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LotRO's Monetization Changes Are Such A Breath Of Fresh Air | MMORPG.com

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  • TheDalaiBombaTheDalaiBomba Member EpicPosts: 1,493
    I'd be down to level through some content, but this game strikes me as one I'd only really enjoy in a group, and I am not sure if the playerbase is there to reliably group for the older content. 
  • JeroKaneJeroKane Member EpicPosts: 7,096
    edited March 2022
    I'd be down to level through some content, but this game strikes me as one I'd only really enjoy in a group, and I am not sure if the playerbase is there to reliably group for the older content. 
    Pretty much everyone, who doesn't buy a level booster, will quit when they reach Mines of Moria.

    Mines of Moria expansion was pretty great back in the day when the entire playerbase was leveling through it.
    Now you will be literally alone and is one hell of depressing experience in the dark.

    I had a blast back in the day, but now the last 6-7 years when I tried to come back and level a new character. I have a blast through the old SoA content (still the best of the entire game), but quit again the moment I reach Moria. Just cannot stomach leveling through it alone.

    Even after Moria,  its just hit and miss with content. Most of it is just plain boring grind fest.

    Lothlorien and Mirkwood are passable the first playthrough.

    After that. Rise of Isengard is one of the worst expansions Turbine released for LOTRO, next to Helms Deep.

    Rise of Isengard was the moment, when my highly active ( 100+ daily players) kinship started to die and by the time Helms Deep released, hardly anyone logged in anymore and quit. Kinship has been pretty much dead ever since.
    TheDalaiBombaVidahr
  • VidahrVidahr Member UncommonPosts: 123
    If you love Tolkien and the leveling experience, LotRO is a great game to play. It takes forever to level and it's a fun experience! Only downside is there are really only a handful of unique mobs in the game, being Tolkien and all it's kind of limiting.

    Endgame isn't anything to write home about, I'd say the journey/adventure to endgame (the midgame) is where LotRO really shines.
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  • HarikenHariken Member EpicPosts: 2,680
    So if you sub. you get all content except the last expansion. That's cool and should have been this way in the first place.
  • SetzerSetzer Member UncommonPosts: 261
    Still one of the best MMO's on the market and the new F2P changes are great. I highly recommend anyone that hasn't played it before to give it a shot. Graphically it may not be able to compete with the newer ones but for a game released 15yrs ago it still holds up well. There's a ton of content to do and the story content is amazing especially if you're a Tolkien fan. Mostly all of the content can be done solo but there's also group content as well. If you're a fan of in game events then Lotro has some of the best of any MMO and they happen frequently. It's the only MMO from that era that I still come back to and play.
  • TheocritusTheocritus Member LegendaryPosts: 9,976
    Setzer said:
    Still one of the best MMO's on the market and the new F2P changes are great. I highly recommend anyone that hasn't played it before to give it a shot. Graphically it may not be able to compete with the newer ones but for a game released 15yrs ago it still holds up well. There's a ton of content to do and the story content is amazing especially if you're a Tolkien fan. Mostly all of the content can be done solo but there's also group content as well. If you're a fan of in game events then Lotro has some of the best of any MMO and they happen frequently. It's the only MMO from that era that I still come back to and play.

    Last time I played was a couple of years ago...what are the new f2p changes?...I know that when I left they severely limited how much money f2p players could have and it was crippling, not fun at all.....
  • SetzerSetzer Member UncommonPosts: 261
    Setzer said:
    Still one of the best MMO's on the market and the new F2P changes are great. I highly recommend anyone that hasn't played it before to give it a shot. Graphically it may not be able to compete with the newer ones but for a game released 15yrs ago it still holds up well. There's a ton of content to do and the story content is amazing especially if you're a Tolkien fan. Mostly all of the content can be done solo but there's also group content as well. If you're a fan of in game events then Lotro has some of the best of any MMO and they happen frequently. It's the only MMO from that era that I still come back to and play.

    Last time I played was a couple of years ago...what are the new f2p changes?...I know that when I left they severely limited how much money f2p players could have and it was crippling, not fun at all.....

    It's in the article above or you can read the letter from the Producer on the Lotro website.

    "However, in the most recent producer's letter, the monetization changes many of us hoped for are coming to fruition. Standing Stone Games, leading up to Lord of the Rings Online's 15th Anniversary, is making much of its content, including previous paid-DLCs free to all players, full stop. Additionally, races, such as the High Elf, as well as classes like the Runekeeper and Warden, which have been previously locked behind paywalls are now free. This is in addition to the changes brought with the recent Rangers and Ruins release."

  • NeblessNebless Member RarePosts: 1,871
    edited March 2022
    templarga said:
    Can someone take pity on me (having a case of the Mondays on Tuesday and a migraine as well) and simply explain what I would to purchase to be able to play if I returned?

    I checked my account and have up through Moria. I am thinking mainly of the expansions. I guess I would be good for a while with just that as I would start completely over. I thought about returning since I am looking for a good story based MMO.
    It's going to depend on what regions you own after the LoneLands (last free region) and the start of Moria.  If you're good and can straight quest on what you have from lvl 1 through Moria than start and take your time, aiming to finish Moria mid-April.  If there's a lot of questing holes between the LoneLands and Moria than I'd say wait to start playing.

    After mid to late April the new F2p changes will kick in and everything from lvl 1 to lvl 95 will be the free to play area.  So for you that means all the regions before Moria and then ALL the content after Moria through Helm's Deep.  (so you save on not having to buy what you don't own before Moria and the 4 expansions that come after Moria plus all the various regions between Moria and Helm's Deep).

