LOTRO: Legendary Server
Standing Stone Games announced today the launch of a new LOTRO "Legendary Server" later this autumn. This is essentially a progression server by any other name. It will be accessible to VIP monthly and lifetime subscribers allowing access initially to core content from levels 1 to 50 via The Shadow of Angmar story. It should be noted that this is not “classic” LOTRO as it existed back in 2007. The new server will offer the game as it is now with all its revised systems. Hence High Elves and Beorning classes will be available as will the skills tree system. SSG intend to update content every four months but will keep it all within the parameters of the level cap on the"Legendary Server". The developers have also made it clear that this new service does not come at the expense of regular new content for the existing game. “We have no intention of adjusting our frequent, regular, and active development of the non-Legendary game worlds, and have plans for them well into the future”.
Standing Stone Games announced today the launch of a new LOTRO "Legendary Server" later this autumn. This is essentially a progression server by any other name. It will be accessible to VIP monthly and lifetime subscribers allowing access initially to core content from levels 1 to 50 via The Shadow of Angmar story. It should be noted that this is not “classic” LOTRO as it existed back in 2007. The new server will offer the game as it is now with all its revised systems. Hence High Elves and Beorning classes will be available as will the skills tree system. SSG intend to update content every four months but will keep it all within the parameters of the level cap on the"Legendary Server". The developers have also made it clear that this new service does not come at the expense of regular new content for the existing game. “We have no intention of adjusting our frequent, regular, and active development of the non-Legendary game worlds, and have plans for them well into the future”.
I have never been a great one for alts and replaying old content. The most I’ve managed in ten years of playing LOTRO, is to get one new character to level 55 and then used the Aria of the Valar booster that that came with the Mordor expansion, to auto level to 105. Oh, the countless alts that I’ve created to try other classes, only to delete roundabout level 30 or so. However, I can see the appeal of running through the game with both old and new friends. I guess that is one of the major obstacles for a lot of lapsed players or those who want to start playing but are put off by the immense level gap. As have purchased all expansions and I’m currently a VIP and will likely remain so for the immediate future, I may well consider the new server if friends intend to do the same. That for me is the main appeal of this service. It’s been a long time since I’ve group consistently. I played essentially the first 60 levels of the game with friends. How things have changed.
It remains to be seen if this new service will attract much interest, although I suspect that it may. Its appeal may well attract players of all kind and its subscription only option means that it should eliminate any problem element. I’m interested to see how well the actual levelling works because many of the early zones in LOTRO such as Evendim and The Lone Lands have been revised several times and progression from 1 to 30 is quite rapid then changes pace again from 31 to 50. Stepping back from this new service and considering the wider changes that have come to LOTRO of late, it certainly appears that developers SSG are trying to maximise the flow of revenue into the game. The recent experimentation with lockboxes that came with the Mordor expansion appears to have been dialled back, possibly due to the ongoing legal scrutiny such mechanics are currently coming under. There was talk not so long ago of a new class, which has subsequently been down played. But when it does arrive, it will doubtless be chargeable. In light of the news about the "Legendary Server" I wonder if SSG will make any further announcements of this kind before the year ends?
Where is the Community?
The title to this post is rhetorical. I’ve figured out where the specific community in question is. As regular readers know, my first MMORPG was The Lord of the Rings online back in 2008. It had back then an active blogging community, which still exists today to a degree. The official forums are active and continue to be useful for information, but for me the primary source of news, guides and general analysis of the game is written content that is maintained by individual players. There are also lots of active streamers and video on You Tube, but I find I can locate and digest the information I require far quicker when it is presented as text. I guess I am simply a product of my generation and prefer the written word as my primary source of data for most things. However, more recent MMOs have developed communities around different platforms. As a result, it can take a while to determine where they are and get used to their habits and ways.
The title to this post is rhetorical. I’ve figured out where the specific community in question is. As regular readers know, my first MMORPG was The Lord of the Rings online back in 2008. It had back then an active blogging community, which still exists today to a degree. The official forums are active and continue to be useful for information, but for me the primary source of news, guides and general analysis of the game is written content that is maintained by individual players. There are also lots of active streamers and video on You Tube, but I find I can locate and digest the information I require far quicker when it is presented as text. I guess I am simply a product of my generation and prefer the written word as my primary source of data for most things. However, more recent MMOs have developed communities around different platforms. As a result, it can take a while to determine where they are and get used to their habits and ways.
I also play Star Trek Online and have a lifetime subscription. This MMO has an active official forum but the biggest community associated with the game is based on reddit. There are several individuals who regularly post STO related content to You Tube, although the majority are focused upon ship builds and DPS parsing. Sadly, the game does not seem to have a major blogging community. Yes, there are some but that is not where the major interaction and discussion around the game takes place. So, if you want to stay abreast of developments in STO and keep an eye on community opinion, then you have to embrace the appropriate sub-reddit. And therein lies the rub. I don’t find this platform especially useful. It’s greats for informal discussions, but not so good at collating and indexing detailed content in an easily accessible fashion. I often have to tab out of the reddit and use Google to search it effectively.
Blog posts broadly have the advantage of being clear and unambiguous “chunks” of information. Reddit by its conversational nature tends to explore a topic in a very episodic fashion. You have to sift a thread to remove the irrelevant and superfluous and then try and collate and distil that which is left for the detail you require. Plus, although, lore and wider aspects of the game are discussed, the STO community is very much fixated upon the prevailing meta, builds and number crunching. I have a passing interest in these subjects but would like to see more material based around player experience, lore and general community activities and such like. Or is it a case that these elements are simply not what most STO players want? Is it a game that is predominantly driven by the intellectual property and player min-maxing? I’m still not entirely sure, so I’ll continue to look. Perhaps there are still STO blogs to be found, out there in the “final frontier” beyond reddit.
LOTRO: Improvements and Suggestions
I returned to LOTRO in August and have been playing continuously since then, working my way through the last expansion and Update 22. The upside to this ongoing commitment has meant that I have really applied myself to the unfolding narrative and have absorbed a lot more of the story than previously. It is very enjoyable to see the way various strands of different plots all tie together. I have also taken the time to revise my Lore-master build and attempt to optimise it to reflect the prevailing game meta. Broadly speaking, I have been successful so far. But there have been a few negative aspects to returning to the game. Many of them are actually issues that have always be present and have been compounded by the games age. LOTRO lacks some of the modern convenience and functionality we take for granted in more recent MMOs. So, I thought I’d take time out to list a few helpful suggestions that Standing Stone Games can then promptly ignore.
I returned to LOTRO in August and have been playing continuously since then, working my way through the last expansion and Update 22. The upside to this ongoing commitment has meant that I have really applied myself to the unfolding narrative and have absorbed a lot more of the story than previously. It is very enjoyable to see the way various strands of different plots all tie together. I have also taken the time to revise my Lore-master build and attempt to optimise it to reflect the prevailing game meta. Broadly speaking, I have been successful so far. But there have been a few negative aspects to returning to the game. Many of them are actually issues that have always be present and have been compounded by the games age. LOTRO lacks some of the modern convenience and functionality we take for granted in more recent MMOs. So, I thought I’d take time out to list a few helpful suggestions that Standing Stone Games can then promptly ignore.
Auto-pathing. This subject was raised recently by fellow blogger Telwyn over at GamingSF. Unlike other MMOs, LOTRO relies mainly on the player when it comes to navigating their way around the map and travelling from quest to quest. Telwyn is indeed right that you can click on an object a small distance away such as a resource node or a quest item and your avatar will auto-path to it. But you cannot set a waypoint and safely auto-travel to it, nor are you given a visual bread crumb trail to help travel to especially esoteric locations. SSG and Turbine before them seem to delight in making navigating a real chore in LOTRO. The developers seem to have a real aversion to straight lines and intuitive paths. Try getting from one side of Dale, Moria or Galtrev easily.
Naturally I would like to see changes to this current state of affairs. In towns and safe areas, it would be nice to see auto-pathing on a practical level. For example, if you arrive at South Bree Entrance and click on Lalia’s Market, it would be convenient to simply automatically ride there without hinderance. It would also be useful to do the same out in quest zones, although to make things equitable I think players should maintain the risk of aggravating mobs they stray to close to. In default of this, I happily accept a visual route marker around some of the more esoteric areas, especially when it comes to reaching quest rings displayed on the mini map.
Landscape Soldiers. Back in 2012 when Update 6: Shores of the Great River was released, we gained the ability to summon our skirmish soldiers while PVE questing. I have often used this facility over the years as I like having backup in tricky areas and being “overpowered” (or at least robustly equipped). Broadly this tactic works but it can be like herding cats at time. Landscape soldiers are a somewhat blunt tool with little or no navigational control. You often have to dismiss them or re-summon them to avoid pulling all mobs in a given area. Having recently played Ghost Recon: Wildlands, I have learned what good AI companions can be like. So, if LOTRO could add some simple controls to landscape soldiers (just like Lore-master pets for example) then that would be really helpful.
Barter Currencies. There are simply too many of these in the game and many of them end up becoming redundant very quickly. In a previous post I mentioned that it’s worthwhile revisiting old currencies and seeing what you can trade them in for, but there comes a point when there’s nothing else useful and they just end up as being baggage. What I would like to see is some kind of currency exchange system that would allow you to hand in the old in return for new. It’s something that’s already available in-game for skirmish marks and to a degree within some of the barter currencies themselves. So, there’s no real technical reason why SSG cannot implement such a system, it’s just that the devil would be in the detail. Trying to find a fair and equitable exchange rate would be the real challenge.
Instance Finder. Ten years on, LOTRO is still a very social game. People do help and are surprisingly generous. However, try using the in-game instance finder and you’ll know the true meaning of loneliness. I don’t know whether it’s the times that I play, but I have never got the instance finder to successfully form a PUG. Usually, I run instances via my kinship but that’s not always convenient, so having a functional auto-grouping instance finding tool would be a real boon. SSG should take a leaf out of fellow developers Cryptic’s book, who have just added enhanced rewards to incentivise PUG and random queues. I don’t believe in coercing players into collaborating and favour instead the tried and tested method of providing a “carrot on the end of the stick”. If I could gain quality gear by running random or under represented instances, I’d certainly give it a try.
These are just four suggestions to improve LOTRO that I’ve quickly thought about. They’re not in any order or preference. They literally just came to mind as I was drafting this post. I’m sure most players have a comparable amount they can quickly bring “to the table”. As ever, I’d be very interested to hear reader suggestions, so feel free to leave suggestions in the comments. If LOTRO wishes to continue to move forward it would be wise for SSG to at least consider some changes. Yes, the age of the game and its respective code does impact upon what can and cannot be done, but simply expanding some of the existing functionality in to other areas of the game would be a good starting place. As ever time will tell.
