Thread: Yet another WoW clone (but with great potential)

Originally Posted by Fedris

It's funny how people say this is a "wow-clone" yet WoW has taken some things from Lotro. A few examples Quest Helper type mod, Lotro had it first. Hunter focus, Lotro had it first (and has a way better system for focus).

I am not gonna go into whole debate because it is pointless but WoW had hunter focus in early alpha but was scraped when the game launched.

Every game takes something from another game tho, simple as that.

Originally Posted by Anaesthesia

Nameless:

Sure, but...the only thing the OP really did that merited any of the venom that he got was calling LotRO "just another WOW clone" in the title.

That wasn't particularly smart, nor was it correct, in the sense that ultimately all MMO's have the same design principle by the very nature of the gaming niche that they are serving, and WOW certainly wasn't the first, or most innovative. I'm all for giving him a pedantic beat down where we list off every MMO in existence until we hit Meridian 59, and then one of you old timers can start talking about MUD's until we all get bored.

However, the rest of the venom was uncalled for, unnecessary, and frankly makes you all look completely unreasonable. There is room for civil discussion on all of his points.

Hey, I mud! Glad to do it too... but I digress...

Yes, a lot of venom was sent his way, but that is because of the WoWers who came before him. Also the tone of his post was very akin to what we have all heard before.

Think of it like this. You walk by an elf and barks and it tries to bite you, you walk around it. By 100th elf of that kind... barks ... and tries to bite you... in a row.. you start kicking every elf you see that is that same breed of elf. Is it fair to that elf? No, but that elf started to bark just like all the others.

I was going to use dog instead of elf, but I know some people think of dogs as people. So I decided to go with something that noone thinks of as people. ~.*

Originally Posted by NamelessZombie

Think of it like this. You walk by a *hobbit* and barks and it tries to bite you, you walk around it. By 100th *hobbit* of that kind... barks ... and tries to bite you... in a row.. you start kicking every *hobbit* you see that is that same breed of *hobbit*. Is it fair to that *hobbit*? No, but that *hobbit* started to bark just like all the others.

I understand that you are tired of the conversation. To me, however, that just implies that you need to take a break from the discussion until you can be your gorgeous witty self again. Think of it this way, if it has been brought up "100" times, then perhaps its not an idea that is going to go away, regardless of how brusquely you nay-say it. Maybe it even has merit. Possibly it could be spun into something awesome and shiny that we would all benefit from.

Not sure if the OP even follows this thread anymore, and I read the first few pages but I just couldn't be bothered with the rest and I'm sure everything has been said but...

the way I see it, LOTRO and WoW share a lot of the same things, because a huge amount of those are generally extremely useful, and many single player games have them too. Health/mana renamed to moral/power? Doesn't every single RPG out there have health (HP/energy/etc.) barring a rare few exceptions. Quest helper is a useful tool and when you have 20+ quests it can get a bit tedious to find your way by re-reading the quest texts over and over again. Lots of games have this and a lot of other MMOs have quests too. It just happens to be an entertaining (for many) way to make the player follow the possible story of the game, and correct me if I'm wrong, but WoW doesn't exactly have the "book" quests that take you to instances and out of them upon completion.

I know I skipped through a horrible amount of text, but so many people agree that WoW and LOTRO are alike. I just personally find it that all MMOs are alike to WoW if WoW is the only game that is "allowed" to have quests, quest helper, health, experience, etcetc. LOTRO has a lot of great things that WoW doesn't (to name a few; outfits, titles, housing, incredibly well adjustable graphics (imo), F2P, premium, vip "payment methods") and vise versa But LOTRO is not WoW and WoW is not LOTRO.

The "WoW clone" comparisons are still valid, if you consider that many people don't have a broader view of what MMOs are, in general.

Many people will be coming from WoW as their first, and only MMO experience. Others will be coming from WoW, after only brief stints in other MMOs. WoW did a lot to define (sometimes to the extreme, southpark, anyone?) MMO culture.

I think if it like the anecdote about the native americancs who didn't even notice the spanish sailing vessels anchored off of their shores, because they didn't have a frame of reference to compare that experience to. One story discusses how the natives would see the water disturbed, and the waves, but could not see the ships, and it appeared as though people were dropping canoes from the sky and getting off of their clouds onto them, becore rowing to shore.

