Thread: Epic quest fail!

WARNING SPOILERS BELOW










Alright, am I part of some bad April Fool's joke? I mean really. I'm finishing up the last book on Vol1 and after being repeatedly spanked (story-wise) by the enemies I felt bad. Then I started interrogating Mordrambor. Despite his obvious treachery I'm forced to dance on his strings and "surprise!" I've been manipulated the whole time! Then it seems to break down into a series of runs from Rivendell to Delossad where I'm nothing more than an errand-boy.
Could they make me feel any less heroic? Why do the peoples of Middle Earth keep entrusting me to tasks more difficult than milking cows? After repeated failures I'm obviously inept to do these quests.

I wish they would have put more thought into the actual quest (story line seems fine) cause my role seems insignificant at best, detrimental at worst. I'm just wondering if anyone else shares my experiences or if I'm being a whiny jerk.

Mindset.

I think the titular quest notation of "epic" can lead people astray. To me, my character was never meant to be the "hero" of the story because I knew (metagaming, yes) that the actual Fellowship contains the primary heroes. It's made clear in some places, I thought, that your role is really to support the goals of the Free Peoples and ultimately that party responsible for the One Ring and returning the king to his throne. You may be the hero of a region or smaller enclaves of people, but ultimately, you're supporting cast to the Fellowship within this setting. I actually find this setup refreshing when there are so many games that give rise to the I AM THE ONE HEROIC PRINCE SON OF THIS MAJOR NPC GONNA SAVE THE WORLD BOW BEFORE ME business. (But maybe that's irritation borne out of godmode RPers, dunno. ) YMMV.

The epic questline isn't perfect, but it's still unique in MMOs and incredibly rich compared to sooooo many other MMO quests you could be doing.

As for all that riding/running around and messenger business, I'll point to Paul Revere.

Yah I know where you're coming from. I'm not talking about being uber hero of Middle Earth. It was just so disappointing that so often my efforts were in vain and ended in failure (in some form or another). I don't need to feel as influential as Aragorn, but moreso than Fredregar (Fatty) Bolger would be nice =P (perhaps a slight exaggeration there).

I do not know if you have finished V1 yet, so I will not send a spoiler. But it does get better.

I also think V1 followed the lore of the game very well.

The enery is very powerful. They have endless hordes of mobs to toss at use. There is no way the small scattered forces of the free people can stop the advance. The enemy has been making plans in secert for years and years while the free folks just got on with their lifes. Now we are fighting for our lives and it looks like all hope is lost.

Yet, because of this it seems hopeless to fight the enemy. But we have a secert weapon because by chance one small hobbit picked up a ring bout 80 years ago?

Let's just say yes it feels helpless right now but your actions do make a differance in the end.

I just finished the SoA epic for the first time on any of my characters and all I can say is WOW. Yes the running back and forth and all over hell's creation got a little old, but the story line was AWESOME.

SOOOO well done, and TY so much for making these solo so I could finally get to see it!

Originally Posted by Meijha

Yes the running back and forth and all over hell's creation got a little old

You mean Illuvatar's creation? :P But yeah, from Book 11 on, unless you are a hunter or have one with you? Yikes!

Originally Posted by Meijha

I just finished the SoA epic for the first time on any of my characters and all I can say is WOW. Yes the running back and forth and all over hell's creation got a little old, but the story line was AWESOME.

SOOOO well done, and TY so much for making these solo so I could finally get to see it!

I agree...great story but dang, that back and forth is horrid. I don't mind riding all over ME but V1B15 was absolutely ghastly. If it takes 2 hours to do, 1.5 hours are spent riding back and forth, possibly even longer than that. I'd hate to throw a "fast travel" out there, but I felt it sort of breaks the continuity of the quest line. I'd hop a horse from Riv to Echad Candelleth, walk away from the computer (or alt-tab to check email or something) to do something else then come back (hopefully) prior to getting to EC so I can cut down on some travel.

I guess it's a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things. Although my feelings about that book are of 2 extremes, absolutely best story/quests along with the worst in length of dead time (travel time).

Originally Posted by Jetblackrogue

Yah I know where you're coming from. I'm not talking about being uber hero of Middle Earth. It was just so disappointing that so often my efforts were in vain and ended in failure (in some form or another). I don't need to feel as influential as Aragorn, but moreso than Fredregar (Fatty) Bolger would be nice =P (perhaps a slight exaggeration there).