LOTRO: The State of the Game
I am fast approaching my ten-year anniversary of playing the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online. So, I thought I write a few thoughts about how I find the current state of the game. I returned to LOTRO this August and finally decided to tackle all the outstanding content that I had allowed to build up. Because I initially had issues with the Mordor expansion when it first was released, I had started to level up elsewhere in the game. Thus, when I resumed playing I was two levels or so above the designated rank of most quests. The final region of Mordor, Talath Úrui, I completed last night at level 118. I have always preferred to play this way and like to ensure that I am adequately equipped for a zone. If you are underpowered combat becomes a chore. I am currently finishing off the final stages of Update 22: Legacy of the Necromancer, having worked my way through Northern Mirkwood, Lake-town, Dale on to Erebor. I always attempt content in a linear fashion, so I can stay conversant with the various storylines. By the time I finish the Erebor quests and start the new content in Update 23: Where Dragons Dwell, I shall probably be at the new level cap of 125.
I am fast approaching my ten-year anniversary of playing the MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online. So, I thought I write a few thoughts about how I find the current state of the game. I returned to LOTRO this August and finally decided to tackle all the outstanding content that I had allowed to build up. Because I initially had issues with the Mordor expansion when it first was released, I had started to level up elsewhere in the game. Thus, when I resumed playing I was two levels or so above the designated rank of most quests. The final region of Mordor, Talath Úrui, I completed last night at level 118. I have always preferred to play this way and like to ensure that I am adequately equipped for a zone. If you are underpowered combat becomes a chore. I am currently finishing off the final stages of Update 22: Legacy of the Necromancer, having worked my way through Northern Mirkwood, Lake-town, Dale on to Erebor. I always attempt content in a linear fashion, so I can stay conversant with the various storylines. By the time I finish the Erebor quests and start the new content in Update 23: Where Dragons Dwell, I shall probably be at the new level cap of 125.
The Story. A year on after the release of Mordor and LOTRO has begun to forge ahead into quasi non-canonical territory, effectively fictionalising the events that are referenced in the appendix of The Lord of the Rings. There have been times in the past when I have found the underlying narrative of LOTRO too convoluted and frankly uninteresting. I remember little of Enedwaith and Dunland and felt that the stories based around the inter-tribal Dunlending feuds were a distraction. Beyond their function of giving further insight into the treason of Isengard they were not the most gripping of tales. I also lost track of many of the Thanes of Rohan and their respective stories during the Riders of Rohan expansion. Yet broadly, the Epic Story that runs through the entire game has been gripping and from time to time, memorable characters do stand out.
I felt that the Mordor storyline was very good, offering a plausible depiction of a ruined but not necessarily beaten realm. The notion of former acolytes of Sauron vying for dominance in a power vacuum was explored well. I also felt the plight of the Stout-axes was an interesting tale. Recent updates have also seen a more honed style of narrative, where wider issues are seen through the experience of a handful of relevant characters. The refugee quests in Dale was well handled and struck a contemporary chord. Although I usually tend to be ambivalent towards Elven focused narratives, I enjoyed the cleansing of Mirkwood and the way Thranduil’s story tied into the High Elf starter storyline. From what I’ve seen so far SSG are doing well with their post downfall of Sauron adaptations. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next in Ered Mithrin.
Gear, statistics and combat. I’ve recently started using the Raven as my regular Lore-master pet. I’m currently using the Red Line Trait Build with a Legendary Weapon tweaked towards optimal fire-based damage, so using a combat pet that enhances this is common sense. At present I have mainly Teal and Purple armour purchased via the High Elf Enchanter along with all Teal Jewellery. Hence PVE outside of Ered Mithrin is not proving problematic. I have also adjusted my skill rotation, as Ring of Fire was nerfed in the latest update and now has become invaluable. I find there’s a fine line in any MMO between challenging combat and fights simply taking too long. At present I feel the balance is just right in LOTRO. I’m not a serious number cruncher when it comes to my characters statistics. I noticed that my moral levels have dropped since the last patch, but other adjustments to enemy stats mean that combat is not quite so grindy.
Abandoned systems and obsolete content. I briefly wanted to mention one of the inevitable consequences of a decade old MMO. LOTRO has several game systems that have either fallen by the wayside, or that remain as “work in progress”. I recently revisited Epic Battles and feel that the main flaw they have is the intial lack of agency you have as a player, on what is going on around you. You need to put a lot of points into the various “promotions” before you actually start impacting upon the flow of battle. Too me that’s simply bad design. I don’t expect to slog away for a month before something finally becomes compelling. It needs to be so right from the start. Then there are skirmishes, which are thoroughly entertaining and a great way to level outside of traditional quests. Sadly, we haven’t seen any new skirmishes in the game since 2010 or so. Hobbies and housing are other aspects of the game that have much potential but remain underdeveloped.
Due to LOTRO’s ever growing level cap, there are several gear related systems at various points in the game that are now obsolete. If you create a new alt, many of these systems can now be bypassed with alternative gear provided elsewhere. The Hytbold quest line was an involving diversion upon its initial release but it is highly unlikely that you’d ever revisited it with another character. More recently, the Allegiance system was introduced to the game. In the space of two updates it has become obsolete. I am currently level 22 with The Kingdom of Gondor, but as my primary character in now 118, none of the gear it can offer is of any use. I bought three items recently which had lower stats to what I was using, so I simply destroyed the items for Motes of Enchantment. LOTRO more than other MMOs that I play seems to have an excess of game systems that have to be experienced on level or else they end up redundant (except to the completionist player).
Lore, ambience and music. After ten years Standing Stone Games realisation of Middle-earth still captures the essential essence of Tolkien’s work. The game engine is some what old now and the graphic are very much of the era that created the game, but the world reflects the source text and the stories regularly tap into the lore in both obvious and subtle ways. I often find myself intrigued by a minor aside in the narrative or a reference to a character or place. When I subsequently research these on the internet or via my various Tolkien reference books, I always find that the writers have drawn upon genuine lore. Bar practical changes, adaptations and embellishments that are designed to facilitate the MMO genre, I have never found the stories in LOTRO objectional or taking excessive liberties with accepted canon.
Finally, I would like to reference the soundtrack of LOTRO which has grown prodigiously over the years. It remains an integral facet of the games appeal, and a means of giving an older MMO with minimal dialogue, the emotional impetus the narrative needs. There are some wonderful new (relatively speaking) themes that play around Lake-town, Dale and Erebor that suit the environment perfectly. The game also has several motifs associated with the different races, although I must say those pertaining to Dwarves are by far the best. They simply nail the cultural and philosophical idiom of the race. I know SSG have made music from the game available, but I feel they should release more. Hopefully that is something they can address in the future.
LOTRO remains for me my go to MMO and despite its flaws, it still offers me an interesting diversion in my leisure time and a rich narrative experience based upon one of my favourite intellectual properties. As long as it continues to operate within these parameters, I shall continue to support the game. I do not think I am alone in this philosophy and believe that many players have made their peace with the games foibles and embraced it for what is actually is and the needs it fulfils. Certainly, the game have provided me with a great deal of enjoyment and entertainment over the last decade and has been great value for money. Therefore, I wholeheartedly hope that it continues to grow and move the story forward in the years to come.
Star Trek Online: Red Alert Controversy
Developer’s Cryptic announced this week that the various Red Alerts that are currently available continuously in Star Trek Online would hence forward, only be available to players on the weekend. Their official explanations was as follows. Starting this weekend, Red Alerts are moving from being always available to being special weekend events, with improved rewards! When these Red Alerts are live, you’ll be able to earn 35 Marks of your choice every time you play, with no cooldowns to prevent you from getting back into the action. These Task Force Operations will return to the galaxy regularly, as the groups of invaders do their best to take control of the four quadrants of the galaxy. As with any change of this nature, it has not been met with open arms by the STO reddit community and the official forums.
Developer’s Cryptic announced this week that the various Red Alerts that are currently available continuously in Star Trek Online would hence forward, only be available to players on the weekend. Their official explanations was as follows. Starting this weekend, Red Alerts are moving from being always available to being special weekend events, with improved rewards! When these Red Alerts are live, you’ll be able to earn 35 Marks of your choice every time you play, with no cooldowns to prevent you from getting back into the action. These Task Force Operations will return to the galaxy regularly, as the groups of invaders do their best to take control of the four quadrants of the galaxy. As with any change of this nature, it has not been met with open arms by the STO reddit community and the official forums.
Red Alerts are spaced based, five player PVE events that can be joined either through the in-game queue listing facility or via an onscreen “distress call” while travelling is certain areas of sector space. They have a simple set of objectives, culminating in a capital ship fight, that have to be achieved in a ten-minute period. There are several varieties of Red Alert, themed around the Borg, Elachi, Tholians and the Tzenkethi. Once completed the player received 480 Dilithium ore and a reputation mark package that allows them to choose from a selection of factions. Red Alerts up until this change have been on a 30 minutes cooldown. However, many players consider them a quick and convenient facet of the game. If you are pushed for time they provide a quick fix of gameplay, they are also convenient for testing a gear build, and naturally they are a very useful means of earning marks for full reputation and rep related gear projects.
It has been noted by the STO community that this change to Red Alerts has come shortly after a recent announcement via the Priority One podcast, that PVE queues per se are having a random Task Force Operation added to them. One of the biggest problems with these group PVE activities available in STO is that some, unlike the Red Alerts, only offer a specific kind of reputation mark as a reward. There is a very strong game meta in STO with regard to builds, leading to certain reputation gear being more popular than others. Hence some group PVE events available in the queue manager are continuously busy and finding a five-man team is not a problem. Conversely, for the others the opposite is true. You can join a PVE queue for Battle for Procyon V, which only offers Fleet and Temporal marks as a reward and wait all evening for another 4 players to join. Because of this Cryptic feel that introducing an optional random Task Force Operation that offers enhanced rewards and quicker cooldowns will help resolve the problem.
Unfortunately, there are cogent arguments to be made that such a facility will have quite the opposite effect. Those players with more time available may well be happy to endure the caprices of random queues. After all, reputation marks of all types are useful. However, those who have less time at their disposal, seeking specific rep marks will find themselves even less likely to find a group in a timely fashion. Plus, there is the issue of the reduction of choice. Although the proposed random queues are optional let us not forget the removal of the convenient Red Alerts. And players are also concerned about the commercial ramifications that could come with this change. The reputation mechanic in STO is getting an additional sixth tier added to it in the months ahead. Naturally this will require further rep marks to achieve. Yet it is being added at a time when the opportunity for earning such marks is being altered; or as some players see it, restricted. Will the in-game store be offering purchasable rep marks in the foreseeable future?