So, just consider that many people are just now expanding their MMO reporte from WoW (as their only MMO Experience) to include LotRO, which will help to expand their understanding of the MMO genre as a whole.

(BTW, WoW cloned a lot of ideas that came out of the NWN PW(persistent world) craze that came out back in the day)

It's easy for me to see how LotRO is not a WoW clone because I have been steeped in MMOs since the genres inception with Ultima Online. (Then to EverQuest, tried WoW for some months, DDO, CoH, SWG, then skipped out of MMOs all-together and played Battlefield 2 & 2142 instead. I also found time in there to build a small but noteworthy PW for NWN.)

Originally Posted by EtherDragon

It's easy for me to see how LotRO is not a WoW clone because I have been steeped in MMOs since the genres inception with Ultima Online.

For me, it's obvious that LOTRO is an AC2 clone. I can see it in the animations, in the sounds, in the waving grass (before they turned that off in AC2 because computers at the time weren't ready to handle that level of detail). Even the old Empyrean Heiromancer animations are pretty close to the RuneKeeper ones now.

However, I let people make comparisons to WoW, if that's all they've played. I'm not so found of "LOTRO stole this from WoW" accusations, or "LOTRO should do this because WoW does it" comments.

sorry to digress

I haven't yet made a post here in the LOTRO community; I only started playing last week (finally got an installation download that worked!) But I really want to post here as a WoW player first, and then with my initial impressions of LOTRO - especially reading the posts of the LOTRO community.

I've played WoW for six years now, since the open beta. I've been a part of a successful raiding group and my WoW friends are some of my best buddies. I've loved the heck out of that game. But recently, after playing through the last expansion and getting back into routine, I found myself looking at it differently. First with boredom, and then with frustration. I started looking around for another game, saw LOTRO was now free to play, and got down to business trying it out and looking up all I could about it.

I was *amazed* at the differences.

As a WoW player with friends playing other games, including LOTRO, I always thought it *was* just a WoW-clone in a Middle-Earth world. At first glance the interface looks the same, and I was vaguely aware of the classes, instancing, questing, etc. I wrote it off for years because of that. Then, trying it out, reading the Wiki, I was floored by how it is NOT A WOW-CLONE AT ALL.

The two games start at a common point, then as far as I can tell diverge in two totally different directions. Now, I'm a roleplayer in WoW, and have been struggling with roleplaying aspect of WoW for years. Now I find a game that has player housing, clothing dyes, an appearance tab - these are things WoW RPers have been *begging for* for years. I gaped at the list of emotes, all the wonderful animations for them (I hope no one found me going through them all in a corner of the woods!) at the furniture you can make and buy, all the little RP items... the MUSIC! Oh, the MUSIC. Not to mention the beautiful graphics, the way the NPC's move around naturally, that cat who curls up at the feet of the musician in Archet, the voice acting with every new quest... the list goes on and on. Horses that look like horses! With awesome color variations and beautiful barding! Oh, my roleplayer heart has been soaring.

I haven't trained a vocation yet, but... farming?? Awesome. A WoW-friend of mine is trying it out just for the sheer joy of having a house. And it's FREE? This huge sandbox is FREE? Well, mostly. I'm sure I'll be putting a bit of money into it here and there, eventually.

That's just the thing: LOTRO feels like a sandbox in which you create a character to build a life and exist with others almost any way you want. WoW is a sandbox in which you create a character to build the biggest sand castle you possibly can. There is ONE main reason to play WoW: level your character and get them the best stuff (hopefully while having fun with friends.) I already have half a dozen reasons to play LOTRO, and NONE of them are dependent on leveling or gear.

Things like fast travel (flying mounts) and the LFG tool help make your playtime in WoW more productive. You hit a button and get in a group and get gear and points without ever having to talk to anyone. WoW is about BECOMING AWESOME - and if that's your goal in playing a MMO, WoW a fantastic game. I've felt awesome quite often in WoW, with my huge shiny weapons and my fancy dragon mounts and my psychedelic-cartoon graphics. But when there's a part of you that wants the RPG aspect - that wants to immerse yourself in a world as a character - LOTRO offers that. Any kind of progression would just be icing on the cake.

