the Prancing Pony from The Fellowship of the Ring.
In the second part of our look at the geography of Middle Earth (part 1 is here), we shall be focusing of the town of Bree. It has a pivotal role in the events of the book and subsequently play a similar part Standing Stone Games Lord of the Rings Online. Before we start, let us remind ourselves exactly what Tolkien writes when introducing Bree to the reader. The following quote is the opening paragraph of chapter nine; At the sign of the Prancing Pony from The Fellowship of the Ring.
"Bree was the chief village of the Bree-land, a small inhabited region, like an island in the empty lands round about. Besides Bree itself, there was Staddle on the other side of the hill, Combe in the deep valley a little further eastward and Archet on the edge of the Chetwood. Lying round Bree-hill and the villages was a small country of fields and tamed woodland only a few miles broad."
This is a very clear description and to the developers credit they have interpreted this rather literally in the game. Focusing first on the town of Bree itself, Turbine have constructed a settlement that broadly conforms to Tolkien’s details. As you enter through the West-gate and follow the path of "The East Road" you will see the Hobbit holes and small holdings on the slopes of the hill. The homes of men are mainly to the East. "The Prancing Pony" inn is located at the top of the road, abutting to Bree hill itself. The building consists of two wings, as in the source text, though only one is accessible.
Where the game differs is in scale. Bree in LOTRO has been expanded from a simple village to a more substantial centre of commerce. This adaptation allows them to encompass all the crafting and training halls, along with the vendors and sundry NPCs. The only embellishment I personally feel a little excessive, is the town hall itself. It seems a little too ambitious for such a small and insular community. A similar view could be taken on several of the fountains and statues that adorn the various squares. The 2012 revamp has certainly made Bree more populous. Again, perhaps to the detriment of the lore. However, the hedge and dike that surround Bree are very much in accordance with the books and seem authentic.
Moving immediately outside of Bree into Bree-Land itself, we find both Combe and Staddle in the right locations. These being the respective local enclaves of men and hobbits. As specific details are lacking , Turbines visualisations are perfectly acceptable and not in any way excessive. The village of Archet however, has been moved considerably further North. This is to accommodate the fact that the area is a race specific starter area in the game and has been isolated to suit the mechanics of the game. Such local features within the Archet area such as "Bronwe's Folly", "Sprigley's Farm" and "Blackwold Roost" are non-canonical. However none of these are in any way contrary to prevailing regional design.
The above map and the one immediately below have been created using the original books and the subsequent histories of Middle Earth as a guide. They both depict a more Spartan and less populous village of Bree and a far more expansive Chetwood that extends in to the North and NorthEast. The Midgewater marshes are such a distance away as to not even be included on both maps. As are both Andrath and the South Downs. These points highlight the fact that Bree was the last major settlement East of the Blue Mountains before entering the Lonelands. This was a region that was unsettled and thus to a degree barren.
Turbines original condensing of Middle Earth was and remains a necessary factor in creating a viable environment for collective gameplay. However, on occasions, although LOTRO excels at capturing the spirit of Tolkien’s world, there are inevitable trade-offs. The loss of scale particularly in this region is a little disappointing and for those who may not be familiar with the length of original journey, may be somewhat perplexing. For those who wish for more technically accurate cartography, I would recommend the following books. Journeys of Frodo by Barbara Strachey and The Atlas of Middle Earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad. Both depict the routes taken by the fellowship and contain exacting details relating to dates and even the phases of the moon and stars.