As ever with F2P games, there is scope for game content and systems to be subordinate to revenue generation, rather than putting quality and player experience first. I can see how developers Cryptic do not want to introduce the expanded rep system only to see veteran players complete it too quickly due to stockpiled assets. However, I as a player do not want to find my progress in the game go from an equitable pace to a tedious grind. The potential of a cash store workaround also concerns me. It remains to be seen whether this debacle will encourage Cryptic to change their current course of action. The game is still in a very good place overall at the moment with both console and PC versions doing well. The tie-in with Star Trek: Discovery is certainly a marketing boon, so it would be a shame to see the game commit an act of self-harm. As ever with the MMO genre, it’s a question of wait and see, although I think a response from Cryptic and some clarity would go a long way.
LOTRO: An Unnecessary Increase in Level Cap?
I’ve logged into the Bullroarer test server and looked around several of the preview builds of Update 23 for LOTRO recently. So far what I’ve seen has broadly met with my approval. It’s pretty much more of the same, with the main selling point being the story and a new area of Middle-earth to explore. However, there’s one aspect of the soon to be released Update 23: Where Dragons Dwell that does strike me as a little odd. The level cap is being increased from 115 to 120. Last summer’s Mordor expansion raised the cap by ten to 115, so this new increase does feel a little too soon to me. However, if you look at the LOTRO Wiki, it would appear that increases tend to occur regularly every eighteen months to two years, so it can be argued that this pending change isn’t anything unusual. Yet, it somehow feels “off” to me, which I shall now endeavour to explain.
I’ve logged into the Bullroarer test server and looked around several of the preview builds of Update 23 for LOTRO recently. So far what I’ve seen has broadly met with my approval. It’s pretty much more of the same, with the main selling point being the story and a new area of Middle-earth to explore. However, there’s one aspect of the soon to be released Update 23: Where Dragons Dwell that does strike me as a little odd. The level cap is being increased from 115 to 120. Last summer’s Mordor expansion raised the cap by ten to 115, so this new increase does feel a little too soon to me. However, if you look at the LOTRO Wiki, it would appear that increases tend to occur regularly every eighteen months to two years, so it can be argued that this pending change isn’t anything unusual. Yet, it somehow feels “off” to me, which I shall now endeavour to explain.
The Mordor expansion presented players with a major statistical and gear adjustment. More so than at other points in the game. The in-game quest rewards gave players a helping hand but to secure a full set of equipment to successfully traverse the rigours of the zone, you needed to repeat content, run instances and raids. Lootboxes and keys also initially dropped in-game and provided a supplement to the above. Then of course there was the LOTRO store that could provide keys instantly for a price. However, in the past year there has been various tinkering by the developers and keys drops are now less common place. To date there are still a lot of players working through the expansion as well as Dale-lands, attempting to earn enough barter rewards to acquire the right gear set. The coming level cap increase will effectively bring that process to a halt and negate any ongoing hard work by introducing a new rep faction and barter reward system.
Is a new gear grind really required so soon after the last expansion? It’s a debatable point. For every high-end achiever who wants the “best of the best”, there are two laid back players who are running a new alt through Ered Luin once again, just for the fun of it. LOTRO has a very diverse player base. Which is why I think that this decision to raise the level cap is somewhat of divisive. I have felt in recent years that the gear progression system has become a little too endgame focused. Although I appreciate that raid gear should not be given out on a whim and should be gated behind high end content, I often feel that intermediate players spend too much time levelling in under specified armour and jewellery. Once a player has finished a zone such as Mordor or similar, they may well find themselves adequately equipped for their level, but if they don’t run endgame content regularly, they don’t see any major benefit from it.
I have vivid memories of running group content back in the Moria expansion days, trying to earn First Age Lore-master Staff. I finally obtained one about ten days prior to the Siege of Mirkwood expansion that immediately made it obsolete. I find it similarly saddening that by the time I perfect my level 115 build it will be negated by the availability of new 120 items. For me if SSG could make a mid-tier of gear available that could be used for those players between casual and hardcore, that would be a good compromise. They’ve done this before. The floral barter system in Ithilien which came with Update 19: March of the King provided a satisfactory alternative to gear gained from endgame content. May be something similar will be made available in future level 120 content. In the meantime, I remain sceptical of the pending level cap raise. I do not like being under powered in MMOs and like to be able to earn items that improve my stats while I’m still levelling.
LOTRO: The Maps of Middle-earth
I logged into the third preview of Update 23 on Bullroarer test server this evening and perused the various changes that Standing Stone Games have made. For a lot of the “serious” LOTRO players, the focus of this latest build are the statistical changes to all the various classes. As I am not so au fait with this aspect of the game, I shall leave the matter until it is finalised then discuss it with my kinship who are more learned in these matters. My primary motivation for using the preview server is to get an advance look at any new region and to explore the environment. Standing Stone Games continue to do a sound job of realising the Third Age of Middle-earth and I enjoy the attention to detail they provide along with their adherence to the lore. One of the aspects of LOTRO that I’ve always enjoyed are the regional maps. In this latest preview build, all maps for the new region of Ered Mithrin are now available and the temporary placeholders for Erebor and The Steel Keep have been removed.
I logged into the third preview of Update 23 on Bullroarer test server this evening and perused the various changes that Standing Stone Games have made. For a lot of the “serious” LOTRO players, the focus of this latest build are the statistical changes to all the various classes. As I am not so au fait with this aspect of the game, I shall leave the matter until it is finalised then discuss it with my kinship who are more learned in these matters. My primary motivation for using the preview server is to get an advance look at any new region and to explore the environment. Standing Stone Games continue to do a sound job of realising the Third Age of Middle-earth and I enjoy the attention to detail they provide along with their adherence to the lore. One of the aspects of LOTRO that I’ve always enjoyed are the regional maps. In this latest preview build, all maps for the new region of Ered Mithrin are now available and the temporary placeholders for Erebor and The Steel Keep have been removed.
One of the things that attracted me to The Lord of the Rings when I first read it in the early eighties was the fact that the books came with maps. The hardback editions that I read via my local library had sumptuous fold out maps that clearly detailed the various regions. They help convey the sense of history of Middle-earth and depth of culture and lore that existed. The maps also gave a sense of scale to the Fellowship’s journey as well as context. They were integral to maintaining the illusion that Middle-earth was a living and ancient world. Hence the maps that feature in LOTRO serve a similar purpose beyond their immediate practical functionality. They don’t just provide a means of navigating from point A to point B but further embellish the games sense of immersion by showing a world populated by people in a broad variety of geographical locations. They also often reflect interesting details of lore, or minor comments from the source text.
Over the years, due to changes in the game and the streamlining of earlier zones, some maps have been replaced resulting in two distinct art styles. The contrast can be quite jarring at times. For example, the Bree-land map is one of the oldest in the game and is somewhat cluttered. However, if you then cross into the Barrow-downs the map was redesigned and sports a clearer style and breaks the zone up into two. As new content is added to the game, the newer map style naturally prevails. From an aesthetic point of view, I prefer the this to old. The maps are more functional and convey their respective information efficiently. Overall, I think they are an improvement, although I do still think they have some flaws. As to whether SSG intends to standardise all maps and thus replace those that have the older design remains to be scene.
Although the more contemporary LOTRO maps exude an appropriate art style and are easier to read, some still have a flaw with regard to conveying navigational data. Some of the maps do not always clearly show what route a player should take to enter a specific region. The other day, I decided on a whim to do some of the quests in Entwood. From memory I vaguely knew I could access the region from either Broadacres or Stonedean in West Rohan. Sadly, the maps lacked sufficient detail to give me a clear course to follow. Thus, I had to spend some time riding around the various hills that separate zones, until I found the right route. I believe access to Wildermore is similarly esoteric. Another problem are instance maps. They only become fully visible as you explore. If you leave and subsequently return to an instance, the process has to be repeated. Surely the logical thing would be to make it permanently available once the player had initially unlocked it.
The maps in LOTRO are also poor at conveying data for regions that are set on multiple levels. Top down representations do not adequately express three-dimensional data, which can lead to confusion and frustration, especially in instances such as the Grand Stair in Moria. In the past when running this instance, I would have to rely on third party diagrams, outside of the game itself. Another map within LOTRO that is notoriously unintuitive when it comes to travelling around is the Misty Mountains. It displays what appear to be clear linear routes between key locations but fails to convey the topographical features that will impede you. Again, it is steep slopes or crevasses that bar your way. Now there may well be players who will take the view that these maps are not supposed to make things that easy for you and that their deliberate vagaries are designed to force the player to explore. That may well be true, but I find premeditated inconvenience to be poor game design choice. A map that doesn’t impart the necessary data you need to successfully navigate the area it represents, has fundamentally failed in its purpose as far as I’m concerned.
The key to success in getting the most out of the various regional maps in LOTRO is to familiarise yourself with both the pictorial representation of each zone and cross reference that with practical first-hand experience. Basically, learn your way around the physical foibles of an area and use that knowledge in conjunction with the map. The only downside of this strategy is that LOTRO is a big game so that’s a lot of information to commit to memory. Overall, I’m mainly familiar with the zone I’m currently questing through or those that I have a special affinity to. I haven’t really spent any time in South Mirkwood or parts of Rohan since those regions were released. Therefore, I often cannot immediately recall their subtleties or quirks. May be this is something else that can be added to the list of “bug” fixes and “quality of life improvements that SSG need to address. Clearer, more intuitive maps are only going to become more essential as the game continues to expand.
Financing LOTRO
Back in December 2008, I bought a “compilation pack” that contained both the The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadow of Angmar base game, along with the newly released Mines of Moria expansion. I paid £20 for the lot. After the obligatory free months access, I then became a regular subscriber right up until about summer 2012. Since then I’ve subscribed and played whenever new content is released, meaning that for about six months of the year, I’m paying for the “luxury” of playing LOTRO. I’ve also purchased all the expansions over the years. Because I enjoy the game, I am not averse to buying additional LOTRO points when my monthly stipend doesn’t cover the cost of the items I want. I never availed myself of the opportunity to become a lifetime account holder, which is something I regret. It certainly would have been very good value for money, considering that LOTRO is over a decade old.
Back in December 2008, I bought a “compilation pack” that contained both the The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadow of Angmar base game, along with the newly released Mines of Moria expansion. I paid £20 for the lot. After the obligatory free months access, I then became a regular subscriber right up until about summer 2012. Since then I’ve subscribed and played whenever new content is released, meaning that for about six months of the year, I’m paying for the “luxury” of playing LOTRO. I’ve also purchased all the expansions over the years. Because I enjoy the game, I am not averse to buying additional LOTRO points when my monthly stipend doesn’t cover the cost of the items I want. I never availed myself of the opportunity to become a lifetime account holder, which is something I regret. It certainly would have been very good value for money, considering that LOTRO is over a decade old.