TLR version:

I watched a Youtube video the other day comparing WoW to LOTRO. The WoW parts showed a mighty tauren in huge armor with the Twin Blades of Azzinoth legendary weapons, riding and flying and kicking ??? in the colorful world. The LOTRO parts showed beautiful landscapes and meandering NPC's in the rich setting of Middle Earth.

From what I have gathered so far, they are two ENTIRELY different games.

Originally Posted by banjo_di

TLR version:

I watched a Youtube video the other day comparing WoW to LOTRO. The WoW parts showed a mighty tauren in huge armor with the Twin Blades of Azzinoth legendary weapons, riding and flying and kicking ??? in the colorful world. The LOTRO parts showed beautiful landscapes and meandering NPC's in the rich setting of Middle Earth.

From what I have gathered so far, they are two ENTIRELY different games.

What an amazing first post, you hit the nail on its head. Seldom I've seen the difference between the two games described so clear and colorful. I'll bookmark it and link it for every "Why doesn't Lotro do xy like WoW, it's so much better there!" poster.

Originally Posted by banjo_di

I haven't yet made a post here in the LOTRO community; I only started playing last week (finally got an installation download that worked!) But I really want to post here as a WoW player first, and then with my initial impressions of LOTRO - especially reading the posts of the LOTRO community.

I've played WoW for six years now, since the open beta. I've been a part of a successful raiding group and my WoW friends are some of my best buddies. I've loved the heck out of that game. But recently, after playing through the last expansion and getting back into routine, I found myself looking at it differently. First with boredom, and then with frustration. I started looking around for another game, saw LOTRO was now free to play, and got down to business trying it out and looking up all I could about it.

I was *amazed* at the differences.

...

Then, trying it out, reading the Wiki, I was floored by how it is NOT A WOW-CLONE AT ALL.

...

From what I have gathered so far, they are two ENTIRELY different games.

First of all, I heartily welcome you to the LotRO community, and I'm glad to hear a new player who appreciates LotRO too....

I agree with Qhouri, you have provided a very well stated first post.

You've homed in quite impressively on the one thing that lots of "veteran MMO players" seem to completely miss - the fact that LotRO IS different from other games out there. Those differences are not only what make it a game of its own, but make it one that is enjoyable to players who aren't looking for the same things other games offer...

Thanks for your input & I hope to see you around Middle Earth!

Originally Posted by banjo_di

An excellent post.

Welcome to Lotro and the community!

Thankyou also for restoring some of my faith in the ability of long-time WoW-players to still be insightful.

You're right, and it is something that a lot of the "I've played this huge list of other MMOs" crowd of people tend to miss: LotRO is, in its essence, unlike pretty much any other MMO you might ever play.

Hope you continue to play and enjoy the game.

-Niara

Originally Posted by banjo_di

From what I have gathered so far, they are two ENTIRELY different games.

Wonderfully written post! I agree 100%. I've also gone down the MMO road playing EQ1/EQ2, WoW and now LOTRO. They are all different games with different things to offer. To cry about why this game isn't enough like WoW is absurd. All games seem to get 'dumbed' down over time. For now, LOTRO is doing exactly what I need it to do... entertain me!

Originally Posted by Harla

Got any of those beardy, ale-quaffing dwarves over there in Azeroth? The rotund and strong-enduring folks, who love their axes? Dwarves who might, on occasion, shout 'By Muilidan's Beard!'? You know where dwarves of that nature and ideological form came from originally?
-Niara

Glad to see someone pointed out the race, and how a lot of lore from WoW is originated from Tolkien's.
As for your dwarves bit. Wrong dwarf.
WoW dwarves aren't like Tolkien's, at all. Look at Gimli (To save any embarrassment for those of who have not read book but seen the movie, Gimli was the stark opposite of Rhys-Davies in the movie). WoW: Scottish, rude, ale-quaffers, rotund. None of these described of the dwarves in Tolkien's work. So basically, whoever came up with those kind of dwarves did this: Steal the name, beard, height, and general traits (sturdy, metallurgically-advanced, endurance, et cetera) and added comical traits that Tolkien did have to his (In The Hobbit, they were slightly silly, but not out-right comical ('cept fat Bombur :P).

