Phase_of_Echoes
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Frist off I would like to say my name is Rainion according to the Elvish Name Generator :P
Second:
Sometimes screenshots just does not do a game any justice. What do I need to know about LoTRO?
How are the controls?
How do I access more powers or skills?
What kind of Task are there? Any examples?
Is the game open to exploration or are directed into one story line?
Thanks in advance!
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| 04/05/08 16:21 |
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Grifter0408
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| RE: What do I need to know? |
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| QUOTE | Frist off I would like to say my name is Rainion according to the Elvish Name Generator :P
Second:
Sometimes screenshots just does not do a game any justice. What do I need to know about LoTRO?
How are the controls?
How do I access more powers or skills?
What kind of Task are there? Any examples?
Is the game open to exploration or are directed into one story line?
Thanks in advance! |
LOTRO is a beautiful game, especially if your computer can churn out the graphics. I can say that this game ranks up there was visual goodness on the likes of CoH and even GW (both have stunning graphics). The world is quite large and wide open, the only instances you will encounter are specialized quest and dungeons. Other than that most of the game is spent out in the open world of Middle Earth.
CONTROLS:
If you have every played WoW and maybe CoH could help, you have the controls down. Movement keys are all the same and the powers are activated thru clicking. So in theory its pretty much like most of MMOs.
POWERS:
They are unlocked by levels and then purchasing them from your local trainer in the towns that inhabit Middle Earth. The cost of each depend on the level you receive them so higher level powers are more expensive but most likely you already have the bank to back it. And its been so long but I also believe you can earn additional powers/skills from unlocking Titles. The titles come from some sort of specific task such as defeat X creature X times or complete quest.
QUEST:
Quest are like most others, defeat this creature or hunt down this criminal. Then there are the instance quest that are very similar to Task Force in CoH (best example). These are tougher than normal quest that most likely require a group to complete. Normally these are part of the ongoing storyline of Lord of the Rings.
STORYLINE:
The main storyline of the LOTRO, of course, is the Fellowship. You dont aid them directly but the main Book Quest supposedly effect the outcome of their trials and travels. There are many other storylines in game that are basic side stories that are occur during the events of the Fellowship.
I am sure I am very behind in most of info but its from the last time I played which was Oct/Nov. But I plan to return back to Middle Earth within the next few months. I do miss by burglar class which is a great class. But that is just me and my rogue love. If I can find my old trial key I will send you one (that is if you havent already got one).
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| 04/05/08 17:13 |
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Nyoxis
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| RE: What do I need to know? |
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| QUOTE | Frist off I would like to say my name is Rainion according to the Elvish Name Generator :P
Second:
Sometimes screenshots just does not do a game any justice. What do I need to know about LoTRO? |
Hey Rainion. =)
The main thing you should need to know about LotRO is that it's the best game in the world.
Of course, I could expand on that in a thousand different ways, but rather I'll aproach your other questions.
| QUOTE | | How are the controls? |
The controls of LotRO are great, there's no 'sticky' movement, and it's a 'freedom to move' game. This means you can go pretty much everywhere that you see, with the exception of mountains and tall buildings etc.
When fighting, the movement isn't restricted so you have to make sure to remain facing your foe at all times, or they could start hammering at your back and you would be left defenceless. This is often the reason why people will encircle you in PvMP (like pvp) so that you're not hitting them, and they're hitting you.
Of course, one of the brilliant features of LotRO's movement system, is you can jump! Here's a quote from a Guild Wars dev diary, talking about the changes in Guild Wars 2:
| QUOTE | | [we will] Give players immense freedom of movement. The underlying systems in Guild Wars...prevented us from giving players the ability to jump and swim and explore their environment freely. |
See, LotRO already has all that on the movement front, with loads more features such as mounts, and the travel system. Mounts are of course horses, to fit in with the lore, and while there is no mounted combat system, book 13 will see players fighting enemies on mounts for a whole new game experience.
The horse travel system is to ease the time it takes to travel throughout the gigantic game, basically you'll pay a small fee and a horse will travel you to a stable in a town of your choice; simple, enjoyable and effective.
Movement throughout the game consumes far more time than Guild Wars or Knight Online (I apologise for my lack of experience) but it's 100% enjoyable because possibly the greatest feature of LotRO is it's stunning graphics.
| QUOTE | | How do I access more powers or skills? |
Fighting controls are skills that you'll earn as you gain levels, there's not many fast-clicker type skills, and there's some with hour long recharge, but generally you'll always be using a skill rather than auto-attacking.
Skills are closely tied with the game's trait system, when you complete tasks within different areas, you earn traits. While they're not completely neccessary for leveling up, they add points to your stats which makes your character better.
Class traits, are a type of trait that improves your skills, such as increasing the amount of enemies they affect, boosting damage or reducing recharge, and you earn these through generally fighting and using skills.