Although F2P games offer the benefit of reaching a wider market, I do believe that the business model is troublesome and causes more problems than it solves. Lootboxes similarly can break a game, as content is retrofitted to accommodate monetisation, rather than serve the exclusive needs of the customer. The monetisation per se of the gaming industry remains a perennial debate and one that is not going to be solved anytime soon to every one’s satisfaction. It is certainly a matter that is causing Standing Stone Games to tie themselves in knot at present. Lootboxes have been present in LOTRO for a while but they were never integral to progression through the game until the release of the Mordor expansion. Let it suffice to say that there has been a great deal of player push back against this decision and that SSG have been trying to address this matter in Update 23, which is due for release soon. However, the current proposals are complex and are very much a work in progress. They also seem to be causing a great deal of consternation among players.
I won’t attempt to summarise the latest “plan” at present as it’s being continuously “revised”. If you’re feeling stoic, then read the current thread on the official forums and you’ll see how difficult this matter is to sort out. However, I think the overall problem comes down to a fundamental difference in outlook over the financing of LOTRO, between the players, the publishers and lastly the developers SSG. LOTRO has a mature playerbase. A hardcore of thirty to fifty plus year olds, who all cut their teeth in an era where game monetisation was clear. You bought a game and paid for any additional expansions. In the MMO world, you bought the base game and subscribed. It was a simple “quid pro quo”. You paid money and got content. However, microtransactions, in-game currencies, season passes, paid DLC, lootboxes and “live services” have evolved over the last decade or so and have migrated from the mobile games market, over to console and PC gaming. Younger players who have grown up with mobile games has become “acclimatised” to such business practices. LOTRO players by and large don’t care for them.
And therein lies the rub for SSG or more to the point, their financial backers Daybreak Game Company. I suspect that there are financial targets set for LOTRO each quarter and that these are proving “challenging”. Because of the dedicated nature of many core LOTRO players it would appear that there are significant whales in the community. Yet it is the nature of the current games industry to seek whatever revenue that can possibly be generated and that the fate of a game will often come down to whether or not it yields the financial projections. Hence it become extremely difficult for SSG to find the right balance. Simply removing loot boxes and the LOTRO store from the game is not going to happen. The game is just too heavily dependent upon that business model. Some players have suggested cutting out the “middle man” of loot boxes and keys and just have a store where you buy everything that is offered. Sadly, whatever course of action is taken, it is bound to please one group and offend another. However, gating content or progression in LOTRO behind some kind of pay mechanic could well prove to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. But I’m sure SSG knows this, so it will be interesting to see what compromise they arrive at by the time Update 23 launches.
LOTRO: Tales from the Barter Wallet
One of the fun things about LOTRO is the way each player evolves their own personal way of navigating around Middle-earth. Although there is an extensive “stable” network throughout the game, I often find it quicker to use the various “Return to” skills, to get where I need to go. Turns out there’s a lot more in LOTRO than I realised. One of the most beneficial is “Return to Minas Tirith” which places you in the city before the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. The main advantage is that you arrive close to the stable-master who has an extensive list of travel destinations throughout Gondor. More so than his counterpart in the Minas Tirith after the battle. The skill “Return to Minas Tirith” is obtained from the Quartermaster (Defenders of Minas Tirith) at the Great Gate of Minas Tirith for 30 Minas Tirith Silver Pieces.
One of the fun things about LOTRO is the way each player evolves their own personal way of navigating around Middle-earth. Although there is an extensive “stable” network throughout the game, I often find it quicker to use the various “Return to” skills, to get where I need to go. Turns out there’s a lot more in LOTRO than I realised. One of the most beneficial is “Return to Minas Tirith” which places you in the city before the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. The main advantage is that you arrive close to the stable-master who has an extensive list of travel destinations throughout Gondor. More so than his counterpart in the Minas Tirith after the battle. The skill “Return to Minas Tirith” is obtained from the Quartermaster (Defenders of Minas Tirith) at the Great Gate of Minas Tirith for 30 Minas Tirith Silver Pieces.
Now you may wonder why I mention something that has existed in the game since October 2017 when Update 17 - The Siege of Minas Tirith was released. Well the above stemmed from me digging around in my in-game barter wallet and wondering whether any of the older reputation reward tokens were still of any practical use. I have one primary alt that I’ve invested a fair amount of time into. I usually end up doing all quests in each zone, so tend to have maximum rep with all factions and a surfeit of barter tokens. Naturally, armour from Enedwaith or Dunland is no longer relevant at current endgame and it is the nature of MMOs to produce gear that has its day in the sun, only to be consigned to oblivion twelve months later. So, it’s par for the course that LOTRO generates a wealth of tokens that simply fills up your barter wallet only to be forgotten. However, there is “gold” to be found if you take the time to look.
Pet, mount and cosmetic collectors would be well recommended to do some research. For example, the Bingo Boffin episodic quest chain yields a wealth of cosmetic pets. Who doesn’t want an Umber Goat? Again, the Defenders of Minas Tirith can supply a Striped Pelennor Pig for 50 Minas Tirith Silver Pieces. Then there’s a Rohirric Follower if you have full rep with the Riders of Rohan. Then there are the respective “Return to” skills to such places as Galtrev, Mirkwood and Snowbourn. If you purchase the right skill from the LOTRO store you can reduce the cooldown time on all of these to 30 minutes. And although I said that a lot of the faction gear becomes statistically obsolete as you progress through the game, you can still equip items cosmetically if you like the look of them.
A lot of items in your barter wallet can also be traded in for practical commodities like Scrolls of Empowerment and Essence and Relic removal Scrolls. These are always of use and it never does any harm to stockpile them. Also, some of the items that you can obtain via your barter wallet can then be sold via the Auction House. And then there are the skirmish marks. I’ve always enjoyed this particular aspect of LOTRO and have often used skirmishes as an alternative means of levelling. They offer short and convenient challenges and it’s surprising how you can build a large fortune of marks and medallions over time. I still use my Landscape Soldier and it’s easy and convenient to buy the tokens for their use, from the skirmish vendors.
If like me, you’ve been playing LOTRO for a while, you may well have equally built up a supply of rep tokens and sundry barter currencies. It is certainly worthwhile investigating what you can actually trade them for and enhance your game. Because of the way LOTRO has grown over the years, many of its game systems are somewhat esoteric and are often overlooked by all but the most dedicated player. However, there’s no real quick or convenient way to really discover what you can or cannot get, other than by visiting the vendors of each particular rep faction and simply trawling through their inventory. Alternatively, you can search through the LOTRO Wiki and just see what’s available in game. All things considered it’s well worthwhile investigating the far reaches of your barter wallet. It may well offer you something unexpected and convenient.
6 Months, 1 Day and 16 Hours
6 months, 1 day and 16 hours. Or put another way that’s 4504 hours. In total, 270,240 minutes. That is the total amount of time to date, that I’ve invested in my primary character in LOTRO. I have had several other alts over the years, many of which are now deleted, so for the sake of accuracy you can probably add another 20 hours or so to that total. That is a sizeable investment of time over an eight-year period. But that is the nature of the MMO genre. They are essentially time sinks. However, that is not what this post is about. I’m not here to dissect whether 4504 hours has been a good use of my time or not. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve gained a commensurate amount of entertainment in return. Plus, those 2504 hours were specifically leisure time, so if I hadn’t of played LOTRO they would have been spent watching TV or on some other pastime. Therefore, I’m not going to claim that in different circumstance I could have learned to play the Sousaphone with that time. This post is about reflecting upon LOTRO and the MMO genre.
6 months, 1 day and 16 hours. Or put another way that’s 4504 hours. In total, 270,240 minutes. That is the total amount of time to date, that I’ve invested in my primary character in LOTRO. I have had several other alts over the years, many of which are now deleted, so for the sake of accuracy you can probably add another 20 hours or so to that total. That is a sizeable investment of time over an eight-year period. But that is the nature of the MMO genre. They are essentially time sinks. However, that is not what this post is about. I’m not here to dissect whether 4504 hours has been a good use of my time or not. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve gained a commensurate amount of entertainment in return. Plus, those 2504 hours were specifically leisure time, so if I hadn’t of played LOTRO they would have been spent watching TV or on some other pastime. Therefore, I’m not going to claim that in different circumstance I could have learned to play the Sousaphone with that time. This post is about reflecting upon LOTRO and the MMO genre.
Over the past eleven years LOTRO has waxed and waned and subsequently stabilised with regard to its playerbase and its place in the hall of MMO fame. Despite regular claims of its imminent demise (some even by myself), the game has doggedly soldiered on. It is my belief that the game is sustained and perpetuated by the loyal support of a group of core gamers who have decided to make LOTRO their online “home”. They may not like every aspect of the game or the way the developers, Standing Stone Games, runs things, but they’ve gotten used to the way things are. The other major factor is that there is no alternative game for the present. The recent news that Athlon Games is developing a new Middle-earth based MMO, doesn’t really have much bearing on the situation. The game doesn’t exist yet and will more than likely be a completely different beast to LOTRO. I can’t see LOTRO players jumping ship any time soon.
So for those who play LOTRO (I won’t use the term “gamers”, because many don’t identify as such or play any other title), it remains simply a fixed constant in their leisure activities. A social hub for staying in touch with friends, an immersive game with ten years’ worth of content to play and a source of inspiration for wider activities such as writing, role play or fan fiction. As for the game itself, it has a wealth quests and activities to undertake, ranging from the Epic Story to the most arbitrary of “busy work”. Therefore, there’s always something to do in LOTRO. Hence that number of 4504 hours. And that time investment is a really big factor for me. One of the reasons I keep coming back to LOTRO is the fact that I have committed a great deal of my own personal life to the game and that is not something that you casually disregard. Such an investment engenders a sense of loyalty and commitment. For some players it even fosters a sense of “ownership”. I may not necessarily agree with such a perspective, but I can see how it occurs.
Although I am not an especially emotional individual, I think it is fair to say that after ten years of playing LOTRO, I have developed some sort of sentimental attachment to the game. One that I have not found elsewhere with any other MMO. I have an abiding love of the Star Trek franchise, but STO doesn’t quite generate the same emotional response from me as LOTRO does. A lot of that is down to LOTRO’s intellectual property. Middle-earth and the writings of Professor Tolkien have a profound effect upon those that love and identify with his work. Then there’s the context of the time that I discovered and initially started playing the game. It filled a large gap in my leisure and social activities back in 2008. Another important point to consider, is that it was my first MMO and major experience of online communities. It’s a variation of the “first love” concept and how your initial experience of something greatly shapes your future outlook. So overall, I think that there’s no real surprise to be had by the revelation that I’ve spent over half a year of my time on LOTRO. Until something happens to change things, that number will continue to increase.