How they acted? (Didn't act like the do in the game either, and no, they had no special affinity for ale)
http://lotrofounder.blogspot.com/200...rom-dorfs.html

Originally Posted by Thaimli

WoW: Scottish, rude, ale-quaffers, rotund. None of these described of the dwarves in Tolkien's work.

Bombur was rotund

Originally Posted by banjo_di

I haven't yet made a post here in the LOTRO community; I only started playing last week (finally got an installation download that worked!) But I really want to post here as a WoW player first, and then with my initial impressions of LOTRO - especially reading the posts of the LOTRO community.
<snippy ..... snipped>
TLR version:

I watched a Youtube video the other day comparing WoW to LOTRO. The WoW parts showed a mighty tauren in huge armor with the Twin Blades of Azzinoth legendary weapons, riding and flying and kicking ??? in the colorful world. The LOTRO parts showed beautiful landscapes and meandering NPC's in the rich setting of Middle Earth.

From what I have gathered so far, they are two ENTIRELY different games.

I usually skip over these threads as I have never played WoW, EQ, etc etc. But this thread seemed to be gathering interest, so I'm skimming, and it's more than halfway civil. I would refrain from posting my 2 coppers, but I just couldn't pass up adding my kudos (and +rep) to a very nice post banjo_di.

Many of those wonderful things you've listed have not always been here, but I agree that they are some of the awesomest flavor features to this game. Outfits are an absolute addiction, then trying to match them to a horse, or vice versa. Our festivals have grown and continue to get better every year with additional fluff.

I mostly am a solo'r, but I'll gladly group up for instances on my LM, and I have met so many folks throughout the years, from both in the game and the forum community. I'm in a smallish but wonderful kin of folks, some whom I have met over my 4+ years of playing Lotro: (almost one year of beta testing the game, and a good portion of us stayed and invested in the game. After I beta'd the Monsterplay as a Warg, I just had to buy a $200 pre-ordered Lifetime Membership. Eventually though I've come to enjoy the goodguy's side... I blame the cosmetic system... My warg doesn't have one. /pout) Woops I do tend to ramble off.

I hope your "stay" is more than enjoyable.

Originally Posted by Piff

it's enough to make a person churn with hate.

XD. So true :P

Wow, thank you all for enjoying my observations! I just noticed I had two rep bar thingies and I'm like, "How did that happen when I just joined up last week???" I fully meant it though, and I also appreciate the civility of the forum here in the kind of dicey comparisons between two very-much-loved MMO's.

I was talking about all this to a friend of mine the other day (who has just started a Loremaster today) and he gave me a great perspective on the two games as well, knowing the history and lore of both better than I do. WoW is based on an RTS war game, and the vast majority of lore figures will, when confronted, choose War over Peace. As we know, the vast majority of LOTR lore figures just want to go home and live in peace. (Every time I watch the movies I tear up when Sam starts talking about strawberry jam while Mount Doom blows up around them.) So there's an intrinsic difference of motivation and mentality behind the two games. Add into that the difference between a PVP-centric game (I think the MPVP thing is very cool, but not quite the same) and a PvE-centric game, and I think LOTRO skims off a lot of players who just want to experience a character and a world without a need for... dare I say... so much epeen.

Anyway, I'm glad LOTRO switched to Free-to-Play and that I finally got frustrated enough with WoW to try it out. I don't have a ton of time to play, but I do look forward to enjoying Middle Earth, and hopefully enjoying more of this community!

Originally Posted by banjo_di

Anyway, I'm glad LOTRO switched to Free-to-Play and that I finally got frustrated enough with WoW to try it out. I don't have a ton of time to play, but I do look forward to enjoying Middle Earth, and hopefully enjoying more of this community!

Mae govannen

Well.

I never played WoW. I did play Asheron's Call, the beta and when I bought two $50 copies and payed $30 a month so my gf and I could play.

Before that I played Ultima Online.

My prior experience with gaming goes back to Moria on a 486 (you know, that Rogue "clone", and I've since progressed to Nethack and Dwarf Fortress).

Prior to this I played Ultima 2 on an IBM XT. Before that I had Zork and that was all text. Previous to this I scribbled in crayon and I think I saw a animated dragon in a cartoon once or twice, like in the cartoon movie called The Hobbit.