Respectfully... if you're looking for victory without some form of failure in Tolkien's world, you will not find it, not perhaps until 'the end'. If you framed victory in the context of redemption instead of the base vanquishing of a minor and replaceable evil, you might find the Book more satisfying.

I'm actually thankful that Turbine has chosen to treat the Story with the tones of haplessness and fatalism that characterize Tolkien's stories. Instead of just another forgettable trophy of conquest, the portrait of young Narmaleth abides as a memento of a great, sad, and haunting fate.

I hate the epic quest lines. All of them. They are nothing more than a marginally more glamorous way to waste our time. It doesn't matter how engaging the story is becaue any plot they may contain becomes completely pointless when I spend 99% of my time traveling. I do not care to spend my paid-for time reading two paragraphs of text (sometimes it's only a few words!) every 10 minutes.

Here is the formula for the epic storylines:

1. Travel (either across the map or across the entire world)
2. Speak (occasionally replace "speak" with "kill");
3. Return.

That's it. The same TSR that applies to every other quest in the game, only on these there is roughly 100 times the mileage.

Has there ever been, for example, a more horrendous and obnoxious quest line than the Volume 1, Book 13 Forochel farce where we travelled across the map approximately 713 times just to have conversations with the hag in the cave and the bearded jerk-off on the igloo throne? Sweet Jesus. Hope you have access to that swift travel route.

For all the praise people heap on the epic quests they're really just plain insulting. I will never care about an "Academy Award winning" script that does nothing but send me around in circles for an hour. The gameplay completely defeats any sense of appreciation or awe that I could ever hope to muster.

Then there's the Volume 1, Book 14 epic quest where you have the honor of Session Playing an Angmarim tasked with killing slugs and waking up sleeping orcs. Wow, thanks. That WAS compelling. And I did it to have the further honor of witnessing a conversation that went something like this:

"Where's the ring?"

"It's far away."

"I need it."

"Oh, okay."

"Thanks."

Do you maybe think Turbine designed that quest specifically to waste yet more of your time in game? Talk about a pointless story. Perhaps my expectations are too high. Or maybe everyone else's are too low.

Originally Posted by Sarcasmo

I hate the epic quest lines. All of them. They are nothing more than a marginally more glamorous way to waste our time. It doesn't matter how engaging the story is becaue any plot they may contain becomes completely pointless when I spend 99% of my time traveling. I do not care to spend my paid-for time reading two paragraphs of text (sometimes it's only a few words!) every 10 minutes.

Here is the formula for the epic storylines:

1. Travel (either across the map or across the entire world)
2. Speak (occasionally replace "speak" with "kill");
3. Return.

That's it. The same TSR that applies to every other quest in the game, only on these there is roughly 100 times the mileage.

Has there ever been, for example, a more horrendous and obnoxious quest line than the Volume 1, Book 13 Forochel farce where we travelled across the map approximately 713 times just to have conversations with the hag in the cave and the bearded jerk-off on the igloo throne? Sweet Jesus. Hope you have access to that swift travel route.

For all the praise people heap on the epic quests they're really just plain insulting. I will never care about an "Academy Award winning" script that does nothing but send me around in circles for an hour. The gameplay completely defeats any sense of appreciation or awe that I could ever hope to muster.

Then there's the Volume 1, Book 14 epic quest where you have the honor of Session Playing an Angmarim tasked with killing slugs and waking up sleeping orcs. Wow, thanks. That WAS compelling. And I did it to have the further honor of witnessing a conversation that went something like this:

"Where's the ring?"

"It's far away."

"I need it."

"Oh, okay."

"Thanks."

Do you maybe think Turbine designed that quest specifically to waste yet more of your time in game? Talk about a pointless story. Perhaps my expectations are too high. Or maybe everyone else's are too low.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS ... CLARK? "

Lotro's quest dialogue has been for most part best ive come across ... in any MMO ever .. and Ive paid almost every single one thats come out since EQ except free ones ....

your dime but reading them is actually kinda cool .... but i understand a portion of the mmo comuunity prefer action based games and would prefer their mmo be the same with no silly reading required

Originally Posted by Trushott

"ARE YOU SERIOUS ... CLARK? "

Lotro's quest dialogue has been for most part best ive come across ... in any MMO ever .. and Ive paid almost every single one thats come out since EQ except free ones ....

your dime but reading them is actually kinda cool .... but i understand a portion of the mmo comuunity prefer action based games and would prefer their mmo be the same with no silly reading required

How long does it take you to read 5 lines of text?