Your First Mistake Was Having Expectations
Two stories have broken today regarding a pair of established and much-loved pop culture franchises. The first is the news that actor Henry Cavill has been cast as Geralt of Rivia, in the forthcoming Witcher TV show currently in production by Netflix. The second is regarding how newly established games developers Athlon Games are currently working on a new F2P Middle-earth based MMO. Considering there is no further details on either of these two points beyond what has already been stated, one could be tempted to say rhetorically “nothing to see here, move along”. However, this is the age of social media, so let it suffice to say that both these announcements have caused a degree of consternation in certain quarters. Namely fans of those already established iterations of The Witcher and The Lord of the Rings.
Two stories have broken today regarding a pair of established and much-loved pop culture franchises. The first is the news that actor Henry Cavill has been cast as Geralt of Rivia, in the forthcoming Witcher TV show currently in production by Netflix. The second is regarding how newly established games developers Athlon Games are currently working on a new F2P Middle-earth based MMO. Considering there is no further details on either of these two points beyond what has already been stated, one could be tempted to say rhetorically “nothing to see here, move along”. However, this is the age of social media, so let it suffice to say that both these announcements have caused a degree of consternation in certain quarters. Namely fans of those already established iterations of The Witcher and The Lord of the Rings.
As I get older and therefore less sentimental and less invested in fandom per se, I do find the sort of complaints, criticism and sundry “brouhaha” that has accompanied both of these developments, somewhat irrelevant. All are based on a misplaced assumption that existing fans needs are the primary force driving both projects. But they are not. Yes, I agree that the look, feel and voice of Geralt of Rivia where honed to perfection in CD Projekt Red’s video games. This will naturally determine a lot of people’s conception of the character, the same way that a handful of artists such as John Howe and Alan Lee have shaped the popular opinion of what Tolkien’s characters should look like. Another example that is age dependent, is who you consider to be the best incarnation of James Bond. But artistic interpretation as a concept tends to “pooh-pooh” such dogmatic ideas as “the definitive version”.
From what I’ve gleaned from the information that’s available about Netflix’s The Witcher TV show, it is not intended to be merely a fan service to those that enjoyed the three video games. It is a broader adaptation of the original source material by by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski, intended to reach as wide an audience as possible. Fantasy as a genre is very popular and marketable at present. Thus, casting a known quantity such as Henry Cavill, who has experience of genre productions along with matinee idol good looks is hardly surprising. The objections of a minority of “core fans” is frankly just standard operational collateral damage when adapting such a franchise. Frankly, when you consider the current trend for remakes, reboots, altering race, gender and generally repurposing any franchise or brand if it is deemed profitable to do so, complaining about the casting of Henry Cavill is somewhat redundant.
As for there being a new Tolkien based MMORPG that is set at some point in The Lord of the Rings timeline, I really don’t see it being a major issue for the existing ten-year-old LOTRO. It’s hardly uncommon for multiple licensed products to share a specific market place at the same time. Look at Neverwinter and DDO for example. Furthermore, it is highly likely that both games will be very different from each other and therefore not in direct competition. I recently wrote about the possibility of a LOTRO 2.0 and how those players “joined at the hip” with the existing iteration of the game are not necessarily disposed towards migrating to a new and more modern game. A new title with contemporary bells and whistles would seek a new audience who favour such mechanics. I see it very much as an “apples and orange” situation. Plus, the point has already been raised as to whether the new Middle-earth based MMO is going to be linked in someway to the TV show that is currently under development for Amazon Prime.
Both of these examples reflect once again the inherent myopia that seems to accompany contemporary fandom. They represent a failure to see both of these franchises for what they are; products. And as such they can be augmented by the rights holder in whatever way they see fit. That doesn’t mean that fans can’t have an opinion. They are of course free to like or not like something. But considering the nature of the global market that all products must compete in these days, the uniquely subjective needs of fans only makes up a small percentage of potential customers. Therefore, these bespoke “requirements” are far from paramount. If you want a more specific example, then consider how the Marvel Cinematic Universe has “adapted” the source material to make it accessible to a wider audience. Lore has been altered and known box-office names have been cast to ensure a wide reach. Yes, some fans have disliked what they’ve seen, but in business terms Disney have struck gold. In a world where hype, following trends and number crunching dictates policy, it’s hardly surprising that the Henry Cavill has been cast as Geralt of Rivia and that a new Middle-earth based MMO is going to embrace the current foibles of the F2P business model. To those bemused by all this, your first mistake was having expectations.
LOTRO: Fishing
Many MMOs have “hobbies” as part of the activities they have on offer. These are usually leisurely undertakings done for their own inherent fun, rather than providing a tangible in-game benefit. In LOTRO the only hobby that is currently available (despite the game existing for over decade) is fishing. It’s a relatively simple affair that’s been further refined (dumbed down, some may argue) over time. When I started playing LOTRO in 2008, fishing had an extra component to its underlying mechanic. There were various types of bait (consumables) that provided a bonus to your fishing skill. These included Leech Bait, Nightcrawler Bait and Red Wiggler Bait. However, this mechanic was removed possibly around the time of the “free to play” conversion. As it currently stands, fishing now just requires accepting the hobby from the Hobby Master NPC (Simon Quinlank would be proud), buying a basic fishing rod and finding a body of water. You equip the rod instead of a weapon and add the fishing skill to your quick slot bar. If you click the skill it will cause a casting animation. You then wait for the fish to bite, which is signified buy your rod bending and twitching. The player then clicks the skill again to land whatever they’ve caught.
Many MMOs have “hobbies” as part of the activities they have on offer. These are usually leisurely undertakings done for their own inherent fun, rather than providing a tangible in-game benefit. In LOTRO the only hobby that is currently available (despite the game existing for over decade) is fishing. It’s a relatively simple affair that’s been further refined (dumbed down, some may argue) over time. When I started playing LOTRO in 2008, fishing had an extra component to its underlying mechanic. There were various types of bait (consumables) that provided a bonus to your fishing skill. These included Leech Bait, Nightcrawler Bait and Red Wiggler Bait. However, this mechanic was removed possibly around the time of the “free to play” conversion. As it currently stands, fishing now just requires accepting the hobby from the Hobby Master NPC (Simon Quinlank would be proud), buying a basic fishing rod and finding a body of water. You equip the rod instead of a weapon and add the fishing skill to your quick slot bar. If you click the skill it will cause a casting animation. You then wait for the fish to bite, which is signified buy your rod bending and twitching. The player then clicks the skill again to land whatever they’ve caught.
Like any activity in a game of this nature, fishing is subject to a levelling mechanic. The maximum rating is level 200 and the player can gain 10 points per day (the "clock" resets at midnight EST). There are currently seven different types of rod available in LOTRO, ranging from the aforementioned basic rod and the latest Exquisite Elven Fishing Rod which adds +10 Fishing. However, these rods are gated behind reputation factions in level specific regions, so you can’t buy a fancy rod and expect to fast path to level cap. It should also be noted that there are multiple deeds associated with fishing (hardly a surprise as LOTRO is rife with deeds) and some of the fancier fish that you can catch can be taken to a taxidermist and turned into trophies and used as housing items. As stated earlier, fishing is mainly a recreational activity which may also appeal to the goal orientated completionist who likes to do everything for personal satisfaction.
Standing Stone Games are obviously not conversent with UK slang.
I started fishing when I first subscribed to LOTRO. At that point in time, MMOs were new to me and I found all of the games foibles endearing. I’ve never pursued fishing seriously and have mainly used it as it was intended, just as something easy to do in-game while unwinding. As you can fish pretty much from any body of water in the game, I’ve often done fishing while waiting for colleagues to log in or while I’m on Discord chatting to friends. It’s something I’ve done casually over eight years and not something I’ve ever monitored. Recently, while fishing in Long Lake, I noticed a notification telling me I was level 183. So, I investigated a little further and determined I was not far from the cap. As a result, I decided to actually complete this deed, mainly due to a “why not” mindset and the want of anything else more significant to do. So, I toured various regions of Middle-earth and spent an hour here and there, slowly working towards my goal. Needless to say, a few days ago I hit level 200 hundred after a decade of not especially trying to do so. It gave me a moments satisfaction and a reason for a blog post, so I guess I shouldn’t “pooh-pooh” this achievement. I wonder whether Standing Stone Games have any new plans to add further hobbies to the game. If they do perhaps I’ll complete them as well in another ten years’ time.
LOTRO: Progressing Through Mordor
It was in May that I last subscribed to LOTRO and attempted to progress through the Mordor expansion. I was under geared and under powered and the initial zone of Udûn was proving to be an up-hill struggle. So, I decided to level elsewhere in the game and managed to get as far as 111 (the current level cap is 115). I still couldn’t improve my gear so there was no point bypassing Mordor and going straight to the Dale-lands which were released in June in Update 22. So, I decided to spend my gaming time elsewhere and left LOTRO. However, the recent Bullroarer preview of Update 23 rekindled my interest in the MMO. Surely Mordor wasn’t the immovable obstacle that I thought? So, I subscribed once again, and returned to the game on Friday evening. Luckily, there were several kinship members online and they generously helped me until I reached the “tipping point” of the Mordor expansion. Two days later and I’ve nearly hit level cap and the game although challenging, it’s no longer the grind that it was a few months ago.
It was in May that I last subscribed to LOTRO and attempted to progress through the Mordor expansion. I was under geared and under powered and the initial zone of Udûn was proving to be an up-hill struggle. So, I decided to level elsewhere in the game and managed to get as far as 111 (the current level cap is 115). I still couldn’t improve my gear so there was no point bypassing Mordor and going straight to the Dale-lands which were released in June in Update 22. So, I decided to spend my gaming time elsewhere and left LOTRO. However, the recent Bullroarer preview of Update 23 rekindled my interest in the MMO. Surely Mordor wasn’t the immovable obstacle that I thought? So, I subscribed once again, and returned to the game on Friday evening. Luckily, there were several kinship members online and they generously helped me until I reached the “tipping point” of the Mordor expansion. Two days later and I’ve nearly hit level cap and the game although challenging, it’s no longer the grind that it was a few months ago.
In a nutshell the key to success in Mordor is gear. Specifically gear that has the “Light of Eärendil” defensive stats. This is designed to counteract a cumulative debuff known as the “Shadow of Mordor”. This is simply a new version of the Radiance stat that was found on Moria and Mirkwood raid sets back in the day. Without “Light of Eärendil” a player is severely gimped. Mordor is essentially a major gear check for LOTRO. You start getting random pieces of new armour by clearing regional quests but it’s all very piecemeal. Hence the initial few levels above 105 are a slog. However, once you get to level 112, you become eligible to buy gear sets via the High-enchanter NPC, using the “Ash of Enchantment” barter currency. Players obtain this currency by deconstructing surplus gear they’ve obtained via quest, loot drops or Gorgoroth Steel-bound Lootboxes. Any item that has the “Light of Eärendil” can be broken down into “Ash of Enchantment” by using “Flame of Ancalamír” crystal.