But none of them had a funny video like the Leeroy Jenkins one! Since this was my only experience with WoW, I came away thinking all the players were like that, and people insisting that whatever game they play that isn't WoW is not as good or should be converted to me more like it, well...

So for that, I think WoW is OK because it does a good job of showing how crazy Raids are and how stupid some people can be. I certainly Leroyed myself to death numerous times in Asheron's Call, and my group went with me--but most of the time it was because "well it wasn't hard up until now, CHARGE!" Then we were running back from the soulstone trying to get to our corpses before someone else looted them. I am not clamoring for the game to be more like Zork, or other games I liked though, because I recognize it's different. I guess its kind of like Zork because there is text that says I defeated the Troll with my Mighty Blow. Regardless, I fear the player that is intellectually 12 will never grow up, but we all have those moments (and I the older and wiser I get, the less I think that wisdom comes with age--at least based on what I see on the various forums).. Anyway the "I am 12 I am on a computer and *latest game rulez!*"... that sort of mentality exists in all of the games. You see much less of that in a subscription only game, unless the parents agree to pay for it. Open the game up to everyone and this is what you get. Certainly you have all been to Bree? How many other zones are like that? Not many, because most of those people that can't afford to play move on to something else when they are disappointed they run out of quests and their legal guardians won't spring for a recurring fee. After all, they cancelled the WoW for a reason, do they really think they are that stupid to pay for yet another addiction?


But thing I hate most about WoW, a game I never played... it's The term "Toon". What is that? Toon? I am not even sure it originated in WoW but when I did my search on it, WoW references were dominant. I feel like I entered a brand new culture when reading the forum posts. When I played D&D we did not call our characters "toons". We didn't even call a character other than our primary character an "Alt"; it was just a different character we played.

Uh. Ok I am done rambling. Have a nice day!

yes all themepark mmo is a wow clone

Originally Posted by Odinshaw

But thing I hate most about WoW, a game I never played... it's The term "Toon". What is that? Toon? I am not even sure it originated in WoW but when I did my search on it, WoW references were dominant. I feel like I entered a brand new culture when reading the forum posts. When I played D&D we did not call our characters "toons". We didn't even call a character other than our primary character an "Alt"; it was just a different character we played.

Just wanted to add I feel the same way too. I've always referred to my characters as "chara". "Toon" sounds weird for me.

Originally Posted by Odinshaw

But thing I hate most about WoW, a game I never played... it's The term "Toon". What is that? Toon? I am not even sure it originated in WoW but when I did my search on it, WoW references were dominant. I feel like I entered a brand new culture when reading the forum posts. When I played D&D we did not call our characters "toons". We didn't even call a character other than our primary character an "Alt"; it was just a different character we played.

The term "toon" is a more 'technical' term similar to "mob" in gaming. They refer to the various mechanics behind the object, in the case of toon is refers to it being a sentient, and mobs refer to mobile non-sentient.

It actually reaches far back into the MUD/MOO/MUCK days.

Originally Posted by Ytmndie

yes all themepark mmo is a wow clone

Yes...if WoW were the first to create themepark styles, to which, they didn't. That again, falls back to MUD/MOO/MUCK heydays.

Originally Posted by banjo_di

I haven't yet made a post here in the LOTRO community; I only started playing last week (finally got an installation download that worked!) But I really want to post here as a WoW player first, and then with my initial impressions of LOTRO - especially reading the posts of the LOTRO community.

I've played WoW for six years now, since the open beta. I've been a part of a successful raiding group and my WoW friends are some of my best buddies. I've loved the heck out of that game. But recently, after playing through the last expansion and getting back into routine, I found myself looking at it differently. First with boredom, and then with frustration. I started looking around for another game, saw LOTRO was now free to play, and got down to business trying it out and looking up all I could about it.

Welcome to the game and I'm happy you are enjoying the game.

My story is a bit more unique in that I started in LOTRO, left the game due to a few reasons, went over to WoW and played that for 2 years, before taking a break last may from WoW and coming back to LOTRO, then joining my friends in WoW for Cataclsym only to be sorely disappointed in this and then I and my friends from WoW coming to LOTRO.