LotRO has a compelling and enthrilling system for character development and specialisation, with traits, weapons and armour, different characters can perform whole new roles within their profession.
| QUOTE | | What kind of Task are there? |
The game is set in an inventive and engaging format, you start your character in an instance that immediately brings you into the storyline of current affairs. From there your character will naturaly travel through areas, completing quests all the way, and level up as you proceed through the game map. There are loads of quest hotspots riddled throughout middle earth, common places being towns and camps, and they will keep you going till level 50 quite comfortably, with little grinding.
Epic quests are special, they are what leads you through the storyline, there's normally around 12 quests per book and there's currently 12 books (to be 13 before May) and I should add that the epic storyline is simply marvelous. The storyline, and the whole game, adheres to the book lore, but normally keeps you involved in the fellowship's journey east. Epic quests are extra exciting, with more cinematics, voice-overs & music, character involvement and a higher level of skill is involved in completing them.
Here's a killer example, this is what it's like starting with a character, as the race of man.
I began going through the instance, and took some screenys of anything that I thought you'd like to see, I'll keep the pics as links cause they're 1440 x 900. =)
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That's not the end of the instance, I thought I'd let you explore the rest...poor Amdir...*wink*
| QUOTE | | Is the game open to exploration or are directed into one story line? |
Aside from questing, the game allows players to explore freely, there are only maybe 3 places that have are unaccessible until you've completed a certain quest, in like the whole game. LotRO allows so much exploration that it would be difficult, but entirely possible to get to 50 by exploring and killing monsters. The crafting system involves loads of gathering, which invites players to adventure more around the maps and experience middle-earth.
I hope I've not gone on too long, if you've any more questions I'd be more than happy to field them, are you thinking of taking the trial?
Edit: nice work Grif, I thought I'd say, the graphical engines are far greater than Guild Wars, for the most part the 'scenery' is too. *wink*
Nyoxis.
***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***
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| 04/05/08 18:23 |
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Phase_of_Echoes
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| RE: What do I need to know? |
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Just saying WOW and Thank you is hardly going to do justice to the amount of information you guys gave! Very well done indeed!
The game looks nice and from the sounds of it the controls are fairly simple. The only MMORPGS I play are COH/COV and once upon a time Guild Wars.
What about the cost to play LoTRO?
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| 04/05/08 22:57 |
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Nyoxis
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| RE: What do I need to know? |
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The digital download is $19.99, standard edition boxed set is $19.99, special edition boxed set is $24.99- they all include 30 days of gameplay.
The monthly LOTRO subion options (in U.S dollars) are as follows:
$14.99 per month
$41.85 per 3 months
$77.70 per 6 months
$143.40 per 12 months
$299 Lifetime Membership. Lifetime Membership means you'll never again have to pay a subion fee for LOTRO*!
Refer A Friend And Play For Free!
You bet'cha I've got lifetime, =D
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| 04/06/08 07:21 |
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Phase_of_Echoes
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| RE: What do I need to know? |
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| QUOTE | $299 Lifetime Membership. Lifetime Membership means you'll never again have to pay a subion fee for LOTRO*!
Refer A Friend And Play For Free!
You bet'cha I've got lifetime, =D |
You die hard... :P
I imagine that the $299 is charged all at once?
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| 04/06/08 09:33 |
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Nyoxis
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| RE: What do I need to know? |
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| QUOTE | | QUOTE | $299 Lifetime Membership. Lifetime Membership means you'll never again have to pay a subion fee for LOTRO*!
Refer A Friend And Play For Free!
You bet'cha I've got lifetime, =D |
You die hard... :P
I imagine that the $299 is charged all at once? |
Yeah, though I'm UK so it was only around $199 at the time, It's great if you think you'd spend more than a year on it, and I don't need to wory about paying monthly etc.
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| 04/06/08 10:04 |
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Grifter0408
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| RE: What do I need to know? |
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I regret not having money at the time of beta to get the Founders Lifetime membership. I stuck to the $9.99 and now that I canceled I am back to the normal fee of $14.99, which I will gladly pay but really wish I could of paid the lifetime fee (at that time).
I believe this is one of those games that should be around for a while. And last I knew this game hasnt even expanded that far from the Shire and Rivendell. There are still tons of land to open up which means more content.
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| 04/06/08 13:52 |
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stanzhao1
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| RE: What do I need to know? |
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i still am suscribe to this game, but just dont play it. i cant get into it. i'm running around just talking to people not knowing what the hell i'm doing.
Just not sure where to start on the game i guess. there seems to be no real direction.
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| 04/08/08 06:16 |
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Nyoxis
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| RE: What do I need to know? |
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| QUOTE | i still am suscribe to this game, but just dont play it. i cant get into it. i'm running around just talking to people not knowing what the hell i'm doing.
Just not sure where to start on the game i guess. there seems to be no real direction. |
Okay Stan, I see you live in London, do you have a character on the Snowbourn server? If not, you could start a character there and I could give you a guided tour.
Otherwise, what class and race did you start as, or what area are you up to? The best way to go through the game is to follow the epic quests, that should always be in your quest log, they take you to new areas where you get more quests and progress through the game.
Always here to help. =)
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| 04/08/08 06:35 |
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