To cut a long story short, I was given several lootboxes and keys which provided me with enough “Ash of Enchantment” to buy a level appropriate gear set. I chose the “Light Tower Set” which favours DPS builds. Upon equipping the gear, my stats were significantly boosted, thus making questing in Mordor significantly easier. I have subsequently progressed through the Epic Story and some of the regional quests and expect to hit 115 in the next day or so. I have even gone so far as to plan ahead and determine which set I shall buy next. I estimate that to obtain all armour and jewellery for the “Light Expedition's Vanguard Incomparable Set” will cost about 4,800 “Ash of Enchantment”. The irony is however, that I shall only enjoy the benefits of this set for about a month or so, because once Update 23 is released the level cap is increased to 120 and they’ll be new gear.
Now what has become apparent to me as I’ve progressed through Mordor over the weekend is the way that lootboxes have become more significant in LOTRO and I suspect that this may only get worse in future updates. A player can grind quests to get gear to convert to ash, but lootboxes offer a “far quicker solution”. I suspect that we are now finally seeing the consequences of Standing Stone Games “business relationship” with the Daybreak Game Company. However, that is a different blog post entirely. For the meantime, I’m back in LOTRO, making progress and having fun. Now that I’m no longer fixed upon the grind of the game, I must say that the various storylines in the Mordor expansion are very good. I like the way the SSG draws upon characters we’ve seen before in the game. It was a pleasant surprise to see Alti Spider-bane again. So, to those of you who have also fallen victim to the Mordor grind, there is a solution available, although it is not necessarily one that benefits the solo player. Being in a supportive guild and having access to shared resources helps immensely. Good luck.
LOTRO: Update 23 Preview
I managed to spend an hour or so today, exploring the latest preview of Update 23 for LOTRO, that is currently being beta tested on the Bullroarer server. Sadly, due to my schedule, I did not get to spend as much time as I would like, exploring the new zones, and by the time I reached the Withered Heath, the server closed. However, I did see sufficient for me to be able to gauge progress. Overall this is an interesting zone which offers new iterations of Dwarven culture. Standing Stone Games once again have found the right balance between using established in-game assets and integrating them with newer designs. The results are two regions that are bright, roomy and distinctly Dwarven. However, it should be noted that as ever with these beta previews, the build is subject to change.
I managed to spend an hour or so today, exploring the latest preview of Update 23 for LOTRO, that is currently being beta tested on the Bullroarer server. Sadly, due to my schedule, I did not get to spend as much time as I would like, exploring the new zones, and by the time I reached the Withered Heath, the server closed. However, I did see sufficient for me to be able to gauge progress. Overall this is an interesting zone which offers new iterations of Dwarven culture. Standing Stone Games once again have found the right balance between using established in-game assets and integrating them with newer designs. The results are two regions that are bright, roomy and distinctly Dwarven. However, it should be noted that as ever with these beta previews, the build is subject to change.
Update 23 focuses on the Longbeards, descendants of Durin the Deathless. To begin with, there is an expanded version of Erebor, which adds far more to this Dwarven capital. There are now ornamental gardens, Gemcutter’s court and even a theatre. It certainly feels more like a thriving community. SSG have also added the legendary mines where the Arkenstone of Thrain was found. For those expecting tunnels and diggings like those seen in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit movies, we’ll you’re in for a disappointment. They are depicted here in the same way as they are elsewhere in LOTRO, IE in a functional and practical fashion, with linear tunnels and mine car tracks. It may not look as opulent as other depictions, but it feels authentic.
East of Dale, SSG have created the fabled Iron Hills. This zone is spacious with a mixture of green plains and brown “hills” filled with iron ore. Hammerstead is the major Dwarven settlement of the region and there is ongoing conflict with the Easterlings, who have occupied one of the other towns in the area. It should be noted that there is a clear influence of Easterling culture on Dwarven armour and weapons in this region. This is also apparent in the Grey Mountains to the North of Erebor. Here we find another Dwarven enclave, Skarhald. This area has clearly suffered under the depravations of Dragons and the zone is littered with their ancient bones. There is a nearby mine, Glimmerdeep, that has fallen to Orcs from Mount Gundabad. This delving is very reminiscent of the Silvertine Lodes in Moria. The Witherted Heath is an interesting addition to the game, featuring bleak and fire blasted steppe region with a large glacier extending down from the mountains. It is also populated with drakes and worms.
As well as new zones and Epic Story content, there are two new Instances for up to three players, and one new Instance for up to six players, in development. There are also ongoing changes to the Hobbit avatars, to bring them in line with the updates made to the other races in recent months. It should be noted that Update 23 will bring an increase in level cap, from 115 to 120. Naturally, the chnage will bring about new gear and cosmetics items, and no doubt there will be yet more factions to gain rep with. Overall, it seems very much like business as usual for LOTRO with this forthcoming update, but as this seems to be what players enjoy, then it is by no means a problem. Certainly, these new zones are a welcome addition to the game and an uplifting alternative to Mordor that still remains a crossroad (or dare I say stumbling block) in the game for some players.
Not Playing World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is still the biggest western MMO around and despite the ebb and flow of its player base, it remains a powerful presence within the gaming community. With the release of the pre-patch for the next expansion Battle of Azeroth yesterday, naturally there has been a wealth of blog posts as players dust off their subscriptions and return to the game. It’s a timely reminder that WoW was the MMO that made the genre more mainstream and commercially viable. For many gamers it was their stepping stone into other titles and sub-genres. The importance of World of Warcraft in gaming history and its place within pop culture is significant. The games success has bled through in to the mainstream. WoW is a known quantity outside of gaming circles and is social reference point, in the same way as Dungeons and Dragons, Batman or Star Trek.
World of Warcraft is still the biggest western MMO around and despite the ebb and flow of its player base, it remains a powerful presence within the gaming community. With the release of the pre-patch for the next expansion Battle of Azeroth yesterday, naturally there has been a wealth of blog posts as players dust off their subscriptions and return to the game. It’s a timely reminder that WoW was the MMO that made the genre more mainstream and commercially viable. For many gamers it was their stepping stone into other titles and sub-genres. The importance of World of Warcraft in gaming history and its place within pop culture is significant. The games success has bled through in to the mainstream. WoW is a known quantity outside of gaming circles and is social reference point, in the same way as Dungeons and Dragons, Batman or Star Trek.
However, as a gamer, if you do not play WoW or at least have some sort of history with it, you can find yourself in some kind of quasi MMO community minority group. It’s an "odd" phenomenon. Fellow blogger UltrViolet from EndgameViable goes so far as to say, “WoW expansions always make me feel like I just don't belong in the MMO genre”. Such is the status and ubiquity of the MMO. I wrote a while back about how “not liking sport”, especially football in the UK, can be a social impediment of sorts. In some respects, not playing WoW is the gaming equivalent of that. Often when talking to fellow gamers, especially those who enjoy the MMORPG genre, it is pretty much taken as read that you will have played the game at some point. Beyond a short trial, I’ve never really spent any major time playing WoW. It simply didn’t click with me. I didn’t and still don’t care for the aesthetics of the game, and I found the overall narrative tone to be a little too “knowing”.
My gateway MMO was LOTRO back in 2008 and right from the outset I liked the cut of its proverbial jib. I spent some time over the following years trying various other MMOs as they launched. Star Trek Online, Rift, The Secret World, Guild Wars 2 and SWOTR, to name but a few. However, for many gamers that was not the usual MMO route. Virtually every other gamer I know has a WoW background of some kind. Furthermore, the game is often further lionised due to it being associated with a particularly significant time in the gamers personal life. People have discovered the joys or gaming through WOW. Or had met the best friends of partners via it. WoW remains today, a safe and familiar haven for gamers going through tough times. Like a loyal pet or a much-loved book, WoW appears to at times transcend mere gaming to be a Mary Poppins-like presence that impacts upon gamers lives.
Overall, the current wave of excitement regarding Patch 8.0 does leave me feeling like a bemused spectator. To quote that great fictional character Ned Seagoon “Breakfast had just been served at Beauleigh Manor. I was at the window…looking in”. That is at least how WoW makes me feel sometimes. It’s like something quite “important” is going on but it always seems to be happening to somebody else. Now it is at this point that some may draw a similar parallel with EVE Online. That too is a monolithic game that casts a large shadow in the gaming community, allegedly. However, I feel that not playing WoW and not playing EVE, is an apples and oranges situation. Being outside of the current WoW hype makes me at times feel like I am missing out on something potentially fun. Observing EVE is more like rubbernecking a major road traffic accident. Either way, I am not sufficiently motivated to change my habits and start playing WoW. We exist as separate entities and never the twain shall meet. Like politicians and the truth, Love Island and human dignity or Star Wars fans and self-awareness.
Dailies
Broadly speaking, dailies are repeatable quests or activities that are designed to keep you engaged and busy within the MMO genre. They are a supplement to main story quests and often offer a long-term goal and reward or provide barter tokens for a range of gear. They can sometimes be used as an alternative means of gaining high-end gear for players who cannot or will not raid. Dailies also offer an additional means to level an alt, for players who are tired of repeating primary content that they are over familiar with. Along with log-in rewards, dailies are designed to entice players into regular play. They offer quick, repeatable content along with a clearly defined bauble or trinket, making them ideal for players who have a limited amount of game time. Hence, you’ll find variations thereof present in most MMOs.
Broadly speaking, dailies are repeatable quests or activities that are designed to keep you engaged and busy within the MMO genre. They are a supplement to main story quests and often offer a long-term goal and reward or provide barter tokens for a range of gear. They can sometimes be used as an alternative means of gaining high-end gear for players who cannot or will not raid. Dailies also offer an additional means to level an alt, for players who are tired of repeating primary content that they are over familiar with. Along with log-in rewards, dailies are designed to entice players into regular play. They offer quick, repeatable content along with a clearly defined bauble or trinket, making them ideal for players who have a limited amount of game time. Hence, you’ll find variations thereof present in most MMOs.