    After that point you're looking at some regions, Mordor, Minas Mogul, Three Peaks, Gundaband and some various regions to buy.

    Or you can sub after Helm's Deep and you'll get to play through the post-Helm's Deep regions and do Mordor and Minas Mogul without having to buy them.

    SWG (pre-cu) - AoC (pre-f2p) - PotBS (pre-boarder) - DDO - LotRO (pre-f2p) - STO (pre-f2p) - GnH (beta tester) - SWTOR - Neverwinter

  • GumpsGangGumpsGang Member UncommonPosts: 4

    Sovrath said:



    I get bored pretty quickly starting over....I start going through areas that remind me of why I quit in the first place......


    I started over on the "classic" servers (or whatever they were called) but as I leveled I realized I was going to have to do certain areas over like Lothlorien (hated grinding for the horse but I did it) and Heitbolt which made me want to quite the game.

    Then I realized I'd have to do Helm's deep all over and I stopped playing.



    I would say other also feel the same way about Hybolt and Helm's Deep. Hybolt can be skipped , but was also changed so it's not longer a big grind if you do want to complete it (couple of year back maybe). Helm's Deep now has a solo alternative story path if you want to skip the epic battles (released at the same time as the wedding?).
    Sovrath
  • GumpsGangGumpsGang Member UncommonPosts: 4

    KroxMalon said:





    Yes, developers finally made one wise choice. As far as I know - everyone I talked to is satisfied. For new players this means really free play, enjoying every step of Middle Earth. And classes unlocked (except grumpy Stout axe)!


    It is high time for Lotro to finally say the truth: all content free for VIPs, as long as they are VIPs. Expansion, micro-expansion, maxi-expansion, quest packs - everything.


    Overall - good, wise step that would bring more players and more cash to Lotro. Bravo, developers!






    "Publishers", finally made a good choice. Dev's would have little to do with these decisions.



    The Dev (SSG) are the ones who presented the ideas to the publisher. I remember when this path started, an early task of the new Sr Producer.
  • ScorchienScorchien Member LegendaryPosts: 8,914
    Breath of Fresh Air .. my ass ..

    They are Lubing the LOTRO community up for there next version of invasive P2W cash shop ..
    BLNX
  • KSibKSib Member UncommonPosts: 35
    I'm glad people are happy about this but does it really even matter? Who was holding out on this being a more friendly f2p game over a decade later?
    BLNX
  • olepiolepi Member EpicPosts: 3,017
    Does it say what happens to those of us who bought lifetime subs back at launch?

    ------------
    2024: 47 years on the Net.


  • NanfoodleNanfoodle Member LegendaryPosts: 10,875
    Companies never make anything "free". They just move the cost elsewhere.
    I have gotten lots of things for free that did not cost me anything more down the line. Example. Epic games has given me about, Im guessing about $500-800 in games. Some new releases. I still have not given them a penny but I sure have enjoyed the games. Also, their games, I have looked. Dont cost more then other places, as long as your not counting sales but Epic Games also have sales and coupons. 
    TheDalaiBomba
  • NanfoodleNanfoodle Member LegendaryPosts: 10,875
    olepi said:
    Does it say what happens to those of us who bought lifetime subs back at launch?
    You got the monies worth. Be happy a dying MMO is trying to keep the lights on for you if you still play. 

    Mendel
  • BC_AnimusBC_Animus Member UncommonPosts: 115
    olepi said:
    Does it say what happens to those of us who bought lifetime subs back at launch?
    You still get all the VIP perks and monthly coins for the store... not much has changed.  It's mainly to draw in new and returning players.
  • lahnmirlahnmir Member LegendaryPosts: 5,050
    olepi said:
    Does it say what happens to those of us who bought lifetime subs back at launch?
    I guess you guys will be slightly less envied since you got one of the best deals in gaming ever. I for instance have a The Secret World lifetime sub, go figure. Got my money’s worth though.

    /Cheers,
    Lahnmir
    'the only way he could nail it any better is if he used a cross.'

    Kyleran on yours sincerely 


    'But there are many. You can play them entirely solo, and even offline. Also, you are wrong by default.'

    Ikcin in response to yours sincerely debating whether or not single-player offline MMOs exist...



    'This does not apply just to ED but SC or any other game. What they will get is Rebirth/X4, likely prettier but equally underwhelming and pointless. 

    It is incredibly difficult to design some meaningfull leg content that would fit a space ship game - simply because it is not a leg game.

    It is just huge resource waste....'

    Gdemami absolutely not being an armchair developer

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  • KnightFalzKnightFalz Member EpicPosts: 4,522
    The air isn't all that fresh, seeing as their f2p mode was horrible and ridiculously outdated. Maybe now it will be more competitive with modern examples of such.
  • achesomaachesoma Member RarePosts: 1,768
    These are some nice changes but the game is in bad need of a makeover. Starting with making it 4k compatible and overhauling the UI.

    LOTRO is also in need of a level and stat squish with some ability pruning. Just seeing the max level of 140 is overwhelming. I can't imagine too many people wanting to start or restart a game with that many levels. Also having your screen cluttered with around 48 abilities and clickies is just ridiculous. I have a lifetime account and probably the most I've ever got for my money in gaming. However, I can't bring myself to jump back in and commit to 140 levels and relearn classes.
    Nanfoodle
    Preaching Pantheon to People at PAX  PAX East 2018 Day 4 - YouTube
  • UtinniUtinni Member EpicPosts: 2,209
    Please remove the cash shop icons off of every single UI element and just put them in one location please.
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