As far as the OPS post, there is nothing in LOTRO that is needed from WoW. Yet, the flip side can said about WoW. Blizzard and WoW has grown too stagnate and successful for its own good. One of the major reasons to release a new expansion is to usually add some form of innovation to a game. Yet, Blizzard with Cataclysm didn't add anything new and likewise actually regressed in many case with that expansion. Instead of continuing on with a more causal gameplay model for its end game that was introduced in Wrath, they decided to go back and do a hardcore model that was found similar in BC.

The problem though with going back to this model is that there was nothing, absolutely nothing added to fill in the gap for a more casual player. They have been sticking with the forced grouping end game model for some time now and it is finally biting them in the butt. There are two options here in LOTRO that is not offered in WoW and that would greatly benefit Blizzard if they cloned the LOTRO Model.

The first would be the skirmish system. In other forums when trying to make this point, it is always difficult to explain how skirmishes are so unlike normal instances and add another option and layer to the gameplay. The other is the alternate advancement system found the Legendary Items system found here in LOTRO. I think that was the biggest mistake Blizzard made with cataclysm, or the laziest, was the removal of the Path of the Titans.

Anyway, I will also say this, it should be noted that even though some may not like the comparisons to WoW and the like, it is equally important to note that more and more people are now leaving WoW and are trying other games. The move to F2P on the part of Turbine couldn't have occurred at a better time and Turbine should actually thank Blizzard for screwing up so badly with Cataclysm. The point being that there has been an influx of new players coming over to LOTRO here, more players equals more subs or money being spent at the Turbine Store, this equals more revenue.

Since F2P there has been what 2 updates now with a third on the way apparently next month and a new mini expansion due out in the fall. I remember coming back last year around this time and my server at time it seemed like it was dead. Though I'm sort of angry at Turbine introducing new servers instead of trying to ensure populations on other servers got filled up a bit more. Anyway what I have noticed is that there is an increase and that the major difference from last year at this time to this year at this time, is that LOTRO went from a game where its future seemed dim at best to one with a much brighter future. To put it another away, it didn't seem like we would reach Gondor and Mordor, where now it seems like we very well just may get there.

I'm hoping though that after Isengard there is a more major expansion.

Skirmishes are actually one of the most exciting things I've read about with LOTRO (I'm not high enough level yet to experience them myself!) Although I'm in a casual raiding guild in WoW and know my way around all the heroics, some of my favorite times have come from doing a lower-level instance with just one or two friends, or even going in solo to see how far I can get. Making a dungeon experience available for single players, duos and trios is just absolutely wonderful. I would be so much happier in WoW if I could tune the difficulty and number of players in the group to what I feel like at the time.

It's funny that WoW is often criticized for being either "too casual" or "too hardcore" - either catering to one crowd or the other, mostly when it comes to progression. WotLK made WoW's endgame accessible for almost anyone, and now Cata has tuned up the difficulty a bit more. At the same time, all you get out of either is slightly better gear, and the experience of the heroic and/or raid. There's really not much else to it aside from some fun crafting items, and PvP if you're into that. Achievements are a bit of a joke. I have Loremaster on one character (from before Cata, when quests were everywhere and it was a long process to find them all) and all I got for it was a title and a tabard - and a silly joke one at that. Whoo. Exciting. I feel so rewarded.

What I'm finding wonderful about LOTRO is that they're giving a little something to everyone. I haven't heard much about raiding, but I know it's there. There's dungeons. There's skirmishes. There's the MPvP now. There's gear customization. There's in-depth crafting. There's deed that give you actual rewards - I've already gotten some Turbine points! There's a ton of stuff that caters to roleplaying. And there's a seemingly huge, rich world to explore. Turbine seems to actually be listening to a broad range of players and putting in a little something for everyone. Blizz listens to people who want purples. Period. And after getting purples, boy can that game seem dull.

One thing i have only to say

LOTRO isnt a WoW clone

LOTRO is far far better than WoW, LOTRO its unique with the best fantasy story and lore,with the most beautifull and scenic scenery

Originally Posted by Liadrina

I'm 32 and I've played Ultima Online, WoW, Eve, STO, Fallen Earth, Atlantica Online and probably others I can't remember. WoW is really the best one around, so it is not a bad thing to try to copy its features. I recently got banned from WoW and since I didn't want to pay $100+ to get a new account I decided to take a look at the WoW clones around.