Dailies are more often than not, just busy work. By their nature they are additional game content and not mission critical to the player. The central narrative of an MMO usually only links to dailies tangentially, so if you elect not to do them you’re not missing out on a major plot point. Skipping a day means you simply postpone your reward date by another 24 hours, but as the dailies often feed into a long-term goal, such delays are not deal breakers. In some cases, dailies are simply a means of generating specific currencies and once you have maxed out a particular skills line you can still repeat the content and gain the designated reward. Furthermore, in some MMOs, dailies do not even require your alt to undertake any direct task. They are carried out by companions, crew or automated resources. You simply assign the correct assets to the task in hand and return at a later date to see if they successfully completed it.
Due to limited leisure time, I am currently only playing Star Trek Online and doing so by logging in across five alts and undertaking dailies. This involves either sending duty officer on time-based mission or ships on admiralty missions. Both sets of dailies draw upon card-based assets and can be set and forgotten. By choosing specific missions that offer Dilithium as a reward, I am using five alts to farm this resource and in-game currency. Dilithium can then be stockpiled and spent next time Cryptic make Phoenix Prize Pack available in the game. The Prize Packs offer a range of rewards, many of which can be bartered and traded in so that the player can get specifically what they want. For me the most valuable item obtainable is the Phoenix Tech Upgrade Kit. Upgrading gears sets is a key aspect of STO and these upgrades apply 51,200 Technology Points and have not further Dilithium costs. With the recent increase in gear cap from Mark XIV to XV, I conservatively estimate I need about 200 or so to fully upgrade my ground and space gear to Gold level.
Dailies are often viewed in most MMOs as arbitrary, dull and repetitious. It is fair to say that they don’t always have the depth of writing as other main quests but let us not fool ourselves as to their purpose. Dailies are to a degree filler. A way of stretching game content by providing a relatively simplistic task with an extended deadline. The MMO genre has proven time and time again, that the player base always consumes content quicker than it can be produced and so dailies are one of many ways of providing content that slows player progression while still providing them with something to do. Dailies, love them or loathe them, are a necessary evil. One we all too often bitch about while paradoxically still carrying out. They are the gaming equivalent of the clip show, which were a convenient way of padding the length of a season on TV, back in the sixties and seventies. They’re also a way of keeping you connected to a game, during times when your patience is running thin. I’m sure they could be replaced with something better, but until that comes around this is all we have and sometimes that’s just enough to keep you playing.
The Lord of the Rings Online 2.0
“I’d love to see LOTRO reimagined in a new engine with a certain modernization of gameplay". So said Koshelkin, in a recent comment made over at the Massively Overpowered website. It’s a common sentiment that often expressed by the LOTRO community and I must admit, I have a similar curiosity. But the more I ponder this idea, the more I find myself thinking “be careful what you wish for”. Because LOTRO as it currently exists, embodies the MMO ethos of the time that spawned it. Long-term players love it because of its foibles. As I’ve mentioned before in previous blog posts many LOTRO players are not gamers per se and therefore have no exposure to modern MMOs along with contemporary game mechanics. Thus, if Standing Stone Games were to radically redesign their virtual Middle-earth to include action combat and a truly open world, they may find themselves alienating a great many current LOTRO players, who would be all at sea in a modern iteration of the game.
“I’d love to see LOTRO reimagined in a new engine with a certain modernization of gameplay". So said Koshelkin, in a recent comment made over at the Massively Overpowered website. It’s a common sentiment that often expressed by the LOTRO community and I must admit, I have a similar curiosity. But the more I ponder this idea, the more I find myself thinking “be careful what you wish for”. Because LOTRO as it currently exists, embodies the MMO ethos of the time that spawned it. Long-term players love it because of its foibles. As I’ve mentioned before in previous blog posts many LOTRO players are not gamers per se and therefore have no exposure to modern MMOs along with contemporary game mechanics. Thus, if Standing Stone Games were to radically redesign their virtual Middle-earth to include action combat and a truly open world, they may find themselves alienating a great many current LOTRO players, who would be all at sea in a modern iteration of the game.
I recently revisited LOTRO to check out the new seasonal instance The Perfect Picnic. Penny the Pony trotted off in true LOTRO NPC fashion and made no effort to avoid the various mobs that plague The Shire during a summer heatwave. However, a decade of playing LOTRO has prepared me for such situations. As a seasoned Lore-master, I sent my pet ahead to occupy the oncoming threat, while I languidly went through my skills rotation. I tend to move in parallel with whoever or whatever I have to escort and seldom shift position while in combat. LOTRO being an older MMO does not support action combat and moving will stop your skill induction. Movement is thus limited to simply removing yourself from AoE effects and such like. It’s a tried and tested method and SSG have ensured that it doesn’t limit your combat experience. Just because fighting is static, it doesn’t mean it is devoid of nuance and tactic. However, many LOTRO players are totally conditioned to deal with this style. The fluid combat of The Elder Scrolls Online may not suit everyone or fit with their abilities as a player.
LOTRO is also very linear in its story structure and quest hubs. Since the game reached the regions of Dunland and Rohan, zones tend to funnel players from A to B very efficiently. It’s convenient but it is not very flexible if you want to do things “your way”. Stray too far ahead and you’ll either find yourself in a zone to high for your level or you’ll miss the start of the “breadcrumb” trail. Because there is no auto levelling beyond the Epic Battle system, it is not always safe to explore too far and no incentive to revisit lower level regions with friends. Again, bringing the narrative and regional freedom that we find in The Elder Scrolls Online, may well completely wrong foot traditional LOTRO players. I remember reading a thread on the Guild Wars 2 forums when the game first launched in 2012, by a player who felt completely lost as to what to do and where to go within the game. The open regional quests and timed events were also a stumbling block for some, who felt they lack direct instruction.
Another aspect of LOTRO that dates it, is its lack of voice acting. Yes, there is some but far less compared to other MMOs. Text boxes filled with written exposition that requires little user interaction are somewhat dull. Although the definition of an MMO has changed and continues to do so, we should not forget that they’re also a variant of the RPG genre. Hence it would be nice to see far more detailed voice acting, branching dialogue options and a greater variety of narrative outcomes. However, providing “choice” can cut both ways. Some players do not like too many options and can find such a mechanic a cause of stress. What happens if you make the “wrong” decision? This however, has been a dilemma of the MMO genre for a long time. It can apply to how you spend your skills points and what faction you join. Plus, voice acting also raises the additional spectre of lore and canon. Middle-earth is blessed with an especially hard lexicon. Most languages have a complex structure and there is plenty of scope for additional spoken dialogue to incur the wrath of the “pronunciation police”.
I think completely rebuilding LOTRO to embrace the best elements of the modern MMO genre would be a big and risky undertaking. I think that the finished product would not necessarily appeal to all current players and many would not make the transition to LOTRO 2.0 successfully. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and its sequel Shadow of War feature beautifully realised environments which hint at the visual potential of a new version of LOTRO. I would certainly like to see a new vision of Middle-earth more akin to the structure of The Elder Scrolls Online, as that game serves the needs of the solo player and the group well. But the cost and risk in developing such a project make it highly unlikely that such a game will come to pass. I think after a decade, the most we can honestly expect rom SSG is a revamp of the game engine, similar to that seen in STO a few years ago. It would also be nice to see a 64-bit client and an elimination of the lag and stuttering that plagues the game. Beyond that I think LOTRO 2.0 in the true sense, will just remain a talking point.
Fans, Community Management and Social Media
When I first read about the furore caused by Jessica Price’s comments yesterday, I knew it wouldn’t end well. There’s a tedious inevitability to the outcome of most video game related “outrages” these days. For example, a senior member of staff from a major developer will same something crass, double down, dig a hole and then finally after being bitten on the ass by reality, will put out a mealy-mouthed half ass apology. The other scenario is that an employee affiliated to a studio says something completely left field, is presented with short window of opportunity to retract it and blame it on over the counter flu medication, before they get fired due to the ensuing PR shit storm. This particular controversy falls into the latter category. However, if you take a step back from the Jessica Price debacle you quickly notice it raises a lot of questions beyond her obvious transgression. Namely, the problem of always being “on the clock” when you work in certain professions, the need to separate your work and personal social media presence and the place “influencers have in the video games industry.
When I first read about the furore caused by Jessica Price’s comments yesterday, I knew it wouldn’t end well. There’s a tedious inevitability to the outcome of most video game related “outrages” these days. For example, a senior member of staff from a major developer will same something crass, double down, dig a hole and then finally after being bitten on the ass by reality, will put out a mealy-mouthed half ass apology. The other scenario is that an employee affiliated to a studio says something completely left field, is presented with short window of opportunity to retract it and blame it on over the counter flu medication, before they get fired due to the ensuing PR shit storm. This particular controversy falls into the latter category. However, if you take a step back from the Jessica Price debacle you quickly notice it raises a lot of questions beyond her obvious transgression. Namely, the problem of always being “on the clock” when you work in certain professions, the need to separate your work and personal social media presence and the place “influencers have in the video games industry.
First up, let’s deal with the most obvious things that standout from this “wee stooshie”. The moment you have your employers name in your twitter biography, you rightly or wrongly are now an ambassador for that company. This is a problematic foible of working in an age dominated by social media. I also think it is further exacerbated by the US work ethic which is curiously more zealous than its European counterpart. Work is more of defining factor in American culture to begin with. Irrespective of this, if you work for a major games developer and cite that in your profile then the fans will take it as read that you’re accessible 24/7 and they’ll cross examine you at every opportunity. It’s ironic but the term “emotional courtesan” that Jessica Price refutes in one of her tweets, is not a bad definition of the role that is thrust upon such employees. A company’s reputation and standing with its customers is one of its most prized assets. Questions regarding the capricious nature of fans and the fact that some totally lack any filter are ultimately irrelevant. You don’t upset the gravy train.
Next there’s the need to compartmentalise. If you work for a big player in any type of industry and feel that there are constraints placed upon your freedom of expression online as a result of that, then simply create separate social media accounts. Apply common sense to your work-related platforms and if need be follow a clear set of rules with regard to your customer interactions. As for your personal accounts, keep them separate and don’t make the mistake of getting drawn into needless arguments. Use mute or block judiciously if need be. And remember that Twitter is a public space and is therefore governed by rules of speech in such an environment. Ultimately if you want privacy in your discussion then use What’s App or something similar. Also, manners have declined in the last fifty years. Some people either lack a filter or simply refuse to use one for their own dysfunctional reasons. You have very little say or control over who decides to interject in any ongoing conversation. The sad reality is that your work related social media account forces you to do your job with one hand tied behind your back. It’s not a level playing field but if that’s place you’ve chosen to set up your stall, then that is how you have to roll with things.