Go.

STOP.

Now hop on your horse for 15 minutes.

Originally Posted by Sarcasmo

How long does it take you to read 5 lines of text?

Go.

STOP.

Now hop on your horse for 15 minutes.

might i suggest quake 3 for you

I'm honestly not some FPS-playing thirteen year old with ADHD and a need for instant gratification.

Anyway I'm all better now. I may be back in the future, however, depending on travel times.

Originally Posted by Trushott

might i suggest quake 3 for you

I love Quake 3. There's nothing wrong with liking all sorts of games, I hope, because if so I am definitely guilty as charged. Recently played through Quake and one of its expansions, as a matter of fact, and had a great time.

MoL

I actually had no issues with book 15's travel, because I combined it with questing in Eregion. I would start a play session in Rivendell, ride to Delossad and do whatever quest update needed doing, then proceed to Eregion and quest for a while, then gate back to Rivendell to complete the next quest section and log out. It worked quite well. It also probably helped that I was alternating play sessions with my new Runekeeper, and also playing with some friends who were on a free trial at the time. However, I never felt at ALL like I was travelling excessively.

Sometimes (actually, a lot) I think players get too focused on whatever task is uppermost in their minds - must do book 15! Must run this instance 27 times to get Radiance gear! Must get every Scroll of Empowerment I need right now! - and miss the fact that there's usually a LOT of different things to do around at any given time, which can be strug together in a variety of ways. In many cases, mixing up play will improve enjoyment of ALL of it.

As much as I enjoy combat in this game, I applaud any part of the epic quest that isn't just about combat. I enjoy the lush environments, the mood, the drama, and the storyline as much as the tactical challenge that is instance content. Especially when you haven't been in an area for months, it can be nice to actually stay AT the keyboard while travelling to enjoy the sights and sounds. Sometimes I even take my own horse in preference to swift travel.

Originally Posted by Sarcasmo

I hate the epic quest lines. All of them. They are nothing more than a marginally more glamorous way to waste our time. It doesn't matter how engaging the story is becaue any plot they may contain becomes completely pointless when I spend 99% of my time traveling. I do not care to spend my paid-for time reading two paragraphs of text (sometimes it's only a few words!) every 10 minutes.

Here is the formula for the epic storylines:

1. Travel (either across the map or across the entire world)
2. Speak (occasionally replace "speak" with "kill");
3. Return.

That's it. The same TSR that applies to every other quest in the game, only on these there is roughly 100 times the mileage.

Has there ever been, for example, a more horrendous and obnoxious quest line than the Volume 1, Book 13 Forochel farce where we travelled across the map approximately 713 times just to have conversations with the hag in the cave and the bearded jerk-off on the igloo throne? Sweet Jesus. Hope you have access to that swift travel route.

For all the praise people heap on the epic quests they're really just plain insulting. I will never care about an "Academy Award winning" script that does nothing but send me around in circles for an hour. The gameplay completely defeats any sense of appreciation or awe that I could ever hope to muster.

Then there's the Volume 1, Book 14 epic quest where you have the honor of Session Playing an Angmarim tasked with killing slugs and waking up sleeping orcs. Wow, thanks. That WAS compelling. And I did it to have the further honor of witnessing a conversation that went something like this:

"Where's the ring?"

"It's far away."

"I need it."

"Oh, okay."

"Thanks."

Do you maybe think Turbine designed that quest specifically to waste yet more of your time in game? Talk about a pointless story. Perhaps my expectations are too high. Or maybe everyone else's are too low.

I couldn't agree more. The pointless go to the stable, return to Elrond, go to the stable is irrating at best. But the sessions play beyond being boring and pointless seems designed to make us feel like Laerdan (tortured).

Sadly for myself, I'm on my 4/6 time doing this simple because I'm anal compulsive for the horse and title... or perhaps it was getting to book 10 and thinking, "I mind's well finish"... No I'm thinking anal compulsive.