Really enjoying this game

Sharajat

Well, my story is probably a little familiar.  I burned out on WoW a while ago, and have been peddling for a game.  Contrary to what the haters say, WoW is a really good RPG in many respects, and so I wasn't really expecting a replacement.

I pinned some hopes on AoC, and some on Tabula Rasa.  So...

We've heard this one before.

 

I remembered LOTRO from the initial release, and while it failed to grab my interest, I figured, why the hey not. 

This game is really fun.  I recommend anyone thinking of getting it grab a free trial.  Is it the 'bestest game evah!!!1!!!!'  No.  It's a very acceptable alternative to WoW that's a lot better in so many respects. 

I can't think of how many things I've observed already they got right.  Quests?  Right.  Long rambling storylines that pull me back to the center without ever feeling forced.  'Destiny quests (The huge feature of AoC)?  Done first, and done right.  God they're fun.  One faction?  I can't overstress how right this is.  WoW is crippled by the fact that they divided their population in two halves.  It annoys me that so many upcoming RPGs are copying this broken model.  Hey congrats guys, you just doubled your server population without giving a single new person to group with!  NICE FAILURE.  Professions?  I'm not sure they're deeper, but they're more fun so far. 

 

At the time, it felt like WoW.   Now?  It feels like WoW 2.0 .  Not original, but improved. 

Overall?  I approve this game.  Its not 'the next greatest thing ever' but it's 'a fun thing for now, and maybe for the future.' 

Also Turbine needs to mail cakes to AoC and Warhammer, IE7 style.  Seriously, those two games will be the best things to ever happen to LOTRO. 

 

So me?  Probably migrating on.  It feels like I've played half the games on this board already (looking at the sidebar, it's really literally half).  But, maybe... not yet.

MaGicBush

I agree and disagree, this game does not play like WoW nor feel like. The community sets it apart BIG time, and WoW's end-game is horrible(IMHO).

sanders01

How is LOTROs any better? It's boring PvP, and End-game raids. You can RP alot better in LOTRO because most people are more familar with it. But saying WoWs end game is bad is just saying LOTROs is the same, they both have about the same end-game options.

Papadam

 

Glad you like the game OP!I agree that it isnt inovative in any way but still its very different from all other MMOs out there...(well releasing a polished and "finished"  MMO is pretty inovative, lets hope the indusrty follows )

Originally posted by sanders01


How is LOTROs any better? It's boring PvP, and End-game raids. You can RP alot better in LOTRO because most people are more familar with it. But saying WoWs end game is bad is just saying LOTROs is the same, they both have about the same end-game options.

 

Well the "End-game" in WoW and LotrO are very different designed... just because both games have PvP, raids and dungeons to do at cap ,it doesnt mean they designed it the same way...

When you reach lvl 50 in LotrO you get access to Everything in the game.. you arent locked out of anything just because you dont have enough rep or dont have good enough gear... is it the same in WoW? LotrO end game will never require you to make the game your second job to keep up with rest! Epic quest line book 8-14 is also "end-game"..

Thats the big difference IMO

 

Sharajat

Originally posted by Papadam


 
Glad you like the game OP!I agree that it isnt inovative in any way but still its very different from all other MMOs out there...(well releasing a polished and "finished"  MMO is pretty inovative, lets hope the indusrty follows )
Originally posted by sanders01


How is LOTROs any better? It's boring PvP, and End-game raids. You can RP alot better in LOTRO because most people are more familar with it. But saying WoWs end game is bad is just saying LOTROs is the same, they both have about the same end-game options.

 

Well the "End-game" in WoW and LotrO are very different designed... just because both games have PvP, raids and dungeons to do at cap ,it doesnt mean they designed it the same way...

When you reach lvl 50 in LotrO you get access to Everything in the game.. you arent locked out of anything just because you dont have enough rep or dont have good enough gear... is it the same in WoW? LotrO end game will never require you to make the game your second job to keep up with rest! Epic quest line book 8-14 is also "end-game"..

Thats the big difference IMO

 

 

I'd disagree it isn't innovative.  It is innovative in the original sense of the word - taking an existing concept and improving it.  That's what innovation is.  It's very good at that.

What it isn't is inventive.  Nothing I've seen has 'never been done before.'  It frequently does things that other MMOs do, better (What WoW excelled at). 

Also, I happen to like end-game raiding.  I really don't see what people want out of an endgame.  PvP, obviously, end-game instances, end-game soloing, and raiding.

 

It seems that people just have an issue that whenever you throw the word 'raiding' out there it means it's the 'only thing you can do.'  Turbine doesn't seem married to this concept - Blizzard is the company you should be actually complaining about here. 

Yes, there's the open end-game empire building that is really interesting and innovate, like Anarchy Online and Eve, but frankly, those work best when you have an open ended storyline.  LOTRO is the definition of a closed storyline - they have to stick to the books, with reasonable liberties.  So we can't have a guild deciding to conquer some kingdom and developing their own politics, because JRR didn't write that.  So we're stuck with the story we've got.

Is that a flaw?  Yes, possibly.  It's a design choice though.   Its about tradeoffs. 

Mariner-80

I have been trying to persuade my sister to try out the LOTRO free trial. We both played WoW, and she is heavy into the end-game stuff -- Karazhan, etc. -- but getting a bit bored. I'm more solo-minded generally and so I never got that far in WoW.

I told her yesterday that the most notable difference in LOTRO for me, anyway, is that I feel much more *involved* with the game. It's very hard to explain, but I just feel involved in the quests and story, both the big sweeping story and the smaller ones. I actually READ the (walls of) quest text because interesting (and often humorous) stories are being told. And many of the quest lines are like mini-stories in and of themselves. There's something self-mocking and jaded in WoW (with all its sly, sarcastic references to popular culture) that is totally absent in LOTRO's game design.

I also like running into characters from the books --Aragorn, etc. -- and I appreciate the expert way LOTRO dovetails the familiar story that we all know and love with your own character(s)'s story and quests.

Yesterday I was working on a series of quests in the Shire with my minstrel hobbit about a "Black Rider" that had been spotted in Bridegwater (I think that was the town). Anyway, the quest was winsome, funny, and clever all at the same time. I can't recall EVER having so much fun following quest arcs in WoW.