Then there is the whole thorny issue of influencers. In this case, I’m not aware that You Tuber and Streamer Deroir has ever been considered a difficult or controversial individual. From what I’ve gleaned from the internet, they are a relatively benign community conduit. He’s even got an NPC named after him in the Mistlock Observatory. Therefore, it is not unreasonable for Deroir to want to interact with an ArenaNet employee such as Jessica Price. His comments were not in any way rude, so he really didn’t deserve the response he received. However, the wider gaming dependency upon influencers is a questionable practice. Not all are as measured as Deroir. It should not be forgotten that many influencers are not directly employed by the games developers and therefore not subject to the same scrutiny and security checks as regular staff. It’s a powerful position to be in and people are flawed. There have been instances of influencers going rogue in the past, although again I say this is clearly not one.
Finally, I am becoming increasingly sceptical of overt fandom of any kind. Pop culture, like politics and sports, is losing all semblance of measure and introspection and slowly becoming far more zealous. Everybody seems to have a stake or a personal claim on some part of the internet or aspect of fandom, regardless of whether it is legitimate or justified. Fandom isn’t collective ownership, although that is fast becoming a minority view. Dealing with such communities is becoming increasing hard. Who wants to navigate a daily diet of anger, accusations and bile? In the case of Jessica Price, her ill-conceived comments were wrong, and she has been sanctioned by her employers (The degree of which is subject to debate). However, what is worrying is the increasing trend that sees justifiable anger and complaint from legitimate quarters, being subsequently hi-jacked by those who simply smell blood in the water. The internet lynch mob is an extremely blunt tool and the dirty footprints of its affiliate members who often have their own agenda, ultimately just end up muddying the waters of measured and reasoned criticism. Thus, gaming culture declines further and it’s more mature and measured members find themselves moving ever further to its periphery, so as not be tarred with the same brush.
Victory is Life
Star Trek Online is a curious beast compared to other MMOs. Although the characters that you create have gear, skills and traits to advance, it is your ship that is the real focus of in game min-maxing. The game also has several strong narrative arcs that dovetail superbly into existing Trek lore. The fact that numerous actors from the original TV shows have returned to voice their characters in the game, is another feather in the hat for Cryptic, the games developers. STO recently had a major lighting and game engine overhaul to accommodate it’s launch on the console market. Yet despite many very positive factors, there are still times when STO feels a little clunky and lacking in polish. Cutscenes can be problematic and the game has some persistent bugs and glitches. However, despite some flaws the MMO has a strong and loyal fanbase who play actively and pay prodigiously. This is also a game with a large number of whales in its wider community.
Star Trek Online is a curious beast compared to other MMOs. Although the characters that you create have gear, skills and traits to advance, it is your ship that is the real focus of in game min-maxing. The game also has several strong narrative arcs that dovetail superbly into existing Trek lore. The fact that numerous actors from the original TV shows have returned to voice their characters in the game, is another feather in the hat for Cryptic, the games developers. STO recently had a major lighting and game engine overhaul to accommodate it’s launch on the console market. Yet despite many very positive factors, there are still times when STO feels a little clunky and lacking in polish. Cutscenes can be problematic and the game has some persistent bugs and glitches. However, despite some flaws the MMO has a strong and loyal fanbase who play actively and pay prodigiously. This is also a game with a large number of whales in its wider community.
This year is the 25th anniversary of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Subsequently, Cryptic decided to base their latest expansion Victory if Life around the show. Released on 5th June, the new content features the voice talents of Alexander Siddig, Andrew Robinson, Armin Shimerman, Aron Eisenberg, Jeffrey Combs, J.G. Hertzler, Nana Visitor, René Auberjonois, Chase Masterson, Max Grodénchik, Bumper Robinson and Salome Jens. I won’t list all their respective characters but for fans and aficionados, this is a big deal. Star Trek Online is an officially sanctioned product and has the full support of CBS. As a result, the game enjoys a level of continuity and lore compliancy seldom seen in other MMOs with licensed intellectual properties. Although STO has as mentioned, suffered from lapses in QA from time to time, the standard of writing has never been poor and with regard to Victory if Life, I believe that it has surpassed its own high standard.
There have been some complaints that Victory if Life is more of an update in scope and size, rather than a full-blown expansion, such as Delta Rising from 2014. And I think that it there a degree of truth to in some of the criticism levelled at the release. The additional five levels are trifling and make no real tangible difference to your character. The increase in gear upgrade cap from Mark XIV to Mark XV again only really have an impact on min-maxers seeking a nominal percentage gain in DPS. Then there are the three bespoke Jem’Hadar missions that are more like tutorials. Yes, they’re fun but they don’t really feel any different to the starter missions for the other races. In fact, these ones seem even light in content. And then there are the six missions that make up the Victory if Life story arc. Technically it’s seven but one was held back until 28th June, as a feature episode to keep the sense of engagement going. Yes, compared to other arcs it is a rather compact series. Yet I am prepared to overlook all these points, purely because this arc finally feels like STO has finally met it full narrative potential.
Victory is Life addresses the issue of what has happened in the Gamma Quadrant since the end of the Dominion War. Odo returns as an Ambassador for the Changelings, bearing ill news of the ravages of Hur’q. Seeking an alliance proves difficult with the Klingon’s particularly ill-disposed towards helping a recent enemy. Yet the Iconian war has granted many worlds a new sense of perspective, so it is interesting to see more diplomatic overtures from Cardassia and even Ferenginar. Naturally Odo crosses the pass of Kira Nerys and we get to see how the years and current affairs have affected their relationship. Elim Garak once again proves that there’s more to his role in the proceeding than immediately meets the eye. And as ever Quark proves that he has a heart of latinum as well as an eye to the main chance. Victory if Life succeeds in taking the characters we know and love from the TV show and giving them an equally viable story within the frame work of STO.
What becomes abundantly clear while playing Victory if Life is the presence of multiple original cast members. We have seen returning cast members interact before in STO but never on this scale. And the cast of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine remains exceptional. Listening to the precise and measured delivery of Andrew Robinson as Elim Garak, along with gruff yet emotional resonance of René Auberjonois as Odo is an absolute joy for fans. But I believe of all the six missions that feature in the expansion it is “Quark’s Lucky Seven” that is the jewel in the crown. This wonderfully conceived caper story plays out like a Ferengi version of Oceans Eleven. Quark, Rom, Nog, Leck and Brunt join forces to steal a priceless artefact, located in possibly the most dangerous place in the galaxy. Superbly written, wonderfully acted by a much beloved cast, it totally nails the essence of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The bar has just been raised and this is the standard by which all future STO content will now be judged by. That’s a big ask but it’s only what the franchise deserves. Well done Cryptic. More please.
LOTRO: Update 22.2
When I first started playing LOTRO in late 2008, I actually read the manual that came with my box copy, before I decided which class I was going to play. I chose the Lore-master as it sounded and interesting mixture of both ranged attacks and the use of pets. Being new to the MMO genre at the time, I didn’t realise that it was actually quite a complex class to play. Although I have dabbled with alts over the years I have stuck with this single character and until 2017, kept them relatively up to date with regard to content and respective skills. Mordor greatly dampened what enthusiasm for LOTRO and as a result I have fallen behind the curve. My gear is poor as I haven’t really progressed far into the lastest expansion. Combat has become a tedious grind, leaving me with a paradoxical situation. Poor gear makes progression slower, but bypassing Mordor leaves my character gimped. Bearing this in mind, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the Lore-master class changes that have come with Update 22.2 in the hope they will improve my situation. Sadly, I don’t think that today’s changes are the solution I’m looking for.
When I first started playing LOTRO in late 2008, I actually read the manual that came with my box copy, before I decided which class I was going to play. I chose the Lore-master as it sounded and interesting mixture of both ranged attacks and the use of pets. Being new to the MMO genre at the time, I didn’t realise that it was actually quite a complex class to play. Although I have dabbled with alts over the years I have stuck with this single character and until 2017, kept them relatively up to date with regard to content and respective skills. Mordor greatly dampened what enthusiasm for LOTRO and as a result I have fallen behind the curve. My gear is poor as I haven’t really progressed far into the lastest expansion. Combat has become a tedious grind, leaving me with a paradoxical situation. Poor gear makes progression slower, but bypassing Mordor leaves my character gimped. Bearing this in mind, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the Lore-master class changes that have come with Update 22.2 in the hope they will improve my situation. Sadly, I don’t think that today’s changes are the solution I’m looking for.
I am not a min-maxer per se and have never been a serious number cruncher when it comes to LOTRO. I broadly know what my skills do and have adopted a rotation that is common to many other LOTRO players who favour the Lore-master class. For me I define my combat effectiveness by the amount of time it takes to kill a single mob, along with how many skills I have to use or how many times I have to repeat my rotation. This may not be the most scientific method, but it works for me. I then temper combat effectiveness with another very subjective factor. Is the combat satisfying or is it a chore? Too often of late in LOTRO combat is the latter. For me, and possibly many other MMO players, there is a very personal tipping point between a credible and engaging fight and a dull, ponderous slog. For me it may be so many seconds, for another player it may be double or triple that time. What I do find with older MMOs is that combat does seem to take a lot longer, compared to modern titles. The Secret World suffered terribly from this problem and it still wasn’t adequately addressed for my liking, when the game was revised into Secret World Legends.
In LOTRO I predominantly follow the red skills line, looking to do maximum DPS. Therefore, the recent upgrade to Burning Embers (applying Gust of Wind to augment it into Searing Embers) is a “interesting” addition. However, the induction animation is a real nuisance and needs to be shortened. Lightning Strike has been tweaked and its cooldown has been shortened. I noticed I was hitting higher critical hits as a result. However, the initial heal from Water-lore has been removed so only the HoT component remains. Thus, you’ll only get the first heal after four seconds. Plus, Ring of Fire is currently broken which is a bit of an inconvenience as its use regularly features in my play style. However, I am concerned that by making the Lore-master’s single target DPS stronger, that our AoE has suffered. Also, the removal of the Wizards Fire component and its replacement with something that is essentially not commensurate, does strike me as an over simplification of gameplay.
After running several skirmishes today, I did conclude that my overall DPS had improved but that was only in specific circumstances. For the casual, PVE-centric player, who plays cautiously, pulling mobs individually or using crowd control to make fights sequential, then this update is an adequate improvement to the class. But for those who do like to group and contribute to a communal fight, then it there isn’t so much on offer. Lore-masters are not so able to deal DoTS and their AoE skills have been reduced. And irrespective of all of these changes, I still find that combat is too slow for my liking. It’s difficult to articulate without the use of numbers, but when fighting I expect at least one skill to do 15 to 20% damage to my opponent’s moral. It still feels too much like an uphill. But this is the conundrum of combat in gaming, especially the MMO genre. Trying to find that right balance that pleases the majority of players, or at least allowing them to augment their effectiveness by accessing the right sort of gear. I’m beginning to feel that the more LOTRO is updated, the gap between what you can achieve and what I currently have, is growing wider and wider. I don’t know if I ever will catch up.