So, my very first impressions were: "it's another WoW clone" and "this game has really good graphics". I played WoW in highest quality but LOTRO is far better.

Overall, the game is very similar to WoW, with some pros and cons:

Pros:
- Skirmishes and instances where you can fine tune the difficulty, level and party size.
- Skirmish soldier. I play a healer and it's great to have a pet tank, so that I can do instances alone, since I don't like questing or PvP.
- Graphics are far better.
- F2P, Premium and VIP options are great.
- Singing and playing my guitar in the middle of a fight is the coolest thing ever.

Cons and suggestions:
- The addon api should be improved to allow unit frames like Grid, Healbot or Vuhdo. It is really hard to heal with the standard unit frames. There is just too many information. I just need to see the health bar. Also, mouseover macros are a must.
- The "looking for group" feature of WoW is great. You just queue and the game puts you in a group inside an instance.
- The skirmishes soldiers should either be smarter or more controllable. My protector usually fails to protect me. He taunts at the wrong time. I heal and pull agro and he doesn't even try to get it back. I should be able to tell him all the time whom to attack and when to use his skills, just like a hunter pet in WoW.
- Less walking around. WoW has evolved a lot in this aspect since vanilla. Now you get teleported to instances and can fly around everywhere. Lotro could use some more stables and faster mounts.

I was going to make a new thread on this same topic until I found this thread last night. Honestly I do not understand the hate directed towards the OP. He was only trying to give helpful suggestions about things he thought the game would be improved with. The narrow-mindedness of some of the people that posted on this thread makes me a little sad. With that said, I'd like to give my thoughts on his cons.

1) This is the one I agree with the most. While getting rid of debuffs does help a little, the raid windows are pretty bad imo. Luckily healing is not that hard in the first place, but I do not see why there is a lot of hate on this topic. As long as mods are not giving players unfair advantages, I do not see a problem. If you do not like them don't use them. Another poster mentioned how he spent hours in WoW setting up his UI. I was a fairly dedicated PvP and PvE player in that game, and never changed my UI layout once. Giving the option for someone else to simplify their raid bars or view a threat meter does not hurt your playing at all. If you don't want it don't use it, but I don't agree with selfish people that want everything to be tailored for them. As far as raids requiring certain mods....I was "required" to use certain mods in WoW but never did out of dislike. As long as you don't suck, you can usually make due without and no one will be the wiser. Obviously a threat meter is not needed to be good.

2) The LFG feature is sort of a double-edged sword. I remember when it was implemented in WoW, and how cool it was at first. You could just que up with some buddies and the system would do the rest. This also opened up dungeons no one ever wanted to do (by adding a penalty for leaving groups), and allowed for more to get done. I don't see how adding this feature would force the game to make you sit in cities waiting for ques to pop. On the contrary it allowed me to do my dailies or play the auction house a little while letting the system find a group. As someone who played WoW back when you had to walk to dungeons and use the summoning stone, I saw this as a major improvement. Most of the people who miss those days are just experiencing nostalgia. On the flip side however, this feature destroyed what was left of a community in the game. No one ever talks during a run, and your only real chance at finding friends in the game is through guilds. The fact that the servers are mixed now does not help either.

3) I don't have much experience with skirmishes in this game. (yet)

4) I tend not to agree on this for this game. This is supposed to be true to the lore of the series, and in the lore no one has flying mounts. While they are useful in WoW, I don't think every game should go out and copy them. Keep in mind they did kill world PVP (which we don't even have). Areas in WoW are currently designed with flying mounts in mind as well. Here horses work fine, and make this game feel a lot more "real" to me. Traveling could be improved a bit, but aside from that I think everything is good in that aspect.

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One of the reasons I necro'd this thread instead of starting my own was because some of the comments here really pissed me off. Maybe it was just the way I was reading things, but it seems that many of the posters here have an unfair disliking of WoW veterans (wow-zombie post?), and overall get a little hostile towards them. I realize people are passionate about their games, but you have to realize that new blood is what helps fuel a game and that the game is not only for you. This guy was only trying to give his thoughts on things that would improve the game and instead was flamed hard. I'm not trying to start anything here, but I just wanted to give my two cents.